On one of the internet booth thingies in Terminal 1 at London Heathrow waiting for my connecting flight up to Manchester from Geneva. Everyone looks dead unhealthy and the whole place is grey skies and dirty. Feels rank.
At least I'll get to see sunny skies up north though, and am looking forward to seeing me Ma when she picks me up from the airport. Funky stuff!
Better go, my flight's just being called...
Showing posts with label flight. Show all posts
Showing posts with label flight. Show all posts
Thursday, 23 August 2007
Thursday, 18 January 2007
Day = Night, Night = Day
It's a bugger is jetlag. Thought I'd cracked it when I fell deep asleep at 10pm yesterday night. Woke up and thought it was around 6-7am but oh no, now it's 2.17am and I'm bouncing off the frigging walls wiiiiide awake.
It's not all bad however, there's sport on Channel 5 (ice hockey) there's ginger beer in the fridge and frankly I've got loads to do getting ready to move. Pretty sweet.
According to the all knowing Wikipedia jet lag has a maximum effect of 12 hours and the rough equation for recovery is that you get a time zone back each day. Narg started out GMT +14 hours in New Zealand then got back 2 hours in Singapore (GMT +8) to get roughly the maximum 12 hour jetlag possible. Toolbar.
Of course there was virtually no suffering from jetlag flying out to New Zealand (GMT +14) and only a very minor amount going to Singapore (GMT +8). So why is it so totally screwed now? Not sure, only to say that on all the flights that I feel asleep on immediately on boarding the subsequent jetlag was exponentially more than those which I stayed awake playing Super Mario. Saving grace is that I claw an hour back heading out to France (GMT +1) while all this body clock synchro is happening.
Whilst digging around for info on jetlag, came across the widely-held opinion that symptoms of jetlag extend to various levels of insomnia and irrationality, nausea and dehydration and general irritability. Sweet - this sounds just like drinking. Maybe the trick to recover is to go get a beer in. Time to pop a cold one baby!
It's not all bad however, there's sport on Channel 5 (ice hockey) there's ginger beer in the fridge and frankly I've got loads to do getting ready to move. Pretty sweet.
According to the all knowing Wikipedia jet lag has a maximum effect of 12 hours and the rough equation for recovery is that you get a time zone back each day. Narg started out GMT +14 hours in New Zealand then got back 2 hours in Singapore (GMT +8) to get roughly the maximum 12 hour jetlag possible. Toolbar.
Of course there was virtually no suffering from jetlag flying out to New Zealand (GMT +14) and only a very minor amount going to Singapore (GMT +8). So why is it so totally screwed now? Not sure, only to say that on all the flights that I feel asleep on immediately on boarding the subsequent jetlag was exponentially more than those which I stayed awake playing Super Mario. Saving grace is that I claw an hour back heading out to France (GMT +1) while all this body clock synchro is happening.
Whilst digging around for info on jetlag, came across the widely-held opinion that symptoms of jetlag extend to various levels of insomnia and irrationality, nausea and dehydration and general irritability. Sweet - this sounds just like drinking. Maybe the trick to recover is to go get a beer in. Time to pop a cold one baby!
Wednesday, 17 January 2007
Singapore Fling
Clipped into Singapore from Auckland after sleeping almost the entire flight. Arrived at the airport to 25°C heat at 6am set to rise throughout the day. And rise it did. Hot, hot, hot. Humid, humid, humid. Tis rainy season and boy does it show. Beautiful place is SIngapore and staying in this amazing 5-star hotel called the Grand Hyatt. It's pretty special and Narg has his own executive suite - nice.
Singapore is very cool, only staying here for a couple of days before heading back to the UK then onwards to Chamonix. It's pretty cheap - got lunch with mum for $3, about £1. The city teems with business deals being forged and hums with financial intent. Lots of westerners too. There's an endless supply of prositutes here, something I never really expected. Apparently they satiate the sex-trade demand for the westerners. Narg Snr gave out tips and techniques on how to watch out for ladyboys - now THAT'S the kind of father-son advice that should be listened to, understood and then never forgotten. There are more than just loads of chinese working girls too - lots of Russian and Eastern Bloc ladies of negitable virtue floating around. It all makes one feel kind of uncomfortable going out on the beers. Mrs Narg Snr gave a small speech on STD's and lots of jokes - the family Narg is never short of conversation when dealing with personal content. Gotta love having parents who really are open and funny. Rocking baby.
