Gray had another early morning dragon boat training session and when I got up at 6:30, he already was back! He then did some gardening and then we had to say good bye (if CMA CGM Columba really goes today and if I really will be on board of it).
only garden, no Gray anymore đ
I went for a last swim (if CMA CGM Columba really goes today and if I really will be on board of it). At the beach I had been yesterday, the guard told me that I cannot go for a swim because of the waves but I could go to the next beach, it is open. The waves werenât high at all but more than yesterday and at the next beach, just 500m away, it indeed was better.
I went for a last swim (if CMA CGM Columba really goes today and if I really will be on board of it). At the beach I had been yesterday, the guard told me that I cannot go for a swim because of the waves but I could go to the next beach, it is open. The waves werenât high at all but more than yesterday and at the next beach, just 500m away, it indeed was better.
At 9a.m., I should get a message about the next steps of boarding and I wait for that and wonder if CMA CGM Columba really goes today and if I really will be on board of it.
It came also to Gray who forwarded it to me. It said that I would be picked up at 15:00. I got two additional emails telling about immigration fee and then that I would be charged 81$, and should it pay to Mr. Omair, so I wasnât sure what was meant by that, Immigration fee or something else.
Elaine made another delicious meal for lunch or as snack and near to 3a.m., Phil went me to the nearby mosque where normally also shops and a barber are. Those shops are meant to support the community-run mosques. Phil told me that by law every 500m should be a mosque.
We got rolled bread with lenses and chickpeas for 3dirham (less than a âŹ) each. And then Mr. Omair appeared, we packed the bike and the bags in his car and went off.
at least there is this good bye photo with Elaine and Phil!
At 16:15 we arrived at the port. We first had to go to the emigration center in the âdp-worldâ We waited for a while, then Mr. Omair went to do something else. Another agent waited with me, then went out with me to his car, and when Mr. Omair came back, the talked, exchanged papers, made phone calls and then we went back to the office. I then sat there again alone, then the leaving captain came, after 2,5 months, he could go home to Romania for as long. Meanwhile, it was 17:00, between 19-20:00 the ship should leave, loading was almost finished. At 17:30, one officer, an especially cool one, who behaved all the time as everyone/-thing were part of a TV-thriller and he would be the police hero who only between some street actions had to come to office, waved with my passport and asked how I had arrived in Dubai. Then he and two colleagues starred at the PC screen with similar expressions like captain Kirk when a very big dangerous object appeared on crash course. And at 18:00 the problem was explained: my passport was not in the system, the guys in Shajar seemed to have worked bad.
The two agents became nervous (me too as you can guess), running out the office and making phone calls and writing messages on 3 different phones (no problem, they have four ears).
Mr. Omair explained to me that the ship would leave without me if things are not finished before the load is on board. I saw no big chance when I thought back to those less motivated officers in Sharjar who now should be of help and started to think about the consequences and some choices for a plan B.
At 18:30 we ran back to the office. Mr. Omair should his phone to the cool guy. He went to another PC in the backoffice, Mr. Omair made a thumbs up to me. Mr. Cool showed that he is empowered to work even slower but because of some good mood or because of friendship to Mr. Omair, he only was so slow as his cool attitude made necessary. He came back with 3 big stamps. He just needed one, but it looked more dramatic. With gestures like a poker master he flipped my passport over the desk. We were about to run our, but another officer stopped Mr. Omair. Maybe all that had made him, letâs call him babyface, jealous and he found something to show his own importance, too. Mr. Omair had to put down his name card, something was wrong with the cover, because he made a warning gesture to Mr. Omair who showed as many signs of slavishness as the lack of time allowed and the situation still required.
We rushed to the car, the big harbour seemed endless (or Mr. Omair drove some rounds extra to make it more dramatic?), then we arrived at the security check office. For my weak nerves, the officer needed too much time with checking the passport, I feared the worst, but then he gave it back, my bags were x-rayed, and we ran to a waiting bus. So, we drove though skyscraping countainers and enormous cranes to a very big ship, the Columba. I had no time to look at it, two sailors were waiting to help me bring my bike and my luggage up a long and steep ladder/stairway-mixture. Mr. Omair got those 81$ that apparently were meant for his taxi service, but after all that stress I was ok with that price.
A sailor fast showed me the cabin (an apartment!) and the dining room (dining was over, but they had left my food, mushroom soup, fish with polenta and salad).
I didnât feel the ship leaving, I only saw it when I was back in my room.
I cannot believe it, I am on board!!
