#West Indies Airways

[vintagepromotions]

British West Indies Airways travel poster for Antigua, featuring a man wearing swimming trunks and a scuba mask spearing a fish (c. 1960).

[runwayrunway]

No. 25 - BWIA

@international-nerd asked me to discuss BWIA! I was very excited about this request when I first read it, and now I'm very excited while I write this. BWIA's 2000s livery, which is what I'll be focusing on here, is one that definitely stood out on the tarmac.

It's rare that I can emphatically say this about an airline livery, but it's sort of in a category of its own. If more carriers approached livery design like BWIA, I probably wouldn't have been frustrated enough with the state of things to make this blog in the first place, because their livery is the polar opposite of the timid, corporate, and generic design we expect from airlines.

I like this picture a lot because it looks like she's saying hello to you. Like a cat approaching to sniff your hand.

First taking to the air in 1940 under the name British West Indian Airways, BWIA was also known at various points as BWIA West Indies Airways, BWIA International Airways, or 'Bee-Wee'. Its website was bwee.com. I have begun saying 'bweeeeee......' to myself under my breath now whenever I'm alone.

BWIA was founded as a private company, then became a BOAC subsidiary, and then was rapidly acquired by the government of Trinidad and Tobago. From 1961 until its ultimate demise in 2006, BWIA was the flag carrier of Trinidad and Tobago and became the largest carrier in the Caribbean, serving destinations in North America, South America, the Caribbean, and Europe.

Back in the day they had this...boring standard thing, but by the 80s they expanded their horizons to the other half of the color wheel, picking up a recognizable teal-and-bright-yellow color scheme. Its various jets continued to wear this livery until around 2000.

Sure, one image could have sufficed, but I'm far too weak to resist the allure of putting a really cobby-looking plane next to a comically long-looking plane.

The yellow and teal was a step in the right direction, but in 2000 BWIA decided it was time to unleash their true power on airports across the world. And the result is the subject of this post.

Now there's a livery worth talking about.

Seeing images of this livery makes me feel temporally strange. This is an airline which I technically overlapped with, in the sense that I was alive while BWIA existed, but I'm just inherently too young to remember that. There's definitely a chance I saw one of these striking planes in person and just don't remember it because I was five or so years old, and that's a very strange thought. I wish I had managed to see one, and had held onto the memory somehow, because I love these planes.

Do I miss the hot pink lettering from the previous livery? Yes, a little bit. I won't deny that. But if I hadn't known it was there I wouldn't have had that thought, so I don't think that's anything to hold against them.

I think BWIA is a really good place to pick up after this week's first post, Icelandair, where I discussed flag carriers' branding and the fact that it should reflect the country it represents. Trinidad and Tobago's contributions to music are gigantic. It's the birthplace of calypso, though calypso is far from the only genre and far from the only tradition which originated there.

BWIA's logo is a stylized steelpan, a musical instrument invented in Trinidad and Tobago which I could talk about on its own for quite some time if I weren't insisting to myself that this post has to be about airplanes and not music, but it's a choice of logo that makes it immediately clear that this is an airline which represents a group of people rather than just a flag. If the culmination of a flag carrier's mission is to make a case for why it's flying to a place you should visit, this is an incredibly effective way to do that. Trinidad and Tobago is a place where music is born. It's not just islands with beaches, it's islands with people and if you go there you will have experiences you could never have anywhere else.

In terms of flag carrier logos, it's up there among my favorites. The older 2D version is a little harder to immediately identify as a steelpan but the 2000-onward 3D version is very clean and very uniquely BWIA's. It adds more detail but it never becomes cluttered. The steelpan shape and the teal-and-yellow colors are both distinctive on their own, and combined they make planes that are impossible to mistake for any other airline.

The steelpan logo is prominent both on the tail and wrapped around the bottom of the fuselage, starting about midway down the ventral fairing and ending just below the nose. I really admire BWIA's choice to go with white-on-blue rather than the blue-on-white any other airline would have chosen. It instantly elevates the livery from doing something interesting with the placement of its shapes to doing that and also stubbornly refusing to even approach Eurowhite.

The use of white where it is used is very nicely executed, though. It allows the overall design to maintain a lightness by avoiding black outlines, while preventing the sort of overt eyestrain that comes from putting yellow directly on this sort of light teal. Instead, it elegantly uses the yellow as an accent on the back half of the fuselage. It's difficult for me to even articulate why this works so well, but it just does. The colors look harmonious together despite never mixing, and it's not the sort of place a secondary color would normally be isolated, which I think might be why it's so brilliant. It's a really nice accent to the rest of the plane, preventing the flatness which could result from a livery made entirely of a light color and plain white, while not impinging on the steelpan logo. It draws the eye and then takes a step back to let it experience the rest of the plane, and when you take a step back and appreciate the livery as a single unit it prevents any of that detail from being lost in a blue-and-white blur.

As with many liveries, I think BWIA's looks its best on a TriStar. That might be because the larger empennage lets you see more of the steelpan logo, but there's something so nice about the way the yellow peeks out from under the wing that reminds me of birds with bright yellow underbellies.

I think the main thing that sticks with me after looking at BWIA planes from every angle I can find images for is that this livery exemplifies a style of design that is the exact opposite of what makes most liveries so disappointing. This feels like a livery designed by someone who had never seen another airline livery before, who was sat down with some pencils, a color scheme, a logo, and an identity, and told to find a way to reflect it in the shape of the airplane. In so many of my other posts I compare liveries to each other, with the worst cases merging into uninspiring slop of aughts Delta clones and late 2010s Lufthansa clones and so forth. BWIA just didn't participate in any of that. This livery is hard to put words to because it's nearly impossible to compare to any other livery - in a good way. Most airlines' special occasion liveries don't have a fraction of this excitement.

