The flight was from Dubai and I was expecting a lot. The 7 hours flight started with a big trouble with my luggage. In UK the luggage carrying restrictions are different and they only allow one carry on baggage including your laptop. So, I tried checking in my carry on bag and it was over weight. After a lot of struggle and a lot of arguing with Emirates, I gave up and sent back some stuff along with my brother-in-law who came to drop me off.
As soon as I got into waiting lounge at the gate, I realized that this flight was filled with families with kids. Oh my. A lot of Asian population who take connecting flights from Dubai to India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka etc. It took about 10 minutes before a kid went into this horrific fit of crying. He was literally screaming and wouldn’t stop. I swear to God, he cried like that for 2 hours of which 1 hour was in flight. A lot of people were openly covering their ears just give the parents a clue that they need to do something more than just to ask him not to cry. These are moments I wish parents carry some cough syrup with them!
Once on flight, my seat was next to the couple with kids. It was the front row with a baby bassinet in front of me. The guy who was sitting next to me was stinking with body odor. Not just your regular odor, but as I went to put my luggage in the top cabins 3 seats far away I smelled it there and wondered who it might be. Little I knew that I am the bakra who is going to sit next to him.
As I sniffed and kept clearing my nose – the guy didn’t get any clue. I am sure they have been traveling for a long time and may be didn’t had a chance to take a shower. Thanks to air conditioner, he felt cold later and put on a jacket which helped to dumb down the smell or may be it’s just that I got used to it. Eww.
I had about 3 hours of time in Dubai airport. I was surprised to see how small the airport was. I was expecting a lot from Dubai. After I made calls to India and let them know I am only couple of hours away from home – I did some duty free shopping. Just when I was thinking may be I can buy a watch for myself – my only carry on bag broke. The zip broke and it was wide open. I tried for an hour to fix it but nope. So, I opened my bag took out the ethernet cable I was carrying and tied the whole thing with it. I looked like a village dork with a bag tied up by some cable, but it worked. I also think that it might have confused the customs people in Hyderabad who stopped me for my electronic items.
Once on the flight to Hyderabad there was a lady who was sitting behind me who doesn’t like the idea of my seat being pushed back. After dinner(or whatever) I leaned back and she started knocking on it. When I asked what is her problem, she just spoke Arabic. I figured that she is having troubles with my seat. After no sleep for 20 hours, I was in a no mood t fight a belligerent arab woman.
Once off flight and clearing the immigration in Hyderabad I was marked “X” for the customs. This is where your baggage is screened and they mark “X” if they think that it might contain some expensive item in there. They customs guys called me aside and screened my luggage again. I couldn’t identify an item inside my suitcase, so I had to open it and show it to them. It was a toaster. Another item they had problem with was a Bose iPod player. I am pretty sure they had no clue what they are for. One guys checked my iPod player for a place holder for cassette or a CD.
Finally they let me go. As soon as I got outside, there was a smell. I don’t know what it was, but I guess it was smell of India and good lord lots and lots of people. Welcome to India
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