“This is Burma, and it will be quite unlike any land you know about.” Rudyard Kipling, 1889 My 59th country was the mysterious land of Myanmar (Burma). This country has been cut off from the world for most of it’s existence, more lately by an inward focussed military regime. Sadly that regime has seen one of the richest countries in Asia slide into poverty. Average GDP per person is a mere $1000 per annum with a massive gap between people at the top and the bottom of the tree. Yet Burma was rich. The temples…
My Musings (Sundays)
Category Archives for My Musings (Sundays).
My 999th Flight
Just flew my 999th flight from Kuala Lumpur back to Australia with the magnificent Emirates. In many cultures 999 is a lucky number. Tomorrow I will fly for the 1000th time. That flight will also be my 291st flight with Qantas airways. I celebrate a half century this year, so on average, I have flown 20 times per year – about twice a month! I was three when I first flew and there were some years when I flew 100+ times and other years when my feet did not leave the ground. I have flown with 89 airlines since…
My 800th post
Published my 800th post earlier today on Boardingarea.com! Thank you for journeying with me. There have been some extraordinarily wonderful years and some tough ones especially during the period my sister got ill and died. I love travel and have been blessed with plane flights to the four corners of the globe, train rides on every continent except Antarctica, visits to 190 large cities in 59 countries. Its great to have so many loyal readers who share that love of travel. Great to get your emails, shout outs and tips. I have to be honest and…
Burma (Myanmar) Bound
Off to my 59th country this week: Myanmar (Burma). We are following a fairly standard tourist trail. We fly into Mandalay in the North, then travel down to Bagan and then visit Yangon. It has been only fairly recently that travel has been opening up for tourists not travelling in tourist groups! So excited! Related Posts Any advice for Myanmar? My 58th country: Vietnam I visit my 57th country
South Korea Mourns its ferry passengers
My thoughts with the family and friends of all those involved in one of South Korea’s worst ever peacetime disasters. Of the 476 passengers on the ferry Sewol, 174 passengers were rescued in the immediate aftermath of the disaster last Wednesday. The time since has involved a difficult search for so many missing.
Wonderful cockpit view of 737 takeoff
This video shows a late afternoon take-off from Hamburg (HAM) in a Boeing 737. The airport has two runways, 17 jet-ways and 54 apron positions. Easyjet and Germanwings have the largest presence at the airport. It is located 8.5 km (5.3 mi) north of the City of Hamburg. The easiest way to the airport is by train with a ten minute frequency on the S1 line. The trip to Hamburg Central (Hamburg Hauptbahnhof) station takes 25 minutes. Related Posts Stunning landing in Queenstown Hip Hamburg Trip Report: Hamburg -Berlin ICE Wild About Berlin
Celebrating Women Pilots on IWD
Yesterday was International Women’s Day and I spent part of the day wondering why we have so few pilots who are women? Of the 53,000 members of the Air Line Pilots Association, only 5 percent are female. According to the International Society of Women Airline Pilots, there are only about 450 women worldwide serving as airline captains. Of the major airlines Qantas female Pilots are around 3.6 per cent while at American it is four percent. At British Airways it is just under six percent. Both they and Lufthansa (six percent female) have started campaigns…
Any advice for Myanmar?
I am visiting Myanmar (Burma) in April. This will be my first visit! Any tips and advice welcome! Related Posts My 58th country: Vietnam I visit my 57th country
Qatar’s Staff Criticisms – 3 questions
Is it acceptable to have your employer grant permission “in case you wish to change your marital status and get married“? This employee rule made the news, this week, in an article The truth about the luxury of Qatar Airways published last week in a Swedish tabloid: Expressen. The article is blisteringly critical of the airline. Qatar Airways has been voted world!s best airline for two years in a row. They pick up awards for business class, their service and their lounges. On top of that, the airline had been involved in massive expansion going from four to 120…
Toomey Quits & Jet Airways expands
Anyone know why Jet Airways chief executive officer Gary Toomey announced his immediate departure from the airline last week after four months? Jet Airways announced on January 16; “Gary Kenneth Toomey, chief executive of the company has resigned with immediate effect…Ravishankar Gopalakrishnan, the chief financial officer of the airline, will officiate as the “acting chief executive officer” till the board appoints a new chief“. Mr Toomey said: “I have enjoyed my time at Jet Airways working with the Chairman, the management team and the wonderful staff. I am confident that the Company will be successful in…
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