Nathan's Insights

World Traveller: 7 Continents, 90 Countries, 871 Days Overseas

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  • Flight Review – SQ208 Melbourne to Singapore

    Flight Path: Melbourne to Singapore

    Singapore Airlines
    Date: Saturday 29 April 2023
    Gate: 14A
    Seat: 12K (Business Class Seat | Window)
    Plane: B777-300ER
    Boarded: 18:14
    Pushback: 18:56 (Scheduled 18:25)
    Departed: 19:11
    Arrived: 00:17 (Scheduled 00:15)
    Scheduled Duration: 7 hour 50 minutes
    Distance: 6,025 kms

    This was the first leg of two flights on two different airplanes to get to my final destination in Istanbul, Türkiye. The next flight is Singapore to Istanbul after a scheduled 1 hour 50 minute stopover.

    This flight was from Tullamarine (Melbourne) Airport to Changi (Singapore) Airport.

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  • Lounge Review: Singapore Airlines SilverKris (Business Class) – Melbourne Airport

    When visited: 29 April 2023
    Time of day: Late Afternoon

    Rating: 3 / 5

    SUMMARY

    The Singapore Airlines SilverKris (Business Class) Lounge is an okay way to spend some time before a flight and especially good for a shower before your flight for hydration. It has an okay food and drink selection range. It’s not that big, and it feels a little outdated and, like most of the Business Lounges in this area of the Melbourne Airport, has no views or direct sunlight.

    If you can it is better to access Singapore Airlines’ Star Alliance partner lounge the Air New Zealand Koru (Business Class) Lounge instead which I found to be a gem.

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  • Lounge Review: Air New Zealand Koru (Business Class) – Melbourne Airport

    When visited: 29 April 2023
    Time of day: Late Afternoon

    Rating: 4 / 5

    SUMMARY

    A very nice modern and large Business Class Lounge that allows some limited views of the tarmac from the underside of the airplanes. Very pleasant staff and a good range of food (loved the ANZAC biscuits).

    I found this better than the Singapore Airlines SilverKris (Business Class) Melbourne Lounge that I visited later and where most travellers on Singapore Airlines would visit.

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  • T-12 Days: 2023 Central Asia and Türkiye World Trip

    It’s now less than 2 weeks before my 2023 Central Asia and Türkiye World Trip begins.

    I’ve recently completed my research into the 6 new countries I’m visiting, they are all unique with very ancient traditions to experience:

    The part of the world I’m visiting
    1. Türkiye (30.04.23 to 08.05.23 and returning 03.06.23 to 07.06.23),
    2. Kyrgyzstan (09.05.23 to 14.05.23),
    3. Kazakhstan (14.05.23 to 17.05.23),
    4. Tajikistan (18.05.23 to 20.05.23),
    5. Uzbekistan (21.05.23 to 29.05.23), and
    6. Turkmenistan (30.05.23 to 03.06.23)

    Flights all booked, long haul flights in business class (using points), hotels booked and paid, tours booked and paid, spending money almost saved (still need to exchange for some local currency).

    The trip is made up of Two G Adventures Tours:
    – Best of Turkey (8 days)
    – Five Stans of the Silk Road (26 days)

    Plus 5 days at the end of the trip in Istanbul to explore this ancient city on the edge of Asia and Europe.

    The last step is convincing some friends and family that I’m not putting my life in danger or at least these countries aren’t too dangerous!

  • World Trip 2023 – Flights Booked and Confirmed

    Flight map – Melbourne to Singapore to Istanbul to Bishkek, then Ashgabat to Istanbul to Singapore to Kuala Lumpur to Melbourne

    I now have all flights booked and confirmed for my upcoming 2023 Central Asia and Türkiye World Trip.

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