Comments on: French Polynesia From the Air and On the Ground (Trip Report Part 2) http://crankyflier.com/2009/05/01/french-polynesia-from-the-air-and-on-the-ground-trip-report-part-2/ Thu, 24 May 2012 17:49:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: David H http://crankyflier.com/2009/05/01/french-polynesia-from-the-air-and-on-the-ground-trip-report-part-2/comment-page-1/#comment-357776 David H Sat, 18 Feb 2012 01:07:42 +0000 http://crankyflier.com/?p=2604#comment-357776 Seeing hundreds of fish come up to the boat is one of the coolest things in the world - one of natures finest wonders, sounds like you had one heck of a trip with some very great views :) Seeing hundreds of fish come up to the boat is one of the coolest things in the world – one of natures finest wonders, sounds like you had one heck of a trip with some very great views :)

]]> By: Matthew http://crankyflier.com/2009/05/01/french-polynesia-from-the-air-and-on-the-ground-trip-report-part-2/comment-page-1/#comment-73291 Matthew Tue, 05 May 2009 23:57:02 +0000 http://crankyflier.com/?p=2604#comment-73291 Thanks for the great trip reports --also my favorite posts on CF. Tahiti seems a great escape from a lot, not least of all "security theatre." Watching the videos also reminds me of how often I second-guess myself, not having my camera handy on flights. That's because I usually opt for aisle seats and therefore think little of my camera in the carry-on. The last time I did pick a window seat, it was leaving Bali on Singapore Air (those with the skinny seats) and of course I was seated next to Brunhilde and Helga the giant German Amazon tourists. :-) When I honeymoon in August I'll be going First Class, so I may just keep the camera in my lap for it! Thanks for the great trip reports –also my favorite posts on CF. Tahiti seems a great escape from a lot, not least of all “security theatre.”

Watching the videos also reminds me of how often I second-guess myself, not having my camera handy on flights. That’s because I usually opt for aisle seats and therefore think little of my camera in the carry-on. The last time I did pick a window seat, it was leaving Bali on Singapore Air (those with the skinny seats) and of course I was seated next to Brunhilde and Helga the giant German Amazon tourists. :-)

When I honeymoon in August I’ll be going First Class, so I may just keep the camera in my lap for it!

]]> By: The Traveling Optimist http://crankyflier.com/2009/05/01/french-polynesia-from-the-air-and-on-the-ground-trip-report-part-2/comment-page-1/#comment-73289 The Traveling Optimist Tue, 05 May 2009 20:33:23 +0000 http://crankyflier.com/?p=2604#comment-73289 @ Jeremy - Dude you nailed it exactly! I've wanted to fly that "milk run" with Continental Mike for the loooongest time! Only I have to time it such that I'm more than 24 hours but less than 7 days in Truk/Chuuk, the one of most interest. I'd like to dive the lagoon and see some of the WW-II relics there from the naval base the Japanese operated there. Thanks for the reminder, guy! @ Jeremy –

Dude you nailed it exactly! I’ve wanted to fly that “milk run” with Continental Mike for the loooongest time! Only I have to time it such that I’m more than 24 hours but less than 7 days in Truk/Chuuk, the one of most interest. I’d like to dive the lagoon and see some of the WW-II relics there from the naval base the Japanese operated there.

Thanks for the reminder, guy!

]]> By: Brian Lusk http://crankyflier.com/2009/05/01/french-polynesia-from-the-air-and-on-the-ground-trip-report-part-2/comment-page-1/#comment-73259 Brian Lusk Mon, 04 May 2009 19:27:49 +0000 http://crankyflier.com/?p=2604#comment-73259 CF,what about the miserability quotent that airplane spotters are supposed to endure, wind, rain, cold, bundled in a uniform anorak? It's like fishing, you aren't happy unless you are miserable! Okay, I don't believe that either, and I am so jealous. A little of that jealousy is spread to Jeremy above too. My dad worked for CO for 35 years, and when they first established AirMike, one of his friends was the General Manager in Guam. I have been wanting to go there ever since. CF,what about the miserability quotent that airplane spotters are supposed to endure, wind, rain, cold, bundled in a uniform anorak? It’s like fishing, you aren’t happy unless you are miserable! Okay, I don’t believe that either, and I am so jealous. A little of that jealousy is spread to Jeremy above too. My dad worked for CO for 35 years, and when they first established AirMike, one of his friends was the General Manager in Guam. I have been wanting to go there ever since.

