Dive into the archives.
- UPS Pilots & Mechanics
After every flight, UPS pilots fill out a form, called a ‘gripe sheet, which tells mechanics about problems with the aircraft. The mechanics correct the problems, document their repairs on the form, and then pilots review the gripe sheets before the next flight. Here are some actual maintenance complaints submitted by UPS [...]
- Tunisia Travelogue
Although my recent trip to Tunisia was short and not the usual journey through a war torn country, it was a fantastic experience and absolutely gorgeous country. Hence, I’ve completed a short travelogue for it and added it to the right hand sidebar along with the others. Readers can view it by clicking here.
- Back from Tunisia
For the past 9 days, Mrs. Chirol and I have been on vacation in Tunisia. While it wasn’t one of my traditional trips full of conflict and instability, it was enjoyable and most importantly relaxing. Although I didn’t blog it as I was more than happy to disconnect for a week, I did take a [...]
- Younghusband would be proud
Everest record old news for Japanese climber, 75
A 75-year-old Japanese climber reached the top of Mount Everest on Monday, a day too late to reclaim his record as the summit’s oldest conqueror. Elderly mountaineer Yuichiro Miura, who has undergone two bouts of heart surgery, congratulated Nepal’s Min Bahadur Sherchan, 76, who scaled the world’s [...]
- That one’s probably not covered by insurance
This is one of the few travel warnings aimed at men, not women.
Lynchings in Congo as penis theft panic hits capital
KINSHASA (Reuters) – Police in Congo have arrested 13 suspected sorcerers accused of using black magic to steal or shrink men’s penises after a wave of panic and attempted lynchings triggered by the alleged witchcraft. [...]
- The Gods at Nikko
Photos of the guards at the gates of the temples of Nikko, in Tochigi, Japan.
- Japan’s Border Towns
Japan is an archipelago and has no land border with any neighboring nation. However, several towns and regions take the modern role of “border town”—politically, economically, and culturally.
Wakkanai is the northernmost town in Japan and is located just across from Sakhalin island, which today is Russian territory. Wakkanai developed a century ago as [...]
- Oh! Kolkata!
Kaplan on India, finally (thanks Eddie!):
Oh! Kolkata!
When judging a new place, a traveler must first always reckon with his or her point of departure. Arriving in Calcutta by bus from Dhaka, the capital of next-door Bangladesh, is like arriving in West Berlin from East Berlin during the Cold War—a trip I made several times. Grayness [...]
- Only in Australia
Taken by my sister during our Christmas trip to Australia.
I’m not sure what to think of the fact that the rack is empty—is it a sign of no supply or lots of demand?
- To America and Back
Readers will surely have noticed my absence the past few weeks. For it, I apologize, as I was on semi-vacation in the US for a wedding.
From that trip I give you a few quick pictures. I spent most time in my native South and then 4 nights in Vegas. I’ll continue to post lightly [...]
