Behind The Scenes as EMIRATES CABIN CREW - Things you DONT see as a Passenger ✨ Shanghai Vlog ✨

00:30:35
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCeeTUSm4eo

Summary

TLDRA flight attendant recounts her trip to Shanghai, China from Dubai with her partner, Zach. It's their first visit to China, and Zach accompanies her thanks to discounted flights. The narrative details the preparations required before the flight, including safety checks and positional assignments. Once in Shanghai, they explore local culture, cuisine, visit a Starbucks Reserve Roastery, and tackle the challenges of navigating with unfamiliar technology like Alipay and Didi. The flight attendant also shares the importance of using a VPN for secure internet access, highlighting Surfshark. Onboard, they manage meal services, and the narrator bakes a vegan cake to share with the crew. The trip ends with Zach joining her in the airline's crew rest compartment, marking a memorable shared experience.

Takeaways

  • ✈️ Flight experiences can be unique with airline benefits, allowing companions to join trips.
  • 🌍 Exploring new places with a partner enhances the travel experience.
  • 🧳 Pre-flight preparations include document verification, uniform checks, and briefings.
  • 🥑 Packing personal meals is crucial for dietary restrictions during flights.
  • 🚉 Navigating foreign cities requires adjusting to local apps like Didi and Alipay.
  • 🤖 VPNs are essential for online security, especially while traveling.
  • 🏨 Exploring local culture and traditional areas can enrich travel experiences.
  • 🌿 Vegan travelers can find options by researching local eateries.
  • 🍰 Creating moments for colleagues, such as baking a cake, can uplift team spirit.
  • 😴 Crew rest areas offer a glimpse into flight attendants' rest spaces.

Timeline

  • 00:00:00 - 00:05:00

    The narrator is excited about their first trip to China, specifically to Shanghai, with a friend named Zach who insists on joining. The anticipation includes eating out and a surprise food preparation during their return flight to Dubai. Zach accompanies thanks to special discounted travel perks and plans to film behind-the-scenes footage.

  • 00:05:00 - 00:10:00

    Zach, who has never been to China either, finds it economical to accompany the narrator. The journey begins at Emirates headquarters, where work preparations include safety and knowledge checks. The narrator highlights the hectic nature of being a flight attendant with Emirates compared to Virgin, noting specific requirements and preparations needed for their role.

  • 00:10:00 - 00:15:00

    As they prepare for the flight, they navigate the Emirates crew process, tackling tasks like bag check-in, briefing sessions, and preparation of the cabin. The narrator, assigned a challenging galley position, feels fortunate as Zach is seated nearby, promising camaraderie during the flight and making pre-journey checks and preparations.

  • 00:15:00 - 00:20:00

    Focus shifts to the flight's operations where the narrator, as a galley operator, outlines her responsibilities which include managing meal counts and equipment checks while trying to fit in a quick meal break before passengers board. The narrative also touches upon efficient service preparations to ensure passengers receive hot meals promptly during flights.

  • 00:20:00 - 00:25:00

    The narrator elaborates on the specific service operations and personal inflight strategies to cater to varied passenger needs, especially those with special meal requests. Despite the demanding role, they find personal satisfaction and enjoyment, exploring unique food options in Shanghai, verifying vegan suitability, and dealing with city logistics via local apps.

  • 00:25:00 - 00:30:35

    In Shanghai, the video transitions to exploring the city's offerings, navigating through language barriers and logistics apps, searching for vegan meals, and visiting tourist hotspots like Yu Garden. The layover is presented as a cherished experience, enhanced by Zach’s company, despite challenges like early flight preparations and adapting to local customs and services.

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Mind Map

Video Q&A

  • What airline does the flight attendant work for?

    The flight attendant works for Emirates.

  • Why was this flight special for the narrator and her partner Zach?

    It was special because it was their first trip to China together and Zach was able to join at a discounted rate through her staff travel.

  • What unique role did Zach play during this trip?

    Zach filmed behind-the-scenes activities on the flight, capturing moments that the narrator usually can't on her own.

  • What preparation does a flight attendant have to do before a flight according to the narrator?

    Flight attendants sign in, verify their documents, go through security, attend briefings, and are assigned their positions and uniform checks before the flight.

  • What special meal preparation did the narrator make for the flight?

    The narrator packed a vegan meal for herself and Zach, including smashed avocado on toast with homemade seitan.

  • What travel accessory did the narrator highly recommend for digital safety?

    The narrator recommended using Surfshark VPN for secure internet access when connected to public Wi-Fi.

  • Where did the narrator and Zach explore in Shanghai?

    They visited places like the Starbucks Reserve Roastery, a vegan restaurant, Yu Garden area, and a market under a train station.

  • What onboard activity did the narrator share with the crew and Zach on the return flight?

    She baked a vegan cake onboard to share with the crew.

  • How did the couple manage transportation during their stay in Shanghai?

    They used a rideshare app called Didi, set up with Alipay for transactions.

  • What security measures did the narrator emphasize using while traveling?

    The narrator emphasized using a VPN, particularly Surfshark, to secure online activity while using public Wi-Fi.

