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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 Roy Maersk
Singapore 28th of April 2017 - Picture by Aladdin
  Thursday 17th of August 2017 and I'm not looking forward to my flight to Kuala Lumpur. It is not a short flight and I failed to upgrade my ticket. Maybe tonight at the airport. Turkish Airlines Flight TK1844 Athens Eleftherios Venizelos Intl (ATH) Departure 22:25 - 17 Aug 2017 to Istanbul (IST - Terminal I) Arrival 23:55 - 17 Aug 2017 Turkish Airlines Flight TK60 Istanbul (IST - Terminal I) Departure 01:30 - 18 Aug 2017 to Kuala Lumpur (KUL) Arrival 16:55 - 18 Aug 2017  Time turned quite quickly and I went down to the reception to check out 10 minutes before 7 o'clock. I could see a taxi and a driver across the street. He was waiting for someone and I suspected that it was for me he was waiting. I asked for my bill, 4€ 10¢ for my water, peanuts and the Toblerone chocolate I had when I woke up this morning. The guy in the reception confirmed that the taxi was for me when I asked for the Agent.  Piraeus from my balcony
 Piraeus from my balcony
 Piraeus from my balcony
We loaded my bags in to the taxi and we were soon on our way to Athens Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport. Turkish Airlines have their check-in at gate 4 and I was soon to discover that there was a lot of people lining up to check-in. Now I was really happy that I had my Thai Airways gold card and I checked in at an empty desk. And I got a voucher to the lounge, but still not possible to buy an upgrade.  Athens Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport
Turkish Airlines uses the Skyserv lounge at Athens Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport, and no thrills was on offer, but I got a soda water out of it. And there is no time to enjoy Turkish  Airlines lounge in Istanbul, the best lounge in the world. well, lucky me, as I have to sit in the back of the plane. I need to get smaller in  a jiff and a visit to their lounge in Istanbul would for sure not give me any more space in the seat.
OH YES! This is a flight I really look forward to. They told me that there were plenty empty seats at Turkish Airlines office this morning, but at the airport they told me the flight was full. I did a dummy booking for 3 persons in the lounge and there were seats available. So I hope I can have the seat next to me empty on the Istanbul to Kuala Lumpur leg. I took my seat in the last row on board, seat 53B and the plane was full and the seat next to me was still empty.  Hopefully Hopefully. I saw a guy, twice my size walking down the aisle and as all the seats were full I know that he was coming for seat 53A.
The flight was delayed and we were just standing on the tarmac. One of the Stewardesses came to me and she told me that there was an empty row up front. - Thank you, but it is only one hour so it is OK. We took of late and when we were airborne the guy next to me moved so it was a nice flight.  I'm almost first to board the plane
 I'm almost first to board the plane
 On board Turkish Airlines flight TK 1844 bound for Istanbul
+++++++++++++++
Friday 18th of August 2017 and we landed in Istanbul with a bang. I was almost soiling my pants. BOOM! And the plane started to bounce sideways on the runway. It was not an experience I'm in a hurry to have again. Turkish Airlines lounge in Istanbul, the best in the world.
But no time to visit the lounge today as my flight to Kuala Lumpur leaving at 01:30. So I only have an hour here in Istanbul. I had been looking at one of those neck pillows in Athens and I decided to buy one here at Istanbul International Airport. All of you have seen them, passengers walking around looking like twats wearing the neck pillow around the neck. I have always wondering what’s so special with the pillow. But millions of people can't be wrong so there must be some advantages with the pillow. So I decided to buy one. First shop was out of the pillows, yet another sign that I was on to something here. I went to another shop and they had an inflatable pillow for 18€ At the cashier they had one pillow for 21€ and I decided that this one would be better. But it was not inflatable so I went back for the 18€ pillow as this would take less space in my bag when not in use. I walked to gate 303 and there was a very long line for boarding and yet again I was happy to have my Thai airways gold card. I asked if they had a seat with an empty seat next to it at the desk at the boarding gate. - No empty seat on this flight. Well, it is only 10 hours and 25 minutes and I will hopefully survive the flight. And I hope I have a small person in the seat next to me.
