Whoah, what a long travel day. I knew it was long on paper, but I really had no idea. Like Alaska, I’m hoping the work will payoff in the things I see, do, and experience. I can tell you there is a good chance my butt is bruised from sitting on airplanes 18+ hours today. My hat’s off to people who do fly like this on a regular basis. It’s like fast forwarding through pieces of your life. I did enjoy other than getting through security, making connections, etc, this is the first 24 hours in a long time I haven’t felt overwhelmed trying to keep up with all my life demands. Big waaah, Jasmine could say the same.

My Emirates flight from DFW to Dubai was an experience. I’m so glad I paid the extra $135 to get a front row economy seat; I could stretch my legs and get out to hit the restroom without crawling over people. The plane was nice, the attendants well mannered and educated. I was provided 3 meals that while still airline food, they were better than average. Attendants regularly made rounds with water and juices for any who wanted. We had good service on our American flight to London in 2012, but this seemed at the next level to me.

This continued at the Emirates main terminal. After getting through a quick connections security check, we were basically dumped out into a huge duty free mall that would give American high end shopping areas stiff competition. Jewelry, fashion, you name it. Elaborate waterfall building features, everything spotless.

Then… I had to transfer to my Fly Dubai terminal. First, I had to take a train to gates B/C. Then a short hike, and a lengthy airside bus ride to gate F. If you have to transfer to gate F at Dubai, allot plenty of time. Gate F is a different world; crowded, less clean, well worn. You wouldn’t believe it’s the same airport if you saw the gate pictures together. You are ultimately queued up by bus to shuttle to the airplane and walk up the “stairs on wheels”.

While Fly Dubia is fully adequate, it is just a huge difference coming off that Emirates flight.

Boarding the plane to Kathmandu, I gave up my window seat to a 4 year old girl (Uplah) from the Ukraine so her whole family could sit together. At the end of the flight she gave me a sucker and thanked me.

I’m typing this up an hour out from Kathmandu. That means I’ve been up 28+ hours at this point. I caught a few Z’s on the Kathmandu leg, but I couldn’t sleep on the way to Dubai. And it’s a horrible idea to sleep on your own at a foreign airport. I’ve got maybe 3 hours total sleep since 6:30 Friday morning.. I just need to be alert enough to get my Visa, get through customs, and get picked up by my trekking company. Then I get some rest. But for a software engineer, an all nighter isn’t too much of a stranger.

I was going to cover the trip to the hotel here, but I think that will have to be another post!