Before the jet lag sets in

Abu Dhabi International Airport—We are homebound from our European Road Tour on a 7-hour layover here at the very comfortable Etihad Airways Business Lounge. I have opted to spend time in this expansive lounge instead of staying in Frankfurt, Germany, our last stop, which is presently cold and rainy.

The Abu Dhabi International Airport, located in the capital city of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), is one of the fastest growing air terminals in the world. It is currently undergoing a US$6.8 billion expansion. It has three huge terminals that approximately occupy 3,000 hectares, with its terminal spaces dominated by Etihad Airways, the UAE’s national carrier. This impressive airport is enviably servicing 12 million passengers per year.

Here’s a bit of background of motoring in Abu Dhabi.

Public transport in Abu Dhabi include buses, taxis, ferries and airplanes. On June 30, 2008 the Department of Transport began public bus service with four routes. In an attempt to entice people to use the bus system, all routes were zero-fare until the end of that year operating between 6am to midnight every day with a frequency of 10 to 20 minutes. Within the first week, with each bus having a capacity of 45 sitting passengers saw up to 100 passengers with more than half standing to the consternation of taxi drivers. By the next year, the government-run public transport system had dramatically expanded from 4 routes to 21.

In a few more years Abu Dhabi is looking forward to transport system of tramways and bus rapid transit—the way to go in Europe. Why not here?

For motor sports enthusiasts Abu Dhabi is Formula One, currently the 18th leg in a 20-leg world series. This year the F1 Grand Prix is scheduled to run on November 2 to 4 at the Yas Marina Circuit, the richest F1 race track in the world with Etihad Airways as its main sponsor. Its inaugural F1 Grand Prix was held in 2009 and has since held the distinction of being the “first F1 day-night race” starting at 5 o’clock in the afternoon with floodlights used to illuminate the circuit switched on from the start of the event to ensure a seamless transition from day to darkness.

I have decided to write my column here and now not only because of the long layover waiting but also due to the jet lag that I expect to experience when I’m back in the country. Last year, in a similar 2-week drive in Europe, which covered almost the whole of Spain including Portugal, I suffered from jet lag for almost two weeks, with my body not knowing whether to sleep or stay awake. This year’s road adventure covers four time zones and I guess my body clock would again go haywire when I finally settle down in Manila.

And it was indeed a tiring experience, not due to the driving, what with two premium BMW X3s making tracks for us in comfort, safety, style and unexcelled engine performance in its class, turning heads from other motorists to boot despite the presence of other European brands—I hope not because of the high speeds that these Bimmers can reach up to, or was it?

Worry not, we say to Asian Carmakers lovely lady president Ms. Maricar Parco and her marketing director Glen Dasig. No violation tickets whatsoever.       

I hope to have a series of accounts and observations during this two-week road adventure we just had in Europe covering four countries, namely; Germany, Switzerland, France and Italy, which would be mostly motoring-related in this column.

We shall also have a TV account of our entire trip to be featured on the up and coming segment of our TV show Business & Leisure dubbed BMW Leisure Trips. The monthly segment-series start October with Tagaytay City’s iconic restaurant, Antonio’s as the maiden feature. Watch out for them.  

Speaking of BMW…

On the evening before we left for our 2-week road tour of Europe aboard remarkable BMW vehicles, I attended a dressed-up affair of, guess what?...Asian Carmakers, the country’s exclusive importer and distributor of BMW.

It was the unveiling of the all-new BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe with the country’s who’s who in the social and business circles in attendance, aside of course from the usual suspects from the motoring media not wanting to miss the launching of this eagerly-awaited popular luxury model of BMW, the first 4-door coupe in the history of the brand.

“The third model in the BMW 6 Series line-up follows in the tire tracks of the Convertible and Coupe. The athletic elegance of the car’s design makes it a particularly handsome addition to the range. Powerful engines and sophisticated chassis technology combine to produce an impressively dynamic driving experience,” said Ms. Maricar Parco, president of ACC, who came in a stunning evening dress with ACC marketing director, Glen Dasig nattily dressed in a tux. “And the BMW 6 Series Gan Coupe also makes its mark with exclusive equipment features and a level of practicality unmatched by its premium four-door Coupe rivals” she added after I jokingly thanked her for the fabulous ‘despedida party’ she was hosting just before leaving for my scheduled European road trip.

I don’t know if there are enough units available for those interested to have the distinction of being one of the few to have one, but as the old cliché goes, go see it and grab one while “supply lasts.”

Happy Motoring!!!

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