Aerial Views of France

Toulon–Hyères Airport, a tiny airport that is shared with the French Navy. It is very common to see jets looping through the sky.

An estimation based on wishful thinking: this is Port-cros Island, which I visited during my stay in France. The three major forts of the island are visible.

Further up north to Paris, perhaps around the Fontainebleau area?

 

Patchworks of farmland.

Château de Fontainebleau, a royal palace. I imagine Versailles must look even grander from high above.

The Eiffel Tower, visible upon touching down at Orly Airport. Unfortunately, both Orly and Roissy Airports are quite far from the center of Paris.

My flight from Paris to Tokyo was at 22:30, so I got to see a gorgeous sunset.

From Manila to El Nido

Took a small plane to get from Manila to El Nido, which is on the island of Palawan southwest of Manila.

The first time I ever had a wooden boarding pass.

Flying over Manila's ports and harbors.

Fish traps make the bay look like a grid.

Quite unintentionally, I took a photo of Apulit Island, my ultimate destination. Apparently, the island is supposed to look like a sleeping dragon.

A dusty cow and singers greeted us at the El Nido Airport.

CDG

CDG=Charles de Gaulle Airport in Roissy, France, about 40 minutes away from Paris.

 

It may have had its share of problems, but I love its look.

Can these go on the plane?

Eurotrash alert!

Hipster alert.

Grandad and grandkid.

On the way to boarding the plane.

  

The airport cafeteria has hummus and moussaka. The hummus was super salty and tasted like cheese.

Bonus: the JAL-Air France codeshare flight had a delightful midflight snack. Every single thing on the tray was emblazoned with Kumamon, the official character of Kumamoto Prefecture in Japan. Kumamon's popularity in the past year or so has been absolutely explosive, and has even put Kumamoto back on the map. Surprisingly, the food itself wasn't half bad either.

Miffy Spotting at Schipol Airport

As airlines go, KLM is definitely one of the more stylish. It goes a long way towards making a long-haul flight more bearable, though I'm convinced their coach seats are small than most coach seats.They definitely get the details right -- look at the adorable little Dutch motifs on their paper cups. I also like the tiny bottle of olive oil and balsamic vinegar you get with your hot meal.

The KLM Miffy is also adorable, although hard to justify buying at my age.  

 Last year, when I went to France, I changed planes in Paris' Charles de Gaulle Airport, as sleek and stylish an airport as you could hope for. This year, I went through Amsterdam's Schipol Airport, which is equally diverting, not least because of all the Miffy parphenalia they offer.

 Tiny little wooden clogs. They also offer "wearable" human foot-sized clogs made of wood.

The geisha Miffy made me feel slightly uncomfortable. Unless this is kimono Miffy.

An Alice in Wonderland-like reading space. The detailing on the cups is lovely too.

A wine bar. There is also a chocolate bar, and a ramen bar that is run by disgruntled young workers who have to explain the menu every time someone asks them what "soya" is. Would "soy sauce" be easier for people to understand? 

The airport library, which puts local libraries to shame in terms of style.

Charles de Gaulle Airport

I've been to a fair number of airports, but the Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris is the most stylish I've seen so far.

It helps that I was in a relatively new terminal -- the first three photos are of Terminal 2E, and the two after that are of Terminal 2.

Terminal 2E reopened in 2008, under intense scrutiny. Originally unveiled in 2003, Terminal it had to undergo extensive reconstruction after its latticed roof collapsed in May 2004, killing four travelers.

The Departures area in Terminal 2.

Being in an airport like this almost brings back the glamour of airplane travel. Until you get on a plane and are confronted by cramped seats and screaming babies, that is.

 

Making faces with Air France pretzels on the Paris-Geneva flight.

Leaving the Fashion Victims Behind

In Narita Airport, thisclose to boarding the plane to LA. The sight of this girl willingly wearing her skirt slung below her bottom was too much to bear.