Nathan's Insights

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

Arzu’s Amazing Concert

February 20, 2017

A very good friend of mine, Arzu Yuvarlak, on Sunday 19 February held and performed Turkish Classical Music Fundraising Concert at the Australian Turkish Thrace Association in Melbourne.

Arzu was fundraising so she could continue her studies at RMIT University while awaiting a final decision on her visa status.

Arzu is currently seeking asylum in Australia and until very recently has been living here with no Government financial support for almost 5 years. Late last year the Australian Red Cross started supporting her health needs and in January 2017 the Australian Government started providing a small fortnightly amount for Arzu to attempt to live on.

While I can’t go fully into Arzu’s case history given the Department of Immigration is still considering her application, I can say she was born on the border with Syria and faced significant and serious issues back in Turkey.

Like everyone in this situation having to give up everything and being placed in a limbo status for years on end is never an easy decision and usually highlights a difficult if not desperate situation for someone in an ethic minority group. As an asylum seeker Arzu has no right to work in Australia and earn an income.

Despite this she has contributed to our community by implementing a free music education program to school children. Arzu is a talented musician, which I got to see up close during this amazing concert. It’s a privilege to work with and support someone so talented.

Arzu has survived so far by having the local Arts and Turkish community and her friends support her including assisting with accommodation and living expenses.

Your Help is appreciated While the concert is over her fundraising page is still available and for people in Australia you can also directly transfer money to a bank account operated on Arzu’s behalf (Name: Arzu Yuvarlak BSB: 944300 Account Number: 011777125).

I hope you can support Arzu or others like her struggling to shine in a world with Governments that increasingly condemn those that have to flee dangerous situations.

Arzu’s Story
Lounge Review – QANTAS Melbourne Domestic Business Lounge

February 17, 2017

When visited: February 2017
Time of day: Morning
Rating: 4.5 / 5

Access Rules
– You need to be departing on a QANTAS flight in Business Class on the day you access the lounge (not after the flight).
– You are QANTAS Platinum or a Oneworld Emerald status member and departing on a QANTAS flight or codeshare on the day you access the lounge (I accessed as Platinum member flying in economy to Sydney).

Access to the QANTAS Club Lounge

Access to the QANTAS Business Lounge (inside QANTAS Club)

Lounge Location
The QANTAS Melbourne Domestic Business Lounge is located in Terminal 1. After clearing security you turn left and will find the entrance to the QANTAS Club Lounge. After entering the QANTAS Club Lounge you walk to the end of the lounge area and there will be a door to the QANTAS Business Lounge.

Lounge Area
The QANTAS Business Lounge area is larger than it first appears with many small hidden seating areas. The food serving and bar area has a more formal bench area with napkins and cutlery set out, the rest of the lounge is less formal. There is an area to look out at the tarmac and the planes.

Food
I was at the lounge during breakfast time. There was scrambled eggs, toast, an area to make sandwiches, fresh fruit, a machine to make pancakes and a couple of cakes and pastries / bread based products. More than enough and better than the plane even on short business class flights, definitely better than economy class offerings.

Drinks
Various juices, soft drink, a blender to make your own vegetable smoothie, coffee, tea and water. The bar for alcohol doesn’t open until noon.

Facilities and Services
The are several showers (no need to book), toilets, areas to watch TV (on cable news channel), computer area with printers and photocopiers, multiple tea / coffee stations and charging stations for most different cable connections. There are also some available power outlets to plug in your laptop or other equipment. Free Wi-Fi is offered. There are various free newspapers you can take away and magazines (which you should leave in the lounge).

What’s Good
A more exclusive place than the QANTAS Club Lounge while it still gets a lot of people it’s not as rushed or a push for space. The food is excellent for breakfast and the computer areas lets you print up last minute documents.

What’s Not So Good
The QANTAS Business Class Lounge is located at the furthest point from the entry to the QANTAS Lounge making it an even longer distance to the gates. Make sure you leave before they call the flight for boarding.

