I reached Dubai at 7:00 Dubai time. I was little bit of sleepy and wanted also to make sure I stayed fit for the final disaster - Casablanca airport wait..
However Dubai airport was biiiigggg. If you had seen Home Alone, I bet this airport is much busier ( and scarier ) than the one in the film.
I madet ot he lounge. Though it was fully occupied, i found it to be absolutely superb. The facilities and they atmosphere there really made me relax. normally while I am at the airport, those precious 1 hour seemed to walk away so fast. However, here the case was really different. I got to have some breakfast and some cappuchino. Then I read the news papers. I was always checking the time to make sure that I reached on time at the terminal.
At about 30 minutes before the check in, I went to the Dubai Duty Free. That duty free was also really superb. But since I was not in the mood of buying, I could not check the prices of most of the objects of desire. Also I could not note down the exchange rates and compare the price with other country.
I bought a book called "The Argumentative Indian" by the Nobel proze winner Amarthya Sen. This was to keep me occupied during the wait at the airport of Casablanca. Then I made a big mistake, I heard them announce "Casablanca". The Duty free was between terminal 20 and 18 and I had to reach terminal 1. I made a dash to the terminal. I had company of some other expats also trying to rush throught he terminals. I took nearly 10 minutes of fast walking to reach the terminal 1. I guess that transalates to about 600 to 800 metres of airport space. I was out of breath when I reached the plane.
Emirates is rated as one of the best in the world. I really can attest to that. My flight from Kuwait to Dubai and Dubai to Casablanca was really good (among the best I ever took). The food they served was class. The wine they served was exquisite. Even the dessert delightful. In fact I chose to have the dessert twice. The air hostess then asked me if the dessert was fantastic. I replied that it was perfect for the food it accompanied with. She gave me an extra helping of the chocolate both white and black.
Its not only food, but the service they gave was also superb ( I think I am getting out of adjectives).
during introduction of the staff, Iwas astounded by the number of languages the staff could handle - Eng, Arabc, French , Spanish,Hindi ,Bengali, Russian and Italian. Also they do care for their passengers very much in terms of assisting and talking with them.
On reaching Casablanca at about 12:30 pm, I made way to the VIP lounge. Air Maroc told that they will ot arrange any hotel stay.So I had to stay in the airport for about 10 hours. The VIP lounge was good, but then to my shock the plug was not compatible with my adapter. I am stuck - No internet ( except the crap terminals present over the lounge), no music, no cinema, no work .. nothing to do.... except sit and eat and watch french TV ( yes thats right Morrocco was a Frech capital, therefore uses french along with Arabic.) , browse ( not read ) French newspapers.
This trip was good till I reached Casablanca. Then started disaster in my travel plans, plane was delayed for 30 minutes. The connecting plane was not good. The air hostess announces everything in Frenchand Arabic only. The food was crappier. The seats bored out. I could not catch a wink of sleep. When the plane reached an airstrip, the air hostess announced something. I got off the plane and went to the immigratin dept. They asked me with whom I am working- I answered Celtel Sierra Leone. They said that this country is Liberia ( my God ). I was cursing the air hostess for this incident. Then I took the plane and reached Sierra Leone 1 hour later.
To reach the mainland I had to take a helicopter ride from the airport to the mainland. Then I joined the organisation for my work.
Signing off with travel weary eyes,
Miju
3 days ago
