| My new life, so far... |
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07 Mar 2009 |
June
2006 'Round the World, Again Japan, Thailand, Singapore, Germany... |
FROM SINGAPORE-FRANKFURT FLIGHT
The images you're seeing below have been uploaded to my web site "live," from aboard the flight from Singapore to Frankfurt. As I am writing this, we are just south of Kabul, Afghanistan (6/26/06; 12 noon GMT). Thirteen years ago, during a long flight from Tokyo to Seattle, I dreamed of this only as a remote possibility. I did not think I would live long enough to experience it. Lo and behold. "Marvels of modern technology," huh? So I will mark this day - June 26, 2006. It is the day I made history, at least in my little world, with this first-ever in-flight transmission. |
The Longest Day: Bangkok-Singapore-Frankfurt
SINGAPORE, June 26, 2006 - The flight from Bangkok to Singapore was a little less than two hours. But because Singapore lies to the southeast of Bangkok, just above the equator, we lost an hour.
I realized I was now in the same time zone as Western Australia where I had spent so much time in the last 10 years. Or so little, judging by the fact I sold my place there last year.
Nonetheless, Singapore airport was a familiar place because of my many trips back and forth from Western Australia, the last one with Karen in January 2005. Except that this time, World Cup soccer dominated even the cyberspace in Singapore's Internet cafes.
What did not change, however, is the artful design and a pleasant feel of the airport. Little natural oases, such as the one above in front of the airline lounges, contribute to it. I know of no other airport in the world that blends the natural and the industrial so well. Most are busy, ugly hubs that one cannot wait to get out of.
After about three hours between the flights, which I used to call home and start the final Thailand travelogue, I was off again, heading for Frankfurt, Germany.
The pilot has just announced it is going to be a 12-hour flight.
Moments later, we were already over Malaysia (above). Some 30 minutes later, the pilot announced we were approaching an area of strong turbulences. "India," I figured, based on past experiences.
Not quite, as it turned out. That one will come later, I am sure. This time, however, the turbulence was over the Bay of Bengal - the part of the Indian Ocean between India and Malaysia.
Just like clockwork, a heavy turbulence did hit us over India, as we were flying south of Delhi.
A further progress report...
And now, the full size of the photo with which I made history with a first-ever in-flight transmission to my web site, and thus around the world.
Another progress report... our current location over southern Russia at 9PM (Singapore); 1PM (GMT), approaching Baku. Azerbaijan, and Caspian Sea.
I figured that by the time I went to bed in Frankfurt this evening, I had been up for 25 hours of straight daylight! That's what happens when you travel around the world west to east, and end up chasing the sun all day long. Good night! (Or good morning to my Thai friends!)
Back to World Trip June 2006 Index
