Day 1: Departure and Unexpected Detour
The day began bright and early on a Monday at 10:18 a.m. PST, filled with excitement and curiosity about what Dubai might offer. Skewie, always eager for adventure, wondered about the friends he might make and whether his cape would survive the journey without a wrinkle.
Upon descent into Dubai, our flight encountered a massive lightning storm. This was no ordinary storm; it delivered two years’ worth of rain in just 12 hours, leading to widespread shutdowns. Unable to land in Dubai, we found ourselves circling above and eventually rerouted to the Kingdom of Bahrain.
After spending four hours on the tarmac in Bahrain and being told to prepare for departure, the captain decided we needed to deplane and stay overnight. The airport did not know where to take us. 4 short buses had to find us a hotel. They had to accommodate us and 500 other unexpected guests, which led to a long wait for hotel transfers and check-ins.
Finally, after 33 hours of travel with no sleep — thanks to a baby crying on the flight — Skewie finally found some rest. In fairness, the baby was just as unhappy as the rest of us, but was allowed to cry.
Day 2: Lost in Time
The next morning (I think), having missed dinner the night before, we ventured upstairs to a hotel-provided breakfast featuring an array of unfamiliar but intriguing dishes. After a brief rest, we anticipated the logistical challenge of all 500 guests trying to leave for the airport simultaneously. Skewie and I decided to head out early, thankfully avoiding further delays. But not before we made new friends all along the way in Bahrain!
The flight to Dubai was postponed by five hours, but we took it in stride. Skewie is tough, bring it on! We finally departed at 9:00 p.m., unsure of the day or time, but ready to continue the adventure.
Arrival in Dubai
Upon arrival, we faced a massive queue for taxis (2 hour wait) and endured the wildest taxi ride of Skewie’s life. The aftermath of the storm meant navigating through abandoned cars and waterlogged roads, with our driver making daring maneuvers to reach our hotel. I am not exaggerating.
At one point we were going the wrong way on a four-laned highway into oncoming traffic at 80 mph. The cabbies shift ended so he was like a bat out of hell trying to finish our trip asap. Like all other guests, such as my partner Daniele and our attorney Alberto, we ended up carrying our luggage through floodwaters to reach the hotel lobby. I asked the front desk people to take a picture of my arrival at 4 a.m. local time, Thursday.
Exploring Token 2049
Refreshed after six hours of sleep and a hot shower, we met Daniele and Alberto in real life and spent the day at the Dubai Token 2049 event.
The evening was spent aboard the SS Santorini, networking with VCs against the stunning backdrop of Dubai’s skyline.
Over the next couple of days, we immersed ourselves in the event, making new friends and connecting with partners.
We got some sleep and hit the streets for the upcoming morning podcast, which, fortunately, was just a short walk from our hotel. That afternoon we went downtown to meet with our key partner, the Ephelia Group, and headed back to the hotel for one more time.
Daniele went to the beach party to have some fun — he is a travel warrior. Skewie and Dave decided to pack as it was an early morning departure.
Journey Home and Reflections
Our return journey involved a minor delay on the tarmac, but we were soon westbound, heading back to San Francisco.
The trip was filled with unexpected turns and taught us the importance of adaptability and patience — a core part of our culture at Skew.
Throughout this adventure, we not only managed challenges but also made memorable connections and experienced the vibrancy of Dubai. We’re already looking forward to our next adventure, wherever that might take us!