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Subtitles
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  • 00:00:00
    [Music]
  • 00:00:05
    today I'm getting ready to fly to
  • 00:00:07
    Shanghai China this is my first time
  • 00:00:10
    ever to China and I'm pretty damn
  • 00:00:12
    excited but today isn't just a regular
  • 00:00:15
    flight or layover for me because when I
  • 00:00:17
    got Shanghai on my Emirates roster Zach
  • 00:00:19
    said there was no way he wasn't coming
  • 00:00:22
    with
  • 00:00:23
    me China has been on my travel bucket
  • 00:00:26
    list for so long but sometimes I feel
  • 00:00:29
    like there's so so many countries to
  • 00:00:30
    visit in Asia that I'm never going to be
  • 00:00:32
    able to get to them all as Zach is with
  • 00:00:34
    me I'm sure will be eating out in
  • 00:00:35
    Shanghai but I'm still packing some food
  • 00:00:38
    for the flight for the both of us
  • 00:00:39
    speaking of food if you stick around for
  • 00:00:41
    the flight back to Dubai I have actually
  • 00:00:43
    packed a surprise that I will be baking
  • 00:00:46
    on board our flight
  • 00:00:49
    [Music]
  • 00:00:51
    back now Zach actually hasn't been to
  • 00:00:53
    China either so this was the perfect
  • 00:00:56
    chance for him by coming along with me
  • 00:00:57
    not to mention it's so cheap for him to
  • 00:00:59
    come on Emirates layover he gets super
  • 00:01:01
    discounted flights through my staff
  • 00:01:03
    travel and stays with me for free at the
  • 00:01:05
    crew Hotel this is something I've been
  • 00:01:07
    waiting to do for so long because by
  • 00:01:10
    having Zach with me actually means he is
  • 00:01:12
    going to be filming all kinds of behind
  • 00:01:15
    the scenes on board that you may have
  • 00:01:17
    never seen before he will also be able
  • 00:01:19
    to get me working which is something
  • 00:01:21
    that is so hard for me to be able to
  • 00:01:22
    capture on my own and the best part of
  • 00:01:25
    all of this is I get to explore one of
  • 00:01:27
    the coolest cities in the world with the
  • 00:01:30
    love of my life all while technically
  • 00:01:32
    I'm
  • 00:01:34
    [Music]
  • 00:01:37
    working with it being an early morning
  • 00:01:39
    and on a weekday the parking at Emirates
  • 00:01:42
    headquarters is crazy so it really just
  • 00:01:45
    makes sense for me to grab a taxi when
  • 00:01:46
    my flights are at these times one of the
  • 00:01:48
    reasons we actually chose to live in
  • 00:01:50
    Creek Harbor is that it only takes 15
  • 00:01:53
    minutes to get to headquarters which is
  • 00:01:55
    actually the perfect time for me to be
  • 00:01:57
    able to practice the aviation questions
  • 00:01:58
    we get asked before for every flight and
  • 00:02:01
    if you don't know what this is basically
  • 00:02:04
    you have to answer a question chosen at
  • 00:02:06
    random from a list of safety security
  • 00:02:09
    A380 or 7 related questions and this is
  • 00:02:12
    just to make sure that we're always up
  • 00:02:14
    to date with our knowledge and training
  • 00:02:15
    related to being a flight
  • 00:02:17
    attendant Emirates is definitely a
  • 00:02:20
    little more hectic than virgin as you
  • 00:02:22
    only have two chances to answer
  • 00:02:24
    correctly after that sadly you'll be
  • 00:02:25
    removed from the flight and then sent
  • 00:02:27
    for retraining
  • 00:02:31
    [Music]
  • 00:02:32
    the timing of this flight being 9:30
  • 00:02:34
    a.m. departure was another reason Zach
  • 00:02:37
    was so Keen to come along sadly I had to
  • 00:02:39
    leave Zach here as he was catching the
  • 00:02:41
    Dubai Metro but only one stopped to get
  • 00:02:43
    to the dxp departures for me it was a
  • 00:02:46
    little bit easier as I'm checking in for
  • 00:02:47
    my flight right here at Emirates group
  • 00:02:51
    [Music]
  • 00:02:54
    headquarters just like anyone else
  • 00:02:56
    starting their shift for work we have to
  • 00:02:57
    sign on using our ID cards we have to
  • 00:03:00
    also agree that we have all of our
  • 00:03:01
    documents with us and that our licenses
  • 00:03:03
    have not expired including our passport
  • 00:03:06
    this then prints our bag tags and we're
  • 00:03:08
    ready to check our bags
  • 00:03:11
    in now after our special check-in and
  • 00:03:14
    security we have to go to our briefing
  • 00:03:16
    room and there is around 40 briefing
  • 00:03:18
    rooms for just us Emirates crew I
  • 00:03:20
    honestly still get lost but once you do
  • 00:03:23
    find the correct room we are separated
  • 00:03:25
    off into our classes so all of economy
  • 00:03:27
    sits together business and then first
  • 00:03:29
    dur during the briefing this is where we
  • 00:03:30
    get all of our uniform items checked as
  • 00:03:32
    well as our documents that we just
  • 00:03:34
    ticked yes to on our sign on we also go
  • 00:03:36
    over the flight details passenger loads
  • 00:03:38
    and our positions because I'm the most
  • 00:03:40
    senior in economy for our flight I
  • 00:03:41
    actually got assigned the back galy
  • 00:03:43
    position now we have two GES for economy
  • 00:03:46
    on the A380 with the harder one being in
  • 00:03:48
    the back but I'm not even mad about
  • 00:03:50
    getting this position because Zach is
  • 00:03:51
    seated right at the back as well so
  • 00:03:53
    he'll be hanging out with me in the galy
  • 00:03:55
    for
  • 00:03:58
    sure like margarito with the hot spice
  • 00:04:02
    love the taste of
  • 00:04:04
    [Music]
  • 00:04:06
    paradise no
  • 00:04:11
    it's we actually get taken straight to