This might sound a little lofty, and I don't mean to say that BWIA is what airlines should strive to directly emulate (in fact, by doing so they would sort of be doing the opposite of what BWIA did when they released this into a world full of Air France and United), but BWIA here has done what general relativity did to physics. Not so much a different equation, but a different state of mind. Taking what has always been treated as numbers and saying that it makes a lot more sense to think of it as fabric. And what I ultimately think is the most important outcome of these choices is that I can imagine any number of people watching other planes on the tarmac, bored out of their minds, snap out of their stupor to get a closer look when they see a BWIA plane roll by.

We unfortunately lost BWIA in 2006. It was for regular boring financial reasons, a similar situation to the more recent death of Alitalia where the government simply can't keep pumping money into something which has never turned a profit and has to start over with a new airline. I'm not going to talk about its successor, Caribbean Airlines, except to say that obviously I think it's a gigantic downgrade. Frankly, I could really like Caribbean Airlines and it wouldn't matter. If an impeccably designed livery is equivalent to someone who can answer any question you have about the body of physics scholarship, BWIA is equivalent to the sort of theorist who gets fundamental laws named for them.

A+, and goodnight.

[zooterchet]

Mission Briefing From Agent Brown (Program Vicar-1)

Royal Irish Navy: Labor control forces, the label of "Irish" in the Hebrew Geneology listings; police labor.

Canadian Mounted Patrol: Influence and art media, through call centers and backtraced lines; sum data, held in computers, through felony invoices on recording sheets of prior imprinted felony against controlled substances acts, or support groups thereof.

B'nai B'rith: The sheriffs division, those hired at mercenary private detective to enforce law no longer in status or force or removed, through any politician, worldwide, to be enforced anywhere, worldwide.

Counter Terror: The Quaker Oats fund, to study factories and warehouses and grain silos, to export cereals productions overseas to train workforces to produce armored warfare and vehicles status produce.

Goldman-Sachs: A talent organization out of Broadway, specializing at the removal of negligent sectors of urban tract, through art movements, encouraging immigration by homosexuals, those practicing Lutheran logic; sterile men, by pituatary dysfunction, and barren women, through improper stance of lotus, scoliosis.

Saks Fifth Avenue: Sales of chemicals similar to Rohypnol, however herbal, and in terms of texture beneath nose, often used by CVS corporate executives out of Coens, Hitlers, and Murdochs.

Macy's: Hedge funds basis out of Rockefeller Center in Manhattan, New York City; used for the common coverage of any number of wars overseas with American involvement, to export illicit substance as common industrialized labor for pogrom of sectors of collegiate study; "genocide", actually, an anthropological study, in produce of queer labor, Protestants.

D-Company: Extension of Silk Road and East Indies Company, the holding share in Dutch Country, Boer South Africa, and Uighur West China.  Used in calculation of media movements and script shares, for particular breeding of assassins, out of a single economic role, held by the main character's child; however, if matching proper byline, now hired into contract by necessary partnership organization out of military ally's accounts.

Delta Blue: British Airways overlay, into Thailand, out of Delhi and Amsterdam.  The traffic in sex commerce, through inmates held in Indochina; used as specialists in technical sciences, in any commercial social science entering the common media as a secondary function of commercial product.

Israeli Defense Forces: Neo-Nazi forces held in reserve by Lutheran Iranian alliance, out of Judea and Samaria; held as "Arabs", actually Americans, Hamas, hostage, to sport fight from World War 2 forces ruled as "Hebrum"; Jewish-Americans, as converted to Christian Arabianism, and slurred as "Muslims", homosexuals, without being aware of such attachment.

Paramilitary Reconnaissance: Mercenary forces out of Italy, "Mafiaso", dealing in a third party isosceles triangle for a foreign broker, for development of a market by shift of relationship in a simple thread and peg, on a pair of logical points out of fiction discussed by product imported; Kabuki theater in Japan, prior to Douglas MacArthur.

Israeli Air Force: Training programs and pilot programs as being the same, instead of the foreign model, of an Air Force program as intelligence forces, and an academy being for flight of civilian and military craft.  Used as munitions export, through mercenaries recruited out of the entertainment community.

[stluciass]

What happened to St Lucia Airlines?

St. Lucia Airways Limited was a privately owned company founded in 1975. General and tourist flights were operated mainly to Martinique and Barbados, but also extended throughout the Caribbean and South America. There was also a shuttle service between the two St. Lucia airports of Vigie and Hewannora. A Boeing 707 was acquired in 1982 for cargo charter work. Head office was listed as PO Box 253, Castries, St. Lucia, West Indies.[1]

History

During the 1986 arms for hostages scandal, U.S. Marine Corps Col. Oliver North arranged for shipments of Raytheon MIM-23 HAWK antiaircraft missiles to Israel. "The CIA's air branch suggested a proprietary which did clandestine work for the agency - St. Lucia Airways." The CIA congressional relations man, Clair George, was unavailable, so Duane Clarridge, the Latin America division chief, checked with the acting Deputy Director of Operations, Ed Juchniewicz, who told North that, in addition to its proprietary work, St. Lucia operated as a commercial venture. So it was available to anyone for special charter operations.[2]

"North arranged for St. Lucia to provide two Boeing 707s. They were able to carry HAWK antiaircraft missiles to Israel, where the HAWKs were transferred to Israeli planes for transit to Iran. North was running the operation through a Swiss bank account, Lake Resources, Inc. (number 386-430-22-1 at Crédit Suisse). For coming up with an airline on short notice, North told [Vice Adm. John] Poindexter on their interoffice computer, 'Clarridge deserves a medal.'".

