SANITY AT 40,000 FEET: MY MUSICAL ESCAPE ON A 30 HOUR FLIGHT

SANITY AT 40,000 FEET: MY MUSICAL ESCAPE ON A 30 HOUR FLIGHT

Greetings, dear qinspired! It has been quite some time since I last expressed my thoughts and inspirations concerning my musical journey. I must confess that I'm not entirely certain why I've been away for so long, considering the numerous fascinating, captivating, and amusing encounters I've had in my musical reality. However, upon reflection, I realized that perhaps I have been hesitant to share my experiences, feeling that they may not be interesting enough.

But enough of that - let's dive right into it! It's time to catch up on my musical escapades and relive some of the moments that have made my journey truly remarkable.

AT THE PARKING LOT OF THE LAGOS AIRPORT

I was recently tasked with getting a social and cultural experience in the Buenos Aires province of Argentina, which required me to travel all the way from West Africa's Nigeria to Latin America's Argentina. Every detail was meticulously planned, but it soon dawned on me that the journey would be quite arduous, spanning a whopping 30 hours of airtime. For the first time, the reality of traveling to an entirely different continent sank in.

Although I must clarify that my initial statement may have been slightly exaggerated, as the journey was not a direct 30-hour flight, but rather involved layovers in two countries before eventually arriving at the renowned Ezeiza International Airport in Argentina.

As I boarded the plane for this journey of no end, I felt a sense of dread wash over me. I had never been on a flight this long before, and the thought of being cooped up in a cramped seat for so long was overwhelming. But as soon as I settled into my seat and put on my noise-canceling headphones, I knew I had found my savior - music.

SETTLED FOR THE LONGEST FLIGHT OF MY LIFE

I began my journey began by listening harmonious strains of gospel music from my carefully curated playlist. It is my tradition to start any expedition by offering prayers and committing the voyage to the hands of the divine. As hours passed by, I switched to a medley of Afrobeats and Alternative tunes, all created by the talented Nigerian artists. Lost in the captivating rhythm and melody, I momentarily forgot that I was soaring thousands of feet above ground.

After an arduous journey spanning over seven hours, we finally touched down at our First layover destination - the capital of Ethiopia: Addis Ababa. For me, the moment was nothing short of epic, as my knowledge of this land was limited to geographical maps and the biblical tale of the "Ethiopian Eunuch". As the cool breeze of the uncharacteristic 15-degree weather caressed my skin, I couldn't help but marvel at the beauty of the city. Its culture and aesthetic were simply breathtaking, and I couldn't help but draw parallels to the feelings of the eunuch himself. Addis Ababa truly embodied a charm and loveliness that was unique to its own, and I was enthralled to experience it firsthand.

THE ETHIOPIAN ENUCH😅

My stay at the illustrious Star Light hotel, a five-star establishment, was nothing short of extraordinary. However, sleep eluded me, and I found myself tossing and turning in bed. Frustrated, I reached for my trusty guitar and began to strum a beautiful composition by the talented Cobhams Asuquo, aptly named "Angels."

After hours of crafting the perfect chord progressions and lyrics, I proudly recorded a video of my rendition and paired it with this write-up. It was a moment of pure creative bliss, and I felt grateful for the opportunity to bring my musical inspirations to life in such a luxurious and refined setting.

The following day, I found myself once again at the airport, awaiting my connecting flight. As I stood in line alongside my fellow passengers, I grew increasingly restless and bored. In an effort to pass the time, I reached for my trusty acoustic guitar, carefully removing it from its protective bag.

With the instrument cradled in my arms, I began to strum away, losing myself in the melody and the sensation of the strings beneath my fingertips. As I played some of my all-time favorite tunes, I noticed that I had inadvertently gathered an audience - my fellow passengers were tapping their feet and nodding their heads along with the music, enthralled by the impromptu concert.

I had never felt so grateful for the power of music

It was truly remarkable to witness the unifying power of music, bringing together complete strangers in a moment of shared joy and appreciation. Despite the long queues and the waiting, I felt uplifted by the experience, grateful for the opportunity to connect with my fellow travelers through the magic of music.

With an immense love for music fueling my spirit, I embarked on yet another arduous journey - a 15-hour flight from Addis Ababa to Sao Paulo, Brazil. Unlike the cozy and comfortable atmosphere of Addis Ababa, the warm climate in Sao Paulo evoked a sense of nostalgia within me, reminiscent of my homeland Nigeria. Nevertheless, I persevered, and after a two-hour layover, I resumed my journey to Ezeiza Airport in Buenos Aires, enduring another three hours in transit.

As our plane finally touched down in Buenos Aires, I felt an invigorating sense of renewal wash over me. I was ready to conquer the rest of my journey with renewed vigor and determination. And with my trusty guitar by my side, along with my favorite tunes, I knew that no matter where my travels took me, I would always have the comfort and inspiration of music to keep me company.

Well, folks, it's time for me to pull the curtains on this little show. I have to admit, I'm not great at ending personal stories - it's like I'm always waiting for the director to yell "cut!" and let me off the hook. But alas, we don't live in a movie, so I suppose I'll have to end it here. Don't worry, though, I've got enough hilarious and intriguing experiences to last us through a whole season of episodes. Stay tuned!

THANKS FOR YOUR PRESENCE 💖💖💖💖