sellouts

SHF, did you change the end of the trip from AKL-HKG to SYD-HKG or am I thinking of another TR (or going crazy)?

Short hair Francis

Hi sellouts, sorry that wasn't me, never been to Kiwi yet.
I would've updated my flight details on the intro page likewise if I did, must be thinking of another TR.

Short hair Francis

Part 24 – The Zig Zag Way of flying in Southeast Asia, DPS – BKK – SIN – RGN


Time to Reposition again to my focus-city, Rangoon! This time, myself, jfkeze were join by 2 more friends, let’s call them FlyingNynaeve and Ms. Mangosteen. Jfkeze planned a 4 day trip in Burma, the front and back days in Rangoon and the middle 2 days in Bagan.
Of course, I actually need to get to Burma first hand to start the next stop of my 2nd Around the World trip and comes this crazy routing.
Sometime you wonder how airline draw up routing rules.


Jun 27, 2013 – Thursday
TG 432 DPS – BKK 4:20pm – 7:30pm (773/J)
SQ 981 BKK – SIN 9:00pm – 12:20am(+1)[Jun 28] (772/J)
Jun 28, 2013 – Friday
SQ 998 SIN – RGN 7:55am – 9:25am (772/J)

I arrived back at Denpasar Bali airport at 2:20pm and not a moment too soon as the skies soon opened up.

Part of travelling in the Summer Monsoon Season




The New Denpasar Bali Ngurah Rai Airport under construction


Thai Airways Business Class Check-In


Looks like a HKG mall from the 70’s


Thai contracts for the Dewa Executive Lounge in DPS






The flight was supposed to be operated by a Thai 772 but got changed last minute to a 773, guess the seat won’t be quite as flat nor as wide in this case.

Thai Airways International Boeing 777-300



*29th flight, 76383 Miles flown since Apr 28
Thai Airways International 432
Denpasar Bali to Bangkok Suvarnabhumi
Scheduled – 4:20pm – 7:30pm, 4 hr 10 mins flight
Actual Departure – 4:07pm
On Time Arrival – 7:17pm
Business Class, Seat 11B
Food – Dinner
Equipment – Boeing 777-300




I arrived at 3:55pm and boarding had already commenced.

Thai Airways International Boeing 777-300 Business Class Cabin




Thai Airways International Boeing 777-300 Business Class Seat





Part 24 Continues Below

Short hair Francis

Pre-Departure Beverage and Hot Towel


Door were closed early at 4:07 and pushback 10 Minutes later



Plane are not for 1 Time Use only


Finally airborne at 4:30pm





Flight time to Bangkok Suvarnabhumi was 3 Hour 47 Minutes




TG 432 Dinner

Hot Savoury
Shrimp Siew-Mai

Appetizer
Smoked Salmon, Beef Roll Teriyaki, Chicken with Dry Fruits, Asparagus Tip

Salad
Mixed Green Salad with Thousand Island Dressing

Main Course
Braised Beef Rib
Buttered Noodles, Buttered Broccoli, Carrot

Grilled Prawn with Ginger Sauce
Fried Rice with Spring Onion, Vegetables

Braised Chicken Rujak
Steamed Rice, Sauteed Carrot, Kailan

Grilled Dory Fish with Citrus Honey Sauce
Potatoes with Sauteed Onion, Oriental Vegetables

Assorted Breads, Butter,
Assorted Cheeses/Fresh Fruit

Desssert
Crčme Brulee

Tea, Coffee, Espresso, Cappuccino


Starter Drink


Hot Savoury


Appetizer Tray


Appetizer, Smoked Salmon, Beef Roll Teriyaki, Chicken with Dry Fruits, Asparagus Tip


Salad


Main Course, Grilled Prawn with Ginger Sauce



Part 24 Continues Below

Short hair Francis

Yet more drinks


Cheese and Fruit Cart


Fruit Selection


Dessert, Crčme Brulee


Green Tea to end the service, and time to read a book


Meal took about 1 hour 15 Minute then time for some pleasure reading

Just seeing Singapore, back tonight


T-Storms Cloud over Malaysia


Sunset over the Gulf of Thailand


And around 6:45pm, we made our descent into Bangkok


What is gate 202, not another outer bay



TG 432 landed at 7:15pm, and my TV automatically popped up upon landing


It took 10 Minutes taxiing to the very faraway outer bay spot



I decided to go back outside to get the actual Singapore Airlines check-in, just in case the Burmese visa info didn’t pass through


From the landing to back outside to the curb back to airside, it took me close to 8:15pm and I ducked inside the Thai Airways Concourse C Royal Silk Lounge





*30th flight, 77739 Miles flown since Apr 28
Singapore Airlines 981
Bangkok Suvarnabhumi to Singapore Changi
Scheduled – 9:00pm – 12:20am(+1)[Jun 28], 2 hr 30 min flight
Actual Departure – 8:58pm
On Time Arrival – 0:12am(+1)
Business Class, Seat 15A
Food – Dinner
Equipment – Boeing 777-200 (30J/293Y Non-Refurbished Regional)




Boarding started slightly late at 8:35pm but flight wasn’t very full.