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Lucia_Airways

[brookstonalmanac]

Events 4.20 (after 1920)

1922 – The Soviet government creates South Ossetian Autonomous Oblast within Georgian SSR. 1945 – World War II: U.S. troops capture Leipzig, Germany, only to later cede the city to the Soviet Union. 1945 – World War II: Führerbunker: On his 56th birthday Adolf Hitler makes his last trip to the surface to award Iron Crosses to boy soldiers of the Hitler Youth. 1945 – Twenty Jewish children used in medical experiments at Neuengamme are killed in the basement of the Bullenhuser Damm school. 1946 – The League of Nations officially dissolves, giving most of its power to the United Nations. 1961 – Cold War: Failure of the Bay of Pigs Invasion of US-backed Cuban exiles against Cuba. 1968 – English politician Enoch Powell makes his controversial "Rivers of Blood" speech. 1968 – South African Airways Flight 228 crashes near the Hosea Kutako International Airport in South West Africa (now Namibia), killing 123 people. 1972 – Apollo program: Apollo 16 Lunar Module, commanded by John Young and piloted by Charles Duke, lands on the Moon. 1998 – Air France Flight 422 crashes after taking off from El Dorado International Airport in Bogotá, Colombia, killing all 53 people on board. 1999 – Columbine High School massacre: Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold kill 13 people and injure 24 others before committing suicide at Columbine High School in Columbine, Colorado. 2007 – Johnson Space Center shooting: William Phillips barricades himself with a handgun in NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas before killing a male hostage and himself. 2008 – Danica Patrick wins the Indy Japan 300 becoming the first female driver in history to win an Indy car race. 2010 – The Deepwater Horizon drilling rig explodes in the Gulf of Mexico, killing eleven workers and beginning an oil spill that would last six months. 2012 – One hundred twenty-seven people are killed when a plane crashes in a residential area near the Benazir Bhutto International Airport near Islamabad, Pakistan. 2013 – A 6.6-magnitude earthquake strikes Lushan County, Ya'an, in China's Sichuan province, killing more than 150 people and injuring thousands. 2015 – Ten people are killed in a bomb attack on a convoy carrying food supplies to a United Nations compound in Garowe in the Somali region of Puntland. 2020 – For the first time in history, oil prices drop below zero, an effect of the 2020 Russia-Saudi Arabia oil price war. 2021 – State of Minnesota v. Derek Michael Chauvin: Derek Chauvin is found guilty of all charges in the murder of George Floyd by the Fourth Judicial District Court of Minnesota. 2023 – SpaceX's Starship rocket, the largest and most powerful rocket ever built, launches for the first time. It explodes 4 minutes into flight.

[brianfrench1995]

British West Indies Airways - BWIA label

[awesomeshefalimulye-blog]

5 best international destinations to visit post COVID – 19

The COVID – 19 pandemic has devastated humanity as never before. With multiple countries under strict lockdowns or restricted movements. It has caused a severe blow to the economics of many countries. Multiple businesses and industries worldwide have been badly affected (though some continue to prosper even through this pandemic). One of the worst hit is of course the tourism industry comprising of airlines, hotels and other hospitality related services such as transporters, embassies and visa related services, restaurants and many other ancillary service partners. Having said that tourism is resilient and will bounce back for sure just as it did post the SARS in 2013. The biggest question is what will one’s travel itinerary in the future look like and which regions in the world will be safe to travel in the future? Some of the factors which will perhaps determine this will be – proximity to home, airline capacity, especially to bring back home in case of any eventuality, destinations which were less impacted and/or have better health facilities and also insurance covers.

I am listing down some international destinations that maybe explored post COVID – 19 taking into account multiple factors that work in favour of these destinations. For those who are ‘travellers’ and are looking at continuing to travel once airline services resume and it is safer to travel, here goes –

Country                 Total cases        Active Cases         Deaths

New Zealand           1499                   45                         21

Taiwan                     440                     35                          7

Vietnam                   324                     61                          0

Thailand                  3031                  118                         56

Hong Kong             1056                    27                          4   

 New Zealand:

As on date New Zealand has reported 1499 active COVID – 19 cases with around 21 deaths and 93% of the infected cases have recovered successfully. New Zealand has a definite advantage over many other countries. Constituting 268,000 kms of total land area and a population of approximately 48 lakhs spread out between the North and South Island and any neighbouring inhabited island – It is not a large country and is fairly sparsely populated and yet has the comforts of being a developed country.

Ø  Known for its surreal natural beauty, few destinations can boast of so many natural wonders and experiences packed into such a small area. Snow capped peaks, rain forests, coastal glaciers, large geothermal areas in Rotorua with bubbling mud ponds and hissing streams – New Zealand has it all. Queenstown is a hotspot for adrenaline filled sports such as white-water rafting, luging, jet boat riding, skydiving, hiking, mountain biking, heli hiking, bungy jumping at the Bloukrons Bridge (one of the highest bungy jumps in the world)– the list of outdoor activities is endless.

Ø  With options of self - drive vacations as well as seat in coach holidays, one can find a wide variety of accommodations ranging from budget to luxury as well as quaint bed and breakfasts.

Ø  For the sports lovers, the cricket season in New Zealand will start from July with matches with West Indies followed by ICC T20 on Oct which could be something to plan for. Oct onwards is a good time to travel to New Zealand right through till the beginning of March, to experience summer in New Zealand.

Ø  With simplified e visa processes, correct documentation and timely application of visas, obtaining the New Zealand visa can be a breeze.  

Ø  Well connected with multiple airlines such as Singapore Airlines, Malaysian Airlines, Thai Airways, Air New Zealand and Emirates as well as low cost airlines such as Jet Star, it is a destination which can combined with a stopover in a South East Asian hub as well.

