World Traveller: 7 Continents, 90 Countries, 871 Days Overseas
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Tuesday 31 May 2011
Highlights: Qantas Business International Lounge, Los Angeles Admirals Club
Early start getting up at 6 am today with a big day of travelling ahead. Checked in at 6.45 am thanks to a drop off from Reagan. Mum checked out the duty-free and now has items waiting for when she returns in 8 days.
Well less than one week now to I take off to the USA for a very much needed holiday, and this time the Australian Dollar is very strong meaning shopping is a part of this trip! I’ll be leaving on Tuesday 31 May and returning to Wednesday 15 June 2011.
I’m leaving on a 9.35 am Qantas flight direct to Los Angeles and from here transfer to a flight to Las Vegas after a 4 hour stopover. Arrival time in Vegas is noon on Tuesday, the time zone thing meaning it is a few hours after I left). I envisage shows, gambling and hard to believe it but also shopping for this part of the trip.
I’ll be leaving Vegas on Friday morning after 2.5 days and heading for San Francisco (via Los Angeles). I’ll be in San Fran for the weekend so I see a Pier 39 visit in my future and maybe even a sporting game if I can find one.
On Monday morning I’ll be catching a flight to Anchorage, Alaska for the main part of the trip. After flying over Canada (sorry next time) I’ll arrive in Alaska around 6.20 pm (I have a 3 hour stopover in Seattle) and from here hopefully my hotel will be ready for me to crash before the fun begins.
On Tuesday 7 June I’ll be catching an 8 hour train to Denali, apparently the sights on the train trip are great. That night in Denali I’ll be undertaking White Water Rafting. The next day I’ll be getting up at a crazy time (around 5 am) to start a day long Kantishna Wilderness Trails Tour. On Thursday 9 June I’ll be catching a bus back to Anchorage (again good sights apparently) and then visiting the Anchorage Museum.
On the Friday I catch a train to Whittier and do a day cruise to Prince William Sound. On the Saturday, back at Anchorage, I will be undertaking a Redoubt Bear Viewing Flight. Small planes can be a bit hair rising at times, so I better find some bears!
Sunday 12 June I have the whole day to wonder around Anchorage before catching a late flight back to Los Angeles via Seattle. I arrive around 11.20 pm and will be staying at an airport hotel, hopefully without fleas.
I have a late night flight back to Australia on the Monday so I’m thinking for the first time ever in LA I’ll do a real tourist thing and do one of those Hollywood Homes tours (I know could be really lame but you never know).
Finally late Monday night I catch a flight back to Sydney and then change planes to get back to Melbourne around noon on the Wednesday (Tuesday 14 June is lost to me this year). Hopefully this will be an enjoyable trip.
Arriving back at the airport with lots of memories Kara left me there as she flew home to Jason and her daughter (my niece) Erin. Lots of good memories all round. While this was a very different trip for me, most staying in one location and it was also very short I enjoyed the chance to spend time with my sister and to just relax.
My time at the Sydney airport was uneventful, I made the most of the Qantas Lounge as was already planning for my next adventure. My Air Pacific booked ticket then took me back to Brisbane which was the start of my positioning to earn extra status credits and Qantas points. A short wait in the Brisbane airport and my flight return flight to Melbourne linked to my flight back on 30 October kicked in and I was back home.
Friday 5 November 2010
Highlights: Business Class flight home, Darling Harbour dinner cruise
Trip Photos (on Facebook)
All good things must come to an end and so it was with this wonderful relaxing mini trip with my sister Kara. One last buffet breakfast and we said good-bye to our resort. Clearing customs wasn’t a problem. The Air Pacific lounge wasn’t anything great but gave us a chance to get some toast.
Now the plane trip back was something else. We were on a bigger jumbo and our business class seats were right up the pointy end of the plane. Extremely comfortable. As you can fly Air Pacific to the USA this might be a future option one day.
We planned to stay one night in Sydney and to make the most of it so after checking into our hotel and resting for a little while it was down to Darling Harbour for a Starlight dinner cruise which was a great way to end the trip.
Thursday 4 November 2010
Highlights: The Sand, the Sea and the Sunlight of Fiji
Trip Photos (on Facebook)
Today was our last full day in Fiji and we decided to go on a pleasant cruise to nearby small islands. We spent some time on South Sea Island, walking along the beaches, I even played on volleyball (and hate my hand – DOH).
Floating in the calm waters my problems, and the world seemed a million or even trillion miles away. Life can be really enjoyable if you allow yourself to just relax for a short time.
Wednesday 3 November 2010
Highlights: Early morning Fiji Tennis, Akuilau Island, Swimming in the ocean
Trip Photos (on Facebook)
In theory today was our free day but in reality we had it jam packed with events. After a late start, getting up at 8 am, and a nice breakfast we found ourselves at the tennis courts later than planned, at 9.45 am.
This was a big mistake as it is very hot in Fiji and an early morning hit might have been better. At first we were happy that they gave us a 1 hour 15 minute booking and only charged 1 hour but we quickly worked out that we wouldn’t make it that far. Hitting the tennis ball was very different; it might have been due to the humidity or us being on holiday. I eventually won 6-4 after 50 minutes if you can call it winning. I almost went to my knees when Kara hit the last ball out. I have to say Kara hit a lot of winners during the match.
After a much needed shower we headed off to Port Denarau for Kara to book her Spa Treatment (good timing considering our condition after our match). We took the Balu Bus this time (no more long distance walking today I’m afraid). Kara managed to an appointment straight away so I headed back to the Resort and our room. Air conditioning straight on I sat by the window and read my magazines enjoying a cool drink.
