Oasis in the Copper Belt

[Steady]

Why fly direct when you can connect?

I'm off on an adventure using up my expiring Kris flyer points, to visit a small not for profit charity I have supported for ~20 years, and have recently become more involved with.

I suspect this may be my last hurrah on the pointy end of SQ via points. I originally booked F / R to Dubai, stopping a few days to look around as I haven't been yet, then onto Ndola on a separate SQ reward ticket, flying J on ET metal. Then the war broke out and SQ stopped flying to Dubai. I could have changed to fly via JNB, but no F/R, so looking at the points and where SQ flies F/R, and ET had rewards available, I changed to DEL. The timing isn't as friendly as it was originally, but such is life. The irony of my first world problem is not lost on me......

I head off from DPO on QF reward tickets Friday, overnighting at the Novatel MEL airport, then on an SQ F day flight to SIN Saturday, I plan a visit to TPR on arrival, then using up some Hilton points at the Garden Inn. My flight to DEL is late afternoon Sunday in R, I'm using an Accor free night at the Pullman Aero City before my ET J flights to NLA via ADD 02.30 Tuesday . The return a couple of weeks later is essentially the same, but for an extra day in SIN

I was in Ndola with one of my daughters mid 2013, while there I have friends to visit, a farm and a building site to look over, and a feeding program (Widows & orphans from the Kantalomba Compound) to visit and join in with. Ndola is in the Central African Copper Belt - its the 3rd largest city in Zambia with a population of around 630K, a mining / commercial hub.

Not sure how much text I will add to the TR but should have plenty of photo's. I have added a couple below from my '13 visit

 

[drron]

I am going to follow this TR carefully. I have invested in a few copper explorers from Tanzania through to the west coast o Africa. The Chinese though are very active. I believe there new railway terminates in Ndola.

 

[Steady]

I am going to follow this TR carefully. I have invested in a few copper explorers from Tanzania through to the west coast o Africa. The Chinese though are very active. I believe there new railway terminates in Ndola.

The Chinese have a lot of interest in the region

 

[Steady]

And it begins, arrived at the DPO QP - these are of the referb

 

[Steady]

Bass Straight sunset

 

[drron]

I do miss flying into aDPO on the last flight on Sunday. Got to know the crew really well.

 

[Steady]

My view from the Novotel 7th floor

 

[Steady]

I popped back to the lounge for a bite to eat. Sadly the Spice Bar hasn’t changed it’s menu so I added some of the other offerings

 

[Steady]

I do miss flying into aDPO on the last flight on Sunday. Got to know the crew really well.

I got bumped from my favourite Dash-8 seat 1B to 7B today- there was a trainee host and the trainer took my seat. I doubt you would recognise many now

 

[Steady]

Now I must suffer my Accor welcome drink, a Starwood whiskey- actually nice enough.

 

[Steady]

On my way back from T1 I wondered through T2 check in to get the lay of the land in preparation for tomorrows DYKWIA experience, only to find no F check in!
I availed myself of the service desk to ask where F check in was, to be greeted by a blank stare, followed by being told SQ only have business class…. After the medic revived me, it turns out an A350 was checking in at the time and they don’t have first….. (sounds like a story to me) but apparently I was in the right place for my check in tomorrow morning.

After all that I’m back to wondering: DTKWIA?

 

[Flyfrequently]

My view from the Novotel 7th floor
View attachment 516896

And a daytime view from earlier this week @Steady !!

 

[Steady]

Coffee is good, breakfast and an empty SilverKris lounge










I received a personal greeting from the lounge manager thanks to @Cruiser Elite who sorted out a fresh bottle of Pommery and recommended I try some of the Cullen DM

 

[Cruiser Elite]

I received a personal greeting from the lounge manager thanks to @Cruiser Elite

Unfortunately I won't be receiving similar greeting Tuesday morn as due to staff issues at work I need to cancel my MEL-SIN-PVG F rdpt and my ultra cheap 61K pt PEK-SIN F rdpt on Aug 11 - such is life - enjoy every minute Steady and you too MELso

 

[Steady]

Unfortunately I won't be receiving similar greeting Tuesday morn as due to staff issues at work I need to cancel my MEL-SIN-PVG F rdpt and my ultra cheap 61K pt PEK-SIN F rdpt on Aug 11 - such is life - enjoy every minute Steady and you too MELso

A shame but as you say such is life. I would have to try really really hard to not enjoy every minute

Currently guzzling Krug with some satay and as the only pax in F I don’t have to share

 

[Steady]

SK red wines, the chariot, my office, and my view. Push back was a few minutes early at 9.09

 

[Steady]

I arrived at T2, transferred to T3 and now at a dining table in TPR sipping PH Rare