Travel to No Where

     Finally the day came it was time to leave Norfolk Virginia Beach. The layover was awesome for it was the day for maximizing my being a “Bum” and this how it felt like, no  deadline, chores or errands to accomplish and it was amazing.  Many people nowadays seem to lack days of relaxation time for themselves.  Life seem so hectic for many people but I get glimpse of what it means to do nothing.  The entire two days of doing nothing I had posted on my facebook that I was bored, but not once mentioned how much I was enjoying. I did enjoy my “Bum” days. Every good thing comes to an end and it sure did.

     The day of the travel and upon my checkout from lodging I met three personnel going to Kuwait too.  All of us were hungry and we came up with a plan to eat some where good.  One of the sergeant called a cab driver they have met the other day and the cab driver recommended an all you can eat buffet.  The selection of entree on the buffet line was awesome. The white fish I had on the buffet line was cooked to perfection.  Fish are normally difficult to maintain freshness on the buffet line and I had picked it over the general tsao chicken. Everything on the line was very good and for the price I paid it was worth going out our way before I deployed. So I had to stuff myself, like there was no tomorrow. 

   Now the time had come to report to the terminal, and at the terminal I was informed that I was booked incorrectly. My final destination was Al Udeid also known as Qatar but I knew of the error, prior to my ticket being issued to me and even tried to reason out to the clerk that I am going to Kuwait just as it is written on my orders but she told me I have to get to Qatar first and have to catch the next flight to Kuwait, which is crazy because the flight I was booked is going to Kuwait and she insisted to keep my ticket to  Qatar.  I gave up with arguing with her and just go on the flight.  So I was told of the mistake and what I have to do when I get to Al Udeid, I just shrugged my shoulder and said, “Oh well”.  At Norfolk the wait began, scheduled to leave at 1530, we did not leave until 1630. From then on I knew the military travel of “ Hurry, Hurry and Wait” has begun. 

   After we had left Virginia, we were on our way to Germany (Ramstein AB), a seven a half hour flight.  During this flight, I was already sleeping even before the plane took off and slept almost the entire flight.  I woke up for dinner and went back to sleep, then woke up the hour before landing.  I was situated close to the window and decided to look out the window. An amazing view I saw that day, the cloud was so fluffy and because the sun was trying to peek out the clouds it gave a rainbow effect.  I left home with out a camera and shame on me. Luckily, I had my Iphone, so I took picture of the sky.  The challenge now is transferring the picture on my blog, because I could not find the chord to connect the phone to my computer, I will have to upload the pictures from my phone straight to Facebook. This first part of the trip went well but then layover in Germany is another thing to endure.

     We stayed one hour and half on the ground of Germany and of course, we could not leave the terminal.  The next part of the trip is to Al Udeid.  We had picked up military personnel and a person sat next to me.  I almost thought I had the seat all to myself, to good to be true.  The worst part the person snored while he was sleeping and he had bad breath, a horrible five a half hour trip.  I am glad I still have luck by my side, the person stop is Qatar.  From there I got off the plane too, and I had to locate my bag to put it back on the plane.  It was like looking for a needle in a hay stack, my bags look just like everyone else. Fortunately, I had located my bags and weapon.  Then boarded on the plane again and this time on our way to Kuwait.  The last hour and half of the trip that is what I thought.  When we arrived Kuwait 2020 (820 PM) but had to wait on the bus, for host nation police to escort us to the base. The escort did not arrive until 1100 pm. Then an hour ride to the base and then the in-processing briefing.  After enduring a long trip to no where, I cannot wait until I have a good story to tell during my stay here in Kuwait.