Several months ago, I secured a Qantas frequent flier seat up front in business class on @qantas Sydney to Santiago Qantas service. The flight uses a Boeing 787 Dreamliner for the 12-14 hour journey. I redeemed 108,000 Qantas points and paid $300 in taxes for a business flight worth between $2500 and $2800! Before I even set foot on Qantas Flight 27, I googled for flight reports and was stunned to come across a whole cross-section of humanity that didn’t believe this flight exists. Some even went so far as to claim that Qantas was…
Helsinki: The Northern Jewel of the Baltic
Founded in 1550 by King Gustav I of Sweden, Helsinki has grown into a stunningly beautiful and highly enjoyable city, celebrated for its great quality of life. Situated on the southern coast of Finland, Helsinki spans 715 square kilometers (276 square miles) and overlooks the Baltic Sea. The city’s coastal setting, with over 300 islands dotting its archipelago, combined with lush green spaces, offers a striking contrast that defines its unique character. Comparable in size to other European capitals like Oslo and Dublin, Helsinki is divided into several districts, each with its unique charm, from…
Get me out of here: Guatemala City: Where History and Gangs Collide
Founded in 1776 on the ruins of the ancient Mayan city of Kaminaljuyu, Ciudad de Guatemala (Guatemala City) was established as the new capital of the Captaincy General of Guatemala after a series of devastating earthquakes destroyed the former capital, Antigua Guatemala. It has been capital of a fully independent Guatemala since 1847. The country of Guatemala is bordered by Mexico to the north and west, Belize to the northeast, and Honduras and El Salvador to the east. Guatemala City is located in the southern part of the country within the Valle de la Ermita…
Panama’s Special Bocas del Toro- another world
The Bocas del Toro archipelago, is an enchanting group of islands approximately 35 km off Panama’s Caribbean coast, located at latitude 9.35° N and longitude 82.25° W. The archipelago consists of nine major islands and over 200 smaller cays and islets Summary Getting There by Air To reach this idyllic destination, most visitors fly into Bocas del Toro “Isla Colón” International Airport (BOC), also known as José Ezequiel Hall International Airport. Air Panama and Flytrip offer direct flights from Panama City (Allbrook Airport) and SANSA from San Jose, Costa Rica. Getting There by Ferry and…
A Love Letter to the Queen of the Skies: The Boeing 747
Beginnings of a Love In 1971, I celebrated a childhood birthday in Hong Kong. It was a time of many firsts—my first time in Hong Kong, which then seemed so mysterious with Chinese signs, British police officers, and fingers flying over abacuses in small street side stores. My birthday cake came from Maxims (those who know Hong Kong know Maxims, the quintessential bakery). My parents bought me a toy 747 with flashing lights and moving wings from a toy store, and then we boarded my first flight on a 747. Symbolically, it was with Pan…
Flight Report 100: Lufthansa MEX-FRA and my first 747-8
I think everyone’s favourite aircraft is still the Jumbo Jet, the 747, which was introduced in 1970 by Boeing. It revolutionised air travel. It looked beautiful and enhanced the romance and excitement of air travel. Am I right? It has been my firm favourite since I first boarded it as a child for a journey from Hong Kong to Sydney with the first user of the 747: Pan Am.(Photo by Eduard Marmet from Wikipedia) Fast-forward 53 years, and today only three airlines regularly fly the 747 as a passenger aircraft: Air China, Korean Air, and…
Cali’s Magic: From Historic Streets to Salsa Beats
Overview This year, I decided to spend some time in Colombia, South America, making this the 85th country I’ve visited. As I embarked the Avianca plane in Bogotá to travel to the city of Cali, I racked my brain trying to work out why I was going there?!. Cali isn’t globally known as a standout tourist destination. I’ve never met anyone who had been there! It doesn’t make the news. Few people could find it on a map. That’s never stopped me before, though, as I’ve been to hundreds of places off the beaten track,…
Navigating Avianca: Good, Bad, and Ugly on Six Flights
As a seasoned frequent flyer with 1565 flights under my belt, I’ve flown with almost every major airline across the globe. Of thesem I have flown with every member of the OneWorld alliance, and with 20 of Star Alliance’s 26 members and 10 of the 19 Sky Team members. I have set my sights on completing the Star Alliance roster and added Star Alliance members Austrian, Aegean and Croatian to my collection this year. My recent Star Alliance addition was six journeys with Colombia’s flagship carrier, Avianca. The Verdict: Bankruptcy and Back Established in 1919,…
Bogotá: Bold, Beautiful and Boggling Contrasts
Founded in 1538 by Spanish conquistador Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada, Bogotá has evolved from a small colonial town into the political, cultural, and economic heart of Colombia. Spanning 1,775 square kilometers (686 square miles), it’s similar in size to Houston and slightly larger than Delhi and São Paulo. The city’s population is estimated to be between 8 and 11 million, which is comparable to New York and Bangkok. Bogotá is divided into 20 localities, each with its own character, featuring a blend of modern skyscrapers, low-rise buildings, and historic edifices. I barely scratched the surface…
Santiago: The Heart of Chile
I rank every city I visit based on various factors, including aesthetics, culture, and transport. Santiago, the capital of Chile in South America is the 242nd city of over 100,000 people I have visited. Chile is my 85th country, so I’m pretty confident in my ratings! Location and Orientation Santiago is the capital and largest city of Chile, nestled in a valley surrounded by the snow-capped Andes to the east and the Chilean Coastal Range to the west. The city sits at approximately 600 meters (1,968 feet) above sea level, providing a stunning backdrop of…
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