I woke up at 4 am today. I have no idea why. It's almost like I am jetlagged, but I am still home, and I haven't left for Dhaka. So, what woke me up? I have no idea. Fun fun fun.
I tried falling back asleep but it didn't work, so I figured I would youtube for a little bit. That's when I remembered that one of the Dhaka people I have been emailing back and forth with sent me some Bangladeshi music, and I figured I'd embed my favorite song of the bunch.
The girl is almost like a Bdeshi Mariah Carey. Almost. She's a thick girl, kinda like Mariah, and the first thing I thought of when I heard the song was: hmm that sounds like Mariah. I don't know why. Mariah... she could hit a high note back in the day. Not any more though, which is kind of a shame.
Of all the Bdeshi music videos I watched today, I think this one is my favorite of the bunch. Not that the song is super awesome or anything, but it's just that I don't dig the rest of the music she sent me. Maybe the Bdeshi local music is more of an acquired taste; maybe Bdeshi music is not for everyone. Or maybe I just haven't been exposed to the good stuff yet which, in my opinion, is a much better explanation.
Speaking of music that isn't for everyone, the new Passion Pit album is out already. I have been listening to their song Sleepyhead for like months now. I am saving the new album, Manners, for the Dubai leg of my flight to Dhaka, and really, there isn't a better distraction when you are on a 13-hour flight than an album you've been dying to hear for months.
Here's the video for Sleepyhead.
I've been playing around with the layout and the setup of the blog. Today, I figured I would try video embedding and see if it works. Another thing I've trying lately is this cool little app called statcounter. Statcounter tells you how many people - and when it says people, it means real people and not google bots, yahoo spiders or any other creepy crawlies - have visited your blog. Well, it turns out that quite a few people in Bangladesh (and a rare few in the US, from places all over the map, like California, North Carolina and Florida) have been reading my blog. Most of you have come back to read all the updates, which is a good thing. The more of a following you have on the blogosphere, the more you feel encouraged to update on a regular basis, so I am definitely psyched.
Well, if there's anything you, my readers, would want me to blog about, or if you have any suggestions on how I could improve my blog, please let me know. Donny had some great advice in a comment he left in my last blog post. Elaine, Kristin, Ihtisham and Ishy were very helpful in answering some of the questions I had asked in previous posts about Dhaka. A BIG thank you to you all.
I plan on uploading some videos on my blog when I'm in Dhaka. From what I understand, upload speed might be a bit of problem there, but I'll try regardless.
Well, I hope you all enjoyed the music, and have a delightful weekend.
Friday, May 22, 2009
Monday, May 18, 2009
Sports and TV shows
As you might have noticed, I haven't been posting on a regular basis in my blog. The main reason for that is because I want this blog to be a depository of information so when someone wants to take the same giant leap as me and move to Bangladesh, they would at least have some idea of what they are getting into. Another reason is that I want this blog to be about Bangladesh and my experience in Bangladesh. Since I am not there yet, all I have are a ton of questions, and no real answers, and I won't really have those answers until I am there myself. So, the regular updates would have to wait until I get to Dhaka.
I've read quite a few blogs that have given me a sense of how things are in Dhaka, Bangladesh. I kind of know what to expect when I am there. For instance, one of the blogs I was reading the other day was talking about following football scores online in Bangladesh. It's one of my favorite blogs because the writer is just so meticulously thorough about every little detail you feel like you are there with him. When I can find a link to that particular blog post, I'll share it with you all. Anyway, the point I was trying to get at is I love football and when I say football, I mean football of the NFL variety, not soccer. I am surprised that not a single blog about Dhaka or Bangladesh in general mentions watching football games. Is it because none of the games are aired over there? Are they, perhaps, available only on pay-per-view channels? Someone please shed some light on this. Also, what about the NBA? The NBA finals will start around the same time I move to Dhaka, and I'd like to be able to watch them, if possible.
I don't watch much TV. I watch football and basketball games, and watch a handful of shows (but usually only if they are on when I happen to turn the TV on). I really only watch Entourage, How I Met Your Mother, South Park, Man vs Wild and No Reservations with Anthony Bourdain. I told you I only watch a handful of shows. See?
Are any of these shows aired over there? Do any of you watch TV when you are in Bangladesh? You know, for all the different things I've read people blogging about, TV shows in Bangladesh are completely ignored. I have no idea why. Is it because everyone is too busy to watch TV, or is it because the shows there are crappy? Or maybe it's because most expats aren't familiar with their TV shows. I have no clue, but I promise I will post about my experience when I am in Bangladesh.
