Trip Reports - One World Explorer-based RTW : Unfolding trip report with pics

Greetings from SIN!

This is my first FT trip report and, since it's a very big trip by my standards, I'm doing it just a little bit differently. I've decided to create a trip website, as a kind of souvenir of the whole thing. You can find it here (http://www.rtwman.co.uk).

Don't expect an update every day. It will depend on being able to connect to the Internet and of course my first priority is to be out there enjoying myself http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif But it seems like a reasonable way to spend all that time sitting around airports and on planes ... oh, it's such a hard life http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

Should you find that you actually enjoy reading my reports, please consider signing my guestbook. A little encouragement will help me keep it going http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Best wishes to all

Gerry

wow - that's great! well done and have a good trip!

One word for you : WOW !!!

You have a very nice site, and it has encouraged me to do the same, when I do in fact make my trip around the world this coming May. I have read all that you have added to the site so far. You make me so jealous... LOL http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif.

I am very excited to see what you add in the future and see how all of your flights turn out.

Thanks for the hard work http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif.
JP

WOW!! This is absolutely amazing.. have a fully dedicated website to document this trip.... Well done...

I'm doing a RTW this fall, and would love to set one of these up... Is it hard to do?

Thanks for sharing

A+++

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Patrick A. Inouye, LMT
volunteer trip reports moderator

WOW! nice report. Look foward to reading all the upcoming stuff!

What an impressive site. I like your famous quotations in the introduction.
I anticipate much pleasure in the coming weeks while reading your diary and seeing your photos- even enjoy seeing the food and hotel pictures. May this voyage be all that you hoped it would be and take care!

Wow.. excellent site! I like how you've listed all the flights and hotels

Very cool indeed.

You obviously put a lot of work into your site and your trip. Thanks for sharing.

A great side http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/thumbsup.gif; I am looking forward to read the reports of the following flights

Astonishing!!

We'll have to have an Edinburgh night out to here about your adventures when you get home!

If there ever was a vote for a report of the year, the winner would have to do something quite special to beat this reports' forecasted result! Great stuff, keep it going!

I signed the guest book. I don't imagine you have a lot of time to imput the entries http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Top Class.

You know if you had a template of the site available (for fee or otherwise) many an FTer would jump on the idea and would love to follow your example.

Good work fella. You do know you've set a precedent for all up-coming trip reports, don't you?

Safe travels http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

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777Brit
AA Forum Moderator

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by NoWindowSeat:
If there ever was a vote for a report of the year, the winner would have to do something quite special to beat this reports' forecasted result! Great stuff, keep it going! </font>

I think GoldFlyer already has it won for "SYD to LHR on a plane". http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

Dave

Great work - what an inspiration!!!!

Excellent! I'm jealous ...
Try to remember to bump this thread when you update your site ...

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sftrvlr

[This message has been edited by sftrvlr (edited Mar 02, 2004).]

A great idea! I am curious now!

Have a nice trip !

-Tom

[This message has been edited by tomashi (edited Mar 04, 2004).]

Really enjoyed your site! Looking forward to the next installment.

Many thanks for all these +ve comments http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/thumbsup.gif

I am currently in the fabulous Wing lounge at HKG. I just checked my hit count and nearly passed out! Hoping to post the next instalment later today from Tokyo.

Had drinks & dinner with GK and Sean yesterday ... excellent night out http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/thumbsup.gif

Wow! Great username, great site, and - I feel confident - a great trip! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

I can't find the drinks menu....help, I'm thirsty.

Mother would say that anyone with that much time on his hands obviously needs to get them on me.

Impressive mate.

Thadocta,

My cheeks blush and they’ve not seen sunlight since I last went to Lady Jane Beach. Shocked as I was at the frontal display, I managed to quickly recover and discard my blow up sea horse, sunhat and parasol and blend in with all the other “natives”. Such an innocent name for a beach but my, my, nothing innocent about the inhabitants.

Excellent stuff...have a good flight!

The next instalment is now on-line, including CX flights SIN-HKG and HKG-NRT, with in-flight pics. Enjoy!

As this hotel has free internet access http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/thumbsup.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/thumbsup.gif, I may be able to do more frequent / smaller updates over the next couple of days http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by GoldFlyer:
Thadocta,

My cheeks blush and they’ve not seen sunlight since I last went to Lady Jane Beach. Shocked as I was at the frontal display, I managed to quickly recover and discard my blow up sea horse, sunhat and parasol and blend in with all the other “natives”. Such an innocent name for a beach but my, my, nothing innocent about the inhabitants. </font>

Pop across to the other side of the Harbour to Obelisk....