  • 00:04:13
    the aircraft in dxp and honestly it's so
  • 00:04:16
    nice not having to walk through the
  • 00:04:17
    terminal seeing everyone on our flight
  • 00:04:19
    before we even
  • 00:04:23
    bored took a number from a friend but I
  • 00:04:26
    never call I never call
  • 00:04:30
    I never I started riding at the end
  • 00:04:33
    didn't sleep at
  • 00:04:38
    all now speaking of boarding before we
  • 00:04:41
    let anyone on we actually have a whole
  • 00:04:42
    bunch of checks we have to do as cabin
  • 00:04:44
    crew this includes our areas doors jump
  • 00:04:47
    seats medical and safety equipment but
  • 00:04:49
    as the galley operator I have even more
  • 00:04:52
    checks to do including counting the
  • 00:04:54
    amount of meals we have loaded and
  • 00:04:56
    making sure they match the amount of
  • 00:04:57
    passengers we have plus counting all the
  • 00:04:59
    special meal requests which I then have
  • 00:05:01
    to minus off the regular meal count in
  • 00:05:03
    addition to that I also have to check
  • 00:05:04
    all the gy equipment is working and
  • 00:05:06
    start preparing for the service even
  • 00:05:08
    though it is hectic I will always try
  • 00:05:10
    and find time to eat before boarding
  • 00:05:12
    otherwise taking into account boarding
  • 00:05:14
    time pre-service duties and the full
  • 00:05:16
    service it will easily be 3 to 4 hours
  • 00:05:18
    before us crew get a chance to
  • 00:05:22
    [Music]
  • 00:05:26
    eat if you've ever flown emirats you
  • 00:05:28
    might have seen us cabin crew get
  • 00:05:30
    released from our seats before any of
  • 00:05:32
    the passengers this is so we can start
  • 00:05:34
    preparing with first changing into our
  • 00:05:36
    waist coats now I'm the gy operator for
  • 00:05:38
    the whole flight so while the other crew
  • 00:05:40
    are tending to cor bells and preparing
  • 00:05:42
    things like the Polaroid camera and kids
  • 00:05:44
    toys I'm getting ready to set up for the
  • 00:05:46
    first meal service we have two services
  • 00:05:48
    on our flight to Shanghai the first one
  • 00:05:50
    being a hot snack meal and the second
  • 00:05:52
    one being our full meal service which
  • 00:05:54
    I'll show you how I prepare for that
  • 00:05:56
    very soon but once everyone was out
  • 00:05:58
    doing the service I I was left in the
  • 00:06:00
    galy ready to take them anything they
  • 00:06:02
    may need and specifically for this
  • 00:06:04
    service take them more hot snacks the
  • 00:06:06
    idea of this is so that the people that
  • 00:06:08
    are served the last still get a snack
  • 00:06:10
    that's actually hot now the carts
  • 00:06:12
    usually come back at similar times but
  • 00:06:14
    staggered slightly from the first person
  • 00:06:16
    going out compared to the last but we
  • 00:06:18
    really need to be fast at getting them
  • 00:06:20
    away as they come in because it can get
  • 00:06:22
    super overwhelming real quick if they
  • 00:06:24
    start to pile
  • 00:06:25
    [Applause]
  • 00:06:28
    up take me
  • 00:06:30
    oh yeah take Meer I we actually had hot
  • 00:06:36
    drinks on the cart for this service so I
  • 00:06:38
    try to save myself time later by rinsing
  • 00:06:40
    them out now and putting the new sachet
  • 00:06:42
    in ready for the next service after each
  • 00:06:44
    crew member does a rubbish clear and I
  • 00:06:45
    finished making the galley organized
  • 00:06:47
    this is kind of our chance to breathe
  • 00:06:49
    it's not like a dedicated break but
  • 00:06:51
    usually the passengers are quite happy
  • 00:06:53
    to be left alone now that they've eaten
  • 00:06:55
    as you know I pack all my own food as a
  • 00:06:57
    flight attendant because there really
  • 00:06:58
    isn't many options being vegan plus Zach
  • 00:07:01
    couldn't order a vegan meal for our
  • 00:07:02
    flight because he was staff traveling on
  • 00:07:04
    standby so I made us one of our home
  • 00:07:06
    favorites smashed avocado on toast with
  • 00:07:08
    my homemade
  • 00:07:13
    Satan usually about an hour to an hour
  • 00:07:16
    and a half before the main meal service
  • 00:07:18
    is when we actually load the meals in
  • 00:07:19
    the oven they only take about 40 minutes
  • 00:07:21
    to cook but we do need the extra time to
  • 00:07:24
    load them in and out I will tell you a
  • 00:07:25
    secret hack now while we're here if you
  • 00:07:27
    order a special meal request so for
  • 00:07:29
    example vegan or gluten-free you will
  • 00:07:31
    actually get served first and you won't
  • 00:07:33
    have to wait for the main carts to come
  • 00:07:35
    out to get your food as loading the
  • 00:07:36
    ovens is the responsibility of the galy
  • 00:07:38
    operator all the other crew were in the
  • 00:07:40
    front galy which is also way bigger and
  • 00:07:43
    better to be out of the way for the crew
  • 00:07:44
    not having much to do right now honestly
  • 00:07:46
    it was actually so nice being just Zach
  • 00:07:49
    and I in the back Galley as I could show
  • 00:07:51
    them all the different things I have to
  • 00:07:52
    do and just spend time together while
  • 00:07:54
    working I have about six carts I have to
  • 00:07:57
    fully get ready just like this and they
  • 00:07:59
    will have the frame and Trays from
  • 00:08:01
    inside the oven which we use along with
  • 00:08:02
    a heatproof cover so that hopefully the
  • 00:08:05
    meals stay hot for the whole service
  • 00:08:07
    also if you've ever looked in an
  • 00:08:09
    aircraft galley during the service
  • 00:08:10
    you'll know it gets so hectic which is
  • 00:08:13
