9 countries - 7 airlines

[henleybeach]

That's a fantastic itinerary, well done!
Did you think of adding Cape Town from J'Burg....apparently it should be a bucket list visit.

Yer i wanted to go to Cape Town , heard many good things, just couldn't fit it in

 

[henleybeach]

After a good nights sleep I woke up excited to try SIA A350 business class and compare it to Etihad a380. We caught the free bus shuttle to airport and went to the check in counter , we were checking in 2:50 before our flight so there was only a couple people there. We bought a few souvenirs and then headed to the South African airways lounge . It was time to wet the whistle and have a beer and a cheese platter . It always depressing at the end of a holiday , you look forward to it for months and then bang she's over and it sinks in.... this time next week I'll be at work!
Flight---
JNB-SIN a350 SIA j class seat 12a departure 1345.
Wowee ! The business class looked amazing as we boarded , the colors and feel looked amazing. We took our seats and immediately we were served champagne and welcome by our surnames. The seats were huge and wide and very roomy , once seated it felt so big . It didn't bother me because I'm not tall but because the ottoman is to the side and seat is forward facing , if your tall and want to stretch out you would have to twist your back/ lower spine and to put your legs up and then look straight ahead at the tv.
We took off and once in the air I couldn't believe how quiet it was, very impressive .
We were served the satay sticks as starter which were delish ! Another glass of champagne followed and then it was the entree, no choice , it was duck and prawn salad , tasty and nice and served with a hot roll . I'm not sure I like the service for a cart in business class , I think I prefer the personalized service . I ordered the beef fillet and ms HB ordered the BBQ pork with rice . My beef was over cooked and very average , as you can tell I like my beef fillet with all beef fillets I have on planes ! It's my first choice ! But this was the worst one I've had on a plane, dry and not nice, it wasnt tough just over cooked . But ms HB pork was very nice and I pinched some of hers! Dessert was a choice of chocolate ice cream with vanilla sauce or lemon curd tart. I had the ice cream and it was was basic, really it was economy standard but in a bowl and ms HB lemon tart was like rubber , I had some and it was like rubber jelly . Defiantly disappointing the meal service . Cheese platters were delivered and i ordered a Singapore sling , both were nice and sling refreshing . I declined the tea and coffee and watched Some Telly . I folded the bed down and tried to get some sleep but it didn't really work. They are defiantly not as comfortable as the Etihad a380, the foot cubby is small and having to sleep on a angle wasn't quite right. I must of starting to fall asleep and then got woken by the FA saying it's breakfast time.
I woke up and thought there must only be about 1hr20min to go, I was shocked when I seen the tv screen say another 2 hours 30min!! Breakfast was finished within 30 minutes and we still had two hours ago and all the lights were left on . I thought that was strange and a bit early for breakfast. I prefer the dine on demand , whenever you wake up you can have your breakfast . We landed on time and gee the a350 is a nice quiet aircraft. Just sitting in the silverkris lounge now waiting for the Perth leg.
-Overall compared to Etihads a380 -:
Seat and cabin looks - SIA
Seat comfort and functionality- EY
In flight entertainment - SIA
Bedding - EY
Food - EY
Drinks - SIA
FA service - SIA
PJs and amenity kit - EY (only cause you don't get anything with SIA )

 

[henleybeach]

 

[Myrna]

I have "defiantly" enjoyed reading your trip report

We have been to all the places on your trip report, except Oman where we will be in September this year. We would go back to Iceland (hopefully later this year) and always Africa any time (yes, the animals have been a real magnet to us) - but Morocco did not do much for us and would not go back in a hurry.

PS1 - You mentioned in your trip report on Oman that you used a private tour guide and car. We would be staying at the Shangri-La as well, and like to hire a private tour guide and car for day excursions outside of Muscat. Could you please share the details of your private tour guide, either in this thread or PM? Thanks.

PS2 - Hope Kransky has been having a ball while you & Mrs HB have been away!

 

[henleybeach]

I have "defiantly" enjoyed reading your trip report

We have been to all the places on your trip report, except Oman where we will be in September this year. We would go back to Iceland (hopefully later this year) and always Africa any time (yes, the animals have been a real magnet to us) - but Morocco did not do much for us and would not go back in a hurry.

PS1 - You mentioned in your trip report on Oman that you used a private tour guide and car. We would be staying at the Shangri-La as well, and like to hire a private tour guide and car for day excursions outside of Muscat. Could you please share the details of your private tour guide, either in this thread or PM? Thanks.

PS2 - Hope Kransky has been having a ball while you & Mrs HB have been away!

thank you Myrna! We loved all the places and ms HB wants to go back to Marrakech, I loved them all , I would like to one day stay a 3 nights in Marrakech as we only had one night but the rest of Morocco I don't think I need to go back . I enjoyed our tour through Atlas Mountains, Sahara desert and then to fez . Some great scenery . I loved Botswana , defiantly be going back to Africa again , maybe Tanzania, Namibia , and a few people have suggested Mozambique.
We ended using the Oman tour company through concierge at the shangri-la called zahara tours ,we hadn't booked anything until we got there, on tour he mentioned the day before he had taken a couple out to the wadi's.
Haha mr Kransky has been at his grandparents and he has been good until the other day when I received a whatsapp with pictures of him eating the strawberries and cucumbers in the garden . Dad wasn't impressed !

 

[Myrna]

Thanks, henleybeach, for the info on the tour guide in Oman. We will probably ask the concierge desk at the Shangri-La as well.

