Spending some time in the Maldives (my 62nd country). This nation consists of 1000+ islands in the middle of the Indian ocean southwest of Sri Lanka… Few of the citizens of the Maldives ride between the islands in private seaplanes or speedboats. They use a network of ferries. Here is our ferry from the island of Maafushi to the capital Male. Route 311 operates six days a week and is operated by MTCC (Maldives Transport and Contracting Company Plc). It costs around $US3 for the 90 minute ride. Passing traffic: Arriving in the capital Male: A very…
Malaysia Airlines Airbus 330 Business to Kuala Lumpur
ADL Adelaide, Australia to KUL Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia MH136: Scheduled Departure: 08:40 Arrival: 14:55 Distance: 5,689 km -3,535 miles I have been flying very regularly between Australia and Asia for the last three years. Often these flights have been with Malaysia Airlines (MH) because of their good fares, excellent service and One World connection. Despite the troubles Malaysia Airlines have had, I have kept flying them. Malaysia currently fly from five Australian ports. On this occasion, I chose a flight from the city of Adelaide. This route was first for me. Malaysia currently fly from five Australian ports. On this occasion, I chose a…
Obnoxious Flyers increase–why?
He was seated two seats ahead of me, on the last (and delayed) service between two major Australian cities. Soon after take off, it became clear he was drunk. He started off with what seemed to be funny banter, turned into mocking behaviour and then became full on racist and sexist abuse of cabin crew and neighbouring passengers. In all of the 1140 times I have flown, I have seen passengers whose behaviour was less than ideal but there has only been one flight where I have feared for my safety. I have I have been…
Exploring Thailand’s Koh Samui – Review and Tips
I have been wanting to visit Koh Samui, Thailand’s second-largest island (after the famous Phuket) for ages. A spare weekend and a crazy desire to get to an airport that has a code starting with “U“ gave me the opportunity! Seriously! Like the other places I have visited, I have rated key aspects of the place. We chose to stay in the Bo Phut area which is a quieter part of the island and includes one of the most popular tourist attractions: The Fishermans’ Village. The other popular tourist areas on the island: Chaweng with the…
Stop the Plane- I want to get on
There are so many stories of poor plane passenger behaviour, that I now filter most out. This one from Beijing takes the cake! On the morning of September 14 at around 9.30, two passengers for flight CA1519 an Air China Beijing to Shanghai service, failed to board their aircraft by the boarding time. They then pushed past staff, marched onto the runway and insisted on boarding the aircraft. When refused, they stood under the plane with their suitcase in an attempt to stop it leaving. Check out the photos here: Police arrived and put the couple into five days…
My 2nd 787: Thai Business Brisbane to Bangkok
It has taken me a while to get onto a Boeing 787 Dreamliner. It is five years ago that the first 787 was delivered to ANA and now there are 460 in the air. I am making up for lost time with seven 787 flights booked in 2016 -with five carriers! My first 787 experience was with OneWorld’s South America member LATAM. Number two is today’s trip with Thai Airways. Numbers three and four are coming up with Scoot. Five will be with Jetstar. Six will be with Ethiopian. Seven is back to Thai! Thai Airways’s 787…
I have now flown to airports with codes starting with 24 letters of the alphabet
Every airport possesses its own three letter unique code. For example: Bos = Boston Logan LAX = Los Angeles For some travelers, these codes are mysterious: BOM = Mumbai EZE = Buenos Aires For others, they represent hubs of business: JFK = New York John F Kennedy LHR= London Heathrow I have now been to 215 airports from ABQ to ZRH.Back in April, I reflected that these airport codes started with 23 letters of the alphabet. Up to last weekend, I was only missing airport with codes starting with Q, U or X. I have now added two…
Los Angeles Long Overdue Transport Makeover
I have flown through Los Angeles International LAX multiple times over the last 20 years! I have used every one of its eight terminals with a range of current and defunct US and international airlines. If I was a commuter, then LAX is like one of my Grand Central Terminals! It is the world’s fifth busiest airport with almost 75 million people using it last year. And it is not good enough. Ugly buildings, a sprawling, confusing terminal layout, poor signage, horrific traffic and poor public transport connections, underwhelming food choices (definitely improved in the recent Tom…
Happy birthday to Cathay Pacific at 70
Few companies last seventy years in our modern world and even fewer non-government airlines have survived. Carriers in Asia have come and gone over the decades but Cathay Pacific Airways (CX) has maintained services since 24 September, 1946 from its base in tiny Hong Kong. They have survived SARS, hijackings, the handover of HK back to China and several economic crises. I fell in love with Cathay Pacific in 1971 on my birthday and today, they are my third favourite airline. I have rated its booking systems, check ins, service, meals etc and come up with…
Failed French hitchhiker Renames country ‘Nazi Zealand’
Today’s weird story is about how not to behave when traveling. I have travelled across almost every part of New Zealand multiple times and found NZers to be warm, welcoming and kind. When I was younger, I hitched many kilometres through New Zealand. The West coast of New Zealand is one of the remotest parts of New Zealand. There are few towns and not much traffic. I would never hitch in this part of the world as there are so few cars compared to other parts of the country! One small fishing community is called Punakaiki. The…
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