"For memory"

[N_Architect]

Trip started from base, by taking the car and driving to PUS airport. Many things to do at work in the days before my departure, mainly getting the team ready to deliver the vessel, as I would be away during scheduled delivery. Did not get much sleep the previous night as I had to attend a birthday party that some expat colleagues had organized. As a result it was a quiet and fairly self-restrained drive to Gimhae airport on the cloudy Sunday morning that followed. Only thing was that my nose started to bleed little bit again while driving. Nose started bleeding badly two days ago while onboard the vessel. Had to go to the yard’s medical center and have the doctors to stuff my left nostril with bandages in order for the bleeding to stop. Upcoming three flights with OZ and SQ were of 18hrs duration total, excluding transit time, and I wouldn’t like to have a nose bleeding incident onboard, so had to be careful.

Packing up for a trip in Europe. Few of the personal items wouldn't make it back to Korea, either because they would be stolen or because I would leave them to a beautiful girl as gift...



Loading the car and ready to go, once more... a nice feeling...



Anyway, arrived at PUS shortly after 9:30 am and left the car at the usual parking lot located just outside the airport premises. Rate there is half (5,000 KRW per day) than the airport’s long-term car park rate. Parking lot’s mini-van took me straight to the domestic terminal. Check in for OZ 8806 (scheduled departure 11:05 am) heading to GMP was smooth, no problems. Went through immigration and security quickly and waited at the departure gate. OZ crew of six (but three of the six girls were traveling as pax, heading back to base) were really beautiful, one of them being Indian-looking. Girls were waiting in same gate area for the aircraft to arrive. Aircraft was HL-7250 (B737-500).

Waiting at the gate to take OZ8806 to GMP...



The OZ aircraft that would take us to GMP:




Arrived at ICN just before 1 pm, after taking the KAL bus from GMP. Same annoying thing at ICN, with SQ check-in desks opening at 2 pm. First flight in the afternoon is the SQ609 to SIN (dep. 4:25 pm), then SQ16 and SQ18 follow later on (to SFO and YVR respectively). So walking round the airport with the trolley for an hour, taking a few pics.







Waiting for SQ check-in desks to open:



Taking the opportunity that our SQ check-in counters are still not open, let's take a shot of the opposite counters:



Check-in is smooth, and after waiting 5 minutes for the checked-in baggage security checking (both laptops in checked-in 24” Tumi) to clear, I decide to proceed to security and immigration control. All goes smoothly, so here we are in the ICN duty free area, ready for another small duty free exploration, mainly to check prices for a suiter bag (Tumi $440-1,100, Zegna $1,000, Samsonite $220, Longchamp $125). No purchases this time, still not a big fan of wearing suits often and also carrying in the cabin two items, especially when my large check-in Tumi has capacity to hold the suit. Proceed to the cosmetics section in the new ICN terminal area, to check prices and get some La Mer items. Didn’t know La Mer till I went to the States this May and my friend Pavlos in Washington DC, while we were visiting Neiman Marcus in Tysons Galleria 2, told me “these cosmetics are very good.” Gave them a try and have literally never looked back ever since. If your girlfriend or wife uses this stuff, do yourself a favor and give it a try, you’ll be amazed. $230 duty free for a 2 Oz./60ml face cream, yes, I know, doesn’t come that cheap, but it’s damn good. Guy who invented the company decades ago was a physicist who suffered major burns in the face during one of his experiments. Tried to find a proper crème to heal the burns but no luck. Well, necessity is the mother of invention, isn’t it? He then went on to create his own crème, and years later La Mer came into existence.

Taking the ICN train to go to the terminal off which the SQ flight departs:

[N_Architect]

Still on the ICN airport train:



Heading to the departure gate:



Enough with duty frees, went to the OZ lounge for a while, then moved on to the gate. Aircraft for SQ609 to SIN on Sept. 7th was 9V-SVI.



