[Panama] A blunder discovered right at Haneda!?
My heart is bubbling over...!
In front of me are the words "Let's travel" and a cool photo of an airplane. Just typing HND for Haneda gets me all excited.
After all, I'm planning my first overseas trip in a long time.
The last trip of my life was to Europe.
I will never forget that time; it was exactly when Wuhan was locked down due to COVID.
I was carrying out a super whirlwind tour of Europe, and through Beijing at that.
I was horrified on the flight home. Just think about it.
I was the one who had locked down Japanese news while I was traveling.
Appearing before my eyes, completely unaware of the virus's counterattack, were flight attendants wearing protective gear. In those white outfits I had only ever seen in pandemic movies, they approached me asking, "Beef or chicken?"
Uh, excuse me... is this, like, a film shoot?
Am I, by any chance, appearing as an extra??
If I had any English or Chinese skills, I definitely would have asked.
No, actually, that's the thing. I can't speak English, let alone Chinese (I'm proud of the fact that I haven't even passed Eiken Grade 2). The tragedy is that the last time I passed Grade Pre-2 was seven years ago. To begin with, my Japanese is shaky too, so please forgive my poor writing.
The place I, such a person, am heading to is the crossroads of the world, the Republic of Panama.
Honestly... I've heard the name... that's about it.
It seems to be a country on the isthmus connecting Central and South America, 20 hours away from Japan.
Out of 120 million Japanese people,
I wonder how many people, not even for work, just suddenly think, "Let's go to Panama."
To begin with, I'm not the kind of traveler who goes on such minor trips.
I'm not a travel YouTuber, I don't have any friends to go to Panama with, and I don't know anyone there.
There was only one reason I decided on this trip.
Because the names sound similar.
My head is spinning like a washing machine with the thrill of being terrifyingly excited and the thrill of being terrifyingly scared.
Could the timid coward living inside me please be washed away along with it?
🍀🍀Message🍀🍀
For those who think, "I'll probably never go to Panama in my life,"
I hope you can feel like you've been there lol
I didn't even know where Panama was...
Conversely, for those who are going to Panama from now on,
please just skim through this as a reference >_<
It's not like I specifically decided to go to Panama
When you think about traveling, how do you choose your destination?
I don't know how to decide, so I'm troubled 😅
So, the reason I chose banana... I mean, "Panama" as my travel destination this time. It is,
because the name sounds like Bahamas and Havana!!
Yes, I didn't just want to go to "Panama";
I wanted to go to "Panama, Bahamas, and Havana."
I decided on my travel destination with such wicked intentions.
It would be terrible if people from Panama or Panama lovers found out💦
What do I even know about Panama...
Panama is a country, right? I knew that much.
Speaking of Panama...
...The Panama Papers?
But I don't know what the Panama Papers are, sweat.
Something about a tax haven? Or something like that lol
So I looked it up.
In my own simple terms, it's something like this.
Confidential documents recording financial activities where wealthy individuals and companies around the world used Panama as a tax haven. They were leaked and sent shockwaves through the world.
......No good.
Somehow, for me, Panama has such a strong image of a "social studies textbook" that my head is already starting to hurt.
Can I even go to Panama in this state💦💦
Even so, there is one more word I know. I think it's...
...The Panama Canal?
What even is a canal? Does it mean a big river?
I don't even know where it is.
But for some reason, it's strange that I only know the name.
On the contrary, there's nothing to see in Panama except the Panama Canal, right lol
Ready to go!
My trip this time looks like this.
Geographically, it would have been nice to travel in order from north to south or vice versa, but that seems difficult.
There are two reasons.
The first is that the only way to enter and exit the Bahamas was via Miami.
The second is that there are very few flights into Havana (Cuba).
They only run on Tuesdays and Fridays...
400,000 yen for a round trip from Haneda.
Plus, 250,000 yen to travel around the Bahamas and Havana (Cuba).
The total airfare alone is 650,000 yen...😱
Yikes... how terrifying.
Alright, if it's come to this, I have no choice but to steel myself and enjoy it to the fullest!
I've booked the tickets👍
I've got my passport👍👍
I've exchanged my money (1 dollar = 145 yen is really too expensive...😭😭).
Alright, now I'm ready!
I won't be taking a suitcase.
There's just too much moving around.
Finally, I'm taking off with just one backpack✈️
★★★ Day 1 Haneda Airport ★★★
I can't check in!?
My first worry is the long-haul flight.
I can't stand being on planes😭
For this reason, I subscribed to Disney+ and downloaded content.
I have to get in the mood for the world of Pirates of the Caribbean.
Nowadays, you can check in online.
I didn't want to wait in line, so I didn't check any luggage either🎒
When I went to check in...
Check-in was not possible.
Please line up at the counter.
What~~!!!
Panama, you're kidding me😨
So I have to wait in line after all...
This is an ominous start💦
It would be the worst if there was some issue and I couldn't go.
It would be no joke if I couldn't go after bragging to everyone, 'I'm going to Panama, the Bahamas, and Havana!!😤'!
It's too embarrassing...
No, no, things are often easier than you think.
Maybe I couldn't check in because there's a layover in Houston.
Enduring the agony of loneliness, I waited in line for 30 minutes.
The ground staff tells me.
Do you have a visa?
・
・
・
……Huh?
((((；ﾟДﾟ)))))))
→To be continued... [Next time] The airport scramble begins!!
[Thank you for reading until the end!]
Even though you've read this far, I might not be able to go to Panama😭
I would be happy if you continue reading!