Oh, handsome Kranskly! Maybe he likes to be a vegetarian pooch ... eating strawberries and cucumbers.

 

[henleybeach]

We had 2 hours in the silverkris lounge in Singapore, we didn't eat or drink in there, we were both tired and full from the flight from joburg, it was nice to have a shower and freshen up tho . The lounge seating looked a bit tired and old. Ms HB happen to spot Zara store opposite the lounge so we headed out earlier so someone could buy some new clothes ..... as if it's needed!
Flight--
SIN-PER Singapore airlines b777-200
Seats 16 departure 930am


We bordered the plane and straight away offered a juice as we settled in , it's a big drop coming from a a350 J class to this old girl. She's got worn carpet , dirty fuselage and a lot of scuff marks. Seats were comfy to sit in tho . The first you notice once we got going is how loud it is , make you realize how quiet the 350 is.
Ms HB was knackered and put the bed down and went to sleep for the next 4 hours so unfortunately I had to have her serving of the satay sticks , such a shame .
I skip the entree as I was so full from the previous flight and had the main. I used book the cook and got the lobster. It was very nice, maybe a touch over done but the sauce on it was delicious, by this stage i felt like a fat bullfrog and skipped dessert.
I put the bed down and decided to get some rest for a couple hours. This is the first time i have ever used the sloped sleepers, and I understand why people hate them. I kept sliding down with pants nearly under my chin and undies around my ears. I dozed off for 2 hours with a permanent wedgie and woke about 60 min before landing. SIA need to upgrade this planes and business class that's for sure , I would hate to be on overnight flight on these.
We landed in Perth on time and straight through customs and off to stay one night at a friends house .
Haha the wedding would be off if ms HB knew i put that phot up !

 

[Bindibuys]

A brave person indeed to post sleeping photos.

 

[henleybeach]

Flight--
PER-ADL Virgin Aus J class
Departure 810am seat 2d


I upgraded with the upgrade bid thing , did minimum of $190 and it came through. We only paid $149 for the ticket so all up the business class was good value .
Every seat was taken in business class and FA was busy but very efficient and friendly . Pre departure juices and we were underway for our 15th flight and last !
Breakfast choices were beans in a tomato sauce with pork sausage or soaked muesli with apricot and honey . ms HB had the beans and I went for the Muesli. Both were very nice and big serves and came with crossiant and Jam and fresh fruit . Landed in Adelaide on time and home sweet home!
We had a blast overseas and we can't honestly pick our favorite although I think Botswana for me just wins. We have stayed in tents in the Sahara , hotels, riads c, rode camels, caught trains , petit taxis and got up graded twice for free with South African airways. All of our hotels were great and nothing went wrong and I didn't stuff any off the travel plans up ! Now it's back to reality on Monday with a lovely 415am start.
I apologize for the spelling and grammar as I did most of trip report on the run from my iPhone. I just love how iPhone changes the words and what you want to say for you , Not!
Thank you everyone and the next holiday is in May to Seoul with the special $316 return airfares with Singapore airlines ADL-ICN for a week !

 

[love_the_life]

Thanks for the great TR, HB. I have really enjoyed reading and looking at the photos. It sounds like you had a fabulous time; just don't show your fiancé the sleeping one (though it's not horrible of her by any stretch)

 

[henleybeach]

Thanks for the great TR, HB. I have really enjoyed reading and looking at the photos. It sounds like you had a fabulous time; just don't show your fiancé the sleeping one (though it's not horrible of her by any stretch)

Thankyou love the life. I always like reading other people's trip reports for tips and fun . Haha shhh she will never know! The trip was extra special for ms HB as we got engaged at the start of the trip at 36000ft aboard the a380! She loved it . I wanna get a model Etihad a380 to remember it by.

 

[mmchow]

Thanks for writing this great trip report henleybeach. Had a great time following you both to the different parts of the world. Congratulations on your engagement. The look on her face is priceless

 

[LadyC]

Thankyou love the life. I always like reading other people's trip reports for tips and fun . Haha shhh she will never know! The trip was extra special for ms HB as we got engaged at the start of the trip at 36000ft aboard the a380! She loved it . I wanna get a model Etihad a380 to remember it by.

Congratulations! Definitely an extra special trip. Thanks for posting - definitely a few places added to my list from your destinations

 

[Pushka]

Such a sweet report. Sigh. Us RAdelaide's are such romantics

 

[Boca68]

Congrats henleybeach and the future Mrs Henleybeach.

Definitely punching above your weight there

 

[VPS]

Congratulations and lots of good info - I hope I win the lottery tonight so I can head off to some more places!!

 

[GarrettM]

Thankyou love the life. I always like reading other people's trip reports for tips and fun . Haha shhh she will never know! The trip was extra special for ms HB as we got engaged at the start of the trip at 36000ft aboard the a380! She loved it . I wanna get a model Etihad a380 to remember it by.
View attachment 92789

That's different. How did you manage the photo?

 

[henleybeach]

That's different. How did you manage the photo?

I bought a new go pro before we left so when we were sitting there I said I'm just trying my go pro out and I put it on time lapse so it took a photo every 2 seconds . I made out i went to the toilet and gave the ring to FA who put it on a plate with a cloth over it and she brought it out. It was good , ms HB had no idea and I got the action shots from the camera

 

[Straubs]

What a great trip, matched by a great TR. thanks so much for sharing it. Gives me some great ideas!

 

[henleybeach]

What a great trip, matched by a great TR. thanks so much for sharing it. Gives me some great ideas!

Any questions just ask , I'm More then happy to help