Life in Abu Dhabi, UAE - DAY 1

 Date: 16/03/2022 (Wed)

Breakfast at 8am.  I was too excited and anxious, I couldn't sleep though I was exhausted.

PapaVoo ta bao prawn noodles for me.  I am going to miss this for one good month.

After breakfast, I managed to sleep a bit before heading out to do a fresh set of manicure.  I wanted red, the manicurist recommended maroon for a more sophisticated look.  I showed this to my niece, she said "高级色" lolxx...

Once upon a time, this was such a popular color, firstly launched by OPI.  I fondly remembered such colors were sold out so fast back then.....

After nails, ta bao dinner, my last chap cai peng till mid April.

PapaVoo drove me to the airport and left me shortly cos he needed to get to bed by 11pm.  Here's me at the carpark, the car was usually small, too cute, like a toy car.

My flight with Etihad was 2.05am, I reached around 10.15pm, felt safer with buffer time as I had heard a lot of horror stories.  Travelling now consist of PCR testings within time frames and extra forms to fill, I wanted to have more than enough time to get whatever papers these ppl wanted.

T3 was more alive now.  Could see more flights with lots of SQ crews boarding.

I checked in smoothly after they verified with my fully vaxed cert I submitted online, weeeeeeeeeeee.....

If any readers needs to know more details can always drop your questions in the comment, I'll answer at my best knowledge.  I will also give a more information in my travel blog, once it's done will link here.

Money changer in the airport played me out, they ran out of UAE currency, but never mind lah...

The sleep lounge were all occupied, had to make do with this arm chair.

Tired duck mouth selfie.

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Date: 17/03/2022 (Thurs)

Life in Abu Dhabi UAE - DAY 1

It's 1am in the morning, took a shuttle train to the boarding gate.

So huge over here, slowly snail over....

Journey started entering through this gate...

I couldn't believe I made it to a biz class flight!  I am very fortunate, I should be very very grateful....

My seat with pillow, I was waiting for a crew to walk pass to help me with my hand carry luggage as I wasn't tall enough even to open the overhead compartment.

One of them finally came, tugged my luggage up and gave me a champagne.

Yay!

I was quite a distant away from other passengers, very "cocooned" and comfortable by myself.

Biz class amenities and gift pouch.

The blanket was so comfortable.  Unfortunately they didn't provide pyjamas any more.

Supper, I ordered lamb pita, tasted so so only, the good thing was I did not have to compromise with disposable cutleries.

The coconut tiramisu was super duper delicious!  My photo is so crappy but it has got to be one of the most delicious dessert I ever had.

Turbulence all the way.....  If it's 20 years ago, I would had puked.

I was very exhausted by then, hit the 2nd button from the left, the chair stretched itself to the 180 degrees flat bed, then turbulence rocked me to sleep.

I slept until a crew came over to greet me good morning sia.

I had a latte, cheese omelette and 2 pastries which I wished I had a zip lock to ta bao.  When I fly back I will bring zip locks to ta bao lolxx....  I am not cheap skate ok!  It's just right to take what I had paid for right?  Lolxx...

Overall, the best thing about Etihad biz flight was being able to sleep with sufficient oxygen, service wise was luke warm, as in the crews were not rude neither were they friendly, they either hate their job or the passengers I dun know.....

View of UAE from the sky.

Thank god, we landed safely....

When all the passengers stood up, I made a head count, there were about 13 passengers in the biz class cabin.  Total capacity is 28 seats, so that's about half occupied.

After checking out, I blindly followed the crowd only to realize most ppl were here to transit and I found myself in Departure Hall lolxx....  Took me about 10mins to find my way to the Arrival Hall.  Went to the belt, waited forever for my luggage.  Almost wanted to ask for help when I saw my luggage at another belt, oh well.....

My baby sis had kindly arranged someone to pick me up and on the way to the carpark, we found the airport's PCR Test Center, I might as well get it done.

No one could tell this was the entry to PCR Test Center if there wasn't a sign board.  It looked like an art gallery.

The test center was huge with at least a hundred stations, only a quarter was functioning but it was more than enough.  It was very quiet at 6.30am.

From the air port to Reem Island, my baby sis's place, was about 30mins drive.  It suddenly occurred to me that I hadn't seen sunrise for over 2 years.

Unpacked my luggage, admire the apartment with full sea view in every room including kitchen.  Was supposed to catch up with some sleep but I was too excited.  The AL Hosn app which is something like our TraceTogether app couldn't be log in.  Our drive brought me to a local clinic which the clerk refused to help.  Then he brought me to a weird place where a guy helps foreigners to do all sorts on documentations.  Paid him AED25 and it worked.

The first place baby sis brought me was The Galleria shopping mall which was near her work place.  It consist of 2 wings, one with luxury brand stores and another with regular merchandise and a supermarket.

Pic took in Gucci.

We had dinner at Almayass restaurant which serves Lebanese cuisine, I was clueless lolxx...

Posh indoor dinning was fully taken.

Outdoor was nice but the night was windy and chilly.

Enjoyable ambience by the river.

Everything served were fascinating and new to me.  These were vegetarian balls called Falafel.

BBQ platter with pita bread I think.

Atas shopping mall with atas washroom, found hand moisturizer besides the hand soap.

After dinner, we shopped a bit.

WaitRose Supermarket which I didn't buy much cos I didn't check what's at home, I didn't want to buy excessive groceries.

The supermarket was cool.  There were instant coffee sold in individual packet, variety of nice potatoes cheaper than Singapore, nice chillers with fruits, milk and plenty of cheese.

Headed back home shortly.  This is my bed for 30 days, love it.