Oh yeah, one last question before I sign off, and this one's completely unrelated to football or basketball or TV shows. The question is about blogging etiquette. I've added a bunch of Bangladesh blogs to my list of favorites, and whenever they are updated, I get a notification. Usually, I'd read them and comment, but now, I am not so sure if that's proper blogging etiquette. For instance, I just noticed that I am the only person to comment in like two consecutive posts in a blog; there's a new post and I want to comment on it, but I am not sure if that's appropriate blogging protocol. So, what do you all think? I have a feeling I am overthinking this, but since I am new to the world of blogging, I'd rather overthink a minor problem than cross a boundary I'm not supposed to. Know what I mean?
I've read quite a few blogs that have given me a sense of how things are in Dhaka, Bangladesh. I kind of know what to expect when I am there. For instance, one of the blogs I was reading the other day was talking about following football scores online in Bangladesh. It's one of my favorite blogs because the writer is just so meticulously thorough about every little detail you feel like you are there with him. When I can find a link to that particular blog post, I'll share it with you all. Anyway, the point I was trying to get at is I love football and when I say football, I mean football of the NFL variety, not soccer. I am surprised that not a single blog about Dhaka or Bangladesh in general mentions watching football games. Is it because none of the games are aired over there? Are they, perhaps, available only on pay-per-view channels? Someone please shed some light on this. Also, what about the NBA? The NBA finals will start around the same time I move to Dhaka, and I'd like to be able to watch them, if possible.
I don't watch much TV. I watch football and basketball games, and watch a handful of shows (but usually only if they are on when I happen to turn the TV on). I really only watch Entourage, How I Met Your Mother, South Park, Man vs Wild and No Reservations with Anthony Bourdain. I told you I only watch a handful of shows. See?
Are any of these shows aired over there? Do any of you watch TV when you are in Bangladesh? You know, for all the different things I've read people blogging about, TV shows in Bangladesh are completely ignored. I have no idea why. Is it because everyone is too busy to watch TV, or is it because the shows there are crappy? Or maybe it's because most expats aren't familiar with their TV shows. I have no clue, but I promise I will post about my experience when I am in Bangladesh.
Oh yeah, one last question before I sign off, and this one's completely unrelated to football or basketball or TV shows. The question is about blogging etiquette. I've added a bunch of Bangladesh blogs to my list of favorites, and whenever they are updated, I get a notification. Usually, I'd read them and comment, but now, I am not so sure if that's proper blogging etiquette. For instance, I just noticed that I am the only person to comment in like two consecutive posts in a blog; there's a new post and I want to comment on it, but I am not sure if that's appropriate blogging protocol. So, what do you all think? I have a feeling I am overthinking this, but since I am new to the world of blogging, I'd rather overthink a minor problem than cross a boundary I'm not supposed to. Know what I mean?
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Airbus 380, transit in Dubai and a last hurrah
This post has been edited to include the aftermath of the flight and my experience with Emirates and the Dubai International Airport. The first half of it was written before I left the US. The second half was written within weeks of my arrival in Bdesh. Since my camera is no longer functional, as I mentioned in another blog post, I lost - along with other things - all the pictures I took during my trip from New York City to Dhaka, Bangladesh. So I apologize for not being able to do the photo essay I promised in the first half of this post.
========
As you all know, I will be flying to Dhaka, Bangladesh soon. The itinerary looks a little messy and complicated, so I will spare you the details and just get to the crux of this post: the journey from New York City to Dubai aboard Emirates' Airbus 380, and the long wait for transit in the Dubai airport.
Currently, Emirates operates its flights out of NYC to Dubai on two different 'planes: the Airbus 380 and the Boeing 777. They started flying the airbus on this route only about a year ago. Due to financial constraints, however, the airlines will pull the airbus from the NYC-Dubai route effective June 1. You know what that means? That means I will be flying on board one of, if not, the last Emirates Airbus-380 to fly from NYC to Dubai. Pretty nifty, eh?
After all this talk about the Airbus-380, you must be wondering what the big deal is. I mean, isn't it JUST another aircraft? Short answer: no.
If you have ever flown on international routes (and I know you all have), you traveled on a wide-body (and by wide-body, I don't mean "junk in the trunk" but rather the industry jargon used to indicate an aircraft with multiple aisles) like the Boeing 747 or a smaller Airbus. The Airbus-380, in contrast, is HUGE. It is, by far, THE largest passenger aircraft in the world. How much bigger is the Airbus when compared to, say, the Boeing 747? Well, since we were talking about wide-body aircrafts and junk in the trunk earlier, let me use that analogy; to be honest, I am only borrowing the analogy my girlfriend used, and yes, I am aware that she is a certified perv. If the 747's junk in the trunk were comparable to Kristen Bell's, the 380's would compare to that of Andress Soares. In other words, the 380 dwarfs any other passenger aircraft in size.
The 380 is a double-decker aircraft. The cattle class seats 399 people. Say that with me. 399 people. Just in cattle class. Here's a quote I snagged from the internet about what a behemoth the 380 is.