Ø  Considering the size of the country and its population, social distancing should not be a challenge when travelling through New Zealand.  

Ø  New Zealand has around 40 public hospitals spread across the country in cities and larger towns. Both public as well as private health care in the country is excellent.

Ø  All the major insurance companies offer multiple type of travel insurance products for New Zealand and are expected to offer products inclusive of COVID -19.

Ø  Best time to visit: September to November (Spring) with temperatures averaging between 13 – 20 degrees, December to February (Summer) with temperatures averaging between 19 – 25 degrees

 Taiwan:

Considering its geographical (not to mention lack of political) proximity to China, Taiwan has done an exemplary job of managing COVID 19 and its implications. While relatively unknown. Taiwan offers wondrous vistas, lively traditions and cultures. This year in 2020. Taiwan celebrates ‘the year of mountain tourism’.

Ø  Shaped like a leaf, the island covers 36,000 square kms with 23 million people living in it. Though not a very large country and while it is fairly densely populated, its immediate action and advanced deployment, sufficient availability of PPE for medical personnel and effective use of technology has helped the country tremendously in successfully handling this global pandemic far more effectively than most other countries.

Ø  Some of the popular ways of discovering Taiwan are trekking in the magnificence of the cliffs at Taroko Gorge; taking a ride on the Alishan Forest Railway and experiencing the breathtaking sunrise and sea of clouds; hiking up to the summit of Northeast Asia's highest peak, Yu Mountain (Yushan). You can also soak up the sun in Kending (Kenting), Asia's version of Hawaii; stand at the edge of Sun Moon Lake; wander through the East Rift Valley; or visit the offshore islands of Kinmen and Penghu – overall a lot of fun family activities after being confined to our homes for so long.

Ø  For true shoppers at heart, Taipei offers many night markets where you can combine a very satisfying shopping tour with a street food tour and try some amazing local fare and even a unique shrimp fishing experience.

Ø  You can enjoy a cycle tour near Sun Moon Lake as well a sample local wines and tea made from pure spring water.

Ø  Well connected with many airlines’ ex India such as Thai Airways, Singapore Airlines, Cathay Airlines and low-cost airlines like Air Asia, connectivity is easily possible from many Indian cities though fares are a little towards the expensive side.

Ø  Taiwan has emerged as a hotspot for medical tourism with sophisticated medical technology, well-trained medical professionals, strategic geographical location, stress-free VISA process and most importantly affordable cost-effective quality treatment. With a wide range of government and private hospitals spread across the country, makes it an ideal destination to travel to even as we wait for a vaccine for COVID – 19.

Ø  Popular among both business and leisure travellers, Indian nationals can now travel to Taiwan with a free visa, which can be applied online, thus simplifying visa processes.

Ø  Best time to visit Taiwan: November or the first half of April. The weather is cooler in November while in April you will get to see nature in its full bloom.

 Vietnam:

Vietnam has been another interesting statistic in so far as battling Coronavirus is concerned. With only 288 cases and no deaths till date, inspite of a relatively weak healthcare system and a low budget for combating the virus, Vietnam is a case study in how this virus can be beaten against all odds.  Effective 23rd April 2020, Vietnamese government has lifted social isolation rules and allowed opening of many non- essential services including restaurants. Domestic flights have resumed operations as well. Though Vietnam has limited and not necessarily international level medical facilities, I have still continued to include the same in my list on account of close proximity to India especially for those on a relative budget and looking for a short break. Vietnam boasts a variety of experiences for families as well as couples and can be an expensive luxury holiday or a relatively basic holiday if looking for a budget one, though airfares can be a little bit of a deterrent sometimes even if booked well in advance

Ø  Vietnam follows a very simple, inexpensive online e visa process for Indians, which is not complex and does not need to be planned weeks in advance.

Ø  One of the most underrated destinations in Asia, Vietnam is popular for its amazingly beautiful beaches some of them relatively unexplored, national parks, historical monuments and bustling nightlife. Cities as vibrant as Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh , overnight on a junk boat at the dazzling UNESCO World Heritage site of Halong Bay, hiking through Cat Ba Island, visiting and staying with locals in some of the most spectacular rural villages in North of Vietnam, visit the world’s largest cave in Pho Nha National Park, enjoy relaxing cycling expeditions in Hue or Ninh Binh as you walk around or drive past karst peaks and sail pas Tam Coc’s rice fields, meet up with local tribes in Sapa or find romance in its love market, see the recently opened Golden Hands Bridge in Da Nang and enjoy its French flavours or head on a food trail in one of the cities in Vietnam – the list of experiences is endless.

Ø  Combining a trip to neighbouring Cambodia is also a wonderful option as you will get to see the massive and most important archaeological site in South East Asia – Angkor Wat temples.

Ø  The best medical care in Vietnam is in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, though most medical concerns can be treated competently in many smaller towns and cities. ... SOS International has clinics in Vung Tau, Hanoi, and Ho Chi Minh City, providing good but expensive outpatient medical care

Ø  All major insurance companies offer multiple products that cover Vietnam.

Ø  The best time to visit Vietnam is during December through February when temperatures are milder and rain is minimal. Vietnam's long, narrow shape means that the three primary regions (north, central, and south) experience different types of seasons and weather events throughout the year.

 Thailand:

Thailand is perhaps the most ‘been there, done that’ destination in this list. Nonetheless I am including the same as I feel that the destination has great potential on account of a lot of unexplored experiences it has to offer.

Ø  Fantastic connectivity PAN India with option of more expensive full service carriers as well as budget LCC carries combined with amazingly tourist friendly and well organised seat in coach as well as private service and a wide range of accommodation options, gives one a wider price range to choose from depending on budget.