Boarding commenced normally, take off almost with no delay. Flight fairly uneventful. We landed in Changi almost 15 minutes before scheduled arrival.

IIRC I had seat 14F. After changing to my pajamas outfit, waited for meal service and then tried to get some sleep.





Meal service starts:



Fish was not available (too popular). Meat was not bad. Dessert was fine, too.




Arrival in SIN, almost all J cabin pax are off:



Changi T3:



Three more hours till the connection flight to ATH departs… Then 11 more hrs in international air space to get home… Phew… OK, let’s go and explore Changi T3 once more, we have a little less than three hours till departure. Resm is not there, of course, many of the shops begin to close as it gets midnight, go to my favorite spot, the bookshop. Got a magazine (“Monocle”, first time reading it, not bad). Feeling tired and sleepless, but have to wait for another 3-4 hrs (some transit time, boarding, taking-off, wait for the thermidor slipper to be served, wait, wait, wait…) till I lie in my 14F spacebed. Ah well.

About more than half a dozen of elderly pax wait to board the plane as well. How can they take 11 hrs in those Y seats? Most of them coming from Australia… Greek migrants in the ‘50s or ‘60s. Met a couple (in their late 50s) when going home last summer flying EK (I still remember those lovely narrow Y EK 77W seats). “Do you go back home (that is Greece) often?” I asked. “This is my first visit in twenty-seven years”, the lady replies (!!!!!). “My husband comes more often”, she continues. Ah, God, no. But it is true, some generations have made substantial sacrifices for new generations to enjoy the benefits and get a better life.

ATH-heading SQ348 boarding starts with no delay and in a while we are ready for take-off. Aircraft is 9V-SVJ. All is ok, till the meal is to be served. Green kebaya comes close, asks to confirm I have ordered BTC, I reply yes. Does the same with the couple sitting in 14H/K. Does NOT confirm what is the BTC choice. Meal follows, satay, appetizer, and so forth. Time for the main course to be served. Green kebaya comes with two dishes, lobster slipper thermidor and chicken. Asks me first what is my BTC, I reply lobster. I never order red meat, in few cases chicken, that’s it. I generally prefer fish, even at home I never buy meat. But in this case I’m wrong. I had chosen the chicken. The lobster is on the return leg ex-SIN… She puts the lobster on my tray. Passes the chicken to the gentleman in 14H, his wife waiting her dish as well. I start taking a bite, less than fifteen seconds go by, green kebaya gets called by the pax in 14H.

Short conversation, then she turns to me and says: “Are you sure you had chosen the lobster?” Well, I made the booking in Jan ’08, so can’t remember. But I say yes, as I reckon the chances are more that I chose the lobster on the SIN-ATH leg (dinner), rather than on the SIN-ICN return leg (lunch). Senior pax in 14H does not like the arrangement and makes it an issue. He trusts his memory, though he is still not 100% sure he had chosen the lobster. Blah, blah, blah, blah. Green kebaya spends with them at least 10 minutes explaining and explaining again, then turns round to me (after myself indicating discreetly to her I intend to ask her something). “Is there a problem?” I ask. “Pax thinks he should have had the lobster, but he cannot remember 100% correctly” she says. Ten minutes later, same pax starts writing 3-pg note which ultimately signs and passes to SQ staff. Green kebaya comes back, goes down to her knees in order to be able to speak closer to wife pax in 14K, gives her an SQ Leroy/Bubba type bear, blah blah blah, yes, we care about you and I don’t know whatever else, blah blah blah…

Early morning over Israel, taken from 16K, while second pilot who was sitting there left to go to flight deck...

