Turkish Airlines
Turkish Airlines
Friday 18th of October 2019 and I was in the shower when my phone rang. I know it was the driver calling, either to tell me that he had arrived or to ask for directions. I didn´t bothered getting out of the shower.

I packed up my last things and I went down to the car and we left my apartment around 05:45.

Bird watching in Ethiopia
I have packed my things and ready to go

Bird watching in Ethiopia
Suvarnabhumi next

Light traffic on the high way and we made it to Suvarnabhumi International in 30 minutes and I had soon checked in. My MAX was dropped at the ODD SIZE luggage. FAST TRACK through security and immigration and it took 10 minutes and I was in the departure terminal. 54 kg checked luggage, most of it MAX and a back pack with my electronics.

I went to look for Turkish Airlines Lounge. They had a pamphlet at the check-in with pictures of bread and it was saying Turkish Delights. Well, at least they have MAX.

Suvarnabhumi International
Arriving to Suvarnabhumi International

Suvarnabhumi International
Checking in my luggage

Suvarnabhumi International
I have to drop my MAX at the ODD SIZE check-in

I asked for the Turkish Delight when I was in the lounge. They gave me a cup of coffee.
- What the Yet another Smiley on www.aladdin.st

I had expected Baklava and delights. Well, a cup of coffee, I said no thanks and I took two cans of MAX and I went to set up my IT centre. I spent an hour or so in the lounge before I went to Gate C3 to board flight TK 59 to Istanbul. Leaving the lounge and I am obviously day dreaming because I end up at Gate F3.

Well, almost all the way to Gate F3. I could not see the plane when I passed Gate 1F and I realised that I was at the wrong gate. Walking back and when I reached Gate G3 the boarding was almost completed. Biz is full so I will have to sit with a guy in the chair next to me.

Turkish Airlines flight TK 59
Bearding flight TK 59

Turkish Airlines flight TK 59
Ready for take-off

Turkish Airlines flight TK 59
TAXI to the runway

Turkish Airlines flight TK 59
Breakfast

Day flight so actually never mid if there is any one in the seat next to me. I get two glasses of water and they come to take drink and food order. I ask for tea and lamb chops for dinner. We leave the gate and taxi to the runway and we are soon having Suvarnabhumi behind us.

They are serving breakfast and I turn on a movie. I try the tea, 2 cups delivered to my seat.
- What the Yet another Smiley on www.aladdin.st

Tasted like coffee and I called the Stewardess and she confirmed that it was tea. I told her that I had been flying many times and I never had have tea like this before. We swap the tea for hot chocolate and I enjoyed a very nice breakfast.

I start with a Wild West movie that I turn off after a few minutes. Then I start another movie and I fall asleep after not too long.

I wake up and it is time for dinner, about 2 hours to go to Istanbul. I start a Spiderman movie that I watch during the dinner. I ask for tea again and this time it taste like tea so I have a few cups with my dinner. And this time they have Baklava.

Turkish Airlines flight TK 59
Baklava and tea

Yet another Smiley on www.aladdin.stBaklava and tea, a winner and it was a perfect end of a good dinner. And the flight is also about to come to an end. VERY NICE!

We started to descend not long after that the movie Spiderman had come to an end. I changed my mind in the last second and I put my new shoes in the shoe cabinet and I am using my old “safari” shoes. But even though I have my old shoes I am not looking forward to the walk from the gate to the lounge. We´re talking kilometres here!

Off the plane and darn! It is really a very long walk to get to the transfer. And passing the security when I finally reached the end of the walk did not make me any happier. Now they took my small screw drivers for my e-cigarettes. Not allowed! I got upset, they should have told me this in Bangkok and not at the transfer.

And I have been around the world with my e-kit and no one have ever said anything about the small screw drivers before.

Istanbul International Airport
No end in sight

Istanbul International Airport
Down the escalator and continue the trotting

Istanbul International Airport
Where is the ducking transfer?

Anyone thinking that the listened to the argument “they hand out forks and knives on board” Of course not, but my small instrument screw drivers is a huge problem. Idiots!! 2 hours before my flight to Addis Ababa departs so I went to the lounge to look for tool stores in Addis Ababa on the internet.

I had booked a Buggy so when I left the lounge I just went down to the Buggy desk and I was soon on my way to Gate B7 (A) just to discover that the boarding had not started. I went to try some Turkish delights in the tax free shop as they have some samples on offer.

Istanbul International Airport
Buggy, the best service at the airport

Istanbul International Airport
Arriving to the gate

Turkish Airlines flight TK 676 to Addis Ababa
Finally on board Turkish Airlines flight TK 676

Turkish Airlines flight TK 676 to Addis Ababa
Leaving Turkey behind

Turkish Airlines flight TK 676 to Addis Ababa
Leaving Turkey behind

Finally time for boarding and I took my seat and I asked for a glass of water. Only 3 passengers in the biz section so there will be plenty space. We took off and as soon as we were airborne we sat course towards south and we were soon over the Mediterranean. We had more good food and tea. I had them coming with two cups of tea for 2 hours and then I tried to sleep.

