Aircraft with partial Roof!

Thirty-seven years ago today, a flight attendant named C.B. Lansing was handing a drink to a passenger at 24,000 feet over the Pacific Ocean when an 18-foot section of the roof above her tore completely off the aircraft. She was swept into the open sky, and her body was never found. What happened in the next thirteen minutes is one of the most extraordinary stories in aviation history. It was April 28, 1988. Aloha Airlines Flight 243, a Boeing 737-200 named Queen Liliuokalani, had already flown three round trips between the Hawaiian islands before departing Hilo for Honolulu. The 90 passengers and five crew had no reason to expect anything unusual. The aircraft, delivered in 1969, had completed 89,680 flight cycles by that day. Each takeoff and landing pressurizes the fuselage. After so many cycles, fatigue cracks had quietly formed. Twenty-three minutes into the flight, the upper fuselage just behind the cockpit failed. An 18-foot section of the roof peeled away. Captain Robert Schornstheimer and First Officer Madeline Tompkins faced extreme conditions: 300 mph winds, sub-freezing temperatures, damaged controls, and no cockpit communications. Flight attendant Jane Sato-Tomita was seriously injured but helped passengers brace. Michelle Honda attempted to assist as well. Despite the damage, the pilots managed a 13-minute emergency descent and landed at Kahului Airport on Maui. Of 95 people on board, 94 survived. Sixty-five were injured; C.B. Lansing did not survive. The NTSB investigation revealed fatigue cracks in the fuselage as the cause. The FAA began emergency inspections worldwide, new laws were passed, and aviation maintenance programs were overhauled. In 1995, a memorial garden was opened in Honolulu to honor C.B. Lansing. Her dedication saved lives that day, and the pilots and crew made an extraordinary landing under impossible circumstances.

I am surely - Right!

Respect Parents!

Saudi goes for BRICS!

For decades, the global economy ran on one simple rule: if you want to buy oil, you buy it in U.S. dollars. That rule is quietly being rewritten. Saudi Arabia has officially moved to join the BRICS currency pact, aligning its massive oil reserves with China, Russia, India, and Brazil. This means the Saudis are preparing to accept payments in currencies other than the dollar. This isn't just an economic update. This is a geopolitical earthquake. The U.S. dollar gets its global dominance largely because countries are forced to hold it to buy energy. If the world's largest oil exporter suddenly says "we'll take Yuan or Rupees," the American financial shield cracks. It's like the landlord of the global economy suddenly deciding your money isn't the only currency they accept anymore. The US uses the dollar to sanction rivals. Without that monopoly, Washington loses its biggest non-military weapon.

Is Goa Gajah in Bali - Worth Visiting?

Goa Gajah is worth visiting if you like quirky cultural attractions and are interested in the site’s fascinating history as both a Hindu and Buddhist place of worship. The highlight is undoubtedly the main cave which is entirely manmade, with intricate carvings of creatures around the outside. You can enter the cave through the giant gaping mouth of a creature, said to represent either Bhoma or Rangda from Balinese mythology. This is a famous photo spot, but it wasn’t busy during our visit, with just a handful of other tourists at the complex. The cave itself is small and it doesn’t take long to visit. But there’s much more to see across the complex including bathing pools, statues, temple ruins, and a beautiful scenic area down in the ravine. We recommend around 30 minutes in total for your visit. Guides are waiting inside to offer you a guided tour with stories from the site. This is completely optional so don’t feel obliged to say yes. You can negotiate the price down to around 100,000 IDR per group. Both the entrance fee and guides are cash-only with no ATM on site, so make sure you have enough. We wouldn’t recommend going too far out of your way to visit the Elephant Cave, but if you’re already in Ubud, it makes a cool addition to your itinerary. While in the area, consider checking out the free museum at Setia Darma House of Mask and Puppets (it’s a bit of a hidden gem). We also liked Dagoja Coffee & Eatery which is near the entrance to the temple – the food here is good and better value than buying something inside the temple complex.

18,755kms long train journey!

The idea of traveling by rail from Portugal all the way to Singapore captures the imagination as one of the longest continuous train journeys possible, stretching roughly 18,755 kilometers across multiple continents. This epic route takes travelers through around 13 countries, offering a constantly changing landscape that shifts from Western Europe’s historic cities to Eastern Europe’s vast plains, across Russia’s endless stretches, and into the vibrant cultures of Asia. Over the course of about three weeks, passengers experience an incredible blend of scenery, languages, and traditions, making the journey itself as meaningful as the destination. However, it is important to understand that this is not a single direct train but a combination of several interconnected rail routes, including famous segments like the Trans-Siberian Railway. Travelers must plan multiple transfers, visas, and schedules to complete the full journey. Despite this complexity, the experience offers something unique that air travel cannot provide, allowing people to witness gradual geographical and cultural transitions rather than jumping instantly between distant locations. The journey is often described as an adventure of a lifetime, with views ranging from mountain ranges and dense forests to deserts and bustling cities. Onboard experiences vary depending on the train segment, but many routes offer comfortable sleeping arrangements, dining options, and the chance to meet fellow travelers from around the world. The estimated cost of around 1,350 dollars reflects a budget-friendly version using standard classes, though prices can vary depending on comfort level and route choices. What makes this journey so special is not just its length but the sense of connection it creates across continents. It highlights how vast yet interconnected the world is, showing that it is possible to travel from the edge of Europe to Southeast Asia entirely by land. This kind of trip turns travel into a continuous story, where every stop adds a new chapter, making it far more than just a way to get from one place to another.

Test 'Sharpness of your mind'!