Part 24 Continues Below

Short hair Francis

My original seat was 15C, at check-in they reported the TV in 15C wasn’t operable, so I slide over to 15A, another 2 seater combo


Pre-Departure Beverage


Door closed at 8:58pm and pushback soon after

1 Hour 50 Minutes to Singapore tonight


After 3 plane wait, it was our turn, bye bye Bangkok




SQ 981 Dinner

Prelude
Thai Style Assorted Seafood Salad

Main Course
Chicken in Tarragon Vinegar Sauce with Vegetables and Raisin-Basmati Rice

Kra Pau Moo
Thai Style Pork with Fresh Basil, Vegetable Omelette, and Steamed Rice

Steamed Fish Fillet with Tomato Sauce, Seasonal Vegetables and Buttered Parsley Potatoes

Finale
Haagan Dazs Ice Cream
Gourmet Coffees & Selection of Fine Teas


Starter Drink


Tray Service Dinner


Appetizer, Thai Style Assorted Seafood Salad


Main Course, Chicken in Tarragon Vinegar Sauce with Vegetables and Raisin-Basmati Rice


Dessert


Meal finished up in 30 Minutes leaving about 1 hour left for sleeping.

Coming into Singapore


We landed on schedule but sadly on the far end of Concourse F, which took another 10 minutes to walk back.

I went for another Singapore Changi Airport hotel this time around



Checked in around 12:30am, wake up call for 6:10am, perfect
Shower, Check-Out, breakfast at the lounge, day is going smooth…

Singapore Airlines Boeing 777-200



*31st flight, 78935 Miles flown since Apr 28
Singapore Airlines 998
Singapore Changi to Rangoon
Scheduled – 7:55am – 9:20am, 2 hr 55 min flight
Actual Departure – 7:49am
On Time Arrival – 9:17am
Business Class, Seat 15C
Food – Breakfast
Equipment – Boeing 777-200 (30J/255Y Non-Refurbished Long Haul)




I’ve caught the spacebed version this time around flying to Rangoon, usually its on the old regional 2 class planes and boarding began at 7:20am.

Singapore Airlines Boeing 777-200 Business Class “Spacebed” Cabin



Singapore Airlines Boeing 777-200 Business Class “Spacebed” Seat




Part 24 Continues Below

Short hair Francis

Pre-Departure Beverage

*I originally asked for a glass of water and offered a bottle, nice

Business Class cabin was empty, 6/30 was the load factor for SIN – RGN, RGN – SIN was supposed to be full house according to the flight attendant. Door closed at 7:49am, off for another trip to Rangoon, the home away from home

Soon off to Retirement, Singapore Airlines Airbus 340-500


Flight time to Rangoon this morning was 2 Hours 35 Minutes, one of my longer times on this route



SQ 998 Breakfast

Prelude
A Choice of Apple, Tomato or Freshly Squeezed Orange Juice

Sliced Fresh Fruit

Main
Nasi Uduk
Pandan Flavored Coconut Rice with Fried Fish, Spicy Chicken drumsticks, Omelette

Braised Pork with Dried Chestnuts, Leafy Greens, Carrots, Mushrooms, and Fried Noodles

Baked Eggs with Chicken Sausage, Baked Beans, Mushrooms and Potatoes

Breads
Assorted Breakfast Rolls
Butter – Fruit Preserves

Beverages
Gourmet Coffees & Selection of Fine Teas


Tray Service Breakfast


Fruit Bowl


Main Course, Braised Pork with Dried Chestnuts, Leafy Greens, Carrots, Mushrooms, and Fried Noodles


Meal was unspectacular, but it gets me to Rangoon. I took some extra sleep not knowing how crazy the next 4 days in Burma will be and around 8:50am Rangoon time, we made our descent.

Danger of travelling to a place during the Monsoon season, it’s flooded





I’ll see you tomorrow, Air Bagan



Part 24 Continues Below

Short hair Francis

Can we get escort service?



