The Best Made Plans

Although my connection from Amsterdam to Dubai arrived at 5:30 this morning, the hour through passport control and 15 minute taxi ride to terminal 2 made it impossible for me to grab the Kabul flight - either on my scheduled airline or another.

And after spending 2.5 days in the same clothing, without a shower since Friday morning, my gold status is pampering me at the Dubai Creek Hilton. Having a shower, I feel like a human again.

The executive lounge overlooks the city of Dubai - and the 'creek' - which is really a massive river. There are amazing buildings every where - examples of sustainable building - lots of glass and dynamic shapes. It's about 9 AM on a Sunday and the city is alive - it's more akin to a Monday morning in the States.

In the short time I've been here, I've had two marriage proposals - ok, slight exaggeration - but proposals of "relationship." The taxi driver wants me to write a sponsor letter for him so he can live in the States. The bellman almost the same. Don't worry, I used an alias name and address.

So tomorrow, the plan is to hop on a flight to Kabul - I hope. All necessary parties have been notified of what happened. I'm nervous about flying on my own - not being with the group. I really rely heavily on "safety in numbers." It's not the flying, but arriving in Kabul. I thought I read somewhere about taking a taxi if our guide wasn't there - but I could be wrong about that.

That scenario has me freaked out - what if I'm kidnapped? OK, maybe an exaggeration - but I'll be on alert, keeping my "head on a swivel," as was advised to me.

But, if I can do this - I have no doubt I can do about anything.