Captain Kirk

Flying with the old man

2007-06-16T09:33:00.001+03:00

Flying with the old man, originally uploaded by kirkdpleasant.

Ella and James with me on the way to South Afrrica

Camel

2007-06-16T02:24:00.001+03:00

Camel, originally uploaded by kirkdpleasant.

pic taken on my N95 mobile phone

Test photo

2007-06-14T23:08:00.001+03:00

Test photo, originally uploaded by kirkdpleasant.

The kids with me on the way to South Africa

test

2007-06-14T16:48:00.001+03:00

Trying to upload pictures

Ella and James in the cockpit

2007-05-23T19:58:00.000+03:00

This is a test upload picture of Ella and James with me on a trip to South Africa.

I'm back!

2007-05-23T19:47:00.000+03:00

After over 1 1/2 years 'off line' a I am back! Many things have happened in the time thatI have been gone... This is just a test post - more to come in the next few days.

2005-08-19T11:34:00.000+03:00

A picture of the shadow of the airplane with a halo on clouds.

Back in Doha

2005-08-19T11:28:00.000+03:00

The last few weeks have been very busy. I flew to South Africa at the beginning of the month. It was a short layover and I didn’t have much time to look around. A few of the crew members wanted to go shooting. We rented a few guns at the shooting range… reminded of shooting when I was growing up on the farm.

I returned to Doha and had a few days off and went to Bulgaria. I flew into Sofia and then drove about 5 hours to Sunny Beach (near Burgas http://www.beachbulgaria.com/sunnybeach/index.shtml). Bulgaria was a surprise package… being an old communist country (until 1989) I was expecting a place that was depressed and run down. The country has only about 7 million people and is very beautiful. Sunny Beach is a world class beach resort with great water sports and night life. On the way back I stayed 1 night in Plovdiv (http://www.plovdivcityguide.com/). I wished I had more time to spend there - it was an amazingly beautiful and interesting city.

When I returned to Doha I had a Paris trip. It was a very short overnight and where we stay is close to the airport. I went for a walk out in the country and around the local village.

I have just returned from London. It was a very nice flight (no night time sectors). When I arrived in London I took a ride on the Tube (tempting fate?) and went to a show in the West End (Queen –We will Rock You. http://www.albemarle-london.com/ShowInfo.php?Show_No=135 ). I arrived just as the show was starting and picked up a front row seat from a scalper for ½ price.

I am back in Doha and do not have any more layovers for the next week.

2005-08-19T10:45:00.000+03:00

Flowers at the village I overnight at in Paris.

2005-08-19T10:44:00.000+03:00

In Paris we overnight close to the airport in a little village. The flowers there are very beautiful.

2005-08-19T10:34:00.000+03:00

A view overlooking Plovdiv Bulgaria. I stayed 1 night only, which is not enough. It is a very beautiful city, built over an old Roman city.

2005-08-19T10:26:00.000+03:00

On the Beach in Bulgaria

2005-08-19T10:22:00.001+03:00

View from the hotel looking Dowm Sunny Beach

2005-08-19T10:22:00.000+03:00

I had 1 day of rain in Bulgaria

2005-08-19T10:15:00.000+03:00

Getting a Henna Tattoo...it last about 1 week

2005-08-19T10:12:00.000+03:00

Fake tattoo at Sunny Beach... it only lasts about 1 week.

2005-08-16T20:37:00.000+03:00

Playing with an Assault Rifle.

2005-08-16T20:35:00.000+03:00

Shooting in South Africa... I was using a Glock 17 at about 50' (16 metres)

2005-08-16T20:32:00.000+03:00

Capetown South Africa

2005-08-16T20:30:00.000+03:00

Table Mountain. Flying into Capetown.

2005-08-16T20:29:00.000+03:00

Only in South African Airports "Enter at your own risk"

August Roster

2005-07-30T08:48:00.000+03:00

http://www.geocities.com/kirkdpleasant/RosterAug05.htm

2005-07-29T17:02:00.000+03:00

Casablanca!

2005-07-29T17:00:00.000+03:00

Back from Casablanca… sounds better than it really is!
I have to admit it is very colourful and looks exotic but it is my least favourite place to stay – most of the non Arab crew also dislike staying there. (I prefer Dhaka over Casablanca!). The hotel is nice but is full of prostitutes and both times I have been in Casablanca people have tried to pickpocket me.
The flight to Casablanca went by Tripoli. We do not overnight there. It is an easy airport to get in and out of (no traffic!) and amazingly good air traffic control. Then off to Casablanca. The trip is very long and after coming from Dhaka the previous day, flying all night by the time we arrive at the hotel about 12:00 I fell into bed for a bit of a sleep. I later went to the gym and then out to try to find some food with a fat content of less than 50%...about the healthiest food they have is McDonald’s and KFC (I didn’t have either)….that is sad! The next day I took Zander (the pink hippo) on a bit of a sight see. We went to the largest mosque and then to the ocean. It is very pretty there. After a bit of a walk around I caught a taxi back to the bazaar across from the hotel. On the way I saw a man getting a tooth pulled out by a roadside dentist (man sitting on bucket with a pair of pliers and dirty hands… ouch!) by the time I got the taxi to turn around the tooth had been extracted (no photos) and the dentist was waiting for the next patient (victim?).
The bazaar is a maze of small laneways full of very colourful shops. It is very easy to get lost in the bazaar but all the satellite dishes on the building point the direction of the hotel… just follow the satellite dishes home!
After that it was off for a bit of sun by the pool then the flight back to Doha.
My next flight is on Sunday to Johannesburg and Capetown South Africa.
I return late Wednesday night and then have 4 days off. I have been invited to go to the Black Sea in Bulgaria (never thought I would be going there!).