Ø  Apart from the pristine, dreamy beaches, ancient monasteries and coral reefs, food trails that are a treat for your taste buds, adventurous water sports, historical sites  and of course a flourishing night life– there is still a lot undiscovered by many Indian travellers.

Ø  Bangkok, the capital, in central Thailand, is regarded as a modern hub of various cultures, faiths and experiences. Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai to the north cater to those looking the quiet countryside and to spend time in the wild. Down south, beach destinations such as Phuket, Krabi and Koh Samui and island resorts in Khao Sok or Koh Yao Yai and many others, offer some of the best tropical experiences by the sea. On the western end, the Hua Hin region is popular for resorts where one can relax luxuriously. Finally, towards the east, Ubon Ratchathani is a spiritual and historical escape where one can immersively learn about Buddhist and Thai culture.

Ø  Generally speaking, the standard of medical care in Thailand is good. Thailand has world class international standard hospitals in the larger urban centres, with reasonably good medical facility in rural Thailand.  

Ø  Normally I do recommend Thailand as a year- round destination as the countryside is stunningly beautiful in the monsoons and though it rains, it will not disrupt your plans largely. Having said that if you are looking for a perfect weather to travel in, then November through till April is a dry season with temperatures ranging from 29 degrees to 34 degrees.

Ø  Before the COVID- 19 pandemic, Thailand was offering free e visa on arrival. Butan update is awaited on the same from the Thailand embassy. The process of obtaining visa before departure is fairly hassle free and does not take more than 3- 4 working days under ordinary circumstances.

 Hong Kong:

Considering its proximity and accessibility to China, this is another country that has done a remarkable job of managing the pandemic. One of the 1st countries to be hit by the same, Hong Kong is today one of the most ‘almost COVID – 19 free’ countries on the list. What makes this remarkable further is that the city-state has achieved this without the kind of de facto police-state curfew that India has resorted to. While people did work from home and some of the theme parks as well as attractions are closed to avoid community transmission, eventually restaurants opened, people continued to go to parks and favourite hiking routes but nearly everyone wears a mask and maintain social distancing.

Ø  Bustling streets, mouth-watering authentic cuisines, nature reserves and teetering tower blocks, old world markets amidst neon jungles, diversity in its various contradictions - Hong Kong is by far one of the most dynamic, overwhelming city I have ever has the opportunity to visit, A great pick for a family destination, Hong Kong offers a wide range of attractions for all age groups combined with all the privileges and comforts one can enjoy in any well-developed country. Apart from child friendly attractions such as Ocean Park and Disneyland, this multi culture destination also hosts many world class sports events especially rugby and horse racing.  

Ø  It is only an hour’s ferry ride from Macau, a mecca for those interested in casinos and night life and Las Vegas style hotels on ‘The Strip’ with internationally acclaimed shows. Just perfect for those who cannot make it to Las Vegas as yet!

Ø  Hong Kong is extremely well connected to many major airports in India. The airfares as well as hotels are a little on the higher side and I would recommend booking the same early.  

Ø  Critically, Hong Kong has one of the world’s best public healthcare systems, experienced at dealing with challenges such as the avian flu in 1997 to the H1N1 in 2009. 

Ø  Once again, an all year-round destination, the best time to visit Hong Kong is from October till April. For those who enjoy cultural experiences and local festivals and food, I would recommend considering a trip to Hong Kong in January & February though.

 COVID – 19 is not yet a thing of the past globally nor is it an issue we can ignore, So it is time we start working around it and figuring out solutions to stay safe when travelling. Airlines, hoteliers, transporters – everyone involved in the business of hospitality are figuring out solutions in terms of contactless travel, regular sanitisation, norms of social distancing and many other issues which are likely to come up once all of them are allowed to operate as usual. There is definitely a new ‘normal’ that we all need to adjust to while travelling in the future. In a business where human touch and conversation is all about hospitality, be it on land or in air, we may be looking at reduced human touch just to be able to stay safe and travel. So be it then!

[coolamenitykits]

BWIA West Indies Airways Limited, known locally as "Bee-wee", was the national airline based in Trinidad and Tobago. BWIA was, at the end of its operations, the largest airline operating out of the Caribbean, operating direct services to the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Its main base was Piarco International Airport (POS), Port of Spain, with major hubs at Grantley Adams International Airport (BGI) and Cheddi Jagan International Airport (GEO) during 2006. It was headquartered in the BWIA Administration Building in Piarco, Tunapuna-Piarco Regional Corporation on the island of Trinidad.

The company announced on 8 September 2006 that the airline would be shut down on 31 December 2006. All of the approximately 1700 employees were separated from the company but applied for new contracts with a new entity Caribbean Airlines.

[itsbydesign]

BWIA West Indies Airways Limited, known locally as "Bee-Wee" and also as British West Indian Airways,[2] was the national airline based in Trinidad and Tobago.

BWIA West Indies Airways - Wikipedia

Colonialism has caused a recursive acronym and I don’t like that.

[lentreprisevirtuelle6127]

Année 1920 (Novembre)

Evénements   Elections pour une Assemblée constituante en Yougoslavie     1er novembre: l’Aeromarine West Indies Airways inaugure une ligne internationale entre Key West (Etats-Unis) et La Havane (Cuba).   2 novembre: Election de Warren Harding (républicain) comme président des Etats-Unis   4 novembre: le pilote français Bernard Barny de Romanet bat le record de vitesse pure: 309,012km/h…

[vintagepromotions]

British West Indies Airways (BWIA) poster advertising flights to Trinidad and Tobago featuring a limbo dancer (1953). Artwork by Aldo Cosomati.

