Singapore, Adelaide & Dubai

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Trip start
July 3, 2012
Traveler Singapore, Adelaide & Dubai
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- Day 1
- Tuesday, July 3, 2012 at 8:00 PM
- ☁️ 27 °C
- Altitude: 113 m
- United States Connecticut Avenue Park 39.062262, -77.07233739°3’44” N 77°4’20” W
Prologue
July 3, 2012 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 27 °C
Looking at mileage redemption options for my annual trip to Singapore, I was intrigued by United's offerings in conjunction with its then partner Qatar Airways. I decided it might be fun to take a roundabout routing via various points in the Middle East - Kuwait, Bahrain, Doha, and Dubai. It is a good thing I took this routing because United discontinued these flights not long after.

To break up my time in Singapore, I also decided to take a side trip to Adelaide to visit my friend Trixie.Read more
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- Day 1
- Tuesday, July 3, 2012 at 11:30 PM
- ☁️ 22 °C
- Altitude: 107 m
- United States Washington Dulles International Airport 38.952618, -77.44753638°57’9” N 77°26’51” W
Washington Dulles to Kuwait
July 3, 2012 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C
United Airlines UA982 | IAD/KWI
Business Class
Boeing 777-200ER | N229UA
Lounge: Red Carpet Club

This was my first flight on UA's eight abreast Business Class. The Business Class cabin was very empty, with only one other passenger in the forward cabin. The seat was narrow and it lacked storage, but I had a good sleep on board. I opted for the cioppino for supper, which turned out to be phenomenal.Read more
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- Day 2
- Wednesday, July 4, 2012 at 6:00 PM
- 🌙 43 °C
- Altitude: 58 m
- Kuwait Kuwait Internationalairport 29.239877, 47.97139129°14’24” N 47°58’17” E
Kuwait to Bahrain
July 4, 2012 in Kuwait ⋅ 🌙 43 °C
United Airlines UA982 | KWI/BAH
Business Class
Boeing 777-200ER | N229UA

After landing at KWI, transit passengers were asked to deplane, but we were kept in the gate area. There was a change of crew for this second sector. Inflight, I was served a cold plastic wrapped bun on this short sector.Read more
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- Day 2
- Wednesday, July 4, 2012 at 8:00 PM
- ☀️ 36 °C
- Altitude: 10 m
- Bahrain Jazīrat al Muḩarraq 26.266341, 50.63058326°15’59” N 50°37’50” E
Bahrain to Doha
July 4, 2012 in Bahrain ⋅ ☀️ 36 °C
Qatar Airways QR157 | BAH/DOH
Economy Class
Boeing 777-200LR | A7-BBC

Transit in Bahrain wasn't smooth. When I arrived at the transfer counter, I had to press a buzzer for service. A surprised looking staff came out and he had to call someone else to come and check me in for my Qatar Airways flight. After getting checked in, I cleared security and had an expensive ice coffee at Starbucks before boarding my short hop to Doha.

This was my first - and to date only - flight on a 77L.Read more
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- Day 3
- Thursday, July 5, 2012 at 2:00 AM
- ☀️ 36 °C
- Altitude: 17 m
- Qatar Hamad International 25.267617, 51.55933625°16’3” N 51°33’34” E
Doha to Kuala Lumpur
July 5, 2012 in Qatar ⋅ ☀️ 36 °C
Qatar Airways QR624 | DOH/KUL
Business Class
Airbus A330-300 | A7-AEI

Before I embarked on this journey, I was vaguely aware that a new terminal was under construction at Doha Airport, and that the existing airport terminal, which did not feature any airbridges, was operating at above capacity. I was also aware that premium passengers were served via one terminal while Economy Class passengers were processed in a different terminal.

When my flight from Bahrain landed, the Business Class passengers were disembarked first and whisked away to their terminal. When I disembarked, I asked the staff at the remote stand about how I could get to the Business Class terminal. They shrugged and told me I had to get onto the bus. That bus took me to the regular terminal. There, I enquired about lounge access and I was simply told it was in another terminal. Nobody offered to help me get to that terminal. I resigned myself to hanging out at the crowded terminal for the next three hours.

Qatar Airways' A330 featured angled lie flat seats. They weren't the most comfortable, but I did get some sleep.Read more
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- Day 3
- Thursday, July 5, 2012 at 4:30 PM
- ☁️ 29 °C
- Altitude: 63 m
- Malaysia Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2.752475, 101.7055282°45’9” N 101°42’20” E
Kuala Lumpur to Singapore
July 5, 2012 in Malaysia ⋅ ☁️ 29 °C
Air Asia AK715 | KUL/SIN
Economy Class
Airbus A320-200 | 9M-AQL

At KUL, I had to clear immigration because my bag was only tagged to KUL, and as far as I could tell, Air Asia did not allow through tagged baggage. After clearing immigration, I made my way to the bus connecting the low cost terminal.

