Flight to Kampala, via Addis Ababa (and outer space)

A few quick words on the flight from Dubai to Entebbe, via Addis Ababa.
First we flew over the desert and jagged, unforgiving terrain of the mountains. It looked like Mars. It was beautiful from the air, but I couldn’t help feeling lucky to have been born in Alder Hey and not amid the ridges and valleys of such an inhuman environment.

Don’t believe me that it looks like another planet? Check out this crater, photographed from 30,000ft with no great zoom.

We touched down in Addis Ababa and were informed that we would be proceeding to the “VIP gate” before any other passengers could disembark. I pleaded with the hostess for gossip, but she stayed resolutely tight-lipped. Then came the marching band. We can only assume our mysterious celeb was somehow connected to the forthcoming African Union conference.

The red carpet may have faded pink, but Addis looked like somewhere very, very special, cloaked in greenery and awash with colour. We’d love to go back.