    why Zach was only able to be here for
  • 00:08:15
    the setup and the pack
  • 00:08:21
    down come on I wasn't the only one
  • 00:08:24
    working today though Zach managed to get
  • 00:08:26
    quite a bit done while I was busy with
  • 00:08:28
    the service yeah even as the galy
  • 00:08:31
    operator I still have my area to look
  • 00:08:33
    after for landing which is why crew tend
  • 00:08:36
    to hate the gy position it does feel
  • 00:08:38
    like you have so much more to do than
  • 00:08:40
    all the other crew but honestly nothing
  • 00:08:42
    could get me down for this flight and I
  • 00:08:44
    didn't even tell you I had such a good
  • 00:08:47
    team they let me sit in the jump seat
  • 00:08:48
    closest to Zach even though technically
  • 00:08:51
    it's not the spot of the after gy
  • 00:08:53
    operator
  • 00:08:55
    [Music]
  • 00:09:01
    yeah be the with the angels found
  • 00:09:09
    [Music]
  • 00:09:13
    we sadly Zach didn't make it on the crew
  • 00:09:16
    bus with us as the regular passport and
  • 00:09:18
    Customs line was huge compared to how
  • 00:09:21
    quickly we got through in the crew line
  • 00:09:23
    and yes I did ask the airport staff if
  • 00:09:25
    they could make an exception for him and
  • 00:09:26
    let him through with the crew but that
  • 00:09:28
    was sadly a big no so I went with all
  • 00:09:31
    the crew and left him behind to get a
  • 00:09:33
    taxi to the crew hotel now as Emirates
  • 00:09:35
    cabin crew when we do get to the hotel
  • 00:09:37
    we check in in seniority so flight crew
  • 00:09:40
    and pers are first then supervisors
  • 00:09:42
    first class business and economy
  • 00:09:47
    last while I wait for Zach to get to the
  • 00:09:49
    hotel I actually wanted to tell you
  • 00:09:51
    about one of the first things I always
  • 00:09:53
    do when I get to any hotel room and that
  • 00:09:56
    is connect to the Wi-Fi using a VPN if
  • 00:09:58
    you don't know what a VPN is I'm about
  • 00:10:00
    to change your life because a VPN is a
  • 00:10:03
    virtual private Network that keeps you
  • 00:10:04
    safe and private online anywhere and
  • 00:10:07
    everywhere now I don't use just any VPN
  • 00:10:09
    I use surf shark and they are actually
  • 00:10:11
    the sponsor of my video today which is
  • 00:10:13
    beyond amazing because I literally will
  • 00:10:15
    not travel anywhere without my VPN
  • 00:10:17
    having used quite a few different vpns
  • 00:10:19
    over my travel lifetime none have been
  • 00:10:21
    as quick and reliable as surf shark now
  • 00:10:24
    you're probably thinking why will I not
  • 00:10:25
    travel without a VPN well this is
  • 00:10:27
    because I'm always connected in to
  • 00:10:29
    public and shared Wi-Fi whether it's the
  • 00:10:31
    hotel Wi-Fi an airport Wi-Fi or a cafe
  • 00:10:34
    Wi-Fi let's be honest this is how most
  • 00:10:36
    of us stay connected while traveling
  • 00:10:38
    including myself I even had my cousin
  • 00:10:40
    while she was traveling to New York have
  • 00:10:41
    her Instagram account taken over
  • 00:10:43
    including all the login information
  • 00:10:45
    changed because she connected to the
  • 00:10:47
    hotel Wi-Fi so after that new fear was
  • 00:10:49
    unlocked in that very moment I'm sure
  • 00:10:51
    you can understand why having a VPN like
  • 00:10:53
    surf shark is a must also something you
  • 00:10:56
    may not know and I certainly did not
  • 00:10:58
    believe it when I first moved to Dubai
  • 00:11:00
    is FaceTime WhatsApp and even Facebook
  • 00:11:02
    Messenger calls are all restricted in
  • 00:11:04
    the UAE so even outside my travels I'm
  • 00:11:06
    using my surf shark VPN literally on The
  • 00:11:09
    Daily and this was even the same for us
  • 00:11:11
    in Shanghai as there are apps that are
  • 00:11:13
    restricted in China so when using surf
  • 00:11:15
    shark VPN you can literally change your
  • 00:11:17
    location to anywhere in the world for me
  • 00:11:19
    whether it's Australia the UAE or any
  • 00:11:21
    other country my device and online is
  • 00:11:23
    working like I'm literally in that
  • 00:11:25
    country honestly if you haven't used a
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    VPN before I'm telling you you have to
  • 00:11:29
    try surf shark I even put the link in my
  • 00:11:31
    description below for you guys to check
  • 00:11:33
    out or you can use my code Amanda K and
  • 00:11:35
    you get 3 months for free which is kind
  • 00:11:37
    of crazy because it's only $249 per
  • 00:11:40
    month anyway and just to top it off surf
  • 00:11:42
    Shar has a 30-day money back guarantee
  • 00:11:45
    now let's see if Zach's made it to the
  • 00:11:46
    hotel room and I'm still waiting for him
  • 00:11:49
    so I took the time to unpack before he
  • 00:11:51
    finally made it but there was definitely
  • 00:11:53
    going to be no Sunrise mission on this
  • 00:11:58
    layover if been paying run here in my
  • 00:12:02
    head tried to fight it off tried to hold
  • 00:12:06
    my breath I
  • 00:12:08
    keeping try
  • 00:12:12
    [Music]
  • 00:12:13
    notash good morning from Shanghai we're
  • 00:12:16
    a little tired but we're up it's about
  • 00:12:18
    10:00 a.m. now I know it's a little late
  • 00:12:19
    but it is 4 hours ahead of Dubai so it
  • 00:12:21
    is actually really early for us and I've
  • 00:12:23
    got Zach here he made it to my em
  • 00:12:25
    layover and came with us on the Shanghai
  • 00:12:27
    flight we're about to go run around the
  • 00:12:29
    city and see what Shanghai is like and
  • 00:12:31
    then we're going to be out again at like
  • 00:12:33
    2 a.m. tonight which is a little bit