[N_Architect]

Three models traveling in the J cabin, two of them are really gorgeous, half Asian origin. They are escorted by an Asian guy wearing a gold Daytona. The glamorous life. Beauty, money, fame, what else may they need? Well, that’s what they think, anyway… Just as we fly over Israel, a little bit more than a couple of hours prior to touchdown, I make the mistake and try to sneeze my nose even just a little bit. Cannot breathe through the mouth all the time. Left nostril starts minor bleeding. Oh not again… Stand up immediately and head straight to the lavatory, pick up a tissue and stick as much of it as I can in my nose. Now it will stay there for the next 3-4 hours, no more risk for today. Aircraft lands in ATH on time, but spends at least 15 minutes at a standstill way before the arrival gate, due to ‘traffic’. At 7 am? It’s a Monday, but still, this is not Heathrow… We disembark and head for baggage pick-up. Few beautiful girls traveling Y, pity I was at the front cabin (but lucky I could stretch my body and legs throughout the 11 hour flight…) Priority checked-in items come out first, pick-up my two items and head straight out. Three customs officers waiting in line, briefly look at me and my banded nose, say no word, I don’t stop unless I hear someone advising me to do so, that’s it, we’re out… Not carrying much stuff this time, two of my cameras (an SLR and a compact one) and the few La Mer products (six hundred bucks and way above duty free allowance, naturally) I bought duty free in ICN to try them out…

Family waiting outside, I meet with my lovely nephews and sister. We take the car and head home. Back in Europe, back in fast traffic, feels good. It’s not perfect, but it’s a necessary change. Freshly made & warm spinach pie waiting for me in the oven back home. Every time I say I’ll take pics of it to post, but I keep forgetting (and of course the pie is consumed in record time). Never mind, next time. Next few days go by quickly, see friends, go out for coffee, visit our Piraeus office, see my doctor, spend time with family.

Afternoon coffee with friends. A non-existent activity of expat life. Note the frappe coffee.





On Sat night, I met with fellow SQTalker LionCity and two more colleagues. Had fresh fish in a restaurant along the coast in the south-eastern suburbs of Athens. Nice night and company. Went straight home after the dinner as I was flying to IST the following morning.

Next: A week in IST; the Ceylan IC Istanbul; Agia Sophia; Blue Mosque; Taxim square pedestrian avenue; the Basilica Cistern.

[N_Architect]

Time comes to head for IST. Sunday 14th of September. A 1-hr flight from ATH. Flight TK 1846. Departure 1030 hrs, arrival 1150 LT. B737-800 (TK-JGB). No delay. I am in 8F, already checked-in from the previous day. Do not ask for an upgrade during check-in, agent is rather long-faced and not very friendly. Who cares… Positive energy comes back and benefits those who possess it...

BA Lounge at ATH International Airport:






Boarding the TK aircraft:




Ground staff meeting:




Ample leg space:


During the flight:






Flight was good, I did not try the meal, so no opinions or pictures here.

[N_Architect]

Taking off from Athens:






Reaching IST:


Oops, there's an SQ bird...


Ceylan Intercontinental Istanbul:


Hotel reception:


Standard room:










Room service at this hotel was kind of inconsistent. First day I check in the room, no cleaning cotton earpads, no small hand/bath towels. Second day, we do have two small hand/bath towels but I leave my bathrobe for washing, robe goes away, no replacement with a clean one (?). Next day the brand of shampoo, bath gel, etc. changes. Following day they add mouthwash liquid bottle and the brand of shampoo, bath gel, etc. changes back to the 'old' one. What's going on here?

[N_Architect]

More Ceylan IC:





















Istanbul

[N_Architect]

Aghia Sophia:















"Emperors only" (in the old days, only emperors were allowed to go through this main door of the church...






The train station built specifically for Orient Express:

[N_Architect]

More Istanbul





















Go to Taxim square, take a walk down the pedestrian way...

[N_Architect]

More...

[N_Architect]

The Ritz-Carlton at the far end:


Basilica Cistern:









Blue Mosque:

[N_Architect]

Blue Mosque (ctd.)















On a short cruise to go to a nice restaurant the first night:

[N_Architect]

More...

