Continuing from:

- Part 1: Oriental Evasion From Winter (1): LUX-BRU (+BRU) (by SR4ever Jul 21 2011 in Trip Reports)

- Part 2: Oriental Evasion From Winter (2): BRU-IST TK (J) (by SR4ever Jul 22 2011 in Trip Reports)

- Part 3: Oriental Evasion From Winter (3): IST-DXB TK (J) (by SR4ever Jul 22 2011 in Trip Reports)

- Part 4: Oriental Evasion From Winter (4): Dubai & Sharjah (by SR4ever Jul 23 2011 in Trip Reports)

- Part 5: Oriental Evasion From Winter (5): New Year Dubai (by SR4ever Aug 14 2011 in Trip Reports)


XXI. On the ground at DXB

The Shuttle ride to Terminal 1 was quick, even though it first called at Terminal 3
The luggage scan at the terminal entrance went well, and check-in was quick too.

Same for Immigration exit checks, even though your profile will always be checked, just in case you make off with debts or fines outstanding...
The good thing when travelling off-peak in DXB is that all these checks take little time, very little even if you compare with peak hours.
I headed to the Business common lounge, as I had been unable to get an invitation for the Lufthansa Lounge, which is so cramped (there was a flight due for MUC at more or less the same time), that even LX and OS passengers are usually directed to the common lounge, sadly.
The common Lounge offers a good range of food and drinks, even though seating is really out of date.

There were quite many people sleeping on armchairs, but managed to get a quiet bay.

As I knew that there would be a nice breakfast on board, I decided not to indulge too much. Instead, I went for nice oriental nibbles, with tea:


I didn’t spend too much time there, as I wanted to board early.
When at the gate, boarding had already began, but there was a line being withheld.
I asked the 2 gate attendants if I could board now as I was flying Business class, and they let me in.


XXII. DXB-IST (01/01/2011)

Flight: TK 763
DXB: 07.40 (07.50)
IST: 10.45 (10.45)
Aircraft: Airbus 330-200 (leased from BD)
Seat: 1F (Business)

From the jetway:


From my seat. EK still used Terminal 1 very much, notwithstanding Terminal 3.


This time, I had the opportunity to make a pic of the J Cabin. Old-fashioned, yet clean and comfy. And yes, with a British smack  

The Y cabin looked well-loaded, but we were only the 4 of us in that 24-seat J cabin this morning. Quite a change from the outbound IST-DXB leg, where not a single J seat was left.

And again unlike the IST-DXB, there was pre-flight drink service. Water, and champagne to celebrate New Year 2011. Newspapers were also offered.


Taking-off, heading Southeast:


Then turning Northwest. Those familiar enough with Dubai shall be able to spot The World and Palm Jumeirah


Flying closer to DXB and the Creek:


There we are. Sharjah is so close to Dubai, and even closer to DXB...


So close that it is closer to DXB than SHJ itself( see further right):


You can also spot the very beginning of Palm Deira, whose construction began shortly before the GFC. Once completed, it will be 5 times larger than Palm Jumeirah, but completion will reportedly take at least 15 yrs, if not 20yrs.

These views to Old Dubai and the Creek were a nice good-bye. This flight would be a nice luxury, as I would be flying over the Middle East at daytime, something which I hadn’t done for ages...

20min after take-off, the crew came with hot towels, trays, handed menus and collected preferences for the main course.


My very first Do&Co feast of 2011:


Turkish toasts, very tasty, served 35min after take-off:

There were 2 re-fills, and again a hot towel service.

Iranian Coast, seen North to Qatar.


As I was in the same seat on the same aircraft as that which I had been flying 6 days earlier on IST-DXB, it was no wonder that my PTV was still out of order. This time, there was a technician from BD, and in spite of his efforts, the PTV remained dead.

Never mind, as I wasn’t in mood for TV. In the end, I fell asleep past Kuwait, for a good couple of hours.

When I woke up, we were about to cross the South Turkish coast in the vicinity of Silifke (Mersin is in the background).


The contrast from the sea shore to the Taurus mountains was just amazing.



Konya


Eskişehir


Area east to Eskişehir (Inönnü and Boyüzük)


Further West, you can notice a cut through the Mountain. This is a very important corridor, from the Anatolian plateau down to the sea level.

Zoom view (the Istanbul-Ankara/Antalya Railway line and the former national road, rebuilt to a highway, and also works for the Ankara-Istanbul High-speed railway link)


Marmara Sea close to Gebze


As the cabin was being prepared for landing, there was also a quick drink run (water) some 30min before landing. A greater choice (OJ, champagne) would have been appreciated.
Landing at IST was punctual. The aircraft was parked at a remote stand, and the buses awaiting us left quickly, full.

[Edited 2011-08-15 12:26:08]