[izatrini]

In Photos: Onboard BWIA West Indies Airway' Final Flight In 2006 - Simple Flying http://dlvr.it/SQQp9q

[jamesclarke99]

Health Benefits Of The Bitter Tasting Kalmegh Primarily Suggested In Ayurvedic Treatments

Kalmegh is a Hindi language word for the Green Chiretta plant. It is rightly named ‘King of Bitters’ owing to the bitter taste the herb leaves in the mouth of anybody who consumes it. Despite this characteristically unpleasant taste, it is highly sought after, owing to its numerous medicinal properties.

This herb is known by various names in different languages, like Nelaberu (Kannada), Nelavepu  (Malayalam), Nilavembu (Tamil and Telugu). However, for the universal identification in the botanical world, its Latin name Andrographis Paniculata is used.

It is widely used in Ayurvedic medicines, Chinese traditional medicines, Unani medicines, and even medicines prescribed by Siddha practitioners. Let us find out more about the widespread utility of this bitter herb.

Getting To Know Kalmegh

Kalmegh is botanically classified as a herb that bears flowers only once a year. The leaves of this herb are known to bear many medicinal properties. The herb yields a bitter extract which is used in various medicinal preparations.

Kalmegh is a herb native to Asia and South East Asia and is growing abundantly in India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, the Philippines, Java Islands, and Indonesia. It flourishes in a tropical climate and is also found in West Indies and the Americas.

You will find it to be an average appearing plant growing in clusters. The herb typically grows in the wasteland or on roadsides. Many people have taken to cultivating their own Kalmegh plantation due to its medicinal utility.

Medicinal Benefits Of Kalmegh

Kalmegh extracts obtained using the leaves or the entire herb are used in several pharmaceutical preparations. Various parts of the plant are known to have therapeutic actions on various parts of the body.

The medicine was predominantly used as a home remedy prescribed by the local doctor in several regions of Asia. Due to its excellent therapeutic effects, scientists began studying and using it as a pharmaceutical agent.

It is known to have the following medicinal properties:

1.Digestive System

Due to the anti-inflammatory actions, it has a therapeutic action on several intestinal disorders like Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Gastritis, Enteritis, Piles, etc. it is also known to have an inhibitory action over ulcers developing on the tongue, inside the stomach, and intestines. Kalmegh has a protective action over the liver, which is very important for smooth digestion. its preparations are known to act like magic for the treatment of jaundice.

Action over the liver, which is very important for smooth digestion. Kalmegh preparations are known to act like magic for the treatment of jaundice.

2.Cardiac System

The anti-oxidative properties lead to a protective effect over heart muscles and blood vessels. Kalmegh prevents plaque accumulation within blood vessels, thereby keeping medical emergencies like myocardial infarction at bay, and is also useful in lowering blood pressure.

3.Respiratory System

The anti-inflammatory properties of Kalmegh make it very useful in treating diseases like COPD, emphysema, pneumonia, asthma, during which the inner airways within the lungs develop inflammation. It also has expectorant properties, making it very useful to expel phlegm from the lungs and throat. People often take it as a wellness drug to maintain a strong and healthy respiratory system.

4.Skin

The detoxifying action on blood allows it to heal skin infections, acne, scabies, and skin allergies. It is also a useful herb in treating dermatitis associated with redness and swelling of the skin.

5.Musculoskeletal System

Kalmegh is very useful in treating arthritis, myositis, and other inflammatory disorders of muscles, bones, and joints. This is due to the property of the herb that allows it to reduce pain and swelling. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis find long-lasting relief by the regular usage of Kalmegh.

6.Nervous System

Any naturally obtained substance that has anti-oxidant properties has a rejuvenating effect on the mind and body. Regular consumption of Kalmegh helps to boost physical stamina and prevention fatigue. Kalmegh has a therapeutic effect over nervous tremors, tremors occurring due to alcoholism, migraine, and other nerve-related disorders.

7.Infections

Bacteria, viruses, fungus, parasites, almost every type of infection is treated with preparations made using Kalmegh. Bacillary dysentery, scabies, infected acne, dengue are some infections that respond well to treatment with Kalmegh. HIV-positive patients also are benefited from regular consumption of this herb. It helps to boost immunity, regain physical strength and stamina in patients who have suffered from debilitating infectious disorders in the past.

Kalmegh is not only a highly effective medicinal drug but also an excellent prophylactic herb. It helps to keep several infectious and allergic disorders at bay. It also acts as a wellness tonic when consumed regularly. It helps to detox and rejuvenates the mind and body when consumed regularly.

The therapeutic properties of Kalmegh have been studied in the field of modern medicine as well. The use of Kalmegh as a medicinal herb is gaining rapid popularity in the western world as well.

Side Effects Of Kalmegh

Even a medicine, when taken in excess, will show some side effects. Similarly, Kalmegh also has side effects that will develop if consumed in the wrong way or excess. Some of the side effects associated with this herb are mentioned below:

Headache

Indigestion

Skin rash

Increased tendency of blood loss in patients suffering from bleeding disorders

Possible Male Infertility

Possible miscarriage if consumed in excess during pregnancy

These are some of the ill effects that Kalmegh is likely to cause. Not everybody who consumes Kalmegh experiences all these side effects. These are mentioned to caution patients who use the herb regularly.

How Should Kalmegh Be Consumed

The use of Kalmegh for its medicinal properties began in Asia years ago. Centuries ago, crude methods were used to prepare therapeutic versions of this herb. But these methods were refined over the years. Extensive research on Kalmegh and the availability of new technology paved the way for refining how the herb was potentized.

