After a couple more Kilimanjaros, judging a bunch of not-so-attractive guys with hot chicks (we figured it out when they boarded first class), and acquiring a duty-free bottle of Konyagi for the road, for which I got a disapproving look from Dubai customs officials when they searched my carry-on during layover, we boarded a relatively uneventful plane ride to Dubai. Well, uneventful until we landed. We must've taxied for a good 15 minutes. We literally pulled past every single gate in the airport, and might I add that 90% of them were empty, only to come to a complete stop on the tarmac. We were then subjected to a ten minute bus ride back to the Transfer Terminal, which was all the way on the other side of the airport. Why? No clue. It was more ghetto than Africa. And China. Combined.

Since we only had an eight-hour layover, we decided to make use of the time at a nice spa. The fees were exorbitant. The hourly hotel? Same deal. We ended up going the cheap Asian route and commandeering two lounge chairs outside our gate. In spite of the noise, we managed to grab a couple of hours of sleep before being woken up at 6am from the cold and the noise. We were only too glad when it was finally time to board our penultimate 15-hour flight home. Only to be delayed because the baggage belt had broken and they needed to load the luggage for the entire 200-person plane by hand. Dubai airport ultimate fail. After a full hour seat belted in aboard the plane, we finally backed away from the gate and took off for home sweet home.