Thursday 11 August and Friday 12 August
Highlights: Sri Lankan Airlines Lounge, Qantas flight home

The long trip home included a 3 hour car from Hikkaduwa to Colombo, a 3 hour 10 minute flight from Colombo to Singapore and finally a 7 hour 25 minute flight from Singapore to Melbourne.

I had organised a private transfer from the hotel to the airport with On The Go who scheduled this for 6 am and they also arranged for the hotel to make me a small breakfast pack.

The Colombo airport has some weird arrangements.  You have to pass through security to enter the airport which included bag scans and once inside the airport you have to pass though another security area, with the same scanning technology and security procedures at both points and the same ticket and passport checks.

After passing immigration I had a few hours before my first flight so I visited the Sri Lankan Airlines Lounge which I found underwhelming given this is Sri Lankan Airlines home port.  There is a higher access lounge which I expect would have been a lot better.

At the Singapore Airport I just had enough time to exit the Sri Lankan Airlines flight and walk from Terminal 3 to Terminal 1 and then immediately board the QANTAS flight home.  Everyone I board a QANTAS flight in a foreign country you immediately feel like you are home and I can’t help but get nostalgic every time.  The flight home was uneventful, despite being an overnight flight I didn’t sleep as on adjusted Sri Lankan time when we landed it was only 12.30 am (5.00 am Melbourne time).

I love the ePassport setup in Australia, answer a couple of questions at an electronic kiosk, get a ticket insert it in a machine which takes your photo and wham I was officially back in Australia.  A quick change of clothes for the 5 degrees temperature outside and a 10 minute wait for my bag which was one of the first off.  I was just glad my bag transferred given how I barely had time to get to the flight, Singapore Airpot is so efficient.

And just like that the trip was over.  I was back home just before 7 am thanks to my mum picking me up and driving me home (thanks Mum).

Time to reflect and recall the experiences, time to plan the next trip, time to set new personal goals for the next 12 months.  Time to be thankful for living in a country that provides me with the opportinuties to earn a very good wage and time off to experience this planet.  Time to sleep.