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“The postings on this site are my own and don't represent Maersk Group's position, strategies or opinions. All views are my own”
  M/T Maersk Cancun
Picture taken by Superintendent when he come onboard in Long Beach
 +++++++++++++++
Saturday 16th of May 2026 and I go for my last session with The Red Devil (ปีศาจแดง ก.กุมานนท์) at Chaiyasit Muay Thai Gym (ไชยสิทธิ์มวยไทยยิม) Now it will be a couple of months until the next  time. And I have a plan, a great plan to avoid growing out my pants while onboard m/t Maersk Cancun. Maybe even coming back home with a V-shaped torso.
I also have a last foot massage, stopping at the shop driving back to my room from Chaiyasit Muay Thai Gym (ไชยสิทธิ์มวยไทยยิม) I stop there every second day for a foot massage and my feet have become much better. Of course, together with plenty vitamin B-1+6+12 Stopping at MACRO to buy some cheese and nuts to bring with me, avoiding the mess room onboard m/t Maersk Cancun. AOT will be here to pick me up at 6 o'clock tonight, I booked the car yesterday so this is ready.  My bags are ready so it is pretty much just for me to kill a few hours before I leave for the next adventure.
Turkish Airways flight TK 069 leaves at 22:45 so I will have plenty time. Maybe even time to sit and relax for a wee bit before boarding.  Waiting for the taxi
Leaving my room at 17 thirty as I know that AOT Limousine service are usually arriving early. No sign of the car when I came down so I took a seat in the lobby waiting for the car. Quarter to 6 and still no sign of the car. Going out to have a look and the car was parked out of sight. I told him to drive around and I went back to get my luggage in the lobby. It was a car bran that I had never seen before, some electric thing. They usually have Toyota Camry, well, this car was very comfy. The car will  hopefully not start to burn. Is there a sledgehammer to know out the windows in case of an emergency escape.
 Waiting for the taxi
We took off leaving Samut Prakan with smokin' and screamin' tyres and I was enjoying the trip in the back seat. Took us about 40 minutes to reach Suvarnabhumi International. My driver had checked internet and Turkish Airways are at gate # 9 or 10. We pass Gate #6 and there was a sign saying Turkish Airline and we stopped. Check-in had not started and I sat down for a couple of minutes. I saw that they started check-in and I went to check-in. Flight is totally full, not one single spare seat available.  Arriving to Suvarnabhumi International
Security and immigration were a quick affair and I was soon in Singapore Airlines lounge enjoying a soda water. Turkish Airline flight TK 069 departs from the new terminal and I need to go by train. Singapore Airlines lounge is located next to the train station so this is very convenient. Sitting in the lounge was soon getting boring and I went to take the train to the other terminal. Boarding starts at 21:45 and that gave me about 45 minutes to kill before boarding. There was a lot of people waiting, and the girl at the desk confirmed that the flight was full.  Gate S 115
Always worth asking, they have arranged an empty seat next to me on several flights, I think it is because of my Star Alliance gold status. Boarding started with the passenger’s needing assistance. A train of wheelchairs rolled up to the gate It was like in America, gold member flying business and you expect to be among the first to board. But there are so many different boarding groups and sometimes I end up as the last one to board. But today I was among the first to board, after the wheelchair train and when I came to the plane I walked by the entrance to the biz and I continued to the monkey class entrance. And there were again, the wheelchair train had not started to board.  I am finally in my seat
Must have been some misunderstanding and someone come to scream at the crew and the wheelchair train rolled onboard in double speed. I found my seat and it took like for ever before the other passengers started to board. It was not many passengers coming back, did they made a mistake saying that the flight was full? But suddenly, and onslaught of passengers coming back. Two guys came, and one of them took the window seat in my row and the other guy continued towards the back. He took the window seat the I wanted, no seat in front of him and he could really splash out during the flight. I was green of envy!  Sitting in monkey class
 Boarding in progress
 Boarding completed
Boarding completed and the seat next to me was empty, I could not believe my luck! Well, my new friend at the window, his friend came back and took the seat between us. Well, it was a nice guy so never mind. Removing the arm rest on the aisle side and it was OK. Have you ever tried one of them NECK RINGS people are carry onboard their flights? A NEAR BUSINESS CLASS EXPERIENSE they say in the shops OK, believe me, it is nothing like business class, you are still in your monkey class seat, wearing a stupid neck ring that was nothing but uncomfortable.  My “near business class” experience
 Approaching Istanbul
At least my neck ring is inflatable so it is easy to carry it in my pocket. So, no need to walk around the airport looking like a tw#t! Anyway, the flight was 10 hours and it was OK. A few more  months on my diet and I can get used to sit in the back, it will save me a lot of money.
