My
flight to Doha is on Emirates, departing from the new Tom Bradley Terminal. I
was accompanied to the airport by my dear wife and daughter. There was a short
wait to check my bags, and I delayed my entry into the security check as long
as I could.
At
check in signs were posted that there was no food or beverage beyond the
security check. Distressing, because I hoped for a beverage to relax before
boarding. Once through (easily) I noticed that there is a great variety of
eateries inside, but they are not yet open. Only one. A bistro style
cafe called Vino Volo. Cabernet, $15.
The
aircraft is a B777 300. Everyone boarding passes through the first class
section, where passengers are cocooned into little reclining stalls that have
every possible amenity at hand. Every seat on the aircraft has seat-back
video, telephone and USB connector. Two aisles, eleven seats across.
It is
a polar route to Abu Dhabi, passing over Greenland. The "ICE" system
(information, communication, and entertainment) includes movies, TV, music, and
news. I'm listening to the Beatles. Rubber Soul.
Emirates
flight attendants are everywhere. According to the announcement, more than
sixteen languages are available. They have just handed out little zippered cases
containing a travel toothbrush, toothpaste and hand towel. It is one hour into
the day-long flight.
On
the ICE is a category called "boxed sets" that includes lots of
Beatles, Bowie, Dylan, Hendrix and Zeppelin. Floyd, Stones U2. Now I'm into
Beggars Banquet. I chose an aisle seat, to make it easier to get up and move
around. Seat 43C. Luckily seat 43B is unoccupied, providing a spaciousness that
most of the other economy passengers do not have. The beverage server has just
passed by, and I'm now enjoying a 2012 Rasteau (red wine). Everything is free,
except champagne. Dinner (or lunch) will be served soon. One of my favorite Stones
tunes is now playing. Midnight Rambler.
6:50
p.m. (Pacific Time)
We are somewhere over Canada. Meal service has begun. BBQ chicken is the entree.
Smells delicious. I wonder if there will be more hot towels to follow. Waiting
for the meal, I looked over the printed entertainment guide. It is awesome!
Hundreds if films. Thousands of songs, Thousands.
8:23
p.m.
Just
finished dinner. Excellent meal, excellent service. I'm listening to a Van
Morrison playlist. 34 songs. Right now
is "Moondance". A classic and also a favorite. The plane is somewhere
over the North Atlantic. The lights have been dimmed. The ceiling of the cabin
is backlighted with little pin holes like a night time sky. Cool. Oh, yeah.
Another Rasteau with dinner. Time to relax....
Sleeping
is on and off. I'm thankful for the earplugs and sleep mask. One of those
horseshoe-shaped pillows would have been great. The little one they provide is supremely
inadequate. I must have dozed for several hours. It is now past two a.m.
Pacific time, ten hours into the flight. Passing over Scandinavia, and less
than six hours to Abu Dhabi. Back into daylight outside, but the lights are
still dim, any many are still sleeping. I will try again.
4:20
a.m. Sleep was elusive even though I listened to an hour-long in-flight sleep
solutions recording, two times. We are passing over the Black Sea, and it seems
incredible that the landing in Dubai is still three hours away.
5:30
a.m. I had a slight headache, I would say from the noise and intermittent
sleep. When the flight attendants brought water and fruit juice down the aisle,
I asked for relief and received two Panadol tablets. Hot towels again. They've
started serving the "morning" meal. It will be 7 p.m. Local time when
we land. Listening to Santana's "Supernatural". Now passing over Baghdad.
7:26
a.m. Omelet, fruit, potatoes, juice, croissant. I passed on the coffee. I need
to sleep when I get to my final destination, the Concorde Hotel in Doha. Now 40
minutes until touchdown in Dubai. After six in the evening there.
On
the plane in Dubai, waiting to disembark. Long line down the aisle. I'm in the
44th row. On our initial approach, when less than 100 meters from the ground,
the pilot pulled up in a power climb, later explaining that another aircraft
had not cleared the runway. We circled around, providing a marvelous view of the city as the plane banked to the left, and landed without incident.
Passing
time at Gate B22 of the Dubai International Airport. The flight to Doha leaves
at 10:15, and there's a one hour time difference.
Arriving
in Doha, I was confused when we exited the plane by stair to busses, for
transfer to the terminal. Later I learned that the new International Airport is
not finished. Completion is scheduled
for 2015. Inside were two very long lines, one for GCC countries, one for
everyone else. At the end of the line, my passport and business visa were
examined, and photo was taken. Next I recovered my checked baggage, and towed
it through the terminal, past customs inspectors, finally reaching the public
concourse. Even though it was eleven o'clock, there was crowd of folks waiting
behind a glass wall, including dozens of drivers holding signs for their
intended clientele. I walked along slowly; scanning each one until finally,
near the end of the line, a sign with the KEO logo caught my eye. I nodded at
the gentleman, who eagerly accepted the larger suitcase, and towed it to his
car.
It
was a short drive to the Doha Concorde, a marvelously appointed business hotel,
where the check in was swift. I gratefully allowed the attendant to bring my
bags to room 629, tipping 10 rials, my first transaction in the foreign (to me)
currency. After a quick, hot shower, I climbed into the king size
bed, twenty one hours after departing from LAX.
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