My sister was my travelling companion on this trip. She had wanted to see the Pyramids and cruise on the river Nile for years. Looking for a tour that combined the Pyramids in Cairo, with a Nile Cruise starting from Luxor or Aswan, I noted that most used the overnight train for the transfer from Cairo to Luxor. I did not really fancy the idea of spending a night, on a train, in a reclining chair and found the 'Ancient Egypt and Nile Cruise' tour offered by Exodus was one of the few that offered the Cairo to Luxor bit by air, and was in our price bracket, so booked it.  September 20th 2024 ..read more

 KLM Flight 810 Jakarta - Kuala Lumpur- Amsterdam- KLM 981 Amsterdam to London City Airport.  Business Class, Dreamliner.   1st July 2024. The Grab from the hotel to Jakarta Airport, dropped us off at Terminal 2, our flight was from terminal 3 so we got the sky train.  Check in at the KLM desk was fast and efficient. Like many airlines KLM have 'unpacked' business class air fares and now have many classes of business class tickets.  As we had a basic business class ticket it did not include the lounge. This was not a problem as Jakarta terminal 3 is new and nice w ..read more

 Our Indonesian adventure was drawing to a close.  29th June 2024 Leaving Bali on a midday Air Aisa flight to Jakarta - it took off on time! it was raining as we arrived in Jakarta. Checked into the hotel. The hotel was quite isolated from shops / restaurants/ so we ate at the hotel, it was nice but very expensive - we were the only people in the restaurant! 30th June 2024 Following a large breakfast we got a Grab into the Old Town of Jakarta. it was a lot nicer than I had expected. Many of the negative reviews are unfair.  The old town was busy with families out enjoying the Su ..read more

22nd June 2024 The Grab taxi to Bali Airport  took just over 1 hour due to the constantly gridlocked Bali traffic.  We were flying to Labuan Bajo on Flores with Air Aisa.  The airport is called Komodo Airport.  The aircraft was full and the seats very close together, but it was OK for the flight of 1 hour.  Komodo Airport looked new, it has an extended runway and had a new 'international customs desk', so it looks like Flores is getting ready to have international flight to it.  Komodo Airport  Komodo Airport  Komodo Airport&nbs ..read more

 17th June 2024 Today we were travelling from Malang to Bali, we were going from Surabaya airport (SUB) to Bali (DPS) with Citylink ( Garuda budget airline).  We got a Grab for the journey to the airport, it was a very easy journey on new toll roads through gorgeous scenery, today was our first day of bright sun and no low clouds. For the toll roads you have to give the Grab drivers the cash.  Surabaya airport looked like it has been upgraded, with a new building adjoining the old one. All very nice, clean and bright. the check in took minutes, no ques at all and once inside the ..read more

 12 June 2024 Another early start at 04.00, and another  Grab taxi to Yogyakarta International Airport; as it was so early the journey was a lot quicker, but it is still a long way out of Yogya.  Today was a bit complicated as we were going from Yogyakarta to Malang by air, looking on the map it is not far, just a 6 hour drive or a 7 hour train journey. I had struggled to find a driver to drive directly to Malang, every contact wanted to arrange a tour so I gave up. The train was my favourite option and prior to covid there was a direct train in daylight, that's has been discont ..read more

 8th July 2024 Our unplanned stay in the village/ town of Sorong was made better by staying at the Hotel Aston. This looked like a new building as it was very clean,  modern and comfortable.  It was pouring with rain when we arrived at the ferry port in Sorong, the rain continued for the rest of the day so we did not have the opportunity to use the pool. We did take a short walk to a shopping centre located along a very busy road at the back of the airport. Sorong is a busy port but not really a place to hang around for long in. It was very dirty, totally polluted with pl ..read more

2nd June 2024 - 8th June 2024. We had travelled to Sorong, Papua, Indonesia to visit Raja Ampat Islands.  Diving is one of the main activities here, we are not divers but do snorkel.  I had read that you needed a special Papua travel permit, but this information seem to be out of date as the Lonely Planet advised that the Indonesian Visa is sufficient and this was correct. We did need a Raja Ampat Marine Conservation Area Permit, this was sorted out for us by the resort I had chosen to stay at; Biodiversity Nature Resort in Waigeo. Sorong Airport The airport was small but busy, bagga ..read more

1st June 2024 The Banyan Tree extended our check out time from 12.00 to 13.00. We enjoyed a lazy breakfast, pool time, repacked our bags and ordered a Grab to take us the 1 hour and 15 minute journey to Kuala Lumpur airport. Unlike the business class flight from Amsterdam to KL, for this KLM flight we were in economy class. When I had checked in on line the seats were pre selected; Row 45, E & G. The check in at KL airport was very efficient, as was security. the airport itself is very nice, wide corridors and lots of windows, many eating places all with good views.   There is a j ..read more

 29th May 2024 It was a quick walk via the covered corridor from the Premier Inn to Terminal 4 ( LHR).  The check in desk was open, and the bags were checked through to Kuala Lumpur.  KLM use the Plaza Lounge; this is also a lounge that you can also pay to use. Upon entry I turned left into a very dark bar area, no windows and just a few seats, going back to the desk to the right there was a larger room with windows that overlooked an unused concrete apron; so no plane spotting from here. The lounge appeared to be generally worn out and grubby; no hand soap in the ladies toilet ..read more