woensdag 31 augustus 2016

Whale Shark swimming in the Phillipines

Most destinations we fly to there are certain things that the crew like to do. For example hanggliding in Rio de Janeiro, walking up Table mountain in Capetown, taking massages in Bangkok, visiting the Opera House in Sydney, and I can go on and on.. But now you have an idea what I mean. We have a new destination since a few months, the new Cebu/Clark trip. First one day to Cebu and then you fly to Clark the next day where you stay another day in Clark before heading back to the desert. In Cebu there are two things EVERYBODY likes to do, one is seeing the waterfall and some islands, and secondly swimming with whale sharks! Of course I like seeing waterfalls and islands, but when do I get another chance to actually swim with whale sharks, so my decision was made pretty easily. We got to the hotel around 5pm and we had to get up around 2.30am to meet down at 2.45 and leave the hotel at 3am, the ride down to where the whale sharks would be was about 3 hours!!! So we got prepared, I had my own pillow with me (obviously) and some earphones so I could take a nap on the bus. We were with 6 of us, 5 girls and 1 guy (who is a semi-girl haha). We arrived at the spot around 5.45am, and we could see the sunrise. I have seen many sunrises but this one was different, the colors all together were truly magical. I just stood there for a minute taking in the moment that I was in, and feeling truly blessed I have the opportunity to be able to do something like this with work. Around 6 we had a little briefing, of things to do and things not to do while swimming with the whale sharks. We were not allowed to touch them or get closer then 4 meters. Obviously they touched us and we did get closer then 4 meters. As we were in the boats going to the 'interaction area' we could already see some whale sharks, and they are massive!!! So once they told us we could go in the water I put on my goggles and got in the water slowly, kinda scared but very curious as well. The first time I looked underneath the water it scared me big time. There was one whale shark on my right and then once I looked on the left there was another one, really close-by!!! I wanted to scream but I couldn't, also because it was just unreal having those animals so close to me. It was one of those moment that you can take a hundred photos but all of them won't do justice for the experience and the feelings you felt at that time, it's hard to describe... Some girls I was with did not get the same feeling I guess, they were complaining the whole time, and at one point I just told them to stop complaining about things that it was cold and they couldn't take their phones on the boat. But not for Merel !!! I was loving every second of it. The bus ride back to the hotel took about 3 hours again as well, just had enough time to sleep for 3/4 hours before the flight to Clark. That flight would only take about 1 hour so it wasn't that long. Some people would climb the volcano in Clark but apparently you can't do that during rain season. So that was a shame, I just slept a lot, chilled and relaxed. It's been definitely an unforgettable experience, and I do have some photos that I can look at and think about this amazing day, and I will think about it for a long time!!!! Thank youuuu Philippines <3 xoxo until next time..!

zaterdag 20 augustus 2016

From Bangkok to Amsterdam, Osaka, Athens and Warsaw in 20 days..

What a few weeks it has been. Started this month in Bangkok, the flight was amazing, sometimes you fly with crew and it just works. We were joking around all the time and the atmosphere was just incredible. It's always to chill in Bangkok and lay down by the pool after a massage. I was so excited because after this flight I was going on holiday back in Holland, and I was so looking forward just to spend some time with my family and then go to Solar festival in the south with Evelien, who unfortunately resigned. The weather wasn't the greatest the first few days in Holland. Evelien and I were so lucky during the festival because the weather was absolutely amazing, just some sun and a nice wind once in a while. The festival itself was unbelievably good, the people were so nice, everybody was just having a good time. It was refreshing to spend more then 1 day in the Netherlands, and I forgot how chilled everybody always is. What happend on my flight back to the desert can be read in the previous blog, you need to read that one, you will be in shock!

After my holidays in holland I had to go back to work, it was good that this was a good flight, one I was trying to get already for 2.5 years, and now it was finally time for OSAKA, which is in Japan, for the people who don't know (don't be ashamed, I didn't know this place even existed before I started flying). There are so many Japanese speakers on this flight because not many Japanese speak English. The whole service is different as well, including the food. We actually serve real sushi on the flight, how crazy! Not that I like sushi, but in case somebody does. Once arrived at the hotel in Osaka we made dinner plans. We were with 3 from the cabin and then the flight deck, who went back to the hotel after dinner. The 3 of us decided to go to one bar one of them heard about. It's always those 'one bars' where you have the best night outs. We had so much fun, the music was incredible, people so nice and everybody was just dancing and having a good time. So we ended up getting back to the hotel pretty late, so much for planning a full day of sightseeing, not, I just couldn't.... So I stayed in Osaka and walked around there for a bit, before heading back to the hotel to sleep before my flight back.