Now, I am no aviation nerd, but that seems pretty darn big to me. You are probably wondering at this point that maybe all that Emirates has to offer are those humongous 'planes, but apparently, you'd be wrong. I am thinking of doing a photo essay of my trip to give you all a better idea of what the flight is like. That would probably be a better idea than me rambling on for a thousand words.
As for now, I'll just tell you what I've heard (and read on the blogosphere), that Emirates offers one of the better services on flights from the US to Bangladesh, that on cattle-class the seats are slightly bigger and more comfortable than in almost all other airlines, that there is a large selection of on-board entertainment options (a movie library with 500 titles, in multiple languages, along with a varied music library, a bunch of TV shows, a video games console where you can play pong - yes, pong - and a tail-mounted cam which shows you what the heck is going on outside the 'plane), that there is mood-lighting and sound (so there are stars on the roof of the cabin at night and you wake up to the sound of birds chirping in the background by morning). There are, supposedly, USB ports in every seat so you can hook up your iPod or your laptop to your inflight entertainment system. That's freakin' awesome!!! That's so awesome it required three exclamation marks.
What's not so awesome is that I am supposed to spend six freakin' hours in transit in Dubai. The new terminal (Terminal 3) is terrible, or so I have heard. Don't believe me? Check out what the reviewers on airlinequality.com have to say about how bad the airport is. The 'planes drop you off on the tarmac and it takes you anywhere from 15-45 minutes to get into the terminal, then it takes anywhere from 30 minutes to a couple of hours to get through security, and when you have finally done that, you find out that the terminal is overcrowded, that there aren't enough seats for everyone, that there are people sleeping on the floor of the terminal, that there aren't enough toilets for everyone and the ones that are there are dirty and smelly. On the bright side, you can shop for hours in the plethora of duty free shops in the terminal and overpay for pretty much anything. Weeee!
Since I wouldn't have showered for a little over 24 hours when I finally get to the Dubai international airport (the 12-hour flight from NYC to Dubai, plus another 12 hours or so between the time I leave home and get on board the flight to Dubai), I figured I'd google and see if there's any possibly way I could get under some water in Dubai (don't waterboard me, bro). Apparently, I have a few options.
First, there's the gym. It's supposedly called G-force. For $13, you can buy an hour-pass so you can work out and then use the shower in the gym. Then there's the spa at the airport hotel which, according to online reviews, lets you use the shower for 44 dirhams (or about $12 if my math isn't off). Hmm... gym or spa? Spa or gym? I think I'd have to go with the gym option. The caveman inside of me wouldn't let me use a shower in a spa when there's one in the gym next door.
After the shower, I figure I'd head over someplace where I can sit and relax for the remainder of my time in Dubai. I used google, again, and turns out anyone can access this pay-lounge; it's called the Marhaba Lounge and there, you get internet access and all the food and drinks you can consume - all for $42. They used to charge $21 even a couple of years ago, according to the different websites I've checked, but those sneaky bastards upped the rate because really... where else are you gonna go if you have to spend hours upon hours in that God-forsaken airport? I am ballin' on a budget, so the Marhaba Lounge it is for me. If you are ballin' outta control, unlike me, you could just spend your time in the Emirates Lounge, which is pretty spiffy, or so I have been told. I would rather spend 40-odd Dollars then shell out an extra 8 grand just to use a spiffy lounge, but hey, maybe that's just me.
Here's where you (that's right; all eleven of you) can help me. If you have flown Emirates before (I haven't) or if you have been to Terminal 3 in Dubai (I haven't) and have used any of the showers or lounges I mentioned, please let me know how your experience was. Would you recommend that I go to a different lounge, or not go to any lounges at all? What about the shower facilities? Anything I need to know about Emirates and the NYC-Dubai flight?
This has been a terribly long post. I hope you all in Bangladesh are enjoying your weekend. I know it's Friday morning over there already. I have one more day until the weekend, and I must say I am jealous that you all get to enjoy the weekend before I do.
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It's been a few weeks since my trip, and I finally got the time to update my blog about my experience with Emirates and the Dubai airport.
My flight to New York City wasn't too bad. I had a few drinks before my flight, so I wasn't too bothered by flying in a puddlejumper. I flew into JFK in the evening and immediately headed to Emirates' terminal (terminal 4, I think?). There was a looooooooong line to check in. Where I went wrong (and this is the one mistake you all should avoid) was not reading the signs. There was a line for people who weren't checking in any bags or who had already checked in their bags at another airport. I didn't see that line and ended up waiting about 45 minutes. It would have taken me 15 minutes, tops, in the other line.
What I found interesting was just how predominantly male that whole area was. I saw maybe 50 women in that whole area, where maybe 300 people were checking in for multiple Emirates flights at any one time. This ratio got worse and worse the closer I got to my destination: Dhaka. In Dubai, the male-female ratio was even more skewed and when I finally arrived in Dhaka and was picking up my bags, I realized just how few women there were around me. Anyway, now on to the flight.
