Why Everyone Should Fly Aeroflot Once in Their Life

by Grant Martin on

Russia‘s national carrier, Aeroflot, has made a lot of progress in the last few years. Once abhorred by the general public as a “dangerous” carrier (although their record is no more tarnished than any domestic airline), a few new Airbus aircraft, superjets and an international advertising campaign have surged the company into the present. Now you too can enjoy the paltry legroom in coach, paper-thin seats and an indifferent, completely hostile ground crew.

But Aeroflot has one juicy perk that most other carriers don’t have: a delightful communist past. And though most of the crew and staff are tight lipped about the Soviet days, some of their aircraft ooze it.

Enter the Tupolev Tu-154.

The first time you see a Tu-154, your first thought is that you’re getting onto a Russian bomber. Perhaps because its got that glass nose cone, slightly reminiscent of the B-17 (think Memphis Belle) or the tri-engine superjet configuration– something about the design makes you think that you’re going to be flying through some heavy flak over the English Channel, need to strap your double seatbelt across your chest and put on your aviator goggles.

On the inside of the plane you’ll initially think that you’re on any old domestic carrier. Closer inspection to the finer details reveals the beauty though: tarnished metal air vents, operational ash trays that aren’t screwed shut and old worn upholstery make one wonder how long its been since this bird has had an overhaul.

Why does this make you want to fly Aeroflot? Because its a living piece of history. As you hear the three engines rev up on Pulkovo’s 10R runway and the aluminum starts to strain as the Tupolev gains speed, you think of how this ancient piece of machinery was once built. Through the cold war, through the end of the Gorbachev and the demise of the USSR, Russia was not too long ago a forlorn and desolate place. How much change in the communist landscape has this aircraft seen? How has the political climate matured as flight 54 flew back and forth between St. Petersburg and Moscow?

Landing in Sheremetyevo outside of Moscow, you see the IKEA just outside of the airport grounds and will soon be among the oil tycoons, their 7 dollar espressos and their sports cars now common in this cosmopolitan city. In the society that’s quickly leaving the dark days of Communism behind, its nice to have a brief look into what Russia once was. Strange that it’s from 30,000 feet.

In Search of Tijuana’s Golden Days

by Neil Woodburn on

For as long as I remember, Tijuana has been an absolute joke.

This Mexican border town, just south of San Diego is the armpit of Mexico where under-aged American high school students go to drink beer and frat boys go to watch donkey shows. The place is smelly, rundown, dangerous, and nothing like the rest of Mexico. Its name alone has become synonymous with cheap dives and armpits in general.

This wasn’t always the case, however.

I had no idea, but smelly little Tijuana was once the playground of the rich and famous long before the days of Las Vegas. During the 1920s and 1930s, the border town offered up cheap alcohol, casinos, prostitution and horse racing–all of which were impossible to find in California at the time. As a result, a bustling Vegas-style metropolis exploded (and along the way, gave birth to the Caesar salad and the margarita).
Baja’s Atlantis, a very cool West Magazine article by Christopher Reynolds explores this fascinating history of Tijuana and takes the reader along in search of architectural relics of this era, such as the opulent Agua Caliente casino, reputed to be the finest in the world outside of Monte Carlo.

Wow, I had no idea. Talk about a boom-to-bust! Once Vegas opened and prohibition ended, Tijuana withered away to the miserable excuse for a city it is now. I will, however, look upon it with fresh eyes the next time I pass through–thanks to Reynolds’ quest to unearth this fascinating history and teach us something so many of us didn’t know.

Temples and National Parks of Thailand

by Jamie Rhein on

Much of Thailand’s cultural history and art is found in its temples. There is a mix of ancient temples that function as museums. Built centuries ago, they remain as indicators of just how long grandness has existed here and are one way to trace the conflicts that arose in the country. Parts of temples were destroyed in war, such as with Ayuthaya, now a UNESCO site. It was once the commercial capital of Thailand, then Siam, until it was trounced by the Burmese. There are still many Buddha statues with heads intact in this extensive complex. This video by Glenn Keisel on You Tube has some wonderful shots of various temples and national parks around the country. Ayuthaya is included. The photos aren’t labeled so you won’t know exactly which photos are from which temples, but this will give you a taste of temple hopping. The traditional Thai music makes for a perfect background.

Kelvedon Hatch: England’s Largest Cold War Bunker now Open to the Public

by Neil Woodburn on

Cold War relics are simply a joy to explore. For me, it’s their proximity to recent history that makes them so fascinating; it wasn’t so long ago that they were very active and very serious in their role to protect our fair lands from the communist menace. Today, they are almost comical in the fear and paranoia so deeply imbued throughout.

Bunkers are some of my favorite Cold War relics. Not only are the located underground, but they represent the ultimate Cold War fear: nuclear annihilation.

With the Cold War over, governments around the globe have begun decommissioning a number of such bunkers. Some have simply “disappeared” while others have been purchased by civilians.

Recently, Sophie Campbell of The Telegraph, burrowed into Kelvedon Hatch–a three-story government bunker in Essex, England which was purchased in 1994 by a local farmer and has since been turned into a rather cool museum.The farmer purchased it nearly empty but has managed to find enough period gear to restock parts of the bunker to make it look like it did while in operation. He has also staffed the station with a number of mannequins manning radio receivers, hospital units, and even a Prime Minister’s quarters.

The whole bunker is set up to appear as though a nuclear bomb had just been dropped and museum visitors (paying £6.50 each) are the lucky few to have gained access to the government facility. The visitors are treated to fake news reports detailing the damage above ground and the impending doom in store for those left outside of the bunker’s ten-foot thick walls and 1½ ton blast doors.

It sounds pretty cool to me, but wouldn’t it be a whole lot more realistic if they hired a bunch of nuclear mutated ghouls to attack visitors in the bunker and eat their flesh? I certainly think so.

Confucius’s Birthday: Wise Travel

by Jamie Rhein on

Confucius’s birthday, according the events listing calendar of the Hong Kong Tourism Board’s Web site isn’t until October 7. I thought it was today. The calendar I have marked it as today, but I’ll go with the tourism board. Unless, we go with this other source that says that in the Western calendar, Confucius’s birthday is today. Today is also National Teacher’s Day in China. Since Confucius was a wise teacher and philosopher, I’d say this is a fitting tribute.

Confucius, who lived 551 BCE-479 BCE, is responsible for promoting the ideas still central to Chinese thought. For example, your own well-being comes from respect for parents and family. And that guarding your mind guards your actions. These are pretty simplistic descriptions, I know, but read here for more.

In Beijing, the Temple of Confucius is also the Beijing Capital Museum. This temple is smaller than the Temple of Confucius in Qufu, Confucius’s hometown and is the third largest ancient architectural complexes in China. If you go here, expect festivities–which, I bet, includes food.

Here’s a Confucius saying I found that fits travel: Wheresoever you go, go with all your heart.