Day 5 (9 March 2017) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Unfortunately, today is my last day in Rio, at least for this trip. In the morning, it was the usual normal duty, i.e., attending the meeting. At the end of the meeting, we went back to our hotel. However, since I checked out in the morning, I do not have a room to relax until I head off to the airport. So, I Just hanging around the lobby and of course working. My flight departs at 9:45pm but I was told to start the journey to the airport early because of traffic; well guess what, they were absolutely right. It took me nearly an hour and half to get to the GIG airport from Ipanema by taxi. I’m now at my gate to board my flight to George Bush Intercontinental Airport-Huston (IAH).

A view from the Department of Airspace Control (DECEA) club!

On my departure way to the airport, Christ the Redeemer (statue)! 

I arrived here at IAH more than half an hour earlier than scheduled. Reason, well one of the flight officer had experienced medical problem, and they had to take him to the hospital and the pilot had to rush the plane as fast as he could. They requested help if there is any medical doctor onboard, fortunately there was medical doctor onboard, and the flight officer was under medical attention until we landed at IAH and taken by ground medical crew. The other funny thing, we’re stacked inside the plane for more than half an hour. Reason, the custom officers do not start work before 5:00am, and we were not allowed to disembark the plane before 5:00am. Anyway, we finally allowed to disembark the plane, passed through the custom, and proceeded to my connection flight. I’m now at my gate to board my flight to Boston. 

What?? Snow in the middle of March? I landed safely at Logan and reunited with my family. In generally, the trip to Rio was a successful in many angles. 

Day 4 (8 March 2017) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Normal routine meeting work, except my talk is today. It went out successfully and our results attracted a lot of attentions. Since we finished early, we went to Urea (Praia Vermelha) which is near to Sugar Loaf mountain. However, we did not go to the mountain. The cable car that goes to the mountain tip costs R76 (~$25). Everybody were so reluctant to go, and we decided to walk around Urea and enjoy the beautiful view. We had dinner at Garota da Urea restaurant, which is located at Urea facing across the SDU airport. We then went to Bofafogo area and have some drinks at Colarinho and Lupulino cafes. It was near to Lupalino cafe in Bofafogo area that I saw a street named after the late freedom fighter and icon, President Nelson Mandela.

Urea beach, which just underneath of Sugar Loaf mountain!

This the magnificent view of Sugar Loaf mountain!

Top plot shows one of the fancy residence of a priest and the bottom plots depicts a statue erected in the middle of the ocean facing the priest's palace! 

Urea area view!

This is how crazy scientists and engineers relaxed themselves after a day long meeting!

Day 3 (7 March 2017) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

It was similar routine duties, i.e., attend the meeting, have lunch at the restaurant at the base, etc. At the end of the day, we went back to our hotel, change close, and two of us took off to see the real Rio with local colleague. Because, where we’re saying (Ipanema beach) is just a tourist location and it doesn’t represent the real Rio. Thus, we were escorted by local friends, who really know the inside and outside of Rio, to Rio down town. He took as to Lapa and have drink at Lapa cafe and dinner at Boteco Coriogwinha restaurant. We then walk around Lapa and downtown area. Lapa and downtown areas are the places where you can find all sort of real Rio test. I can proudly say this, we were fortunate enough to find such knowledgeable local friend who really devoted his time and helped us explored the real Rio de Janeiro of Brazil. He also stunned us with his incredible knowledge of some specific stuff, which we both learned a lot out of that.

This was the bridge that was built to transport water to the residence of the priest which is located at the hill! 

This is one of many magnificent architecture in Rio. The Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Sebastian, better known as the Metropolitan Cathedral of Rio de Janeiro.

One of many sites that we saw around downtown Rio.

If you want to see the real test of Rio go to this cafe!

Day 2 (6 March 2017) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Since the meeting starts around noon, I woke up late, and mate my colleagues around 1030am. We headed to the meeting place, which is close to SDU airport. By the way, we quickly found out that Uber is the cheaper taxi service, and we ended up using it effectively. We had lunch at the SDU terminal (very nice buffet lunch) before we convene at the meeting hall. At the end of our meeting, we went back to our hotel. After a little while, we both get hungry and would like to eat, went out for dinner at Manoel & Juaquim Bare Botequium restaurant, which is located at CopaCabana beach. The food was very delicious.

The restaurant where we had dinner!

Typical Rio public transport!

Day 1 (5 March 2017) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Glad to be back to Brazil for the third time. After 16hrs total flight and layover time, just landed at Sao Paulo international airport. Immigration checkpoints are so smooth and fast. I then had to find the domestic transfer terminal, which is a bit unusual to me. I had to get out the airport to catch the shuttle to the other terminal. Finally, here I'm waiting to my flight to Rio De Janeiro where I'll be hiding for the next one week.
Landed safely at the SDU, which is named after the first Brazilian (Alberto Santos Dumont) who fly airplane. Then I tried to follow the advices given by my two friends. The first advice was ‘pay inside before you exit the terminal’ and the second one was ‘take the yellow cap’. I tried to accommodate both advices, and I paid at the taxi booth located inside before I left the terminal, and the lady gave me a receipts (one for me and one for the driver) and told me to take any taxi. However, when I exited I found out that I can not take yellow cap with the ticket that I have, instead a regular black SUV driver was telling me that the ticket is valid for him and offered me to jump in, but I refused to get in and the driver and I went back the terminal to confirm with the lady at the taxi booth. Finally, yes it was the a spacial taxi and it was ok to take, which I took it to my hotel. Since some of the roads were closed due to the ongoing Carnaval party, the driver had to take other route to my hotel, Cesar Park hotel located at Ipanema beach. After I settled at my hotel, I met my colleagues from Washington around 6:40pm and went out for dinner together. Finally, crashed to bed like a baby to catchup my missing sleeping time.

Ipanema beach taken from my hotel

This one of his many statue located at Brazilian Air Force base

Finally, I would like to say a few words about this Brazilian hero, Alberto Santos Dumont or simply known as Santos-Dumont. He is one of the very few people who contributed significantly to the development of both lighter-than-air and heavier-than-air aircraft. He dedicated himself to aeronautical study and experimentation in Paris, where he spent most of his adult life. In his early career he designed, built, and flew hot air balloons, and won the Deutsch de la Meurthe prize on 19 October 1901 for his flight that rounded the Eiffel Tower. He then turned to heavier-than-air machines, and on 23 October 1906 his 14-bis made the first powered heavier-than-air flight in Europe and got certified by the Aéro Club de France and the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale. Santos-Dumont, who was was member of a wealthy family of coffee producers, is a national hero in Brazil, where it is popularly held that he preceded the Wright brothers in demonstrating a practical airplane. Countless roads, plazas, schools, monuments, and airports in Brazil are dedicated to him, and his name is inscribed on the Tancredo Neves Pantheon of the Fatherland and Freedom. He was a member of the Brazilian Academy of Letters from 1931 until his suicide in 1932.