And so it begins!

On the 3rd of July, Emma and I left Tokyo and headed off to Narita airport for our flights (hers to Sydney and mine to Istanbul via Abu Dhabi). It was sad to say goodbye to Japan with all my friends leaving for college, however I know I will visit again soon and I'm sure I'll run into ASIJ alums around the world. Also, the fact that I have such an exciting adventure ahead of me quickly overrode many of my melancholic thoughts. 

My flight departed at 9:30pm and 11 hours later (the equivalent to two movies, two meals and a few odd naps here and there), I was in Abu Dhabi. 

What else can you do at 5AM in the morning but take photos of the beautiful sunrise. 

Flying out over Abu Dhabi was very interesting for me. It was unlike any of the landscapes I've seen from a plane window before. Very flat, sandy, dry and dusty?

4 hours later I was boarding my next flight to Istanbul. Stop number 1 on my euro adventure. 

5 hours later (1 meal, 1 movie and a 30 minute nap) and I was in Turkey! 

Another 4 hours later (the equivalent of one Starbucks coffee drunk very slowly at the airport), a flight landed from the UK carrying my travel companion for the next 2 months, Pia!!