Summary
Really worth the visit if you are flying business class on QANTAS or hold the right membership level. There is no charge for food or drinks nor is tipping expected (or anywhere really in Australia). This is pretty much the best domestic lounge I’ve visited anywhere in the world (obviously there are many better International Lounges).

Airport Lounge Review, Business Lounge, Melbourne Lounge, Qantas
World Trip 2012-13: Flight Journal

February 13, 2017

Back in 2012 I undertook an amazing trip which saw my on 24 flights with 10 airlines across 17 legs which was 76,155 km in the air or 114 hours 45 minutes I visited 19 countries over 139 days. Countries (in order): Singapore; Malaysia; Thailand; Germany; England; Spain; Iceland; Chile; Argentina; Antarctica; USA; Mexico; Cuba; Belize; Guatemala; Honduras; Nicaragua; Costa Rica; and Panama. (more…)
The Joy of International flying: Africa Edition

February 10, 2017

Now that I have my flights booked I wanted to work out how long (distance and time) I’ll be in the air – it’s the nerd in me 🙂 This trip I’ll actually be enjoying First Class and Business Class treatment which is strange when you consider I’ll be camping a lot in Africa!

Leg 1 Africa
6,025 km Melbourne (MEL) to Singapore (SIN) – 7 hours 45 minutes (Emirates A380 1st class Seat 2A)
Transit time: 1 hour 45 minutes
5,846 km Singapore (SIN) to Dubai (DXB) – 7 hours 35 minutes(Emirates A380 1st Class Seat 2A)
Transit time: 11 hours 40 minutes
3,548 km Dubai (DXB) to Nairobi (NBO) – 5 hours 10 minutes (Emirates B777-300ER 1st Class Seat 1K)
15,420 km Total

Leg 2 Australia
1,271 km Cape Town (CPT) to Johannesburg (JNB) – 2 hours 10 minutes (Comair B737 Business Seat 1F)
Transit time: 2 hours 50 minutes
11,044 km Johannesburg (JNB) to Sydney (SYD) – 11 hours 45 minutes (QANTAS B747-400 Business Seat 5B)
Transit time: 2 hours 25 minutes
706 km Sydney (SYD) to Melbourne (MEL) – 1 hour 35 minutes (QANTAS B737-800 Business Seat 3A)
13,021 km Total

So that is 28,441 km and 36 hours travelling on all flights. That’s a long time, however I’m looking forward to those lie flat seats / beds, entertainment system, fine food and beverages.
India and Japan 2015 Trip – Flight Journal

February 10, 2017

Back in 2015 I sent 31 days travelling to India and Japan. I was flying over 4 legs across 7 flights and 4 airlines, all in economy travel. I had lounge access in Melbourne and Sydney only as at the time I only had QANTAS Club Membership (so only access to QANTAS lounges). I would have had time to visit the Singapore QANTAS lounge but the inbound flight was running late.

Leg 1
7,387 km Melbourne (MEL) to Hong Kong (HKG) – 9 hours 35 minutes (QANTAS A330)
Transit time: 3 hours 5 minutes
3,751 km Hong Kong (HKG) to Delhi (DEL) – 6 hours (Cathay Pacific A330)

Leg 2
2,040 km Delhi (DEL) to Kochi (COK) – 3 hours 10 minutes (Air India B787)

Leg 3
505 km Kochi (COK) to Colombo (CMB) – 1 hour 10 minutes (Sri Lankan Airlines A320)
Transit time: 6 hours 5 minutes
6,897 km Colombo (CMB) to Tokyo Narita (NRT) – 8 hours 50 minutes (Sri Lankan Airlines A330)

Leg 4
7,798 km Tokyo Narita (NRT) to Sydney (SYD) – 9 hours 40 minutes (QANTAS B747)
Transit time: 2 hours 50 minutes
706 km Sydney (SYD) to Melbourne (MEL) – 1 hour 35 minutes (QANTAS B767)

Total 29,085 km and 67 hours
South East Asia 2016 Trip – Flight Journal

February 9, 2017
The amazing 2016 South East Asia trip to Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia and Sri Lanka seems both like yesterday and a long time ago. It’s sometimes good to think back and right now I’ve been thinking about the flights and distance I’ve travelled the world over my world trips and thought I’d pull together the stats.