Money that I can spend on more fun things than to fly. I can think of several things more fun than to fly, but you need to fly to get to the bird watching sites. +++++++++++++++
Sunday 17th of May 2026 and we got breakfast 90 minutes or so before landing in Istanbul. I told them that I was on diet, same as with the dinner yesterday. A bottle of water only.
I do not know what happened in the airline industry lately. Air India have always had Diet Pepsi. But flying ANA a month ago and they had Diet Pepsi.  And Turkish Airways also have changed to Pepsi. Coca Cola, well, what to say? Coca Cola is good for nothing. Well, thinking about it,  hmm, maybe better they all had coke, then I would have been drinking water instead.
Getting of Turkish Airlines flight TK069 in Istanbul. Istanbul Airport, one of the absolute worst airports in the world. do not get me wrong, it is a nice-looking airport. But the size of it, and no transport. Arriving from Bangkok and my flight to Alexandria left from gate A1F. Gate A1F and I knew that we had to go by bus. 2 kilometres of walking between the gates, I did not pass any place where I would sit down and have a quick rest. 2 kilometres of walking, with my luggage was nothing I enjoyed coming of my flight. I stopped to have a cup of tea and two sandwiches, only ate one and a half. 41€ daylight robbery! Sweet Lord, 41€ for what they served me, I was about to call the police!  I stop for a cup of tea and a rest
 Arriving to Gate A1F and there was not so many passengers waiting and I went to the desk and asked if they had an aisle seat for me. He changed my window seat to the aisle and I was very happy when I took my seat waiting for the boarding to complete. Going by bus and I hope that I do not have to stand waiting on the bus if I am last to board. The bus gets full and it takes off, a second buss is coming up and I board and I go to the bus. Of course, we do not leave for the plane, there are obviously more passengers for our flight.  Boarding at gate 1AF
 Boarding at gate 1AF
 Getting onboard the flight
 Getting onboard the flight
 Turkish Airways flight TK 0688 to Borg El Arab International Airport
The last two boarding the bus, carrying plenty duffel bags and plastic bags, few ducks’ sake! It is one carry on + one personal item. I could not believe my eyes when they filled up the with their stuff. And it took time to carry everything. Finally in my seat and we were soon taxi out to the runway, 1 hour 40 minutes to Alexandria International Airport, Borg El Arab International Airport. Short flight, but they still served hot food for breakfast.  I felt a sleep, I tried to stay awake but I could not help dozing off in my seat.
I am dead tired, been up and about for 30 hours ++. But I do not want to sleep, then I will be awake all night long and dead tired tomorrow.  We arrive to Borg El Arab International Airport
 We arrive to Borg El Arab International Airport
 We arrive to Borg El Arab International Airport
 Luggage claim
We took the bus to the terminal, the terminal looks to be brand new. Immigration was done in a jiff and my bag was on the belt. But the belt was not moving so something was wrong. I could see my second bag but it was not out in the pick-up area, 15 meters missing. 10 minutes or so later and the belt started to move and I went to the custom. My luggage went through the x-ray and they took one of my bags. They brought it to a desk with two ladies. “Do you have any medicines” “It is vitamins” “Can we have a look?” “Of course” They opened my big suitcase and it is full of vitamins and I explained that I am on a diet and I need my vitamins. And getting old so I need a real boost in the morning. 
“You are looking very good. You are not old!”  “STOP IT ALREADY!!! YOU'RE TO KIND!!!”
