i heart australia

United Airlines Flight 974

This is my final leg of this trip. If this one takes off and lands on time it will make the trip perfect! So often you hear about disasterous flights and considering how many I've taken in the past 2 weeks it's amazing that they were all on time.

This flight is in "down to earth" economy class and on an old Boeing 737. It's the smallest aircraft I've been on for the entire trip. I am sitting in an exit row so I have no seat in front of me and plenty of leg room. This flight is only 2 hours so I'll be home before you know it!

There is a girl a few rows up who is questioning a guy sitting in her row. He is assigned a seat but she tells him that she was suppose to get a row all to herself. Now she asks the guy to move because she wants to lay down across the seats.

What do you think this is honey, International First Class?

One thing I do know is that if a flight isn't full United will often block out the seat next to me because of my status. I know this happens because when I reserve and select a seat on United's seat maps, the seat next to mine usually will show as occupied.

This flight has no food and is only a beverage service, as if I need food! We are offered a soft drink and a small bag of snack mix. Oh well...

We are now about 15 minutes from landing. It's nice to end the trip on an uneventful note. I am being picked up at Newark by private car so I can get home in a hurry. We are arriving at around midnight or a few minutes early.

It's hard to believe that in less than 12 hours I will be at my desk... but lts not talk about that and ruina good vacation!

On this flight I started to write my "Reflections of Australia" which I will post in a day or two. Keep watching. I will also be adding photos to my posts and perhaps a photo album.

Next stop Newark, New Jersey - also known as "The Paris of the east".

I'M HOME!

Blogging from Australia with Blackberry and Cingular Wireless.

United Airlines Flight 877

This flight is from Los Angeles to Chicago onboard a Boeing 777 jet. I feel a little bitter on this flight because although I was told there was no class on this flight, there actually is. I feel so "low" only sitting in business class.

Well, I guess on my next flight to Newark I am really gonna feel low when I finish my journey in coach. (But I am on the waitlist for Business Class).

Service on this flight is no different than all the others, wine,nuts, hot towels, a good meal and warm Mrs Fields cookies to finish it all off.

Other then that the flight goes fast and is rather uneventful...

Except for one thing...

Somewhere in the middle of the flight I got up to us the restroom and then strolled back to the coach section to see the pheasants and was faced with my ultimate airline fear...

Rows and rows of seats that are 5 across.

Ever since I rode my first DC-10 many years ago I have feared 5 across seating. Why? I simply would go nuts if I was placed land-locked, or should I say "seat-locked" in the middle seat.

Now you know.

We are a few minutes from landing

Welcome to Chicago.

Blogging from Australia with Blackberry and Cingular Wireless.

Los Angeles

I am back on home soil and at the lounge in Los Angeles airport. Everything has been moving so fast. The flight from Sydney seemed like it lasted 2 hours. I guess when I get to lie flat and get a good sleep it helps to pass the time. I really didn't have enough time to compose my hotel reviews and final thoughts about Sydney.

It's funny when you come back into the US how badly you are treated at the airport. In Sydney I passed through immigrations witha simple "next" and when I hit security the never made me take off my shoes, or show my ticket and ID 12 times to prove that I was really a passenger. I didn't even take off my belt or shoes when I went through security. The scene was quite different in Los Angeles.

At immigrations a person stands there yelling whether you should go into this line or that line. When you hit security you have to take off your belt, shoes, jacket and nearly get naked to get through the metal detector. While this is happening a person stands there yelling romove all metal, cell phones, video cameras, take off your shoes, hold your ticket, walk slow, pick up your belongings, etc... You feel more like you are being admitted to a concentration camp rather than taking an airline flight.

As long as the Feds are training these people to look for dangerous situations, why can't they also train them to treat people with respect?

Well, at least I am now in the safety of the quiet airline lounge.

You may think the privledged airline lounges are glamourous places filled with jet set travelers heading off to vacations in exotic places, well you are wrong.

They are filled with sleezy businessmen with no fashion sense and bad haircuts yelling at their secretaries on their cell phones. Who wants to hear that? In the lounge I am in right now there is one of those guys and he is talking on his cell and wandering and pacing around the lounge as he does. Dude, sit the hell down and keep your conversation to yourself.

I was just thinking... I hope I haven't turned into one of those businessmen with bad hair and no fashion sense...

Have you heard that the FAA is considering to allow the use of cel phone on planes? Do you really want to be on a 6 hour flight with a guy next to you yelping demands to his staff? How about a 16 year old girl talking to her girlfriend or a guy making googly talk to his girlfriend... I don't think so. I think, like smoking, this shouldn't be allowed.

