I left home in Rocky Mount at 4:47 a.m. on January 1. The flight from RDU departed from the wonderful new Terminal 2. At 6:00 a.m., there were not too many passengers going through security. Everyone takes off shoes, outer clothing and everything goes through the machine, including you.
During the flight to Chicago I could see at least six power plants that are coal-fired along the Ohio River.
In Chicago I boarded United 835 which is a daily non-stop flight to Shanghai. Economy was only about half full. Thank goodness! I have links to two articles about this flight below.
The flight from Chicago went over the North Pole! This flight path has been used just since just since 2000.is It is much quicker and saves money on fuel.
I watched as the frozen Hudson Bay passed below. It was night, of course at the North Pole. Just a light on the horizon and then complete darkness. The pilot did not announce the passing as the passengers were sleeping. But the monitors displayed it on the map.
I had just woken up from drowsing and glanced at the monitor. I thought it displayed Finland or maybe the U.K. and Ireland. But it was the world map with the North Pole at the center.
The flight continued over Russia and MONGOLIA!
I remember the flight going to the Peace Corps which took over 25 hours from San Francisco to Kuala Lumpur.
The flight yesterday began at 4:47 a.m. in Rocky Mount and ended at 16:42 Shanghai time when my cabdriver dropped me off at the hotel.
This was UNDER 24 hours door to door.
This included flight times, airport waits, baggage, customs, immigration, and a stop at the ATM for RMB (yuan) currency! The very nice bank assistant showed me how to use the machine. I was surprised that when I asked for 100, it dispensed RMB 100 not $100. So back again! Ok, wait until the light is green before trying to get the cash out!
More tomorrow!
http://www.dancewithshadows.com/flights/shanghai-flights.asp
http://www.redorbit.com/news/business/456840/united_takes_polar_express_on_flights_to_china_japan_route/http://www.redorbit.com/news/business/456840/united_takes_polar_express_on_flights_to_china_japan_route/
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3 comments:
This sounds awesome! Good luck!
Thanks!!
The North Pole! Awesome. It would be great to go far and wide and see some many different things, if it was not for my hate of flying.
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