During the flight from Nairobi, Kenya to I was going
to cross the equator for the first time. The stewardess passed out souvenir
certificates so we could note the exact time. The captain promised to alert us
well in advance. I began to follow my map very closely. We flew across the Kenya
border into southern Ethiopia. With the plane cruising at 500 miles per hour I
knew we were getting close to the equator. Minutes passed. On we flew. I checked
my watch, waited a little, then checked my watch again. I was puzzled. According
to the timetable we were getting close to Addis Ababa. Then the "Please Fasten
Seat Belts" sign flashed and the captain sheepishly announced that he had
forgotten to notify us when we reached the equator. We had crossed it 20 minutes
before.