This is my fourth article on my recent experiences on Brasilia, the capital of Brazil. When I told people that I was going to visit there, I got one of three reactions: Why? Where? What for? I was regaled with tales of people going mad with boredom in the sterile cityscape and the empty streets. Even Brazilians said to me that it would not take long to see the sights! Brasilia gets such a bad rap – from anyone who has never been there. The locals I spoke to, however, liked their city. Many who were born there, bristle at the…
My 737 Milestone- 200 flights
A Qantas 737-800 I have been flying too much! Another milestone with my 200th flight in a Boeing 737. I have flown 737s more than any other type of aeroplane. (767- 106 times, 747 – 93 times) From Iceland in the North to New Zealand in the South and East to Honolulu in the West, I have flown to or from 84 airports in 737s operated by 23 airlines. around the world, although over half of the flights were a single carrier Qantas (see airline list below) I think of the 737 as a reliable functional car…
Appraising Brasília -How does this planned city rate?
I had been long been fascinated by the architecture, the structure, the layout and its impact on the people who call Brasilia home. Some people say its a success and others warn of its failures. Brasilia is the 160th city over 100 000 people I have visited. And I have rated every city and update the ratings regularly!!! (ESFJ personality). These ratings are based on my perceptions and experiences. Overall Rating out of 100 I gave Brasília an overall score of 81.4 per cent. This gives it 74th place out of the 160th cities I have visited. Bizarrely…
Beautiful Brazil- My 50th Country visited
Brazil, the first country I have been to in South America is the 50th country I have visited. It also popped into my top ten favourite countries in the world. I loved Brazil! Geography To misquote Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy: “Brazil is big. Really big. You just won’t believe how vastly, hugely, mind-bogglingly big it is. I mean you may think it’s a long walk down the road to the chemist, but that’s just peanuts to Brazil“. As the fifth largest country in the world, total area is 8,514,877 km2 (3,287,597 sq mi ). For US people that’s almost…
Bewitching Brasília -birds eye view of the capital
Brasília, has me transfixed. Have a look at this amazing panoramic slide show of Brasília scenes. Then take a peek at an amazing flight over the city – in a hang glider! The author of this video declares that Brasília, is like the movie Gattaca. He is right
10 000 plus
Over 10 000 people have now viewed this blog! Thanks everyone. The Top Ten Visited posts are: Three Airlines-one plane- comparing the A380 Sep 30, 2010, 7 comments My fave plane compared across 3 airlines! First Korean Air A380 peeks out in Toulouse Feb 5, 2011- seems there are a lot of A380 geeks Virgin across the Pacific Mar 3, 2011 1 comment – My First V Australia flight from Aust to USA $198 to Europe or $981.80 to Europe Feb 11, 2011 I hate “dishonesty” in ticket pricing The Five Peeve Taxi Journey Sept 11, 2010 Taxis…
Korean Air has their A380
Korean Air took delivery of its first A380. The only 380 in the world to feature all business class upstairs, a duty free lounge and an in-flight luxury lounge for business and First customers with bar, sofas and TV. Their pilots are getting assessed. The Korean government aviation authority will approve the massive plane and then the sixth airline in the world will start flying between Seoul-Incheon and Tokyo-Narita on June 17. Flights to USA and Europe will follow. I hope to fly Korean’s A380 in October. That will be my fourth airline A380 experience. I have flown Emirates,…
Boggling Brasília- Overview of a planned metropolis
In the TV Sitcom Big Bang theory, the main character, Sheldon, is asked by Rajesh to imagine himself in the one place he feels most at home: He replies: Simcity -or more specifically the Simcity I designed Sheldonopolis.Rajesh: OK you are in SheldonopolisSheldon: Where exactly? Sheldon square, Sheldon Towers, Sheldon Stadium, home of the fighting Sheldons….” I wonder what would happen if we indeed stepped into a Simcity creation? Here you go: For me visiting Brasília, the capital of Brazil a city planned and built in the late 1950s, is akin to visiting a Simcity creation…
My 757th is coming quickly..my very next flight in fact
Just travelled on my 756th plane flight and I can reveal that the 757th flight of my life will be on a United Airlines Boeing 757 from Washington Dulles to Los Angeles Thursday 16th June, 2011. United has 135 of these planes- almost a third of its main line fleet. This follows my 737th on a Southwest 737 and my 747th on a Qantas 747. Who will my 767th be with?
The Slide of Qantas vs The Rise of Virgin
News comes that Singapore Airlines and Virgin Australia will code share on each other services and passengers will enjoy reciprocal FF arrangements and lounge access. Virgin Australia also have a relationship with Delta (Skyteam) and Malaysia (about to join One World). Is this a step toward Virgin Australia becoming a Star Alliance partner in Australia? We continue to move back to the days when we had two full service airlines Qantas and Ansett in the One World and Star Alliance networks. I blogged about this in May. The impressive changes at Virgin Australia (albeit not yet…
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