The aircraft - an airbus 380 - was pretty new. The seats were hella spacious. There was plenty of leg room. In comparison, there wasn't as much leg room during my flight from Dubai to Dhaka on board a Boeing-777 (I think it was a 777 but I am not totally sure as it has been a few weeks since the flight and my memory of it is pretty hazy).
The aircraft and the amenities on board pretty much matched my expectations prior to the flight. Everything I mentioned in the first half of my blog post, from the entertainment system (it's called ICE) to the stars glittering on the ceiling of the 'plane at night, were exactly as the other online reviews described them. The crew was very professional. I never really had to wait for a drink. Speaking of drinks, Emirates doesn't charge you for them, unlike American, Continental or any other domestic carrier. The only time you pay for something is if you order champagne, and even that's like $5 a glass. And really... who is gonna order champagne during a 13-hour flight? What exactly would you celebrate? Being stuck in a seat for 13 hours?
The food was great for airlines food, and the crew keeps feeding you every few hours. I did get some sleep during the flight, so to be honest, I wasn't completely drained by the time we arrived in Dubai.
In Dubai, we were herded through a gate, single file, where our body temperatures were scanned to make sure we weren't sick with swine flu. The airport was brand spanking new. However, you could tell that whoever built the airport didn't mind spending money on it but they sure did mind spending some time thinking about how it should be built. There weren't enough toilets or drinking fountains in the airport, which means that there were people crowding around every toilet and every drinking fountain. There were cellphone charging stations but there were only six outlets in each station. Sometimes, each gate had its own charging station but sometimes, I noticed that two adjacent gates had to share one station. So, what inadvertently happened was that whoever could plug in their notebook/cellphone/gadget into the outlet first would hog the station the entire six (or however many) hours before the flight. I ended up walking to another end of the terminal and plugging my stuff into the outlets there.
Anyway, since I saw those huge crowds around the toilets and since I was gonna take a shower anyway, I figured I'd find the gym and use the facilities there. I had to ask around and at first, no one seemed to know what I was talking about, until I met three Filipino girls who told me to take the elevators up to the 5th floor. The elevator is in the middle of the main concourse, and it's hard to miss. When you get off the elevator, go along the hallway to your left and you will see the reception area for the G-force gym. Inform the person at the counter that you wanna use their shower. Usually, all prices in the airport are quoted in Dirhams (the local currency), so make sure to ask for a quote in Dollars and they will usually tell you right on the spot. Only once did I see somebody use a calculator to figure out how much I owed them. I paid $13 for the shower.
The toilets are in a separate part of the floor from the shower area. I didn't want to venture into the crowded toilets in the main concourse, so when I first talked to the girl in the front desk of the gym, I asked her where the toilets were and she pointed me in the right direction. As far as the showers go... look, if you are finicky or a woman, the shower might not be good enough for you, but I am a man and after a 13-hour flight, I could have showered on the streets of Dubai and I'd have been fine. Anyway, here's what happens after you pay the front desk attendant. You are taken past the gym area (the gym is pretty inadequate, by the way) and down another hallway to where the showers are located. Each individual shower area has a door which you can lock behind you. Once you step in, there's a box (which, by the way, looks like an oversized clothes hamper with a lid) where you are advised to keep your belongings so they don't get wet. Next to that box is a glass door. Although the glass door is supposed to stop the shower water from flowing out, it doesn't because there's a thin line below the glass door through which the water can overflow into the area where the box is. The box is raised a few inches off the floor, so make sure you keep your belongings inside the box, and not on the floor. There are hooks on the wall for your clothes, but you are probably better off keeping anything that you think might fall off the hooks in the box. Whatever you might need to shower is provided, from bodywash to shampoo and conditioner to shaving gel to toothpaste to multiple towels to a robe. If you are finicky, feel free to bring your own brand of stuff, but since carrying any kinda liquids or gels on board 'planes is a hassle these days, if you are like me, you would probably do fine with what's provided by G-force in their showers.
After a long, relaxing shower, I gathered my stuff and took the elevator down to the main level. I didn't bother paying for the Marhaba lounge since a) there was free internet access inside the terminal and b) I wasn't really hungry. If you are hungry, maybe $44 for an all-you-can-eat buffet and a quiet place to sit might be a good deal for you, but I could find a quiet place to sit in another end of the terminal and I sure wasn't hungry after the Emirates crew kept stuffing us with food over and over and over during our 13-hour flight.
I am not really much of a shopper. Most men aren't. Even I was impressed with some of the duty free shops in the airport. You could buy booze for much cheaper than you could at Costco. Seriously, if you are gonna go to a dry country like Bdesh, you might wanna buy some quality booze at a decent price from the duty free shops. I sure did.
Anyway, this update was long overdue. I noticed that a lot of people were checking this page for updates, so I apologize for taking so long.