Dave

I'm really enjoying reading this report and especially the pictures. It is amazing, several of you shots are framed almost exactly as mine were when I was on my trip a couple months ago. Kudos for the website http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif Enjoy the rest of your journey.

Gene

I'm completely hooked!


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sftrvlr

Steady-EDI, that trainee FA on Flight 4 had the hots for you - why else would she make you a fresh cup unbidden! At least you drank it, otherwise she would have lost face

Now, I see you are in BNE this week. We could always organise a FT meet-up if you have the time.

Be careful not to tell too many people in Australia of your FT handle, we have a comedian who uses the stage name "Steady Eddie", so you might get some unusual looks.

Hi QF WP

I never even considered that possibility ... the Great Cappuccino Mystery explained at last???

I think our only real chance of a meet-up would be Wednesday 10th. If that flies for you (seems like an appropriate phrase!), feel free to drop me a line with some ideas http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Steady-EDI, all I need to do is post on the QF forum (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum39/HTML/002790.html) that you're in town (with link to this topic) and we'll see who can get-together.

Funnily enough, a meeting at the BNE Dom Qantas Club is probably the easiest for us all - most of the BNE contingent are QF Platinums (Willyroo, NM, IainF, me etc) so we can arrange a meeting room and get everybody in without the need for flying - see what our meeting are like here (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum39/HTML/002698.html) or here (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum39/HTML/002738.html)

Tell us where you are staying...

[This message has been edited by QF WP (edited Mar 05, 2004).]

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by QF WP:
Tell us where you are staying...</font>

Staying at the Holiday Inn, Roma Street. This sounds like it could be fun http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

RTWMAN- can I ask you about the A330 - I am flying in F from LAX to HKG with my wife next month, and we are on the A330 at the moment (row 2, middle)...
Do you think I should change to the 744 later flight? You sound as though the A330 really isn't as good as the 744?! Noise, traffic... What would you do?
The timing of the earlier flight is slightly better for me, but it doesn't really make a difference...
Thanks!

Truly one of the best trip reports of all time! Look forward to reading on a frequent basis.

WOW!

Now that has to be one of the most impressive and complete trip reports I could imagine. Keep up the great work!

Wow! Excellent site, thanks so much. Will do some of your flights myself in summer, hope they'll be equally good.

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truly yours. airOli.

I bookmarked your site as your reports are 1000 times better than CNN's Richard Quest's Economy RTW on-going competitor! I was surprised to see only two (2) pictures at the Holiday Inn Golden Mile...looked like a small bed. That hotel has renovated business rooms similar to Intercontinental Grand Stanford, but it also has its "non"-renovated rooms as well. Still a decent place to stay.

Loved the pictures of Tokyo's Metropolitan Ikebukuro and the description of the toilet is RIGHT ON!! That was a GREAT idea to do that!

Now that you have completed all your CX segments and CX lounges, it's Quantas, AA and BA. Oh no!!

BA Loyal,

It's only my opinion, of course, but I just don't think you can beat the 747. While the seats are exactly the same on the 333, I felt that they were closer together and that the constant moving about of crew and indeed pax was a nuisance. Not sure I'd go as far as to re-arrange my schedule, but the 747 is the better experience.

Hope this helps http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Steady-EDI, some developments on possible meetings in BNE (you arrive in 1hr 15 mins). Go to my topic in Qantas Forum (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum39/HTML/002790.html).

(edited to add UBB)

[This message has been edited by QF WP (edited Mar 09, 2004).]

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Steady-EDI:
BA Loyal,

It's only my opinion, of course, but I just don't think you can beat the 747. While the seats are exactly the same on the 333, I felt that they were closer together and that the constant moving about of crew and indeed pax was a nuisance. Not sure I'd go as far as to re-arrange my schedule, but the 747 is the better experience.

Hope this helps http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif </font>

THANKS!

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by BA Loyal:
RTWMAN- can I ask you about the A330 - I am flying in F from LAX to HKG with my wife next month, and we are on the A330 at the moment (row 2, middle)...
Do you think I should change to the 744 later flight? You sound as though the A330 really isn't as good as the 744?! Noise, traffic... What would you do?
The timing of the earlier flight is slightly better for me, but it doesn't really make a difference...
Thanks!

