2012 All England Premier Super Series - Memories

[abedeng]

Good job Abedeng. It's like you brought me to Birmingham to watch with you. It would be nice to show your pic also. :-)

What is shown is only a smattering of the experience. People don't actually realize what they are missing when they are not there. Sure there is live telecast, but it doesn't capture even 50 per cent of what happened.

The crowds in Europe have graduated into more excitable ones like in Asia. Case in point, notice how much noise they make when the GB Mixed Doubles pairs fought tooth and nail against the Malaysians and Indonesians respectively.

Previously, and up to the 90s at least, the crowds were more robotic (like in tennis), applauding only during a break in the game. And then, silence. Badminton needs passionate crowds, it is one of the differentiators between it and other racquet sports.

To find my pic, you gotta visit the older threads circa 2007 - 2011. I tend not to get myself photographed during events.

[abedeng]

Birmingham's history has a lot to do with the Canals. And so, before we leave this great City, let us explore the various activities related to the Canal. You would be surprised as to how the Canal has graduated from being the source of water supply and transportation, to the source of enjoyment for the locals and visitors alike.

Although I must say, the general cleanliness of the Canals is, err, somewhat lacking .........

So, what can we do at the not-so-clean Birmingham Canals?


Well, we could take a boat ride ......


.... and good looking boats they are too.


Of course, the boats must be narrow enough to pass through restricted spaces ....


..... or we could just walk along the canal, here are some views of the Hyatt from the Canal


How about a drink at a bar in BrindleyPlace? Not for me, of course, I don't drink .....


...... instead, I went to this restaurant for food .....


..... a restaurant with a good view, I might add .....


..... where you can see girls on canoes while enjoying your food .....


.... and finally, do a spot of fishing!

[abedeng]

As I get, err, aged, there is less tolerance to direct flights above 10 hours, as I shuttle back and forth from East to West and back.

Enter Emirates, the Dubai based airline with one of the newest aircraft fleets in the world.

With the Emirates main hub strategically located exactly at midpoint between South East Asia and Europe, it is just the right tonic for the reduced tolerance long distance passenger ..... The fact that it has the biggest Airbus A380 fleets in the world is a bonus - trust me, once you are in the A380, all other planes are inadequate.

During the layover in Dubai on the way to London, there was an exhibition of the history of Dubai Aviation, with Dubai Airport now probably the most congested airport in the world during peak hours.

Pictures of the exhibition:


50 years of Aviation in Dubai - in partnership with BP


How it all started .......


..... with this old Airport ..... must have been an unhospitable place then ....


..... because this camel died ........


..... but now it has undergone rapid modernization ....


...... in order to meet future traffic growth demands.

[abedeng]

What I love most about this place is the free lounge. All First Class, Business Class, Skywards Gold and Silver members can have complementary use of the two lounges. First Class has a separate lounge of its own, the rest share another lounge.

Pics here:


Passengers checking in at the Emirates Business Class Lounge


Accurate timekeeping, courtesy of Rolex


Here, you can play games on the PS3 ....


...... indulge in good food .......


.... without worrying if you will miss your flight


And free Internet access comes with printing facilities - great!!!