The view from my "office"

Captain Halliday · Oct 15, 2023

Better late than never.

A couple from the start of our Europe trip which you can check out in my trip report The Castle.

Mascot, New South Wales.

Manila, Philippines.

jxv · Oct 15, 2023

Yesterday’s first office was the New Delhi to Chandigarh “luxury" Shatabdi Express. This type of fast train is the pride of the Indian Railways. We imagined it to be like the Chinese high speed trains. How wrong we were!

My GPS speedometer phone app clocked the top speed as 130 km/h.

The seats, in a 3+2 arrangement, were sort of comfortable with ample leg room, but the tray tables were a great example of utilitarian engineering.

The second office was supposed to be the Toy Train to Shimla in the foothills of the Himalaya, the summer seat of the former British government. Unfortunately the line was closed as a result of multiple landslides and we had to travel by car. Today we were able to take the train for 7 km, just to get an impression.

Passing a bridge under repair held up by temporary supports.

Right in the centre of the photo is the runway of Shimla airport, SLV

A view along the way.

Ade · Oct 16, 2023

Was supposed to be on the 1535 out of LST, but arrived at 0900 at the airport and requested if I can be put on an earlier service. Checkin staff at LST was lovely and put me on the 1035 out. Got the bulkhead allocated. Happy days.

I specifically asked for the rear facing bulkhead seats and was given 1E. But after boarding, I was going to plonk myself on my allocates seat, but the FA said, it’s better if I sit on 1D. Not sure why, but I just did what he asked me to.

Was really looking forward to the rear facing seat (after all this rear facing seat is the poor man’s domestic version of rear facing Q Suites

)

Fancy running into a couple of AFF’ers as I exited the lounge at LST @Bindibuys

Major · Oct 16, 2023

There is a lounge at LST ?

Steady · Oct 16, 2023

Major said:
There is a lounge at LST ?

There is a QF regional lounge (no idea about VA)

Ade · Oct 16, 2023

Major said:
There is a lounge at LST ?

Yes, it is called the Regional Lounge. It's basically a large room with chairs and light (very light) refreshments. It was empty and I was the only person in it for quite some time. I was later joined by 2 other gentlemen who were on the same flight as I.

At some point a QF staffer came in to check if there was anyone in the lounge ... I think they are used to having empty lounges.

Oh, and there is a passcode the one has to key in on the keypad on the lounge door to enter ...

Steady · Oct 16, 2023

Ade said:
Yes, it is called the Regional Lounge. It's basically a large room with chairs and light (very light) refreshments. It was empty and I was the only person in it for quite some time. I was later joined by 2 other gentlemen who were on the same flight as I.

At some point a QF staffer came in to check if there was anyone in the lounge ... I think they are used to having empty lounges.

Oh, and there is a passcode the one has to key in on the keypad on the lounge door to enter ...

View attachment 350463

It can be packed so full its standing room only

Daver6 · Oct 16, 2023

Dubai sunset office last week

Port Power · Oct 16, 2023

This is my mobile office for the next two weeks, often with lunch being served.

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Port Power · Oct 16, 2023

My land “office” for the next three nights. Intercontinental Ljubljana. I gave a corner room, so 180 degree views.

Rugby · Oct 16, 2023

JAL First Class Domestic Lounge Haneda - Terminal 1. Four types of tap beer. There is a dedicated first class check in and security - very good.

VPS · Oct 16, 2023

Port Power said:
This is my mobile office for the next two weeks, often with lunch being served.

View attachment 350470

is this a special train?

Ade · Oct 16, 2023

MEL-CBR office. Boarded on time. But been sitting in the tarmac for over 40 mins now. Aircraft is refuelling …

Update 1: push back at 1550. Almost 1 hour delay from planned departure

prozac · Oct 16, 2023

VPS said:
is this a special train?

Looks very nice ... and no graffiti.

RooFlyer · Oct 16, 2023

Ade said:
Was really looking forward to the rear facing seat

Never heard of or seen that layout before. So for the duration of the flight you are looking at a couple of other pax?

Steady · Oct 16, 2023

RooFlyer said:
Never heard of or seen that layout before. So for the duration of the flight you are looking at a couple of other pax?

That are relatively common on the DPO-MEL route

jxv · Oct 16, 2023

Port Power said:
This is my mobile office for the next two weeks, often with lunch being served.

View attachment 350470

Tell us more!

drron · Oct 16, 2023

Busan, South Korea and about to set sail.

jxv · Oct 16, 2023

The weather in the mountains can change rapidly.

The view from our Oberoi Cecil Hotel in Shimla just before breakfast.

And after breakfast. Mist and pouring rain.

This afternoon the weather had cleared.

Our excursion today was to a higher lookout from where we would be able to see the snowcapped Himalayas. It was not to be.

At least the weather did not spoil lunch at Oberoi Wildflower Hall. It stands where Lord Kitchener’s summer house of the same name once stood, but that burned down.