2005-07-29T16:59:00.000+03:00

If you can read Arabic it probably says something like �Welcome to Tripoli anybody taking photos will be shot!�

2005-07-29T16:53:00.000+03:00

View form hotel room, overlooking the bazaar towards the mosque.

2005-07-29T16:51:00.000+03:00

Zander outside the biggest mosque in Casablanca.

2005-07-29T16:49:00.000+03:00

Zander outside the biggest mosque in Casablanca.

2005-07-29T16:47:00.000+03:00

Zander and I at the beach in Casablanca.

2005-07-29T16:46:00.000+03:00

Local law enforcement keeping Zander inline at the beach!

2005-07-29T16:44:00.000+03:00

Waves at Casablanca.

2005-07-29T16:43:00.000+03:00

Zander overlooking the beach at Casablanca.

2005-07-29T16:42:00.000+03:00

The local beach at Casablanca.

2005-07-29T16:40:00.000+03:00

Beach clubs at the Corniche Casablanca.

2005-07-29T16:38:00.000+03:00

The Corniche at Casablanca.

2005-07-29T16:36:00.000+03:00

Zander at the Beach with Moroccan family in the background.

2005-07-29T16:34:00.000+03:00

Donkey carts are still a common sight. Interesting fact...more people die worldwide from donkeys than plane crashes!

2005-07-29T16:31:00.000+03:00

Local kids wanted a picture with Zander.

2005-07-29T16:30:00.000+03:00

Not sure what these guy do. They offer you brass cups of water around the Bazaar (for money). I'll call them the water men.

2005-07-29T16:27:00.000+03:00

Zander, me and the water men.

2005-07-29T16:25:00.000+03:00

Mellons to market.

2005-07-29T16:24:00.000+03:00

A leg anyone?

2005-07-29T16:23:00.000+03:00

So much to choose from!

2005-07-29T16:19:00.000+03:00

Woman shoping at the Bazaar Casablanca.

2005-07-29T16:18:00.000+03:00

Bazaar at Casablanca.

2005-07-29T16:17:00.000+03:00

Fruits & veg

2005-07-29T16:14:00.000+03:00

Fish anyone?

2005-07-29T16:11:00.000+03:00

Heading for market.

2005-07-29T16:10:00.000+03:00

How much does a hen weigh?

2005-07-29T16:07:00.000+03:00

It was over 30C/86F out and very humid... fresh meat!

2005-07-29T16:03:00.000+03:00

Tradesmen (electricians, plumbers and painters) waiting for jobs.

2005-07-29T15:58:00.000+03:00

Clothes everywhere!

2005-07-29T15:55:00.000+03:00

Shop at the bazaar.

2005-07-29T15:54:00.000+03:00

Sorry for the fuzzy pic!

2005-07-26T13:12:00.000+03:00

I have just returned from Dhaka, Bangladesh. My friend on my shoulder name is Zander. She was a gift from a special friend and has become my mascot. I will be taking Zander around and taking pictures with her where ever I travel (more fun and interesting than pics of myself :)).
Bangladesh is a very poor country and some of the sights and smells there are hard to explain. Almost every street corner you have people begging for money - most are severely deformed or injured in some way. The smell of raw sewage and poor hygiene fills the air. Some of our crew members have vomited the first time they stayed here just from the smell. Sometimes we don't realize how lucky we are until we visit a place like this.
I am off tonight to Tripoli and Casablanca returning on Friday morning.

2005-07-26T12:58:00.000+03:00

Man in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

2005-07-26T12:56:00.000+03:00

Little one has sleep while parents shop Bongo Bazaar in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

2005-07-26T12:50:00.000+03:00

Every time you stop people come begging for money.

2005-07-26T12:48:00.000+03:00

Red light.

2005-07-26T12:47:00.000+03:00

transport in the streets of Dhaka.

2005-07-26T12:44:00.000+03:00

All the buses looked like this! Bad drivers!

2005-07-26T12:43:00.000+03:00

Back of bike taxi.

2005-07-26T12:41:00.000+03:00

The main form of transport in Dhaka.

2005-07-26T12:39:00.000+03:00

Street markets, Dhaka.

2005-07-26T12:37:00.000+03:00

A bit hot and humid... clothes shopping at Bongo Bazaar Dhaka

2005-07-26T12:34:00.000+03:00

Hi this is Zander!

