As we set out for our latest adventure it was hard to shake the feeling that we had visited most of the places we were going before, including our first stopping point – Dubai. Although the experience of getting there was quite new. To begin with, this was the first time we had booked internationally with Qantas (although we had flown a couple of segments code share on our last trip. What that meant of course was that we could check in for all our flights and book our luggage through to Dubai from Canberra. Then all we had to do was go through the security screening point in Canberra and chill in the Qantas lounges. I can highly recommend this as a stress free way to travel. Qantas club will pay for itself in free meals and saving my sanity on this trip alone. This is also my first overseas trip using rolling luggage – necessitated largely because wedding suits and backpacks don’t really mix. So far there are two things I’ll say about that – 1. It’s saving my back and 2. My backpack holds more than my moderately sized rolling case, purchased after being stuck unexpectedly in Perth for a week.

And the third thing that was different before we even reached our destination, we were flying on an A380 (tank of the skies) for the first time. Inside the A380 didn’t feel very different except that there were fewer people per kitchen and more toilets. There was also a help yourself snack bar (yes even in the cheap seats in economy). The seats were pretty comfortable with a standard international configuration and a pretty good entertainment system (although Dan’s wasn’t working. The entertainment offering included the latest season of GoT, an extensive collection of Oscar winning films and three eps of the third season of The Newsroom. Needless to say the first thing on my screen was The Newsroom. I know it is very preachy but the stream of consciousness dialogue that’s a hallmark of Aaron Sorkin’s work makes this a must watch for me. Towards the end of the flight I ventured into the film catalogue (unusual territory for me) and watched the doco Frances Cobain produced about her late father – Montage of Heck. If you lived through the 90s or just want to know what drove this man and band to be nominated spokespeople for the lost generation –watch it. It is also a brilliant cinematic feat constructed from interviews, archived footage, animation and unearthed personal recordings. While we’re talking music, as an infamous Australian said once or twice, do yourself a favour and seek out Tim Armstrong’s vodcast ‘Under the Influence – the history of ska.

When we first took our seats we discovered the third in our row was a Croatian Australian heading off to spend the northern summer in his house in Spit Croatia. He was chatty but respectful of our want to sleep during the night. Dinner was served about an hour after we got on board and Dan and I were impressed to see that the special online meal choice we ordered arrived. As with special dietary requirement meals, they were served before the general food service which was great. I missed the later in the flight hot dogs and maltesers offerings because I slept for the first time ever on a plane – only two hours but it’s a start. Airline menus these days go out of their way to accommodate special food allergies and customs. The menu had a message at the bottom to say that there were no pork products or alcohol in any of the meals on offer. We both chose the scrambled eggs and chicken sausages option (no pork or alcohol in the food selections on Emirates code share flights) although our neighbour’s fruit option actually looked more appealing. All came with a fab yoghurt and muesli offering. And the filter coffee, although not quite as good as a flat white was grinders coffee so perfectly palatable.

An hour or so after breakfast we arrived in Dubai – a quick and painless process through the airport (albeit with a train connection between arrival gate and baggage carousel) and we were here ready (not quite) to face the 45 degree onslaught that awaited us through the terminal doors.