 I am cleared from Custom and Immigration at Borg El Arab International Airport
 We can leave Borg El Arab International Airport
 Leaving for the hotel
Coming out from the terminal and I could report two Feral Pigeons and one Hooded Crow to eBird while walking to the car. Country #97 on my list of countries I have reported birds from. There was one Chief Engineer with me, he will join a container ship and we share the van as we have the same Agent. We have just left the airport when I spot one Common Hoopoe, my eBird LIFER #2016. I am very thirsty and I ask the driver to stop so we can buy some water on the way to the hotel.  Stopping for refreshments
We stop at a service station and I am pleasantly surprised to discover Diet Pepsi and I buy a few cans to enjoy in my room, and on the way to the hotel. I am very surprised, I had expected nothing but shit in Egypt with my experience from previous visits to the country. Brand new airport, the roads all look to be new and they are building everywhere. Looks like they are really upgrading the country, a well needed upgrade. We stop in Alexandria and the Chief Engineer get in to another car and he is off to his ship. The driver told me it was a nice hotel, 5 stars. Well, I have stayed at 5-star hotel in Egypt before. I extended my stay in Cairo and it was 60 US Dollar per night. So, maybe it is a 5-star hotel, but I have my doubts. And as soon as we stopped outside the hotel, I knew that my driver and I had totally different opinions on what a 5-star hotel was. But the hotel was very nice, and the staff, service second to none and they really went all the way to give me a good experience. The kettle in my room was not working and they brought a new. They brought milk and water for me. Every little thing and they were ready to help with a smile. So, I was happy with the hotel.  My room
 My room
 My room
 My room
 My room
Dead tired, but I avoided the bed. The girls in the reception had arranged a car for me to go look for birds. They had called our Agent and he sent a driver and a car and my plan is to go look for birds around Alexandria. There are not many eBird hotspots in Alexandria and surroundings, but there is one that looks interesting, the Lake Mariout (بحيرة مريوط) And I will try to stay awake until tonight and have a good night’s sleep to be full of vim tomorrow. Leaving the hotel at 1 o'clock and as I was hungry, we drove around to look for fresh bread before taking off to the Lake Mariout (بحيرة مريوط) One of the few ebird hotspots around Alexandria.  Taking off to look for bread and birds
I am in the back eating bread and drinking water when we get out on the road towards Cairo and the airport. Passing a bridge on the Cairo - Alexandria Desert Road and we stop at the Pump Station 1. We leave the Cairo - Alexandria Desert Road and we park the car at the pump station. I get to see some Little Egrets and at least 6 Squacco Herons. I was just about to get back in to the car when I spotted 4 House Sparrows under the bridge. Good, my target species are completed, Feral Pigeon (Rock Pigeon) at the airport and now the House Sparrow.  Squacco Heron
 Little Egret
 Black-crowned Night Heron
 Whiskered Tern
 House Sparrow
We get back on the Cairo - Alexandria Desert Road and we are trying to get to the north side of the Lake Mariout (بحيرة مريوط) We find our way around the lake and we drive back towards east north of Lake Mariout (بحيرة مريوط). We find the hotspot and we leave the paved road getting on to something looking like a construction site. The first bird I see is one Spur-winged Lapwing sitting on egg. There is one other lapwing in the puddle as well, so most likely a pair. There was one Whiskered Tern in the puddle as well. And it looked like the tern was having a bath.  Spur-winged Lapwing
 Spur-winged Lapwing
 Whiskered Tern
 Black-crowned Night Heron
 Little Egret
There is an island in Lake Mariout (بحيرة مريوط), the island looks to be a landfill. There are people fishing on the access road made out of the landfill. The trucks have made the access road tipping dirt until it had become an embarkment they could drive on. There were several Little Egrets and Black-crowned Night Herons. Coming across and I spot one, at least one Pied Kingfisher. I managed to make a recording of the Graceful Prinia before we left Lake Mariout (بحيرة مريوط) Listen to the Graceful Prinia
Sound from www.xeno-canto.org
  Graceful Prinia
 Lake Mariout (بحيرة مريوط)
 Lake Mariout (بحيرة مريوط)
We decided to pass another eBird hotspot on the way back to the hotel. The Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa (كتاكومب كوم الشقافة) and it is located in the city of Alexandria. It was a bit of a driving to get there and I got a good look at Alexandria. Coming here from the airport and the Chief engineer had told me that he just finished a 2 weeks holiday in Egypt. I said Sweet Lord, Egypt, a shit hole country and he had brought his whole family. He had loved it and I was wonder if he was crazy. 
