Severe turbulence over the Atlantic added some “rock and roll” to a recent Turkish Air flight headed to JFK — over 30 passengers and flight crew were taken to hospitals after the plane (and passengers) touched down. Keep those seat belts buckled up all the time!!!
Over 1,500 turtles were found recently in a bag left behind at the Manila Airport in the Philippines – the flight arrived from Hong Kong. In 2018, over 500 varieties of wildlife and endangered species (geckos and snakes being the most popular) were found making their way through this airport. Hopefully, none of the bags, including the turtles and coral snakes, were carry-on?
Most popular new bird watching adventure — Falconry! Really not considered a typical “birding” activity, Falconry goes back more than 4,000 years, and highlights can include their history, different hunting styles and flying capabilities. Colorado and New Mexico seem to be areas where this trend is “taking off!”
The “hottest” or maybe coolest take-along comfort travel item — your own colorful pillow cases! When you think about, it makes good sense — something from home that offers comfort and something familiar for hotel stays or even inflight naps — most popular color is blue as well as ones with smilie faces (really?)!!!
How about an electric seaplane? Yup — British Columbia-based Harbour Air, the largest float plane operator in North America, plans to have one flying sometime next year. Flying range will most likely be under a 1000 miles with maybe 3-4 passengers — not sure about mixing anything electric with water?
Dubbed the “Speeder,” the $380,000 vertical take-off-and-landing craft will max out at 150 mph and travel as high as 15,000 feet. The first 20 Speeders are set for delivery next year — wonder if Uber or Lyft are part of the initial customers? (by the way, the Speeder comes standard with safety straps!!!)
Sticker price on the new Bugatti “La Voiture Noire” super luxury car is listed at $18.9 million — the 16-cylinder 1500 horse-powered “rocket” is handcrafted — with the Bugatti brand now owned by Volkswagen — and comes standard with 6 exhaust pipes!!! Wonder if there is a flower vase on the dash?
Low cost carrier WOW Air — with flights as low as $99 to Iceland and beyond — closed without warning stranding thousands of passengers without getting them from “here to there or back!” Be careful if you book any low cost carrier — and use a credit card as you might have a chance from your card company to “maybe” get some or all of your unused ticket refunded. WOW!!!
February 7, 2019: Well you can — and much more (just about anything found on a passenger plane) — just get yourself to Atlanta for Delta’s monthly “Garage Sale.” Seats, silverware, slippers, and even casserole dishes can be yours — and all with Delta ID or logo. Some sales regulars have even furnished their homes with hundreds of Delta “hand me downs” …….2 slightly used First Class seats recently sold for $300. I guess this is all a way to “stay close” to your favorite airline?
February 6, 2019: Yup — a gang of hungry, rosy-bottomed monkeys is now hanging around the Taj Mahal and attacking both visitors and staff. These aggressive, pesky creatures bite, scratch and can get mean and vicious — guards use slingshots to scare then off. Wonder if the Taj gift shop now sells slingshots?