The restaurant in Bosphorous we went that night:


...and the view from that restaurant:

Bosphorous bridge, Istanbul.

Next: Budapest, incl. the IC BUD.

[N_Architect]

Time comes to leave IST and head for BUD. Saturday 20th of September. A 2-hr flight. Take breakfast at the Ceylan IC, go out to pick up my laundry (9 Turkish Liras total, no press, for 8 polo shirts, underwear, socks, launderette is 5 mins walking distance from the hotel, great…), ready to check out. Take taxi to airport, no traffic on Saturdays or Sundays (thank God), leaving this beautiful city… In the airport, surprise, security checking starts as soon as one enters the airport area, even before reaching the check-in desks. Takes 5-10 mins to go through that, off we go to an empty C or *A counter for check-in… Locate an agent with a pleasant smile, and the process starts.

“Just a moment, please, to give you my frequent flyer card” (that’s me)
“Turkish Airlines card?” (very polite check-in desk lady)
“No, Singapore Airlines card, which sadly does not enable me to ask you kindly for an upgrade…” (that’s me)
“We in Turkish Airlines always like to upgrade our customers…” (that’s her)
“…but unfortunately today it is not possible…”

Plane was full, otherwise I’d have got the upgrade. Fourty plus of us on that flight to BUD that day. I was also booked on C initially, but switched to Y a month before the flight. Eur 430 C, 225 Y (for the IST – BUD segment only, o/w). Of course we had some colleagues flying through Paris, Frankfurt instead of direct, but why do such a deviation? Colleague who was flying through FRA has pretty high position in one of LH’s business areas, so no choice for him I guess… He saw me one day in the Ceylan IC IST with all my pencils, pens, highlighters, etc. in the blue LH C amenity kit pouch, comes over, says “Is that LH?” I say “Yes”, so he does the thumbs up motion, so I continue “…but I only fly SQ”. Brief discussion follows on fleet replacement programs for both airlines, maintenance schedules & bases for different types of birds. He knows stuff, mainly about LH, of course. Anyway, I digress too much… This is the ‘anti-kapitan’ style report, I guess. Haha. Too much talking and blah blah. I’ve thought about doing a “Blah blah TR within a ‘kapitan’ TR” (hahahaha), I’ll hijack one of his TRs with fictional (humorous, of course) content post tailored to the story he’s posting… I’m serious, if I manage to sort out the correct tone of humor for the text I’ll be inserting, I’ll do it… God, we’re having fun here…

Anyway, we were in IST airport, trying to go through security and immigration control, then to the duty free area and the TK lounge. Two C class pax fast lane checkpoints for immigration, done quickly, ok, the duty free. Observe the area, nothing extraordinary, visit the Zegna shop, expensive prices I’d say (this is not SE Asia or the U.S.) Head left for the TK lounge. Nice area, plenty of natural light with a Middle-East decorative touch in some rooms.

Entering the duty free area:


TK Lounge is far ahead:


















Time comes to go to the gate.





No priority boarding for C pax, one check-agent point, long wait and queue. Board the plane, same story, same seat as per my ATH-IST segment, flight uneventful, did not eat at all, so no pics once again. We land in BUD after a couple of hours and take the bus that was waiting for us to the BUD IC. Many people from our group do not get some or any of their checked-in items. Some of them had checked-in early, others late. Some were flying C, others Y. Seems plane was full so they left some items back as to not overload the aircraft… Weather is dull, cloudy and fall-time sort of cold with intentions for rain.

Next: On the way to the BUD IC, from Ferihegy Airport; BUD Intercontinental.

[G_G]

Very nice pictures : especially this of basilica cistern

thanks for sharing

[SQFAN]

Looking forward to your trip report, N Architect. Coke and call girls too . I was in Istanbul years ago and did the usual tourist sights. I remembered the Basilica's Medusa. IIRC, James Bond was once filmed there.