Flying over the "cradle" of civilization -- Turkey, Iraq and Iran -- makes you wonder why people tend to gravitate towards hot and dry climates with sparse patches of green here and there where rivers and/or mountain valleys are. I can see why our traveling African ancestors settled in Mesopotamia. They thought it was going to get worse : )
As we fly south towards the Persian Gulf, things get more desolate, sandy, and brown. As we cross over to the Arabian Peninsula to land, it is all sand. Amazing to see what money can do. Interesting to see a transfer of wealth at this scale -- oil out of here in exchange for food, water, people, building materials, airplanes, air conditioners, roads.
The airport is like any other around the world ... lots of duty free, restaurants, lounges ... with employees from all over the world ... Philippines, Malaysia, India. Learned a little Tagalog from my Philipino friends at the Al Dhabi lounge ... and a glimpse of what the life of a South African expat living in Beijing was like from Carmel who was stuck at the airport for 24+ hours.
Boarding now for my flight to New Delhi to join the rest the team. Andy, David and Julio are already there having fun ... without me. Bastards!
Hey! That "They thought it was going to get worse" thing is what you say about Amarillo. Well, I guess Amarillo is another cradle of civilization.
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