Door Clicking. When in Moscow.

It has been wayyyy to long since I last posted. In fact I have visited so many different destinations since I started writing about my time as cabin crew.

I have been awful at blogging since i've started flying, which is ironic as I finally have so much to write about! I am finally going to make sure I keep this up to date. Posting about my trips, and life in general as crew.

Right Now I am lying in in bed in my hotel room, a tummy full of buffet breakfast- which I somehow managed to get in the executive lounge as the staff made a mistake (I wondered why people were drinking champers, dammit)

I am ashamed to admit that I will not be venturing out at all on this layover in Moscow, Russia. One thing as cabin crew that I hate is when people get to the hotel, run straight to their room only to shut the door and not come out until the end of the layover, only to hibernate the whole time.

The only time I make an exception for these people is when they may have visited the destination on many occasions, if you're ill then of course you need to rest, or when you simply hate the destination you have travelled to.

So yup, right now my excuse is.. I have hardly any money- after being off work for two and half months with a hairline crack in my hip (not fun), its bloody freezing in Moscow, and lastly I have been before. So I am using this trip as time to recuperate and recover from an extremely busy month of flying.

The rest of my day will consist of staying as cosy and warm as possible inside, heading to the gym for a couple of hours and going straight back to my room for a power nap before my night flight back home to Dubai.

 My Moscow Experience

      Red Square- (Krsnaya ploschchad) 

Such a breathtaking space, full of amazing buildings. beautiful architecture, people from all walks of life and filled with history.
In the square you will find St Basil's Cathedral, the state historical museum, the GUM shopping center, the Kremlin Wall and the Lenin Tomb.

St Basil's Cathedral  

When I first saw St Basil's I was stunned, it looks a little like something from Disney, it reminded me of a fairytale palace. I visited it the cathedral at night time and although I was freezing myself to death it was so worth it. The photos really don't do it justice. I haven't seen it during the day but I get the feeling that if you go when it's darker it's better as the lights make the colours pop out, its so vibrant and beautiful. I din't go inside, although I know you can pay to do that. However its still amazing to just see it from the outside. This for me was the highlight of my trip.

Borsch

Of course every layover includes trying out the local cuisine. So I decided to go for some 'borsch'. originally a Ukranian soup traditonally made with primarily beetroot and a common dish in Russia.

ANNNND no layover is complete without a 'crewfie' 

Moscow was an experience, I kind of felt like I was in a time warp and I could still very much feel the fact it was a communist country. I'm glad I went out on my first layover however for now I am quite happy just chilling for once and doing absolutely zero.

Lotsa Love,

Rosie

X

#CabinCrewProblems

So i’m sure some of you who follow me on instagram or are friends with me on facebook and actually care/pay attention to what I post realise the struggle is real sometimes. When I say the struggle I’m relating to some of the day to day problems pretty much most cabin crew face working in this industry.

1.         Sleep... not enough of it, can’t sleep, too much sleep.. just sleep! Travelling through different time zones and working at odd/unsociable hours makes your sleeping pattern so messed up. My boyfriend calls me a fidget and wriggler because often I can’t sleep throughout the night and find myself up and about several times, sometimes even doing the washing and tidying at ridiculous o’clock in the morning.

2.     Maintaining a normal social life. I have a great social life... when I have the days off at the same time as my friends at least. You find yourself constantly stalking your friends rosters to see and plan when you can all next hang out.

3.       Relationships. Some people find it hard to hold down a relationship in this job, especially if your boo is in another country, now that’s tough. But often even if your other half lives here in Dubai it can still be hard. If you date crew you both may not see each other for a month, depending on what your rosters like. I personally am happy that I’m not with crew, however it is a bit frustrating when my days off only ever seem to be in the week and so seeing my boyfriend is after he finishes work and when he has the weekend off I may well be away flying.. This job can make spending quality time with your partner hard. For example I did an 8 day trip and I really missed my man but having said that it makes the time you spend together so much more special.

4.     Grooming... Not that I haven’t always been well groomed, of course I have! But you have to make sure your nails are perfectly manicured all the time with a minimum of clear nail polish, your hair has to be tidy and up to standards- no hair die/highlights etc... It can get tiring sometimes and I really want ombre hair right now.. see #cabincrewproblems

5.       Health- there’s no doubt about it your health will suffer. Lack of sleep, being exposed to the sun, radiation and working at high altitudes in a dry environment does wonders for your health... just kidding. I have never felt so unhealthy in my life, I suffer from psoriasis as it is and since moving to Dubai and working it has got so much worse, no amount of cream helps. My fitness regime has suffered big time, back in the UK I was working out near enough every day and felt great, now I am lucky if I get three workouts in a week. Someday’s youre flying all day and get to a destination and just collapse in the hotel bed, or you go straight out to explore and maximise the 24 hours you get in that place (if its a 24 hour layover).

