Susan's NGTAW Blog: And it's a wrap - heading home from our NG Tour of Asia

Reflecting on this amazing expedition and working on posting photos for the travel blog

Monday, March 05 Dubai to Chicago, via Istanbul

We departed Udaipur, India on Sunday at around 5:30 PM, after our creative "street fair" luncheon and last tour of the City Palace. Our last flight was a little longer than expected – more than 3 hours, because of heavy headwinds. We had a glass of champagne and some canapés and listened to farewell reflections from Jack Daulton and Carroll Dunham. We received our final instructions from our expedition leader, Eszter Foldvary. We spent some time saying goodbye to everyone on the plane, and then had a final glass of champagne and toast with our flight crew and staff.

The setting sun reflecting off the engine as we head west from India to Dubai

Departing canapés and champagne

Last instructions from our expedition leader, Eszter

We arrived in the evening in Dubai, around 8:30 and cleared customs at the new Emerati airport - so efficient, clean and almost empty of activity, except for the overhead call to evening prayer on the airport's audio system.

We boarded various buses at the terminal - some departing directly for the airport and the rest of us for the 40 minute ride to our new hotel location - the Jumeirah Creek Hotel. Many were departing on later flights in the evening and NG had arranged a hospitality lounge with food and wine and other drinks. Some of us were departing in the morning, so we went to the lounge to pick up our room keys and our passports. Mike and I headed over to our room, repacked a bit and set our alarms to make the 6 AM transport car to the airport for our 8:30 AM departure on Turkish Airlines.

Dubai airport - last time through customs as a tour group together

Nat Geo's hospitality suite at the Jumeirah Creek Hotel in Dubai, as we all began our final paths to get home

NG had arranged for our morning ride. We left the hotel at 6AM, at the airport the sun was just rising. We checked in for our Turkish Airlines flight, and then to the airport lounge. We were flying through Istanbul again.

View of one of Dubai's modern and attractive metro stations at the entry to the airport

In addition to our original 4 suitcases, we now had two large duffle bags for hand luggage,
courtesy of National Geographic

The sunrise highlights that even the air traffic control tower in Dubai is creatively futuristic in design

Just Wow - the contrast between this airport and those we'd just traveled through in SE Asia was a bit jarring

Such an interesting sign - a place to toss your unwanted suitcases or small bags and items??

Reclaiming our usual seats on Turkish Airlines - 3A & 3B

Settling in and ready for the next 20 hours of travel

Our route on this leg: four and a half hours, over Persian (or Arabian Sea) Gulf, Iraq and the length of Turkey

Departing Dubai - Out of the dessert - in less than 50 years

So fascinating to see these human creations - and the stark desert beyond

Stunning view of the Burj al Arab and the beautiful blue Arabian Sea

A last look at the Jumeriah Palm Island - and it's developing twin to the east

I love seeing the globe from above - so many fascinating things to look at. After departing the UAE, we flew over Qatar and Bahrain, Kuwait, large cities in Iraq and snow on the mountains in Turkey. We landed in Istanbul around 12:30 and enjoyed our time in the airline lounge until our TA Flight 005 departed at 3 PM. Our flight from Istanbul to Chicago would take 10 hours, and we'd be served 2 more meals. I worked on photos the whole time - so fun to see all the countries anew. Mike slept about 3 hours.

We flew over Arad and Timos, Romania (and Hungary), where Sally and I will visit sometime soon. Most of the rest of Europe was under cloud cover, but we were able to see the whole southern coast of Iceland (reminding me our our great trip in 2016 with Elizabeth, Matt and Charlie.) We had great views of Greenland's coast and glaciers, and on to Goose Bay Canada and the Canadian tundra. We crossed Lake Huron up near Georgian Bay - traversed Michigan, but not near Traverse City - and across Lake Michigan to arrive in Chicago by just past 5:30 PM. Luggage and customs were quick, and the cab ride home was smooth. We returned to the (welcome) cold of the midwest and to our cozy downtown apartment by 7 PM.

I'm looking forward to sharing our stories, experiences, reflections and photos with everyone and hearing about family and friends impressions of our travels. Can't wait to do it all again!!