Dear all,
Alhamdulillah I landed safely without any issue yesterday. Unfortunately we had the first oboroth declared Monday 9 pm and we went to Uttara to my aunty's place around 1 am to stay at night with all our luggage, which apparently was good for my travel plan, but was bad for us to manage everything at the very last moment. Still it was okey alhamdulillah,
- The flight was on time 9.10 pm emirates, and the boarding gate was open from 6 pm. I reached the airport around 6.15 as I was bit worried about my luggage over weight thing. Just to share, I bought 1 extra 32 kg luggage with 175 usd, and switched 2 bags from 23 kilo to 32 kilo with another 50X2=100 Usd. They don't take dollars, they took taka instead and I paid 21,500 taka over the counter n they provided a proper money receipt. I also checked in 24 hours prior to the flight to book my preferred seats, and it was helpful, as the emirates counter is usually full with immigrant Deshi worker bhais'. The staffs were helpful and actually never bothered about the weight that much, they also took 2 of my planned hand carry bags, (that was good a decision, as I realized later though,). Probably seeing my young son, they showed pity. After crossing the immigration without any question even asked (they only asked how to apply for immigration!!!) we waited at the lounge. As I was keen to buy my cigeerates from duty free and I ran out of Bangla taka, in so many traveling years, for the first time I knew, I can pay by my BRAC bank Visa card directly to purchase in USD from duty free. It felt good as I forgot to buy my cigeerates on that oboroth day.
- interestingly at the security checks at the boarding gate, (I was worried about the cash CAD) the officers never even asked how much dollars we are carrying (which usually they do, and asks about the endorsement thing) just asked us how many we are traveling, when he located our money pouch in the scan. I think its good to avail emirates, as all the emirates staff are always busy tackling the different class groups numbered many.
- The flight was on time and we landed at Dubai terminal 3 and the baggage claim is at a different terminal, where we had to collect the exit permit and wait for the shuttle bus to the hotel. I simply wasted minutes, asking the ground staff where to report for the exit, they don't know much, if someone is puzzled it's better to ask to a information counter, rather asking to any staff. We required to take the shuttle train to get to the exit through the immigration, after collecting the visa showing the hotel booking voucher to the cash counter near the immigration (as suggested by the information). I found the immigration staff very stupid, as they always keep on talking among their colleagues simply ignoring the tired passengers. We were accumulating in a long que. Still everyone had to have the smily face towards them.
- the shuttle took 10 minutes to get us to the hotel, and within 15 minutes they cleared all the passengers to their rooms. It was almost 2 am and the wake up call was planned at 7 am, the bus departs for the airport around 8 am while the flight time was 9.50 am. As Per my prior plan, I asked the receiptionist about any restriction for getting out and they said its okey as long as I avail the airport bus on 8am, I booked a private taxi for the guided city tour for 2 and half hours. They charged 90 USD for 3 of us and my son was free. We all took shower and were freshen up by 3 am. We had few snacks and water bottle with my camera prepared for the hiking. As I knew it might be tough for me for next couple of struggling years, to explore Any new place to visit with my family and kids (especially my 7 years son, who enjoys cities and big buildings like me, and keeps on suggesting me it's okey not to have money, as I can always go to any ATM and can withdraw. They only thing he doesn't know, I have to pore money to withdraw it!!! My crazy little son).
- The driver guide was Pakistani named Ezaz, he was 25 knows Dubai for 2 years, plans to get married to a girl from Peshware in next 2/3 years. He was very soft spoken and modest. Interestingly he showed up with a brand new white Lexus 4x4, and the car was simply fantastic. My son again complained about the car we had, and suggested to have this car in Canada. (My crazy son!!!). We started 3 am, went to Burj khalif, Dubai Mall, Burj Arab, the beach, palm jumerah, the Atlantis, hotel castle, the makhdum road and few other visitor's place. We stopped near the beach for our supper and spent time to enjoy Dubai at 4 am. It was simply great, unbelievable an experience with half the fading moon hanging in the sky, to roam a city at that late hours, where you see all the party people roaming with their very expensive cars and the rest of the city sleeps. (I saw a grey Ferrari, a red Porsche and uncounted BMW and Benz coupes') we returned to the hotel at 5.15 and had a nap, before the breakfast at 7.30 am.
