New York City

There are a few places in this world, where I dreamt of going since I was a little girl. New York, the city you always see in the movies, and got to know from Gossip Girl. I couldn't wait to see myself walking on the street of the city that never sleeps.

My mom and aunt came over to Dubai for a week of sun in November. It was so nice having them with me in Dubai and in my new apartment. I used to live in the desert, with nothing around me. You would open the curtains and all you could see was sand, I'am not even kidding. So when I moved to Downtown Dubai my life has changed so much. I can walk to Dubai Mall, metro station is just around the corner, and you're just more in the middle of everything. Now I really feel like living in Dubai on the 36t floor watching over Sheikh Zayed Road (7 lane highway).

The ladies would leave again on the 16th. I had 5/6 days off at that time, and I was thinking, where can I go?! Then New York popped in my head, a city I have never been, but always wanted to go... So I decided to go to the Big Apple, with me, myself and I... Tickets are cheap, and I found out that one of my friends was operating the flight to NYC, so that was the sign, I AM GOING TO NEW YORK!

WHAT a city, so much to take in as well. The flight to New York was long, but good. I had a whole row for myself, two baileys and Mez is asleep ! Even when you bring your own pillow, the flight is even better! We arrived around 9pm, immigration took ages but I was out together with the crew. My friend asked the pilots if I could join them in the bus to the hotel, which saves me money and time, since I was staying with my friend in the hotel for the next 2 days! The best part was that the hotel is literally ON Times Square! So sweet I could stay with her for the first two days, which saved me a lot of money as well. Once we got to the room we changed quickly because we were so hungry! We had some food and wine at some small bar near the hotel, then we had a little stroll on Times Square, but it was late already so it was pretty quiet. We had to go to bed soon as well, we were planning on doing a lot of sightseeing the next day with some of the other crew. I woke up around 4.45, being super excited and happy and probably jet lagged as well, ready for the day to go sightseeing, finally! Like a kid in a candy store. Most people know New York from the many movies and series, but once you're actually there is very different and the same at the same time. First thing we had on our list was the statue of Liberty. You can see it with a boat tour, we booked it for 10am, and the weather was absolutely beautiful and perfect to be on a boat, still a bit chilly but it was fine. From the boat we also saw the Brooklyn Bridge, when we crossed the Statue of Liberty, me and I think everybody else realized that it is pretty small. From all the movies it always looks so massive, but in real life, not that much. Still cool to see though. Just next to the Pier where we got the boat there was a small cute restaurant. It was one of those moments you just need to sit down, enjoy the sun and have an alcoholic beverage. Cocktail time at 11.45, but, my dad always told me 'somewhere in the world it is 5 o clock', and it tasted like it was 5pm, haha. After our drinks we walked down to Ground Zero, which was very impressive. I would come back later in the week when the girls would have left, because I wanted to go to the Memorial Museum. But that day we left to go back to the hotel to have some lunch and a little afternoon nap, since some of us were up pretty early. We planned to go to the Rockefeller Centre, where you have a beautiful view over the Empire State Building, Manhattan in total and Central Park. The sunset was absolutely BEAUTIFUL! Since the sun went down it became a bit cold as well, so we left to walk around Central Park. I just wanted to see the iceskating, because they always show you that in the movies as well. And again, smaller then expected. Still stunning though, someday I will go back to go iceskating, but then with somebody...

That night we went for dinner with the girls (4 in total) in the Meatpacking District. Everybody who has been before told me to go there for a night out. We had dinner at the Sugar Factory, apparently some famous restaurant as well, we didn't know until we saw the wall with all the celebrities. Their cocktails were amazing. Two of the girls went back to the hotel, and me and one of the others wanted to stay a little bit longer to see what this Meatpacking District is all about. We heard about this place called Provocateur, but once we arrived at the door they wanted to charge us 300 dollars for entrance, we were definitely not anymore in Dubai where entrance is always free. Obviously we didn't go inside, then on the way back to Sugar Factory we met these two men, who have been in New York for a while and they wanted to take us to this Rooftop Bar, so we went. Glad we did, because from there we could the whole skyline of Manhattan. After the Rooftop Bar, can't remember the name, we walked down the street to 1 OAK, since we just wanted to go for a little dance before we went back to the hotel. Around 2am we decided to go back to the hotel.

