Turbulent Adventures: When Travel Doesn't Go as Planned

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Turbulent Adventures: When Travel Doesn't Go as Planned

Smoke and Disruptions in Madagascar

Madagascar was supposed to be a treasure trove of surprises, but I never imagined I would find myself in the middle of protests leading to a military coup. Having witnessed demonstrations in Thailand, Greece, and France before, this time felt different—my hotel was right at the heart of the action, and there was no escaping it.

On my first day in Antananarivo, I saw crowds flooding the streets, and the hotel staff hurriedly ushered me inside as soon as someone pushed a trash can into the road. The tear gas soon engulfed the neighborhood, irritating my eyes and throat. The hotel provided masks and advised guests to stay indoors.

My plan was to fly to Nosy Be the next morning, but all domestic flights were canceled. I moved to a guesthouse near the airport, where the staff was incredibly helpful. Even with the city under curfew and shops closed, they showed me secret ways to sneak into bars and convenience stores through back entrances.

After much effort from our tour guide, Helen, we finally got priority boarding for a flight to Nosy Be. I breathed a sigh of relief as we left Antananarivo, but we ended up stuck in Nosy Be for a few more days because our return flight to Réunion was also canceled.

Eventually, I made it back to Réunion safely. The people of Madagascar were protesting for valid reasons, longing for their basic rights to electricity and water. Despite the challenges, I felt a deep sympathy and understanding for the struggles of the Malagasy people.

A Night of Terror at Frankfurt Train Station

Frankfurt—who would have thought that the area around the train station would be so frightening at night? Long lines of people smoking crack, discarded needles everywhere, and persistent taxi drivers following me all the way to my hotel.

Although I’ve traveled extensively in Europe, I had never encountered anything like this. Thankfully, I stumbled upon a cheerful family and pretended to know them to avoid drawing attention.

Honestly, that experience has made me hesitant to return to the area near Frankfurt’s train station. Other parts of Frankfurt, however, were much more pleasant.

A Sleepless Night in Kraków

Upon arriving in Kraków, I planned to rest up for my Auschwitz tour the next morning. However, what kept me awake was a group of drunken Australians. They were loud and rowdy in the middle of the night, forcing me to step out and remind them to keep it down.

Despite my attempts to be patient, when one of them shouted back after I scolded them, I realized any further discussion would be futile. They did apologize eventually, but that night was a total loss in terms of sleep.

Texas and the Unbelievable Changes

Austin, Texas—I've been looking forward to this visit for a long time, but when I finally arrived, I felt a bit let down. The city once famous for its quirky vibe has been replaced by chain restaurants and towering apartment buildings.

It seems like Austin has changed drastically with the expansion of major tech companies. While I don’t dislike the place, my high expectations left me feeling disappointed.

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