========
As you all know, I will be flying to Dhaka, Bangladesh soon. The itinerary looks a little messy and complicated, so I will spare you the details and just get to the crux of this post: the journey from New York City to Dubai aboard Emirates' Airbus 380, and the long wait for transit in the Dubai airport.
Currently, Emirates operates its flights out of NYC to Dubai on two different 'planes: the Airbus 380 and the Boeing 777. They started flying the airbus on this route only about a year ago. Due to financial constraints, however, the airlines will pull the airbus from the NYC-Dubai route effective June 1. You know what that means? That means I will be flying on board one of, if not, the last Emirates Airbus-380 to fly from NYC to Dubai. Pretty nifty, eh?
After all this talk about the Airbus-380, you must be wondering what the big deal is. I mean, isn't it JUST another aircraft? Short answer: no.
If you have ever flown on international routes (and I know you all have), you traveled on a wide-body (and by wide-body, I don't mean "junk in the trunk" but rather the industry jargon used to indicate an aircraft with multiple aisles) like the Boeing 747 or a smaller Airbus. The Airbus-380, in contrast, is HUGE. It is, by far, THE largest passenger aircraft in the world. How much bigger is the Airbus when compared to, say, the Boeing 747? Well, since we were talking about wide-body aircrafts and junk in the trunk earlier, let me use that analogy; to be honest, I am only borrowing the analogy my girlfriend used, and yes, I am aware that she is a certified perv. If the 747's junk in the trunk were comparable to Kristen Bell's, the 380's would compare to that of Andress Soares. In other words, the 380 dwarfs any other passenger aircraft in size.
The 380 is a double-decker aircraft. The cattle class seats 399 people. Say that with me. 399 people. Just in cattle class. Here's a quote I snagged from the internet about what a behemoth the 380 is.
"Just how big is [the Airbus A380]? The KLM Boeing 747 next to it looked dinky, and the American Airlines Airbus A300 that taxied past looked like a Smart car alongside a Hummer. Despite its size, the A380 is said to be quite nimble, very fast and a dream to fly."Here is a picture which will give you some idea about how ginormous the Airbus 380 is. The picture is copyrighted, so I linked it, instead of posting it in my blog.
Now, I am no aviation nerd, but that seems pretty darn big to me. You are probably wondering at this point that maybe all that Emirates has to offer are those humongous 'planes, but apparently, you'd be wrong. I am thinking of doing a photo essay of my trip to give you all a better idea of what the flight is like. That would probably be a better idea than me rambling on for a thousand words.
As for now, I'll just tell you what I've heard (and read on the blogosphere), that Emirates offers one of the better services on flights from the US to Bangladesh, that on cattle-class the seats are slightly bigger and more comfortable than in almost all other airlines, that there is a large selection of on-board entertainment options (a movie library with 500 titles, in multiple languages, along with a varied music library, a bunch of TV shows, a video games console where you can play pong - yes, pong - and a tail-mounted cam which shows you what the heck is going on outside the 'plane), that there is mood-lighting and sound (so there are stars on the roof of the cabin at night and you wake up to the sound of birds chirping in the background by morning). There are, supposedly, USB ports in every seat so you can hook up your iPod or your laptop to your inflight entertainment system. That's freakin' awesome!!! That's so awesome it required three exclamation marks.
What's not so awesome is that I am supposed to spend six freakin' hours in transit in Dubai. The new terminal (Terminal 3) is terrible, or so I have heard. Don't believe me? Check out what the reviewers on airlinequality.com have to say about how bad the airport is. The 'planes drop you off on the tarmac and it takes you anywhere from 15-45 minutes to get into the terminal, then it takes anywhere from 30 minutes to a couple of hours to get through security, and when you have finally done that, you find out that the terminal is overcrowded, that there aren't enough seats for everyone, that there are people sleeping on the floor of the terminal, that there aren't enough toilets for everyone and the ones that are there are dirty and smelly. On the bright side, you can shop for hours in the plethora of duty free shops in the terminal and overpay for pretty much anything. Weeee!
Since I wouldn't have showered for a little over 24 hours when I finally get to the Dubai international airport (the 12-hour flight from NYC to Dubai, plus another 12 hours or so between the time I leave home and get on board the flight to Dubai), I figured I'd google and see if there's any possibly way I could get under some water in Dubai (don't waterboard me, bro). Apparently, I have a few options.
First, there's the gym. It's supposedly called G-force. For $13, you can buy an hour-pass so you can work out and then use the shower in the gym. Then there's the spa at the airport hotel which, according to online reviews, lets you use the shower for 44 dirhams (or about $12 if my math isn't off). Hmm... gym or spa? Spa or gym? I think I'd have to go with the gym option. The caveman inside of me wouldn't let me use a shower in a spa when there's one in the gym next door.