Wednesday morning my friend and I went for a little walk in Central Park, and again the weather was so lovely, not cold at all. She had to get back to the hotel to get ready for her flight back to Dubai, since she was in New York for work and I was there for my holidays. When all the crew left and we said our goodbyes I went to the hostel I booked, the jetlag was still there so I had a nap first. That night I decided to go to a Broadway show, somebody told me that Aladdin was playing, and since I absolutely love Aladdin, my decision was made very easily. It was so beautiful, the actors were amazing, loved all the songs, and had a little tear over 'A Whole New World', I know, such a girl !

Thursday was my last full day in New York and this time the weather wasn't that great at all. So I went to Wall Street and from there I walked to Ground Zero again, to go to the Memorial Museum. If you ever go to New York and want to go to this museum, don't go alone. It did have a lot of impact on me, and even at one point I just had to get out of there, I felt so sad. We have no idea what New York went through that day, it's honestly horrible, no other words to describe. After the museum I went to Soho, the cool and populair place, with little boutiques and cute bars in basements. Of course I could not go to Grand Central Station as gossip girl fan. And I was impressed by Grand Central Station, it's honestly stunning. I must say, when I was in New York it was just after the whole Paris attacks, so the security everywhere was really high, men with guns everywhere. New York was probably once of the safest places to be at that time. That night I went for dinner with friends of my friend Yvette. I met Yvette when I went to Milan for my thesis, and she used to live in NYC, when I decided to go I messaged her if she would still be around. Unfortunately she moved back to Boston, but her friends Will and Ricky were happy to take me for dinner. The restaurant where I was supposed to meet them was just close by Grand Central Station, it was pouring rain at that time. Too dutch to buy an umbrella I hold my scarf over my head, which got wet at some point, so I took shelter close to the buildings for a minute. Then I had a movie moment. This guys stops right in front of me, with an umbrella (a real gentlemen umbrella, not one of those I<3NY ones), wearing a very nice suit. He looked at me and he asked me, where do you need to go? Me, trying to be cool, said, just a few blocks that way. Then he said, I can take you, heading that way anyway. Which I obviously could not refuse!!! So we shared an umbrella for around 5 minutes, and he asked me till when I was staying in New York. I had to answer that I was leaving the next day, and I could see the disappointment in his face (just to make the story better as well). He left me in front of the restaurant, and I knew I would never ever see this person ever again. Still a pretty New York moment if you ask me. The guys were so nice as well, and we had a lovely Mexican dinner in the states.

Friday was my last day in the United States of America, and I didn't want to waste any moment. Wake up early and packed my bags because my flight was later that day. The girls in the hostel must have thought, what is that for traveller?! I was just very prepared, had my own blanket, own pillow (again), eyeshades and earplugs... I had only two more things on my list, walking over the Brooklyn Bridge and biking in Central Park. Done and done!! My trip to New York was a succes, and I loved every moment I have spent in this amazing and busy city. A dream came true. I will definitely go back one day, or even on holiday, because there are so many more things to do and see, and 4 full days is just not enough. But it was time to head back to Dubai and start working again, my flight was Mauritius, which is not a bad destination at all !!

Explore, Dream and Discover

Today is the 28th of February, which means that now exactly 2 years ago I made the step to move to Dubai. 2 full years of amazing memories, holidays, friendships and many more. Just want to say that I am so grateful for all the things I did in the last 2 years, things I would never have done otherwise, and honestly feeling blessed that I am able to do so many things at such a young age. Happy to have such amazing family and friends. Living abroad brings a lot of struggles with them as well, staying in touch with the people back home, and I can proudly say that I still have all of my friends, and want to thanks them to be patience with me, and visiting me in Dubai or when I'am in Amsterdam, that they take the time and effort to come and see me. The list would be long if I name each and everyone of you, once you read this you know that I'am talking about you. <3

Now, after 2 years, unfortunately I already had to say goodbye to some really good friends of mine, who left Dubai to either move back home or are starting another adventure. Life is so boring without friends, especially in Dubai, it is so important to surround yourself with (positive) people who you can talk to about everything! Because not everybody understands whats happening on a flight, that a normal working week could be a Melbourne Auckland trip a short trip to Doha and back and any European flight to for example Amsterdam. Thats sometimes how my weeks look. You go to 3 different continents in 1 week, and is considered as 'normal'. Of course for us as cabin crew it is normal, but actually in real life it is so not normal! And I realize that as well shopping in all these different countries is a blessing, even my closet thanks me for that, haha.