OK, I have since moved from the lounge and I am now in my seat on the aircraft. The busy "executive" in front of me already has his seat in full recline, my god, poor thing. He is so tired he can't even wait until after the meal service to recline. The busy executive next to me is still on his cell phone making that last minute deal and making sure his calendar is in sync.

I know this is only a 5 hour flight but I have a feeling that it will seem longer than my flight from Sydney to Los Angeles.

I am stil wondering what time my body thinks it is. I think it thinks it's morning.

Next stop, Chicago.

Blogging from Australia with Blackberry and Cingular Wireless.

United Airlines Flight 840

We are now over Australia's Tasman Sea enroute to Los Angeles. We had a flawless and on-time take-off from Sydney and United First Class service has begun.

Today because of good tail winds we are promised an early arrive in Los Angeles. They say we will arrive 45 minutes early. My connecting flight is at 2.15pm so that leaves me with almost a 3 hour connection. I hope they have a good lounge in Los Angeles. I wonder if I get to use the "International First Class lounge here since I arrived on a international first class flight.

Remember, the next leg of my trip is through Chicago with a connection to glamour capital of the world - Newark, New Jersey.

Our First Class service begins with our choice of 4 different wines, a Reisling from Alsace, France - an Edna Valley Chardonnay fron California - a Yea Valley Shiraz and a French Cotes du Rhone Villages Cairanne. I get the Alsace Reisling which is served with a little bowl of warm mixed nuts. I also have a bag of salt and vinegar kettle cooked potato chips that I've been munching on.

Oh, we've just had our hot towels. You can't start the meal service with dirty paws.

Tonight starter is sauteed shrimp on shitake polenta with roasted garlic and tomato sauce, beef and parma ham with grilled peppers and roast zucchini, eggplant and chickpea timbale. That's not a choice, you get a sampling of everything.

There are three choices for dinner tonight, a fish, pasta, chicken and beef. I selected the beef which is a filet in a poivre sauce served with oven roasted potatoes and green beans. I would have tried something different but chicken is usually dry, pasta boring and I don't do fish on planes.

For dessert we are offered a selection of international cheeses including blue, brie and cheddar cheese. After that we get ice cream sundaes.

The service today is actually very pleasant. The flight attendants are obviously seasoned United attendants assigned to First Class because of their years of dedicated service. Poor girls!

In First Class United offers about 5 videos on screen plus a library of video cassettes on demand. Of course I want to see "Sideways" and someone else already snatched it up!

Farewell Australia!

I am at Sydney airport now in United First Class lounge. It's not the end of my journey yet since I have at least 24+ hours of travel time ahead of me.

The funny part about this leg of the trip is that I arrive in Los Angeles before I depart. I leave Sydney on Tuesday at 2.45pm and arrive in LA on Tuesday at around 11.15am. In fact I with be departing from Los Angeles before I depart fron Sydney. Confused? It all works out since I cross back over the international date line and step back a day in time.

The First Class Lounge at Sydney isn't that great but has some food to snack on. Some nuts, cheeses, breads and rolls. They also have a limited selection of wine and cocktails.

I got to the airport real early, almost 3 hours before my flight to deal with the train, check-in, immigrations and security. I breezed through every part of the journey and was done in record time. This gave me more than enough time to wander through the shops and get rid of the last 20 Australian dollars I had. I spent it on honey and candy. Like I need more sugar!

Speaking of candy I have a new addiction from this trip. No, it's not Vegamite, it's "Fry's Turkish Delight". Fry's Turkish Delight is made by Cadbury and not something commonly found in the USA. It's a chocolate covered jelled candy that is rose flavoured. The first time I ever tried this I was in London and I spit it out with disgust. I guess now that I am older I have a taste for different things. Anyway, I bought a few packs to take home including one that is in little bite size pieces.

My bags on returning to the USA seems to weigh a lot more than when I arrived. The United agent at the check-in counter thanked me for spending all my money in Australia. I feel like I did my grocery shopping rather than normal tourist souvenirs, craft and clothing purchases. My bags are filled with wine, candy, honey, curries and olive oils. The only things I bought tha weren't food were tee shirts, a few cookbooks and a souvenir or two. The most expensive thing I bought was the Kylie Minogue catalog from the exhibit in Melbourne at $80 (US$72), Eric you owe me $72 (plus shipping)! It's a nice book and I am sure Eric will treasure it. I just hope the bottle of wine or olive oil doesn't break open and distroy it otherwise I bought myself a book!