I had 8 days flying across 11 flights and 7 airlines, all economy travel but exit room seats on my first two QANTAS flights. Lounge access in Melbourne, Sydney, Ho Chi Minh City, Colombo and Singapore (its a good bonus having QANTAS Gold / Oneworld Sapphire status).
1. 706 km Melbourne (MEL) to Sydney (SYD) – 1 hour 25 minutes (QANTAS Seat 13C)
  7,502 km Sydney (SYD) to Bangkok (BKK) – 9 hours 30 minutes (QANTAS Seat 36D)
2. 594 km Bangkok (BKK) to Chiang Mai (CNX) – 1 hour 15 minutes (Thai Smile Seat 53C)
3. 359 km Chiang Mai (CNX) to Luang Prabang (LPQ) – 1 hour (Laos Airlines Seat 16A)
4. 407 km Luang Prabang (LPQ) to Hanoi (HAN) – 1 hour (Laos Airlines Seat 1B)
5. 1,155 km Hanoi (HAN) to Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) – 2 hours 5 minutes (Vietnam Airlines Seat 28A)
6. 213 km Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) to Phnom Penh (PNH) – 50 minutes (QATAR Seat 19A)
7. 333 km Siem Reap (REP) to Bangkok (BKK) – 1 hour (Bangkok Airlines Seat 7B)
  2,393 km Bangkok (BKK) to Colombo (CMB) – 3 hours 20 minutes (Sri Lankan Airlines Seat 32K)
8. 2,751 km Colombo (CMB) to Singapore (SIN) – 4 hours (Sri Lankan Airlines Seat 7C)
  6,025 km Singapore (SIN) to Melbourne (MEL) – 7 hours 25 minutes (QANTAS Seat 25B)
22,439 km 76 hours 50 minutes
Africa Return Flights Booked

February 4, 2017
I just booked my return flights back to Australia using QANTAS frequent flyer points for the end of my Africa tour late January 2018.
- Cape Town to Johannesburg (BA6416 14.00 to 16.00)
- Johannesburg to Sydney (QF64 18.50 to 15.35 overnight flight)
- Sydney to Melbourne (QF459 18.00 to 19.35)
All flights are in business class but the only one that really matters for me is the overnight flight to Sydney.

It cost me 122,000 QANTAS points and $424 AUD in fees. I will get 100,000 of those points from a new Westpac which has an annual fee of $450. So basically for around $900 I got three business flights which I consider good value especially for the Johannesburg to Sydney 13 hour overnight flight. I priced buying these flights in business class at 38,800 South African Rand (about $3,800 AUD) or in economy at 13,200 Rand (about $1,300 AUD) so cheaper than economy and I’m in business class!

I also grabbed an exit row business class seat for the Joh’burg-Sydney flight 5B – there is no 5A meaning it is both a window and aisle seat and no one stepping over my to get out from there seat.

I actually had to ring up QANTAS and ask them to release an extra business class seat for the 13 hour overnight flight to Sydney but they immediately released given my platinum membership status. I only found out a few days ago they can release seats for platinum members if requested, it’s an unwritten benefit because they can’t always do it. They also didn’t charge me the assisted booking fee, thank you QANTAS 🙂

This goes well with my first class Emirates flights to Nairobi, Kenya.
Next steps are looking in visas, health checks / vaccinations and paying off the On The Go Tours 57 day Great African Expedition (Nairobi, Kenya to Cape Town, South Africa) tour cost.
Australian Open 2017

January 23, 2017

One of the joys of living in Melbourne is getting the opportunity to attend the Australian Open each year. Melbourne being the host of the first tennis Grand Slam each year means an opportunity to see the best players in the world in our own backyard. I mean the venue is literally a 15 minute walk from my apartment.

(more…)

AusOpen
Emirates First Class Flights Booked

December 23, 2016

The next stage of my African 2017-18 trip is in place :). I’ve booked my first class award flights from Melbourne to Nairobi via Singapore and Dubai.