]]> By: Jeremy http://crankyflier.com/2009/05/01/french-polynesia-from-the-air-and-on-the-ground-trip-report-part-2/comment-page-1/#comment-73256 Jeremy Mon, 04 May 2009 18:18:50 +0000 http://crankyflier.com/?p=2604#comment-73256 To Traveling Optimist, While you could always take the direct flights from HNL to Guam (GUM), I highly recommend Continental Micronesia's island hopping service from HNL to MAJ (Marshall Islands), KWA (Kwajalein Atoll - where you can only deplane with military orders specifically for the atoll), KSA (Kosrae, Micronesia), PNI (Pohnpei, Mictronesia), TKK (Truk/Chuuk) and then to Guam. (Yes, Cranky, I had to look up most of those airport codes...) It's a pretty out-of-the-way route so both the stops and the passengers usually have pretty interesting stories. It's another place where you'll get to experience minimal security (such as being asked to walk through a painted plywood frame which was supposed to be a "metal detector." These are no frills, open-air terminals. But, I have to say that while we often bash our legacy carriers for a diminishing level of service, Continental Micronesia remains a jem. I remember being distinctly disappointed (read disgusted) when I transfered from a Continental Micronesia flight to regular domestic Continental. I highly recommend making the effort to check out those routes... To Traveling Optimist,

While you could always take the direct flights from HNL to Guam (GUM), I highly recommend Continental Micronesia’s island hopping service from HNL to MAJ (Marshall Islands), KWA (Kwajalein Atoll – where you can only deplane with military orders specifically for the atoll), KSA (Kosrae, Micronesia), PNI (Pohnpei, Mictronesia), TKK (Truk/Chuuk) and then to Guam. (Yes, Cranky, I had to look up most of those airport codes…) It’s a pretty out-of-the-way route so both the stops and the passengers usually have pretty interesting stories. It’s another place where you’ll get to experience minimal security (such as being asked to walk through a painted plywood frame which was supposed to be a “metal detector.” These are no frills, open-air terminals. But, I have to say that while we often bash our legacy carriers for a diminishing level of service, Continental Micronesia remains a jem. I remember being distinctly disappointed (read disgusted) when I transfered from a Continental Micronesia flight to regular domestic Continental.

I highly recommend making the effort to check out those routes…

]]> By: Dan (in BOS & FLL) http://crankyflier.com/2009/05/01/french-polynesia-from-the-air-and-on-the-ground-trip-report-part-2/comment-page-1/#comment-73212 Dan (in BOS & FLL) Mon, 04 May 2009 01:26:57 +0000 http://crankyflier.com/?p=2604#comment-73212 Hey, Great Reports! I think I got stuck in that same storm system you did on the way down. I ran into some pretty good turbulance on the way to SLC from HNL last week. I've never quite felt a 767-400 move like the way it did last week... Dan Hey,
Great Reports!
I think I got stuck in that same storm system you did on the way down. I ran into some pretty good turbulance on the way to SLC from HNL last week. I’ve never quite felt a 767-400 move like the way it did last week…

Dan

]]> By: Eric in ICT http://crankyflier.com/2009/05/01/french-polynesia-from-the-air-and-on-the-ground-trip-report-part-2/comment-page-1/#comment-73120 Eric in ICT Fri, 01 May 2009 22:34:12 +0000 http://crankyflier.com/?p=2604#comment-73120 Sounds like an awesome trip, Cranky! I'm jealous of the no-boundaries plane-spotting. Thanks for another great trip report...these are one of my favorite parts of your blog. Sounds like an awesome trip, Cranky! I’m jealous of the no-boundaries plane-spotting. Thanks for another great trip report…these are one of my favorite parts of your blog.

]]> By: The Traveling Optimist http://crankyflier.com/2009/05/01/french-polynesia-from-the-air-and-on-the-ground-trip-report-part-2/comment-page-1/#comment-73111 The Traveling Optimist Fri, 01 May 2009 16:27:01 +0000 http://crankyflier.com/?p=2604#comment-73111 A - I responded to your inquiry about Phuket in Part 1. A –

I responded to your inquiry about Phuket in Part 1.

]]> By: The Traveling Optimist http://crankyflier.com/2009/05/01/french-polynesia-from-the-air-and-on-the-ground-trip-report-part-2/comment-page-1/#comment-73108 The Traveling Optimist Fri, 01 May 2009 16:07:06 +0000 http://crankyflier.com/?p=2604#comment-73108 Sounds like it was a perfect travel bug vacation! Boats, bugsters and Boeings every 3-4 days with the odd ATR tossed in to top the salad! My lifelong dream is to do the same sort of milk-run thru Micronesia to see cultural and WW-II history at Yap, Chuuk (Truk) and Tinian. Sounds like it was a perfect travel bug vacation! Boats, bugsters and Boeings every 3-4 days with the odd ATR tossed in to top the salad!

My lifelong dream is to do the same sort of milk-run thru Micronesia to see cultural and WW-II history at Yap, Chuuk (Truk) and Tinian.

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