Family history across the seas

My 2025 A to Z theme is Airports, Airstrips, Aircraft, and Airlines I’ve known and flown with. I’ll be using IATA codes where they’re available. My inner travel agent emerges at this point as I’m the FTO (family travel organiser) and now, the online travel agent.

KHI      Jinnah International Airport, Karachi, Pakistan

Karachi was part of our flight to Rome in 1974 and 1977. Unfortunately, in 1977 we were not allowed to disembark which was frustrating after not being able to get off in Bangkok on the previous leg. My diary is succinct  – “had a look out from the steps” when the cabin crew opened the door. The memory of this leg of both flights, is seeing small patches of light in what seemed to be desert – small habitations or villages.

KTM    Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu, Nepal

A colleague from Port Moresby had invited us to visit them when they were relocated to Kathmandu. We had always been interested but I was concerned about the children’s health when they were so young. While I was chasing Ms 3 during the booking process, someone sneaky had booked the leg via Kathmandu from London. Ironically, it was me, not the children who got sick at the end of the trip thanks to dinner at an expensive restaurant.

As we flew into Kathmandu with Air Nepal (RA), we were caught in a severe electrical storm. It was reassuring to know that my colleague’s husband was responsible for the airport’s electrical system. We had a great time exploring the sights, being guided by our friends and including a trip up to do an inspection in the mountains. Murphy at work, that was of course the film that didn’t work!

And, as we’d always had a fascination with Mt Everest, we had to schedule a sight-seeing flight out of Kathmandu to see the Himalaya and especially Sagarmatha or Qomolangma as it’s known locally with its distinctive cloud spray from the top of the mountain.

KVG     Kavieng Airport, New Ireland District, Papua New Guinea

My husband’s father had been posted to Kavieng as District Superintendent of Education, so of course we had to have a short trip over to see them with our eldest daughter. We do have some poor quality photos of us on the beach but not worth sharing.

In reality, our exchange of food made more trips between Goroka and Kavieng than we did. Living in the Highlands at 1600 metres or 5200 feet, excellent vegetables were grown at the local Seventh Day Adventist farm nearby. We would send vegetables to them and in return we would receive an esky of crayfish tails. I wonder who got the best end of that deal?! We were very popular with friends when the shipment was due, especially when crayfish curry was on the menu. <smile>

KTJ      Kichwa Tembo Airstrip, Maasai Mara, Kenya, Africa

This flight was our first into the Maasai Mara for a safari with our two eldest daughters in 2013. Perhaps you can imagine our excitement when we could see giraffe as soon as we landed. To top that off, we were greeted and met by the staff of Kichwa Tembo Camp and provided with snacks and cold drinks -talk about luxury! It just got better every day, and we had the most lovely guide, Anthony, for our safari excursions. You might be interested in reading more about this adventure here.

We also did a balloon flight over the Mara, leaving before dawn and being provided with a sumptuous brunch on landing. I’m glad no one took photos of my extremely inelegant access to the balloon.

If you’ve ever been tempted to visit Kenya and go on safari, just do it if you get the opportunity. It was easily the best holiday we’ve had and, as you can already tell, that’s saying a lot!

Have you been to any of these airports or been up in a balloon? Would you like to go on safari in Africa? What has been your favourite experience with animals in the wild.