It’s probably that IB MYP work ethic burned into my mind. Well, whatever it is, I keep thinking about coming back here to write something such that my promise stays unbroken, but well, apparently…enough about that.
So it’s been almost two months without a single reflectable. But having gone on two overseas trips this summer, I think I’m ready to do at least one.
Adelaide is an absolutely amazing city. Not in the sense that it has alot of people, represents a whole lot of cultures (it represents a few, but nothing compared to more cosmo cities like New York or Vancouver), or that it’s a great arts/sports/finance/commercial/industrial/agricultural/you-get-the-point centre, but rather its uniqueness and aviation-based northern suburbs.
About 20 minutes north of Adelaide (me being Canadian and speaking distances in terms of time, sorry) is the small “town” of Parafield. According to Wikipedia, the small commuter and training airfield IS the town. Knowing me and my obsession towards civil aviation, I was amazed by the sight of its training facilities. And I was going there for free!
Yes yes, I’ll explain. I joined Cathay Pacific’s “I Can Fly” programme back in December 2007. After four months of visits to pretty much all of Hong Kong’s airport, a day of ground school training and too many long bus rides to and from Lantau, I was lucky enough to have been chosen to go on one of their all-expenses-paid overseas trips. This year, it was either Tokyo or Adelaide. Fortunately, we didn’t get to chose, since those 40 places for Adelaide (100 total, so 60 Tokyo) would’ve filled up pretty quickly.
At first, being one of the only two people whose English was probably better than their Cantonese, I felt pretty awkward having to really think hard before speaking. And thinking really hard while listening to be honest. But we got along fine and just had a great time….flying (duh!) and uh…playing mahjong. The Hong Kong version that everyone in Hong Kong loves but apparently nobody outside of the SAR knows about. We even played it on the plane, given Cathay had graciously programmed multiplayer mahjong into their A330’s.
It was my second time flying in any aircraft whose weight and balance really mattered. First time was in a Cessna 150 during the summer of 2006 in Toronto. This time, a much more versatile, well-kept and newer Grob G115 trainer aircraft in Adelaide. Thank God it wasn’t too cold that day – a great 13/14 degrees, perfect for opening just a slit on that “air conditioning” hatch. For those of you who don’t know what I’m smoking, the Grob doesn’t have air-con. It has a little “window-in-window”, kinda like PIP on TV’s, and you push the small window out for more airflow, pull it back in for less freezing air. And yes, I do know what I’m smoking. I’m smoking nothing.
Then came buying charts. Note to self: Aeronautical charts, especially current ones, are ridiculously expensive and overpriced. End note to self. Yes, those charts are overtly expensive – reason probably being people have to buy them every few months, so they might as well make it a magazine with annual and lifetime subscriptions. Add in loyalty programmes and you have a new industry! Who keeps saying we’re running low on jobs again?
So there you have it. If you wanted pictures, I’m sorry – they’re all on Facebook and I have no idea where the SD card with all the originals is – for the time being. It’ll probably crop up when I do a cleanup of my rather messy room, but for now, no photos, just reflectables.
Of the week:
A new feature I thought I’d cook up – every Saturday, a summary of what impresses me most from all the niches of life.
Music: I Know You Won’t (Carrie Underwood)
Film: Wall•E (2006) – Ben Burtt, Elissa Knight, Jeff Garlin
Gadget: Shure SE210
gizgiz
lightninghell
