A Motswana holidays in the UK

KAGISO ONKATSWITSE
Staff Writer | Friday April 16, 2010 00:00

The time arrived to for me to buy a ticket, so I did - South African Airways. With South African Airways it was solely for their international flight routes. 

That I would be in the same flight to my destination without having to connect to a different one. However, I wished to have been patriotic to my country by buying Air Botswana.  Unfortunately, it has limitations on destinations.

The final day for me to leave arrived, off I went from Sir Seretse Khama Airport, as the plane took off, there was this chill down my spine. At the back of my mind was a ringing question, 'Where I am I going?

What I am I doing in the middle of the air and its space?' The answer was always there in bold print and I knew where I was travelling to.

I passionately had to go there, no second thoughts on that. Then down went my sigh of acceptance of travelling to close to 10000 kilometers away from home.

With that reality sunken, I knew that I was going to a small country but a huge city with a massive population compared to that of Botswana.

I knew that I was visiting another culture; a different way of communication and most certainly a strange way of dinning. I was obviously going to miss Serobe with Bogobe or beans cooked together with dried maize - fine as the travelling was I knew I would crave the food.

Reaching OR Tambo Airport, this time connecting to the monster-size Airbus A340, which back in the days my grandmother used to tell me it was called Segogomane, the one that leaves behind a trail of white smoke in the air.

Lucky me, I was allocated a seat by the window, then I knew my curiosity would be satisfied by peeping through it any time I wished to.  The plane left OR Tambo at nine at night. 

After announcements and lifting off, everyone boarding switched on the television sets in front of them. There were choices ranging from movies to music and an air space map to our destination.

With much interest, I logged on to the flight map to bring the journey even closer.

Browsing through, one would see the aircraft's cruising speed. Believably the craft cruised at a ground speed of 930 Km/h, at an altitude of 36484ft, approximately 12km above the ground.

Then I said to myself, with this supersonic speed, God is piloting this huge plane. Eleven hours later, the chief pilot announces our landing; indeed it was smooth to touch down.

There was a short brief from the cockpit about our arrival in Heathrow Airport, United Kingdom. Weather expectation was cloudy with gentle rainfall and temperature ranging to 8¼ Celsius. Then my heartbeat raced again, this time I was thinking of the my visa, which I did not have.  But I did not have to worry because Batswana do not necessary need a visa to visit the UK for less than six months.

The immigration officer really welcomed me, no hassles, no interrogation whatsoever. My arrival experience sent flashedbacks of Botswana, where we welcome people with both opened arms.

I felt like I just left home to visit my neighbours in Molepolole.

After a quick search at the immigration and boarder control points, one heads to the exit site where one expects to meet whoever is coming to pick them.

The city was full of movement, every one minding their own business. The UK transport system is marvelous. At times I wished we had such transport systems at home.

With my little observation, I could not see any vehicle emitting carbon in to the air. The whole three weeks I spent, I did not see a single accident. How do they do it? I decided I hd to ask.

It turns out, no vehicle in the UK is approved road worthy without proof of service and proof of valid insurance cover. In general, all the vehicles must be insured to use public roads.

The government of the UK takes serious the issue of carbon emissions. Some parts of the public areas were sign-posted, 'This is an emission-free zone'. The green colour is popularly used to promote global care and prevent environmental contamination.

Touring the city was the best part of the trip.  That was when I realised that we are living in a beautiful universe. London alone is rich with historical sites, buildings of Victorian times, good roads and infrastructure,  and a railway network.

The people are so cultural and conservative. Not only tourists visit the tourists sites but the citizens of the UK also enjoy their own sites such as London Eye and The House of Parliament. They even visit the Prime Minister's place at Downing Street.

Hopefully, Botswana sites will one day be in the same league as those of  the UK and attract tourists and locals alike.  It is overwhelming to go on holiday to a place this far away despite the financial costs, but it can also be an experience of personal growth that one can enjoy and gain from.  Above all else, the UK is a peaceful, nice place and a friendly country to visit.