Matty Somewhere

The QantasClub, Wellington International Airport.

I like to think I am quite civilised. While most people hate hanging around airports and there are some who like to get there early for the shopping, I get to airports early to make sure I have checked in on time and can clear immigration and customs without any stress or rushing – OK,…

A Short Hop On A Soundsair Cessna 208 Caravan – Wellington to Picton, New Zealand

“Captain Dave is bringing the plane in from Picton and should land in the next few minutes. It’s a bit windy up there so it will be up to Dave whether the winds over the sounds are OK to land in Picton or maybe Blenheim… I cant really say, he’s the one in charge of the…

That Little Place You Find…House Of Dumplings, Wellington, New Zealand

When you’re not looking, sometimes you find something you didn’t know you were looking for. It often happens when travelling, isn’t that why most of us go out and explore the world? Food can be a major delight while travelling and sometimes the smallest delight can be the surprise. At the end of my recent visit to…

China Airlines Sydney to Auckland Business Class – Airbus A330-300

Question: China Airlines comes from what country? Answer: Taiwan (Republic of China) Bloody Mary. People often think China Airlines is from mainland China (The Peoples Republic of China) but its not, it’s Taiwan’s (Republic of China) national carrier and largest airline based the country’s capital Taipei. Now I’m not going to go into the how, why and…

Inspecting a Cathay Pacific Airbus A330-300 at Sydney Airport

Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear Cathay Pacific, Happy Birthday to you! Cathay Pacific recently celebrated its 40th year of operating flights from Hong Kong to Australia and FreakyFlier was invited on board one of their Airbus A330-300 aircraft which fly the route between Hong Kong and Sydney up to…

Wandering Through Hyde Park Barracks, Sydney Australia

“Dog must not steal from dog” – Convict saying. Recently, I decided to become a tourist in my own city of Sydney and visit one of Australia’s oldest European buildings, The Hyde Park Barracks Museum. Listed on the New South Wales and Australian National Heritage registers and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site…

Busy, Busy, Busy – Blogs & Vlogs

“I’m just toooo busy” I said to myself. I started a new job recently and went back to semester 2 of college at nights and havent had a a moment for any new posts, let alone get away. During this time I have met the gorgeous Heather who also has not only a passion for…

Review: Air Asia X Sydney to Kuala Lumpur Economy Class

“Passengers please note, we have shut the doors and will be making our departure 15 minutes earlier than scheduled, we trust this is convenient for everyone” ‘Very rare to hear that announcement…..Damn!’ I mumbled to myself as I peered into my empty wallet. I’d forgotten to go to an ATM and get cash out. I use cards…

Moorilla Estate Cellar Door, Hobart

“I cook with wine, sometimes I even add it to the food.” – W.C Fields. I often cook with wine. After a short flight on Virgin Australia from Sydney to Hobart, my friend Bert and I were amazed that the hire cars GPS knowingly directed us to Moorilla Estate Cellar Door located in the northern suburbs of Hobart….

Pay As You Use At The Tune Hotel – Downtown Kuala Lumpur

“Charge ’em for the lice, extra for the mice Two percent for looking in the mirror twice Here a little slice, there a little cut Three percent for sleeping with the window shut When it comes to fixing prices There are a lot of tricks I knows How it all increases, all them bits and…

QANTASLINK Hobart to Sydney Business Class

As we returned the hire car, the young lady asked my friend Bert: “Are you returning the car with a full tank of petrol?” “Yes” said Bert. “And has there been any damage?” she asked. “Only to our livers” I replied. We were flying home to Sydney after a weekend in Hobart and after checking in…

UPDATE: Air Asia’s Taylor Swift Aircraft Livery + Get your Own Model Aircraft!

Finally a picture of the actual aircraft with Taylor Swift herself! And if you cant get to see the actual aircraft own a model of it yourself! Air Asia is offering die-hard Taylor Swift fans the exclusive opportunity to own the Air Asia Taylor Swift aircraft model. The exclusive aircraft models come in two…

Air Asia RED HOT PARTY – Launch of Air Asia’s new Taylor Swift Aircraft livery & the Taylor Swift Tour

“Hello, my name is Alfred, what is your name and where have you come from for this party?” “Hi. Matthew. I’ve flown in from Sydney” “From Sydney! You must really like Taylor Swift!” “Yeah, she’s great, and I also love Air Asia, this is so exciting!” Spoken to first person I met at the launch of…

Barilla Bay Pacific Oysters, Hobart Tasmania

“FreakyFlier, the world is your Oyster!” Where does that saying come from and what does it mean? O.K, forget the FreakyFlier bit (although some have said it 😉 It was first penned by Shakespeare in his play The Merry Wives of Windsor: Pistol: “Why then the world’s mine oyster, Which I with sword will open.” Modern times may have changed…

REVIEW: Virgin Australia, Sydney to Hobart Economy Class

“Please do not fasten your seat belts as the aircraft is refueling” I’d actually never heard that announcement before, but it makes perfect sense for safety reasons. It had been almost a year and a half since I had flown Virgin Australia and while the main decision to fly them on this trip came down to…

The Freaky Heights of the Petronas Twin Towers – Kuala Lumpur

Question: Whats the smallest room in the world? Answer: A Mushroom! Ba doom ching! Man I”m funny! I’ll tell you what isn’t funny though, Acrophobia – the fear of heights, sometimes incorrectly referred to as vertigo. Vertigo, however, is actually when a person feels they are spinning, the room is spinning, or their head is…

A Little Taste / Piece of GERMANY in WOLLONGONG at the A.G.A GERMANIA Club

Pork Knuckles, Schnitzels and Sauerkraut, Wheat beer and Riesling wine. Like my Dad, I love German, Japanese, and Seafood, my Mum and brother love Indian, Mexican and Italian so when it comes to family birthdays or get togethers at restaurants, it’s usually the person celebrating that makes the decision of where to go and we are…

A QantasLink Dash-8 Q400 gets A FREAKY-TYRE or is that a Leaky-Tyre?

Don’t you hate getting a flat tyre? It always happens when you are in a hurry or out on the road in your Sunday best. Recently, while at Melbournes Tullamarine Airport, I watched this QantasLink Dash-8 Q400 undergoe a wheel change. The Sunstate Airlines arm of QantasLink, a subsidiary of Qantas Airways operates this particular…

Wandering through Gyeongbokgung Palace, Seoul, South Korea

I can be a bit of a dreamer. I’m fascinated by Royal History and when I visit places like this, I like to dream and wonder what would it have been like to be in a palace in times gone by, a member of the royal family, a member of staff, or simply a visitor to…

An Aircraft fit for a Duke, a Duchess & a Baby Prince

“This is it! This is them! WAVE!!!” A couple of work colleagues and I went to the best viewing point of the airport, the 8th level of the International Airport Car Park, to witness today’s arrival of the Duke & Duchess of Cambridge, William and Kate, and baby Prince George to Sydney. Us three loyal subjects…

Where South Meets North. A Day Tour To The Korean DMZ and Panmunjom: Part 3 – Panmunjom & The Joint Security Area

“The visit to the Joint Security Area at Panmunjom will entail entry into a hostile area and possibility of injury or death as a direct result of enemy action.” “Det är så roligt!” (That is so funny!) Laughed the blonde long-bearded-Swede. “Så mycket roligt!” (So very funny!) Giggled his blonde friend. The people I am talking about…