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Samoa Apia-ness You Win, Samoa You Lose

Samoa Apia-ness You Win, Samoa You Lose

by Calvin Sun | Aug 29, 2024 | August 2024: The South Pacific Island Hopper, Blitzkrieg!!!, Samoa, Way Way Off the Beaten Path

  After 2 days in Tonga, we were dropped off at the airport by our driver Charles and boarded a 1:50pm afternoon Air New Zealand flight to Auckland. Landing uneventfully at 5pm I had almost forgotten how difficult customs can be at this airport, as well as the 10...
Would You Like To Tonga?

Would You Like To Tonga?

by Calvin Sun | Aug 28, 2024 | August 2024: The South Pacific Island Hopper, Blitzkrieg!!!, Tonga, Way Way Off the Beaten Path

After 2 days in Port Moresby, my local guide and driver Peter dropped me off for a 1:45pm flight out to Sydney where I arrived at 6pm local time. Quickly getting stamped in and sailing through customs this time, I took a 16 minute Uber ride to check into my free Chase...
Sending By Port Moresby Code

Sending By Port Moresby Code

by Calvin Sun | Aug 26, 2024 | August 2024: The South Pacific Island Hopper, Blitzkrieg!!!, Getting that VISA, Papua New Guinea, Way Way Off the Beaten Path

Time provides a lens, and seemingly random incidents focus them. I had a surgery 2 months ago to remove an undiagnosed (and now beaten) cancer that originally was offered to be this week. At the time I was faced at the moment to choose whether to have the surgery...
Onboard the Choo-Chuuk Plane

Onboard the Choo-Chuuk Plane

by Calvin Sun | Mar 3, 2024 | Blitzkrieg!!!, Crisis, Doctor in the House, March 2024: The Pacific Island Hopper, Micronesia, Way Way Off the Beaten Path

 Here we go! I finally get to experience the United Airlines famed Pacific island hopper in the other direction after taking a part of it 4 years ago.Probably the most burning question is where to sit:If you’re flying from GUM to HNL (eastwards), sit on the...
Please Notice Me, Saipan!

Please Notice Me, Saipan!

by Calvin Sun | Feb 26, 2024 | Blitzkrieg!!!, Fail, Layovers, March 2024: The Pacific Island Hopper, Northern Mariana Islands, Way Way Off the Beaten Path

 From Palau, and having snuck in 4 hours of sleep from 8pm-midnight, we boarded the 2:05am United Airlines Flight #158 to Guam, landing at 5:10am underslept and miserable.  Since Guam is a U.S. territory, transiting in Guam work as if you were entering...
Play a Song from the Juba‘x: South Sudan, The Newest Country in the World

Play a Song from the Juba‘x: South Sudan, The Newest Country in the World

by Calvin Sun | Mar 24, 2023 | Blitzkrieg!!!, Getting that VISA, How Did You Do That?, March 2023: South Sudan, South Sudan, Way Way Off the Beaten Path

 Yesterday I began my marathon itinerary of flights with a premium economy American Airlines seat from NYC to Doha.  I’m glad I didn’t bother with figuring out miles for business class; I nearly had the whole premium economy cabin to...
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