So pretty much had a mooch around topping up the tan by the pool, adventuring around the city and going out for fantastic dinners in wine cellars, drinking and doing some brief clubbing. Hoping to get rid of some jetlag too.
Bumped into one of the boys I used to work with in Changi Airport on the way home (how random!!) and so stopped for a quick chat. I'm sure we both looked absolutely knackered after flying half-way round the world! Nice to have it happen though. So got on the plane and slept most of the way back to Manchester.
Nothing much of note happening now. Am sitting back at home feeling perpetually jetlagged and sleeping during the day and bouncing around awake at night. Hopefully all the jetlag will be gone in a few days. Spoke to Chris from Listingslab who's going to pick us up from Geneva Airport on Saturday (cheers mate!) ready to start the next chapter in The Life of Narg. Can't believe how excited and relaxed it feels to move and start a new life. As well as snowboarding of course!
Just got to get all this damn washing done now.
Singapore is very cool, only staying here for a couple of days before heading back to the UK then onwards to Chamonix. It's pretty cheap - got lunch with mum for $3, about £1. The city teems with business deals being forged and hums with financial intent. Lots of westerners too. There's an endless supply of prositutes here, something I never really expected. Apparently they satiate the sex-trade demand for the westerners. Narg Snr gave out tips and techniques on how to watch out for ladyboys - now THAT'S the kind of father-son advice that should be listened to, understood and then never forgotten. There are more than just loads of chinese working girls too - lots of Russian and Eastern Bloc ladies of negitable virtue floating around. It all makes one feel kind of uncomfortable going out on the beers. Mrs Narg Snr gave a small speech on STD's and lots of jokes - the family Narg is never short of conversation when dealing with personal content. Gotta love having parents who really are open and funny. Rocking baby.
So pretty much had a mooch around topping up the tan by the pool, adventuring around the city and going out for fantastic dinners in wine cellars, drinking and doing some brief clubbing. Hoping to get rid of some jetlag too.
Bumped into one of the boys I used to work with in Changi Airport on the way home (how random!!) and so stopped for a quick chat. I'm sure we both looked absolutely knackered after flying half-way round the world! Nice to have it happen though. So got on the plane and slept most of the way back to Manchester.
Nothing much of note happening now. Am sitting back at home feeling perpetually jetlagged and sleeping during the day and bouncing around awake at night. Hopefully all the jetlag will be gone in a few days. Spoke to Chris from Listingslab who's going to pick us up from Geneva Airport on Saturday (cheers mate!) ready to start the next chapter in The Life of Narg. Can't believe how excited and relaxed it feels to move and start a new life. As well as snowboarding of course!
Just got to get all this damn washing done now.
Saturday, 6 January 2007
Narg the Adventurer
So the peoples and peoplettes of the trip, both family and friends, decided before we came out that the last week be laid aside to spend as they wish. Some smaller groups and couples return back to previous places, others to see old friends living here, some are pondering the small oceanic jump to Fiji and others are choosing island hopping. Narg has decided to get back to his adventuristic roots by finding somewhere hot, beachy and rainforesty in order to while away the days surfing, reading books, and getting on the smokey treats.
After much deliberation and furrowing of brow, the flight back to north island has been booked as well as a place on the Magic Bus around the Coromandel Peninsula. I'm actually looking forward to spending a bit of quiet time by surfing and reading - just taking time to gather the thoughts before the move. Feeling big love for the future, people!
So mooching around Queenstown this morning, going to take a gondola up the mountain next to the town and watch people bungy from a platform built on the top. Who knows, I might even be persuaded to join in!
Queenstown urban bungy!
After much deliberation and furrowing of brow, the flight back to north island has been booked as well as a place on the Magic Bus around the Coromandel Peninsula. I'm actually looking forward to spending a bit of quiet time by surfing and reading - just taking time to gather the thoughts before the move. Feeling big love for the future, people!
So mooching around Queenstown this morning, going to take a gondola up the mountain next to the town and watch people bungy from a platform built on the top. Who knows, I might even be persuaded to join in!
Queenstown urban bungy!
Tuesday, 2 January 2007
From Waihi to Wanaka
In the continuing New Zealand adventure, yesterday has got to be one of the most incredible days that's ever happened to Narg. The long and short of it was I need to get from Waihi beach on the north island:
To Wanaka in the south island:
The plan was to drive to a place called Rotarua in the middle of the north island from Waihi Beach to grab a quick flight to Christchurch (south island) then change to a smaller plane to fly to Queenstown and drive to Wanaka. Simple eh?