In all my years of travel and shopping domestically and overseas, I have never had anything break in my luggage. I've dragged home countless bottles of wine, jars of jam, bottles of vinegar and even a set of 12 glasses without incident. The secret is "dirty socks". Ok it sounds gross but the food is sealed. I just put my jars and bottles into a sock and sometimes wrap them into a tee shirt then pack them tightly into my luggage. I swear... I washed those wine glasses before I used them!

My total purchases on this trip came to about US$400

As I wandered around the airport shops today I was wondering, what's up with duty free shops? They are suppose to have tax-free deals yet everything seems so much more expensive. I noticed that some of the wines were 50% more expensive than street prices. I suppose the shop keepers don't collect the tax but jack up the prices for their own profit.

We are a few minutes away from boarding. While on the flight I am going to write a few final thoughts, my reviews of Rydges Melbourne Hotel and the Sydney Harbour Marriott as well as the "memoirs" from the flight. Oh, that should keep me busy on this 15 hour flight. My next post should be at about 11.30am Pacific on Tuesday.

To everyone who followed along, thanks for coming! I had a great trip and really enjoyed Australia. I am glad I came and had the experience of a lifetime.

In about an hour I shall bid farewell to Australia with a slight sigh as I stare out the window of my departing 747 United Airlines jetliner.

Good-bye Australia!

Blogging from Australia with Blackberry and Cingular Wireless.

United Airlines Flight 840

I am at the Melbourne airport in the United Red Carpet Lounge awaiting departure. My flight today is at 11.30am and I started out for the airport from my hotel at 9am.

This morning I was picked up by the Airbus which shuttles you to the Airbus terminal at Spencer Street. It's pretty convenient but makes stops at a few hotels before arriving at the terminal. Once at the terminal a larger bus picks up everyone and takes you to the airport. The cost of all this is $13 (US$8.40).

My check in at Melbourne airport goes quickly and I am wisked through duty free shops and food concessions to the Red Carpet Lounge. The only damage done is the purchase of one "Australia" tee shirt.

Upon entering the Red Carpet Lounge, I am secluded into a area for First Class passengers. This is good because I don't like those business class people looking at me. (Only kidding)

We are now airborne over Australia, the sky is blue and the clouds are puffy. The captain says it a beautiful day in Sydney, warm and clear. I check the weather yesterday and it looks like the weather will be nice for the balance of my trip.

There is a "snack" on todays Boeing 747 shuttle to Sydney. It's a roulade filled with smoked salmon mouse and soft cheese plus some smoked turkey on a round of french bread with more spreadable cheese. On the side is a petit four to finish off with. This sure beats a little bag of pretzels!

I'm in Sydney for 6 days and I need to make the best of it. This week I want to see the city, eat, go to the zoo, eat, take a day trip to Hunter Valley, eat, do some shopping, eat and see a few of the touristy sights (but not too many!). While in Sydney I also want to make sure I eat well while in Sydney. I am trying to see how fat I can get.

I wonder if United will charge me extra if I go home with a "few extra" pounds?

I am going to sign off now, I need to do a little research on Sydney before we land. I am so unprepared.

Welcome to "I heart sydney".

Blogging from Australia with Blackberry and Cingular Wireless.

Off to Melbourne

I'm on my connecting flight United flight 839. I'm not surprised that this is the same jet (Boeing 747) we came in on except it has a new flight crew and has been cleaned up and sanitized...

Yeah right.

I am starting my flight with a mimosa, OK, OK, I know it's 7.45 in the morning but this is vacation and my body doesn't know what time it is anyway.

I am in the same row as in my trans-pacific flight but opposite side of the plane. This flight doesn't include the pillows and blankets that were on the long haul.

My first impression of Australia was the International departure area where I was held until my flight. I still have not cleared customs and immigrations, that is done in Melbourne on these continuing international flights.

So far Australia doesnt seem so distant in character. Of course eceryone has an accent but not as heavy as I thought. With the exception of the Cadbury chocolates at the candy counter, it felt more American than British influenced.

The prices in the airport seemed a bit high, that may have been because they are usually inflated at the airport vs. High Street pricing. To convert AU dollar prices to US dollar you simply deduct 20%. That doesn't mean things are 20% cheaper though.

United's Red Carpet lounge in Sydney was not very nice. It felt more like an office cubicle than a lounge. There were a few tidbit of breakfast food but all I had was some raisin toast and a cup of tea.

Speaking of toast...

I am getting my snack in the lounge and there is a man getting himself a bowl of cereal. He prepares his cereal and then gets some toast and pops it in the toaster. As he waits for his toast he stands there and eats his entire bowl of cereal, or more like "slurping" it. After his toast is done he pops in 2 more slices and while they toast he pours himself a cup of coffee and begins to eat the previously made toast.

