The not fun start of my travels part 2 - Singapore to Baku

Well the 52 hours travel time is slowly whittling down. All that’s left is a 15 hour layover in Istanbul during which I change from the new Istanbul airport, north west of the city in Europe to Sabiha Gocken airport which is east of the city in Asia. That will be followed by a three hour flight to Baku where I arrive at a sparrows fart 3:30am to be collected by a pre-booked driver and taken to my hotel which I expect I will see a lot of over the first day at least. 

I’m starting this as my Singapore Airlines flight nears Istanbul. It began nearly 11 hours ago but thanks to some Melatonin which I bought over the counter at Singapore airport (it needs a prescription back home) I slept for much of it. Sadly the flight was full so I didn’t have the luxury of stretching out. 

I remember back in the good old days (pre covid) when Singapore Air were head and shoulders above other airlines when it came to service. The Changi Airport remains fantastic but really! No wi-fi!  In an international airport where people spend hours hanging around!  During my recent experience with Singapore Airlines (SAL) on my India trip I noticed that the great service declined but thought that maybe I had drawn the short straw that day. Sadly that was not the case as this flight was no better. Still manned by immaculately groomed, very petite staff that was about the only thing reminiscent of ‘those’ days. Meals were shocking, service disorganised, my blanket was fraying and had holes in it, no free wi-fi and a terrible selection of movies, no games. 

First world problems I know but it saddened me. AirNZ is so much better. 

BUT, despite a lot of turbulence I’m writing this knowing we will soon land safely and that’s the main thing. 

I’ve no funny stories, nothing much to share but I am looking forward to heading off through Istanbul where I can eagerly devour my first Simit  (kouloura to you Greeks out there). 

Over and out for now. 

Easy peasy through immigration and bag collect and I walk through the exit door to find myself face to face with a Simit shop. Simits (bread ring covered in sesame) were my no 1 go to last time I was in Turkey and I have been dreaming of them for ages. Nothing could hold me back and I virtually sprinted to the shop and settled in for a taste of heaven. Except it wasn’t; possibly the most tasteless Simit I’d ever had accompanied by a rubbish coffee in a paper cup. My first disappointment. Funny but most my disappointments seem to revolve around food!  

That done I caught the bus to Sabiha Gocken Airport along a route that skirted the north of the city, crossed the Bosphorous on a majestic looking bridge and carried on across the northern and then the eastern outskirts of the city. It was all new scenery for me and despite the mist and rain I managed to get a glimpse of green fertile rolling hills, some new housing developments and some fabulous roads. 

Arrival at Sabiha Gocken was unremarkable. I had already checked in so I can dump my bag and go through, wander the shops and take advantage of a four hour slot I had booked for a sleeping pod. 

The airport landside is rather nice but virtually without any seating unless you are in a restaurant.  There’s none of the usual charging spots and the restaurants that do exist are rather hit and miss. But anyway I would drop my bag and go airside pretty quick. 

Until that plan didn’t work. 

Again I said to my self:  Why. Do. I. Do. This. To. Myself. ???

I went to drop my bag at around noon. My flight leaves at 00:10 tomorrow. Oh dear. I cant bag drop till 6:00pm at the earliest so here I am sitting in my luggage which is on my trolley and wondering how I got this booking so so wrong!  Serves me right as I was trying to save a few measly dollars and did a bit if a fiddle. Whatever I saved has been spent on the bus changing airports and the food I will consume over the next few hours while trying in fill in the time. 

Oh well. Get over yourself girl, keep people watching and be happy you are nearly there and the real stories can begin. 

Well those moments didn’t last long and I went wandering to keep myself awake. There were people at the checkin counter so I figured I would ask about dropping my bag again. 

Within two minutes my bag was checked through and I was on my way through organised and quick security and immigration.  With still 10 hours to kill and soooooo tired sleep was my first priority. 

I had prebooked a sleep pod before I left home but earlier in the day had emailed them to say I would be late as I couldn’t dump my bag till later. But I gave it a try and lo and behold within a few minutes I was sprawled over a clean comfy latex covered bed with my head on a real pillow. My pod also had a tv, radio, shelf, dimmable lights, piped rainforest music and a gentle fan. They were stacked two high and I was lucky to be in the bottom one. After my last episode in a top bunk it was probably just as well. 

My stuff safely stored in my locker I rushed to the loo. Not something I would normally write about except that this wasn’t just any loo. After aircraft toilets where you need to be a contortionist to accomplish the job without something getting soaked the warmth of that heated loo seat was the best thing of the day.  When you are tired even the smallest thing can make or break your day. 

I don’t know that I slept for long but the luxury of the bed was just wonderful and the hot shower afterwards was heaven. I checked out the lounge for a bit and said goodbye to my Kepler stay. 

Kepler pods are being slowly rolled out in other airports. A great alternative to the short stay hotels that I have used in the past and with a pay by the hour deal it works out far more cost efficient. 

The airport is bustling. This one serves countries close by which means there are many Muslim people here with the women in anything from a full burque, to an abeya or just a headscarf. 

Lip jobs abound and it seems the fullness of the lips corresponds directly to the length of the eyelashes, the amount of bling being warn and the number of designer brand labels on show. 

Busses take us to our plane. Arriving at the plane two lots of stairs are being driven in. One lot at the front and the other at the back of the plane. We are given the go ahead to board and people spill out of the three busses.  No instructions but you would think that people would use their noggin. So people sitting at the back were boarding at the front and vice versa causing the most idiotic shambles. I was lucky in row 4 but standing I had a great vantage point for the nonsense going on. Hilarious. 

But I am on board and nearly there. I dont remember the take off. It cant have been bad but I woke just in time to land. 

Baku I have arrived.