Here's a little list of things I did in the past 2 years:

- Holidays in:  Thailand
                         Bali
                        New York
                        Kroatia
                        Sri Lanka
                         Malta
(this year I'am planning to go to Austria, Hongkong and South America)
- swimming with wild dolphins in Mauritius
- hanggliding in Rio de Janeiro
- saw the Sydney Opera House, the Christ in Rio as well
- went to Tokyo with Sarah (my roommate)
- one day skiing on a Lyon layover
- met: Diego Maradona
           Robert Pattinson
           Jermain Jackson
           whole dutch hockey team in Buenos Aires
          Fedde le Grand (Dutch DJ)
          Ali B (dutch rapper and judge of the Voice)
           Edgar Davids (dutch ex-footballer)
- bought a real Russian Hat in St. Petersburg
- went to a pingpong show in Bangkok
- took a boat on the Mekong river in Vietnam
- climbed Lion's Head in Cape Town
- swimming with sharks in Durban
- saw the big tennis players play at the Dubai Championships (Djokovic, Federer, Verdasco, Bagdadis, Murray etc.)
- went to see the biggest outdoor Buddha in the world in Hongkong.
- bought fake bags in the underground market in Shanghai
- visited the second biggest mosque in the world in Casablanca
- walked on the Great Wall of China
- bought facial masks in South Korea
- had a cocktail at the Marina Bay Sand hotel with the infinity pool in Singapore
- did about 6 desert safari's in Dubai

And of course I can mention many more things I did on layovers. All the friends I met all over the world, being surprised by my big brothers in Frankfurt, stayed in Paris for one day with my parents and so on...

Lets not forget all the amazing party nights I had all over the world. If you need any advice on which bar to go to in, almost, any city in the world, I'am the person to talk to. But at the end of the day it is the people you are with who are making it worth going. And all the amazing parties I went to in Dubai, so many good nights in the party central of the Middle East, all the crazy brunches I have been to, the afterparties that followed. I can truly say from the bottom of my heart that I enjoy living the life in Dubai. Wouldn't change a thing to all the things I did, all the lovely people I have met. Just makes you appreciate the little moment more as well.

I often get the question, what do you wanna do after Emirates? And to be honest, for now, I'am happy in Dubai. Maybe in another 2/3 years and then it might be time to close this chapter and start a new one.

I want to finish this blog with 2 quotes, one for each year:

"The World is like a book, people who don't travel only read one page."

"20 years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do then the things you did do.  So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails."
Explore          Dream               Discover
       

Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro is, I must say, one of the hardest trips to get, because everybody wants it! Not only because it's South America and you can buy cheap Havaianas, but just because it's RIO DE JANERIOOOO. I was waiting for this trip for ages. Funny thing was, a few days before rosters came out I dreamt I was in Rio, well for me that's a sign, and it became true, when rosters came out, Rio de Janeiro it was!! The rest of my roster wasn't great at ALL, I had 5 of those short trips, you go there and you come straight back on the same day, for example Kuwait, Jeddah, Medina, Delhi and Bombay. And from personal experience I can tell you, those are not the best flights to get, more about those later. 

Where to start. Before I went on the flight I saw that I knew one of the girls on the flight, because I flew once with her to Zurich. And especially like long trips like these it's always nice to have somebody on the flight you know, so you don't have to introduce yourself AGAIN, it's all a bit easier. Everybody was so excited for the trip. It's a 5 day trip, you first fly to Rio and stay there for 24 hours, then you fly to Buenos Aires where you stay again 24 hours, next day back to Rio and then again 24 hours in Rio before you head back to Dubai. The flight to Rio was 14.30 hours!!!! The longest flight I ever did!! I don't know why but for some reason, there is always somebody famous on my flights, the most random flights as well, which I obviously don't mind at all. So yeah, when Mez went towards Argentina she met literally the most famous Argentinian, Diego Maradona. For those who don't know him, shame on you! He was in first class obviously, but on a 14 hour flight you have time to go up to the front and have a little look. I went to first class, and Maradona wasn't in his seat, not that there are many places to hide on a plane, so he was on the toilet, so I thought, I just wait till he comes out. When he came out of the toilet he said to one of the crew he wanted a tea, in Spanish, I do speak a little bit Spanish so asked him right away if he wanted any milk or sugar in his tea. He did not expect me to speak Spanish to him, so he was kinda surprised, which was funny. The first class crew gave him the tea, and since he likes sugar and butter cookies she asked me if I wanted to go up to him and give him his sugar and cookies, 6 in total. When we landed in Rio I literally ran to the front, cause there was no way I would let Diego Maradona leave my plane without a photo!!!! The crew told me as well he is into blond women, so when I asked him for a photo he did NOT hesitate to put his hand around my hips. But at the end of the day, he is a very very short little men. But I got my photo! 

