Stockholm-Arlanda Airport: Sweden (p-3)

Bus stop Exchange Rate: 9 April 2011 Post card Souvineirs SAS: Beautiful sky Arlanda Aiport Information Center At the tourist information center at Arlanda Arlanda Snow removing equipment

Skies over Stockholm

Greater Stockholm neighborhood

Stockholm  − the capital’s international airport 'Stockholm Arlanda' is Sweden’s largest airport and an important hub for both the Stockholm region and Scandinavia − with 167 destinations around the world and its well connected ground transport services to and from other parts of the Stockholm region is very effective.

According to the official website: "During 2009 16.1 million people travelled to or from Stockholm Arlanda Airport. Passengers: Total: 16.1 millionInternational: 12.1 millionDomestic: 3.9 million Movements: (take-offs and landings)Total: 192,500International: 122,500Domestic: 69,900 Cargo: Total: 152,400 tonnes goods and mail Airlines: 81 airlines fly from Stockholm Arlanda 63 airlines fly international routes5 airlines fly both international and domestic routes3 airlines fly domestic routes10 airlines fly cargo and mail Destinations: Total: 176 destinationsInternational: 144 destinationsDomestic: 32 destinations Runways: 3 start- and landing runways(3,300 m, 2,500 m and 2,500 m) Conference facilities: 52 conference rooms for up to 700 people1500 m2 exhibition space for up to 1, 000 delegates Shops and restaurants: 52 shops41 restaurants, cafés and bars"

Beijing Capital International Airport: China (part. 2)

Dragon Shape of the Airport (photo credits @ foster and partners) Shunyi District where the airport is located

China Daily

Transportation

Logo!

Never ending construction at the site of the airport

Beijing Capital International Airport, 北京首都国际机场; is the main international airport of China. It is located 32 km from Beijing's city center. The airport's code is PEK and is the worlds' bussiest aiport. It is a hub for Star Alliance and main stop for Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS).

It is the largest covered structure on Earth and is designed by esteemed architect Sir Norman Foster. This massive structure was built in just four years. Terminal 3 itself would be the largest airport in the world if it stood alone; it is larger than Heathrow's five terminals combined.

Its area is approximately 1.3 million square metres, mostly under one roof. The first building to break the one million square meter barrier, it will accommodate an estimated 50 million passengers per annum by 2020.

This new terminal offers an unparalleled traveling experience, not only technologically, but also in terms of operational efficiency, passenger comfort and access to natural light.

Natural light, which is a great feeling compared to airport where this option is missing and one end-up being tired

INCHEON Airport: Korea (9 April 2011) -1

Incheon Airport is ranked the World's Best Airport for past 4 consecutive years. No wonder that the facilities and the importance given to customers is their priority. I also worked as an intern at the Incheon Airport - which is one of the best work experiences so far.

While comparing it with other airports it is the cleanest and the most 'passanger friendly airport of the world. WiFi facility at the airport is free - which is unbelievable because if one travels to Americas, or Europe and probably anywhere - we have to pay for it - mos of the time. NAVER'S Internet cafe at Incheon Airport is a great facility and a fabulous idea to provide a huge space with top of the line, latest brands of laptops - coming in all the beautiful colors (by Samsung) are also free to use for customers in this cosy space. If you do not have a computer or if your computer is locked in your baggage then do NOT worry - just look for the Naver's Internet Cafe after checking in.

Another very cute thing is to visit "Experience Korea" corner: This is in collaboration with Korea tourism Organization - here yo can make stuff with Hanji or do stone printing etc. - all for free.

Besides that Sauna, motel, hotel, restaurants, cafes are endless with very economical price range. Cleanest bathrooms and other state of the art facilities top class. They have set very high standards where they wanna facilitate and not charge anything for their remarkable services. IIAC has really earned their ranking!
On the runway

Metro

Towards gates for boarding.

Different facilities for the visitors: in 10 years they have achieved the unachievable.

Front of the plane I took for Beijing.

Back of the plane I took for Beijing

NAVER's Internet Cafe (free)/ I used the orange one behind this one!

To gates

Internet Cafe (drinks, printing, surfing)

Waiting for subway for the various gates!

I wonder where does it fit in for Louis Vuitton message!

On my way to Incheon Airport

Inside the bus to the airport, it takes 65 min. and 12$. (

It took 1 hour 40 min. to get to Beijing!

Beijing is trying hard but have a long way to go.... nevertheless, staff is very friendly with Pakistanis :D

Korea and Spring

I am leaving Seoul for Stockholm in few hours. During these two weeks, I will miss the cherry blossom festival. It's short lived - about 8 to 10 days.... Magnolias and peach buds are ready to bloom- yesterday's rain was a catalyst to shed winter completely off and doors are wide open to welcome spring....wild flowers and tulips in yellow, maroons and purple are already everywhere. Scent is in the air!

Typewriter

Well computers have chaged our life in enormous ways but their predecessors 'typewriters' have a huge contribution that span over centuries.
In 1714, Henry Mill obtained a patent in Britain for a machine that appears to have been similar to a typewriter. In 1829, William Austin Burt patented a machine called the "Typowriter" which, in common with many other early machines, is listed as the "first typewriter".In 1865, Rev. Rasmus Malling-Hansen of Denmark invented the Hansen Writing Ball, which went into commercial production in 1870 and was the first commercially sold typewriter. It was a success in Europe and was reported as being used in offices in London as late as 1909.