</font>

The CX LAX-HKG is a 340-600, not the 330. It doesn't really matter as both F cabins are the same, but I just wanted you to know. I would still pick the 744.

This report is definetly worth a
BUMP!

I was going to BUMP it as well! It's been a couple of days since the website was updated. What am I going to do without my daily fix?


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sftrvlr

Back on-line again after a short gap ... just uploaded about 3 days worth of stuff.

hi there!


i am not quite done reading your site..

but already my jaw has dropped down to...

Here..

well lower even! hehee..yikes!

your travelling itineries really are for me to envy. sigh.. how i wish to travel as much as you!


though i'm very happy that you are so lucky.

keep flying and do keep us posted. have book marked your site.

_starry-eyed

I just bookmarked your site !!!

This is really one of the best trip reports I have ever seen. Thank you !!!

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Steady-EDI:
Back on-line again after a short gap ... just uploaded about 3 days worth of stuff.</font>

Thank goodness! I was starting to worry ... my Friday is now complete. Keep up the good work!




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sftrvlr

Absolutely brilliant report! Yes, effectively, Air New Zealand's domestic flights have become 'low' (as opposed to 'no') frills operations. This took place in November 2002 when Air NZ lowered a lot of fares and simplified their inflight service. Apparently, the number of domestic passengers increased about 23 per cent in the year that followed, so their strategy seems to have paid off. Now that Qantas seems to be pulling out of a number of domestic routes (e.g. Dunedin-Christchurch, Hamilton-Wellington) Air NZ is likely to do even better, unless Pacific Blue swoops in later in the year.

Wow! I'm sure glad this was bumped, because I'm at a loss to figure how it fell through the cracks for me! Either way, great job on the report and the web site! Did you say this was your first Trip Report? You're a natural!

Okay, what is the answer for "write the first line of the Maori verse of the National Anthem?" I guess that is the NZ National Anthem, couldn't the question be about the All Blacks, instead? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif I can to Einstein and Pathagoreum without a book, but Maori?

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Cygnus X-1:
Okay, what is the answer for "write the first line of the Maori verse of the National Anthem?"</font>

Sorry ... he gave the answer, and even spelled it out, but I wasn't fast enough with the notebook! Maybe Waihi49 can oblige?

Currently in QF Club at CHC, bound for SYD ...

Excellent reading again today. Looking forward to Sydney ...


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sftrvlr

Ah, Sydney! My second favorite city in the entire world. I'm very jealous. I see you photo of the GPO building on Martin Place and it brings back memories of the Westin Sydney where I stayed last time. I had a gorgeous room in the new tower with a view of the clock. Enjoy Hawaii, and I'll see you next week in my favorite city in the entire world ...
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif


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sftrvlr

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Cygnus X-1:
Okay, what is the answer for "write the first line of the Maori verse of the National Anthem?" </font>

The answer is... "E Ihoa Atua"

Not sure about the spelling... I could sing the 1st line for you, but that doesn't work too well over cyberspace.

Outstanding.
Very informative & clearly arranged.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by LH738:
Outstanding.
Very informative & clearly arranged.</font>

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/thumbsup.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/thumbsup.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/thumbsup.gif

Awesome, better than my lazy work 3 months ago!

Great trip report. Nicely organized on a great website!!!

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Fantastic report. Thank you. Could you refresh my memory? Am I correct you went to Cairo as it was cheaper to buy a round the world ticket from Cairo? What was the fare vs. the regular fare?

What was the fare vs. the regular fare?

Thanks, Bretteee! My AONE4 (4-continent, 1st class One World Explorer) cost approx GBP3000 in CAI compared to approx GBP6500 (I think) in the UK. You need to remember that CAI prices were raised by about 40% in Feb, but as the EGP has depreciated further since last summer, it was still only costing GBP3400 the last time I looked. Despite the increase, CAI is still the cheapest option. Other places to look at include GIB, BKK and SIN (and others). For a full discussion, look at the oneworld forum.

For everyone else, I am off to my final destination (BGI) tomorrow. I don't know much about Barbados, but my instincts tell me that cost-effective Internet connectivity may not be a practical option. If that turns out to be correct, then faithful followers of the saga will have to wait until I'm home on Friday to get their final fix!

What a great trip report! I absolutely loved reading every part of it! Just out of curiosity why did you need to go to Egypt to ticket it and how much did this adventure cost?