6.      Reputation.. For some reason we as cabin crew have a reputation for being somewhat ‘loose’, it really annoys me because actually not all of us are like that. It can be applied to anyone in any career, I think it’s just because there’s a lot of us. But yeah not all of us are wild sexual animals who sleep with anyone and everyone around the world.

7.      Tights, pantyhose, stockings.. whatever you want to call them. Laddered tights is the bane of my life.

8.         Memory. In this job for some reason your memory seems to suffer big time. The amount of times i’ve arrived back into Dubai seen a friend and they’ve asked me where i’ve just come from and I cannot even remember. Goodness knows why but sometimes you just can’t think straight.

9.       Drinking. Often you just need a good stiff drink (or five) after a tough flight. Working in the hospitality industry can drive you to this... especially when you’re stuck with passengers for 15-16 hours on a busy US flight.

 10.       Not really having a proper ‘base’.  Although Dubai is meant to be our ‘base’ I can honestly say I don’t know where my real base is, I spend more time travelling and in other countries than I do in Dubai. On average I roughly spend 8 days in Dubai each month. Don’t get me wrong I love travelling and working but sometimes you just want to be on ground for a few days to sort shit out.

Dubai Antics

So thought I would just make a generic post about some of the things I have been up to during my time so far in Dubai.

Cirque Le Soir, Dubai. 

My first night out, pretty crazy nightclub, with a circus theme, put it this way when I saw the midgets dancing on podiums when I entered I knew it would be different. They have a Cirque in London too. It isn't cheap but my friends flatmate got us in VIP so we didn't pay for a drink all night (my kinda night).

Madinat, Jumieriah.

Visited here twice now and both times I went to 'Tortuga' a Mexican resturant with moderate prices and an amazing range of cocktails, the food is so good too. The Madinat itself is set across its own private beach, The resort is supposed to be an authentic recreation of ancient Arabia, capturing the natural beauty of the region. It has two amazing boutique hotels, and has lots of restaurants to choose from. There is the Madinat Soukh there as well, and lots of little cafes in the resort. It overlooks the Burj Al Arab and is close to Wild Wadi Waterpark. 

Myself and my Greek friend Dimitra at Tortuga

The first time I went we had chicken quesadillas to start they were amazing.

You can go on the old fashioned abras for 75 dirhams.

Sandance Festival 2014

Sandance Festival in Atlantis, The Palm was awesome. With Clean Bandit, Rudimental and Empire of the Sun all performing. Amazing setting on the beach and the atmosphere was unreal, from what I can remember!

Jess and I pre vodka

The calm before the storm..

Face paint!

Before it filled up

Getting ready for Sandance myself and Kate

It didn't look like this in the evening..

Al Hallab, Restaurant & Sweets, Dubai Mall

This night was truly spectacular, my batchmates and I went for a meal to celebrate finishing Aviation college and getting our 'wings' to finally fly. My Lebanese friend Azza booked the table for us and we were all seated outside with the most amazing view of the Burj Khalifa and the fountain show. The food was typically Lebanese with lots of meats, breads, dips, salads etc. It was great because it was a set menu so there was no fuss in choosing what we wanted, plates and plates full of different types of dishes just kept getting brought out to us.  AMAZING. 

Hannah, Azza and I

Amazing views!

All the batch together!

Amazing food and company!

Basha and I in Dubai Mall after the meal

We had such a good view of the fountain show

So many different dishes

Dimitra, Azza and I

Lebanese food is so tasty!

Desert Safari

So when you think of a safari you immediately think of being drove around in a safari truck whilst seeking out animals.. (well I do anyway). But this safari was far from that, nonetheless it was so much fun and something different to do if you're visiting Dubai (I highly recommend doing it). You basically take a seat in a Jeep and hold on for dear life while the drivers speed up and down the sand dunes in the desert, it's quite exhilarating and such a laugh- I was hungover this day but despite that I was okay and this has got to be up there with one of my favorite days so far. Myself and all my batch-mates went for the day and got back late at night after the evenings entertainment in the camp there, it was such an amazing day I loved it!

