IMAGINE yourself someone who has come to Jeddah from another country which could be Indonesia, Turkey, America, Egypt, etc. I think you would have a more positive preconceived image of the city and its airport than you're about to learn from this column, especially since Saudi Arabia is the most important OPEC member and Jeddah is its economic and tourism capital. On the other hand, some people, especially those coming from the West, who do not have enough information about this country and its culture, may go to the extent of thinking that people here still ride camels to get from one place to another, live in tents, and that each man has four wives. What would never have crossed anybody's mind though, no matter how wide or wild their imagination could be, is that upon arrival at Jeddah airport they will not find a luggage cart to carry their bags, and that a Bangladeshi man is going to offer to carry their bags on a trash container. As a matter of fact, I have promised myself not to write about conditions at Jeddah airport ever, because it would be like ‘flogging a dead horse' as the saying goes. But, today, I find myself unable to keep my promise, following a bunch of pictures which were sent to me by a friend. These were photos of pilgrims (Umrah visitors) from different nationalities at the Haj terminal walking behind airport sanitation workers who were carrying their luggage on top of trash containers fitted with wheels. No doubt these workers charge travelers double or more than the usual amount since getting these trash containers into the terminal building is not an easy task. One worker could not find a trash container to use as luggage trolley so he thought of an innovative way that prompts one to both admire and wonder about its ingenuity. He placed the bags on a mop and used the mop-stick to push as if it were a real luggage trolley. Surely, this worker is going to reach the airline counter faster than those who are using the trash containers since the mop slides a lot smoother and faster on the slick tiles than the wheels of the trash containers do. In both cases, however, the possibility of the bags falling down is still high, though this is a possibility that still can be avoided with a little training and some experience. Nevertheless, travelers at Jeddah airport can at least learn one thing while visiting: it is not only possible to recycle trash but it is also possible to recycle trash containers, as has been proven to be the case at Jeddah airport. It is true that this innovative method of transporting luggage at Jeddah airport terminal has gone to the extent that leaves very little room for one to imagine what could be the next surprising innovation at this pathetic airport. There is however, a question that cannot escape any one's mind. I know you're going to think the question is: How on earth did these huge garbage containers enter the airport terminal without anybody stopping them?! I am sorry to tell you you are wrong. The question which I want to ask is: Where is the airport garbage disposed off if the garbage containers are being used as luggage trolleys?!