As you're nearing the end of your trip now, I just wanted to add my congratulations and admiration to you for the best trip report I've ever read. It has made me almost feel that I've been on the trip with you! I'm now more determined than ever to do my own RTW trip, have already begun planning, but I'll not be allowed to take 6 weeks off work, so heaven knows when I'll manage to fit it in!!!

Thanks again

PhilH

Thank u for responding to my question. Great that they did not insist that one be an Egyptian resident.

As the round the world ticket originates in Cairo and ends in Cairo did you have to just buy a one way London to Cairo and not use the last round the world segment London to Cairo?

... did you have to just buy a one way London to Cairo and not use the last round the world segment London to Cairo?

I think lots of people do that with these cheap deals bought away from home. However I have every intention of using the final LHR-CAI segment. The whole OWE is nested inside an ordinary LHR-CAI return in W. Towards the end of May, I will be having a weeked in Egypt, going out F using my final OWE segment and returing W using the other half of the ticket that started it all last August.

Note that I have (already) genuinely satisfied the Saturday night stay restriction on the ordinary W ticket.

(Written in BGI lounge ... homeward bound!)

It is now! As predicted, I was out of contact while in Barbados. Now safely home, the trip over and feeing more jet-lagged than the rest of the trip put together. I really must allow myself to go to bed soon. Final instalments of the saga are now on-line.

In case anyone's wondering, I intend to keep the webspace and the site will be around in its current form for the foreseeable future. At some stage, I will probably want to do something similar again (I'm hooked on these RTWs!) and at that point a new front page / menu structure / whatever will be needed. But we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.

Good to have had you all along!

PS : If there are unanswered points / questions in this thread, I will try to get to them now that I'm back. Not tonight, though!

Glad your back home after a satifying trip. I secodn your thoughts on BGI. I was there two weeks ago flying out on American and I found it to be a mess. Clearing Immigration and security was chaos. After goign through the checkpoint and making it halfway down the hall, I was summonded back to the checkpoint for an additional bag check (which involved re-running it through the x-ray). Thing was, I didn't even rush to leave the checkpoint. I don't know why it took them so long to "catch" me.

As I had a long layover, I was very appreciative of the BA Lounge, which, as a Oneworld Sapphire, I was allowed to use with no resistance. Not the best lounge ever, but nicer than the departure concourse.

Finally ...
Thanks for taking us all along with you. And meeting up with some of us along the way. Looking forward to your next RTW jaunt.
Welcome home.

PS
The name of the church in one of your San Francisco photos is Saints Peter and Paul, in North Beach.

Great report! Please submit the food pictures to http://WWW.AIRLINEMEALS.NET when you have a chance.

Thanks for the explanation.

Steady -

I just want to thank you for a great read over the past few weeks...the layout (amazing), text, menus, photos...it was just above and beyond.

I was right there with you the entire trip and will one day do my own RTW but until then, I loved every minute of yours.

Cheers,

MWP

I thought it was about time I answered the questions and points that I've missed up to now. Here goes ...

... would love to set one of these up... Is it hard to do?
It's one of those things : not difficult if you know what you're doing :) You have two main issues to consider - development (how are you going to build and maintain your site?) and hosting (who is going to run it on the Internet for you?) I used Microsoft Frontpage for development and just chose one of the many available hosting packages (e.g. Easyspace, Oneandone, etc)

Other issues to think about are
- are you happy to lug a laptop around with you?
- are you happy with uploading photos from your digital camera to your laptop and re-sizing them so that they are suitable for web display?

All in all, it's quite a challenge to set yourself but extremely satisfying if you make it work.

You know if you had a template of the site available (for fee or otherwise) many an FTer would jump on the idea and would love to follow your example
This is a nice idea and, if it were practical, I would have no problem at all with my layouts being re-used, as long as an acknowledgement was made on the site.

However the reality is that everything I've done is only usable within MS Frontpage. You would have to buy this software and learn it. Having done that, you would soon find that you have no need for my ideas - you would be busy making up your own design!

Please submit the food pictures to http://WWW.AIRLINEMEALS.NET when you have a chance

Will do, but I have quite a backlog of other tasks to attend to first, so please
don't hold your breath :)

One last question. Does anyone think there would be any objection if I copy some of the comments in this thread into my guestbook, indicating that they were received via FT?

It looks like a true FTer's dream vacation. Great job on keeping us all abreast of your travels.

I've done one Oneworld Explorer before and look forward to the next! It's the best way to travel!