  • 00:12:34
    crazy but it's going to be fun and I'm
  • 00:12:36
    super
  • 00:12:40
    [Music]
  • 00:12:43
    excited classic flight attendant life
  • 00:12:46
    right here we are currently rushing to
  • 00:12:48
    make it downstairs for the buffet
  • 00:12:49
    breakfast before it closes at 11:00 the
  • 00:12:51
    buffet looked amazing so I had High
  • 00:12:53
    Hopes but Zach was very skeptical about
  • 00:12:55
    the vegan scene here in Shanghai
  • 00:13:01
    [Music]
  • 00:13:03
    and I will say this breakfast was very
  • 00:13:06
    below average I didn't even get a video
  • 00:13:08
    of it because it was just bread and some
  • 00:13:10
    odd flavored vegetables definitely not
  • 00:13:12
    worth the $19 especially for us being
  • 00:13:16
    [Music]
  • 00:13:19
    vegan to use any International credit
  • 00:13:22
    card here in China it has to be done
  • 00:13:23
    through this app called ellip so we were
  • 00:13:26
    using DD to get around in China but it
  • 00:13:28
    wasn't the regular app which was kind of
  • 00:13:30
    crazy but I also kind of expected it you
  • 00:13:32
    also have to be able to set this up when
  • 00:13:34
    you can receive text messages for the
  • 00:13:35
    number you use luckily some of the crew
  • 00:13:37
    were talking about it on the bus so ID
  • 00:13:39
    actually downloaded it before we left to
  • 00:13:43
    buy even though the day was slipping
  • 00:13:45
    away a little bit I had one place that I
  • 00:13:48
    really wanted to see in Shanghai and
  • 00:13:50
    Zach really didn't want to go there but
  • 00:13:51
    if any of you have followed my travels
  • 00:13:53
    for a while you'll know I'm a big fan of
  • 00:13:55
    the Starbucks Reserve roasteries I will
  • 00:13:57
    say this Starbucks coffee themselves are
  • 00:13:59
    definitely overpriced but their
  • 00:14:01
    roasteries are just crazy beautiful they
  • 00:14:04
    have this simple yet classy feel inside
  • 00:14:06
    of them and I don't know why but seeing
  • 00:14:08
    as there's only seven of these specific
  • 00:14:10
    Starbucks reserves around the world it
  • 00:14:11
    just makes me want to tick them all off
  • 00:14:14
    and having already done Chicago Milan
  • 00:14:16
    and Seattle I'm over halfway there now
  • 00:14:18
    with Shanghai and Shanghai is one of the
  • 00:14:20
    most unique reserves as they have a
  • 00:14:22
    dedicated tea experience in tribute to
  • 00:14:24
    the Chinese tea culture
  • 00:14:34
    [Music]
  • 00:14:39
    now I take a lot of pride in my vegan
  • 00:14:41
    restaurant finding skills and I managed
  • 00:14:43
    to find a restaurant with a pretty
  • 00:14:44
    impressive vegan menu walking distance
  • 00:14:47
    from where we were in Shanghai City now
  • 00:14:49
    for those wondering the name of the
  • 00:14:50
    restaurant is vegetarian lifestyle and
  • 00:14:52
    honestly just look at how huge their
  • 00:14:55
    menu is I actually grew up having
  • 00:14:57
    Chinese food on special occasions as
  • 00:14:59
    it's my mom's favorite food and she
  • 00:15:01
    still gets it every year for her
  • 00:15:02
    birthday so I was beyond excited to go
  • 00:15:04
    and try authentic Chinese food and even
  • 00:15:07
    more so that it's vegan a little fun
  • 00:15:09
    fact about me is I am terrible when it
  • 00:15:12
    comes to menus I get so excited and want
  • 00:15:14
    everything and then can never decide
  • 00:15:16
    because I get this fear of missing out
  • 00:15:17
    on the best possible Choice whereas Zach
  • 00:15:20
    is a make a decision in 2 minutes kind
  • 00:15:22
    of guy they have some amazing fish style
  • 00:15:25
    alternative Meats which was blowing my
  • 00:15:27
    mind but we did finally make a decision
  • 00:15:30
    on our food
  • 00:15:33
    order now the fish was Unreal and even
  • 00:15:36
    Zach agreed that the flavors were on
  • 00:15:38
    point but the beef was a little
  • 00:15:40
    disappointing for me at least only
  • 00:15:42
    because the serving size was so
  • 00:15:45
    tiny we also got this Curry to share
  • 00:15:47
    which Zach loved but I thought it was
  • 00:15:50
    pretty average I think this is because I
  • 00:15:52
    wanted it to be spicy and Zach hates
  • 00:15:54
    spicy food so unfortunately we usually
  • 00:15:56
    have to go with the non-spicy option
  • 00:15:58
    overall I really love this restaurant
  • 00:16:00
    and I'm definitely Keen to come back to
  • 00:16:01
    Shanghai and try more of their vegan
  • 00:16:03
    Chinese food
  • 00:16:05
    [Music]
  • 00:16:12
    options honestly this whole special app
  • 00:16:14
    thing to order the DDS was super
  • 00:16:16
    confusing plus we had to use Apple Maps
  • 00:16:18
    to find the location because all the
  • 00:16:20
    roads are wrong on Google Maps in China
  • 00:16:22
    but thankfully we managed to get a car
  • 00:16:24
    and we were headed to see the famous
  • 00:16:26
    city skyline we definitely could have
  • 00:16:28
    walked there there but we were also
  • 00:16:29
    running out of sunlight and we had this
  • 00:16:31
    really cool Market we wanted to see
  • 00:16:33
    before the sun goes
  • 00:16:35
    [Music]
  • 00:16:38
    down slow motion waves around and
  • 00:16:42
    through me like the ocean in my vein
  • 00:16:46
    Pacific come and Carry Me
  • 00:16:50
    [Music]
  • 00:16:51
    Away look at this Skyline even coming
  • 00:16:55
    from Dubai the city skyline of Shanghai
  • 00:16:58
    is UN real also I don't know if anyone
  • 00:17:01
    else sees this but it kind of reminds me
  • 00:17:02
    of that really old cartoon show called
  • 00:17:04
    The Jetson does anyone else know this TV
  • 00:17:07