After the shower, I figure I'd head over someplace where I can sit and relax for the remainder of my time in Dubai. I used google, again, and turns out anyone can access this pay-lounge; it's called the Marhaba Lounge and there, you get internet access and all the food and drinks you can consume - all for $42. They used to charge $21 even a couple of years ago, according to the different websites I've checked, but those sneaky bastards upped the rate because really... where else are you gonna go if you have to spend hours upon hours in that God-forsaken airport? I am ballin' on a budget, so the Marhaba Lounge it is for me. If you are ballin' outta control, unlike me, you could just spend your time in the Emirates Lounge, which is pretty spiffy, or so I have been told. I would rather spend 40-odd Dollars then shell out an extra 8 grand just to use a spiffy lounge, but hey, maybe that's just me.
Here's where you (that's right; all eleven of you) can help me. If you have flown Emirates before (I haven't) or if you have been to Terminal 3 in Dubai (I haven't) and have used any of the showers or lounges I mentioned, please let me know how your experience was. Would you recommend that I go to a different lounge, or not go to any lounges at all? What about the shower facilities? Anything I need to know about Emirates and the NYC-Dubai flight?
This has been a terribly long post. I hope you all in Bangladesh are enjoying your weekend. I know it's Friday morning over there already. I have one more day until the weekend, and I must say I am jealous that you all get to enjoy the weekend before I do.
=======
It's been a few weeks since my trip, and I finally got the time to update my blog about my experience with Emirates and the Dubai airport.
My flight to New York City wasn't too bad. I had a few drinks before my flight, so I wasn't too bothered by flying in a puddlejumper. I flew into JFK in the evening and immediately headed to Emirates' terminal (terminal 4, I think?). There was a looooooooong line to check in. Where I went wrong (and this is the one mistake you all should avoid) was not reading the signs. There was a line for people who weren't checking in any bags or who had already checked in their bags at another airport. I didn't see that line and ended up waiting about 45 minutes. It would have taken me 15 minutes, tops, in the other line.
What I found interesting was just how predominantly male that whole area was. I saw maybe 50 women in that whole area, where maybe 300 people were checking in for multiple Emirates flights at any one time. This ratio got worse and worse the closer I got to my destination: Dhaka. In Dubai, the male-female ratio was even more skewed and when I finally arrived in Dhaka and was picking up my bags, I realized just how few women there were around me. Anyway, now on to the flight.
The aircraft - an airbus 380 - was pretty new. The seats were hella spacious. There was plenty of leg room. In comparison, there wasn't as much leg room during my flight from Dubai to Dhaka on board a Boeing-777 (I think it was a 777 but I am not totally sure as it has been a few weeks since the flight and my memory of it is pretty hazy).
The aircraft and the amenities on board pretty much matched my expectations prior to the flight. Everything I mentioned in the first half of my blog post, from the entertainment system (it's called ICE) to the stars glittering on the ceiling of the 'plane at night, were exactly as the other online reviews described them. The crew was very professional. I never really had to wait for a drink. Speaking of drinks, Emirates doesn't charge you for them, unlike American, Continental or any other domestic carrier. The only time you pay for something is if you order champagne, and even that's like $5 a glass. And really... who is gonna order champagne during a 13-hour flight? What exactly would you celebrate? Being stuck in a seat for 13 hours?
The food was great for airlines food, and the crew keeps feeding you every few hours. I did get some sleep during the flight, so to be honest, I wasn't completely drained by the time we arrived in Dubai.
In Dubai, we were herded through a gate, single file, where our body temperatures were scanned to make sure we weren't sick with swine flu. The airport was brand spanking new. However, you could tell that whoever built the airport didn't mind spending money on it but they sure did mind spending some time thinking about how it should be built. There weren't enough toilets or drinking fountains in the airport, which means that there were people crowding around every toilet and every drinking fountain. There were cellphone charging stations but there were only six outlets in each station. Sometimes, each gate had its own charging station but sometimes, I noticed that two adjacent gates had to share one station. So, what inadvertently happened was that whoever could plug in their notebook/cellphone/gadget into the outlet first would hog the station the entire six (or however many) hours before the flight. I ended up walking to another end of the terminal and plugging my stuff into the outlets there.
Anyway, since I saw those huge crowds around the toilets and since I was gonna take a shower anyway, I figured I'd find the gym and use the facilities there. I had to ask around and at first, no one seemed to know what I was talking about, until I met three Filipino girls who told me to take the elevators up to the 5th floor. The elevator is in the middle of the main concourse, and it's hard to miss. When you get off the elevator, go along the hallway to your left and you will see the reception area for the G-force gym. Inform the person at the counter that you wanna use their shower. Usually, all prices in the airport are quoted in Dirhams (the local currency), so make sure to ask for a quote in Dollars and they will usually tell you right on the spot. Only once did I see somebody use a calculator to figure out how much I owed them. I paid $13 for the shower.