We landed in the early morning, then I went to bed for 5 hours, I was so tired. Then my friend becky came over and we realized that we both had the next 3 days off together. And days off together most of the time means, GETAWAYYYY! We were looking around where we could go, somewhere not to far, still a nice destination and once we got there it had to be cheap! If we would have stayed in the desert we also would have spend money so we thought, why not go to Athens. It's only a 4 hour flight, we both never been and both interested enough to check out this European city. Within an hour we decided to go to Athens, and not short after that we booked our tickets for the next day, as if we booked a bus ticket. Becky and I were going to Athens!!! The flight going wasn't busy at all so we had the whole row for ourselves. We got to the hotel around 3pm, we changed and it was time to find out what there is to do and see in Athens. As we were walking to the city centre we could already see the Acropolis on top of a hill, and I must say, it just looked unreal. As if we were in a Hercules movie. We went from a nice terrace drinking a beer to this rooftop bar having a mojito. Time to go back to the hotel, have a shower, change and go back to the centre again for some dinner. As we were walking around we were just wondering around, seeing which places are nice to eat. Then we found this little street which was going up by stairs, and on the side people were sitting on a cushian having a drink and something to eat, it looked so cute, with all these plans going over the street as a roof. Just beautiful. We found a nice rooftop restaurant just below the Acropolis, it was dark by this time and it was an amazing view to look over Athens with all the lights and the mountains. But by the time we were finished we decided to have one last drink at another rooftop bar and then head to bed, because we were already awake for a long time, and we wanted to make the most out of the next day. We woke up around 9.30 and were on our way to the Acropolis around 11, the queue to get tickets was massive, but fast. We walked around the Acropolis for around an hour just being amazed that it was so old and still standing most of it at least. The city of Athens is such a nice city, busy but nice. So many good places to sit, have a drink and purely watch people. Becky found on trip advisor this Wine Deli Bar, it took us a while to find but it was definitely worth the wait. It was sooooo good, we could try 4 different types of white wine before we had to decide which we wanted to drink, then we ordered a plate with all different types of cheese, pastrami, fruit and different types of dressings. It was just perfect, the wine was amazing and in combination with this deli plate, just perfect! That night we were planning to find out how the party scene would be in Athens. And to be honest with you, it was nice but not like wow this is the best party city I have ever been. I'am sure there are clubs around, but most people were just chilling with a drink in their hands and did not even bother dancing. So then I asked a bartender where we could go for a dance, so we ended up at this really greek bar where people were dancing, winning! At one point we got so tired from walking in the sun all day, those wine, and then the cocktails, it was time for bed. The next day was already the day we were getting back home. It was a bit stressful for me if we would get on the flight, but we managed, woehoeee! Thank you Athens for your beauty, history, hospitality, lovely wine and the many restaurants and bars, we did not expect Athens to be this amazing. So definitely a recommendation here!

Today I'am in Warsaw in Poland. The flight was good, all my colleagues in business class are girls, so no drama haha! This city is surprisingly pretty cool as well. I'am sure I would enjoy this more if I wouldn't be this tired. Think I'am already awake for around 20/21 hours, and I cannot wait to go to bed! So I am going to sleep.. Good night everybody!

woensdag 10 augustus 2016

Awkward Situations...

With this job you sometimes come in to situations, where you afterwards think, oef I wish I handled it in a different way. I have seen people, thought they were pregnant, had a big discussion about it with the crew to ask for a second opinion, and yes I have asked a non pregnant woman if she was pregnant. It's so hard to see sometimes if they have wide clothes on. And it is for us very important to know if somebody is pregnant or not, because you never know what might happen once we are in the air.

Especially in bc you need to think more about the things you can say or want to say, there is a big difference in that. Some male passengers cannot define the difference between being nice and being flirty. Most of the times it's not what you say but how you say it, and with a smile you can say a lot and they still would not have a clue if you're serious or not. I have had guys coming up to me and ask for my number, which is then pretty awkward, and what do you do? I used the boyfriend excuse a few times, then they told me oh tell your boyfriend he is a lucky man, then I thought of course I will tell him, once I actually have one haha! It's not good to lie, so sometimes I told them as well that I wasn't interested and that's not a good idea for me to give my contact details.

One time when I flew to Frankfurt, there was a happy couple sitting opposite of me during take off and landing. They told me they went to Mauritius together and had such a good time. Within 3 hours, from landing getting to the hotel and getting on the wifi, the guy has send me a message on Facebook! WHILE HE WAS WITH HIS GIRLFRIEND! How weird is it for this guy to really look at my name badge and look me up on Facebook and even dares to send me a message saying, next time you're in Frankfurt let me know and I can show you around! Well, how about no?!

But some awkward situations are quite funny afterwards. The other day I had a guy on board and I just recognized him, but I just could not place his face. So I went up to talk to him and I told him, I have seen your face before, but I just don't know where. Then he told me he was on a TLC program, so then I said, oh yeah that must be it, which show were you on? Where he responded, the undateables... OEPS! haha, undateables is a program about people who have a special disease or something in a way that it is hard for them to get a date. Only thing I could think of saying was, sooooooo did it work out? Because he did go on a date during that episode, haha. However, I felt a bit awkward, not knowing what to say haha! He was pretty chilled about it, thank god!

