Back Into the Heat

I barely got to spend any time at all in that gorgeous room. Not only that, no time for what I’m sure was an amazing breakfast, too!

Today I’m flying with Emirates to Dubai. Emirates is unique amongst airlines in that if you’re travelling in a premium cabin on a cash ticket, you can get a complimentary car service to and from the airport at either end of your trip. My driver is at the hotel at 7 am sharp to bring me back to the airport.

It’s looking like a nice day in Bangkok as we pass some high rise apartment buildings on the motorway heading east.

Thankfully we were early enough that the traffic wasn’t bad in this direction and 35 minutes later we are – where else – back at the airport.

I love the statues inside the departures level check in hall. There’s one of these in every aisle.

Here’s a view from above, so you can see what I mean.

After passing through passport control and security, we’re out in the departures area greeted by another beautiful piece of traditional art.

There’s a few of these retail outlets built in the style of a traditional Thai house throughout the terminal.

And a pay phone that takes coins!! Last time I saw one of these was in Singapore 4 years ago.

Since I haven’t had breakfast yet, I hit the Emirates Lounge.

They’ve got a nice A380 at reception – we’ll be flying on one of these in a couple of hours.

The lounge is very spacious and has lots of natural light, the view is towards a green area in between this wing of the terminal and the main building.

The breakfast buffet was pretty good! As with Emirates whole lounge network, Moet & Chandon is the champagne on offer.

After feverishly trying to sort through some photos for one of the other blog posts (can’t remember which, now) it’s time to head down to the gate. There’s the A380 that will take us over to Dubai.

The Emirates A380 first class suite is not quite as enormous or spacious as the Singapore Airlines Suite or the Etihad Apartment, but it’s still very comfortable and has everything you need.

One thing that’s a nice touch on Emirates is the individual snack basket at each seat. The previous times I flew Emirates first I was encouraged (and did) to dump the basket into my backpack at the end of the flight. Today I won’t have room for that.

Here’s the mini bar built right into your seat for non alcoholic beverages.

Veria settles in with her pre departure beverage.

Arabic coffee, yes please!

For some reason, which I presume must be related to alcohol duties, the champagne initially served was Moet. But when the doors closed, the cabin crew member showed up at my seat and said that they could crack open the Dom now.

Yup.

Always tough to get a good pic out of these windows, but goodbye BKK!

Love that tail cam. Sadly it started malfunctioning a few minutes later and it just flickered with no visible image. It was cloudy almost the whole way to the Persian Gulf anyway, so I guess I didn’t miss much.

Here’s a look at the rest of the first class cabin. Each suite has an electronically operated door to provide extra privacy.

I’m just going to have a light snack of some salted chips with my Dom before the meal service begins.

Showtime. Part 1.

That was the best steak I’ve ever had on a plane. I could cut it with my fork!

I head back to the bar to check it out.

Here’s the refreshment and alcohol display at the front of the first cabin.

Back at my seat, I go for round 2 of caviar service while Veria enjoys some nuts.

And try a couple of different white wines along with it.

Emirates last year released an “all you can eat caviar” in first class slogan last year. I have a third portion.

And offer some to Veria – penguins like fish much better than almonds!

Here’s the star of the show – the Emirates A380 shower suite. Huge, comfortable, heated floor, high end toiletries and amenities….

Feeling fresh after that; how could you not?!

Out in the area that was previously the snack bar, is now a relaxing tea station for after your shower.

I have a bit of fruit for dessert and a few more beverages, after my tea.

And with that, we’re here in dusty, very hot Dubai.

The line for passport control at the smart gates is non existent – yay!

Here’s the glitzy baggage claim hall in Dubai’s Terminal 3.

As at the beginning of the day, there will be a complimentary car service to my hotel from the airport.

Another massive upgrade at this hotel – the Anantara Downtown Dubai. Great view of the Burj Khalifa from my windows.

They left a nice welcome gift for me but I was hardly able to eat any of it!

I take a dip in the pool to avoid melting before I go out in the evening.

My friend Kam picks me up after he finishes work and we head out of downtown.

Along the massive Sheikh Zayed Road, which is a 12-16 lane highway surrounded by skyscrapers in a number of places.

We stop at his friend’s place which is in a typical Dubai suburban neighbourhood.

Then head down to a bar in Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR) for dinner and a few drinks. It’s a spot known for its live music.

This place has a very interesting wall of old cell phones on the way to the restroom.

There’s Kam and I.

Sadly, as my body clock was several hours ahead of Dubai time I couldn’t stay as late as these guys, so I left solo and walked a bit down towards the beach on a less busy than usual Friday night. Must be too hot out.

And then get back to my room for this nice view, and quickly expire.

Up early enough so I go out walking while it’s “only” 37 degrees out.

A typical view in downtown, a street lined with apartment towers.

Dubai isn’t the worst for pedestrian friendliness but it’s not great either. This isn’t the first time I’ve encountered something like this while walking here – the sidewalk just ends for some construction project and you have to walk in the driving lanes of the road.

Nice to see a free filtered fresh water filling station to eliminate plastic waste.

Another typical street scene – tall towers, a construction project not far away…

Your typical Dubai-mobile – the G Wagon. You see more of these here than anywhere else in the world.

I’m getting close to the EMAAR Dubai Mall.

There’s the Burj Khalifa.

I pop into the mall now to dry off a bit. Nice to see the waterfall with literally no one else around since it’s so early.

And the Instagram spot, completely to myself.

Across from the mall is another shopping area in the style of a traditional souk – also by EMAAR.

Tim Hortons – there are quite a few of these here serving the Canadian expat community.

A forest of EMAAR apartment buildings surrounds the Dubai fountain. Ok, yes, I’m overdoing it a bit, but I always find it so…. interesting? that the property development companies here plaster their brand over every single building they build. The other big one is DAMAC.

A few minutes later, I sit down inside the mall for a delicious breakfast and great catchup with my friends Agathe and Mark, who also moved here from Calgary a few years ago.