I’m on the direct flight from Delhi to New York. (My first trip to forain lands in case I’m sounding like a regular ) Was a bit apprehensive about the 16 hour flight but we’re 13 hours through and it hasn’t been difficult.
Some high points of the journey.
Am flying on the Boeing 777-200LR almost a brand new aircraft.
Lucky to find that the pilot is an Ex Naval aviator and he invited me over to the cockpit for a look see.
Really neat cockpit to put it mildly. Also saw the northern lights practically for the first time after reading about them all these years. The glow in the sky was surreal at mid night local time.
Interesting again that after studying about the rhumbline and great circle tracks all these years flew a great circle track (obviously) today as we routed Delhi-Lahore-Kabul-Across Russia –Over Finland – Iceland- South Greenland- Newfoundland and then we should be reaching New York soon.
For the non technical use a globe and figure out that the shortest route Delhi-NewYork is not due west from Delhi but Northwards. Calls for teaching geography in schools using a globe rather than maps huh.
Saw a nice documentary called the 11th hour on climate change. Again I think these movies and issues need to be included in our curriculum in schools and colleges as that’s the only way to alter the weltanschuang ( world view) of the next generation.
I was going through the Atlas and studying the map of the US. Years of reading books written about the US (must mention Gone with the Wind for impact value) and hearing country music places like Nashville, Denver, Colorado, Tennessee, Muskogee, the Rockies, the river Rio Grande etc etc... all seem so familiar considering the fact that I’ve never ever visited the US. That’s the effect of cultural power. On this front (soft power) India isn’t doing to bad, and I wouldn’t be surprised to hear a similar comment from a Egyptian a few years down the line… Great going Bollywood despite a lot of the crap that is made there….(apologies to Mani Ratnam, Vishal Bharadwaj, Aamir Khan and co…….)
Johnnie Walker whatever..., my favourite scotch remains Findlater’s. Tried Vat 69 recently which was also ok.
The caste system in the sky, Economy, Business, and First Class. Must accept that there will always be haves and have nots even @36000 ft on the way to the New World. … ala Titanic…
Wg Cdr RS Dhaliwal VM (Gallantry)
