No Room at the Inn

I could live on long haul flights!

The flight from Glasgow to Dubai was my longest spell in an aircraft to date and will remain so for, ooooooh another hour or so until I take off on the second leg to Melbourne. It was a lot different experience to the budget airlines I've experienced before and combined three of my all time favourite things to do. Eat, sleep and watch films! Did I say that I could live on long haul flights! :-)

The flight itself was pretty much uneventful. The lumbering giant seemed to take an age to get going. Alternating between watching out of the window and the forward facing camera, it really didn't seem like we were rolling fast enough. However, the aircraft rotated at least a couple of hundred yards from the end of the tarmac. Easy! A wee bit of turbulence as we drove through the muck over Scotland but aside from that, it was very smooth. Our flight path took us across to Denmark and down over Eastern Europe, across the Black Sea, Turkey, Iraq and down the Persian gulf to Dubai. Seat 29K made me Johnny on the spot, right over the trailing edge of the wing. If a fire was going to break out on the number two engine, I'd be the one to spot it first! :-)

Dinner was served at 11:30, a three course meal that consisted of some trout in a creamy sauce with green flecks which stayed sealed in its box (I'm not a big fan of unidentified white sauces), a grilled chicken in peppercorn sauce and a pear and fudge brownie desert covered in chocolate sauce for desert. Biscuits and cheese, a cup often and a waaaafer thin chocolate (unfortunately not mint) finished of what was a lovely meal and a far cry from sticking your hand in your pocket for a bag of crisps and an unappetising sandwich, I can tell you!

The lure of the film collection on the in flight entertainment system was too great and certainly beat the need or will to sleep. First up was the excellent Jack Reacher. I'd heard good things about this and although (according to a friend who is a big fan of the books) Tom Cruise does not measure up to the aforementioned hero, I thought he played the part well and I'm sure it won't be long before the tag line of "Jack's back!" will be flitting across our screens. The second selection was pure action popcorn. You know, the "check your brain at the door and just go with the flow" kind of offering. Olympus Has Fallen was a jolly romp of a movie starring Gerard Butler with another dodgy American accent. All this film watching meant I only had a couple of hours of the flight left, and much as I tried to get comfy, it just wasn't happening. I dozed for a while but didn't really get into a proper snore. My ribs were safe on this flight. All I can say is, poor folks on the flight to Melbourne! :-)

Arrival into Dubai was a wonderful sight. A little after 7:30am local time, the sun was up and warming the ground to a balmy 32 degrees! Crossing the coast, it's desert as far as the eye can see, spotted with patches of green, buildings of all sorts and the black macadam of the highways. It was a wonderful sight as the big fat wing dropped to reveal an eclectic mix of skyscrapers and flat or domed roof buildings. There was a hive of activity on the ground as vehicles went about their morning routines. A smooth landing into "Emirates Central" was enhanced with a wee race down the taxiway with another triple seven. Unfortunately they got an early lead and never gave it up. Arrival at the terminal was delayed slightly while we waited for our spot to be cleared by another aircraft, but a short while later, I was wandering through the magnificent terminal building. Clean, bright and so big that it dwarfed the departing masses, it has to be said that it is a very impressive structure. Another first when I had to take a train from the arrival gate to the departure gate for my transfer. Today's shot is of one of the wonderful huge arched windows that line the sides of the amazing tear shaped terminal building.

First glitch of the day came as I went through the second tier bag check (the normal X-ray was done before I was allowed through to the gate). I opened my bag for inspection and out popped my electric toothbrush. I should say the bottom part of my toothbrush. It had missed the checked luggage pack. It was looked at with disdain by the security guard and turned off and on. What is this? Still not satisfied, the supervisor was called over. It was looked at with disdain by the security guard and turned off and on. What is this? It passed a final inspection. I obviously have a trusting face. 2 for 2 with airport officialdom.

Well, I'm sitting here now, waiting to board the flight. Take off is supposed to be at 09:50, less than 20 minutes from now. Something tells me we might be a little delayed. No wifi here, so this will be a backblip. Judging from the crowd waiting, it's going to be another full flight. This leg will be on the big double decker A380. I'm in seat 86K. Yep, row 86! I think that must put me right in the tail! I suspect it might take longer to walk through this plane than it took to get from arrivals to departures. I wonder if they have a wee train on board... Time to see how Qantas measures up to Emirates.

Onwards to Melbourne. Almost there! :-)

Thanks for all your lovely comments to yesterday's blip. As I write this epilogue on Friday night, I'm probably going to be able to blip today's shot before I flake out. The connection here is terrible too. This will be my third attempt to upload. And I'm paying for it. And it's extortionate! A necessary evil tonight though.