Dinner at London Airport followed by a flight to Abu Dhabi
After a couple of weeks in the UK, my brother, nephew and I stayed at the Hilton Hotel at London’s Heathrow Airport because our flight to Abu Dhabi was very early in the morning and there was no way we were getting up around 3am to depart from our Airbnb. It’s a nice hotel and takes about ten minutes to walk to the terminal in a covered walkway – so easy and so close.
After we checked in we took a look around the hotel and whilst the hotel has a few nice restaurants, we chose the Chinese restaurant for dinner. We met in the bar area for a drink before going to the Zen Oriental Restaurant. Its a nice little restaurant that has a good range of dishes to select from. 
I ordered the fried tofu for entree, my brother had the deep fried spring rolls and Braydon, who wasn’t feeling very hungry, just ordered the chicken sticks with satay sauce as his only dish.
I was happy when I saw fried eggplant on the menu so of course ordered that with a small bowl of rice. My brother enjoyed a chicken dish with cashew nuts. Service was good and I saw all sorts of different people dining; men travelling alone/families/young and old couples and of course us!!
The next morning we were up very early and walked to the terminal. Terminal 4 at Heathrow was so quiet and we got through customs and immigration easily which meant we had a good wait at the Etihad Lounge where we had breakfast cooked for us – scrambled eggs on toast with tea and coffee. I did a bit of last minute souvenir shopping in the paper shop, Boots the chemist and the Harrods store.
Finally we were called to board and I was seated next to the window again which is my favourite seat. I was offered a glass of champagne which I enjoyed and Mark and Braydon got themselves ready for the nine or so hour flight to Abu Dhabi.
I started watching a few shows on tv but then fell asleep; which is something I find easy to do on a plane but not before taking a few snaps out of the window.
Next thing I knew it was time to put the seat upright to land in Abu Dhabi where the heat hit us like a tornado once we left the terminal. Wow!!
Sue's Fabulous Travels 
That looks great for an airport restaurant Sue.
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A very nice restaurant meal to round off your holiday Sue.
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The food looks delicious, as always. I love the wing tip and clouds photo at the top. I’m mesmerized by clouds, whether I’m flying or on the ground. I just have to remember where I’m walking. I like the plane seating photo too. Air travel has come a long way. When I’ve been able to afford business or first class on an international flight, on a non-U.S. airline, vacation starts when I board the plane.
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That eggplant is making me hungry. It’s one of my favorites too. 😋
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Gary it was. I was pleasantly surprised.
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Thanks Marion. It was a lovely way to say goodbye to the UK.
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Hi John. Thank you as always. Those clouds are actually from the UK from a previous visit. I love clouds too. I said the exact thing to my brother ‘the holiday starts as you board the plane’. Or even when you are at the Lounge enjoying a snack and a drink in a comfy chair.
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Isn’t it great!!!! Had some for lunch today actually.
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Eggplant as usual!
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We, too, always book a hotel next to the airport for an early flight. Business class is really comfy for a long flight. Except, I hardly eat half of the meal they serve.
Thank you for sharing your fabulous travel, Sue.
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I enjoy full meals but usually save half for later. The eggplant looks very healthy, Sue. Your brother’s cashew chicken looks delicious!
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I meant to say, I loved the photos of the airplane wing and cloudscape, Sue. It is very exciting to see the distance from way up high! Smiles Robin
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Ahh such a relaxing way to end the trip! Airport hotels can be life savers!
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Ha ha. Too true.
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Hi Amy. Thank you very much for your comment. It’s a good idea to book a hotel near the airport. I have only done that once before in Sydney.
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Thanks again Robin. I do certainly love an eggplant dish.
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It’s funny I really liked that photo too and it was just from my mobile phone.
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Aren’t they what. Saves so much angst getting to the airport early Julia. And you would know this with all your wonderful travel.
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It’s so tasty – Iove deep-fried!
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Reading this has given me “itchy feet” – shame on you! Who knows when we’ll be allowed to travel for pleasure again, and what that experience will be like in the future? Here’s hoping the “return to normal” goes well. We’ve done quite well here in Australia compared to elsewhere.
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