I was just six when I first wanted to ride a bullet train and climb the Tokyo Tower. Now, four decades later, I have done both. The Bullet trains still rank amongst the fastest on the world but the Tokyo Tower is no longer the city’s tallest structure. That distinction now belongs to the Tokyo Sky tree. I was able to scale both last month (and ride a bullet train -review next Tuesday!) Tokyo Tower -opened 1957- 332.9 metres (1,092 feet) Designed as a telecommunications tower with two observation levels at 150 metres (490 ft) and 249.6 metres (819 ft).…
Japanese Efficiency at its best -flying JAL Japan Airlines
JAL became the 97th airline, I have travelled with, 49 years since my first ever air flight. I have a goal of having flown 100 different airlines by my half-century anniversary of flying in May 2018*. Booking Japan has several major airlines. If I had been longer in Japan, I would have liked to sample them all! I chose to fly Japan Airlines (JAL), flag carrier airline of Japan and its second-largest carrier because I wanted to add another airline to my One World collection! Their main rival is ANA (All Nippon Airways) Japan’s largest-they also own Air Japan and low-cost carrier Vanilla Air. Skytrax…
Monarch, UK’s largest airline collapse ever! What happened? Has it impacted you?
It has been a horror year for UK low-cost air passengers. Ryanair cancelled 18,000 flights between October and March 2018. Then at 4am on Monday this week, after Monarch flight, ZB3785 from Tel Aviv to Manchester landed at 319am, that airline collapsed into administration. As the UK’s fifth-biggest airline, it is the biggest airline failure in the UK. The collapse left 110,000 people stranded overseas. Monarch dubiously joins an exclusive club of established airlines currently in financial trouble including Alitalia, Air Berlin and Kenya Airways who are all close to bankruptcy. Monarch had just celebrated its 50th Birthday in…
Britain’s Ancient Roman Roads in Wonderful Transit Style Map
I love a good map and I especially find transit maps to be very absorbing. I am not sure what the official term for this “condition” is. Any thoughts? I was fascinated to find that Cartographer Sasha Trubetsko (pictured left) has created a map of the old Roman roads that crisscrossed Britain. The map is in the form of a transit style map! I love it. The Romans built a massive network of roads across Britain (except in Scotland which they could never quite conquer!). The roads allowed them to transport troops, goods and people across their…
How many holidays are enough? According to Science
How much vacation have you taken so far this year? If you live in Brazil, Finland, France, Spain and the United Arab Emirate you are (on average) entitled to 30 days paid holidays per year and on average, those days are fully taken. At the other end of the spectrum, South Koreans only took eight days of their 15 days and Japanese took 10 of their 20. 37% of US workers had not been on a holiday in more than two years. This comes from Expedia’s Vacation Deprivation® study, an annual study of vacation habits amongst 9,424 employed adults aged 18…
Las Vegas Shock
Like most of the world, I am in a state of shock over Las Vegas. The numbers are boggling. At least 50 people who were enjoying themselves have had their lives snuffed out. Over 400 have gone to hospitals. Accusations and recriminations won’t bring back the dead. Reflection and wisdom will prevent future actions like this. Thoughts and prayers to all those affected and impacted.
Why Japan is in my Top Five countries!
I have just had a week in Tokyo, Hiroshima and Kyoto (with a dinner in Kobe and a lunch in Osaka!). Japan was the 69th country to get to! Sadly it has taken me so many decades to finally get there! Why is Japan so amazing? Seven reasons why Japan has made it to my Top Five countries: 1. Easy to get around I was blown away by the phenomenal transport infrastructure. What impressed me was the brilliant signage which meant navigating the trams (streetcars) in Hiroshima, the Shinkansen and the Tokyo metro so easy. You…
Regrets or No Regrets? Flying Tiger Australia after a six year absence
Some Background: With a Low-Cost Carrier, you always get what you pay for. Last time, I tried to fly Tiger, I discovered to my chagrin, they close their check-in time 15 minutes earlier than any other airline in Australia! I missed the flight by two minutes and I have not been near them for six years! Today’s flight was a return trip from Melbourne to Canberra in Australia. My trepidation Tiger has had a reputation for poor customer service, extensive nickel and diming, delayed flights and lost luggage. So it was with some trepidation that…
Drunk honeymoon couple in airport bust-up over missed flight – AOL UK Travel
Clearly, one couple had a really fun wedding! The UK Daily Mirror reported that Mr and Mrs Stanway consumed three bottles of wine on the 17-mile ride to Manchester Airport for their honeymoon flight to Malta. They got to the airport too late and missed their flight! This resulted in sharp words and a bust up with the groom retiring to an airport bar. Police were called as a gate agent feared the couple’s fight would escalate. He was charged with pubic disorder while his wife was given a £90 fixed penalty notice. The pair are got…
I have joined Instragram
I have finally joined Instagram! Who else is an Instagrammer? Please do follow me: https://www.instagram.com/martinjcowling10/
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