Day 55 - October 13, 2013

October 13, 2013

Anchorage, Alaska to Astoria, Oregon (1,250 NM)

Astoria, Oregon to El Monte, California (810 NM)

A long fly home today. It was like yesterday we started our trip here, at El Monte and pull the PC12 out of the hanger. Now, 55 days later, right on time, the PC12 appeared at the horizon and flying toward the El Monte air control tower. We had an amazing trip and are glad we can share it with our family and friends through blogspot. To us, traveling is a way of breaking away from a structured everyday life we build around ourselves so that we can see the world and ourselves from a different perspective and hopefully broadened our hearts and views further. It will take months for us to fully digest our feelings for this trip. We hope we will have more opportunities to share our thoughts in the near future.

We want to thank everyone for following and caring for our trip. Really wish more of you would have joined us. Air Journey did a great job of accommodating our trip and flying coordination. G, is not only a super co-pilot, but also an expert in weather, route planning, and ground coordination. Thank you, G for your relentless effort that made this trip safer and more enjoyable. Last but not least, Andrew, thank you for encouraging and supporting us to acquire PC12 for this trip. The level of performance, comfort, and cabin space of this airplane made a tremendous difference. Thank you, Andrew, and hope you can join the flying next time.



It is great to be back!



Approaching runway.

Welcome home!

Jeffrey and Renee with daughter Vicky, and co-pilot, G.

PC 12 safely back to hanger.

Tomorrow, we will stay home and rest!

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Day 53 - October 12 to 11, 2013

October 12 to 11, 2013

Patropovlovsk, Russia to Adak Island, Alaska, U.S.A. (930 NM)

 

Through special arrangement, we got permittion from States Department to land at U.S. soil before we clear custom citing the range of airplane.

 

 

Adak Island, AKA, Aleutians Islands, is part of Alaska, U.S.A. In native Aleuts language, Adak means the birthplace of winds. Total population 350. 60 are residents, the rest military. It was very important strategic military base during WWII mainly as military transfer point and training grounds. To this date, there are restricted landmine fields around. Important no more after air carriers are being used.

That being said, also because of its far out location, the island is well preserved for wild life. Great for hunting and fishing. People are super nice. Visitors are very well treated. No hotels in the island. We rented a two bedroom condo for $140 per night. One restaurant in town and only open as needed. Market opens 2 hours daily. I wonder if this is the least populated U.S. township?

 

 

 

Tomorrow, we will fly to Anchorage, and then home.... Wow, can't wait!

 

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Day 52 - October 11, 2013

October 11, 2013

Sapporo, Japan to Petropavlosk, Russia (1,051 NM)

 

Petropavlosk is the largest city in Far East Russia. Surrounded by beautiful and active volcanos. Deep, non-frozen harbor made it one of the strategic military harbors of Russia. People seem reluctant to give a polite acknologement to visitors. It is like " I do not speak your language, don't bother me". Which is fine. Boundry respected.

This city develops in fast pace and people are getting richer. Infrastructure is still in the 70's if not 60's. Still good growing opportunities. Airport used to be military. Coldwar marks everywhere. Old and scrapped Mig-Fighters scattered around airport, wow! Picture taking not allowed but we still manage to take a few, Hush!

Buses around streets are mosted retired old Korean buses. Kind of unexpected. No McDonald's. We had dinner at a new hamburger place. Clean and good. Street vendors have good supplies of merchandises. October is very cold already, I had to cut short of my walk.

Tomorrow, we will fly back to U.S.....

 

 

 

 

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Day 51 - October 10, 2013

October 10, 2013

Taipei, Taiwan to Nagoya, to Sapporo, Japan (1,684 NM)

We made a technical stop at Nagoya for fuel and custom. The local handler is old friends we met at 2010 around the world journey. Even though it is just a stop and take off, the full staff still come to runway to welcome us. Even prepared lunch and fruit boxes. So nice. After fueling, we continue to Sapporo and stay at the airport hotel.

