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  1. #26
    Thailand Expat
    naptownmike's Avatar
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    Have a safe trip.

    I'm looking forward to following along.

  2. #27
    Thailand Expat helge's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Buckaroo Banzai View Post
    I am starting to miss work.
    I could do with a gardener

    ?

  3. #28
    Hangin' Around cyrille's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Buckaroo Banzai View Post
    I will miss you pond thread.
    He’s doubtless been called worse, but…

  4. #29
    Excommunicated baldrick's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Backspin View Post
    Just curious what kind of flights you take on these tours. Direct from BKK to Kristiansund ?
    it is a private jet

    with willing women and cocaine

    and cider on tap

  5. #30
    In Uranus
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    Quote Originally Posted by Mendip View Post
    Just curious... I always thought you Americans were Imperial for this stuff? I'm 185cm but always prefer to say 6', unless at work and surrounded by continentals, or pretty much anywhere else I've been outside of the UK.
    We do. I am 6'3" tall. I just converted it to cm because I figured that is what most here use.

  6. #31
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    Quote Originally Posted by baldrick View Post
    it is a private jet

    with willing women and cocaine

    and cider on tap
    And with few good friends who rather do not want to be on the flight record...

  7. #32
    Isle of discombobulation Joe 90's Avatar
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    Have a good trip Mendip.

    Absence makes the heart grow fonder and all that cal...

    All the best.

  8. #33
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    Safe travels . . . gute Reise, Mandip.

  9. #34
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    Buckaroo Banzai's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by helge View Post
    I could do with a gardener

    ?
    I miss my work, not any work LOL, But if you want me to come over and kill your plants ? How much does it pay?

  10. #35
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    Well, thanks for all the good wishes.

    Leaving home when on regular short work rotations is easy, almost mundane. But leaving home for an unknown length of time, probably several months, after 7 months at home isn't easy... even after doing this shit for 30 years. Covid has made this work extremely trying and I worry about the next few years... I need another 10 out of this industry before I can consider hanging up my geological hammer. I don't think it's gonna be so easy.


    Quote Originally Posted by Backspin View Post
    Just curious what kind of flights you take on these tours. Direct from BKK to Kristiansund ? Do you get some recovery time for the jet lag ?
    The itinerary is BKK - FRA - OSL - KSU... nothing direct...


    Quote Originally Posted by baldrick View Post
    it is a private jet

    with willing women and cocaine

    and cider on tap
    See above... no private jet, those days are long gone for us geologists.


    Quote Originally Posted by Klondyke View Post
    And with few good friends who rather do not want to be on the flight record...
    As mentioned, those days are long gone!


    Quote Originally Posted by panama hat View Post
    Safe travels . . . gute Reise, Mandip.
    Yes, Gute Reise indeed PH... I'll be passing through Frankfurt enroute.

    I was restricted to night flights to comply with the stringent PCR test time allowance to enter Norway, so KLM was out. I was expecting Qatar so these Lufthansa flights to Oslo were a surprise. Germany has recently dropped Covid restrictions for transit passengers so I think that may have been the reason.

    All said and done... there is little to enjoy about flying these days whichever airline you use but I've always found Lufthansa to be quite OK.

  11. #36
    Thailand Expat
    Mendip's Avatar
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    It's eerily quiet in Bangkok... here was Sukhumvit Road last night at 9:20pm... deserted and with an empty BTS train overhead.



    I had to go out search for food to go with my couple of bottles of Leo and last few tots of Hong Thong.

    I found my favourite... a larb moo with some accompaniments. The food will hopefully last through Sunday as I plan to absolutely nothing... it all starts on Monday, the day from hell.



    I’d been waiting all week for my flight details and they finally arrived late on Friday evening… I sometimes wonder if these Norwegian companies appreciate the difficulties of travel outside of Scandinavia during Covid, or even if they appreciate that there are time zones.

    I had to wait for the flight details before I could book a PCR test and for days had been urging the company to send me details since the Covid testing facilities are currently so busy in Thailand. I had told them that it had to be a night flight, the only way to get results within 24 hours of departure (Norway's regulations) and luckily they took note of that, but by the time I knew I was to fly out on Monday night, all available slots for same day turnaround were taken on Monday at Bumrungrad, Samitivej and Sukhumvit Hospitals. Samitivej was fully booked for the entire week. International travel has become so difficult now and these companies really need to adapt and give ample time for people to organise this stuff... instead of flying you at the last minute to save paying an extra day rate, etc etc.



    Just as it was looking as though this work could fall through at the first hurdle I called Bangkok Hospital at Watthana and they had available express PCR testing on Monday, which should turn around the results in 6 to 8 hours. This means a PCR test at 7:30 am and if negative, I can hopefully pick up the certificate on the way to the airport in the evening. It costs 5500 Baht but I’ll get that back on expenses.

    If it's a positive test result of course this thread will come to an abrupt halt.

