This morning I left very early 0630 flight. The corniche was closed due to a sporting event, so the Uber to the airport needed to take an alternate route. My seat to London… Picked specifically at the bulkhead to avoid climbing over someone’s legs or having them climb over me. The waffle was not very…
Category: Middle East
Muscat, Oman to Doha, Qatar
Today I flew from Muscat, Oman to Doha, Qatar on Oman Air. I took a picture of West bay along the corniche while in the Uber. I am staying at the Marriott Marquis as usual. It’s very nice and connects to the City Centre mall, which is very convenient when the temperature outside is 50°C.
Etihad Towers – Abu Dhabi
I finally went up in the observation deck in the Etihad Towers in Abu Dhabi. The view was good, but nothing to celebrate about. The windows were also a little dirty making photos less sharp.
Houston to Abu Dhabi
I am traveling to Abu Dhabi today (luckily before the British Airways industrial action which cancelled many flights).
Doha, Qatar
This Friday I decided to explore the new (and almost finished) National Museum of Qatar. The building is supposed to look like a desert rose.
Abu Dhabi to Dubai
Today I drove from Abu Dhabi to Dubai to get my flight to London. I decided to do some touristy things today that I never do although I’m always in Dubai. On the way up at the border I stopped at ‘Last Exit’. It’s a bunch of food trucks…. Even a Hardee’s and KFC… I…
Abu Dhabi
Today I drove from the desert to Abu Dhabi. I’m staying at the Yas Hotel (used to be called the Viceroy) which is at the Viceroy) which is at the Formula 1 track. e Viceroy) which is at the Formula 1 track.
Doha, Qatar to Geneva, Switzerland
A simple overnight flight on Qatar Airways. Tomorrow I’ll be arriving in Geneva and then driving to Lyon, France.
Return from Doha, Qatar
When I checked in for my flight this morning I was disappointed… I got the special ‘SSSS’ on my LHR-IAH flight. For those who don’t know what that means, it’s the supposedly randomly selected security screening which is performed at the gate. My visa stamp… I thought this shot through the vinyl on the jet…
Doha, Qatar
I took the opportunity to take some photos while the weather was good.
Arrival in Doha, Qatar
It was a day where nearly everything went wrong… I was woken up by a flight attendant for ‘my meal’. However it was obviously someone else’s meal because nothing on the tray was what I requested. Next I accidentally got on the wrong bus. I went from T5 to T2 which wasn’t terribly long, however…
Houston to Doha, Qatar
I’m off to Doha, Qatar today. I’m flying on British Airways to London and then Qatar Airways to Qatar. Surprisingly enough the queue at TSA was very short even though the government shutdown means they are working without getting paid. The British Airways flight is a nice Boeing 787-9 which is good because my eyes…
Muscat, Oman to the desert… plus Nizwa
I traveled to the desert today by car. I was able to stop briefly in Nizwa on the way and visit the fort. It had a number of great artifacts in the collection and was very well preserved (unlike most castles in Europe). …
Back to Oman
It will be a couple of long days…. I will arrive late in Dubai and still need to connect to Oman…. where I may or may not have a hotel room (long story). My ‘coffin’ for the next few hours… if you are clostrophobic you should fly economy!
Muscat, Oman
I have about 6 hours before my flight to Oman after arriving in Doha, Qatar. I attempted to get into the Qatar Airways busines class lounge, but logic doesn’t work in the Middle East. Since my next flight is on Oman Air they would only let me in the other airline lounge which is not too good. So I went through immigration and customs and stayed in the quiet and empty Qatar Airways arrivals lounge. I even took a nice shower and changed clothes. A few pictures from the sky. Oman has beautiful
Round the World… segment 3: DXB (Dubai) to HKG (Hong Kong)
After a nearly 4 hour car ride to the Dubai Airport from the empty quarter of Abu Dhabi I am flying on Cathay Pacific through Hong Kong to Tokyo, Japan. If my flight is on time I plan to escape the airport briefly as I have 6 hours between my flights. The seats…
Round the world… segment 2 LHR (London) to AUH (Abu Dhabi)
The food available in the British Airways lounge was not very good. You might have noticed… my ticket says British Airways, but the plane says Air Belgium. I’m not exactly sure why, but British Airways has wet leased the plane including the flight attendants and pilots from Air Belgium. The…
The impossible turn (yes, again) Abu Dhabi, UAE to Doha, Qatar
I embarked once again to Doha from Abu Dhabi. Oman Air has gotten smarter and now flies a much larger plane between Muscat and Doha. The plane on the tarmac got a bit warm. I managed to make it to Doha without any problem. I’m staying at the Marriott Marquis City Center. They upgraded…
Abu Dhabi and Yas Island
My day started with a quick visit to the US Embassy (I don’t mean the one with the golden arches). I was inside for maybe 5 minutes and left with a second passport. It’s only good for 2 years, but at least now I have something I can send away for visas. In the…
Ritz Carlton [Abu Dhabi, UAE]
I was lucky enough to escape the desert for a few days. The rate at the Ritz Carlton was insane… 385 dirhams a night… It’s nearly impossible to stay at a 3 star hotel in the states for that. A few pictures from and of the room… …