We parked right next to Japanese Air Force One. Ground staff don't know who we are and gave us strange look. Airport hotel has a lot of tourists from Taiwan and China. Unfortunately as tour group, they do not have a chance to eat at the best airport food court (at least, in our opinion) here. Food here is so, so, so good. We end up ate at 3 restaurants and want to eat more. Sapporo is known for its sea urchin, crabs, and beer. .. We try to enjoy as much as we can. The next two days we will not have such good food luck.

 

Runway of Nagoya Airport.

Nagoya handler and ground staff.

I

PC 12 parked next to Japanese Airforce one.

 

Overnight rest at Sapporo.

 

Tomorrow we will fly to Patropovlovsk, Russia.

 

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Day 42 to 44 - October 2 to 4, 2013

 

October 2, 2013

Yangon, Myanmar to Hochiminh City, Vietnam (715 NM)

Today's flight is 3 1/2 hours but because of the expected thunderstorm in Vietnam, we want to leave early. Airport handler came to hotel at 8 AM and accompanied us to terminal. Gear up at 9:15, right on time. Had good weather most of the way. By approaching, we saw in front of us, black cloud and shower. We decent right into the shower, and landed with zero/zero visibility.

The thunder storm right over the runway.

 

 

 

The Hochiminh airport has a strange rule (at least to us ), no umbrellas. We were all wet like we took a shower with cloth on. The afternoon shower was even heavier. The decision of leaving early was absolutely wise.

October 3, 2013

The rain lightened up in the morning. Finally get to see the city. Hochiminh City formerly, known by Saigon, is named after Chairman Hochiminh who led north Vietnam to win the war with US and south Vietnam in 1975. It looks very well developed. We were told all th development are after 1990's normalization with U.S. What a difference 13 years can make! Booked an afternoon city tour.

 

First thing our guide said to us was " We will visit War Museum." I asked : Why? He did not answer as if everyone comes here is to see the War Museum. We asked to see the Mekong river, he says, "There is not much there". We were quiet for a few minutes and went to the museum with him. The war museum is quite popular among citizens and students . It contains room after room of photos of the 15 year war. It seems that they are still celebrating their victory. Indeed, people have the right to feel proud about defending their country. But how many people think about why? Were they victims of other people or country's idiosyncrasy?Glancing over a few of those war photos, as if we were shown the worst scar of a terrible wound, I don't know who can claim as the "winner". Sure, we should not forget the past, but what is really worth remembering? I guess there is no easy answer, or no answer at all.

What saddened us was the emptiness of our guide's face when we asked what else is there to see. Not much, he replied. We had to cut short our tour to 2 hours instead of half day. This ancient city has nothing left. No cultural, no art. People seem to work hard on rebuilding their city, but who is working to rebuild their hearts and soul?

 

Chairman Hochiminh. His photos are everywhere.

French colonized Vietnam since 1859 until independence of 1945. The French may not be loved by all Vietnamese but the architectures they left in Saigon are now the major tourist attractions. Every brick was brought in from Marseille, Frence to build this cathedral. Beautiful. Somehow, calmed our hearts in this war torn and rebuilt city.

The architect who designed the Post Office was Mr. Gustave Eiffel himself. So classy and elegant, especially among the modern buildings. This working post office is busy and even have people providing letter writing services.

Another beautiful colonial structure and is now being used as city hall.

Best Vietnamese/French sandwich in town.

Bing Tay Market. It is big and easy to get lost. We do not need to buy anything, just to kill time.

 

Population here is 10 million and there are 6 million motorcycles in the city. I think if the English singer, Katie Melua was here, her lyric of her famous song, "Nine million bicycles in Beijing" may changed to "6 million motorcycles in Hochiminh City"... Um, maybe not.

Rain is on and off but tomorrow morning we will have a good window to departure. We decided to fly to Taipei one day earlier to arrive before typhoon Fitow.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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