Let me whisk you away to October 2024, where the dinner plates were still spinning from our meal. Just as I was contemplating whether dessert was a good idea, one of my family friends rang us up like a delivery pizza that had gone rogue. “Guess what?” he exclaimed, “Air Arabia is practically throwing flight tickets at us!” After what felt like a lengthy debate—you know, the kind that could rival a political debate—my family, along with two other brave families, decided to book our escape to Baku in March 2025. Who said planning a trip wasn’t as fun as a family board game night gone wrong?
After 2025 rolled up like an unexpected guest at a party, my family had a lightbulb moment, realizing we had booked tickets to Baku a month prior—who knew time travel could be so confusing? We were stuck in a conundrum of whether to go or not, thanks to a series of personal dramas worthy of a soap opera. Initially, we decided to pull the plug on the trip, but just like a plot twist in a bad rom-com, Dad swooped in a week before takeoff with a dramatic declaration: “We are going!” My mom and I were so laser-focused on hunting down the coziest winter gear on Amazon that we willingly sacrificed lunch on the last day.
You see, I live in fancy Dubai while my flight is set to take off in Abu Dhabi, and one of our friends is in the same boat—except their departure is in Sharjah! So, like seasoned travel gurus, we hatched a master plan. With our flight scheduled for Friday, we decided to kick things off on Thursday. Our friend, being the clever schemer, borrowed our car on Thursday and crashed at our place. Meanwhile, we gratefully invaded their home like unpredictable houseguests! Let’s just say it was a real swap party—minus the snacks!
On Friday morning, we jumped out of bed like we were being chased by a bear, frantically double-checking our bags to make sure we hadn’t packed our entire house and missed the essentials—like phone chargers—because who needs clothes anyway? After a taxi ride that felt more like a rollercoaster, we finally arrived at the airport and spotted our other family friend, who seemed to have a sixth sense for luggage pickup.
Together, we checked in and sped through security as if we were auditioning for a spy movie before settling at our gate. That’s when the real feast began! My uncle swooped in with poori, which he’d heroically smuggled in, and their infamous GOAT tamarind rice—yes, it’s a dish so good it deserves its own fan club! After our epic airport banquet, we rolled onto the plane like overstuffed burritos, ready for adventure!
On our flight, the culinary adventure began! I opted for a kids meal—because who doesn’t want to relive their toddlerhood? I swapped it with my friend, a miniature human with a penchant for fried chicken and mac and cheese, who was desperate for the allure of the kids meal. While I was munching away, my other friends, including my mom, who clearly channeled a food peddler, showered me with a treasure trove of snacks: gummy bears, chips, mango juice, Oreos, and a chicken & cheese zinger sandwich that could probably qualify as an aircraft emergency exit slide!
After what felt like a mini eternity, we touched down in Baku. While waiting in the passport control line, I spotted my friend who had bravely flown in from Sharjah. I couldn’t resist the temptation and fired off a selfie showing my best thumbs-up pose just to annoy my friends—nothing says friendship like digital torture! Once we rescued our luggage from the conveyor belt, we made a beeline for the van. The moment I stepped outside, I transformed into a shivering human popsicle, eagerly sprinting towards the van like a clumsy penguin in winter gear!
We reached our hotel and somehow managed to get ready in 20 minutes—what a miracle! I threw on my shirt and jeans over my thermal wear, because nothing says “fashion icon” like layers of clothing! Our first stop was Highland Park, which has a staircase so long that I half expected to find a pilgrimage happening on the way up. But when you finally reach the top, there’s a view of Baku so stunning that I nearly forgot to take pictures. I whipped out my dad’s camera, striking poses like a pro, while trying not to tumble backward and embrace the “scenic view” from a different angle—straight down!
Our next pit stop was Nizami Street, which felt like London but with fewer red buses and more pigeons that were obviously trained in the art of dodging tourists. The first gourmet achievement of the day was a chicken burger at McDonald’s—because why not experience local cuisine in the most global way possible? After our culinary adventure, we couldn’t resist snapping some photos with a rather fabulous pink cat who clearly knew it was the star of the show.
And just when I thought the day couldn’t get any weirder, I stumbled upon a statue of a lady holding an umbrella as if she were about to fend off an army of raindrops, right next to some impressive wooden carvings of stacked books that looked like they were desperately trying to keep their literary secrets intact!
We found ourselves at a festival that seemed to have popped up out of nowhere, snapping photos like we were on a celebrity red carpet. As we strolled deeper into the streets, we stumbled upon another statue that I attempted to capture, but my photos turned out darker than a sitcom’s plot twist. Meanwhile, I witnessed the police engaging in a tussle straight out of an action movie, trying to get someone into a car—it was like I was living in a bizarre film where I was the unwitting extra!
Next, we dragged ourselves back to our hotels, collapsing like a bunch of weary superheroes after a long day while dreaming of the next day’s adventures. And now, brace yourselves for a stunning slideshow of my highly artistic photos from today—trust me, they’re the reason the modern camera was invented!
Get ready to buckle up, folks, because tomorrow we’re diving headfirst into another wild adventure—bring your snacks and a helmet!
The End
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