Article: An unfortunate phobia for a foreign correspondent

By Robyn Dixon

LOS ANGELES TIMES

ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar -- Clackety-clack. Clackety-clack. I pause as I mount the steps of the 737, frowning at the spinning engine.

"Does your engine always make that noise?" I ask the flight attendant boarding an airplane from Antananarivo to the south of the country. "Seat 5B," he says. "On your right."

A moment's hesitation. I sit. (Mental image: Flames shooting from the left-hand engine.)

The problem with having one of the world's most interesting jobs and flying to the world's most fascinating places is getting there.

Whenever I land, it's fine. I plunge in, full of curiosity, and forget all about flying.

Accelerating down the runway on our flight from ...

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