 Boarding Turkish Airlines flight TK 90 in Istanbul
 Istanbul International
 Boarding Turkish Airlines flight TK 90 in Istanbul
 Boarding Turkish Airlines flight TK 90 in Istanbul
 Boarding Turkish Airlines flight TK 90 in Istanbul
 The new pillow was very comfy
Easy to understand the perks of attaching a string to the travel pillow
I took my seat and I tried the new pillow, it was actually very nice and I will bring it with me on future flights. I had 2 girls in the seats next to me, but before take of the Stewardess came to  tell me that there was a row with an empty seat next to my seat.
I moved over. Could not believe my luck. I had 2 sleeping pills and I was soon asleep. Waking up and my pillow was gone. I made a mental note to put a string in the pillow next time I buy a neck travel pillow. I started a movie and it was soon time for breakfast, excellent food as always on board Turkish Airlines. Several cups of tea while watching movies and time turned quickly and I was kind of enjoying the flight. Our Agent picked me up at the immigration and we were soon outside were I would wait while the agent went to pick up an AB that will join Roy Maersk as well. We will stay at a hotel overnight and there is a 2nd Officer arriving tomorrow morning at 5 o'clock.  Waiting for the Agent and the new ABs
We will leave the hotel at 6 thirty tomorrow morning and we will be in Malacca 8 o'clock to join Roy Mærsk. It was an hour or so to the hotel and I recognised the hotel. I think I stayed here when I signed off Britta Mærsk a few years back. So I didn't expect much from the restaurant and the surrounding area, well, there was nothing much. I had dinner with the new AB in the restaurant, there was nothing interesting in the buffet so I only had noddle soup. I went to look for a Pepsi after dinner but I only found a barber shop and I had a haircut before returning to my room.  Hotel Empress
 I walk around waiting for the barber shop to have time for me
  I had asked the reception for a 5 o'clock wake up call. Gives me some time to get ready for the 6 thirty pick-up. And I'm looking forward to get on board now. 2 good things working on the ship: 1) When you put down the luggage in your cabin when joining 2) When you put down the luggage at home after signing off. +++++++++++++++
Saturday 19th of August 2017 and I was dead tired when they called form the reception. Not much sleep as there had been a terrible noise during the night. Anyway, I went for breakfast at 6  ten and then we were waiting for the Agent, and he was almost 30 minutes late. The Agent had to settle our bill and we were soon on our way to Melaka
The new 2nd officer had arrived at 5 o'clock in the morning so he was tires, and so was I and the new AB due to all the “middle of the night” racket at the hotel. But I was looking forward to coming on board and put my luggage in my cabin. And of course, to get out of the van. The van was of a standard Asian comfort, none comfort at all. So it was really nice to get out of the van in Sundai Linggi after almost 2 hours of driving. Passing the same scenery you see all over Malaysia. Palm oil palms, no forest or wilderness, only palm oil and rubber trees. I was looking for birds on the way and I managed to spot a few birds.  Our service boat
 Our service boat
 Leaving Sundai Linggi behind
We went to the immigration and then we were back to get our bags. The service boat was waiting for us and our AB was the first one to jump on board. I asked for a gangway as it looked a wee bit slippery to step on the gunwale of the service boat. So we stepped on to the boat behind and the service boat came there to pick us up. We left Sundai Linggi behind and I cannot say that I'm in a hurry to come back here again. We had two service Technicians with us that would repair our VHF radio. So all in all 5 people joining Roy Mærsk, the service Technicians will most likely leave tonight again. I was in the back looking out for Roy Mærsk and I was soon spotting her on the anchorage. She is waiting to load from another ship and the Agent told me that they would start late evening or early morning. So there will be time for a wee bit of rest before the fun and excitements starts.  Approaching m/t Roy Mærsk
 m/t Roy Mærsk
 m/t Roy Mærsk
 m/t Roy Mærsk
  Putting our luggage in the net
We jumped up on the gangway, yes, jumped on to the gangway as it was a wee bit choppy sea. I stepped on board around 9 thirty and I was soon with the off signing Chief Officer in the CCR. I recognised some of the crew. But not many. The AB left when we came and he had been on board when I signed off last time. Well, why change a winning concept? So I continue with the links to the months below. Just for ju to click! And enjoy? August 2017 - Joining in Sundai Linggi, Malaysia september 2017 - Will I sign off in Tanjung Pelepas, Malaysia? september 2017 - Off to Borneo to look for birds
    
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To www.aladdin.st since December 2005
Visitors from different countries since 26th of September 2011
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I join the ship 
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