I’ve been coming here too often


SQ 998 finally parked at 9:17am, according to plan, my travelling partners should already be in Rangoon, wonder what this latest chapter in Burma might bring?


Next Part
Part 25 – The Circular Train Loop around Rangoon, plus Afternoon Tea @ The Strand


PS. I apologize for any slight delays in getting the next couple parts about Burma up, let's say SHF went "Temple Overload"
It will be a very good section though

Short hair Francis

Part 25 – The Circular Train Loop around Rangoon, plus Afternoon Tea @ The Strand


I lucked out this time as paxs from the 9am TG flight have all cleared immigration so no line-ups this time around.


I was the last of the 3 flights our group took in getting to Rangoon, FlyingNynaeve and Ms. Mangosteen took an early Thai AirAsia flight from DMK that came in at 8am, jfkeze came via the TG flight that was ahead of me, then finally my SQ flight.

With the entire group good to go, we took a taxi to our hotel.
I would love to thank jfkeze for organizing the entire 4 days in Burma, he really made everything in the next couple of parts possible.

We are playing with fate, otherwise known as the Summer Monsoon

*Skies open up for about a half hour while we were making our way to the hotel

Thamada Hotel, 65 bucks a night split between 2 people



*Air Cond was good, too good, we need to pay the 50 cents extra for blankets, has hot water, bed were a bit suspect, they had wheels on the bottom.

As the ladies haven’t ate and we were planning to take the 3 Hour Long Circular train, we had lunch on Sule Pagoda Road


Time for Burmese humor, Safety First!



And at 11:45am we made our way to Rangoon Central






Just around noon, the train came right on schedule




The train is a good local experience provided you bring an adequate amount of water, a good amount of mosquito spray, maybe some reading material and just enjoying how everyday life works in Rangoon.







Part 25 Continues Below

Short hair Francis

Snack service for those brave enough


Passing near the airport now


Scrapyard














Part 25 Continues Below

Short hair Francis

*For anyone else that wants to do the train ride, beware when the ladies bring the bushels of vegetables into the train, lots of flies and mosquitoes follow







The Nouvelle Riche of Rangoon


*Gated communities and satellite dishes

We’re under the Runway approaches


Good luck trying to figure this schedule


And after 3 hours of the train ride, we were exhausted with the high humidity, we immediately went back to the hotel for some air conditioning respite.


Just after 4pm, we made our way to The Strand for the famous Afternoon Tea

Strand Hotel



We may not want to spend 300 bucks for a hotel room, but 17 bucks for High Tea, sure


Part 25 Continues Below

Short hair Francis

Afternoon Tea at The Strand





We went for 2 Myanmar High Tea and 2 Classic Afternoon Tea for snacks to try everything out.

For myself, I went with the Shan State tea which is also a type of green tea





Pictures first prior to the Food


Classic Afternoon Tea Set




Myanmar High Tea Set





By far one of the best meal we had in Burma and tea was REALLY good, and glad to have done it for the experience for sure.

With about 2 hours at the Strand, we walked the next stretch to the Botatatung Pagoda

Well if things go south then find me there, God Save the Queen, British Embassy


Jfkeze’s favorite newpaper, “The New Light of Myanmar” now printing in color



Part 25 Continues Below

Short hair Francis

Botatatung Pagoda








After Botatatung Pagoda, we took a taxi back to Sula Pagoda for yet more temples then finally headed back to the Hotel Thamada.

The middle of the Traffic Circle is the best place to fix a car


It’s a nice breeze on the walk back, Ms. Mangosteen replied, what breeze!
We spoke too soon as the Skies completely opened up and pouring cats and dogs again.
After this, on our trip we called this the “Wind of Death”

Back to the hotel by 8:45pm, and waking up at another ungodly hour for the Bagan flight…


Next Part
Part 26 – An Oversaturation of Pagoda-ing in Bagan, Burma

SFO777

OK, now I'm sorry I didn't pop into The Strand. That afternoon tea looks amazing and all for $17! Maybe on my next visit.
Keep up the mind-boggling flights, food, drink and sights. ^

Short hair Francis

Ha SFO777, That's why when we did it, I've passed it along you should've done it prior to the party flight
A great deal for us at 17 bucks, a huge fortune for locals

I'm not 100% discounting the next visit, but in the meanwhile, we better let LX support the Canadian Economy some more first
Now that would be another worthy TR, High Tea, SQ Suites & LX First

Will do, wonder if it was so mind-boggling no one bothers to comment anymore