June was a month with a lower number of flights compared to other months! Just eight flights across Australia and Asia for a total of 26,000km (16,000 miles). I spent time in Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney in Australia; Tokyo in Japan; and Vientiane, the capital of Laos. Here’s my month…
Flights
City Highlights
- Adelaide-a huge highlight was climbing the Adelaide Oval to a height of approximately 50 meters (164 feet) above the ground. Even with the safety tether in place, I decided to avoid the thrill of leaning backwards over the oval. A good walk along the Torrens River, between work sessions and a visit to the Central Market topped off the brief sojourn here.
- Bangkok: The vibrant energy never ceases. I managed to squeeze in a couple of weddings, a first-class Cinema Experience (Thailand does this so well), lots of iced local coffees, some delicious meals, OrTorkor produce market and JJ outdoor market and some nature at Rotfi Park.
- Tokyo: like many, I continue to love Tokyo. I combined some visits of old haunts with new spots. Of course, there was the bustling Shinjuku shuffle, pancakes at the famous Air Trailer café, a walk through the Meiji Shrine and gardens—a huge peaceful parkland in the middle of Tokyo’s shopping district and I also rode one of the famous Tokyo Sakura trams that often appear in Japanese movies.
- Vientiane was an unexpected last-minute addition due to a conference. This was my fourth time in the Laotian capital and my first visit since the world reopened to travel. A lot has changed in the city, with many more hotels, backpacker hostels, and cafes than there were a few years ago. It looks like Vientiane is firmly on the Southeast Asian travel scene. However, I have never quite warmed to this city and am still trying to discover its elusive hook. Any feedback and suggestions are welcomed as I will be returning for a rail trip from Vientiane to Luang Prabang.
- Melbourne: Hikes, train spotting, coffee, friends, and work made up my time in Australia’s cultural capital.
- Sydney: was hosting the incredible Vivid Night Light Festival. I felt the sheer volume of people now visiting makes the experience much less pleasant than it used to be. The barriers set up to control the crowds actually felt very constraining. Not so sure how they can fix this. Even so, Sydney’s beauty is timeless.
- I experienced the stunning harbour, and I also got to see a superb production at the iconic Sydney Opera House of “The Armed Man- a Mass for Peace ” by ChorusOz and the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs. This powerful and moving composition blends different musical traditions to promote a message of peace and reflection on the horrors of war. Additionally, I experienced the stunning harbour and enjoyed Vietnamese food at my favourite Vietnamese restaurant.
Airline Experiences
Five airlines took me around this month-fewer than the ten I flew with last month (May 2024)
- Cathay Pacific: 100% Each flight was a testament to their excellent service and comfort, with very friendly crews. Cathay has never disappointed me- ever. They provided outstanding service on all flights, and I am in awe of their superb lounges in Hong Kong.
- Qantas: 98% Been having good experiences with Qantas this year. They have been reliable and welcoming across a range of domestic Australian and international flights, enjoyable and hassle-free. Some airport experiences were less favourable, but overall, Qantas maintained a high standard in longes and on board.
- Thai Airways: 90% With a warm smile and exceptional hospitality, Thai Airways made my flights to and from Bangkok delightful. Consistently magnificent across all flights. The in-flight meals were delicious, and the overall experience was very satisfying.
- Virgin Australia: 88% Excellent Australian domestic service with delightful lounge options. The crew was attentive, and the flights were generally smooth.
- Japan Airlines: 86% – Efficient, courteous, and a pleasure to fly with. However, I found some of their onboard offerings underwhelming. Their international lounge in Haneda was less impressive than I expected and I didn’t feel it compared well to some of their other lounges in places like Bangkok or other lounges across the One World network
Chasing the neworld Dream: Two of my goals for 2024 are to
- 1. Fly with as many oneworld airlines as possible this year for the fun of it – have now flown seven oneworld carriers so far in 2024: Alaska, American, Cathay, British, Finnair, Japan and Qantas
- 2. To maintain my Oneworld Emerald Status because it enhance my travel experience massively by saving time, providing comfort, and ensuring personalised assistance with Priority Check-In, security and Boarding, Free Fisr class Lounge Access, Preferred Seating, and Dedicated Qantas Service. These benefits make my journeys smoother, more enjoyable, and stress-free. My 17,025 kilometres with One World Airlines this month indeed brought me to Qantas Platinum/Oneworld Emerald again. I want to try to fly new members Oman and Fiji when they join the alliance.
Where did you find yourself in June, 2024?
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