This was my first flight on a low cost airline in Asia. The legroom on Air Asia was atrocious, but I dealt with on on this short sector.Read more
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- Day 9
- Wednesday, July 11, 2012 at 11:30 PM
- 🌧 26 °C
- Altitude: 30 m
- Singapore Singapore Changi Airport 1.361639, 103.990251°21’42” N 103°59’25” E
Singapore to Perth
July 11, 2012 in Singapore ⋅ 🌧 26 °C
Qantas QF72 | SIN/PER
Economy Class
Airbus A330-300 | VH-QPH Noosa
Lounge: Qantas Business Lounge

I had dinner with Shareen and a number of other classmates before I headed to Changi for my flight to Australia. At the lounge, I had a shower and a laksa snack. After that, I boarded the red eye flight to PER, landing around 5am.Read more
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- Day 10
- Thursday, July 12, 2012 at 7:00 AM
- ☀️ 4 °C
- Altitude: 19 m
- Australia Perth Airport -31.941538, 115.97322531°56’30” S 115°58’24” E
Perth to Adelaide
July 12, 2012 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 4 °C
Qantas QF590 | PER/ADL
Economy Class
Boeing 737-400 | VH-VXT Townsville
Lounge: Qantas Lounge

After landing at PER, I made my way to the Domestic Terminal where I had a refreshing shower at the lounge.Read more
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- Day 12
- Saturday, July 14, 2012
- 🌧 12 °C
- Altitude: 57 m
- Australia Adelaide -34.942275, 138.61310634°56’32” S 138°36’47” E
Adelaide
July 14, 2012 in Australia ⋅ 🌧 12 °C
I don't recall much about my time in Adelaide other than lots of good food and good company. Sadly, most of my photos were lost when my hard drive got corrupted.
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- Day 15
- Tuesday, July 17, 2012 at 11:00 AM
- 🌙 13 °C
- Altitude: 17 m
- Australia Adelaide Airport -34.938797, 138.53758234°56’20” S 138°32’15” E
Adelaide to Singapore
July 17, 2012 in Australia ⋅ 🌙 13 °C
Qantas QF81 | ADL/SIN
Economy Class
Airbus A330-300 | VH-QPG Mt Gambier
Lounge: Qantas Lounge
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- Day 18
- Friday, July 20, 2012
- ☁️ 32 °C
- Altitude: 70 m
- Singapore Bukit Batok 1.355073, 103.7676241°21’18” N 103°46’3” E
Random Pictures From Singapore
July 20, 2012 in Singapore ⋅ ☁️ 32 °C
A collection of random shots from my time in Singapore, including shots from Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, and my old house which has been demolished.
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- Day 20
- Sunday, July 22, 2012 at 7:56 AM
- 🌫 27 °C
- Altitude: 30 m
- Singapore Singapore Changi Airport 1.361639, 103.990251°21’42” N 103°59’25” E
Singapore to Kuala Lumpur
July 22, 2012 in Singapore ⋅ 🌫 27 °C
Jetstar Asia 3K683 | SIN/KUL
Economy Class
Airbus A320-200 | 9V-JSD

I took Jetstar as it was the only LCC flight that would get me to KUL early enough to connect to my Qatar Airways flight. I again had to clear immigration as LCCs did not tag bags through to other carriers.Read more
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- Day 20
- Sunday, July 22, 2012 at 10:45 AM
- 🌧 26 °C
- Altitude: 63 m
- Malaysia Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2.752475, 101.7055282°45’9” N 101°42’20” E
Kuala Lumpur to Doha
July 22, 2012 in Malaysia ⋅ 🌧 26 °C
Qatar Airways QR621 | KUL/DOH
Business Class
Airbus A330-300 | A7-AEB

At check in, I was not offered a lounge invitation, and I was unable to get any information about what lounge I could use. This wasn't a long layover, so I simply waited for my flight.Read more
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- Day 20
- Sunday, July 22, 2012 at 4:00 PM
- 🌙 38 °C
- Altitude: 17 m
- Qatar Hamad International Airport 25.267616, 51.55933825°16’3” N 51°33’34” E
Doha to Dubai
July 22, 2012 in Qatar ⋅ 🌙 38 °C
Qatar Airways QR112 | DOH/DXB
Economy Class
Airbus A320-200 | A7-AHB

I arrived in a blazingly hot Doha Airport. As I was in Business Class, I was placed on the bus to the premium terminal. On arrival, I attempted to enter the lounge, but I was told that they did not offer lounge access on arrival if I my next sector was on Economy Class. With that, I was unceremoniously bundled onto a bus and taken by myself to the regular terminal. So much for a premium experience with QR; they obviously had the resources to send passengers from the premium terminal to the regular terminal but not vice versa.

