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…
My Musings (Sundays)
Category Archives for My Musings (Sundays).
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…
New Years Dreams
It is half way through August and we are debating where to spend New Year’s Eve. Last year was in Hobart, Australia. Two years ago, we saw the festivities in Adelaide, Australia and three years ago found us in DaNang, Vietnam. Other places I have spent NY eve include: Aberdeen, Scotland; Brisbane, Australia; Dallas, TX, USA; Ibadan, Nigeria; Melbourne, Australia; San Salvador, USA and Sydney, Australia. Future options are: New York, Paris and Reyjavik. This year the destination needs to be a short hop from Bangkok, Thailand as we only have four days. The options…
My Million Dollar Travel Plan Part 1.
A few weeks ago, I asked what people would do if they had a million dollars to spend in travel. This is what I would do… Travel is already a luxury. For those of us able to afford to travel on aeroplanes to distant countries puts us in a very special, blessed and lucky category. Out of my million dollars, I would immediately give a chunk away with $50,000 each to the following five charities.: The Railway Children for street children work in East Africa Medecins sans Frontieres (Doctors without Borders) to support 30,000+ volunteers who provide medicine and surgery,…
Inching to Qantas Platinum
One of my travel goals this year was to re-obtain my Qantas Airways Platinum status. I have until July 31 to achieve 1400 status credits which is the threshold. With two weeks to go, the goal is achievable: For my non-flying friends, they are somewhat bemused by this obsession. For those who fly a lot, they understand what is going on! I even did one mileage run to reach this goal. Qantas Platinum is the equivalent of oneworld Emerald status giving First Class Check in, First Class lounge access, dedicated phone support, extra luggage and double…
A Million Dollars to spend on travel?
Some “travel insiders” were asked recently to comment on what they would do if they had a million dollars to spend on travel. What would you do?
Seven things I have learnt from flying 2.5 million KM
Two and a half million kilometres is a long way! Just over 1.5 million miles, it represents 62 laps around the earth. 600 times between NYC and Los Angeles! I have spent exactly 21 weeks sitting in aeroplane seats!! I hit this milestone, I believe, 35,000 ft over New Zealand, en route between Auckland and Wellington. Probably somewhere near Mt Taranki. There was no award and unlike in Up in the Air, no one came in with champagne and congratulations. (George Cloony’s character had hit 10 million miles, though). I am in an extremely privileged position.…
Why are we so focussed on air accidents?
I do not want for one second to belittle the tragic loss of life that occurs with each air crash but I wonder, what is it about a plane crash that impacts on our consciousness? Every two days, approximately 66 people are killed on Egyptian roads; a total of 12,000 a year. 45 people per 100,000 die on Egyptian roads. Thats a horrific statistic but no one says anything about it. A year ago, a bus veered off the road at Giza into a canal leading to 35 people dead. It barely made a blip in…
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