I think I have said it before, but I have only been impressed by two cities in the world. At leas only 2 cities have impressed me by their size. Istanbul, amazing how bit the city is seeing from above. City for long as you can see. Cairo, several hours in full speed on the highway going to see the pyramids.

And the pyramids are not located in the desert. Cairo, you have the city all the way up tp the pyramids. Anyway, we had crossed the Mediterranean and we flew in over Egypt. We had Cairo under us in JEEZ! It is a huge city, light for long as you could see. Passing Cairo and the whole of Egypt was pitch dark except for the Nile.

The population live along the Nile and we could see the light along the Nile disappearing in to darkness. And from there it was pitch dark until we had crossed the Red Sea where there were light to be seen in Saudi Arabia.

Turkish Airlines flight TK 676 to Addis Ababa
Flying over Cairo

Turkish Airlines flight TK 676 to Addis Ababa
Approaching Addis Ababa International

We fly south over Saudi Arabia and then we shoot over the Red Sea to Eritrea and SW from there to Addis Ababa. I suffered from a terrible restles leg thing and I could not sit down and I had to walk back and forth in the aisle. Lucky that biz was empty and no one was disturbed.

So I was very happy when they put the “seat belt” sign in effect and I was in my seat looking at Addis Ababa approaching. We bounced off the runway and down again and then full brake. Immigration was quite quickly and I went to the luggage claim and my MAX was coming on the belt. All 3 cases have arrived and I was happy.

Addis Ababa International Bole Airport
My MAX is coming

Addis Ababa International Bole Airport
My MAX is coming

Addis Ababa International Bole Airport
My MAX is coming

Addis Ababa International Bole Airport
My driver waiting for me

Addis Ababa International Bole Airport
My driver waiting for me

My driver was waiting outside the custom and we were leaving for the car that will bring me to Radisson Blu in down town Addis Ababa. I was surprised coming out from the terminal, it was kind of cold. 13° C, but it was kind of nice with the chill after a long flight.

+++++++++++++++
Saturday 19th of October 2019
and I check-in at midnight thirty. I was so tired and I knew it would be hard to fall asleep. Same on the plane coming here, it was impossible to fall asleep. But I liked my room and I was soon having all my luggage in my room. But I didn´t had any MAX. Instead I opened a bottle of water and I went to bed.

Radisson Blu in Addis Ababa
Bringing my stuff to my room

Radisson Blu in Addis Ababa
My luggage in my room

Radisson Blu in Addis Ababa
My room

Radisson Blu in Addis Ababa
My room

Radisson Blu in Addis Ababa
My room

Radisson Blu in Addis Ababa
My room

Radisson Blu in Addis Ababa
My room

Radisson Blu in Addis Ababa
Bath room

Radisson Blu in Addis Ababa
Bath room

They called from the reception at 6 o´clock and I felt a sleep again. I knew they would call again at 06:15 as I had asked for a backup wake-up call when I checked in. I had not got much sleep and I was dead tired, but I need to be tired tonight so I can go to bed early. From now on it is early morning birding every day.

I was out of bed at 7 and I was at the breakfast at 8. I booked a car to take a city tour. I need to buy tools for my e-cigarettes and I want to see the Haile Selassie museum. Yet another Smiley on www.aladdin.st Otherwise here is nothing I want to see, just a drive through the city to have a look.

Haile Selassie

Haile Selassie I (Ge'ez: ቀዳማዊ ኃይለ ሥላሴ, romanized: qädamawi haylä səllasé, Amharic pronunciation: [ˈhaɪlə sɨlˈlase] (About this soundlisten); born Lij Tafari Makonnen Woldemikael; 23 July 1892 – 27 August 1975) was Crown Prince and Regent of the Ethiopian Empire from 1916 to 1928, and then King and Regent from 1928 to 1930, and finally Emperor from 1930 to 1974.

He is a defining figure in modern Ethiopian history. He was a member of the Solomonic dynasty who traced his lineage to Emperor Menelik I.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


Radisson Blu in Addis Ababa
Breakfast

Radisson Blu in Addis Ababa
Breakfast

We left Radisson Blu at 9 thirty and the first stop is to buy a SIM card. When I had my sim car we left for The Ethnological Museum of Addis Ababa. I wanted to buy tools but the driver told me that The Ethnological Museum of Addis Ababa was just around the corner. So we decided to stop at the museum before going to look for tools.

I wondering where the duck my driver was going when we drove through the gate to Addis Ababa University. But the museum is set within Haile Selassie’s former palace, and surrounded by the beautiful gardens and fountains of the university’s main campus.

Ethnographic Museum of the Institute of Ethiopian Studies

The Institute of Ethiopian studies was established in 1963 with three major components: a research and publication unit, a library and a museum. The aim of the institute is to collect, documents, analyse and disseminate knowledge about languages, cultures and history of Ethiopia. As Ethiopia is a cradle of mankind, a cross road of cultures and civilizations, it is known as" a museum of nationalities." This museum, therefore, is shouldering a great responsibility of capturing the heritage of the past and the present for posterity. The main focus of the museum is traditional art and material culture of nationalities.

