Dubai has the largest terminal I've ever seen. It takes 46 minutes to walk from one end to the other according to the signage. It's also packed with duty-free shops and seemingly-endless restaurant options, although when you're famished, the walk to get to ANY restaurant felt like a life time. I was pretty close to giving up and busting out a power bar before we finally managed to find a café. After wolfing down our meal, we decided to continue exploring the airport only to discover that over-the-top did not even begin to cover it. Not only was there a full-scale luxury hotel and spa built into the terminal, but there are actual reclining lounge chairs at each boarding gate. And did I mention that the toilet seats were heated? Such opulence I had never imagined before, especially considering the fact that a good portion of Dubai's residents live in poverty.

Boarding flight numero dos, I couldn't help but think, in five short hours, I would be setting foot on a brand spanking new continent. Turns out, I got a little too excited too fast. We must've sat next to the one guy on the plane that had not showered for at least a week. Don't get me wrong. He was a sweet old man. But he just had to keep reaching up to adjust the air vents. And take his luggage out of the overhead compartment. And then put it back. This happened multiple times an hour all throughout the flight. I was so close to passing out. After what seemed like an eternity, the captain finally started our descent. I have never been so excited to get off any airplane in my life, and this includes the deathtrap we took to Jingdezhen.