Today, medically potent preparations of Kalmegh are available in the following forms:

1.Powder

Mix the powder with honey and consume directly

Prepare Kwath by adding 2 teaspoons powder to 2 cups of water and boiling the mixture till it reduces to half the volume. Kwath should be further diluted before drinking it

Powder mixed in coconut oil is good for skin disorders

2.Tablets

One can consume one whole or crushed tablet daily with water

3.Juice

1-2 teaspoons of Kalmegh juice, diluted in half a glass of water, can be consumed daily

4.Leaf

Kalmegh leaves can be crushed with black peppercorns, and the preparation can be consumed once daily or every alternate day.

Kalmegh And Ayurveda

The southern part of Asia has always been blessed with abundant growth of the Kalmegh herb. Therefore it has always been a part of traditional and folk medicine. Ayurvedic scholars studied this drug and discovered its various medicinal properties.

Ayurvedic science believes in the principle of Doshas, Vaata, Pitta, and Kapha, which are essential abstract components of every human being. Kalmegh is known to balance these Doshas and act as a preventive agent for many health disorders.

Ayurvedic physicians prescribe Kalmegh for the treatment of liver ailments, skin diseases and as an immunity booster.

Kalmegh is a herb which when used appropriately, can transform the human body and mind to a healthier and better state. Along with an effective medicine against several diseases, it is also an excellent health tonic and wellness herb.

[brookstonalmanac]

Events 2.4

211 – Following the death of the Roman Emperor Septimius Severus at Eboracum (modern York, England) while preparing to lead a campaign against the Caledonians, the empire is left in the control of his two quarrelling sons, Caracalla and Geta, whom he had instructed to make peace. 960 – The coronation of Zhao Kuangyin as Emperor Taizu of Song, initiating the Song dynasty period of China that would last more than three centuries. 1169 – A strong earthquake strikes the Ionian coast of Sicily, causing tens of thousands of injuries and deaths, especially in Catania. 1454 – Thirteen Years' War: The Secret Council of the Prussian Confederation sends a formal act of disobedience to the Grand Master of the Teutonic Knights, sparking the Thirteen Years' War. 1555 – John Rogers is burned at the stake, becoming the first English Protestant martyr under Mary I of England. 1703 – In Edo (now Tokyo), all but one of the Forty-seven Ronin commit seppuku (ritual suicide) as recompense for avenging their master's death. 1758 – The city of Macapá in Brazil is founded by Sebastião Veiga Cabral. 1789 – George Washington is unanimously elected as the first President of the United States by the U.S. Electoral College. 1794 – The French legislature abolishes slavery throughout all territories of the French First Republic. It would be reestablished in the French West Indies in 1802. 1797 – The Riobamba earthquake strikes Ecuador, causing up to 40,000 casualties. 1801 – John Marshall is sworn in as Chief Justice of the United States. 1810 – Napoleonic Wars: Britain seizes Guadeloupe. 1820 – The Chilean Navy under the command of Lord Cochrane completes the two-day long Capture of Valdivia with just 300 men and two ships. 1825 – The Ohio Legislature authorizes the construction of the Ohio and Erie Canal and the Miami and Erie Canal. 1846 – The first Mormon pioneers make their exodus from Nauvoo, Illinois, westward towards Salt Lake Valley. 1859 – The Codex Sinaiticus is discovered in Egypt. 1861 – American Civil War: In Montgomery, Alabama, delegates from six breakaway U.S. states meet and initiate the process that would form the Confederate States of America on February 8. 1899 – The Philippine–American War begins when four Filipino soldiers enter the "American Zone" in Manila, igniting the Battle of Manila. 1932 – Second Sino-Japanese War: Harbin, Manchuria, falls to Japan. 1938 – Adolf Hitler appoints himself as head of the Armed Forces High Command. 1941 – The United Service Organization (USO) is created to entertain American troops. 1945 – World War II: Santo Tomas Internment Camp is liberated from Japanese authority. 1945 – World War II: The Yalta Conference between the "Big Three" (Churchill, Roosevelt, and Stalin) opens at the Livadia Palace in the Crimea. 1945 – World War II: The British Indian Army and Imperial Japanese Army begin a series of battles known as the Battle of Pokoku and Irrawaddy River operations. 1948 – Ceylon (later renamed Sri Lanka) becomes independent within the British Commonwealth. 1961 – The Angolan War of Independence and the greater Portuguese Colonial War begin. 1966 – All Nippon Airways Flight 60 plunges into Tokyo Bay, killing 133. 1967 – Lunar Orbiter program: Lunar Orbiter 3 lifts off from Cape Canaveral's Launch Complex 13 on its mission to identify possible landing sites for the Surveyor and Apollo spacecraft. 1974 – The Symbionese Liberation Army kidnaps Patty Hearst in Berkeley, California. 1974 – M62 coach bombing: The Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) explodes a bomb on a bus carrying off-duty British Armed Forces personnel in Yorkshire, England. Nine soldiers and three civilians are killed. 1975 – Haicheng earthquake (magnitude 7.3 on the Richter scale) occurs in Haicheng, Liaoning, China. 1976 – In Guatemala and Honduras an earthquake kills more than 22,000. 1977 – A Chicago Transit Authority elevated train rear-ends another and derails, killing 11 and injuring 180, the worst accident in the agency's history. 1992 – A coup d'état is led by Hugo Chávez against Venezuelan President Carlos Andrés Pérez. 1997 – En route to Lebanon, two Israeli Sikorsky CH-53 troop-transport helicopters collide in mid-air over northern Galilee, Israel, killing 73. 1997 – The Bojnurd earthquake measuring Mw  6.5 strikes Iran. With a Mercalli intensity of VIII, it kills at least 88 and damages 173 villages. 1998 – The 5.9 Mw  Afghanistan earthquake shakes the Takhar Province with a maximum Mercalli intensity of VII (Very strong). With 2,323 killed, and 818 injured, damage is considered extreme. 1999 – Unarmed West African immigrant Amadou Diallo is shot 41 times by four plainclothes New York City police officers on an unrelated stake-out, inflaming race relations in the city. 2000 – The World Summit Against Cancer for the New Millennium, Charter of Paris is signed by the President of France, Jacques Chirac and the Director General of UNESCO, Koichiro Matsuura, initiating World Cancer Day which is held on February 4 every year. 2003 – The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia adopts a new constitution, becoming a loose confederacy between Montenegro and Serbia. 2004 – Facebook, a mainstream online social networking site, is founded by Mark Zuckerberg and Eduardo Saverin. 2015 – TransAsia Airways Flight 235, with 58 people on board, en route from the Taiwanese capital Taipei to Kinmen, crashes into the Keelung River just after takeoff, killing 43 people. 2020 – The COVID-19 pandemic causes all casinos in Macau to be closed down for 15 days.

