16th of June Early rise at 05.30h, shower and off to Aqaba airport where we change into uniforms. A bit more comfortable than the desert camps. Everything is top service here again and we are in the air on time. Before take-off Captain Tom had to call a number in Israel to reconfirm that we …
14th of June After breakfast driving to the airport. We start to realize that this is actually the most dangerous part on our trip! Immigration and security is efficient; so efficient that they find our Swiss Army knives and take them away from us. Take-off on time and for the first time: we are happy …
Friday the 13th and we fly to Saudi Arabia. Checking out of the hotel is a bit difficult, they forget to organize the car to the airport, their the agent has not filed the flight plan; but we still leave more or less on time. A three hour flight over the desert (which is huge) …
The news on TV about Iraq don’t look pretty. All hell is breaking lose in the North. The rebels take the two largest cities. And we are heading towards that direction: to Kuwait. Leaving Bahrain is no problem and we fly north along the coast. Handling is slow and so is immigration. But at least …
Excellent handling in Doha and Manama. We have to wait a bit for the fuel since we decided to take it here. And it is not so hot anymore: only 43 degrees today! Since it is still hot and there is not too much to see in Bahrain, we decide to have another pool day. …
Another short flight from Au Dhabi to Doha. Handling at both places excellent and another dream-like destination. Today it is 49C; almost to hot for the pool. The floor is too hot to walk on it barefoot and even to touch the rail when coming out of the pool is almost impossible! But we do …
Drive to the airport is despite rush hour easy. So is security and immigration. We have to fill up some oil for the engine and get the feeling of heat! Take-off on time and short flight to Abu Dhabi. Already approaching the airport we get a glimpse of what is expecting us: we fly by …
7th of June After another great breakfast we hop on the boat that brings us to Dharavandhoo airport. The whole crew is expecting us already and after a friendly good-bye we fly to Malé to get fuel and clear immigration. Again the handling is far from efficient and we lose quite some time. A four …
5th of June Nice breakfast in this really cool hotel. We drive to airport in rush hour – but going the other way. A big delegation is waiting for us, clears us very efficiently and the chief of air traffic control (a lady!) shows us where it all happens! We are up in the air …
25 minutes to check out of hotel but smooth ride to airport and in the air on time. Dhaka airport is something special; but our handlers do a great job. They are worth every Dollar; just to get us through all the controls!! Long flight to Colombo where we have a reception committee of 16 …