    show and get what I'm saying here Zach
  • 00:17:09
    was also vlogging for his own YouTube
  • 00:17:10
    channel so between the both of us we
  • 00:17:12
    were really looking like that classic
  • 00:17:14
    travel influenza couple which honestly
  • 00:17:16
    makes me cringe a little thinking
  • 00:17:20
    [Music]
  • 00:17:22
    about also the city gives me big New
  • 00:17:26
    York Vibes with the old but beautiful
  • 00:17:28
    buildings and this grid-like layout has
  • 00:17:30
    anyone else been to Shanghai and thought
  • 00:17:32
    the same
  • 00:17:36
    thing now Zach quickly had to go film a
  • 00:17:38
    little clip by himself so I was Keen to
  • 00:17:40
    take a peek into some of these random
  • 00:17:42
    little shops we were walking past
  • 00:17:44
    between all kinds of teas and things I
  • 00:17:46
    really couldn't understand I did manage
  • 00:17:48
    to find a rice drink shop which was
  • 00:17:50
    vegan so I convinced Zach we should try
  • 00:17:53
    it because when in Shanghai I also
  • 00:17:55
    triple checked it was vegan before we
  • 00:17:57
    took the plunge because I have had had
  • 00:17:59
    that happen before now I was kind of
  • 00:18:00
    expecting the drink to be a cross
  • 00:18:02
    between the rice you get with mango
  • 00:18:03
    sticky rice and a bubble tea but I was
  • 00:18:06
    very wrong all right what have we got
  • 00:18:10
    here it's a rice drink and it tastes
  • 00:18:14
    like liquid
  • 00:18:19
    rice we were definitely Chasing the Sun
  • 00:18:22
    now and we got in the car as quick as we
  • 00:18:24
    could to head straight to the famous
  • 00:18:26
    area of you Garden this was was
  • 00:18:29
    literally such a beautiful place it felt
  • 00:18:31
    so tranquil and it was so amazing to see
  • 00:18:34
    the more traditional style buildings
  • 00:18:36
    compared to the more modern ones and the
  • 00:18:38
    City skyline we were just looking
  • 00:18:41
    at I am just so glad I had this area
  • 00:18:44
    pinned on my Shanghai bucket list and to
  • 00:18:46
    make things even better there was all
  • 00:18:47
    these super unique and traditional
  • 00:18:49
    streets surrounding the U Gardens now
  • 00:18:52
    don't laugh at me but I actually spotted
  • 00:18:54
    a McDonald's which I really wanted to
  • 00:18:56
    check inside and we found a taro p
  • 00:18:59
    and it was vegan literally this is the
  • 00:19:01
    best thing I've ever had from a
  • 00:19:09
    macers I was genuinely in a at how
  • 00:19:12
    beautiful these shops and stores were I
  • 00:19:14
    think I could walk around here looking
  • 00:19:15
    at all these super unique things all day
  • 00:19:18
    but I was on the hunt for a postcard and
  • 00:19:20
    a pin which are my travel souvenir
  • 00:19:22
    Staples
  • 00:19:28
    [Music]
  • 00:19:32
    thean I want
  • 00:19:38
    to it's in
  • 00:19:43
    your it's
  • 00:19:45
    [Music]
  • 00:19:47
    in the sun is set and me and Zach are
  • 00:19:49
    spending a little bit more time out in
  • 00:19:51
    Shanghai than we plan to we're in this
  • 00:19:52
    really cool spot called U Gardens which
  • 00:19:55
    is in the middle of Shanghai and it's
  • 00:19:56
    this really traditional Temple area with
  • 00:19:58
    these mark we're going to go explore a
  • 00:19:59
    little bit more and spend some more time
  • 00:20:01
    in Shanghai this city is so cool and it
  • 00:20:03
    has to be one of my favorite layovers
  • 00:20:04
    and it might have something to do with
  • 00:20:06
    Zach being here but yeah anyway we're
  • 00:20:08
    going to go explore some other markets
  • 00:20:10
    after this and then we're going to head
  • 00:20:11
    back to the hotel also Zach and I were
  • 00:20:13
    obsessed with watching these guys make
  • 00:20:15
    dumplings and we were actually getting
  • 00:20:17
    pretty hungry but sadly there was no
  • 00:20:19
    vegan options for
  • 00:20:22
    [Music]
  • 00:20:24
    us but I did have the winning idea of
  • 00:20:26
    the day and raced back to McDonald's to
  • 00:20:28
    get us another Taro pie each while Zach
  • 00:20:31
    ordered the DD ride because apparently
  • 00:20:33
    that was a mission in itself now the
  • 00:20:35
    next Market that I mentioned briefly is
  • 00:20:37
    actually this insane Market under a
  • 00:20:39
    train station which has everything from
  • 00:20:42
    food jewelry even model planes from
  • 00:20:44
    literally every Airline and here's a
  • 00:20:46
    cheeky Emirates 7 and pretty much
  • 00:20:48
    anything else you can imagine which kind
  • 00:20:50
    of makes it feel like a real life Alley
  • 00:20:52
    Express it was so much later than we
  • 00:20:55
    wanted to be out seeing as pickup from
  • 00:20:57
    the hotel is 3:00 a.m. and we still
  • 00:20:59
    hadn't had dinner yet so sadly we had to
  • 00:21:02
    opt for the classic room service at the
  • 00:21:04
    hotel which I always think is overpriced
  • 00:21:06
    and average at best but that was our
  • 00:21:09
    only option because both of us really
  • 00:21:11
    needed to get at least a couple hours
  • 00:21:12
    sleep before our flight home to
  • 00:21:15
    Dubai I'll disregard you in this summer
  • 00:21:19
    I'm not calling out for
  • 00:21:25
    you yeah I never want a tri like you
  • 00:21:29
    me
  • 00:21:30
    out but if you're standing with me
  • 00:21:35
    down don't hold on to the fire till the
  • 00:21:38
    burns you to the ground
  • 00:21:40
    [Music]
  • 00:21:43
    [Applause]
  • 00:22:00
    now the general rule for all cabin crew
  • 00:22:02
    is to meet downstairs in the lobby at
  • 00:22:04
    least 15 minutes before we get picked up
  • 00:22:06