- We boarded the long waited A380 airbus, around 8.30 and unfortunately the plane was over booked with hand luggages (it was good to get rid of the bags at Dhaka airport off loaded, as there were many Indian families with loads of hand carry bags and the whole upper closet was full). Many of them got strantted and the plane could not go. The pilot himself intervined and managed many of the bags to get to the bunk from hand carry. (My suggestion is it's better to request the Dhaka counter to get the big hand carry bags as the booked luggage, by saying you are to travel long and unable to attend family and bags together. They usually are considerate to long distance travelers.) the plane was 1.30 hours late to start. They plane is far better than the Boing 777 with a wider seat and better leg space. The only problem I faced was my head ache due to innaducuate sleep due to the night city safari at Dubai. It lastly had to go with 02 painkillers from the smiling air hostess.
- at Pearson it's like regular they attend new immigrants for the first times. They are smiling face and ready to help in all the cases. I had an incompletete address which I never noticed, they were undone to complete the PR card's postal thing. They struggled for a while a lastly gat my sis number from me, called her up for the proper complete address and let me go. We were lucky to have the SIN counter open where two Pakistani ladies helped us to get all the 04 sin numbers within 15 minutes. It might take 10 days to get those in hand by post. They provided the child benefit envelops, informations, and booklets in a pack. You already know that you are in a system and there is nothing worry about anything. The lady helping me also told me to go to belt 13 as the Emirates disposes the luggage there. We went there and saw only our bags are left at floor, as it was late and everyone is gone, the ground staff cleared the belt ( good for us, as they all were heavy). We hired a porter for our 10 bags (3 bags for 10 CAD). The Mr. white monster guy came with a big trolley managed everything along the cartoons, and showed all the way to the customs. Actually he was kind of helping us bypassing other families and officers keen on checking bags. The nice elderly customs officer asked all the B4 form and stuffs list with the photographs. I gave and asked me if any chance. I am carrying a second copy. I said no, then he photo copied all the documents and after stamping returned the 2 nd copies for future reference. I declared my money in a prescribed form and he said we are good to go. He never even bothered what I am carrying and what I am not. And interestingly there were families in front of us who's bags were opened and all the cooked stuff were thrown away, and my wife was very paranoid. As I asked the porter why we were set free, and he said you declared everything in that paper and they see it true. We were happy to go through as we were carrying bit of restricted stuff like my beloved Shutki!!!!!!
- Toronto Pearson welcomed us with snow and -11 deg. According to my sis it was the first for this season, and my kids were happy. My current location is 5600 Shepard Ave. East, Scarborough. I will be here for couple of days before shifting to another flat at the same condo. My sis and her family are very happy to see us and all the kids went to the airport with 02 large 7 seaters. One of my uncle and me came with the luggage and the rest by the other car. Parking is expensive here and if my sis never would have checked the flight EK 241 for its 1.45 hours delay, it might took her 20 dollars for extra parking.
- today 24 hours gone after leaving Dhaka, and I had my bank account done at TD, and they gave me a starter check book with 04 leafs, active debit card instantly when I deposited 400 CAD in the account. With 25 minutes all together I got everything, and the lady was very well managing the new comers, prescribing which account I should prefer, and she took the passport and the SIN paper (issued at the airport) as my identity. My brother Inlaw introduced me to the Bank. They are to send everything within 4-5 days and I can have my phone and other stuff with that billing address. Tomorrow I plan to go for health card and the child benefit form filled and that's all for the official procedures to be done. Next Monday will start browsing school.
Now finally I am here, right or wrong donno yet, only thing I know I want my kids to have smile in their face, yes I will work hard, and try my level best to raise them as proper Muslim universal Bangladeshi soldiers. Just keep on parying for me and for Many like myself. I wish all the best for all the forum mates I know and I don't know personally. You kept me live to bear the unbearable waiting time of +3 years.
Just keep praying further more. Cheers and maley Bari............
hhshumon
