Tuesday 14th - Dubai Airport

Another set of goodbyes. Some very good ones this time. After a relaxed week on the beach with mum and dad it was back to Chiang Mai for four days. Just enough time to pack, buy a few things, have a party, do a couple yoga classes and spend some quality time with my good friends.

It was a little strange to be flying out of Chiang Mai and not thinking – well I’ll be back in 2 weeks, 2 months….. This time just thinking; it was great and I’m sure I’ll see you again sometime! That cocktail of emotions that are part and parcel of travel; the sadness of goodbyes, the anticipation of hellos, new places and experiences, and the many hours of travel ahead. This time leaving Chiang Mai pretty exhausted. It was good that the flight from Bangkok to Dubai was quite empty as I got three seats to myself and was able to get a good amount of sleep.


I’ve been sleeping on the floor in Dubai airport at my departure gate and am now finally feeling somewhat alive. Airports are such great places to people watch. There is a flight boarding for Jeddah just in front of me and there are a lot of Muslims in a variety of dress getting on the flight. Quite a few in all white; some young girls and their mum in white kurtas with a dad also all in white; many little white hats on the men, some long white dresses and one large man literally just wrapped in a white sheet like at a fancy dress party. A man has just walked past in his long white dress with the all Saudi red and white head scarf held in place with a black circular band; in front of him a tall distinguished looking man with glasses and a white beard wearing a white turban, trousers and long top, stands with his three women behind him all in black, only their faces showing. Some women don’t even show their faces but only their eyes. Different cultures but still somewhat oppressive and restrictive all the same. Having met some women who dress like this in Tunisia, you should see how modern and beautifully dressed some of them are under those black chadors.

Then there is the London flight where a greater variety of people are starting to queue. The ladies covered up in black, a rotund lady in a North African style bright yellow and black sari; white men in short sleeved shirts and formal trousers for travel; high heels, trainers, jeans, t-shirts; style, comfort; an occasional jacket in preparation for London where I’m sure the temperature is not 32 degrees at 4am; and then the families returning from their package holiday in Thailand in shiny tracksuits, small shorts and pink tank tops covering not that much of the still white and substantial amounts of flesh.

Each individual, each a life being lived, each with a story to tell. So easy to look and make judgements but it is more fun when you are playing that game with a friend and making up stories to go with the people you are watching. In general however actual stories often turn out to be even more fascinating.

Time to check in to the boarding lounge.