The toilets are in a separate part of the floor from the shower area. I didn't want to venture into the crowded toilets in the main concourse, so when I first talked to the girl in the front desk of the gym, I asked her where the toilets were and she pointed me in the right direction. As far as the showers go... look, if you are finicky or a woman, the shower might not be good enough for you, but I am a man and after a 13-hour flight, I could have showered on the streets of Dubai and I'd have been fine. Anyway, here's what happens after you pay the front desk attendant. You are taken past the gym area (the gym is pretty inadequate, by the way) and down another hallway to where the showers are located. Each individual shower area has a door which you can lock behind you. Once you step in, there's a box (which, by the way, looks like an oversized clothes hamper with a lid) where you are advised to keep your belongings so they don't get wet. Next to that box is a glass door. Although the glass door is supposed to stop the shower water from flowing out, it doesn't because there's a thin line below the glass door through which the water can overflow into the area where the box is. The box is raised a few inches off the floor, so make sure you keep your belongings inside the box, and not on the floor. There are hooks on the wall for your clothes, but you are probably better off keeping anything that you think might fall off the hooks in the box. Whatever you might need to shower is provided, from bodywash to shampoo and conditioner to shaving gel to toothpaste to multiple towels to a robe. If you are finicky, feel free to bring your own brand of stuff, but since carrying any kinda liquids or gels on board 'planes is a hassle these days, if you are like me, you would probably do fine with what's provided by G-force in their showers.
After a long, relaxing shower, I gathered my stuff and took the elevator down to the main level. I didn't bother paying for the Marhaba lounge since a) there was free internet access inside the terminal and b) I wasn't really hungry. If you are hungry, maybe $44 for an all-you-can-eat buffet and a quiet place to sit might be a good deal for you, but I could find a quiet place to sit in another end of the terminal and I sure wasn't hungry after the Emirates crew kept stuffing us with food over and over and over during our 13-hour flight.
I am not really much of a shopper. Most men aren't. Even I was impressed with some of the duty free shops in the airport. You could buy booze for much cheaper than you could at Costco. Seriously, if you are gonna go to a dry country like Bdesh, you might wanna buy some quality booze at a decent price from the duty free shops. I sure did.
Anyway, this update was long overdue. I noticed that a lot of people were checking this page for updates, so I apologize for taking so long.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Pecan pie, my state of mind and assorted ramblings
Tonight, I had the best pecan pie EVER. When my girlfriend asked me what I would miss when I move to B-desh, I said I would miss pecan pies. No really, that's what I said. I think I might be in a little bit of trouble.
Moving is never easy, and when you move thousands and thousands of miles away, it makes you doubt your decision every step of the way. I've experienced the whole gamut of emotions, from excitement, joy and the thrill of adventure to sadness, confusion and anger over my sudden bouts of tropophobia. Just the other day, I went shoe shopping, and it annoyed the heck out of me that I have to leave my white Skechers here, because I just can't wear them in the B-deshi monsoon season. They will get mud all over them and that's just not a good look.
Goodbye, white Skechers. I'll miss you.
On an unrelated note: I was trying to look for information on movie theaters in Dhaka, and guess what I came across?
http://www.cineplexbd.com/schedule.htm
That's the schedule for a movie theater in Dhaka. When I move there, I can watch unforgettable movies like the Forbidden Kingdom, Rambo-4 and D-War for less than the price of a slice of pecan pie. Woohoo!
I think I might have a blog post with links to all kinds of useful information on Dhaka (that's where I'd add the link to the movie theater's schedule). I'll add whatever useful links I can find on the internet (things like restaurants, banks, nightlife, how to get around Dhaka, maps... pretty much anything) and I'd appreciate help from you, my fellow bloggers, if you could add to the list.
Moving is never easy, and when you move thousands and thousands of miles away, it makes you doubt your decision every step of the way. I've experienced the whole gamut of emotions, from excitement, joy and the thrill of adventure to sadness, confusion and anger over my sudden bouts of tropophobia. Just the other day, I went shoe shopping, and it annoyed the heck out of me that I have to leave my white Skechers here, because I just can't wear them in the B-deshi monsoon season. They will get mud all over them and that's just not a good look.
Goodbye, white Skechers. I'll miss you.
On an unrelated note: I was trying to look for information on movie theaters in Dhaka, and guess what I came across?
http://www.cineplexbd.com/schedule.htm
That's the schedule for a movie theater in Dhaka. When I move there, I can watch unforgettable movies like the Forbidden Kingdom, Rambo-4 and D-War for less than the price of a slice of pecan pie. Woohoo!
I think I might have a blog post with links to all kinds of useful information on Dhaka (that's where I'd add the link to the movie theater's schedule). I'll add whatever useful links I can find on the internet (things like restaurants, banks, nightlife, how to get around Dhaka, maps... pretty much anything) and I'd appreciate help from you, my fellow bloggers, if you could add to the list.
Monday, May 4, 2009
The packing conundrum
Things have slowly started to fall into place. I will be moving to Dhaka in late May. I have all but bought the plane ticket. Now begins the arduous process of packing and deciding what to take with me and what to leave here.
