GOOD YEAR FOR TRAVEL 2012
I had become aware of travel at an early
age, after all I had to move countries before I was three years old. I longed
to become an adult so that I can travel: I travelled first within Australia,
then came Europe and then North America, Asia and South America are both late
comers into my Travelling world, starting in 2001. South East Asia and Japan
has been my focus in Asia and Argentina took up a lot of hours! There are only
two Spanish-speaking countries in South America that I have not visited.
Since meeting serendipitously MC, who later
became a good friend, my focus has been Malaysia and yet another casual
encounter in an aeroplane has led to visits to Indonesia. All in all I have
enjoyed Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, Myanmar and now Indonesia.
2012 was also special for encounters in
Indonesia, a special encounter in Malaysia, special days in London, gorgeous
affectionate and intimate days in La Habana and of course there are always
American Indians. Miami always had a feeling of home.
Many new people arrived into my life and a
few left, none left any regrets but few left nostalgic flavours. The most
important friend to arrive was certainly PJ from Bogor.
I am looking forward to 2013 with two major
changes, one that would include a Humanitarian Medical Project in a village
near Sentul in Indonesia.
The Airlines flown this year in order of
their excellence: (long-haul flights longer than six hours)
1.
Qatar
2.
Asiana
3.
Thai
4.
Lufthansa, including Swiss
5.
KLM
6.
Air France
7.
United Airlines
8.
Oman Air
9.
Malaysian
10.
Royal Brunei
I had 32 long-haul
flights, the longest being ORD-HKG at 15 hours and 20 minutes and the shortest
being LAX-HNL at just six hours.
There were 92
short flights, from the 42-minute flights between Miami and La Habana, many
internal flights within the USA. Also many Intra-Asian flights using Air Asia,
which is an excellent airline, delivering what they promise.
Best Airlines
Lounges this year have been:
Premium Lounge at
Doha
Air France Salon
at Terminal 2 E in Paris
Silver Kris at
Terminal 2 at Changi.
The lounges of
the USA based airlines do not leave any impressions. Skyteam Lounge at Terminal
4 of London Heathrow is very pleasant as well.
Grateful for a
good year of travel. Thanks for all those who shared this vagabond life in
different parts of the world. A new country which I enjoyed visiting in 2012
was Morocco.
My first Long-haul
flight for 2013 would be to the American Indians, the first Asian flight would
be to Phnom Penh, Bangkok and Bogor.
This is where I walk/jog when I am in Bogor with my friends from the Sentul Healthy Happy Living Group
