Leaving New York City

      I'm currently on my first of two flights. It's now 1:00 a.m. and I'm bummed. Only 10 hours and 45 minutes until my flight lands at the Dubai International Airport at 7:45 p.m. (Gulf Standard Time). Hopefully sleep will guzzle up the time.
      When the plane lands, I plan to stay at the Holiday Inn Express, which is situated just 5 minutes away from the airport. Then the next morning, I'll hop onto the 10:25 flight and fly for 8 hours and 20 minutes and land at 4:45 p.m. ( South African Standard Time). After gathering my luggage, I'll settle down at the Tropicana Hotel in Durban Beachfront.

HISTORY

      Traveling involves preparation. Whether you're checking the weather so that you know what to pack or you're learning the native language of the country you're traveling to. I do these things, but I think the most important preparation you can do is learn the history of  country your traveling to. Here's what I've assimilated from several articles about Durban, South Africa.
      Durban was "discovered" by Vasco da Gama, a Portuguese explorer, in 1497. He named the bay Natal (the Portuguese word for Christmas) ,because he landed on Christmas Day.
      Very little activity took place in Durban until 1842, when the British Lieutenant F.G. Farewell arrived from the Cape Town colony with a group of men and established a small settlement. Henry Flynn, an explorer, accompanied Farewell and famously befriended Shaka, King of the Zulus, by helping him recover from a battle wound. Shaka gave Flynn a 25 mile piece of the coastline in thanks. In 1835, a city was built and named "Durban" after the Cape Governor Sir Benjamin D' Urban.
      In 1838, the Afrikaans Voortrekers who had traveled eastwards from the Cape established the republic of Natalia, making the town of Pietermaritzburg the capital. The Voortrekers had many conflicts with the Zulus and British settlers before being forced to accept British rule in 1844.
      A sugar cane industry was established in Durban with the British importing thousands of indentured laborers from India to work in the fields. This has today resulted in Durban having a large Indian community.

IMAGINATION IS MY TRANSPORTATION

         Do you love to travel? So do I, but I'm one of those American teens who has never traversed U.S. regions west of the Mississippi River. You might think I'm deprived of the 'travel experience', but in my own mind,  I have traveled more times than a lifespan can withstand, nor that the most expensive camera can capture. If you think I'm crazy, you should try unleashing your imagination (the wilder, the better) and you'll see how exhilarating it is. Let me demonstrate by taking you on an enjoyable and informative journey to Durban, South Africa.