Here is a list of Travel Blogs ordered by Last Commented, posted by members. A Blog is a journal you may enter about your life, thoughts, interesting experiences, or lessons you've learned. Post an opinion, impart words of wisdom, or talk about something interesting in your day. Update your blog on a regular basis, or just whenever you have something to say. Creating a blog is a good way to share something of yourself with others. Reading blogs is a good way to learn more about others. Click here to post a blog.
Travel is always dangerous
History shows this. From the days of caravans, stage coaches and wooden ships travel has always been dangerous.
Often the danger came from both Mother Nature and robbers or pirates laying in wait. Sometimes the danger came from fellow travelers taking advantage. All these dangers continue and can still be found on some journeys. In the old days when we traveled sensible precautions included bringing provisions, friends and also good weapons.
Society has somewhat changed with denser populations and the abdication of personal responsibility for safety to government police or security forces. Still, in America at least, when we travel long distances by car or foot, subject to local laws, we try to ensure we have a means to protect ourselves (sometimes just a working cell phone, but even that is better than nothing at all), sufficient provisions for the trip, and often a friend or family member comes with us.
In the time of my youth, even when traveling by iron ship or airplane one brought enough money or provisions, was accompanied by friends or family when practical and some travelers on some airlines and cruise ships even brought firearms. Laws change and today's travelers on mass transit are usually no longer allowed to bring personal weapons or have them accessible if they do bring them. Instead we abdicate our safety to others and just trust them to do their job and ensure our safety en-route.
Often that works. Yes, there are accidents. Fellow travelers still sometimes attack. Pirates still exist. Mother Nature still causes problems, but for the most part the airways are safe modes of travel.
However a new phenomena seems to be becoming more common. Suicidal and homicidal crew members on the flight. This week a new name joins the list of publicly known names of pilots who slaughter everyone on-board for unknown motivation and without warning. Andreas Lubitz now has his name placed alongside that of Tsu Way Ming, Gameel Al-Batouti, and Herminio dos Santos Fernandes.
It is also distressing to note that in the latest incident the killer had recently passed a psychiatric evaluation and been deemed safe to pilot a plane. Clearly we need to stop wasting money on testing that doesn't give accurate results. Clearly some changes need to occur in the industry. We made the planes cockpits safe from our fellow travelers doing hijacks by armoring the cockpit door and locking it, but no one thought about what to do when or if the flight crew goes crazy. Pilot's Unions do not like the concept of video cameras inside the cockpit. They like being able to scratch and pick their nose without a camera filming that. Understood. It wouldn't have helped stop Andreas anyway.
Will the events of this week change how you feel about flying? Do you foresee better testing of pilots? Should their private lives be more closely examined? Do you believe a pilot who takes anti-depressants or who has personal psychological issues should even be hired, much less entrusted with your life?
Note: since 2010 the US FAA has decided pilots who have been prescribed anti-depressants may fly. It is not required by the FAA that they actually take the anti-depressant medications, nor is there testing to make sure they do.
Often the danger came from both Mother Nature and robbers or pirates laying in wait. Sometimes the danger came from fellow travelers taking advantage. All these dangers continue and can still be found on some journeys. In the old days when we traveled sensible precautions included bringing provisions, friends and also good weapons.
Society has somewhat changed with denser populations and the abdication of personal responsibility for safety to government police or security forces. Still, in America at least, when we travel long distances by car or foot, subject to local laws, we try to ensure we have a means to protect ourselves (sometimes just a working cell phone, but even that is better than nothing at all), sufficient provisions for the trip, and often a friend or family member comes with us.
In the time of my youth, even when traveling by iron ship or airplane one brought enough money or provisions, was accompanied by friends or family when practical and some travelers on some airlines and cruise ships even brought firearms. Laws change and today's travelers on mass transit are usually no longer allowed to bring personal weapons or have them accessible if they do bring them. Instead we abdicate our safety to others and just trust them to do their job and ensure our safety en-route.
Often that works. Yes, there are accidents. Fellow travelers still sometimes attack. Pirates still exist. Mother Nature still causes problems, but for the most part the airways are safe modes of travel.
However a new phenomena seems to be becoming more common. Suicidal and homicidal crew members on the flight. This week a new name joins the list of publicly known names of pilots who slaughter everyone on-board for unknown motivation and without warning. Andreas Lubitz now has his name placed alongside that of Tsu Way Ming, Gameel Al-Batouti, and Herminio dos Santos Fernandes.
It is also distressing to note that in the latest incident the killer had recently passed a psychiatric evaluation and been deemed safe to pilot a plane. Clearly we need to stop wasting money on testing that doesn't give accurate results. Clearly some changes need to occur in the industry. We made the planes cockpits safe from our fellow travelers doing hijacks by armoring the cockpit door and locking it, but no one thought about what to do when or if the flight crew goes crazy. Pilot's Unions do not like the concept of video cameras inside the cockpit. They like being able to scratch and pick their nose without a camera filming that. Understood. It wouldn't have helped stop Andreas anyway.
Will the events of this week change how you feel about flying? Do you foresee better testing of pilots? Should their private lives be more closely examined? Do you believe a pilot who takes anti-depressants or who has personal psychological issues should even be hired, much less entrusted with your life?
