Dubai 12 June 2015

I discovered quite early on that one of my main problems with Caring was the fact that I didn't have a home base. On my time off  I either had to beg accommodation from friends, who are incredibly kind, but you don't want to pitch up and announce that you've got flu. It tests the boundaries of friendship! Or find alternative accommodation somewhere else. It makes for a pretty rootless existence. After getting sick again and having to make a decision about what I was going to do I caught a flight back to Cape Town. The flight was an hour late leaving Gatwick and it never caught up the time so I missed my connecting flight in Dubai.

This must happen pretty often with Emirates as they appear to have part ownership in the hotel they put me up in. The hotel was adequate in a chain hotel kind of way, but the worst part was the temperature outside as you can see in on my mobile. The staff suggested I go shopping as my luggage had been mislaid as well and I hadn't even thought of the possibility of a delay so I had nothing useful in my hand luggage at all - that'll teach me. There was absolutely no way I was leaving the air conditioning!  I begged a travel toothbrush kit off reception, washed the undies and went to bed.  I didn't get to go out but I had pretty good views from the hotel.

We had to leave the hotel at 1 in the morning as the flight was at around 3am. It was still 35 degrees outside! The amazing thing was that all the construction sites were lit up as bright as day and buzzing with construction workers. I suppose it makes sense. Quite bizarre though.

The airport was also a hive of activity. People were shopping like there was no tomorrow.

I quite like flying Emirates but it's a really long way round and if you miss your connection you are going to sweat!