In around the world in 80 days, Phileas Fogg of London and his French valet Jean Passepartout (his name means goes everyhwere”) circumnavigate the world in 80 days. Phileas Fogg travels by steam train and coal burning ocean ships, communicates by telegram, uses shillings and presents his passport at consular offices around the world. I have had my current passport for almost seven years. In the time I have held it, I have flown 492 times. For the international flights and any domestic flights in the USA and UK, it will be looked at between…
My Musings (Sundays)
Category Archives for My Musings (Sundays).
Who is the best One World airline?
It’s an interest obsession of mine to “collect” airlines flown. I am inching closer to 100 different airlines flown. Some of those carriers are no longer flying. In most cases this a tragedy (eg Pan Am, Ansett Australia, Malev) and in others, probably a good thing (Air Australia). I’ve flown airlines that belong to all of the three major airline alliances (One World, Skyteam and Star Alliance). Truth be told, 40% of my flights have been with One World carriers, however. So I pricked up my ears when on Wednesday, the CEO of IAG (Iberia/British Airways) suggested…
Why and How I travel – My Manifesto
I have spent all my life traveling distances. The addiction started early with me with my first big journey when I was just a couple of months old. We drove across 2000 miles of Australia. Not many memories of that trip in my mind! I do have good memories of a childhood of trips including Scotland at the age of two (above), Africa from the age of four (far left below), the Middle East when I was six, Hong Kong at seven, London at 14, and Melbourne, Australia when I was 19. Sixty two countries later…
My Middle Eastern Airlines Dilemma
I am flying from Dubai to Bangkok in December and I am overwhelmed by the sheer number of options for the 5000km/3000 mile flight. There are hundreds of viable Business Class and Economy Class options. If I travel the hour and a half journey by car to Abu Dhabi, there are hundreds more. While only three airlines (FlyDubai, Emirates and Thai) run direct services, they still have ten direct services a day between them. Multiple indirect services go via a whole range of fascinating stopover places! Kazakhstan anyone? So I kept playing and searching. I found in…
East West -Home’s Best!
These are taken on the beach near my home outside Melbourne. Sitting here, one can reduce stress by 90%! This week, I flew on my 1150th flight of my life! I have flown 88 times this year so far, a distance of almost three times around the world. I am very blessed in what I see, experience and achieve. Despite working interstate a lot, coming back to “my beach” is one of the highlights of life. What about you? Where is your favourite home spot? Related Posts Local Ferry in the Maldives Malaysia Airlines Airbus 330…
Vale the King of Thailand
After a period of illness, the King of Thailand passed away on 13th October 2016 at the Siriraj Hospital in Bangkok, the capital of Thailand. His Majesty was born on 5th December, 1927 at the Mount Auburn Hospital, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. (His father was studying at Harvard). He was not named at birth. The auspicious name Bhumibol Adulyadej, meaning “strength of the land, incomparable power” was given to him by the then King. He grew up in Switzerland, following the death of his own father. King Bhumibol Adulyadej, also known as Rama IX assumed the throne on…
Local Ferry in the Maldives
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…
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…
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…
Sept 11, 2001- fifteen years on.
I cannot believe it is 15 years ago that planes were used to create such destruction in New York and DC and crashed in Pennsylvania. For many, this is an event that they have only heard about second hand, a part of history. I, however, still remember the day I heard about the planes crashing into buildings. Transfixed by the repeating image which I was convinced had to be a promo from a horror movie, it took minutes to ascertain it was indeed real. The Day represented a shift in the world. A realisation that…
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