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Published: September 17th 2013
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After waving goodbye to Jen, we continued on through Immigration. All simple and straightforward but, this time we had to go through the full body scan process which we haven’t done before.
Whilst your bags, etc are being x-rayed, you walk into this clear glass circular booth, place your feet on the footpads on the floor, put your arms up in the air like you have been caught in a hold-up, and wait the few seconds for the all-clear to be given. Pretty space-age. Felt like James Bond! 😊
It is my ambition in life that, one of these days, I am going to catch a flight that actually leaves from Gate 1. I don’t think there is a Gate 1. I have never seen a Gate 1; we have never left from a Gate 1; therefore, I don’t think it exists. It’s got to be a myth!
...... and, you're not going to get Gate 1 this time either ……… Gate 60!!
By the time we had walked like what felt like miles to the end of the terminal, we were right in time for boarding.
Pushing out from the terminal 10 minutes late, we
were finally off the ground at 7.10pm and on our way.
Approximately 9 hours flying time to Bangkok, we had plenty of time to relax after the day we had just had. Once settled, the first thing you do is to check out the entertainment guide.
You would think that 17 hours was plenty of time to view stuff but, with 378 movies to choose from, it’s really not all that long at all .
When Ted and I travel, we always request an aisle seat and a window seat – the window seat for me because I’m nosy and like to look out at stuff and Ted has the aisle seat so that he can stretch out his legs.
Many aircraft’s seating configuration is 3 seats on either side of the aircraft. Those times that there is a seat between us, airport check-in staff will always point out that there could be someone sitting between us. Ted will always respond with, “That’s okay, that means that I won’t have to talk to her.” We do get some funny looks at times. ?
Upon leaving Sydney we were lucky enough to have a spare seat
between us which enabled me to be able to stretch out with my feet on Ted’s knees and grab a couple of hours sleep. Not being one of the lucky ones who normally can sleep on planes, this was sheer bliss. Also being able to stretch out felt good on my fragile back.
Our route took us over the coast of the Northern Territory (Darwin); across Indonesia; Borneo; South Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh City) to Bangkok.
Crossing the Australian coastline 10-50pm Sydney time– 3 hrs and 50 mins into the flight – a third of our flying time we had still been flying over Australia.
We arrived into Bangkok at 4-15am our time, (1-15am local time) just ahead of a huge thunderstorm and flashes of lightning which we could see on our approach into Bangkok airport. No sooner were we on the ground than the heavens opened into a severe tropical downpour.
As the First Officer said it was to be a quick turnaround (30 mins), Ted and I (among others) opted to stay on the plane instead of getting off. No sooner had some of the passengers departed when a small army of airport personnel
and cleaners swooped onto the plane. I felt sorry for them having to clean around those of us still on-board, thereby making their job that much harder but, guess that they are used to it.
Small things – whilst waiting, I contented myself with watching the airport activities going on around us but, one of the things that I delighted in, was watching the rain tumbling down outside my window. It looked so good and everything was so wet that, not having seen rain in Oz for months now and with everything there so dry, it was a feast for the eyes.
Our “quick turnaround” turned out to be not so quick and, 2 hours later, we were once more back in the air, heading for Dubai.
Our route taking us from Bangkok, across the Andaman Sea and over the coastline of India, just north of Hyderabad and Mumbai then straight into Dubai. Flying time from Bangkok is 5 hours, 45 minutes or, near enough to 6 hours.
We have had quite a bit of turbulence since leaving Sydney so, have travelled most of the time with our seat belts on.
Food has been good
– as far as airline food goes. They even brought a menu around for us to see what we were having. It’s been a long time (years) since I have had that on a flight. Dinner was herbed chicken with Spanish risoni, peas and carrots, as well as a small lentil salad; chocolate and vanilla cake for dessert, cheese and crackers, etc.
Breakfast at 7-50am our time (4-50am local time) was OJ and a spanish chicken omelette, seasonal fruit salad, a croissant and jam etc. For me, the meals have been quite substantial and I haven’t yet managed to eat a full meal.
This is our virgin Emirates flight and the service has been good without being spectacular. They truly are an international airline with flight crew and cabin staff, coming from many different countries. We are flying on a B-777 aircraft. Sydney to Bangkok was good as we had the spare seat in between us but, on this leg, a gentleman has joined us. Rats!!
On this leg (Bangkok to Dubai) our captain is from Jersey; the First Officer from Italy and senior cabin crew from India, South Africa and Kenya. Judging from the accents of
the flight attendants, they come from all over – Europe, Asia, Australia and Africa etc.
Flying at 10,363 metres with a ground speed of 941kph and an outside temperature of -41 deg. Glad I’m not sitting on the wing! On this leg, we also have a 37kph tailwind.
After approximately 17 hours after leaving Sydney, we began our descent into Dubai at day-break and were on the ground at 6am. First impressions from the air, apart from how flat the landform is and the chalky-white colour of the countryside and also the buildings, was the amount of construction going on. Buildings are going up everywhere.
Getting through Customs and Immigration was fairly painless and, after getting some local currency, we made contact with Arabian Adventures, our local representative.
A 20 minute trip to the Movenpick Deira hotel near the airport had us at our accommodation for the next three days.
Whilst completing check-in, I heard Ted say, “What are you doing here?” and turned to see who he was talking to and didn’t recognise the man at all. Not that that is unusual. Ted chats to everyone.
Later, when I asked who it was,
it turned out to be the AMP agent in Port Moresby who Ted used to deal with on trips there for work over 20 years ago. I had met John a couple of times back then but, we are all a lot older and greyer these days so, hadn’t recognised him. He and his wife were on their way back home to Oz from a safari in Tanzania and had just spent a couple of days in Dubai on their way back.
I got used to my husband a long time ago. For many years now, it seems it doesn’t matter where in the world we travel. Sooner, or later, he always runs into someone he knows.
Small world …….
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John and Sylvia
John Wallace & Sylvia Bowman Wallace
Emirates...
...is a great airline. We fly with them whenever we need to fly somewhere. Shame you took the round-about route, though. The direct flight is a lot shorter. Sounds as though you are off to a good start. If you get a chance, go on one of the sand dune treks. They're a lot of fun.