Friday 5 for November 16: Ice Is Forming on the Tips of My Wings

The following questions are from Scrivener's Friday 5 blog.

It's time to de-ice those wings before the plane crashes!



1. How do you feel about passengers riding in front of you reclining their seats?

I hate it. Some airlines have done away with reclining seats.

2. What single aspect of airplane flight do you dislike the most?

Top 10 things I dislike about airline flights.

1. Severe Turbulence (but in general turbulence)
2. Cost (ticket prices, bag fees, change fees, etc.)
3. Bad weather (rainy, windy, stormy, worst on night flights)
4. Weird people/person seated next to you
5. People who leave their window shade down
6. The seat in front of you reclined all the way back
7. Lack of legroom on some planes
8. Sharing the cabin with dogs
9. Crying screaming babies / unruly kids
10. Loud groups of people

Pre-flight: I hate long TSA lines, some airlines that require check in with a stupid app, malfunctioning kiosks, premium clubs, high prices

Post-flight: Lost bags, missed connection, and hopefully not - crash landing!

3. What was your longest flight on an airplane?

I rarely travel, but as I recall the longest flight for me was when I was much younger.. Pan Am Boeing 707 jet from Honolulu to Seattle.

4. What’s your favorite way to pass the time on a long flight?

1. Listen to music on my iPod or other portable device.
2. Listen to an audio book or podcast
3. Watch videos
4. Read book or magazine
5. Take photos from my window seat (prefer window)

I rarely do any of the above since most flights I take are well under 40 minutes long. Spend more time at the airport doing the above things.

5. What are the best and worst things you’ve eaten on a plane or in an airport?

Best thing eaten in an airport: Yummy Korean BBQ plate.
Best thing eaten on a plane: So long ago I can't remember.

Worst thing eaten in an airport: Nothing really bad, but the worst thing is the amount of money they charge for airport food! Ugh! Expensive!

Worst thing eaten on a plane:  While not worst, peanuts seem to reflect the frugality of the airline industry at least back in the day... now you just eat air! (re: nothing).

Friday 5 for May 11: Travel

From Scrivener's Friday 5 - Travel

 

1. If you could get on a plane tomorrow, where would you go for a week? Where would you go for a month?

 

 A week? - I would go to the Big Island of Hawaii - Hilo to Honokaa and places nearby. Fact is I will be there later this month.

 A month? - Big Island of Hawaii - Hilo to Honokaa and places nearby. I will be there again later this summer, fall and winter.

 2. Where do you want most to return to?

 

Big Island of Hawaii - Hilo, Honokaa, Waimea, Volcanoes National Park - Do I like the Big Island of Hawaii? Yes I do. My favorite place.

3. What was your most memorable meal or drink while traveling? 

I don't do any alcoholic beverages at all - so if it came to drinks.... well... soft drinks will do or simply water.



For most people who have lived or visited Honolulu (where I live), the most breathtaking view is from the top of Diamond Head crater looking out west to the rest of Honolulu. For me I like the view from the top of Tantalus since it is easier to get there (drive vs. hike) and grab the view shown above. Of course anything from the air is always breathtaking.... see photo below:

 

 In my travels - I almost never travel out of state. I live in "paradise" even thought taxes are high and the cost of living is very expensive.... That being said, here are some favorite images:

 

Volcanoes National Park on the Big island of Hawaii - Crater Rim Drive above. Below lehua blossoms.

 

 Hilo in the Keaukaha area:





Hilo near Rainbow Falls:



 The town of Honokaa, though I would not call it "breathtaking":



The island of Kauai:





I would also say a trip to Hana on the island of Maui and the sunrise at the top of Haleakala also on the island of Maui would be among my photos here... alas those were taken a long time ago with a 35mm SLR camera and I have never gotten around to scan them in. Perhaps a return trip to Maui is in store. The last time I went to that island was in late 2007 and I was only there for about an hour!


5. What’s the most touristy thing you’ve done? 

Went on a two week tour with a bunch of other tourists to the East and West Coast of the continental United States... this was a very long time ago when there were no cell phones, no digital cameras, no Macintosh computers, no internet, almost nothing that we take for granted today... but yes we had jet airplanes, cars, ships and trains. Hence I don't have any decent photos of that tour. I rarely travel out of state.

Someday perhaps a short cruise would be nice or another trip to the U.S. mainland may be in store.

All of the photos provided in this entry were taken by me.

Reply to the Other Friday 5

Starting with this post, I'll make an occasional reply to this Friday Five.



Summer Travel

1. Will or did you go on vacation this summer?

I was planning a trip back home to the Big Island of Hawaii in July but I got sick on the day I was supposed to go. With great financial penalty from the airline, I had to cancel my trip. Good thing because I got even more sick after the cancellation. This was in July. I have since fully recovered.

2. Where will/did you go?

Planning to take cancelled trip in October. I always go back to the Big Island of Hawaii at least once or twice a year.

3. What do you like about the place?

My childhood home, my parents and most of my relatives also live there.

4. What don't you like about the place?

Employment opportunities are less than they are in urban Honolulu, and access to major medical care is limited and very expensive because people have to spend big money to come to Honolulu for better care.

5. Where do you want to go next summer?

The Big Island again. I haven't gone out of the State of Hawaii since 1993. Too expensive to travel and I don't like the thought of being on a two engine jet traveling for more than 5 hours over 2,200+ miles of water. In the olden days jet aircraft had 3 or 4 engines. Built in safety redundancy. Sure, today's twinjets are certified through ETOPS regulations... but still... 3 is better than 2 and 4 is better than 3. Give me the days of the Boeing 747 again.

That all said, I live in Hawaii so if I take a day off or get the weekend off, just going to Waikiki or the beach could be a vacation.