If you were in my shoes, what would you absolutely take with you to Dhaka? I mean, is there anything that cannot be purchased there or be replaced? As always, tips/suggestions/helpful advice is much appreciated.
If you were in my shoes, what would you absolutely take with you to Dhaka? I mean, is there anything that cannot be purchased there or be replaced? As always, tips/suggestions/helpful advice is much appreciated.
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Sushi, bubble tea... and lamb chops
What a terrific Saturday afternoon!
I was dragged out of bed a mere three hours after I fell asleep, only to go to my favorite sushi joint in the area. We had some great sushi (the uni was out of this world) and a fantastic conversation about Bangladesh. Then we drove around, did some shopping (got some lamb chops from the butcher's) and decided we want some bubble tea. So, off to a Japanese tea house we went. Although they had a pretty diverse menu, I was reminded of the tea gardens in northern Bangladesh and I can't wait to go there and try, among other things, the five-color tea. I've heard it's amazing.
Now, here's where I need your help. Please recommend some places in Dhaka where I can get: good sushi, bubble tea, lamb chops.
Until next time...
I was dragged out of bed a mere three hours after I fell asleep, only to go to my favorite sushi joint in the area. We had some great sushi (the uni was out of this world) and a fantastic conversation about Bangladesh. Then we drove around, did some shopping (got some lamb chops from the butcher's) and decided we want some bubble tea. So, off to a Japanese tea house we went. Although they had a pretty diverse menu, I was reminded of the tea gardens in northern Bangladesh and I can't wait to go there and try, among other things, the five-color tea. I've heard it's amazing.
Now, here's where I need your help. Please recommend some places in Dhaka where I can get: good sushi, bubble tea, lamb chops.
Until next time...
Guess who is moving to Bangladesh?
That's right. This guy.
Bangladesh, or B-desh for short (a term lovingly used by most expatriates), is a small but densely populated country in South Asia. It's the size of Wisconsin but the country's population is about one-half of that of America's. Ain't that something?
The Bangladeshis call America "bidesh" or a foreign country. So, if I were to mix expat lingo with the local vernacular, I would say that I would be moving from "bidesh" to B-desh. Bidesh to B-desh. Hence, the name of my blog.
I am looking forward to moving there. There is, however, one small problem. I hate long flights. No, let me rephrase that. I really, really, really hate long flights. Epecially those that seem to go on forever and ever. My flight from here (here as in the midwest) to Dhaka, Bangladesh is definitely gonna be one of them. As it looks right now, I would have to fly from here to New York City, then change planes to hop aboard a cross-Atlantic flight that will dump me off somewhere in Europe, where I will have to catch another flight to a destination in the middle East or South East Asia, where I will have to change flights one last time before I arrive in my destination, Dhaka. The trip is estimated to take well over 24 hours. Just like any other normal person, this flight shmight is the one aspect of this whole venture that I am not looking forward to.
Since I only recently decided that I'm moving to Dhaka, I haven't had the opportunity to buy my ticket. I am kinda winging it, but as it looks right now, I should be moving sometime in the next 6-8 weeks. It's gonna be a hectic 6-8 weeks, that's for sure.
This blog is my account of the entire process, of digging up my roots in the US and transplanting my entire existence to a country eight thousand miles away. I hope you enjoy this journey as much as I do.
Bangladesh, or B-desh for short (a term lovingly used by most expatriates), is a small but densely populated country in South Asia. It's the size of Wisconsin but the country's population is about one-half of that of America's. Ain't that something?
The Bangladeshis call America "bidesh" or a foreign country. So, if I were to mix expat lingo with the local vernacular, I would say that I would be moving from "bidesh" to B-desh. Bidesh to B-desh. Hence, the name of my blog.
I am looking forward to moving there. There is, however, one small problem. I hate long flights. No, let me rephrase that. I really, really, really hate long flights. Epecially those that seem to go on forever and ever. My flight from here (here as in the midwest) to Dhaka, Bangladesh is definitely gonna be one of them. As it looks right now, I would have to fly from here to New York City, then change planes to hop aboard a cross-Atlantic flight that will dump me off somewhere in Europe, where I will have to catch another flight to a destination in the middle East or South East Asia, where I will have to change flights one last time before I arrive in my destination, Dhaka. The trip is estimated to take well over 24 hours. Just like any other normal person, this flight shmight is the one aspect of this whole venture that I am not looking forward to.
Since I only recently decided that I'm moving to Dhaka, I haven't had the opportunity to buy my ticket. I am kinda winging it, but as it looks right now, I should be moving sometime in the next 6-8 weeks. It's gonna be a hectic 6-8 weeks, that's for sure.
This blog is my account of the entire process, of digging up my roots in the US and transplanting my entire existence to a country eight thousand miles away. I hope you enjoy this journey as much as I do.
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