EDITOR PRE-WARNING: This blog is extremely boring. Nobody wants to read about a layover. The only reason “Up in the Air” did so well was because of George Clooney and Anna Kendrick. Sorry to say husband, you are neither. Having spent a considerable amount of time flying from one destination to another, due in part to a career that required it, and a lifestyle that desired it, there are several aspects of traveling in a giant tin can that I have come to appreciate over the years:
And while the above facets of travel make it that much more of a digestible experience, there are also a number of undesirable features of airborne journeys, that can turn a relatively simple expedition into a painful test of one’s mental fortitude:
With the last characteristic representing the most notable in our journey to South Africa (layovers, not common misconceptions), a difficult decision was required when our flight options were presented before us:
For those who know me best (or even partially), the decision was not even a decision. What better way to save some money AND have the potential for some more blog-worthy material? All at the expense of our mental well-being?! Now, little did we know at the time, but our “Option #2” flight routed us through the recently-declared #1 Airport in the World – Hamad International Airport in Doha, Qatar. A $17 billion glorified shopping mall, known throughout the travel industry as the only airport for which an extended layover does not involve an utterly insufferable experience. And how did the Qatari manage such a feat?
And now, with this post surpassing 1,500 words in length (?!?), it is probably best to quickly wrap-up, and provide some visual evidence of HIA’s amazingness: Onto the pics (inclusive of pre and post-layover experiences): EDITORS POST-WARNING: Told you so
Next Post: How to be an Expat, When You Aren't Technically an Expat
8 Comments
Jessica
8/22/2021 04:07:58 pm
You should’ve hyperlinked to Colleen’s comment. Cmon now!
Reply
Mark
8/23/2021 08:19:36 am
I'm pretty sure this is a futuristic technological capacity that does not exist on this platform. With that being said, searching for her comment = more clicks = more advertisement revenue for all those advertisers who are begging to be apart of this thriving blog!
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Hannah
8/22/2021 07:43:34 pm
Why was that common misconceptions link so fascinating? I forgot what I was doing for like 20 mins as I read that.
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Mark
8/23/2021 08:21:44 am
I had to stop reading after 5 minutes, since it essentially proved false every belief I've ever had. For example, "The memory span of goldfish is much longer than just a few seconds. It is up to a few months long." Nope, didn't read that. I will still believe what I want!
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Colleen
8/23/2021 05:15:17 am
Wow!!!!! The coveted SHOUT OUT!!!!! And to Chick Floral, no less. You guys are the best.
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Mark
8/23/2021 08:31:52 am
Feel free to deliver us a floral arrangement in exchange for the massive boost in traffic to your website (I believe we are almost up to 50 (!!) subscribers). Floral shipments should be about $195 to South Africa?
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Melissa
8/23/2021 09:13:58 am
Keep up the good work.
Reply
8/23/2021 11:32:12 am
I wasn’t bored at all! Your Sunday blog has become a highlight of my week. I love how happy you all look.
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PRIOR BLOG POSTS: Year Abroad Intro: • Welcome to our Newest Blog! Again! • The Move - Dissected, Probed and Then Probed Some More • The Voyage (Part 1) - If At First You Don't Succeed, Trying Again Won't Work Either • The Voyage (Part 2) - The Layover to Rule All Other Layovers • A Personal Life Update - Establishing Our Shallow Roots A Guide to South Africa: • How to be an Expat When You Aren't Technically an Expat (Part 1 - Bank Accounts) • How to be an Expat, When You Aren't Technically an Expat (Part 2 - Health Insurance) • Load Shedding - Keeping the Lights Off in South Africa Since 2007 • 195 Ways to Fight a Pandemic - The South Africa Edition • Halloween in South Africa - Playing Catch-Up Since 2016 • SnapScan - South Africa's Glimpse into America's Future • Thanksgiving in South Africa - Where My Turkeys Be At? • Life at the Epicenter of Omicron - A Different Type of Cancel Culture • Playgrounds - The Starbucks of South Africa • Cost of Living in South Africa - An Exploratory Journey of Everyday Expenses Trips: • Namibia Roadtrip (1 of 3) - Driving a Shake Weight to Sossusvlei • Namibia Roadtrip (2 of 3) - Searching for Souls in Swakopmund • Namibia Roadtrip (3 of 3) - Getting our Safari on at Etosha National Park • Weekend Getaway in Robertson - A Trip Down Pleasantville Lane • Summer Holiday Trip (1 of 3) - Glamping Without the Glam in the Drakensberg Mountains • Summer Holiday Trip (2 of 3) - The Historical Chronicles of Kruger National Park • Summer Holiday Trip (3 of 3) - Searching for Whales and Spare Tires in the Overberg • Visitors Round 1 - The Woodmans - An Expedited Exploration of Everything • The Great Wildebeest Migration - 15 Years of Waiting Decided in 15 Minutes • Ngorongoro Crater - A Pre-Migration Layover Inside an Inverted Volcano • Ndutu - The Safari to Rule All Other Safaris • Serengeti National Park - Seeking Out Simba at an Abandoned Pride Rock • Zanzibar - The Island of Sugar, Spice and Most Things Nice • Visitors Round 2 - Let's Ignore Our Sanity & Do All The Things • Wild Coast - A Little Tatse of the O.G. South Africa Cape Towning: • Spring Break in September - Just as Strange as it Sounds • A Day in the Life of a South African Expat - The Visual Edition • A Wrinkle in Our Spare Time • Our Final Week in South Africa - A Bittersweet Symphony of Bucket Lists The Other Stuff: • This is 40: The South Africa Version |