About 2 hours later Kara returned with loads of gifts and looking very relaxed. With a lot of courage I agree it was time to leave the air conditioning and head back out, this time we caught a boat out to Akuilau Island just across from the Resort. This was to be our first swim in the ocean which was very refreshing. We also found a pig in a floating ‘cubby’ house we never found out why but I’m guessing it was a pet allowed out when all the guests left the island.
For dinner we went back to the Port Denarau and an excellent meal at Fishbone. We had a cat stalking the place looking for food but some children running around caused the cat to lose interest quickly in us.
An exhausting day of relaxation!
Tuesday 2 November 2010
Highlights: Gardens of the Sleeping Giant, Viseisei Village, Vuda Lookout, Sunset Cruise and Cultural Show, Dancing up a storm
Trip Photos (on Facebook)
Two was the big activity day as we had booked two tours, one that would take us out of the secure tourist area and into Fiji countryside and a later one to enjoy a sunset dinner.
The countryside tour started after another amazing buffet breakfast. Our first stop was the Gardens of the Sleeping Giant which was an incredible orchid display. We also visited the traditional village of Viseisei which was very quiet at the time we visited. You could see in the design of the buildings that keeping cool is very important, open spaces everywhere to maximise the cooling ocean wind. This is said to be the first village of Fiji.
The Vuda Lookup was next up and gave us a fairly good view of the surrounding areas we coudl see Nadi Bay and the Yasawa Islands. We enjoyed a very sweet topical fruit juice, hard to describe the favour but very enjoyable.
This tour gave us a change to us some of the countryside, lots of sugar cane fields, looks of green, and things definitely running on island time. We settled back into our resort for some ‘recovery’ time before the evenings cruise.
The cruise itself was exceptional fun. Sitting on a boat as the breeze washes over you and the sunsets it’s bliss itself. The meal was very nice as well and Kara definitely liked the cocktails! There was also a cultural show which everyone in attendance enjoyed, I was so sure about the Conga Dance Line that I joined in as well! I must have gotten Island Madness 🙂
Monday 1 November 2010
Highlights: Business class international flight, Westin Resort, Spa, Cocktail
Trip Photos (on Facebook)
Kara arrived at Melbourne Airport for our 11.59 pm overnight flight to Nadi, Fiji. Check in was very easy and after a quick check at the Duty Free we found ourselves in the Qantas Business Lounge, a first for Kara. I managed to convince Kara of the advantages of a shower before an overnight flight. I think Kara enjoyed the open bar 🙂
Boarding the Air Pacific flight we headed for the business class seats which were very nice. This was my first flight with the Fiji National airline. Just before leaving Jason gave a goodbye visit and later a wave from the tarmac which he has access to due his job. We were given portable video players and amenities packs, I watched the “A-Team” movie which was just mediocre.
The flight was uneventful, I managed to get about 2 hours sleep before we landed at Nadi airport just before first light. No problems with the scheduled picked and on arrival at the Westin Resort we were checked straight into our room, a big bonus being it was 7 am in the morning local time.
Later on we walked around the Resort, which is huge since it is linked to the Sheraton. My niece Erin who stayed back in Australia scored her first gift a straw shirt. We then walked to Port Denarau and a milkshake helped with the warm temperature. Despite being overcast I’m guessing it was around 30 degrees.
On our return to the resort we had a quick power nap and then hit the pools. The spa actually doesn’t use heated water, I guess the entire country is always hot so no need for hot water!
After some cocktails (Kara) and beers (me) we walked back to Port Denarau and had a very nice meal at the Fishbone Restaurant. Kara again enjoyed a cocktail (notice a pattern), it was great to see her so relaxed.
Sunday 31 October 2010
Highlights:Walking around Brisbane
Trip Photos (on Facebook)
Today was as relaxing as could be with very little to do but walking around Brisbane CBD including around the harbour.
Satisfied that I was ready to really begin my Fiji trip I caught the train back to the airport to begin my paid ticket to Fiji via Melbourne. Once again the Brisbane Qantas Lounge was my friend.
While eating a nice free lunch in the lounge I reflected on what is really my first ever status run by adding on the Brisbane to Melbourne leg instead of just Melbourne to Nadi (Fiji) and therefore earning Qantas Status Credits and more Qantas Flyer Points to get me back to Gold Status and the associated Lounge Access. It costs a little extra to have the extra leg but this will help with World Trips later getting better access to reward seats and free lounge access.
Maybe I’m crazy but this time it was fun having very little to do 🙂
Saturday 30 October 2010
Highlights: Business Class flight, First Status Run Positioning Trip
Trip Photos (on Facebook)
Today saw a 2 hour positioning flight up to Brisbane from Melbourne. First up a visit to the Business QANTAS Club lounge – the pancakes were especially nice today – it’s very rare for me to get into the business lounge now that my flying status with QANTAS has been downgraded to Silver membership status.
From here I boarded the plane in Business Class; last time was a free upgrade with Andrew from NZ back in January at the end of our 2009-2010 World Trip. It’s a great way to travel if you can afford it which for the most part I can’t and I don’t get to travel business for work (one day maybe).
The flight was uneventful but the ham and omelette breakfast was enjoyable. As I had on carry on luggage no hassles at the airport. I caught the Airtrain to the Brisbane CBD for $15, it’s crazy we don’t have something like this in Melbourne. I walked around the city for a while and had a few bets on the races back in Melbourne.
I noted the flood like rains back in Melbourne and felt the 1 night in Brisbane was a good call. Unfortunately I did not go very well betting at the local races. Walking about Brisbane at night, especially on the Northbank is quite special. This town is growing on me every time I come here.
Nathan's Insights 