Dude, did they feed you on your earlier flight? Poor man was so hungry he couldn't even wait to sit to eat his food.

Don't ask why but it's a pet peeve of mine when peope get food in a cafeteria type situation and eat it while they are in line. I am even more aggrevated when people open food in the supermarket and eat it while they shop.

There ought to be a law.

My flight over to Melbourne this morning is a short hours flight and the service on this flight is beverage only. Hey lady! How about a croissant!

I am surprisingly awake right now. I hope that the sleep on my flight over helped me adjust to the time change. It's 7pm in New Jersey right now, if I am gonna get tired it's gonna be in about 4 or 5 hours.

Note to self - Start drinking coffe or caffeinated drinks at about 1pm.

I just realized that in a couple hours I will be on the streets and I have no plan. None. Zippo.

I kinda know what I want to see but haven't made an agenda. I will probably just wander a bit and get myself oriented. I will also need to have lunch. A real lunch.

The captain tells us that it's 47 degrees farenheit in Melbourne. He says it will go up to the lower 60's. 47 sound cold, I'm not ready for that.

One thing I hope is that my luggage is on this plane. First of all when I checked in at Newark, the tag was handwritten. They did this because I had a long connection and the through code wasn't in the computer yet. Second, I didn't not collect my bags at San Francisco so basically they had to be held somewhere for 10 hours. I am sure they handle this situation all the time. I hope.

When I get to Melbourne I plan to take the Skybus into the city then connect to their hotel shuttle at their terminal. Once there I may check out tickets for Mamma Mia or go to the half price ticket booth and see what's available. I know I can go see Mamma Mia in NYC, but who has the time?

OK, I'm going to close for now. My Blackberry battery is runny low and we will land shortly. I also want to review my books on Melbourne before we arrive.

Welcome to Melbourne.

Blogging from Australia with Blackberry and Cingular

United Airlines Flight 863

We departed SFO on time but had a slight delay on take-off. I was listening to the flight deck instructions on my headphones and heard the Captain request a delay because "they get crazy down under when you arrive too early". I heard the tower reply, "why don't you just circle over the Hawaiian Islands a few times".

This flight is on a Boeing 747 jumbo jet which is my favorite jet. I don't feel like I am going on vacation unless its on a 747. Once again I am amazed on how gracefully this monster lifts into the sky.

Besides for very spacious seating and a lie flat seat, first class also comes with personal video at your seat, video on demand (cassettes), television programming and 4 movies, none of which I will use since I will be sleeping.

For the meal service we are starting with a bowl of mixed nuts and a beverage. That is followed with the appetizer of seasonal greens with hot Jamaican jerk chicken and red wine vinaigrtette. The main course I selected is the filet mignon with Merlot sauce and potatoes, green beans and carrots. Dessert promises a selection of international cheeses and ice cream sundaes.

I'll be lucky to stay awake through all that.

We also received an amenities kit which included Crabtree and Evelyn moisturizers, a toothbrush, tooth paste, mouthwash, tissues, eyeshades, socks, earplugs and lip balm. All very useless.

8 hours later

It is now 12.38am Australian time (that's 7.38am eastern USA time) and that's why I am awake. I crashed through the dinner service and woke after dessert was served, damn it.

We have been flying for 8.5 hours and have 5.5 to go. The "airmap" shows us to be somewhere over the South Pacific, near Fiji or Tahiti I think. I have a raging pressure headache, raging! I also feel dehydrated and my skin is like leather. I still need to get more sleep. WHINE!

The lie flat seat has been pretty good so far. I feel like I have my own compartment. You are also supplied with 2 fluffy pillows and a quilted blanket. There are also midnight snack put out and I got myself a big handful of Toblerone chocolate.

I took a walk to the back of the plane which seemed like a study of the masses. You start in the front on First Class and the seats are spread out and all reclined to the flat position. You move to the next cabin which is Business Class and the seat are a bit less roomy and recline a great deal, but not flat. Still very comfortable indeed. The next cabin is Economy Plus. Now you are into the ass biting seats which really don't go back very far but in United Economy Plus, you get a few more inches of legroom which makes a big difference. I know it makes a difference on a domestic flight but on a 14 hour flight it could still be painful. After the Economy Plus cabin you hit standard Economy which is just cruel and unusual treatment with seats that have the minimal amount of legroom required for human survival.

It's funny as you move towards the back, not only do you see how the seats adjust but you see that the deeper you go back, the less you see people sleeping.