    by the crew bus this is so we can check
  • 00:22:08
    out of our rooms plus we do have to get
  • 00:22:10
    all our documents checked just like we
  • 00:22:12
    did when we left
  • 00:22:15
    Dubai when the bus drivers put all of
  • 00:22:17
    our crew suitcases in the bus it just
  • 00:22:19
    makes you think about how people give us
  • 00:22:21
    their bags to store on board and we're
  • 00:22:23
    actually not supposed to lift any
  • 00:22:25
    passenger bags as the company won't
  • 00:22:27
    cover us for any injuries if we do
  • 00:22:29
    [Music]
  • 00:22:33
    even though the hotel pickup was at a
  • 00:22:35
    Godly hour at least Zach was able to
  • 00:22:37
    come with us all on the crew bus to the
  • 00:22:39
    airport which he was loving and it was
  • 00:22:41
    so nice for him to be able to see what
  • 00:22:43
    it's like all those times I'm texting
  • 00:22:45
    him from random cities around the world
  • 00:22:47
    on the way to the airport to fly home to
  • 00:22:50
    [Music]
  • 00:22:52
    him kissing in the rain that night oh
  • 00:22:55
    man we got so soaked
  • 00:22:58
    I can still remember your sweet
  • 00:23:02
    taste campfires and staring nights and
  • 00:23:05
    driving up the
  • 00:23:08
    coast I did have to leave Zach behind
  • 00:23:11
    again as us crew have to go through a
  • 00:23:12
    specific passport control and he had to
  • 00:23:14
    go through with all the other passengers
  • 00:23:16
    but I did have a lot of things I needed
  • 00:23:18
    to think about and prepare before the
  • 00:23:19
    flight so I wasn't too worried about
  • 00:23:21
    leaving him behind for a bit now I
  • 00:23:23
    always unpack my bag first before doing
  • 00:23:25
    any duties because if I don't feel
  • 00:23:27
    organized in my own things I will not be
  • 00:23:29
    able to focus on the important tasks
  • 00:23:31
    this begins with hanging my waist coat
  • 00:23:32
    up in a Cupboard near my area as well as
  • 00:23:34
    getting my cardigan out because I swear
  • 00:23:37
    the a380s can get so cold and yes that
  • 00:23:40
    was my crew pajama bag because this
  • 00:23:41
    flight is scheduled for longer than 9
  • 00:23:43
    hours 30 which means we actually get
  • 00:23:45
    dedicated crew rest on the flight and
  • 00:23:47
    you best believe I'm going to show you
  • 00:23:49
    around our secret sleeping quarters
  • 00:23:51
    there are so many reasons why I love the
  • 00:23:52
    specific position on the A380 in economy
  • 00:23:55
    but one of the best parts is there's way
  • 00:23:56
    more little cupboards that I can store
  • 00:23:58
    all all my stuff in I showed Zach to his
  • 00:24:00
    seat like the good hostess I am and he
  • 00:24:02
    actually mentioned to me he was starving
  • 00:24:04
    so another reason I like this position
  • 00:24:06
    is I could race up the backstairs to
  • 00:24:08
    business class and get Zach a few snacks
  • 00:24:10
    from our crew cart surely there's got to
  • 00:24:12
    be some perks to having your girlfriend
  • 00:24:14
    as your cabin crew on your next emirats
  • 00:24:16
    flight keep an ear out for the PA or
  • 00:24:18
    ground Personnel please leave the
  • 00:24:20
    aircraft as this means the last cabin
  • 00:24:22
    door is closed and US Emirates cabin
  • 00:24:24
    crew can take our hats off if you didn't
  • 00:24:26
    know one of our responsibilities is Army
  • 00:24:28
    the doors once the aircraft pushes back
  • 00:24:30
    on the A380 and specifically air buses
  • 00:24:33
    we have to pull a pin out and move the
  • 00:24:35
    lever across this means the slide will
  • 00:24:36
    activate if we open the door we just
  • 00:24:43
    armed Zach was of course being the dream
  • 00:24:45
    passenger listening to the safety demo
  • 00:24:47
    and I truly think that both of us could
  • 00:24:49
    say the whole Emirate safety demo as
  • 00:24:51
    we've flown so many Emirates flights
  • 00:24:53
    between
  • 00:24:54
    us you're in my heart and soul
  • 00:24:59
    you turn those dark days into shimmering
  • 00:25:03
    gold I got a true always guing me home
  • 00:25:09
    you're in my heart and
  • 00:25:12
    soul my
  • 00:25:18
    heart I said good night and tucked Zach
  • 00:25:21
    into sleep because I was actually on the
  • 00:25:23
    first break keep in mind our breaks only
  • 00:25:26
    start once the first service is
  • 00:25:27
    completed and choosing your bunks is on
  • 00:25:29
    a first in first serve basis you do
  • 00:25:32
    however have to put your ID badge
  • 00:25:34
    outside your bunk so that when they wake
  • 00:25:35
    certain grades for certain Services they
  • 00:25:37
    know who to wake up now we are supposed
  • 00:25:39
    to get changed into our crew pajamas
  • 00:25:41
    outside the CC but it honestly Cuts so
  • 00:25:43
    much time out of our brakes really only
  • 00:25:45
    the new crew do it right not going to
  • 00:25:47
    lie I was pretty exhausted so I went
  • 00:25:49
    straight for the earplugs as it can get
  • 00:25:51
    quite noisy in the CRC from passengers
  • 00:25:53
    above and crew going to the toilet also
  • 00:25:55
    I don't know why but some of the remotes
  • 00:25:57
    for the screens don't turn off so I
  • 00:25:59
    always end up facing them down to hide
  • 00:26:00
    the
  • 00:26:03
    [Music]
  • 00:26:06
    light heart and
  • 00:26:09
    soul my heart and
  • 00:26:11
    [Music]
  • 00:26:14
    soul today's CRC is in the lower deck
  • 00:26:17
    which means it's under the cabin and
  • 00:26:19
    I'll show you a little more at the end
  • 00:26:20
    of the flight when I actually take Zack
  • 00:26:22
    down into it now if you remember I said
  • 00:26:25