The IES Museum brings the many diverse ethnic groups of Ethiopia under one roof. The layout follows the story of life from birth to death, and beyond, and how the different stages of life are viewed and experienced by different ethnic groups in Ethiopia.

Fortunately the museum is found in the old palace, Genente Leul, of the late Emperor Haile Selassie. The building welcomes all visitors with dignity and grace. The museum is accommodated on the first and second floors; comprising the bedroom of the late Emperor and ethnographic section on the first floor and the art gallery on the second floor.

The bedroom reminds us that the building was once a palace in the formative period of modern Ethiopia. It is the first modern palace imitating European style. We see here the bed, which Haile Selassie used for more than ten years and some personal gifts to the late Emperor.

The reception hall now hosts ethnographic items of more than eighty language groups. It is divided into two parts. The first part introduces the general socio-economic conditions of the country. It displays production tools and some techniques of craftsmen.

The second part provides a quick visit through Ethiopia. Here, some assorted items from each administrative region are represented. Although the space is not large enough to show the beauty and diversity of the material culture of the country, it creates a strong urge to know more about the country.

The second floor is a gallery where the' high art' of the country is displayed. The exhibit concentrates on the history of sacred and a few examples of the secular art of Ethiopia. The time depth of some items could go as far back as the fourteenth century.

From http://www.addisababa.gov.et/de/web/guest/museums#2


Ethnographic Museum of the Institute of Ethiopian Studies

Ethnographic Museum of the Institute of Ethiopian Studies
Haile Selassie’s former palace

Ethnographic Museum of the Institute of Ethiopian Studies
Stairs to the second floor

Ethnographic Museum of the Institute of Ethiopian Studies
Haile Selassie’s bathroom

Ethnographic Museum of the Institute of Ethiopian Studies
Second floor

We left the museum and we went to look for tools. It was not so easy to find tools and we were in to many shops but they did not have any instrument screw drivers. They gave directions and finally we ended up at a shopping centre with many tool shops.

I found my stuff, not exactly what I wanted but will be good for my stay in Ethiopia and I can get new when I am back home in Bangkok. So I was happy when we left, I had borrowed money from my driver as there was a black out and no ATM was working

Addis Ababa
Heavy traffic

Addis Ababa
Shopping centre

Addis Ababa
Shopping centre

Addis Ababa
My driver pick me up

We left the shopping centre and I told my driver to take me back to the hotel. My driver asked if I had enough and I asked my driver what he could recommend. He recommended a place with traditional Ethiopian clothes.
- OK, let´s go back to the hotel, I said.

Heavy traffic and it took us quite some time to get back to Radisson Blu where we found an ATM so I could give the driver his money. I went for lunch at the hotel and it was OK.

Addis Ababa
Back at Radisson Blu

My Guide and driver from Flamingos Tours Ethiopia will come to pick me up at 7 o´clock tomorrow morning. We will go around Ethiopia to look for birds and I will be back here on the 8th of November. Click HERE to see if we find any birds in Ethiopia.

Turkish Airlines


       
                  
OK, it has come to my knowledge that we have senior citizens visiting my web page. How hard can it be? So it's not very easy for them to see the blue coloured links to the next page.
Jiffy (also jiff)

noun [in SING.] informal a moment: we'll be back in a jiffy.

ORIGIN late 18th cent.: of unknown origin.

So as you understand, in a jiff pretty much depends on your internet.
So I put a “Next” button here and I hope that there isn't any problem to understand how to use that one. So just CLICK the “Next” button on your left hand side and you will be on the next page in a jiff!

Marunong ka mag-tagalog? Walang problema! Magpunta sa kabilang pahina pindutin ang “NEXT” button sa itaas

Faites vous parlez le français? Pas de problème! Pour arriver à la page suivante faites s'il vous plaît un déclic le bouton “Next” ci-dessus!

Haga usted dice el español? No hay problema! Ver la siguiente página sólo hacer clic el botón “Next” encima!

Farla parla l'italiano? Non problemi! Per vedere la prossima pagina lo scatto per favore giusto Il bottone “Next” sopra

Sprechen sie Deutsch! Kein problem! Wenn Sie die folgende Seite sehen wollen gerade klicken der Knopf “Next” oben!

คุณพูดภาษาไทยได้ไหม ไม่มีปัญหา ถ้าคุณต้องการไปหน้าถัดไป ให้กดปุ่ม “Next” ข้างบนนี้

Вы говорите по-русски? Просто нажмите синюю кнопку "Next" с левой стороны и Вы моментально переместитесь на следующую страницу!

E ni Svenskar och inte förstår Engelska så ska ni skämmas. J och Björn, med det menar jag inte att alla mina stavfel ska ältas varje gång vi träffas.

Flag of Skåne / Skånska flaggan Well, the flag of Skåne, just a BONUS flag.



                                       

BirdforumTV

You are visitor no.
To www.aladdin.st since December 2005

Visitors from different countries since 26th of September 2011


Send me an e-mail My web page directory