But something has happened with Egypt, so far. Not one single person has asked for money. Noone had told me that I am their friend. Last time in Egypt and the immigration and custom just looked for a way to fleece you.  Today, arriving to a brand-new airport, it was clean, Immigration was done in a jiff with friendly people. The custom, again, very friendly people and they wanted to have a look at my medicine. Only looked in one of my four bags. Vitamins, no problem, very friendly. At the hotel, very nice people working at the hotel. So, something has happened to Egypt and I really grow to like Egypt.  On the way to Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa (كتاكومب كوم الشقافة)
 On the way to Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa (كتاكومب كوم الشقافة)
Arriving to the Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa (كتاكومب كوم الشقافة) and it looked to be just some rocks on display. I was tired after having been up for a very long time. I asked the driver to take me back to my hotel. Maersk Cancun will not come in tomorrow so the Driver will be at my hotel 6 o'clock tomorrow morning and we will go back to look for birds at Lake Mariout (بحيرة مريوط) +++++++++++++++
Monday 18th of May 2026 and I have a cup of tea in my room before I go to the reception. My driver as a couple of minutes late and I have time to flip through some tourist information. El-Alamein (العلمين), 100 km away and I will ask the driver if we can go there instead of Lake Mariout (بحيرة مريوط) El-Alamein (العلمين) is a famous place so I want to see it.
 Early morning outside my hotel
 Early morning outside my hotel
 Early morning outside my hotel
Getting in to the car and the driver called the Agent, 150 US $ to go to El-Alamein (العلمين). Breakfast at the hotel do not start until 7 o'clock and I was a wee bit hungry. We start by looking for bread and Diet Pepsi. Finding the bread and we made another stop to get the Diet Pepsi. Now I am ready to take on El-Alamein (العلمين) Leaving Alexandria and I enjoy my bread and drinks in the back while Alexandria passing outside the window. Early morning and it was kind of cool so never mind that the AC in the car did not work. Light traffic so we were soon out of Alexandria.  We look for bread and Diet Pepsi
 We look for bread and Diet Pepsi
 We found Diet Pepsi
 Breakfast in the car
 Breakfast in the car
 Leaving Alexandria
We are on the same road going to the airport and we continued on the highway until my driver took off to get on another road to El-Alamein (العلمين) Something goes wrong and he cannot find the way to El-Alamein (العلمين). He stops to ask for directions a couple of times and I tell him to get to the coast and it is just to follow the coast to El-Alamein (العلمين) How hard can this be. We made a quick stop to explore a dust road that ended at a house after 100 meters. But I could report one Common Hoopoe.  Common Hoopoe
 The coast line is full of holiday housing and resorts
 The coast line is full of holiday housing and resorts
 Heading towards El-Alamein (العلمين)
 The roads in Egypt have really improved since I was in Egypt last time
I directed the driver to the ocean front and we got on another highway and we continued towards west and El-Alamein (العلمين) The beach front is full of resorts and housing estates. All looking the same and there must be millions of them and they all looked empty. My driver told me that it would be full next month when the summer holiday starts. The roads will be full, now the roads are almost empty. 5 lanes in each direction + 2 or 3 lanes on the road next to the highway. Huge roads and they have spent a lot of money building the roads. And coming to El-Alamein (العلمين) was a shock. They have really built in the area. Huge skyscrapers and everything looked to be empty.  El-Alamein (العلمين)
 El-Alamein (العلمين)
 El-Alamein (العلمين)
 Looking for birds
 Hooded Crow
 Hooded Crow
 House Sparrow
 Spur-winged Lapwing
Listen to the Spur-winged Lapwing
Sound from www.xeno-canto.org
There were not many birds to be seen in El-Alamein (العلمين) and we were soon leaving, one stop on the way back to Alexandria to see if there are any birds in the desert. El-Alamein (العلمين), will this turn out to be a new Dubai in the making? They are building houses everywhere, and it looks to be apartments for millions of people. Who will buy all these condos? It was condos for long as you could see, like a ghost town.  New housing in El-Alamein (العلمين)
