We managed to get to the crash site less than eight hours after flight GA 200 crashed, and what a sight it was.

The charred but recognizable form of a jet airliner incongruously lying in a rice paddy-field numbed me for a second when I first saw it. There was a huge crowd of local residents surrounding it, watching as if something might happen. But the wreckage was still, lifeless and obscene. All around debris from the panicked evacuation: empty bottles of water, in flight magazines and the detritus of a flight that ended in sudden carnage. Towards the back of the plane, the two massive jet engines that had been ripped from the wings as the Boeing 737-400 plunged off the end of the runway. And the on the right side of the jet; two enormous wheels from the smashed landing gear.

After an initial pause to simply take in bizarre and awful scene in front of us, we were straight into a frantic rush to make our deadline. There was a report to compile and send, and then the main CNN International Asia programme needed me live impossibly soon. Some how we managed to get everything done in time. But then the rest of the network was soon on the phone: CNN US, CNN Pipeline, CNN Headline News, CNN Wires, CNN Radio, CNN.com, all vying for a tailor-made report.

When the initial onslaught of demands was satisfied, there was time once again to reflect on what had happened. While the chorus of crickets, frogs and insects struck up the nocturnal sound of the tropics, we sat between live shots and simply looked and thought. The randomness of who survived and who died was particularly hard to fathom. Those awful images of people staggering away from the wreck were in all our minds as we packed up and left. We all fly almost every week and know a crash is a remote possibility. But seeing what it’s like up close made us all feel queasy. Several journalists were among the dead. It doesn’t take a great leap of imagination to think of us on the plane – and those stomach-churning final seconds as the jet slammed off the runway and burst into flames.

When we got back to our hotel that night, we met several members of the international press pack based in Jakarta. Their faces bruised with grief. They knew both the journalists and Australian Embassy staff who died, but somehow were still able to do their job with diligence and professionalism, telling the world of the horror of flight GA 200.

-- From Dan Rivers, CNN International Correspondent

We'd just touched down when the news came through. My producer got an SMS as we were just leaving our plane that an identical jet had just crashed on landing in Java. We'd just arrived on neighbouring Sumatra to cover an earthquake: The dilemma lasted a moment -- which story took priority? The next flight back to Jakarta was the very same plane that had just landed with us aboard. It was leaving in 30 minutes. So a sudden mad rush ensued, unloading our 27 bags from the plane, only to reload them minutes later as we desperately tried to buy our way back aboard. Three hundred bucks and a lot of sweat later we were back in our seats, heading back the route we'd just come, wondering if the day could get any more crazy.

A quick change of planes in Jakarta and then into to Solo. It was a wild landing -- the plane veering off course and me thinking surely lightning couldn't strike twice, could it? We made it, and we're now speeding through the Javanese countryside, dodging water buffalo and motorbikes, heading to the crash site, and hoping we make it before sundown. And amid all this rush sweat and adrelanine, a sombre reflection: We knew some of the journalists aboard Flight GA200, some now with horrendous burns, recovering in hospital. Makes you think, doesn't it ...

-- From Dan Rivers, CNN International Correspondent

What do you do if you come across a gorilla in the jungle?

This was a question we have asked our guides many times. The answer? Bow down to show you mean no harm. A bit like greeting in Japan.

As a cameraman with CNN, I have filmed armed guerillas in their jungle hideout, but this is the first time I have attempted to film gorillas in their jungle habitat. I am in Cameroon filming with Richard Quest on an environmental story about deforestation and its impact on the wildlife, and the Pygmy tribes who live in the jungle.

We have been in the heart of the Congo Basin, one of the last refuges for the lowland gorilla, which is becoming increasingly endangered. We heard three gorillas giving warning calls on our drive in, and we hoped to be able to film one during our stay. After several guided treks though the jungle, we saw a chimpanzee and some monkeys, but not one of these huge beasts, which can be quite aggressive if taken by surprise and as strong as several men.

So what to do should a gorilla rush towards us beating its chest?

Our guides told us we should get down on the ground and let him know he is the boss -– or run!

All well and good, but what about getting the pictures? Would I be able to keep calm, and importantly, keep filming if a gorilla came running towards me? I like to think I would, but a forest elephant taught us all a lesson the other night. While filming with infrared camera equipment, the elephant turned and charged. I left the camera running and fled. Luckily the elephant stopped its charge right in front of the camera, saving the expensive equipment, and making a rather good sequence.

Unfortunately, in our escape the producer Deborah and I had a collision. She now has grazed knees and a black eye. A little frustrated, we had to leave without getting the gorilla pictures we so really wanted. Driving out on a jungle track, I saw something large and grey ahead. We stopped, and there enjoying the morning sun was a huge male silverback gorilla. I started filming and got a very good shot of him looking towards us, and then slowly walking into the forest. A truly magnificent sight. We got out of the jeep and bravely followed, remembering all the advice, but he had disappeared out of sight into the Cameroon rain forest.

From CNN cameraman Neil Bennett.

Cruising at an altitude of 35,000 feet and the inflight entertainment onboard the Boeing 757 was of a very different kind. It was loud, bright … and live.

In 15F I had a great view of not a flight attendant standing in the aisle showing us how to inflate a life jacket, but Jay Kay from Jamiroquai belting out "feels just like it should" into a microphone.

Having taken out the first three rows of economy seats by the exit, there was just enough space for the rest of the band -- a full drum kit, keyboard, two guitarists and a percussionist. The three backing singers unfortunately had to stand behind the curtain in business class.

It was strange. One hundred and fifty-seven of us were on a plane but it didn’t feel like it at all.

The overhead cabins remained open with bright flashing disco lights and two loud speakers were wedged between the floor and the ceiling.

The only time we were reminded that we were on a plane flying from Munich to Athens was a bit of turbulence in between Jay Kay’s signature moves!

With chair dancing in full swing and photographers taking it in turn to crawl down the aisle to the front, the world record for the "highest gig ever" was broken -– beating the piano and flute performance on top of Mount Everest.

The Sony Ericsson "gig in the sky" event also broke five more world records: The fastest ever gig; the highest concert recording, the fastest concert recording, the highest concert on an aircraft and fastest concert on an aircraft.

The Guiness Book of Records adjudicator was onboard who confirmed the six new records, presenting the certificate to Jamiroquai.

The only thing left to do was to land and celebrate. And we did -- as soon as we stepped off the plane.

As we walked up the jetway, we approached a blanket of smoke.

Boarding gate A38 of Athens International Airport had been converted into a concert venue with a free bar and food where 500 competition winners awaited Jamiroquai to hit the stage.

It was an exciting event to be a part of, experiencing a one-off gig in the sky. And no need to scoff at the unnecessary carbon emissions emitted to break a record -- the carbon footprints were offset for every single passenger onboard, making it the first carbon-neutral world record. Oh … so that makes it seven world records, not six!

-- From Ayesha Durgahee, CNN Associate Producer