What we've learned in this week's travel

On the Observation Deck at the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, you can look down on the city from 450m up. “The best time to visit is just before dusk — you’ll get to see the city in daylight and then watch the sunset when all the glistening lights of the bustling metropolis come to life,” says Eli Orzessek. Ask Away » p4

Tim Roxborogh hates supermarket selfcheckouts. “If the day arrives that non-shoplifters like me can buy goods hassle-free and without random accusations of ‘unexpected items’, great, I’m all for it. But in 2018, we’re not quite there.” Travel Bugs » p6

The Zeppelin Museum, at Friedrichshafen, on the edge of picturesque Lake Constance in south Germany combines technology and art, and holds the largest aviation collection in Europe. “It is a powerful collection that had me weeping over the hubris of men while I gazed at the burnt nose cone of the Hindenburg, and held my attention for hours looking at the extraordinary design and art,” writes Charlotte Davy, Te Papa’s Head of Art. Museums » p8-p9

Bloomsday, a huge celebration held in Dublin every June 16, honours the day in 1904 when the fictional Leopold Bloom, the protagonist and hero of James Joyce’s Ulysses wandered through the streets of the author’s hometown.

Europe » p10-p11

When she was a kid, sea kayak guide Ciara Pickering mushed banana into her hair to make it “more luscious”. He Tangata » p12

Needing a feed of kai moana for a hangi to mark the 21st birthday party of All Black legend Waka Nathan, Great Barrier Island character Bob Whitmore flew north of Dargaville with his mate Hank Hollick where they landed on a beach to net mullet and bag toheroa. “We were loading all the stuff in the plane when we saw this bloody Land Rover coming up the beach with the rangers in it,” he told Peter Malcouronne, in an extract from new book Aotea Great Barrier. “Hank chucked everything in on top of me — I’m still trying to get me bloody straps done up — and then he jumped in and we started going straight at the bloody Land Rover. We’re about the width of this room away when he pulled up. We skimmed over them by about 10 feet. Maybe less.” New Zealand » p14-p15

Fukuoka, on the northern coast of Japan’s Kyushu island, has been a sister city of Auckland since 1986. Asia » p19

Passengers can get access to the Strata Lounge, at Auckland Airport, for $49 for a three-hour stay, or $75 for up to eight hours. Flight Check » p25

Losing your passport sucks. Letter to the Travel Editor » p26

The campaign for a therapy kunekune pig at Auckland Airport starts now! We don’t like ... » p27

You can win one of two $399 Kathmandu Retreat 80 three-person tents — perfect for those upcoming summer camping adventures. Departure Lounge » p27