Starting off for Downunder 2011
Arrived on Friday 18th in Aussie. It was a twenty seven hour start to finish flight (Charlotte-LAX-Auckland-Sydney). The flying process was very smooth. No “Junk” check in Charlotte or LAX but the same BS regarding taking off shoes, belt, jacket and cell phone. Along with removing computer for separate inspection.
While the flight info say “Only one bag at 23 kgs” I had two and as far as I can see I was not charged for the extra one. I still have to fly back so who knows?
Flight from Charlotte was full and the normal cattle drive rules apply. Keep your elbows in… remind your neighbor that he has his own headphone jack and the kid sitting behind is allowed 3 free kicks to the back of my seat before offering ADD drugs to the little s**t or the oblivious parents.
As my bags were checked all the way to Sydney it was a short walk at LAX to terminal 2 from terminal 1 and a painless and pleasant book in at the Air New Zealand ticket counter for my next two boarding passes. I don’t know if it was the funny Kiwi accent, the giggle and a “she’ll be right” to one of my questions about my bags, but I could sense the uptight nature of travel in the US starting to ease. I said that to the girl serving me and she smiled and said… “you still have security to go through, but I hear the mob are behaving today so lets hope it holds for you” followed by a LOL. She was right, the natives seemed calm and through I went, undressing and dressing with complete strangers again.
Boarding the plane you could smell it was new. A pristine aircraft waiting to haul my sorry ass to Auckland. And the flight was not full. I could sense this was going to be OK. I got my seat and the one next to me ready for a relaxing trip (I had deliberately booked at the rear of the aircraft were there are only 2 seats knowing they would be the last booked). Of course I hadn’t counted on the family of three (one of them a baby) getting the row of three in front of me. My stare at the baby and subsequent look of dismay must have caught the flight attendant’s compassion because when I turned to the aisle (with the same look I guess) the flight attendant was looking at me… she nodded to me and stepped in. “you know”… she said to the couple…”this is not a full flight, why don’t I seat you in the middle where you will have room to stretch out”. The middle it turned out was five row up! YES! Don’t get me wrong… I love babies… but, I love them when I’m awake, not when I trying to sleep…
I thanked the flight attendant later when she was serving drinks… she brushed it aside with a smile and the quip… “that’s what they call a win, win… can I get you a drink sir?” No need now I said…
Great Barrier Island NZ @ sunrise (iphone4)
The flight was uneventful apart from me playing with a the high tech entertainment interface in front of me and the 2 hours of watching a full moon at the end in the wing tip as if suspended there. Of course turbulence and clouds took care of that illusion.
We landed in Auckland just after sunrise with the “magic hour light” introduced me to the Great Barrier Island, Coromandel peninsular, Waiheke and surrounding islands on the Waitamata harbor, Auckland skyline and on into the airport. Just a one hour wait then on the Sydney (cattle drive rules in effect again). As I was at the front of the plane this time I was ahead of the herd and even had time to squeeze my lemon and still make it to immigration before the rest. Straight through immigration I go
Tasman Sea (heading for Aussie) iphone4
with my kiwi passport privilege and arrive at the luggage carousel just as it starts moving and off come my bags first. Customs wave me through and the double sliding doors part magically to freedom. Pushing the luggage trolly I see two familiar faces moving toward me. A curly headed one and one tall dark and handsome wearing a “Pearlphotography” tee shirt. Brad and Liz whisk me off to Abdul’s on Elizabeth street for an old favorite Sydney lunch… It’s warm, it’s family, it’s done!… Let the adventure begin! Stay tuned for more if you want via the blog…. updated when I can without warning @ http://www.paultombleson.com
Paul Tombleson 