    In case anyone is in a similar situation, Bangkok Hospital: Tel. 02 310 3000

    It's a real pain having to get up at 6am on the day of a night flight because I'll never get any more sleep during the day... I just can't seem to do that any more. It will also be a real pain heading off to the Bangkok Hospital with my bags to pick up the test certificate, and then to head directly to the airport. I'll have to arrive hours before my flight because of the 9pm curfew... I've been told many taxis won't pick you up early evening for fear of breaking the curfew.

    But that's Covid for you... I'm already looking forward to finally sitting on my seat on that Lufthansa plane, even if it will just be the start of my journey.
    Last edited by Mendip; 22-08-2021 at 12:19 PM.

  12. #37
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    Quote Originally Posted by Mendip View Post
    As mentioned, those days are long gone!
    Never say never...

  13. #38
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    Quote Originally Posted by Mendip View Post
    As mentioned, those days are long gone!
    Quote Originally Posted by Klondyke View Post
    Never say never...
    Umm . . . he didn't.

  14. #39
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    It'll all work out. I recently did CHC - AKL - BNE - DOH - DMM. Fortunately on the AKL to DOH legs the plane was only about a quarter full, so being able to stretch out was a pleasant bonus. Only downside was Qatar Airways food is pretty bad, even for airline food. Speaking of airline food, Lufthansa, which I flew out of Saudi earlier this year, had decent enough grub. You should be well fed and watered on the German airline.
    pues, estamos aqui

  15. #40
    Thailand Expat Saint Willy's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Mendip View Post
    I'm already looking forward to finally sitting on my seat on that Lufthansa plane, even if it will just be the start of my journey.
    Reply Reply With Quote

    I can imagine, because at least it’s then done! Up to the pilots!

  16. #41
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    I don't envy you in the slightest Mendy. Having spent many years on rotation to mainly inhospitable places with transits of varying degrees of angst. I sometimes reflect on what I'd do were I still working during these times, though I'd undoubtable rather be stuck on the job and continuing to earn rather than being stuck at home. Look forward to your tales and insights.

  17. #42
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    ^ Yeah I agree PAG... but a young daughter changes all of that. I have to be fair... and she won't stay young forever.

  18. #43
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    Quote Originally Posted by happynz View Post
    It'll all work out. I recently did CHC - AKL - BNE - DOH - DMM. Fortunately on the AKL to DOH legs the plane was only about a quarter full, so being able to stretch out was a pleasant bonus. Only downside was Qatar Airways food is pretty bad, even for airline food. Speaking of airline food, Lufthansa, which I flew out of Saudi earlier this year, had decent enough grub. You should be well fed and watered on the German airline.
    I agree HNZ... I've always thought Qatar's claim to be the only '5 Star Airline' to be vastly over-inflated.

    But do they have metal cutlery? It's been a few years since I've flown Lufthansa and I really hope for a new spoon for my collection.... but most European airlines have now gone plastic.

    I'll find out Monday evening... I guess it's these small things that keep international travel interesting.

  19. #44
    Thailand Expat lom's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Mendip View Post
    But do they have metal cutlery?
    Are you flying business or cattle class? Business is probably plastic free.

  20. #45
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    Cattle all the way mate.

    Business has long gone for us contractors. As has private jets.

    Tbh I'm still hopefull of a spoon out of Lufthansa... German engineering and all that.

  21. #46
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    Quote Originally Posted by Mendip View Post
    Tbh I'm still hopefull of a spoon out of Lufthansa... German engineering and all that.
    My people thank you for flying Lufthansa and will try to get you your cutlery.

  22. #47
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    Unfortunately, you will have had better leg room in your taxi to Bangkok than you will on your Lufthansa flight.

  23. #48
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    Safe travels Mendip, look forward to reading your upcoming adventures and I hope you find that golden rivet this time.

  24. #49
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    Quote Originally Posted by Mendip View Post
    I'm already looking forward to finally sitting on my seat on that Lufthansa plane.
    Yes, I agree, especially if it was long haul. It was the one place no one could bother me (the days before phones on planes) - a few cocktails, a bite to eat and a sleep. Otherwise it seemed like I was on constant 24 hour call.
    However those days are well and truly over and I don't miss them.

    I certainly don't envy you flying around the world these days.

    Good luck and safe travels

  25. #50
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    ^ I don't envy myself either, tbh.

    On Tuesday afternoon, if all goes to plan, I should be checking into a Kristiansund hotel for the night.

    I already know the weather will be cold and windy, but I also know that there will be a cold Norwegian receptionist at the hotel to check me into my my cold, sterile, 18 square meter room with two single beds pushed up against one another, with a host of modern 'Memes' posted on the bathroom wall telling me about the need to be environmentally conscious.

    You see if I'm not wrong.

    Compare that to my Bangkok hotel room...

    If I checked into a room in Norway and said I had a bad toe that needed attention they would laugh (frown) at me. In Thailand, no problem.

    And you also get a bell boy in Thailand to carry your bags to the rooms... try asking for that in Scandinavia!

    Sorry Snubby for the graphic pics... but I'm better now! And it was all on the hotel!



    I guess this is one of the reasons I will never move back to the West.

    Good to go... try getting that sorted in Norway!


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