EK405 Melbourne to Singapore (18.45 – 23.35: 6 hours 50 minutes) Seat 1K

EK405 Singapore to Dubai (01.20 – 04.30: 7 hours 10 minutes) Seat 1K

EK721 Dubai to Nairobi (16.10 – 20.20: 5 hours 10 minutes) Seat 1A

The EK405 is on A380-800 (which has an in air shower) and EK721 which is on Boeing 777-300ER.

UPDATE 24 DEC 2016: Just found out from QANTAS I’m eligible for free hotel stay while in transit for 12 hours in Dubai at Le Meridien Airport Hotel Dubai if I want it. Just keeps getting better.

This means I’ll get to sample the Emirates and QANTAS First Class Lounges in Melbourne and Emirates First Class Lounge in Singapore (during brief stopover) and Emirates First Class Lounge in Dubai during my 12 hour stopover. I’ll probably go into Dubai during that stopover. I’m also eligible for free chauffeur-drive in Melbourne and Dubai as well.

This cost 168,000 QANTAS points and $639.58 which I consider a good deal, its costs $10,592 AUD to book as a paid flight. Here are good reviews of the Emirates A380, Emirates B777-300ER, QANTAS Melbourne First Class Lounge and Emirates Dubai First Class Lounge.

So another of my bucket list items is locked in!
A Crazy 2016

December 19, 2016

The past 12 months has been a wild emotional ride. My personal life saw me breakup with an amazing woman after a short time together, which is always difficult. My younger sister went through a divorce and cancer. My older sister has faced serious career issues that has started to impact her wellbeing. My mother attempted several times unsuccessfully rejoin the workforce. I’ve seen friends struggle with mental and physical health problems that I know I could not have handled and the loss of loved ones.

On the positive side my nephew Andrew got engaged to the stunning Danelle and his career has gone from strength to strength. My nephew Harry finished primary school (where has the time gone?).

In my career I’ve gone through three different jobs in the past 12 months; marketing and communications, director of strategy, and then finally being responsible for the client and staff experience. This last role has given me an opportunity to step up and interact with senior executives across the organisation on a regular basis and has left me understanding how different their world his and the need for office politics when dealing with multiple projects potentially costing millions.

I got to travel overseas again, this time spending a lot of time in South East Asia; Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia and Sri Lanka. It was a reminder of the amazing opportunities I get in life. Angkor Wat, Cambodia could be a stunning life experience by itself, add in feeding and bathing elephants in Thailand and sleeping under the starts on Halong Bay, Vietnam and I can’t but say I’m blessed. I loved meeting people from different parts of the world and hearing their ideas, hopes and dreams especially when they differ from my own – it shows how much I still have to learn.

I have watched my best friend’s dream of home ownership slowly be built in his new apartment, and his hopes to build a life with a lovely woman who has overcome so much in her life. This new woman has opened my eyes to the local art community in Melbourne and reminded me of how music can makes us fly.

I unfortunately watched the world become less stable, populists with extreme views that attack minorities gaining more political power all over the world. The bombing of civilians in many countries become standard operating procedure and yet people wonder why the world has a refugee crisis. I hate it when I hear the word ‘them’ to attack whole groups, like these people are not part of us / humans.

I worry about what this means for the future, for my nephews and nieces, for my friends and for the world community. Will we increasing fight each other for resources and power, will we attempt to destroy people’s souls in detention when their crime is wanting to live?

I still believe in the overall power of the community and that humans are on a path of cooperation and coordination to solve our problems but I’d be blind not to think we aren’t in the one step back phase with the potential for worse.

It is the obligation of each generation to leave the world and their community in a better place. To make life a little easier so that art, cultural and entertainment that enriches our souls is available to more people and that less people have to live a subsistence life. We should all contribute, even if just a little, to make someone’s life a little easier when there is no direct benefit to ourselves other than our souls.

Bring on 2017, let it be the two steps forward for our friends, our communities and the world we live in that we all need and deserve.