    before we left our apartment in Dubai I
  • 00:26:27
    had plans to B on board this flight this
  • 00:26:29
    was because it was a pretty special
  • 00:26:31
    flight having Zach here with me and I
  • 00:26:32
    thought it'd be a good way to thank all
  • 00:26:34
    the crew for tolerating having Zach
  • 00:26:35
    pretty much everywhere I was and also
  • 00:26:38
    looking after him if you haven't learned
  • 00:26:39
    it yet I love cooking and getting
  • 00:26:41
    creative with it I did however bring my
  • 00:26:43
    own cake Tim from home because I knew
  • 00:26:45
    there was no way we were going to have
  • 00:26:46
    something on board that I could bake
  • 00:26:47
    this in of course this cake is 100%
  • 00:26:50
    vegan how did I do it using a box cake
  • 00:26:52
    mix well pretty much I just swapped the
  • 00:26:54
    eggs for flax seed meal and water which
  • 00:26:56
    I bought from home to Shang high and
  • 00:26:58
    back for this
  • 00:27:03
    [Music]
  • 00:27:09
    [Music]
  • 00:27:11
    flight and yes I even brought baking
  • 00:27:14
    paper from home
  • 00:27:16
    too if you're wondering where Zach is I
  • 00:27:19
    was kind enough to let him keep sleeping
  • 00:27:21
    and I'll wake him up when the cake is
  • 00:27:22
    ready while I wait for the cake to cook
  • 00:27:24
    this was the perfect chance to make my
  • 00:27:25
    go-to coffee on board I will say this it
  • 00:27:28
    actually sucks that Emirates doesn't
  • 00:27:29
    offer plant-based milks in economy and
  • 00:27:31
    if you're wondering where on Earth am I
  • 00:27:32
    getting the ones I'm using today from
  • 00:27:34
    well luckily we have a few in now crew
  • 00:27:36
    SN container and in business in first
  • 00:27:38
    but sadly we don't tend to hand them out
  • 00:27:39
    to any passengers in economy also does
  • 00:27:42
    anyone else think the Emirates economy
  • 00:27:43
    coffee is literally the strongest coffee
  • 00:27:45
    in the world or am I the only
  • 00:27:47
    one anyone that bakes would know that
  • 00:27:49
    you normally use a skewer to check if
  • 00:27:51
    something's cooked but I was getting
  • 00:27:53
    even more creative and this is actually
  • 00:27:54
    the thermometer we use to check if the
  • 00:27:56
    meals are heated and if they're ready
  • 00:27:57
    and hot it will turn from black to
  • 00:28:00
    Red this dark chocolate right here is
  • 00:28:02
    from emirate's first class and I
  • 00:28:04
    honestly thought it was genius melting
  • 00:28:06
    this for the icing on the cake Zach
  • 00:28:07
    actually woke up while I was doing this
  • 00:28:09
    and he was a little bit cut I didn't
  • 00:28:11
    wake him up earlier to see me
  • 00:28:13
    bake keep remembering that cold Friday
  • 00:28:16
    that you
  • 00:28:17
    [Music]
  • 00:28:20
    left it's going to get better better
  • 00:28:23
    better
  • 00:28:26
    hold to me
  • 00:28:29
    now I will be honest I did not know if I
  • 00:28:31
    could bake a cake on board as the
  • 00:28:33
    temperature on our aircraft ovens are a
  • 00:28:34
    lot different to your regular ones at
  • 00:28:36
    home and the middle part of this cake
  • 00:28:38
    was looking a little how you're going
  • 00:28:39
    but honestly overall I'd say this cake
  • 00:28:42
    was a brilliant success and it looked
  • 00:28:44
    pretty damn good for a cake baked on a
  • 00:28:47
    fly the only other thing I didn't think
  • 00:28:49
    about was how I was going to serve it so
  • 00:28:52
    once I figured out the coffee cups were
  • 00:28:54
    the best way to share it I then shared
  • 00:28:55
    it with all my fellow crew and even took
  • 00:28:57
    it upstairs to make sure business and
  • 00:28:59
    first class crew didn't miss
  • 00:29:02
    out
  • 00:29:03
    [Music]
  • 00:29:11
    again I will say Zach was waiting very
  • 00:29:14
    patiently for me to finish all of my
  • 00:29:16
    duties for landing before I finally took
  • 00:29:19
    him to see
  • 00:29:21
    [Music]
  • 00:29:26
    RCC he couldn't believe he was finally
  • 00:29:28
    seeing one of our crew sleeping quarters
  • 00:29:30
    and the fact that this is under the
  • 00:29:31
    cabin I showed him how we have TV
  • 00:29:33
    screens just like the passengers but we
  • 00:29:35
    also have business class headphones as
  • 00:29:36
    it was after both breaks it was a little
  • 00:29:38
    bit messy but all the cupboards are
  • 00:29:40
    normally filled with spare business
  • 00:29:41
    class blankets for us crew to swap out
  • 00:29:43
    for people on the first break to the
  • 00:29:44
    second being able to show Zach the CRC
  • 00:29:46
    was honestly the perfect way to finish
  • 00:29:48
    the best flight and the best layover
  • 00:29:51
    I've ever had as Emirates cabin crew and
  • 00:29:53
    really it was because of Zach so as much
  • 00:29:56
    fun as flights like this are flying is
  • 00:29:58
    going to be even better when I'm sitting
  • 00:30:00
    in the seat right next to the love of my
  • 00:30:02
    life and not working knowing we can
  • 00:30:04
    travel wherever and whenever and for as
  • 00:30:07
    long as we want I
  • 00:30:10
    [Music]
  • 00:30:12
    to even having such a jam-packed and
  • 00:30:15
    exciting time away we both love coming
  • 00:30:17
    home to our Creek haror Apartment and
  • 00:30:19
    spending time together no matter where
  • 00:30:21
    we are I hope you guys loved having Zach
  • 00:30:24
    along with me just as much as I did and
  • 00:30:26
    I can't wait to show you guys what we
  • 00:30:27
    get to and where we travel to next
  • 00:30:30
    [Music]
Tags
  • Travel
  • Shanghai
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