DOMESTIC AIRLINES IN JAPAN

There are more than 20 Japanese airlines operating in Japan. Many of them are budget or low-fare carriers painted with colourful livery. While waiting for our flight to Osaka at Fukuoka airport, I took some pictures of the planes coming in to land and some lining up for take-off.    

The Star Flyer, a Japanese "hybrid airline" operating 4 cities in Japan with their fleet of black and white A320s. 

Jet Star Japan, serving 9 Japanese cities with A320s. 

 Fuji Dream Airline operates a fleet of Embraer 170-175 aircrafts.

 Another FDA plane in yellow coming to land.

A Japan Air Self-Defense Force (航空自衛隊)Kawasaki T-4 Training aircraft caught my eyes.

The Peach Aviation's A320 in pink and white.

 A Bombardier Dash 8 of ANA WINGS

  Another Bombardier Dash 8 of JAL.

Japan Transocean Air's B737-400

 ANA on final approach

Skymark Airlines is the first low-cost airline established in 1998. It has a large fleet of   B737-800.

I noticed another Fuji Dream aircraft in purple as our aircraft was pushed back for departure,

Flew over mountainous areas covered with snow.

 Landed at Osaka International airport (ITAMI). 

FUKUOKA - THE NEXT FEW DAYS.

The next few days, we were busy visiting business partners and some old friends. We missed "Cherry Blossoms" as the season ended a day before our arrival.        

     The left over flowers near Maizuru Park.

A walk in Ohori Park(大濠公園) brought back lots of fond memories.

Ohori Park is one of the most beautiful parks in Japan and loved by local people as a relaxation spot.

The next best thing is to enjoy Fukuoka cuisine which is considered one of the best in Japan.

 One of our favourites is this "Yaki Niku" shop.

Salad bowl.

Saga beef from Kyushu.  

 Plenty of green and "kimchi".

Another favourite of mine is the "Kushi-Age" 串揚げ(Skewer) served by this small Japanese restaurant near Nakasu.

 

 

The "Kushi-Age" 串揚げ consist of deep fried vegetables, fish and meat on skewers.

To end the dinner, the "Master" of the shop served us three types of "Ochazuke". "Ochazuke" is a popular Japanese dish served with rice in green tea and some salty toppings or pickled vegetables. 

We had the toppings of salmon flakes, roasted seaweed with ginger and sesame seeds.

These were two of the most enjoyable meals with the company of our Japanese friends.

FIRST STOP - FUKUOKA ,JAPAN 2014

On first week of April, we flew Malaysia Airlines' B737-800 from Kota Kinabalu to Narita. It took off as per schedule at 07:40. 

 Mt.Kinabalu in the morning sun.

 Flight was 70% full.

 It's breakfast time - either chicken with fried noodles or omelet with chicken sausage.

The only meal for the 5 hours 20 minutes flight.

Landed at Narita Terminal 1 at 14:00 and the CIQ clearance took about 45 minutes as there was a jam going through Immigration. We took the shuttle bus to Terminal 1 where our connecting flight to Fukuoka was departing at 17:00.

 It's a ANA B737-700. 

 Cruising into the sunset.

 Approaching Fukuoka Airport and landed at 19:15. 

 Check-in Solaria Nishitetsu Hotel - Tenjin.

View from our room.

Just in time for the tempura and chirashi set dinner after a tiring day!

     

SUNSET - TANJUNG ARU BEACH

Last week, we had a picnic followed by watching the awesome sunset at Tanjung Aru beach.

The combination of the sunset colours.....a delight for professional and amateur photographers alike.

Tanjung Aru beach is the most popular sunset viewpoint in Kota Kinabalu. It's located just 15 minutes drive from the city. 

   

MH370 ENDED IN SOUTHERN INDIAN OCEAN

Malaysia Prime Minister, at 22:00 to night has announced that British investigators from its Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) have concluded that the flight of Malaysian Airlines MH370 ended in the southern Indian Ocean.

 

According to the Prime Minister, a British satellite company Inmarsat and the UK Air Accidents Investigation Board (AAIB) had used a new system to calculate MH370's flight path. "They had used a new type of analysis which had previously never been used before in an investigation like this," he said. It was learnt that both Inmarsat and AAIB have concluded, based on the new analysis, that MH370 flew along the southern corridor, a remote location far from any possible landing sites. 

May God bless all those on board and their families members.

MALAYSIA AIRLINES - MH370 STILL MISSING

The disappearance of MH370, a B777-200ER last Saturday has remained a misery. The  Search and Rescue teams from 9 countries found nothing after screening the possible sea and land areas with more than 30 aircraft s and 40 ships in the last 4 days.    

A B777-200ER of Malaysia Airlines similar to the missing 9M-MRO.

Some oil slicks, an object which looked like an aircraft door and a life raft were found in the few days of search, but they were not from the aircraft. The search area has been extended to the strait of Malacca as announced in this afternoon press conference. The latest news is that a fleet of earth-monitoring satellites has joined the search. With the latest development, hopefully the aircraft could be found.   

 

Believe it or not, a group of well-dressed "Bomoh" the witch doctor was seen in KLIA today. They were performing some acts trying to locate the missing MH370. Two young coconuts, a 'magic' walking stick and carpet were used to perform a kind of ceremony.

Whatever it is, the Search and Rescue teams are continuing to give their best to find this missing plane. Let us pray for all on board MH370 and also for their families and friends. 

BREAKING NEWS - MALAYSIA AIRLINES

To day is an extremely sad day for Malaysia Airlines and families and friends of those on board the B777-200ER. The aircraft has disappeared over the airspace between Malaysia and Vietnam this morning. MH370 was on it's way from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing with 227 passengers and 12 crew. It departed KLIA at 00:41 and lost contact after 2 hours in flight.

The Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777-200 ER fleet has an almost flawless safety record. It has probably been one of the safest aircraft in aviation history.

The B777 in the light blue livery.

The F/D crew last communicated with air traffic controllers 120 nautical miles off the east coast of the Malaysian town of Kota Bharu but lost contact after that according to the CEO of the Airlines.  As of 19:00, there is still no confirmation of the whereabout of this aircraft, though a Vietnamese newspapers reported that the aircraft has crashed into the sea near an island off South Vietnam. 

Let's pray for all on board the aircraft. May God bless Malaysia Airlines!