"In some ways, I think travel is about learning how to see, learning how to pay attention. It's an alarm clock in some ways, and it's a jumpstart to putting our senses on the setting where they're universally receptive. I think theoretically we could do that at our homes, and yet somehow, surrounded by familiarity and the routine we know too well, our eyes tend to close and we don't notice the things that are so wondrous for a visitor. But as soon as we physically start moving we awaken to the beauties around us."
--Pico Iyer
Comment by postmoderncritic
Postmodern Critic
Relativity Watch
Padsoc
I didn't enjoy the time it took to get to my destination from Narita, but the unusual flight plan's views was the biggest consolation.
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
You must have a powerful camera and a dedicated eye.
Enjoy your travels, they look amazing!!!
Tracy
Comment by Ash
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
Flying over at night wouldn`t be as beautiful - you would miss everything! I think my return trip is a night flight so maybe I will be able to catch some sleep instead.... yawn!
ugggg it takes so long to get from Australlia over to the UK... I'm sorry i didn`t go via Africa so I could have a stiop over for a few days.... maybe next time!
Ash
Comment by Ash
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
nah i was just using a little Pentax camera here, I was really surprised at how well they came out actually. It was beautiful!
Looking for that Galaxy now
Ash
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
Enjoy that Galaxy, Ash!!!
Comment by Ash
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
Comment by Kleonaptra
Kalikapsychosis
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
Comment by Ash
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
it was such a gorgeous flight it`s going to be boring being back on the plane and flying over all that gorgeous scenery in the dark this time!
Ash
Comment by Lilla
From The Home Front
Enviro Warrior
Dream Herald
Esoteric Bookshop
Finally a chance to catch up to you as I am back on-line, such a long boring story, willt ell you about it later.. but these? Oh these are sublime, devine, georgeous.... wow.
I flew over this place (tashkent) in the early 1990's but it was at night and I missed this, only catching a glimpse through blizzards and darkness... oh these are superb!
Brave on sharing them, thanks... I can see it now...
Lilla ...
Comment by Ash
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
Ys I was wasn`t looking forward to a day flight, but this was just incredible. The pilot told us on the way back it takes 7 hours to fly over this place and that`s 7 hours of scenery just like this. It really makes you wonder about the size of our planet I tell you!
Unfortunately on my return it was night so I also missed out on all of this so i was really happy I got to see it on the way over. Hopefully your next flight will be a day flight too!
Ash
Comment by Lilla
From The Home Front
Enviro Warrior
Dream Herald
Esoteric Bookshop
Again thanks so much for posting them.
L
Comment by Lilla
From The Home Front
Enviro Warrior
Dream Herald
Esoteric Bookshop
Comment by Ash
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
The flight home I was lucky enough to have clear skies and see the stars (several shooting stars too) and the sunrise from the plane?? Absolutely out of this world... those pictures will follow but don`t really do it justice. It lingered for so long and the formations of the clouds were incredible.
The banner pic was in Ireland... another wonderful place to visit.
Comment by postmoderncritic
Postmodern Critic
Relativity Watch
Padsoc
It's my second-last day in London now... it's been a very insightful six days!
Just to clear up - It was dusk when we flew over Siberia, so there was both natural light and artificial light below... it was really nice. 7 hour sunset, anyone?
Comment by Ash
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
I hope you got to see some of this beautiful scenery below? I was blown away by the 7 hours it took to fly over this place - that`s some barren part of the world.
How was London? I wasn`t very impressed by how busy and how dirty it has become.... and dangerous??? YIKES!!! The only place I really enjoyed was Greenwich with those green rolling lawns and impressive buildings. But even the Cutty Sark is all closed up.
I left from London Waterloo after the Tutankhamen exhibit ( I REALLY HOPE YOU MANAGED TO SEE THAT IT WAS THE MOST INCREDIBLE THING I HAVE EVER SEEENNNNN!!!!!) and could see the London Eye through the ceiling and was tempted to walk along the Thames and go and see Big Ben and whatever but I was SO OVER PEOPLE by that stage that I jumped on the first train and was outta there.
The tubes were packed, the streets were packed, everyone looked so grumpy and was rush, rush, rushing everywhere and I felt so hot and dirty after a few hours in the city I couldn`t wait to get out of there and back into the countryside where i was staying. Although, really, once you have seen Big Ben and the london Eye and Buckingham Palace a few times you don`t need to see them again!