This morning I got in a strange situation, I went to Holland for a week for my holidays and last night I flew back. I was still so tired so before we even got a meal I think I slept for about 45/50 minutes. Then I had something to eat, brought my tray back to the galley so I could sleep more. While I was dreaming I felt something warm on my right upper leg, thinking it was just my phone which got warm because it was under my blanket and I was listening to music. But then I realized that my phone was in the seat pocket in front of me so it couldn't be my phone. While I was slowly waking up I looked down and I couldn't see anything on my blanket, then I realized that the guy next to me has put his hand underneath my blanket on my right upper leg!!!! And his leg was all at my side as well. Because I had the H seat, I was next to the aisle and I put up the arm rest so I could sleep against it with my pillow. My first reaction was OMG just happend?! I just pushed his hand away and hit his leg so that it went back to his side. How sick people can be. I went straight to the seniors on board, changed my seat, because obviously I didn't want to sit next to him anymore. So while I grabbed my stuff the purser went to talk to him in the galley in the front. Later then came to me to tell me what he said. He denied it, obviously, but they told me that while they were talking to him he was shaking so he knew exactly what was happening and they he would be on the radar now.

Definitely not a nice way to end my holiday... But everything is fine with, just scared me!

So I learned today first of all, not to sit next to a guy, unless he's good looking, wrap my blanket around me like a tortilla so that no hand can get onto my body,  and make photos if something like this happens again! Haha just kidding. Stuff like this happens... Just never thought it would happen to me. Anyway, it is a good story in the end...


Awkward Situations...

With this job you sometimes come in to situations, where you afterwards think, oef I wish I handled it in a different way. I have seen people, thought they were pregnant, had a big discussion about it with the crew to ask for a second opinion, and yes I have asked a non pregnant woman if she was pregnant. It's so hard to see sometimes if they have wide clothes on. And it is for us very important to know if somebody is pregnant or not, because you never know what might happen once we are in the air.

Especially in bc you need to think more about the things you can say or want to say, there is a big difference in that. Some male passengers cannot define the difference between being nice and being flirty. Most of the times it's not what you say but how you say it, and with a smile you can say a lot and they still would not have a clue if you're serious or not. I have had guys coming up to me and ask for my number, which is then pretty awkward, and what do you do? I used the boyfriend excuse a few times, then they told me oh tell your boyfriend he is a lucky man, then I thought of course I will tell him, once I actually have one haha! It's not good to lie, so sometimes I told them as well that I wasn't interested and that's not a good idea for me to give my contact details.

One time when I flew to Frankfurt, there was a happy couple sitting opposite of me during take off and landing. They told me they went to Mauritius together and had such a good time. Within 3 hours, from landing getting to the hotel and getting on the wifi, the guy has send me a message on Facebook! WHILE HE WAS WITH HIS GIRLFRIEND! How weird is it for this guy to really look at my name badge and look me up on Facebook and even dares to send me a message saying, next time you're in Frankfurt let me know and I can show you around! Well, how about no?!

But some awkward situations are quite funny afterwards. The other day I had a guy on board and I just recognized him, but I just could not place his face. So I went up to talk to him and I told him, I have seen your face before, but I just don't know where. Then he told me he was on a TLC program, so then I said, oh yeah that must be it, which show were you on? Where he responded, the undateables... OEPS! haha, undateables is a program about people who have a special disease or something in a way that it is hard for them to get a date. Only thing I could think of saying was, sooooooo did it work out? Because he did go on a date during that episode, haha. However, I felt a bit awkward, not knowing what to say haha! He was pretty chilled about it, thank god!

This morning I got in a strange situation, I went to Holland for a week for my holidays and last night I flew back. I was still so tired so before we even got a meal I think I slept for about 45/50 minutes. Then I had something to eat, brought my tray back to the galley so I could sleep more. While I was dreaming I felt something warm on my right upper leg, thinking it was just my phone which got warm because it was under my blanket and I was listening to music. But then I realized that my phone was in the seat pocket in front of me so it couldn't be my phone. While I was slowly waking up I looked down and I couldn't see anything on my blanket, then I realized that the guy next to me has put his hand underneath my blanket on my right upper leg!!!! And his leg was all at my side as well. Because I had the H seat, I was next to the aisle and I put up the arm rest so I could sleep against it with my pillow. My first reaction was OMG just happend?! I just pushed his hand away and hit his leg so that it went back to his side. How sick people can be. I went straight to the seniors on board, changed my seat, because obviously I didn't want to sit next to him anymore. So while I grabbed my stuff the purser went to talk to him in the galley in the front. Later then came to me to tell me what he said. He denied it, obviously, but they told me that while they were talking to him he was shaking so he knew exactly what was happening and they he would be on the radar now.

Definitely not a nice way to end my holiday... But everything is fine with, just scared me! If his hand would have been anywhere else I would have pressed charges.

So I learned today first of all, not to sit next to a guy, unless he's good looking, wrap my blanket around me like a tortilla so that no hand can get onto my body,  and make photos if something like this happens again! Haha just kidding. Stuff like this happens... Just never thought it would happen to me. Anyway, it was a good story for this blog!