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Monday, June 20, 2016

Bolting Over The Pacific...

The 12 hour bolt across the Pacific Ocean has just gotten over. And trust me, there is nothing more magical than seeing the sun rise 11 kilometers above terra firma...


This was my third flight on Korean Air and dare I say this is one of the best airlines I have travelled on. That baffles me because it does not figure in the Skytrax list of top airlines. Korean Air isn't really over the top - it is understated yet super efficient airline. The stewardesses are super caring and friendly and the food is great. The seats, even in economy, seem to have a massive leg space.


There she is - the whale that bolted me across the Pacific. My journey from Oaxaca to Incheon took just over 24 hours and I am tired...
But now I am looking forward to my next trip a few weeks from now back home to India and possibly to the United Arab Emirates...

Sunday, June 19, 2016

Plane Spotting At LAX ... Part 2

Here's another go at Plane Spotting at LAX after landing in from Mexico City...


And there is a lovely American Airlines Boeing 777 silver bullet taxiing in the golden rays of the setting sun...



And there she is, the silver bullet following an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 and a Alaskan Bombardier Dash 8...



A clearer view of the Alaska Airlines Boeing 737...


And a better view of the silver bullet!


There goes my ride back home tonight - the Korean Air Airbus A380...



A British Airways Airbus A380 in the distance...


An American Airlines Boeing 767 with winglets in the old livery...


Heading to Terminal 2 - the neighbours this evening are a Virgin America Airbus A320, a Westjet Boeing 737 and a Volaris Airbus A320...



The livery of Volaris is striking...


Boarded the Korean Air Airbus A380 - the neighbours tonight are Asiana's Boeing 777, China Airlines' Boeing 777 and Virgin Australia's Boeing 777...


And there's the Korean Air Boeing 777 that just arrived...



LAN's Boeing 767 with winglets...


Air France's Boeing 777...


Can't Wait To Head Back To Mexico...

And so here I am in at Los Angeles International Airport's Tom Bradley International Terminal after the 4 hour long flight from Mexico City. And I still have a few hours to kill before my next flight to Incheon...
And I went into a deep thought about this lovely trip to Mexico. Indeed this was my first visit to the western hemisphere. The stereotype I had so far, was that this part of the world was completely and totally hispanicised, with the local cultures "totally" decimated. 
But as I spoke to people around here, I did realise that Mexicans in a lot of ways were trying to discover their Mesoamerican roots. It is a fact that the Conquistadors brought with them pestilence and violence to this land. They looted this land and stripped it of its cultural heritage, killing an entire generation in the 1400s or 1500s, breaking a vital link that is essential for traditions to continue and thrive. They lost everything - their folklore, mythology, religion, culture, traditions and were reduced to abject poverty.
But despite that vital link being lost and the native Mexicans moving on, there seemed to be an agonising undercurrent for the Mexicans to rediscover their past and their traditions. And that is why they speak of the Conquistadors with a tinge of sadness and end up calling churches as temples!




Gandhi Bookstores is one of Mexico's largest book-selling chains. The chain was founded in 1971, by Mauricio Achar. He had a belief that Mexico's problems were due to the lack of reading amongst Mexicans. The name of the bookstore was inspired by Mahatma Gandhi and "his influence"...


Snacking at the Aeromexico Salon Premier lounge. I would say this is a rather unimpressive lounge but the waiters here were real good...


A billboard of the British-Indian sculptor, Anish Kapoor at the gates...


Taking off for LAX...


I loved the clouds over MEX...


Setting course for LAX...




A bright afternoon Up In The Air...

The visit to Mexico was indeed a memorable one, and I must say, I can't wait to head back, hopefully sooner than I would imagine! 

Plane Spotting At MEX ... Part 2



Landing at Mexico City's Aeropuerto Internacional Benito Juárez from Oaxaca and hoping for another round of Plane Spotting here...


I have a good four hours till my next flight to Los Angeles and that's a good time to spend here...



An Aeromexico Connect Embraer in the distance taxiing...


Benito Juárez Airport is the hub of Aeromexico...


An Aeromexico Boeing 777 in the distance at the maintenance hangar...


Wow! A Cathay Pacific Boeing 747-8 freighter in the distance...


TAM and Transaero jets in the distance. While Transaero, the Russian been inoperational for sometime now, it appears that Mexico City is storing at least of their aircraft...


Another Aeromexico Connect Embraer...


A KLM Boeing 747-400 in the distance...


And American Airlines and Southwest Airlines at Terminal 1...




The KLM Boeing 747-400 seems to be pushing back...



More spotting as we taxi towards Terminal 2...


An Interjet Airbus A320 touches down...


Reaching Terminal 2...



My Aeromexico Embraer ERJ-190LR reaches its parking bay...


Terminal 2 caters to Aermexico...



Boarded for LAX...



Time to rest a while before some more spotting at LAX...