Bluegreen Butterfly » airports

Amsterdam Airport Schiphol

bluegreen butterfly — Sun, 12 Dec 2010 02:05:32 +0000

A view outside of Europe’s 3rd largest airport, AMS, Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. It was very busy and huge, it took us several minutes to reach our meetup spot inside the airport. I took the picture while we were waiting outside the airport for our bus that would take the group to the hotel.

Holland landing view

bluegreen butterfly — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 19:32:57 +0000

A view of The Netherlands from our descending airplane Equipment 762. We had such a long almost 10 hour flight and it was a beautiful wet sight to wake up to, knowing we almost made it to our destination, safe so far, and finally about to land on Netherlands’ main international airport, the AMS, Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. Ah, no matter how smooth or turbulent the flight, the most important thing is that we all make a safe landing in every journey we take, right?

Turtle crossing

bluegreen butterfly — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 03:44:31 +0000

I remember the sign that says, “Pelican crossing”, but the other day what was crossing the highway was not a pelican nor a cow, but a turtle. I was delighted to see such adorable little creature creeping on the road, it was so cute to me, but at the same time, I was worried, you see, for sure we will not run him over, but others might. Of course we could never make a turtle transport itself faster by its own (it has been said that it was the turtle couple who last came in and went out of Noah’s ark), but I was so relieve while straining my spinal cord as I looked back at him making it across the other side of the road while there were no other vehicles coming. It was a success for him.

It was just one turtle, but can you imagine 78 turtles crawling onto the tarmac and eventually shut down an airport runway? Without considering the delays they innocently caused, the sightings must have been breathtaking, after all, it’s not everyday you see those kind of reptiles, 78 of them, make a crawling showdown.

George Bush Intercontinental airport

bluegreen butterfly — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 04:06:25 +0000

It was the same flight and schedule, traveling by reward and by early flight reservation, same flight route and same feeling: excitement and contentment because I was going home for a vacation. I had a good time waiting for the next flight leg from Houston. I was so glad I opted for my rolling carry on bag and placing my laptop on top, over the shoulder bag where I could put the notebook computer inside. I knew it would be very heavy on me with all my carry on items inside with all the walking and going to my designated terminal. Houston George Bush Intercontinental airport is the sixth largest airport in the world and the fourth in the United States.

Frontier trivia of the day:

By land mass, the biggest airport in the world is hosted by the oil-rich Saudi Arabia, the King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, which covers some 81 square miles, larger than some cities. This airport has four terminals, yet only three have ever been used. Denver International Airport takes 53 sq. miles.

tech and travels of lpw

Going back to the USA

admin — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 23:12:09 +0000

It would be a very long and exhausting days of traveling. But I am happy at least I am going back to hubby, though sad for leaving my family. My flight from Davao to Manila was good except that it was so early relative to my next flight to Guam. But it was okay to have layover for eight hours for I saved some with that and just spend some time in the airport. The advantage of being a Green Card holder is that a Filipino does not have to pay over a thousand peso travel tax, for if otherwise, I would have to change some currency to pay. I was so glad I was free. I was anxious a bit with security, because you see, I was bringing food items with me, boiled eggs, sandwich and spaghetti, that my sister and mother send with me so I could munch while waiting for departure. I was hailed and set aside for special inspection once in the three security level in Ninoy Aquino International airport in Manila. They have to tighten more, maybe because just recently an advisory was flagged against Philippine airlines’ safety. The food saved me though, but they were plenty that I still have them back to our house in the USA. Hubby checked me in through the internet and the elite airline access really helped me because of the baggage I was carrying.

Hafa Adai! Glad we made it safe to Guam. I enjoyed the experience when I went down to a wrong place, I was the first to go through immgration inspection and so I went out first. When I made it back, I was glad that security tolerated what I brought with me. Of course they were okay. It was a good trip, we just stopped there for few hours until Hawaii.

Aloha! The time we landed Hawii we have to pick our baggages up and check it through again with security and immigration. I will not lie, I had to declare what I was bringing with me so I was put into agricultural check. The thing with bringing my baggages was that, their heavier than me. It is really nice to have good people who care to assist. I made it through okay. Food is alright as long as there are no fresh meat, fruits, and other products. I was saved the eggs I carried in my bag were cooked.