I thought I would send a few pics of my first flight! I was a little nervous at first but after a few encouraging words (like if you don't want to come I'll leave you home, alone, in the dark without air-conditioning) I decided to go with Kirk to Dhaka. I tried on the hat and epaulets- I think I'll have to grow a bit to fit into them. Then it was off to the airplane. What fun! I got to play with the stick and sit up and watch the takeoff! It was a long night but I didn't close my eyes once...not even during the landing. Then it was off to the hotel...I was scared and hid in Kirk's flight bag...scary people! The hotel was ok after a bit of a rest I went to Bongo Bazaar...some times I wish I wasn't born with such a big nose....the smell! Soon I had enough and returned to the hotel to rest for the return flight. I am now back in Doha (it is hot...) and looking forward to heading off to Casablanca (Kirk doesn't seem so excited).

2005-07-26T12:32:00.000+03:00

Checking out Bongo Bazaar (clothes shops) in Dhaka Bangladesh.

2005-07-26T12:27:00.000+03:00

Checking out the view!

2005-07-26T12:25:00.000+03:00

Trying on the hat... how do I look?

2005-07-26T12:23:00.000+03:00

Trying on the 4 bars - You can call me Captain!

2005-07-26T12:17:00.000+03:00

Trying to fly the airplane!

2005-07-26T12:08:00.000+03:00

Watching what the boys are doing in the cockpit.

2005-07-26T12:06:00.000+03:00

Having a play on the throttles of the plane.

2005-07-26T12:04:00.000+03:00

Zander enjoying the ride.

2005-07-23T15:58:00.000+03:00

Ella, james and me.

I am back!

2005-07-23T15:55:00.000+03:00

Long time no post! I am back in Qatar flying after the holiday with the kids. I had a bit of trouble with the computer and no time to fix up my blog until now.
The holiday with the kids was great. They have grown and matured so much since I saw them last. Ella is proving to be an A+ student and her personality is as wonderful as ever! She is such a well rounded person and will excel in anything she does in life. James has matured a lot and is now at the top of his class and doing really well at school. He is starting to improve in sports and as with his sister he has a beautiful nature. I am very proud of both children. They flew to Bangkok (by their selves) and we looked around for a day. One of the places we went was to the snake farm where we watch one of the handlers get bitten by a snake! Luckily for him it was not poisonous (the snake he was handling before was a king cobra…lucky man!). We then flew to Penang Malaysia for a week. I did not realise that all the Arabs escape the Middle East during summer to Malaysia! It felt like I was in Doha (not really at least it was green!). We stayed on the beach at first then changed to an Island resort called Jerejak. I had some bad luck on the way there a taxi ran over my foot as I was getting out which put a bit of a damper on the rest of the holiday (no broken bones ,just some lost skin and bruising). The kids enjoyed the activities there including rock climbing, abseiling, flying fox, and archery. We then returned to Bangkok and did some shopping! It was very sad to let the kids return to Melbourne, I miss them heaps …but that is life.
I returned and was sent straight to Bangkok for 5 days and then off to Singapore for about 4 days. I am now back in Doha and heading out today for a 7 day trip that includes Dhaka (Bangladesh), Tripoli (Libya - thankfully no overnight there!) and Casablanca (Morocco).

2005-07-23T15:48:00.000+03:00

Ella and James arrival into Bangkok.

2005-07-23T15:47:00.000+03:00

Ella with a new friend.

2005-07-23T15:46:00.000+03:00

Feeding time????

2005-07-23T15:42:00.000+03:00

Jame and dad with a little one!

2005-07-23T15:41:00.000+03:00

On plane to Penang!

2005-07-23T15:40:00.000+03:00

Pool at Paridise Sandy Bay, Penang.

2005-07-23T15:38:00.000+03:00

Sandy Bay, Penang

2005-07-23T15:37:00.000+03:00

Muslim woman and child on beach. Sandy Bay Penang.

2005-07-23T15:36:00.000+03:00

James.

2005-07-23T15:34:00.000+03:00

Ella

2005-07-23T15:33:00.001+03:00

Beautiful!

2005-07-23T15:33:00.000+03:00

Kids having fun at the beach in Penang.

2005-07-23T15:31:00.000+03:00

Pool at Jerejak resort.

2005-07-23T15:27:00.000+03:00

James being a little devil!

2005-07-23T15:25:00.000+03:00

Ella and dad trying to sing...good thing we were the only ones at the beach bar!

2005-07-23T15:23:00.000+03:00

Ella checking the water temp

2005-07-23T15:22:00.000+03:00

Ella

2005-07-23T15:20:00.001+03:00

James putting on a brave face!

2005-07-23T15:20:00.000+03:00

Am I really going to do this?

2005-07-23T15:17:00.000+03:00

Ella on the flying fox.

2005-07-23T15:15:00.001+03:00

James after ride.

2005-07-23T15:15:00.000+03:00

James about to go for a ride.

2005-07-23T15:09:00.000+03:00

On my way down the flying fox.

2005-07-23T15:08:00.000+03:00

Ella going for a ride.