Day 1
It felt weird today, but empty on emotions and most things seemed like a blur with moving out of the apartment I've been in for over two years and so comfortable and settled for the longest time I've been in Dubai, moving into Bonita's felt right with setting up my stuff but whilst doing that it felt a little blurred. The gym and pool was mellow and chilled and then chilling watching a movie before I left for the airport was all very relaxed not rushed and didn't really feel real. What's up with me?
Got to the airport in record time my Nepalese twice driver was very good, finally a decent driver that knows how to drive and knows the roads for that matter! He was worried about traffic and me not getting to the airport in time, I completely forgot about Iftar time and it being busier on the road, he did get me there in record timing shaving 15 minutes off the original arrival time though!
Terminal 2 is the shabby terminal of the 3, it's however been done up slightly, only one queue to go through for checking in which is typical considering I have priority boarding, a family of Romanians tried to push in before I put my beak in it and told them there was only one queue, he did reply that he was looking for priority, he did end up looking at all angles for a while in the queue before going around to the check in desk, by this time I was half way through the queue reading my book so there wasn't much time in me following around. I probably would have got in a shouting match with the tall lanky daughter aswell. I proceeded to read my book instead and wait patiently. Everything was easy from this point through border control which sees you go through the smart gates. Only alarming thing here though was that I didn't put my passport on the scanner, the camera was able to tell it was me by the photo it took with my eyes. How the f**k! That's very worrying not smart.
Security was easy peasy and I proceeded to jones the grocer for obligatory pint before the flight, only trouble with this place is that it's tiny and you have to fight for a table, debating whether to find a seat before going to the queue or other way around because even though we are in Dubai do we trust terminal 2 to not have thieves?
I took the wild card and got the table first but took my handbag with me, not long and I was able to spot it. The dilemma of travelling alone!
Very tired and lethargic again, the pint went down but not as nice as it usually would. I think I just need a cwtch.
Afterwards I had only about 20 minutes before boarding would be called. I had a pee and walked to the vending machine to get a packet of maltesers, gone are the days of fishing for change in your pocket to get a packet out or sticking your hand up the bottom flap to get something out, it has a bloody apply pay tag now. Brilliant.
Got to the queue, the sign read passengers with infants, so I waited a little and then that rude family turned up and the husband with his two Romanian gypsy dressed wives, I'm sure their crystal balls would be in their luggage!
Damn it let's just walk down the family aisle and see what they say… nothing actually so I skipped the queue. Lovely! Only I was the last person to miss the bus going to the plane so I had to wait for one. And of course I sit on the wrong side of the bus to the door to get off first and up the stairs. I'm sat in 2c but the bloody over head compartments were full by me so I had to pack my bag away two rows down, that will be fun when I have to get someone to pull it out when we land! Haha.
The rude family were split up but two sat near to me, weirdos.

Fast boarding, we must have people with airline etiquette… well was I wrong. I've never seen so many people get up and down for the god damn toilet on a flight during the night, the lady behind me seemed to enjoy tugging on the table, seat or farting about with the net pocket on my chair, my foot would get kicked or rolled over by the hostess or people walking to the toilet, the lady next me hogged the arm rest entire flight, the man in front of me tipped his red wine over the floor in the aisle which flicked on my foot waking me up for the 109th time. Not a pleasant chilled flight as I'd hope. Oh also got a bit of a dicky tummy so I'll be going up to the smelly dirty toilet more than once I'm sure, just aswell join in the mad house wizz club!

Get me off this damn flight and into a bed!!

I did manage to sleep for the last hour and half and woke up when we bounced aggressively onto the runway with a fear that we had fallen because I couldn't get my bearings. It took a while to taxi and get to the gate, looked like it had been raining by the floor!

As soon as the belt sign went off I bounced up to go grab my bag to avoid people pushing in front of me but one arrogant miserable man pushed his way passed me almost knocking me onto the passenger sat down and then ramming himself in between my row and row 1 stopping people from getting up to get their bags, such an idiot! Turns out we all caught him up at border control and in fact passed him anyways, my karma sarcastic smile and eyes said it all to him.

The airport or part of it seemed brand spanking new until you got passed border control and down the walking escalator towards baggage claim, it all began to look very old and worn and the WiFi stopped working and then when you arrived in baggage claim it was 5 belts, low ceiling pissy toilets and no security to get through to arrival hall. Haha this is more like Europe! Border control wasn't very tough to get through either, why are you hear and how long for? Okay stamp and goodbye! I think the passport plays a lot of help, an Indian or Pakistani guy next to me said he was visiting family here and they were questioning him a lot.

Waiting on a seat for the baggage, people watched all the Romanians wandering around. Some you could tell returning from holidays and some visiting Romania and their family here from Dubai, without sounding rude it's the clothing and style that deters them for sure, oh and the merchandise they carry like the Dubai camel and I love Dubai key rings haha.

My bag was 10th out, beat the rude guys waiting. Haha! Came oh to arrival hall, couldn't see my taxi driver, WiFi wasn't working and the information woman was no help on WiFi or calling the driver. 2am gone and I'm tired and frustrated. As I walk across the hall he magically appears, he must have been outside having a cigarette or sitting down somewhere surely! Across to the car it had definitely been raining but this stopped the temperature from being so cold I think, it was fresh but not freezing. The drive was pleasant and quiet until we got down into old town after about 20 minutes, it was Saturday night and the Romanians like to party! My gosh it was busy of party goes, taxis everywhere and police wandering around, which made me feel better about walking the last 50m to my little hotel, Rembrandt hotel. It was also opposite a bank which had a police guard on it, thankfully the door was open as it was 24 hour reception. Easy peasy check in and the tiny box old fashioned lift in the cage took me to 6th floor into the single room that was clean, tidy and partially modern with a very comfy bed!

Looking forward to tomorrow afternoon and reunion with my two favourites!