I've been waking up around 7am here but yesterday I awoke at around 6.30am at Waihi to the sound of the swell thundering into the break a mere 30 feet from the beach house. Jumped out of bed faster then a flea having it's ass dipped in vinegar and promptly grabbed board, dove into the water and surfed a good while. A quick outside shower then sliding down a fresh fruit breakfast and jumping into the car to the airport rapdily followed. Rotarua is beautiful - this big volcanic crater containing the lake with the smell of sulphur and hotsprings everywhere. Real "Planet Earth" stuff. Taking off from the tiny airport there and looking down on the lake was incredible. The lush vegetation and thousands of these huge ferns called ponga trees making it feel like you were lifting out of a tropical rainforest.
Ponga tree fern.
My board shorts were still wet jumping onto the plane and I still hadn't sorted out any footwear - tis very liberating travelling in bare feet =) A brief touchdown in Christchurch then onto Queenstown in the smallest passenger plane I've flown on. Narg struck gold in the seating arrangments too. Ended up sitting next to this gorgeous half maori girl with the most beautiful dark skin and brown eyes. She was hugely chatty and we spent the entire flight laughing away and working out on the map the names of the majestic snowy peaks slicing their heads through the clouds. We even saw Aoraki (it's the Maori name for Mount Cook - the highest mountain in NZ - its name literally translates as "Cloud Piercer") very cool.
We were struck dumb when the plane dropped between the mountains into the valley to land at Queenstown though. It really takes your breath away. These huge, craggy peaks misted at the top towering aggressively over the tiny plane banking it's way through the giant folds of land. The plane dropped down to land at the small airfield and there was a palpable sense of excitement in the air from all on board.
Queenstown airport with the lake in the background.
I said goodbye to my travelling companion then waited for a while in the middle of mountains until some of the rest of the group pitched up on a later flight. Blue skies, snowy peaks, hotter than satan's crotch - no problem guys, take your time! Arrive they did though and we jumped into the hire car and crossed the Crown Range Road to drop down into the spectacular Wanaka sitting by the side of the lake shown further above.
Crown Range road.
So we stayed over in our wooden chalet by the beach, drinking the local white wine that was grown in the vineyard owned by a friend of my brother-in-law before crashing out. Ended up sleeping with a blanket to fight off the unwanted advances of an inquisitive mosquito.
Today's a new day and a beautiful one. The mountains rise up on all sides encompassing and hugging and feeding this warm glacial lake, the sun is shining and the small town has a strong, quiet energy to it unlike anything I've ever felt. Glaciers fork their iced tongues down the side of sun baked rocky outcrops in the distance. Trees of every shape, colour and variety imaginable cling to the shores leaning their branches to the blue water as if using their delicate leaves as fishing lures. The people are warm and friendly and generous. There's a sense of peaceful vitality and I'm looking forward to spending the day relaxing and getting ready to continue travelling.
It will be a shame to have to leave this place.
To Wanaka in the south island:
The plan was to drive to a place called Rotarua in the middle of the north island from Waihi Beach to grab a quick flight to Christchurch (south island) then change to a smaller plane to fly to Queenstown and drive to Wanaka. Simple eh?
I've been waking up around 7am here but yesterday I awoke at around 6.30am at Waihi to the sound of the swell thundering into the break a mere 30 feet from the beach house. Jumped out of bed faster then a flea having it's ass dipped in vinegar and promptly grabbed board, dove into the water and surfed a good while. A quick outside shower then sliding down a fresh fruit breakfast and jumping into the car to the airport rapdily followed. Rotarua is beautiful - this big volcanic crater containing the lake with the smell of sulphur and hotsprings everywhere. Real "Planet Earth" stuff. Taking off from the tiny airport there and looking down on the lake was incredible. The lush vegetation and thousands of these huge ferns called ponga trees making it feel like you were lifting out of a tropical rainforest.
Ponga tree fern.
