New Routes: Flying through BAKU and DOHA

I am writing this for a few people that asked me what it was like flying through strange new lands.  So I captured this for you.  TBL -> BAKU -> DOHA -> Phili -> Raleigh ... and back.

Qatar Airways was less expensive than flying through Germany,  so I took the scenic route to save a few hundred dollars. And I had not been to Baku, and never heard of Doha, nor Qatar. But what was I thinking?  It was long and  interesting for the first time.  Next time I will explore another route perhaps. 

The flight from Baku, Azerbaijan to Doha, Qatar had only about 4 women on it.   After all those years in IBM Networking Division, I thought I was used to being in the minority, but this felt really weird.  And it was even worse when I had a layover in Doha for 8 hours on my return flight,  The resting lounge was full of men and families that took off their shoes.  As we say here, OY MAH!   But I probably smelled just as bad after the 14 hour flight.  I found out later that they had women only lounges.  And there was a whole airport full of men that don't smile.  Here are a group of young women, that were smiling. 

Here is a pictures of the DOHA airport, with a big playground for kids.  They had a store that sold the burkas – very interesting, fancy black robes with a few jewels on them and fancy stitching, but I was chicken to go in.    And DOHA, where liquor is forbidden, they had the biggest duty free store I have seen outside of London, with every kind of liquor.  That was interesting.  Johnny Walker liter for $20,  :-) !

There were 345 people were on the B777 flight to Phili.   The attendants are so incredibly friendly and accommodating. I asked for a bottle of water when we took off, she came back with a liter bottle, and you know I drank it the whole 14 hour flight. They fed us well.  Menu consisted of Indian lamb and rice salad, some curry dish, or meatloaf. Of course, drinks are free.  They had two malbecs, one very good and a syrah  that was a little off.  Chardonnay not so good, but the sauvignon was better.  Mint / lemon water was a very nice touch. And they had the usual blankets, socks, touthpaste and toothbrush, snacks, wet towels, cheese and fruit, and NY Times.    

Attendants were Nordics, Arab, Asian, speaking every imaginable language... well. Of course Russian and English were the most common languages,  Russian being first.   I can never tell the between different folks usually except for this big guy I would swear was from Saudi. When I said excuse me in passing him, he answered with a big Texas accent. That was a surprise. (My colleagues always laughed at me when I taught in Brazil and couldn't tell the Asians from the Brazilians. They really are very similar in looks, or maybe I am just not very perceptive... probably the latter) 

Security concerns:  DOHA had a security checkpoint when you got OFF the plane coming in from BAKU, even just for transfers.  And then the DOHA to Phili flight had another full security check at the GATE, with full scan and x-ray of luggage. 

The seatmates were fascinating.

- an American fellow that manages a oil drilling platform in Baku , then goes to Tennessee to visit his girl friend for a few weeks.  And he does this almost every month.  OY!

-  the daughter of the Peace Corps country director of Azerbaijan that is just closing.  It is a hard time for everyone there, but I’m sure the mom is just as classy as her daughter, and will do well in her future. AZ decided they didn't want Peace Corps there anymore. 

- an interesting American company rep that boosts output on power plants by cooling the machines ( like the old raised floors in the computer rooms) … potential sales job when I finish my service?  They aren’t in Georgia yet, but hope to be.
- a male couple going to Malaysia, with whom I discussed the Buddhist philosophy. He says it is not so much a religion as a way of life - simplicity.  One thing he said is that he only chooses one goal per day, accomplishes it, then relaxes. Interesting. I think I could like that. 
- met several Peace Corps volunteers going home for the holidays from many countries, how fun?

Fees:  coming to US I had no charge for my bags.  But I had to fill out the big form to enter the country, had my picture taken and answer  questions.  Of course that Peace Corps passport is pretty cool.  Coming back I had a $100 charge for my second bag.  In Doha they weighed my carry on and since it was over 20 lbs (I think), they requested that I check it at no charge. That was fine, but interesting.  Good thing they didn’t weigh me. Beside the 5 pounds I gained while in US, I also was wearing 2 big winter coats, since they didn't fit in the luggage.  Memories of my youth flashed before me, when we did crazy things like this. 

On the way to the  US we had darkness the whole way. So I expected light the whole way back.  But I miscalculated.  We left Phili at 10 am, and 5 hours later, it is pitch dark out over the ocean, and probably 8pm local time.  We saw the sunrise over Qatar, which I wanted to see, since the man made islands are so interesting.  I tried to capture them here, but the lighting was bad.  You can see the little islands, most of which are little marinas. Fancy oil money!

 I made it back to Tbilisi and they were most welcoming. They even had a line for 'service personnel.'  left Raleigh with sadness to leave after such a wonderful, validating time.  But on the plane I was reinvigorated to return to Koda, with great people with great ideas. 

On to a great 2015.  My service ends July 2016, and I have no plans to return to the US before that time.  I hope to conquer the Georgian language some more, make some good friends,  and accomplish the Peace Corp mission:

To promote world peace and friendship by fulling three goals:

 -  To help the people of interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and women, 

-   To help promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served

-  To help promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans.  

Kimi

:-)  People at home asked about my name.  In Georgian all nouns, and names, end in a vowel, with no capitalization,  so here I am kimi.  or kim dixoni.  I kind of like it :-)