Continuing to Dubai

We landed at Kuala Lumpur at midnight, from Auckland, and had a 1h35 turnaround before continuing to Dubai.

Emirates don’t appear to have traffic rights for bringing passengers from Auckland to KL.  We remained on board during cleaning, catering, security and refuel, after which the joining passengers boarded.

Airlines talk about the aircraft being completely sanitised, deep-cleaned or fumigated after every flight (longhaul) and nightly (shorthaul).  We didn’t see any of that.  Because the flight was so empty, it was just a light vacuum and putting out pillows and blankets.

Announcements on this flight included Malay in addition to the usual English and Arabic.  Despite the flight being much fuller, I still manage to have 4 seats and there were other that entire rows too.  Benefits of being down the back of the bus.

I felt a little sleepy still after departure and as soon as I finished the horrible dry panini for supper, I took another half a pill and managed to sleep for two and doze for another.  That took me till breakfast time and our arrival in Dubai about 15 mins ahead of schedule.

Transit to Cyprus

We landed in Dubai about 15 mins ahead of schedule.  The lady (with two young kids) seated in front of me had overheard me talking to the Malaysian flight attendant and she was from the same hometown as me!  She’s got a long transit to Kyrgyzstan to meet up with her husband who is flying cargo planes there.

It was a long walk to the connection area as the one nearer was temporarily closed.  The security officer didn’t appear to be watching the x-ray monitor seriously and I was through to the departures level pretty swiftly.

I checked into the nearest Marhaba Lounge, hoping to use the shower but that required an additional cost of USD18.  I flagged that and went right into attending to business.  I had to make an online submission for something within a very small window of time and it had to be right here, right now or very soon after arrival in Cyprus.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t make that submission due to probably an overseas IP address having been detected.  And my VPN didn’t seem to work (perhaps blocked).

I ate lightly in the lounge as I didn’t really need any food.  But I rehydrated big time as I was feeling a little parched from the previous two flights.

Continuing to Larnaca

My onward flight to Larnaca departed on time at 0800.  Most passengers were from the subcontinent, with some clearly Nepalis.  Taxiing out to the runway, it was apparent that a considerable number of Emirates Airlines’ A380s are back in operation.

With three seats to myself, I lay down soon after take-off.  I must have fallen into a deep sleep for about 30 mins and was woken up by the crew for breakfast.  Our flight path avoided the Levant as we flew in a more southerly fashion to the Sinai Peninsula before heading north to Cyprus.

It was hazy as we approached Larnaca and we landed about 15 mins early, just before 1100 local time.

Arriving in Larnaca

Passenger continuing to Malta were staying onboard.  For that reason, we had to flash our boarding passes as we disembarked by airbridge, then exited the steps from the airbridge down to the apron.  We were led to a room where our Cyprus Flight Pass approvals were checked.  I was randomly selected for Covid-19 PCR tests on a complimentary basis because I didn’t need one.  On the other hand, people who came from higher risk areas had to pay EUR15 for theirs.  In contrast, people who require a test for departure pay a minimum of EUR50.  I guess the government subsidises the arrival tests because it is protecting the country.

The single nasal swab and the throat swab was the gentlest and shallowest I had ever experienced.  Once tested, we were bussed a few metres to the immigration area.  I was out within 40 mins of disembarkation; not too bad.

I had to wait about 45 mins for the Kapnos Shuttle bus to Nicosia, departing at 1230.  I waited outside in the shade as that meant I could do without my mask.  I had masked all the way from check-in at Auckland, over 30h ago, except for meal times.

Due to a small passenger load, the bus was substituted by a van.  We were in the modern high-rise part of Nicosia 40 mins later but I needed to take a taxi to the old city.  The quoted price of EUR10 seemed hefty but it did take about 20 mins and there was substantial traffic on the way.

First explorations of Nicosia

I checked into the Royiatiko Hotel a little before their official check-in time of 1400.

After a rest, I went out exploring the old town.  My hotel was perfectly located close to the pedestrian mall from which I found my way through various notable buildings to the Famagusta Gate.  On my walk, I noticed that Nicosia is very cosmopolitan with Africans, subcontinental Asians and Syrians.

I also noticed some blocked roads which in the past would have led into what is now the Turkish side.  That turned out to be something I’d explore more tomorrow.

At the supermarket, I had my first experience using my EU vaccination passport.  The security guy just looked at it.  I could have been any old QR code or one that belongs to anyone!

I had an awesome dinner of Lahmacun and Fattoush from a Syrian eatery, staffed by people from the subcontinent.  It was cheap too!  The Lahmacun was EUR1.70 and the huge Fattoush EUR3.

After dinner I discovered a very atmospheric dining area outside the Phaneromeni Church.  Some places were only starting to get set-up.  I’m normally an early diner but having just landed few hours ago, I had eaten by about 1800.

I was in bed by around 1900 for a well-deserved sleep.