Day
1 and 2 : Flight to Dubai then Cairo
I have reservations on the direct flight from Melbourne to Dubai. This flight normally costs more that then one stop flight through Singapore, and is heavily booked. But Bonus! the 'round the world ticket gets you the opportunity to fly on this flight. It saves a lot of hassle as you can leave later and you get a long stretch of time to sleep. The flight on an Airbus Industrie A340-500.
The Emirates Flight
Emirates sent me an email to check in via internet 24 hours prior to flight. This is easy to do online. My seats for both flights were reserved by my travel agent on the side aisle. And I got an extra seat when the guy next to me moved. But still this plane is not meant for sleeping. The seats recline, but no footrest and the seats are too high off the ground, your legs dangle.
The food and service was good, as always. The flight is 14 hours from Melbourne to Dubai. Plenty of time to sleep five or six hours and watch some movies on the excellent entertainment system. Saw 27 Dresses, Wall-e and Get Smart. All of which I had missed in the theatre.
Terminal 1 - Dubai Internaltional Airport
Long stopover at Dubai Airport. Don't know if Emirates is still offering hotel rooms for long layovers, but they did provide a free meal at the Safar Restaurant near gate 119. There was a long queque for breakfast, and I had already eaten on the plane, so I waited until about 10 o'clock and was served a snack of tea and sandwich and was given a voucher for lunch. I later met a lady from South Africa who also had a long layover from London but her connecting flight left a little earlier than mine and and she was entitled to a snack, only.
When I first arrived in the airport there were people sleeping all over the airport, clustered together in little spaces, they were also lined up for breakfast. I think these must be the workers from Africa who travel to the Middle East to be work. They must have a long connection time. The meal thing is a great idea for them.
Facilities in Terminal 1 Dubai Airport
The Dubai Airport is new and has good facilities. They have just opened a new wing. Terminal 3. There are banks, emergency medical centers, Costa and Starbucks coffee, donut shops, ice cream stores and a food court with all the famous fast food places.
Dubai Duty Free Airport Shoping in Terminal 1
There is a Marharaba Lounge near gate 123 where you can pay to stay and have food and access the business facilities, but I think it is best to book ahead with your travel agent. There seems to be a greeting and pick up service. But at the lounge, staff seemed overworked, and I tried to get in, but kept getting pushed aside by "greeters" with their little groups. So I just wandered about taking photos of the airport and the facilities.
If you wanted to rest and eat, the Safar restaurant has a regular restaurant side where you can probably take a table and keep ordering. There are internet kiosks in the center of the terminal hall, which I think are free, but the machines that were working were always taken and you had to stand up to use them. I tried to get wifi connection, but either I couldn't find the hot spot or my laptop has wifi disabled.
Cold Stone Ice Cream Shop in Terminal 1
Also, my Vodaphone global roaming is not fully functional. I can send and get text messages, but don't seem to be able to dial internationally, even to pick up the Voice Mail. I set up the phone with Vodafone Australia, and sent messages back to Ken who tried to talk to the help centre. Basically, they said it should work, but I had to put a "+" before the number for phone calls. Oh well, technology never quite works like you think it should.
Power Outets in Terminal 1 Dubai Airport
 I bought a Palm Treo on eBay before I left, and the little keyboard is great! I have never texted before because the phone keys, with several letters on each key, seemed too much trouble, but I can easily type out the message on the Treo. The airport has quite a few power plugs along the wall that you can plug into. I suppose they are meant for floor polishers, but if you have the proper adapter (see picture) no one seems to mind.
There is a "Quiet Lounge" where people can go to get out of the main airport corridor. It has lounges that you can take a nap in. One was closed, but some people from the flight said they had used another one on the other end of the airport.
The water is safe to drink from the fountains in Dubai, it is all from the deslaination plant..
There are prayer rooms, segreated by men and women.
Watch out for your plane times and gates. They are posted a few hours ahead with the gate. The flight for Cairo seemed to be delayed an hour, but I had to scramble when they announced it at the agreed time. Actually, I hadn't heard any other announcements, so maybe they were announcing it because it was listed incorrectly. Anyway, no problem.
Emirates Flight to Cairo
Flight to Cairo was on larger plane (Boeing 777-200) with lower seats. Still no footrest, but could probably sleep better on this one. Had a meal and watched a movie.
I arrived in Cairo at the beginning of the Eids el futr feast that marks the end of Ramadan, the fasting month. Also it is the beginning of the season for preparing for the Haj or pilgrimage to Mecca.
The Feast is an occasion for giving presents and for family vacation. There was a group of Egyptian men on the plane. They had shopping bags of gift boxes of sweets and were laughing and joking and gossiping. When we got to Cairo, the mobile phones began to chime all over the plane with little bits of popular arabic music. And the men chatted away happily as they made their way off the plane.
Egyptian men show a great deal of affection for each other in public. They pat each others arms and they stand together in close groups. This is normal, Arabic custom is to stand in close proximity, but the rules for women are definitely different.
When the family is together, the men will hold children and walk in a family group, but when Egyptian women are alone, they are given a wide space by the Egyptian men. No touching or jostling, even in crowds. Western women, if moderately covered, no exposed legs above the knee, no low necklines and no upper arms exposed, are generally protected by this custom.
Anyway, we landed at the old Cairo airport terminal.
I am staying at the Indiana Hotel near the Sheraton on the west bank of the Nile. It is an older hotel, but still has most amenities. They have safe deposit boxes for rent for 4 EP per day, and an excellent internet cafe with new equipment and work stations for 10 EP per hour. They only serve breakfast in the downstairs dining room, but there are fast food restaurants nearby.
After we landed, I was met inside the immigration area by an official courier who had been employed by Hossam Rashwan to meet me. This is a great help. The "courier" can help you get your money changed, get your visa if you don't have one, and help you with your luggage.
Hossam and Eman Massoud were outside in the car park waiting by the car. I was in Egypt and in the capable hands of my friends!
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