As my journey across Indonesia was coming to an end in Java, I headed further east to the islands of Flores, including those that form Komodo National Park. Here I saw mighty Komodo Dragons, which have long been a standing bucket list item for me (check)! Seeing these huge beasts up close, with them watching your…
Category: Aviation
Indonesia: Java in 5 Photos
My 5 month journey through South East Asia moved on from the Philippines to Indonesia, a vast chain of islands with a Dutch colonial past, along with muslim and catholic cultural influences, amongst others, it has a lot to offer. Throw in amazing volcanic scenery, unique wildlife and UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and you have…
The Philippines in 5 Photos
In my 5 months travelling around South East Asia, I allocated almost a month to the Philippines, where by coincidence my Dad and a cousin from the other side of the family live on completely different islands! It is a big place of over 7,000 islands and in a month you can only scratch the…
Myanmar in 6 Photos
Continuing on from Singapore, my 5 month journey around South East Asia next went to Myanmar, a country often shrouded in controversy and mystery. Politics aside, it’s a beautiful place with friendly people who are pleased to see you (expect lots of requests to be in photos and selfie’s!) and always make you feel welcome….
Singapore in 5 Photos
I recently spent 5 months travelling around South East Asia, across 6 countries: Singapore, Myanmar, Malaysia, the Sultanate of Brunei, the Philippines and Indonesia. I messed up the symmetry there but at one stage I was looking at travelling 6 months across 7 countries, so it would never have worked out! I thought I would…
An Icelandic Aviation Journey
As originally posted on my aviation blog Aces Flying High: I have nothing but praise for the Icelandic airlines I flew on in January 2015. Icelandair (international) and Air Iceland (domestic) were on time, comfortable, offered great service and provided even greater views of the arctic north. The flights were an added bonus to a…
Ultralight Flight over Victoria Falls
When I travelled through Zambia in August 2004, I not only enjoyed the stunning views of Victoria Falls from ground level, I also had the opportunity to take a joy flight in an ultralight over the “The Smoke that Thunders“. That was something I was not going to pass up! You were not allowed to…
A Brief History of the Royal Australian Air Force: The Early Years – 1914 to 1939
Originally posted on Aces Flying High:
To commemorate the centenary of military aviation in Australia (1914 to 2014) I am writing a four-part series of articles on the key stages of the RAAF: 1914 to 1939 (World War One and the interwar years), 1939 to 1945 (World War Two), 1945 to 1953 (the Cold War begins and the Korean War) and 1953 to the…
Restoring an Avro Anson
Originally posted on Aces Flying High:
After I wrote my blog on the 2012 Nhill Fly In I was invited by John Deckert a member of the Nhill Aviation Heritage Centre to visit the workshops in Nhill (in country Victoria, Australia) where the various projects associated with their restoration of a former Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), World War Two…
Avalon Air Show 2013
Originally posted on Aces Flying High:
The Avalon Air Show is a bi-annual event held at Avalon Airport in Victoria, Australia. I have been to all 11 of these shows to date (1992, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011 and 2013) and as it is the only major international air event in Australia…
WW1 Fighters Fly Again
Originally posted on Aces Flying High:
The Wings Over Wairarapa 2013 air show in Masterton, New Zealand featured many spectacular flying displays but something really cool about this show was being able to see many World War One era wooden framed, fabric covered biplane and triplane aircraft take flight. The Knights of the Sky return! Dawn Patrol! Royal…
Wings Over Wairarapa 2013: Piston Power to the Jet Age
Originally posted on Aces Flying High:
The Kiwi’s really know how to put on an air show. The flying displays are relatively low and close to the crowd line with plenty of passes that show off the lines of all the classic aircraft that take to the sky. Wings Over Wairarapa 2013 at Hood Aerodrome in Masterton,…
Deano's Travels 