Well we're on our way. Wellington to Auckland and a six hour wait for the Emirates flight via Sydney to Dubai. Apparently it was a bit windy in Sydney so only one runway was open, instead of two, and we, like everybody else, ended up circling for about 40 minutes in a stacked display of fireflies. Everybody off the plane and wandering around as all the shops in the transit lounge rapidly shut up shop. Forty-five minutes back on the same plane and the same seats. George booked bulkhead seats which are great as you don't even have to disturb our fellow passenger in the aisle seat to get out. Bit more wriggle room for George's long legs.
This was the first time that I've flown on a Pacific Blue plane (from Wellington), the first time in an Airbus a380, first time in Dubai and probably also the first time I've gone 0.86 Mach airspeed while drinking a cup of tea. Flight statistics were up to 980 km/hr ground speed (with a 66km/hr tailwind), up to 12km above sea-level and usually about 0.85 Mach (0.86 was downhill).
The air terminal at Dubai is rather large. About half an hour to walk from where we disembarked to our boarding lounge and we haven't even walked the full length yet. All the expensive brands are on display, Armani, Geordani, Schwarofski, not sure if the Porche 911 Carera under the Duty Free sign means they will wrap one up to take with you or not. There are free showers, but you can't hire towels, and the mens showers don't even have paper towels. A real mix of nationalities and costumes which is rather fascinating to observe. Look forward to coming back for a few days on the way back. For now .... onwards.
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