Somebody had the hump...

Awesome night at the safari, with traditional Arabic entertainment and food

Cavalli

So Cavalli nightclub is basically an absolutely ridiculous night out. The nightclub was inspired by and launched by the designer Robert Cavalli. My friend Hannah and I ended up in Cavalli after I had friends round to my apartment to celebrate my friends birthday. Cavalli is pretty glamorous and not your average night out, it's very glitzy and extravagant. The music was decent and I had a good night, the only thing is drinks are very expensive but luckily enough we had a few people buy us drinks- standard. 

Batchmates

Myself and my fave Greek Dimitra ...the Birthday girl

Inside Cavalli with Hannah my Aussie girl

Shangri-La Hotel- Ikandy Ultra Lounge

So this place we get discount at with our Facecard (flight attendant discount card). When we originally went for the first time we didn't have our facecards but we still had a good time. We had a few drinks and chilled it was a decent evening. Nice atmosphere with a resident DJ and at the top of the Shangri-La, big comfy seats, shisha, cocktails and a pool. 

Obviously making friends in the ladies

Movida

I'd be lying if I could say I remember this night clearly, in fact it followed after a few drinks at Ikandy, I was prettty drunk so its a bit blurry. From what I can remember of Movida it was a very narrow room and I was pretty much getting fed drinks from every angle, the people I was with knew the owner so that helped on the free drinks front. I went to Zinc beforehand which is where crew tend to go on a Monday, but we left as it was a Thursday and not very good. 

Think this it he only photo I got in Movida..

Amika

Amika is a bit of an odd place if I'm honest. I had a good time because everyone from Aviation college was out as it was the day we finished training so we all went pretty hard. Not a huge place from what I can remember.. pretty sure it was all just on one floor, there was a stage .. a bar.. pretty standard. Not sure if I like the layout or the music, probably need another night there! Out of all the places I've been to though I wouldn't say it has been one of my favourites. 

Myself and other crew 

The Irish Village

What can I say.. I bloody love this place. I don't care about the fact I am in Dubai and yet I go to a place called the Irish Village, it's awesome. Great pubs/outside dining/bars, good place to catch up with friends over a few drinks, good atmosphere and it's really close to Al Nahda where I live which is great cos everywhere else is a mission to get to. Then there is the Century Village next to it which has lots of different places to eat and drink. Been to the Irish Village a few times now, one of my favorite nights was Halloween, spent it here with a few of the girls and myself and my Danish friend Ditte had a great night. 

Tamara, Dimitra and I with a bunch of not so scary boys ...

Tamara as a red Indian and myself as I don't know what I was... drunk?

Ditte and I ..6 am in the morning and we had demolished 2 Sports Bar meals.. oops!

Beach Times

Mamzar Beach.. the beach 10 minutes from me

Nasimi Beach

Pool days

My Czech friend and batchmate Hana.

I've been to Jumeirah beach as well which is a nice one and I'm still yet to go and explore other beaches. I get free entry to Meydan beach club with my facecard and I am planning on going there this weekend coming. 

The Farm, Al Barari- restaurant 

Classed as a 'fine-dining' restaurant and oh my goodness it is exactly that. The food was amazing here and the setting was so idyllic. Surrounded by what was like a big pond and lots of pretty flowers I would recommend this place to anyone. I had the bruschetta to start and then a roast chicken dish for my main, it was so so good and especially on a hangover!

Jordan's eggplant starter

My main dish!

Okay so this post seems like it is taking forever so will just post the rest in pictures and when I have more time I will write more about my experience so far in Dubai. I need to sleep now as I am flying to London again tomorrow.

Basha and I in the jeep during the safari- duning

My hun Ditte

CHEESECAKE FACTORY- Mall of Emirates- Red velvet hmmm

Aquarium in Dubai Mall

My rooftop pool

Amazing that this is inside the mall!

Sahara Mall- the mall opposite me!

Spice soukh, the day it was a million degrees!

Day off at the beach

Kate's oreo cheesecake!

Bashaaa

Madinat

Wine time in la casa de Rosie

Drunk at the front of Sandance, Clean Bandit!

Macarrons with Kate at 'Paul' amazing cafe/bakery in Dubai

Galpallll Hannah xx

Pretttttty drunk after a friends party

Hana and Martina my batchamates!