My board shorts were still wet jumping onto the plane and I still hadn't sorted out any footwear - tis very liberating travelling in bare feet =) A brief touchdown in Christchurch then onto Queenstown in the smallest passenger plane I've flown on. Narg struck gold in the seating arrangments too. Ended up sitting next to this gorgeous half maori girl with the most beautiful dark skin and brown eyes. She was hugely chatty and we spent the entire flight laughing away and working out on the map the names of the majestic snowy peaks slicing their heads through the clouds. We even saw Aoraki (it's the Maori name for Mount Cook - the highest mountain in NZ - its name literally translates as "Cloud Piercer") very cool.
We were struck dumb when the plane dropped between the mountains into the valley to land at Queenstown though. It really takes your breath away. These huge, craggy peaks misted at the top towering aggressively over the tiny plane banking it's way through the giant folds of land. The plane dropped down to land at the small airfield and there was a palpable sense of excitement in the air from all on board.
Queenstown airport with the lake in the background.
I said goodbye to my travelling companion then waited for a while in the middle of mountains until some of the rest of the group pitched up on a later flight. Blue skies, snowy peaks, hotter than satan's crotch - no problem guys, take your time! Arrive they did though and we jumped into the hire car and crossed the Crown Range Road to drop down into the spectacular Wanaka sitting by the side of the lake shown further above.
Crown Range road.
So we stayed over in our wooden chalet by the beach, drinking the local white wine that was grown in the vineyard owned by a friend of my brother-in-law before crashing out. Ended up sleeping with a blanket to fight off the unwanted advances of an inquisitive mosquito.
Today's a new day and a beautiful one. The mountains rise up on all sides encompassing and hugging and feeding this warm glacial lake, the sun is shining and the small town has a strong, quiet energy to it unlike anything I've ever felt. Glaciers fork their iced tongues down the side of sun baked rocky outcrops in the distance. Trees of every shape, colour and variety imaginable cling to the shores leaning their branches to the blue water as if using their delicate leaves as fishing lures. The people are warm and friendly and generous. There's a sense of peaceful vitality and I'm looking forward to spending the day relaxing and getting ready to continue travelling.
It will be a shame to have to leave this place.
Saturday, 30 December 2006
Flying to Auckland
Backdated to 24th December
This totally rules. Flown Manchester --> Singapore then Singapore --> Auckland. Just spent 24 hours on a plane playing Super Mario Bros, who wants to be a millionaire, watching videos and being served bloody mary's by staggeringly attractive stewardesses whilst sitting in an arm chair. Talk about heaven. Only problem was that I spent 8 hours getting to level 16 on Super Mario Bros then changed planes in Singapore. Fuckers. Still, undaunted carried on and then spent a further 5 hours getting back to the same place in the game on the new plane. Yeah baby, 1-0 to the Narg for having too much time on his hands!
Stayed over in Ackland for the night, driving to Mount Maunganui tomorrow. Weather is awesome. Fried lizard on the menu is a little weird though.
This totally rules. Flown Manchester --> Singapore then Singapore --> Auckland. Just spent 24 hours on a plane playing Super Mario Bros, who wants to be a millionaire, watching videos and being served bloody mary's by staggeringly attractive stewardesses whilst sitting in an arm chair. Talk about heaven. Only problem was that I spent 8 hours getting to level 16 on Super Mario Bros then changed planes in Singapore. Fuckers. Still, undaunted carried on and then spent a further 5 hours getting back to the same place in the game on the new plane. Yeah baby, 1-0 to the Narg for having too much time on his hands!
Stayed over in Ackland for the night, driving to Mount Maunganui tomorrow. Weather is awesome. Fried lizard on the menu is a little weird though.
Friday, 22 December 2006
Packing
Packing today ready to fly tomorrow. It really sucks to choose what not to take. I'm contemplating just travelling across there with a wallet and a smile and just buying stuff appropriate whatever day it is then giving the previous day's clothes to charity. Funky idea.
Flying Singapore Airlines and heard you get the old tv screen in the back of headrest of the chair in front. Sweet. If I could get a few smokey treats on the go and watch Blazing Saddles, Get Shorty, Star Wars, etc going across Asia and the Pacific Ocean - well it would be a bit like flying in the comfort of my own living room.
Only a short post today. Bit busy. Will try and post again later =)
Flying Singapore Airlines and heard you get the old tv screen in the back of headrest of the chair in front. Sweet. If I could get a few smokey treats on the go and watch Blazing Saddles, Get Shorty, Star Wars, etc going across Asia and the Pacific Ocean - well it would be a bit like flying in the comfort of my own living room.
Only a short post today. Bit busy. Will try and post again later =)
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