[keywestlou]

WE ARE A PART OF HISTORY

“We are a part of history.” Words shouted by John Earl Sullivan from inside the Capitol January 6. Sullivan the 26 year old black founder of Insurgence USA. A social justice group set up to protest police authority in the wake of George Floyd’s death.

Sullivan first helped others scale the outside wall to the second floor. Exclaiming as he did, “Let’s burn this shit down.”

Then inside, “That’s what I’m sayin’, break that shit.”

Finally, “We accomplished this shit. We did this together. Fuck, yeah! We are all a part of history.”

Another who “gained” fame is John Francis Stager from Arkansas. His picture all over the media. The insurgent who was running around carrying a large American flag who beat a Metropolitan police officer with the flagpole. The officer was guarding the entrance to the Capitol.

The mob stormed the building, grabbed the officer, dragged him down a flight of stairs, and  forced him into a “prone position.” He “remained prone on the steps” as Stager and friends “forcibly and repeatedly” beat him on his head and body with “various objects.”

Stager shouting during the beating: “Everybody in there is a treasonous traitor. Death is the only remedy for what’s in that building.”

Then there is Alabama’s Joshua Blod. He said, “The spirit of God wanted him to storm the Senate.” Also the following confluted statement” “Plead the blood of Jesus over it.”

Blod claimed, “They stole my country.” He said afterwards, The crowd went crazy when they “found out Pence turned on us and they had stolen the election like officially.”

The proceeding examples of the extreme nuts the U.S. has bred in past years.

As the days pass, it is becoming increasingly clear that certain lawmakers may have conspired with the Capitol attackers in placing legitimate Congressional persons and their staffs in legal peril. The conspiring having taken place the day before the attack.

If true, they should be sought out and charged with the most serious seditious crimes carrying the longest sentences. Benedict Arnolds one and all.

Trump’s reputation has dropped swiftly the past 2 weeks. He is toxic and no one wants to be close to him in any fashion.

Many companies have withdrawn their support. Many prominent persons who previously supported Trump, also.

Ariel Pink, the Indie rock artist, is one who now suffers because of his past support of Trump.

Ariel was on the Tucker Carlson show. Sorrowfully complaining. His label has dropped him. He told Carlson his support of Trump now “leaves me destitute and on the street.” He claims he has been “stripped of his livelihood…..People are so mean.”

Substantiation once again of the Biblical words: “As ye sow so shall ye reap.” In today’s words: “If you go to bed with a dog, you wake with fleas.”

It was announced yesterday that Trump and his entourage will leave Washington the morning of January 20 on Air Force One. Trump heading for his new home at Mar-a-Lago.

Trump’s toxicity and actions over the years have left many Mar-a-Lago neighbors unhappy with Trump. They do not want him as a neighbor. Palm Beach County is looking for a way to end Trump’s agreement in 1993 giving permission to run a business at Mar-a-Lago. The agreement does not provide for Trump or anyone else to live there.

Every nation having a problem with coronavirus has the elderly listed near the top of the priority list to receive shots first. Except, one. Indonesia.

The elderly are at or near the bottom of the list. Vaccines are being reserved for those under 60. Considered “young” by Indonesian standards.

Two reasons therefore. Indonesians claim there is a lack of research as to how the vaccine will affect older recipients. They believe vaccinating the young first is the best way to dampen widespread transmission of the virus. Younger persons are the largest group spreading the virus.

Two years ago, a tiki hut vessel appeared on Key West waters. A boat. Merely a tiki hut with a small bar beneath it. A good way to enjoy a drink  by day and to view the sunset in the evening.

Someone stole the Tiki Hut boat. Twenty four hours later the thief was arrested. Stone drunk!

He is Tyln Earl Morlang, a 36 year old from Missouri.

He apparently spent the night on the boat. Whether he got drunk while on or before not known yet. Could be while on. It was a cold evening. He might have consumed a few bottles of alcohol to keep warm.

He did try to start a fire to keep warm. A series of small fires. One in a coconut, others in plastic cups. None took sufficiently to remain ongoing for very long.

He’s lucky he did not burn the Tiki Hut and kill himself during his night long cruise.

This day in 2009 a happy and proud one. For all concerned.

I am sure you recall.

U.S. Airways Captain Chesley “Suny” Stullenberger was flying an Airbus 320. The plane hit a flock of birds just after take off. Both engines were disabled.

Sully accomplished the impossible. He landed the plane on the Hudson River. All 155 persons on board were saved.

Enjoy your day!

WE ARE A PART OF HISTORY was originally published on Key West Lou

[my-home-design]

9Y-THA BWIA West Indies Airways Lockheed L-1011-385-3 TriStar 500 https://ift.tt/30TqGHJ