Note: since 2010 the US FAA has decided pilots who have been prescribed anti-depressants may fly. It is not required by the FAA that they actually take the anti-depressant medications, nor is there testing to make sure they do.
Catharsis
A colleague recently told me that his neighbour retired. The neighbour started his new life by leaving his old life in the dumpster, including art and his university diploma.
I find this to be highly inspirational.
Everything that doesn't have sentimental value must go.
This includes my rock collection which never meant anything to anyone but me. The rocks weren't particularly good specimens. They were simple reminders of the places I visited, and I can still recognize where they were collected even though they remain unlabeled.
Tan mudstone from Mt. Nebo, burial place of Moses.
Red sandstone from Petra.
Petrified wood from the Arabian desert.
Sand from the Dahna sand sea, and the Rub Al Khali or Empty Quarter.
All gone.
I want to close my eyes, and when I open them, be in a bar in Bahrain.
Decompressing.
Unemployed.
The movers start tomorrow, and are supposed to finish March 30.
I leave Saudi Arabia March 31.
Place your bets everyone.
I find this to be highly inspirational.
Everything that doesn't have sentimental value must go.
This includes my rock collection which never meant anything to anyone but me. The rocks weren't particularly good specimens. They were simple reminders of the places I visited, and I can still recognize where they were collected even though they remain unlabeled.
Tan mudstone from Mt. Nebo, burial place of Moses.
Red sandstone from Petra.
Petrified wood from the Arabian desert.
Sand from the Dahna sand sea, and the Rub Al Khali or Empty Quarter.
All gone.
I want to close my eyes, and when I open them, be in a bar in Bahrain.
Decompressing.
Unemployed.
The movers start tomorrow, and are supposed to finish March 30.
I leave Saudi Arabia March 31.
Place your bets everyone.
Welcome To HoutBay Cape Town
Dear Wonderful People Around the world
Welcome to HoutBay My Home Town well I have Been Living in Houtbay for 19 years and the Place I call Home well it's on the Atlantic Sea Board and well a Hour away from Cape Town International Airport well HoutBay Has 20 coffee shops 8 Night clubs and 1 Huge shopping Center
I love HoutBay I have seen Bad Fires on our Mountains Rain for 8 Days wind for 8 Days well HoutBay Survived and all people who visit HoutBay wow what a wonderful Place Cheers To HoutBay
Welcome to HoutBay My Home Town well I have Been Living in Houtbay for 19 years and the Place I call Home well it's on the Atlantic Sea Board and well a Hour away from Cape Town International Airport well HoutBay Has 20 coffee shops 8 Night clubs and 1 Huge shopping Center
I love HoutBay I have seen Bad Fires on our Mountains Rain for 8 Days wind for 8 Days well HoutBay Survived and all people who visit HoutBay wow what a wonderful Place Cheers To HoutBay
Top 10 countries not to visit b4 u die
These are my top 10 countries in the world never to visit because u'll most certainly die there.lol
1. Yemen
2. Nigeria
3. Kenya
4. Syria
5. Iraq
6. Mexico
7. Afganistan
8. Pakistan
9. Haiti
10. Saudi arabia
Guys feel free to comment and add your list of countries to the above list.
1. Yemen
2. Nigeria
3. Kenya
4. Syria
5. Iraq
6. Mexico
7. Afganistan
8. Pakistan
9. Haiti
10. Saudi arabia
Guys feel free to comment and add your list of countries to the above list.
28
28 days to go &ill be on my way to Bali for my long awaited trip there. im really looking forward to it even though Im going on my own but theirs no reason why I cant enjoy it just as much!! 
AirAsia flight QZ8501
More news coming through about bodies of crash victims spotted in the Java Sea 'holding hands' floating alongside tragic passengers' luggage 
A very very sad and tragic day indeed. Dreadfully sad news
As the rest of us ushering in the New Year, I would like to dedicate this formal tribute to those who have perished and also not forgetting their grieving family members and loved ones who are going through this difficult and sad time.
I also wish them strength to cope with the hard times ahead.
May all those perished RIP and God bless their families.
Thank you for your kind thoughts and comments.
Have a great year ahead my dear CS peeps
A very very sad and tragic day indeed. Dreadfully sad news
As the rest of us ushering in the New Year, I would like to dedicate this formal tribute to those who have perished and also not forgetting their grieving family members and loved ones who are going through this difficult and sad time.
I also wish them strength to cope with the hard times ahead.
May all those perished RIP and God bless their families.
Thank you for your kind thoughts and comments.
Have a great year ahead my dear CS peeps
what you doing this weekend..
...im off to Dubai tonight, going to play in the desert in off road buggies, then go skiing in Ski Dubai, get some xmas presents...
A Blog is a journal you may enter about your life, your thoughts, interesting experiences, or lessons you have learned. It's your own page on Connecting Singles that you can update on a regular basis, or just whenever you have something to say. You can write about an opinion, impart words of wisdom, or talk about something interesting in your day. Creating a blog is a good way to share something of yourself with Connecting Singles members. Reading blogs is a good way to learn more about members you have met here. Please be sure to read the blog rules before posting.
Would YOU like to post a blog on Connecting Singles? Have you written blogs that you'd like to share with other members? Posting your blogs shows your skill and creativity and helps members get to know you better. Your blog will appear on the Connecting Singles Blogs page and also in a link on your profile page. Click here to post a blog »