When we arrived in the hotel in Rio we were all so tired, besides the fact that we all slept for 4 hours on the plan, but it's still killing for your body. If you're a passenger it's tiring, but just imagine to then work as well, it's a different kind of tiredness. But you keep thinking, it's okay I'am in Rio de Janeiro, so you still want to go out and do stuff. We went that night for dinner with 9 of the crew. And omg that food was just amazing, never ate more meat in my life and all of it was so tasteful. Delicious!! After dinner we went straight back to the hotel because we were going hanggliding. Since I love a good breakfast I set my alarm earlier to go to the breakfast buffet. Then we got picked up to run of a mountain, hoping you won't fall down. There was a little platform, which was going a little bit down as well, and then at the end there was nothing. I would say around 500 meters, but those are my estimations, could be completely different. Anyway, it was a long way till you would hit the ground. My instructor, cause you don't fly alone, explained to me that when we would start to run I could not stop running, even though we already left the platform, otherwise you would fall down. But it's against your nature to keep running of a mountain, just doesn't make any sense, but you have to do it anyway. I wasn't scared for one second. So there we were, ready to go running, and the view was absolutely stunning with a blue sky. My instructor counted down, 3,,,, 2,,,,, 1,,,,,, RUNNNNN!! So I ran, and before I knew it we were flying through the air. You feel powerless, but in a good way. I felt so free and I didn't know where to look because everything was just beautiful, I could even see the Christ ! De flight itself only took around 12/14 minutes. But so worth it, we landed on the beach, not the famous Copacabana. They installed some GoPro's on the hangglider, so I have some awesome photos and proof that I did it. When everybody was safe and sound on the ground we had to go back to the hotel, since we were leaving in a few hours to go to Buenos Aires. With zero sleep, and so much adrenaline in my body I went to Buenos Aires.

De flight was only 2.5 hours, and unfortunately no famous people this time. Would to good to be true as well. That night when I arrived in the hotel I was supposed to meet my friend from uni, Joel, I didn't see him for around 1.5 year so I was very excited to catch up with him. He was traveling through South America, so it was a coincidence that we were both in Buenos Aires at the same time. Perks of being a cabin crew, see your friends all over the world. When I changed in my room I went downstairs to wait for my friend in the lobby. But then I saw a lot of guys with orange shirts, and I thought, hmm they look familiar, it must be some dutch national team. While I was waiting for my friend I heard two guys talking to each other in Dutch, so I was smiling and told them I was dutch as well. Then I asked them which team they were, cause it's kinda awkward if it's a different them. And then it was true, they were the national dutch hockey team! So I talked to guys for a while until my friend came. They told me they were in Buenos Aires to qualify themselves for the Olympics, how cool ! When Joel arrived with another friend of mine Reinier (which I didn't know), I went to sit with them and had a drink. So strange, no matter how long you don't see some friends, once you see them it's like nothing ever changed. It was good to see some familiar faces. The next day we were supposed to go to a famous graveyard, where Evita is buried. Even here I went to breakfast, hoping as well I would have breakfast with some nice hockey players, but no... Didn't see any of them.. I thought I was supposed to meet my friends around 10, so I was ready at 10, but then 10 turned into 1pm! So then I was just sitting in the lobby watching all the other hockey teams as well, Germany, Egypt and many more. Then at one point I saw on the guys I talked to the night before, Billy, and he was together with Jeroen, he saw me and asked me if I wanted to join them to Starbucks, since I had to wait for another 2 hours till my friends were there I thought, why not?! Who gets the chance to drink a coffee with some famous, and cute, hockey players... We got something to drink and then we sat on a bench in the sun, chilling. The weather was amazing as well. While we were walking back I saw that ALL of the dutch guys were standing outside, and as soon as they saw me walking with 2 of them I just could hear them saying, who's that. So as we got closer, I said, Hey guys, I'am Merel, is it okay if I take a group photo? I probably wouldn't see any of them after that moment anyway, nothing to loose. So here is the group photo! Only something like this could happen to me, haha! 