The A320 to Dubai was very empty. I was pleasantly surprised to be served a boxed meal with a variety of snacks.

On arrival, I waited 45 minutes to be processed through immigration. While waiting, I nearly gave up on my plan to explore. The DXB immigration officers were among the least friendly I have encountered.Read more
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- Day 20
- Sunday, July 22, 2012 at 7:00 PM
- 🌙 39 °C
- Altitude: 14 m
- United Arab Emirates Downtown Dubai 25.198185, 55.27936225°11’53” N 55°16’46” E
Dubai Layover
July 22, 2012 in the United Arab Emirates ⋅ 🌙 39 °C
Once I cleared immigration, I navigated my way to Dubai's Metro and purchased a ticket to the Burj Khalifa for AED8.50. The driver-less Metro was quick and efficient and I found myself at the Burj Khalifa stop in no time at all.

It was a 10 minute walk in 120F heat to get to the Dubai Mall next to the Burj, and the entrance to the mall from the station was not obvious due to construction work. Now, I normally hate malls with a passion but this time the aircon was a welcome relief from the heat!

First impressions: another glitzy mall, not unlike the high end ones in Singapore. I wasn't excited. I was tickled, though, by the number of American food outlets such as Potbelly Sandwich. More than anything else, I wanted a cold drink to quench my thirst, but it was Ramadan and food outlets were not open until sundown. Out of respect for local customs, I refrained from drinking from my water bottle. Mercifully, sundown was not far off and the food outlets started opening. I gratefully chugged down several cold drinks at the food court as soon as it opened.

Exploring the mall, I found an aquarium but decided not to spend money on the admission fees since I could see quite a lot from the public viewing area. I looked into going to the Burj Khalifa's viewing deck but the next available slot was 9.30pm which would not have given me enough time to get back to the airport for my midnight flight. So, I ended up watching the water fountain display and then wandering aimlessly around the mall, stopping to eat a heavenly hazelnut gelato.

At around 8.30pm, I decided to call it a day as I was tired and cranky from lack of sleep. I walked back to the Metro (temperatures had gone down to about 100F!) and went back to the airport. At the airport, I got my boarding pass for my United flight and then joined the long queue for immigration.Read more
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- Day 21
- Monday, July 23, 2012 at 1:00 AM
- ☀️ 38 °C
- Altitude: 6 m
- United Arab Emirates Dubai International Airport 25.248772, 55.36083725°14’56” N 55°21’39” E
Dubai to Washington Dulles
July 23, 2012 in the United Arab Emirates ⋅ ☀️ 38 °C
United Airlines UA977 | DXB/IAD
Business Class
Boeing 777-200ER | N223UA
Lounge: Marhaba Lounge

Once past security, I made a beeline for United's contracted Marhaba lounge hoping to shower as I was sweaty and sticky from my short time in Dubai. I was disappointed to find that the lounge did not feature showers. It was a dingy, crowded lounge but at least there was a hot food selection and cold beer. I wolfed down some noodles and rice and curry and two beers.

I headed to the gate at around 11pm as I had been warned that there was extra security there. True enough, there was a long line waiting for the full hand luggage search and pat down. Boarding started soon after, and after my supper (a very good chicken briyani) I reclined my seat into bed mode and conked out for almost eight hours! United's business class seat, though narrow, is very conducive for sleeping. The only drawback was that the guy in the middle seat had to climb over me to get to the toilet. In some ways, this cabin layout reminded me of a dorm room.

The rest of the flight went smoothly and before long we landed at Dulles. After clearing US immigration, it was home sweet home for me!Read more
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- Day 21
- Monday, July 23, 2012 at 8:00 AM
- ☁️ 24 °C
- Altitude: 107 m
- United States Washington Dulles International Airport 38.952618, -77.44753638°57’9” N 77°26’51” W
Home!
July 23, 2012 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 24 °C
On arrival at IAD, I got to experience their mobile lounge which took us to immigration. I believe I had a similar experience at CDG in the 1990s on a flight parked at a remote stand.
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Trip end
July 23, 2012