 New housing in El-Alamein (العلمين)
 New housing in El-Alamein (العلمين)
 New housing in El-Alamein (العلمين)
 New housing in El-Alamein (العلمين)
 El-Alamein (العلمين) to Cairo highway
 Plenty space to put your add
 Plenty space to put your add
 Plenty space to put your add
It was a bit scary to see all the buildings, seemed like they were almost ready. But no people around, so yes, a ghost town. And I knew highway to Cairo, 5 lanes in each direction and a feeder road going next to the highway with 3 lanes. But no cars. We find a small dust road going in to the desert and we go to explore the road. Not many birds to be seen, one Feral Pigeon and one Common Hoopoe. There was also one swallow/ swift that I could not ID. Back on the highway heading for Alexandria and I will go to Four Seasons Hotel for dinner when back in Alexandria. Getting a wee bit hungry now.  Looking for the birds at the desert
 Looking for the birds at the desert
 Looking for the birds at the desert
 Looking for the birds at the desert
 Looking for the birds at the desert
 Common Hoopoe
 Feral Pigeon
My driver misses the exit to Alexandria and they have blocked all the U-turn places so we had to drive all the way to Road #75 and we are losing a lot of time. I am not back at my hotel in Alexandria until 2 o'clock in the afternoon. I spend some time in my room before booking an UBER to get to Four Seasons Hotel for my dinner. The UBER driver is very friendly and he bring me to a VAPE shop he is using. I saw that he was vaping when we left for Four Seasons and I asked where he bought the juice. Four Seasons, high expectation from visits to the hotel chain around the world. A nice place, but something went really wrong in the restaurant.  I get my tea
 The steak, 2 coins and exactly like I had asked for it NOT to be
 I get my tea all over the table and lap
 This is just substandard
 +++++++++++++++
Tuesday 19th of May 2026 and I wake up at 5 o'clock and I wait for the latest news from our Agent. Maersk Cancun is expected to come alongside at 10 o'clock. Later on, it is changed to 9 o'clock. Well, we will see, I am ready to join now! A very good holiday, but now it will be nice to get to work again.
She is alongside at 8 o'clock and I get the message when I come down from the breakfast. The Agent will come to pick me up at 10 o'clock, good, now it is time to finally get onboard.  It was the same Driver that I had have the last two days looking for birds that came to pick me up. We left the hotel and we stopped to pick up our Agent to assist at the immigration. I was surprised to see that all my luggage fitted in the trunk. But the trunk was full so I was lucky to be alone to join the ship. I enjoyed a bottle of water in the back when we threw us in to the Alexandrian traffic.  Leaving the hotel
We stop to pick up our Agent and he will assist me at the immigration. We enter Port of Alexandria and the security make a security check before we are allowed to enter the port. We stop at the immigration and I wait in the waiting area for a couple of minutes before our Agent ask me to join them upstairs. I fly up the stairs just to wait for a couple of minutes. As I have mentioned before, the people are very friendly. They ask me if I like photos and I think they want a selfie. But they are talking about me have spent the last two days taking bird pictures.  Waiting area at the immigration
 Waiting area at the immigration
Immigration was quick, a wee bit of waiting, but the procedure was very quick and we went back to the car. We drove to the oil terminal where Maersk Cancun will discharge the soya oil. I take my luggage, we are not allowed to drive all the way to Maersk Cancun. There were three anti aircraft guns on the parking, looked like something from the World War II. But the Agent assisted me with the luggage so it was an enjoyable  constitutional to get to the jetty. Lovely weather and it was not very hot, comfortable.
 m/t Maersk Cancun in Alexandria
 m/t Maersk Cancun in Alexandria
It is about 11 o'clock when I step onboard m/t Maersk Cancun. They had not connected the cargo hose so I do not know when we will start discharging. We just need to click HERE to find out all about Aladdin's adventure onboard m/t Maersk Cancun May 2026
    
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