And then back to Rio, again no sleep before that flight, I became so tired. I was even shaking during the flight, lack of sleep. On every trip I take my own pillow, it's just so comfortable when you have your own pillow, no neck problems with the pillows in the hotels, some are too soft and some are to firm, no, I take my own. So in these massive beds there is this tiny pink pillow in the middle, haha. Not only me, but also my pillow has seen the world. It was the last day in Brazil before heading back to the desert, so the girls and I decided to do the tour. Again, waking up at 8, leave the hotel at 9, with 5 of us. First we went to see the Christ. Once we arrived there, we had to wait for 2.5 hours before we could actually get up the mountain. I haven't seen a worst organization of queuing up and buying tickets for such a famous tourist attraction. With little to no sleep in the last 2/3 days my patience is hard to find. So this guy tried to go in front of us in the queu, well, as some of you already expect, that was not happening with me around. I put him back in queu, behind us. Everybody else is waiting as well, so just wait for your turn, stuff like that make me so angry. Once we were up it was all worth the wait. A beautiful view over Rio and the Copacabana, and to see the Christ in real life, that's special. We couldn't stay too long because we wanted to see other things as well. The next stop was the place where they celebrate Carnaval. You could hire a costume for 10 Real, which is 2 euros. So me and my friend put on the costumes, it looked so funny, and those costumes are pretty heavy as well. So we took some photos and then on to the next stop. Next stop were the famous steps, Escadaria Saleron Rio de Janeiro, thats what they are called. Some photos again and then we went to the Copacabana because we were so tired as well. I was a little disappointed by the beach, maybe I just expected more. It was just a beach like any other, not more beautiful then other beached I have seen. By that time we had to go back to the hotel to get some sleep before the flight back to Dubai. It was good that the flight was not full, again we had 4 hour rest on the flight, but once we arrived to Dubai I was so tired. But again it was all worth it. An amazing trip with lovely people, we did so much in such little time as well. This was one of those trips that you feel so blessed being able to do this job.  

    

Hello, it's Mez...

My first English blog!! I have been writing a Dutch blog for around 2 years now, and I thought it would be time to start one in English, so more people can enjoy my stories. For the people that don't know me, my name is Merel (originally Dutch, obviously, otherwise I could not write one), 23 years old, living and working in Dubai (UAE). I work for an airline called Emirates, which I am sure everybody knows. Because, Emirates is everywhere, they support the football, golf, cricket, rugby and many many more sports and events. 

Why Mez do I hear you thinking, and to be honest, I don't really know actually. When I met my first friends here in the desert they just gave me the nickname Mez, which is easier to say then Merel, since Merel is pronounced differently in Dutch then in English.. And since then I kinda accept being Mez, sounds nice, and easier to say as well, because most of the times they compare my name with Meryl Streep's one.. Same same, but different..... 

The reason why I write blogs is very simple, I just love to write. I'am one of those people who still keeps an actual diary next to her bed (with pen). I guess when I write I can express myself in another way then with talking, which I love as well haha. If I have a busy day or something happend, I prefer to write it on paper, or in a blog in this case, so I can write it off my mind and that way it makes me feel better. I honestly hope you enjoy reading my blog as I enjoy writing it. I will be writing about literally everything, about destinations mostly, things that happen on flights, and sometimes I will take a dutch blog and translate these sometimes amazing stories, who will give you a smile on your face (I hope).

I just realized that I flew to 99 destinations, in other words, I checked in 99 hotel rooms, got my little enveloppe 99 times, had to pack my bag 99 times, unpack my bag 99 times, slept in 99 different beds, collected 99 crew tags (some destinations are the same), tried to figure out how the lamps go off 99 times (which sometimes can take up to a long times because there are so many buttons), and not to forget, brought my own pillow to 99 destinations (nothing beats your own!). 

Can't believe I have been on 99 layovers, the end of this week, the 28th, it will be exactly 2 years that I swapped my lovely Holland for Dubai.... Literally time flies when you're having fun, and oh what are we having fun!! 

                                  This was me on the 28th of February 2014. MOVING TO DUBAI!