Chuck Kuhn's Asia in Photos: jet

Friday, June 13, 2008

Cambodian jet abandoned in Vietnam for over a year

Cambodian jet abandoned in Vietnam for over a year
1 day ago

HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — A Cambodian commercial jet has been sitting at a Vietnamese airport for more than a year after being grounded for a technical problem and abandoned, an official said Wednesday.

The Royal Khmer Airlines plane has been parked on the tarmac at Hanoi's international airport since early May 2007, said Vo Huy Cuong, head of the Vietnam Civil Aviation Administration's Air Transportation Department.

The plane was abandoned only a month after Royal Khmer Airlines received its license to operate flights between the Cambodian city of Siem Riep, home to the world famous Angkor Wat temples, and Hanoi.

The Boeing 727 had operated only a few flights when it was grounded, Cuong said.

Cambodian aviation authorities removed the 30-year-old plane from its registration in August, he said.

Airline officials have promised Vietnamese authorities they will fix the problem and pay the parking fees, Cuong said.

He said this was the first time Vietnamese aviation officials had been faced with an abandoned aircraft.

Thursday, May 29, 2008

Jetstar Pacific Airlines offers 10,000 cheap tickets

From 11am May 28, Jetstar Pacific Airlines officially offered 10,000 air tickets at only VND 15,000 a ticket (excluding tax and other additional fees) on its domestic flights at its website www.jetstar.com.

This is the first big promotion programme since Jetstar Pacific officially began trading under the Jetstar brand name.

The sale of these cheap tickets will run on only May 28 and will finish at 9pm. The programme applies to those passengers with under 7 kilogrammes of hand-luggage traveling on Jetstar flights from September 8 to October 25, 2008.

Buyers are requested to own one of the four following cards: Visa, Master Card, JCB and American Express issued by foreign or domestic banks.

They say "

“I can’t say what made me fall in love with Vietnam - that a woman’s voice can drug you; that everything is so intense. The colors, the taste, even the rain. Nothing like the filthy rain in London. They say whatever you’re looking for, you will find here. They say you come to Vietnam and you understand a lot in a few minutes, but the rest has got to be lived. The smell: that’s the first thing that hits you, promising everything in exchange for your soul. And the heat. Your shirt is straightaway a rag. You can hardly remember your name, or what you came to escape from. But at night, there’s a breeze. The river is beautiful. You could be forgiven for thinking there was no war; that the gunshots were fireworks; that only pleasure matters. A pipe of opium, or the touch of a girl who might tell you she loves you. And then, something happens, as you knew it would. And nothing can ever be the same again.”
― Graham Greene, The Quiet American

Tips on Travel to Vietnam

It's always warm in Southeast Asia apart from high mountains, so leave the heavy clothing at home. Cotton and breathable fabrics are always better than synthetics -- although cotton does wrinkle a lot when traveling! December through April is roughly the dry season in that region, although it can still rain a little. December is a good time to go in terms of temperature -- cooler than in the humid summertime. Either way, wearing more clothing (shirt sleeves and long pants) is always more respectful towards the Asian culture, especially when visiting temples and rural areas.