Hello from the sandbox which I now call home. I have to say after spending 3 weeks on holidays, it’s really nice to be back. I think this is the only job I’ve had where I am actually happy to come back to work, especially when you have some nice destinations to look forward to on your roster. I began the month on leave where I spent 6 days island hopping around Palawan, Philippines. My roster for June then took me to Barcelona, Kuala Lumpur, Seychelles, Lagos and finally Maputo.
Palawan, Philippines
As I mentioned in my last blogpost, after visiting Melbourne I was in serious need of some relaxation time – a nice beach holiday would do the trick. I travelled to the Philippines with one of my batch mates. We based ourselves in El Nido, Palawan for the majority of the trip and travelled to different islands from there. Beside island hopping, we spent our days sipping coconuts and eating freshly cooked seafood…really can’t complain.
7 Commando Beach
Island hopping on the party boat
Morning view in El Nido
Coron Island
Kayaking in the Small Lagoon
Kayangan Lake
Barcelona, Spain
I was pleasantly surprised to see Barcelona on my roster for this month. This was my first flight scheduled after my leave – not a bad way to come back to work. I travelled to Barcelona a couple of years ago so I wasn’t interested in revisiting all the tourist sites on my short stay. I basically just wanted to head into the city for a drink and bite to eat. Unfortunately, I was quite sick coming back from the Phillipines so I wasn’t able to do as much as I would have liked, however no sickness can stop me from going out in Spain, even if it’s just for a few hours!
My first stop was the famous La Boqueria market for some overpriced fruit and juice. It’s such a tourist hot spot but I still love this market. My fruit juice cravings got the best of me. Verdict: Not disappointed.
It was then my mission to find a hidden cocktail bar called Paradiso. I came across it recently by watching a travel show on Barcelona and being from Melbourne, hidden cocktail bars are right up my alley #punintended
The entrance to Paradiso is a fridge door in a pastrami shop. Behind the door, you will find a small wooden cavern and bartenders serving up some interesting looking cocktails in glasses shaped as mushrooms, seashells, and birds. The mushroom lover I am had to try the mushroom shaped drink which contained mushroom essence… so yummy!
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
I was super excited to see KL on my roster this month as I wanted to come here for a long time and it’s a new country to add to my list. I also had my first assessment on this flight and I passed… phew! FYI – The assessement process occurs roughly every 3-4 months of flying, where your supervisor for that flight monitors your performance in regards to safety and service procedures, etc.
Now back to the layover… we landed in the evening and after flying overnight I was extremely tired, but I really wanted to go to a bar called Heli Lounge, a real life helicopter pad during the day that transforms into a rooftop bar at night. I am so glad I put my sleep deprivation to the side and went out because this place was so cool and had amazing 360 degree views of the entire city including a great view of the Petronas tours #twinning
Mahé, Seychelles
My next destination was the beautiful Seychelle islands… I loved this layover!!! Do I have to explain why? I spent my layover at the beach, sipping rosé, lazing by the pool and enjoying the company of my lovely crew. I hope to see Seychelles on my roster again and again and again!
Day at the beach
The view from my room
My Lebanon turnaround which almost became a layover
I was super excited to do this overnight turnaround flight to Beirut, Lebanon. No, not because I love this particular flight, but because when I was scheduled to land back in Doha at 5.30am, my mum’s flight from Melbourne was also scheduled to land in Doha. I couldn’t wait to see her and I had planned to spend the whole day with her as she was only transiting through Doha for the day en route to visiting my brother in Finland.
When we landed in Lebanon around midnight, we were informed that due to technical difficulties the flight would not be operating back to Doha! Can imagine my grief? The one day my mum was visiting Doha and I would potentially miss her. After a few (a lot) of tears from me and a long and tiresome 9 hour wait at Beirut airport, the entire crew deadheaded (flew as passengers) back to Doha on the next flight departing at 9am in the morning. After now arriving in Doha at 2pm, I immediately went to greet my mum and we spent the rest of the day together. I took her to the souk (which is a traditional marketplace) for a little taste of Arabic life. Unfortunately our time together was cut short, however I am so grateful that I got to see her for a few hours at the very least. Lucky for me, we are reuniting again in France this month.
Maputo, Mozambique
Last but not least, I got to spend the last few days of the month at this beautiful beachside hotel where I had 2 days off (my longest layover yet).
Seafood platter of Kings
July roster
Where are you travelling to this month I hear you ask? Worry not, I am here to tell you. Well don’t shoot me, but I have another week of leave coming up. I am meeting my mum, brother and his girlfriend in Nice for a few days. After this, my mum and I are spending a couple of nights in Paris, the city of love! I’m super excited to head back to Paris and also super excited to travel to Nice as I have never been to the south of France before.
I suppose I should also work a bit this month. Layovers include:
- Birmingham, UK
- Dhaka, Bangladesh
- Colombo, Sri Lanka x 2 (new country)
- Bali, Indonesia
- Madrid, Spain
- Shanghai, China
Well thats all from me. I could upload some more photos of pools, beaches, me wearing another one-piece but you’ve probably seen enough for one blog post… so until the next one, have a wonderful July friends xxx
Danielle Murnane 
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