When you started a journey then obviously it should be ended with safe landing or journey, this is what will pleases everybody. Read this article to know a different journey for a different person.
Though we had/have enough treasure and sources in our county to live well, but some used to feel that our country has no future, poverty concern, less employment opportunity (during 1990-2000), we are young, bachelor, educated reasonably, energetic, adventures, interested to see outside India / World, time to explore, make future and looking for a big jump in abroad to earn better Salary than in local. So, one is Mr. X in among some, this Mr. X try to take some step to go abroad, Passport process, looking for an opportunity through relevant source of title post ads in newspaper in local, applying for it, attending interviews here and there upon call for, inquiring with friends and experienced workers in abroad about their real life experience, Visa process, Local and Foreign company agents detail, Medical check up detail, Embassy related info and pre-travel preparation and journey etc.
Each step has some interesting factor mixed up with some excitement and new experience on the way for, eager to know what will happen when each step to be taken and done. How to reach Airport to reach abroad and then real life experience in abroad with new day with new life ahead. Mr. X try to face the same as above stated, he attended few abroad interviews, some agent asked money for abroad assignment which was rejected by him. Few got free recruitment with reasonable salary from reputed organization, thus he selected it. He was happy since he is about to see overseas life with job opportunity that was getting from job ads followed by sending application to the reputed organization and waiting patiently for few months to get call for, attended interviews and better outcome for the same purpose.
Though he was attended few interviews while time taken to arrive Visa and confirmation from overseas employer for earlier interviews, he got more than two jobs in abroad, at the same time and one in local with reputed Star Hotels but confused started like which one to choose among? He finally selected average salary offer from reputed organization at abroad as it was a free recruitment which also assured that Free Air Ticket, Free Visa, Free Accommodation, Free Food, Free Uniform and other luxury benefit and Free Air Ticket once in a year to home for a vacation with paid leave. Now excitement begun when he chosen this option and attended for formal medical check up, everything is OK per health report. He is about to get Visa stamp within a week along with confirmed Air Ticket to abroad. The country is, Saudi Arabia, and the location is Riyadh (Capital city of Saudi Arabia), Company location is International Airport Riyadh. Hmm...
He got a call and confirmation from Local office about Visa confirmation, Ticket confirmed and Departure timing and the place from he supposed to Depart - Bombay (at that time, few years back name changed to Mumbai). It was Friday night in June, he supposed to depart from Bombay International Airport as he reached on time a day before on Thursday from Chennai to Mumbai. He collected his Passport with Visa stamp and Confirmed Ticket from local office, carried Baggage to travel, since it is the first time he is about to leave the country - his elder brother was coming with him by train and assisting him till Mumbai Airport for flight departure at 11:30pm. He reached Airport few hours before to departure of the flight though there was heavy thunderstorm with huge disturbance of heavily Mumbai's usual historical June month rain.
Safely reached till Airport by Car / Bombay taxi with little hurdle, Bombay Airport to be seen live first time, one of the busiest Airport in India with many International flights and passengers across. Now the story about the send off, he hugged his brother and sent off inside the airport mixed with sentiment and some sadness for leaving beloved one and his country for unknown duration. The sentiment forgot after couple of minutes due to Airport formality, Ticket and Baggage process. People are there to assist for this or contact enquiry center, everything done smoothly and now except hand bag, his luggage too separated from him but replaced with its tag from counter. He was alone over there just with tag and hand luggage. New scenario everywhere, luckily two of them got as his company for the same company for the same flight - New bro/friends met in the Airport. What a new journey begun with excitement filled to explore the future.
Courtesy: Saudia Airlines
He had a chances of relaxing at Mumbai airport due to flight jet way counter was not opened yet to reach till the flight seat, almost one hour introduced each other as he got this much time in the Airport lounge. Announcement started for his flight and jet way was opened to reach till the flight seat, though he have already heard Saudi Arabia strictness but seen from here itself. Air crew started to screw everyone for hand luggage checking with very strict in Mumbai Airport flight jet way itself before entering into flight, he just coordinated with them as they prefer and it is everyone's responsible to coordinate too. Some other Passengers' some of the baggage objected and enquired for excess hand luggage weight and other reason, he observed that a passenger's magazines thrown out due to censorship per their country rule. Finally, he reached his seat with warm welcomed by the Crew, luckily all three friends got one another seats in a row, a senior passenger nearby asked us about who and where etc. senior wished them with a few good word and one of the comment is that he is seeing the first time with very younger team to reach that company in his overall 10+ years abroad experience.
Flight filled up with strange passengers, instruction received from the flight Captain, flights doors were closed by cabin crew, flight become silent, flight pushed up back, later moving ahead slowly on the run way of Bombay airport, Saudia flight prayer words in Arabic able to hear, he could see few flights parking in the busiest airport near other jet ways and few of them about to land, few of them ready in queue to take off one by one. Now his flight turn and taken off from Bombay - bye bye to his motherland, he was excited on that day as it was first flight journey, followed by that, he got some welcome drink aboard, later panic instruction started from Air hostesses on how to use under-seat Parachute when emergency landing situation arises - here everyone will upset for a while, don't worry and keep continue your journey.
Soft Drink (No Alcohol given in Saudia flights) served, Dinner / Supper (quality but no tasty) served from crew, chilled atmosphere inside the flight and very recent local journey tired helped all to relax/sleep for few minutes, around four hours journey to reach Riyadh from Bombay helped him to face some new experiences recently and decently. Announcement from Captain let him knew that flight will land within half an hour and prepare for safe landing in Riyadh Airport, few crew member cross checked every passengers about their fasten seat belt condition and instruction received from them to those who didn't fasten seat belt. Finally, he landed safely in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia international airport. Airport was quite beautiful architect structure though nearby location is desert, again the opposite story begun for them, instruction received from Captain, took the hand luggage, opened the door, said bye bye by the crew, jet way usage, reaching Passport entry / embarkation stamping queue, sleepless night, approached baggage conveyor belt, collected the baggage, reached custom counter and checked the luggage and baggage to ensure that nothing illegal objects with us.
Courtesy: Saudia Airlines
He could start to explore and came out to the new world in the sleepy midnight at 2:30pm Saudi Time, able to see very unusual atmosphere and different faces of the world, waited outside for the company bus to take us to Accommodation (small villa) area where around 1500 staff accommodated with 20+ different nationalities, reached Villa and Security collected our Passport and directed us for a new temporary room to spend night to relax and report at 7am to Accommodation office in the camp to begin new era in new land. Very interesting journey to remember a long time, the new life started as such including chances for riding Toyota Land Cruiser over there.
I have to say many but will write in other occasion. This journey becomes normal after couple of years, Mr. X or He is no one except me.
I have to say many but will write in other occasion. This journey becomes normal after couple of years, Mr. X or He is no one except me.
This article is written for India's Land Cruiser called by me for Tata Safari, from Indiblogger contest.