Can`t wait to hear how your six days were spent - Amsterdam now? woo hoo that place rocks too... don`t forget to go to Anne Franks place and have a coffee and cake at 'The Grasshopper'
HAVE FUN GIRL!
Ash
Comment by Lilla
From The Home Front
Enviro Warrior
Dream Herald
Esoteric Bookshop
I picked it for Ireland... and Im off to visit there (on your posts) now...
I was getting the whole picture at first, but today (just now) only half... yet full again on the commenting screen?
So its all over the place as best I can tell, but I got to see them full size once and they will stay with me for a long time... as did the few night scenes I glimpsed through swirling, cold grey when we landed at tashkent ... now there is another interesting story, my word.. *chuckle* gosh travelling is fun.
See you on the flipside...
Lilla ...
Comment by postmoderncritic
Postmodern Critic
Relativity Watch
Padsoc
I might do the Tutankhamen exhibition when I return... I'm just about to leave for Paris!
What I did was: do a tour of the city on top a bus with one of those ubiquitous tour buses, see the Churchill Museum and War Cabinets, Westminster Abbey from the outside, Houses of Parliament & Big Ben from the outside, Buckingham Palace from the outside (in passing from a taxi, I'll admit - there were too many other things to do then ponder over the Queen's HQ for me!), Covent Garden, Trafalgar Square, the National Gallery, the British Museum, the Tate Modern, the Tate Britain, the Hayward Gallery, the Photographer's Gallery, Portobello Road Markets, and walk around the Kensington area... am planning to do the Tower of London when I come back, and am still building the rest of the itinerary... didn't get to see the London-New York telescope but what can you do, can you tell me a bit about the Tutankhamen exhibit so I have extra incentive to see it?
London is pretty dirty, and I felt a bit overwhelmed by the crowds at Portobello Rd Market and the underground but at other times it hasn't been as bad as I might have expected.
I have a very packed itinerary for Amsterdam too, including the Anne Frank house and Van Gogh Museum, but no Heineken Museum for me - I'm just not into alcohol...
Hope you're having a great day,
Epiphanie
Comment by Ash
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
I have so many from that flight and hope to get them printed soon - the patterns are just incredible I could talk about them for hours.
Travel is exciting that`s for sure.
Keep well
Ash xx
Comment by Ash
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
Sounds like you have done well with your time in London - I lived in England for two years and never got around to seeing what you did... amazing what one takes for granted hey?? Kensington is gorgeous... I`m convinced I`m going to meet a rich man and live in one of those apartments
OK the Tutankhamen exhibition?? It is mindblowing if you are into history, especially Egyptian history, which I`m a pushover for. It will take up quite a bit of your time because it`s at the O2 arena (or Millenium Dome) which is right on the other side of London and quite isolated, although Greenwich isn`t too far actually and there is a tube station which takes you right to the O2 (I think it`s on the Bakerloo Line) and you can get the 188 bus which will take you right to Greenwich.
There are 11 chambers filled with Egyptian artefacts including a chair which Tutankhamen used as a boy still with the original weaving on the seat. You are talking about things made over 3200 years ago which are still in tact. It`s excellently presented although you should spend the extra tenner and get the audio tour and the 3D movie with it.
It`s not only about Tutankhamen but also about Egyptian life during his time with a few others... their gods... well so much, I was in there for 3 hours just on the exhibit alone. Still to this day, even with all our modern 'knowledge' his death is a mystery (although they have a theory which I will let you find out if you get to see the exhibit). A boy king who was ruler when he was only nine and only ruled for ten years but is the greatest of the Egyptian pharoahs... ah it`s just amazing!!!
ahhhh Paris... lovely! I imagine you will absolutely love it there with all it`s postmodern architecture.... have a stroll down the Champs-Elysee and grab a coffee... to be seen of course! I recall being in Paris one day and needing the toilet at lunch time... ALL THE TOILETS SHUT between 1 and 2pm! I was in agony by the end of lunch
Sigh... I want to get back on the plane now!!!!! Have a blast. Thanks for coming back and sharing you are taking me on your adventure with you!
Travel safe
Ash xxx