OK, it's now 1.05a and I am going to try to sleep a bit more.

It's 5.40a the sun is rising and we are minutes from our landing in Sydney. It,s been a long flight and I feel reasonably well. I got a decent night sleep (thanks Ambien!) And I don't feel like the walking dead, at least not yet.

A few of the things I recommend to anyone taking these long flights (which are over 6 or 7 hours), that worked well for me...

-Bring the biggest bottle of spring water you can carry. It's very dry on the plane and even though the flight attendants can be attentive, you will get thirsty when they are not around.

-Bring moisturizers. This includes facial cream, hand lotion and lip balm. I put on face moisturizer about 6 times during the flight and I was still dry. The air on the jet sucks every drop of moisture out of you.

-A mild sleeping pill prescribed by your doctor will help you rest. I got Ambien from my doctor and took only a half tablet.

-Eyeshades will help you sleep if it isn't totally dark. Sometimes the airlines supply them but usually not in coach. I also recommend using those earplug to quiet some of the background sound.

-Wear comfortable clothes that don't wrinkle easily. I like to wear jeans and a sweater. Remember, even in the summer months the plane can be cold through the night. I usually bring a separate top to sleep in so I can change back into an unwrinkled and fresh top before arrival. Do you want to arrive at your destination looking like a wrinkled mess? I don't think so.

-Bring a travel size toothbrush and toothpaste. Some airlines supply this in an amenity kit but you can't count on that. It's amazing how refreshing a toothbrushing can feel after a long, long flight.

-If you wear contacts, don't wear them or remove them while sleeping. You can put them back in before landing (when you brush your teeth).

-bring a healthy snack, you'll feel better if you eat this instead of junk. OK, I confess I brought on a bag of salt and vinegar potato chips...

Well, we are only minutes from landing and its been a good flight. Now I have to deal with. Australian customs and immigrations and then off to my Melbourne connection (for the record it's said "Mel-burn").

Welcome to "I heart australia"!

Blogging from Australia with Blackberry and Cingular

San Francisco Airport - Part 2

Wednesday, April 13 - 8.45p

I have left my short, but pleasant retreat to the Holiday Inn and I am at the First Class Lounge. I feel much better now that I changed my clothes.

You see, today I purposely wore an outfit that I hated. Why? Because when I made my clothes change at the Holiday Inn I didn't want to take them with me so I tossed the old shit into the trash. Buh bye.

The lounge is quite nice and very quiet. There are a few businessmen, a lady who won't mind her business and a few overweight guys who seem to be going to New Zealand.

The spread in here this evening is just what I wanted... Sushi! as I walked to the lounge I almost stopped and got some because I thought it would be good as a lite snack. I am enjoying some California rolls, Vietnamese spring rolls, a little bowl of mixed nuts and my "start of vacation" drink which is Campari and orange juice.

Don't ask why but I always get it on my flights when I go on vacation. Maybe that's because they only ever have Campari on international flights. I think it's too sophisticated for a domestic traveler.

I also helped myself to some more of those Earl Grey teabags. They may come in handy in the hotel room later. Damn theif.

It's 9.50p and I have moved into position in my seat on the jet. The first class cabin is in the front of the plane right in the nose. Imagine that when you fly in coach your get a space equal to about 1 window. Well in first your space is equal to 3 windows. Actually the cabin is quite tight with more space devoted to seating then aisles. The cabin seats 14.

The seat itself will take some time to figure out. There are buttons to make this thing go up, down, left, right, lumbar, music, a storage bin, personal light and a personal video system with really nice headsets. My god what are people paying for this and what do they do for a living?

I also have to add, I am exhausted! I almost fell dead asleep in the airport lounge! Ill sleep well on this flight.

Well, it's time to "power down" the Blackberry. It will be another 14 hours before I can reconnect it to the airwaves. That's about 4pm eastern. I'm sure it will connect to the Australian data network when I arrive.

You can be sure I will have something to say once I arrive.

Wow! I'm going to Australia!

(If you are following my blog please identify yourself by posting a comment. I'd like to know who is there and where you are from)

Blogging from Australia with Blackberry and Cingular

San Francisco Airport

I've arrived at SFO and instead of rushing to my car rental, I decided to head to the "First Class Lounge" in the international terminal.

So this is how the othe half lives. The lounge in Italianate in design and resembles more of a fancy hotel than an airport lounge.

I just stopped to have a cup of civilized tea and a snack before heading to SF.

Oh, the tea was delicious, Bigelows Earl Grey. I store a few tea bags to use in my hotel room in Australia

I'm bad.

Blogging from Australia with Blackberry and Cingular