Welcome to Houston. That time it felt so long a flight, and it really was, and I was hurrying up to catch an earlier flight to Alexandria, Louisiana. I did not make it in the 20 minute layover so I have to wait my own scheduled departure which was eight hours away! That was killing me! I was so sleepy during the time, poor me, I was so tired. Thank God my flight to Alexandria was on-time. I am back to the USA!

tech and travels of lpw

Civilian airplanes’ anti-missile system

admin — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 20:20:46 +0000

Hubby is a frequent traveler, and every time he travels, of course there is that extra concern for his and the whole aircraft’s boarders’ safety. But it seems we will have less worries soon, for up to three American Airlines jets will be outfitted this spring with laser technology being developed to protect planes from missiles fired by terrorists. The anti-missile technology was developed for military planes, and U.K.-based BAE Systems PLC said Friday it won a $29 million contract from the Department of Homeland Security to test it on passenger planes, but not on regular flights. The technology is intended to stop a missile attack by detecting heat from the rocket, then responding in a fraction of a second by firing a laser beam that jams the missile’s guidance system.

Fly Kingfisher

admin — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 02:57:18 +0000

We headed up early in the morning to the airport for Mumbai – Jaipur – Agra flight. We would be flying domestic and majority will be locals there. I know we would be safe it was just that kind of strange feeling I had for the moment. Our flight was delayed which is a part of the chain of late flights, but it was a comfort to be finally in the airplane flying to Jaipur. In my mind i was looking at the map of India and considering how big it is, we would have some hours flying up north. In countries like this one, security is of concern so they don’t allow photography in some airports, but we mistakenly took one in Jaipur when we arrived there around 1pm. The next flight to Agra will not take off till 3:00pm but again the flight was delayed for an hour, and the ground staff told us that the delay was due to air traffic congestion, as if we didn’t know better. We wait for another thirty minutes extension to the delay. Though I shouldn’t be surprised, it is still different when I think about the saying that goes in my place “gi-Indian, mostly late, or worse yet, will not show up“, seems the saying is based on real life.

Anyway, it was so much of a relief when the plane finally arrived. But what surprised us most was that hubby and I were the only passenger of that plane for the whole trip to Agra! It was hubby’s first time also to experience that; it was like we were on chartered plane, with people attending us. But in fairness, the service was great and they were very accommodating. Kingfisher airlines has just taken that route not long ago and for sure in the future they will have many passengers going there so they will not lose some in flying such a new and big plane with only one or two people.

Getting married in India

admin — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 06:12:56 +0000

I kept looking at my watch while in the plane. (Singapore and Philippines are in the same time zone, ie, they have the same time, no time difference). No use huh to keep looking, I couldn’t make the plane fly faster than 940 km/hr? But I was estimating the time for me to move to make it to the next flight.

The plane lands in Singapore Changi airport at 7:40 pm, plus still some minutes to enter the main building. I was one of the first ones to go out and I hurried out but just in the gate I saw my name in the placard being called for by the ground staffs. “Excuse me, that’s me.” To my utmost relief, a buggy car was waiting for me and someone was taking me to the farthest gate boarding Mumbai passengers. I was very glad. I was very thankful of the Silkair flight of their taking care of my travel adjustments. With the buggy car ride, I saved an overnight’s worth of time. We reached gate 60 just when they were starting to board passengers. And my baggage? I just had one and in Davao they were placing it in the best place also so they could pull it out easily in Singapore. The buggy car driver was helpful enough and he called other ground agents to see to it my baggage can make it in the plane. He told her in the other line that I was going to India to get married so my bag must make it. Unique huh? Well, I was going to Mumbai to be with the man I married, almost the same reason, but not quiet, but I just listened. He was just making initiative to help me. I was so glad. But it was not sure if my bag indeed made it so I will just report it if I don’t see in in Mumbai airport. “See you in India, bag,” trip there.

I called hubby telling him I made it, and he was so glad. Imagine if I could not make it? We have been away, well, just for six weeks only, hhmm. Just few minutes after I was inside the air craft it was taking off and in four and a half hours, I will be in India. Thank God.

Silkair was delayed

admin — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 05:56:21 +0000

I was comfortable when I bought my etickets because I had plenty of time, an hour and half to board for the connecting flight to Mumbai. But my first flight bound Singapore yesterday was delayed for an hour so, and that leaves me thread chance if I could make it, so tight squeeze there. So I told the agents on the check-in counter about that, and gladly, they took care of it, anyway, it’s not my fault to have missed the next flight. They placed me in the best seat and treat me like a VIP traveller, haha, I didn’t think it mattered if they let me board last as long as I go out first, but they let me in first. I felt spoiled. Darn, those people are very caring of their costumers! I did not regret Silkair was delayed. They promised that someone’s gonna take care of me in Singapore and if I would miss my flight, oh God please no, they would arrange for hotel for me to stay the night in, as they do with others. For me Singapore Changi is very big airport and if I will just walk and run, still.. Okay so I entrusted it to them. Imagine how worried we were, especially hubby, for me to extend another day? Oh well. Part of a travel experience I would not mind having, anyway, it was secured and safe.