What’s your longest flight ever, in hours and distance? It always bemuses me when colleagues complain about a “long haul” six-hour flight. With close to half of my flights originating out of Australia, six hours is only getting started! Out of the 1730 flights in my life, I have now racked up 203 “long haul” (over 8 hours) flights, of which 72 were over 12 hours long as seen below: My longest flight was an epic 18 hours and 8 minutes earlier this year, on the world’s longest scheduled commercial flight: Singapore Airlines’ nonstop flight…
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Riding the Spectacular Flåm Railway
I’ve been sorting my 161 photos of “one of the world’s most beautiful train journeys.” National Geographic Traveller magazine called the Flåm Railway one of the top 10 train journeys in Europe. Lonely Planet went even further, naming it the best train journey in the world. The famous Flåm Railway, the world’s steepest non-cog railway, climbs 864 metres over 20 km from the fjord-side town of Flåm to Myrdal, 866 metres above sea level, which is perched in a remote mountain pass with no road access. Max gradient at 5.5% (1:18). Top speed of 40…
80 Years Later: Why we must remember the Holocaust
Today, 27 January, marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz concentration camp in 1945. This day is now recognised as International Holocaust Remembrance Day, or the International Day in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust. I have now visited three Nazi-era concentration camps: Sachsenhausen-Oranienburg (1936–1945), Auschwitz (1940–1945), and Dachau (1933–1945). Each visit left me with different emotions, but Dachau (pic below), in particular, was the most emotional for me. The Holocaust resulted in the genocide of six million Jewish people, along with countless others from marginalised groups, including Gypsies, homosexuals, Jehovah’s Witnesses,…
Goodbye Rex, the latest Fall of a Notable Australian Airlines- here’s the Aussie failure list!
Regional Express Airlines (REX) is now insolvent and has entered voluntary administration after a disastrous attempt to compete with Qantas and Virgin Australia. If you are a ticket holder on their intercity routes, you are best advised to contact Virgin Australia (13 6789), who are accommodating REX passengers. It is possible that Virgin might end up taking over REX completely, absorbing their regional flights, or entering into a close partnership. It is rare for an airline to succeed anywhere in the world, and especially so in Australia. It is sobering to think that almost every…
Stranded? What To Do When Your Airline Collapses
Question: “How do you create a small airline?” Answer: “Buy a big one and wait for a couple of years.” (Source: Pixabay ) If you or a friend or family member are ever affected by the collapse of an airline, here’s what you need to do: 1. Find All Documentation: Keep a record of all your communications, booking details, and any expenses incurred. This is crucial for insurance claims and other legal actions. 2. Check for Official Announcements: Visit the airline’s website or social media platforms for information on the collapse. Don’t call; it’s usually…
The World’s Most Unsafe Airlines
I wrote recently about the safest airlines in the world according to Airline Ratings. My attention was drawn to the most unsafe airlines. Airline Ratings does not officially release a list of the least safe airlines. Numerous airlines have received one-star ratings, however, and those at the bottom of the one-star list are as follows: The flag carrier of Algeria, Air Algerie, has had a number of serious incidents. They at least get 3.5 out of 7 for customer service, which is more than many of their one-star compatriots. Customers are scathing: “travelling to Algeria…
Australian Government won’t let citizens home
For the last few years, I have flitted between Thailand and Australia regularly with regular easy travel across Asia, the Pacific and other destinations. For the last five years, I have averaged 75 plane flights a year- (about 6 a month) for business and or recreation. Many of those trips are documented in this blog. I definitely took the privilege of travel for granted. My biggest inconveniences prior to February 2020 were usually dodging long immigration queues. It is an understatement to say CVID19 changed all that. For two months the furthest I went from…
The USA
Watching the US protests, riots and with frustration, sadness and anxiety. So many places I know and so many people I know are being impacted by a the current events. I have travelled to 46 US states and three of their territories. I know the cities where activity is taking place now. My friends live in the heart of New York City through to rural communities from Vermont to New Mexico. Stay safe people. Please protect each other instead of fighting each other. May the USA find a solution that gives all citizens their democratic…
What to do with Virgin Australia
Once upon a time in 2000, Virgin entered the Australian airline market as a low cost carrier challenger. Months after its arrival, it found itself in a unique position as one of the country’s two main airlines (Ansett) collapsed in the wake of 11 September 2001. Qantas expanded to fill the vacuum left by Ansett. Virgin Blue nipped at their heels for over a decade. Qantas even started a new discount airline Jetstar in 2003, to take on Virgin in the low cost market. In 2010, Virgin Blue became Virgin Australia, repositioning itself as a…
Rainy season arrives in Bangkok
It has not rained for months in Bangkok. After weeks of build up the #first #rains of the rainy season hit this week. , In one day, the city received 13.9mm (just over half an inch) with most of the rain falling in just two hours Humidity reached 97%. Having grown up for part of my life in Africa, there is a deep longing for those heavy rains. Makes me want to go run in them!
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