Erk's Northern Hemiwanderer, June 2014

[erkpod]

The water I was drinking got a little warm so I didn't want to waste it.



The UAE flag is very simple but you'll see it in many places.



I am .... where?



No BBQ? Denied!

 

[erkpod]

In various spots in the park, there are suggested exercises. I wouldn't be participating...



One of the few streets that don't appear to be named after a person.



Pedestrian underpass, you've over there.



One of many water features



One of many streets named after someone I don't know.

 

[erkpod]

Some directional signs like these ones have English & Arabic on different signs a few metres apart.



I found a sign leading to an ice rink in the Al Marina Mall...



... but the rink was rather small.



Yet another water feature.

 

[erkpod]

Massive water feature in the Al Marina Mall.



Rather cool kids hairdressing salon





Arabic Coke & Pepsi.

 

[erkpod]

Various buildings.

 

[erkpod]

Warning! Warning!





Nah, not really. Just a warning of the next stop on a bus after someone presses the stop button.



Next stop info if the stop button is not pressed.

 

[erkpod]

Typical school bus. Decicated school buses are yellow like in the US. I even saw a US looking yellow school bus.



Regional bus (the bus I caught from AUH.



A city bus



Citybound regional bus at AUH.



An example of a bus stop sign downtown.

 

[RB]

Enjoying your style of report Erk. Stay safe & have a good time

 

[erkpod]

Overall I probably wouldn't come back as a stand alone destination but good as a layover. I'd want to check out Dubai, too.

But anywhere else in the Middle East especially anywhere ending in -stan, probably not.

 

[Atleastonce]

Very timely Erk. I just booked a 2 day layover in AUH. Ferrari world is on my list.

 

[erkpod]

Very timely Erk. I just booked a 2 day layover in AUH. Ferrari world is on my list.

I arrive into AUH on sunset of 25/6 & leave on the VA flight on 27/6. Can't wait to see Yas Island. Next time I'll get the shuttle from the hotel & taxi back to compare.

 

[erkpod]

Day 3, Thursday 5 June 2014
AUH - LHR
EY17

Greetings from the EY Flounge in AUH. I'm off to LHR in a couple of hours & will be staying near Wembley.

The lounge here seems similar to the EY lounge at SYD minus having Pepsi accidently spilled on me.

If you'll excuse me, my Australian steak has arrived.



More pics to follow after food.

 

[erkpod]

So many staff hovering around so not many pics thus far.



Steak & chips for breakfast? Ok!



Keeping an eye on the ramp





Feeling a little concious of plane & lounge spotting but there's a guy here using a DSLR so I don't feel so bad.

 

[erkpod]

These guys could get a job driving the safety car at the Abu Dhabi F1 GP!

 

[erkpod]

EY Flounge, I'll be back!







My plane at AUH.

 

[erkpod]

Waiting to board on the aerobridge.



22A is sure different to 5K!



Wing shot





I enjoyed the front facing camera for take off & landing.

 

[erkpod]

Time to change timezones again.





Flying over Germany, I was given my inbound passenger card. I may or may not have written Tube Driver as my occupation.



Looking outside near the English Channel.

 

[erkpod]

Getting closer to LHR or Arabic equalivant



I enjoyed a doco series called Beyond Borders from Abu Dhabi which follows 6 young UAE locals who get sent to the Phillipines to see how another country lives that are way worse off than them.

 

[erkpod]

Touchdown LHR

 

[erkpod]

Welcome to the UK, Erk...



... the long arm of the law is waiting ...



... as was this guy





Being a citizen of a Commonwealth country doesn't mean anything at the border.