We're on our way!

To South Africa via Emirates air from Seattle to Dubai. This is not the photo I chose to post but now I have to experiment with what works. My RAW files, frustratingly, aren't working on the iPad. (The message tells me there is no exif data, but when I check on the iPhoto app, that exif data is there. Any ideas?) and I've done it this way before -NYC. :-)). So I'm going to try this one, taken with the iPad of the little screen in front if my seat on the very long, very cramped, and uncomfortable economy flight to Dubai. Lots of movies. Not much sleep. The little white dot is the North Pole. We were close , over Greenland.
We got to Dubai early evening actually the next day, wed, were booked into a complimentary emirates air hotel until we had to leave at 2:00am to get our plane to Johannesburg. Who could sleep? With another couple we met on our tour, we booked a driver to show us Dubai! Oh my, it was dark but from 10:00pm to 1:00am we saw what we could see. Not sure I can make the photo work. Might have to wait til I get home. What a new,tall, exploding city this is!!!! I think it should be enjoyed properly from a boat on the sea - the beaches are great. The architecture is worth looking up. I can't see that there is any thoughts about urban planning. We did go thru the old Islamic part --- how it was til recently-12years?... Hope to manage a picture of the tallest building in the world .. It has the largest dancing fountain in the world in front with a great show ( Seattle center could be envious, but here the kids can't get close and soaked, so I suppose ours still has the edge...)
I never even tested the bed in the ugly Dubai room- took a shower and back to the airport- to wait for a delayed take off for Johannesburg.
Now to test a different file for thurs... It's pretty confusing to even know what day it is.....

Now speaking of which , this blip refuses to post with the date oct 9 when it was taken also. Some odd thing going on here - but I'm going to try it just to let some of you know we are here -well and happy and excited - and I will try to work something out tomorrow - or back blip. It's almost like it's an app problem, but it was the same with blipster.
Musings, any ideas??

Edit: Ok I see at least this got posted, if not the right day. I will of course plan to put these 3 days of photos I wanted to post on flicker later.... Thurs here in Johannesburg was the 1st Internet I could use, and also the first nap!
Our hotel here near the airport is astonishing. I'm not only not sure of the time or day, but I'm not sure if I am in Rome, ancient Egypt or Las Vegas! This is a huge complex with casino, and food couts and fountains, and copies of famous paintings by poussin and turner and Bellini', and sculptures by michaelangelo. Not sure what to make of it... Peermont D'Oreale grande.