Why am I hooked to this machine and why today? It is because I just found a typewriter in the discarded stuff of our grad school. It is a nice machine but since I live in a dorm hence, I have no idea what to do with it? If I had a home it would have gone in a corner table as an antique. It can become a nice decoration of some coffeeshop or a bookshop too. Anyhow, I guess after a while, it will go back in the trash! If anybody wants it can contact me.It is free! :-)

Sweden 101

Sweden is ranked as the most innovative country in the world according to the latest Innovation capacity index. Innovative research at Swedish universities and companies has resulted in a number of successful inventions. Some examples are: the computer mouse, Bluetooth for internet mobility, the pacemaker, the ball bearing, the Tetra Pak beverage packaging system, the dialysis machine and internet applications such as the online music streaming service Spotify, and the free internet calling service Skype. The founder of Skype, the Swede Niklas Zennström studied at one of the oldest and most well-known universities in Sweden, Uppsala University.

These fairly recent inventions build on a long history of excellence in academia and research. Sweden is the home of the prestigious Nobel prize, awarded in Stockholm every year.

Did you know this? Have you used Skype or the music service Spotify or Ericcson?

One thing that comes in my head and which is also from Sweden is IKEA. When I went to their embassy - it was small yet, pretty and different from the rest of the embassies and there I saw a few IKEA pieces too. :D
(www.ikea.com)

Having said all this, my first question in the previous post still stands tall.^^

Some useful links:

General information about accommodation in Sweden: studyinsweden.se/accommodation

General information about cost of living: studyinsweden.se/living-in-sweden

The most useful site is swedenintouch.

p.s:Thanks Matthew for your tip -I've finally inserted the link the right way!

Navigating Sweden

I am leaving for Sweden this weekend to participate in a workshop. From Seoul, the flight available for my traveling dates are for Stockholm only and hence, it will be the first stop on my way to Norrkoping which according to the map above falls in Area-3.

University of Linkoping (LiU) in Norrkoping is where I will take part in an intensive program: 7 hours of back to back lectures every day for a whole week. My main problem is how I will get to Norrkoping from Stockholm? Yes, of course, I know there are buses, train and even flights available but I wonder, what is the most economical way? Any pointers for Stockholm and Norrkoping would be highly appreciated .... I am a little worried. This is the first time to Scandinavia.

My personal thoughts and experiences while navigating Sweden on the Web and otherwise, would be in a detailed post/(s)later but surely, I wish I had known someone. A wishful thinking!

Countries where a lot of information is in their native languages , particularly on the web, is a bit difficult to figure out for a first-time-visitor. Especially, on a rather short trip (meant only for study purposes) - answers to 'where, what and hows' is refreshings. I have found two forums in English on the web ... let's see!

I know that it is going to be a wonderful experience nevertheless, being cluless on certain fronts isn't good.

.*!*.

Pictures of the Day

Post Box The inside out view This dog belonged to our former dean of the grad school. Boomi (she was very friendly).

New Visa Rules for Korea

The Justice Ministry will ease visa regulations for South Asian visitors, who have become a major group for the Korean tourist industry, according to officials Tuesday.

Under regulations to come into effect next week, nationals from 11 major South Asian countries will be issued a double-entry visa, which allows them to freely revisit Korea within six months, in between or after transits to other countries.

The beneficiary states include India, Bangladesh, Philippines, Vietnam, Pakistan, Nepal, Laos, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Cambodia and Myanmar, according to the ministry.

Also, a multiple-entry visa, which enables the holder to freely reenter the country for three consecutive years, will be issued to those who have a Korean university graduate degree and families of immigrants married to a Korean spouse. Family members of multiple-entry visa holders are to automatically enjoy the same benefits.

This measure came in response to the growing reputation of Incheon International Airport as a flight transit spot, according to the ministry.

credits@Korea Herald

Pictures of the Day!

This picture is taken during the times when a group of Korean missionaries were kidnapped in Kandahar, Afghanistan. Security forces were assigned outside the Seoul mosque. (2009)

Quote of the Day

There are several good protections against temptations, but the surest is cowardice Mark Twain (1835-1910).

The above quote is from, 'Following the Equator - A journey around the world' (Mark Twain:1897). Following the Equator (American English title) or More Tramps Abroad (English title) is a non-fiction travelogue published by American author Mark Twain in 1897. Twain was practically bankrupt in 1894 due to a failed investment into a "revolutionary" typesetting machine. In an attempt to extricate himself from debt of $100,000 - he undertook a tour of the British Empire in 1895, a route chosen to provide numerous opportunities for lectures in the English language.

In 'Following the Equator', the author criticizes racism, imperialism and missionary zeal. This book can be dowmloaded from the 'The Gutenberg Project' and is a good read. http://www.gutenberg.org/wiki/Main_Page

Lotus

Lotus

Seokchon Lotus Lake (Seoul)

These pictures were taken in 2005 (fall).

Lotus is very symbolic in Korea: hisorically, religiously and culturally.