A lot of One and not much of Star

[sr81]

I start this TR from the beginning as it seems the most appropriate place. A beginning is a wonderful thing as it offers promise, hope and undiscovered experiences. The one part of a beginning that you hear very little about is the end, or in this case, a pause preceding it. My pause is with My Girl, after one and a bit years together taking time apart and travelling for four weeks can be very trying. So I offer only an excuse that at some points I may be a little emotional.

This TR is based around my travels to a conference in Halifax then on to visit friends in North Carolina and finishing with a 10 day tour from St. Petersburg to Moscow with my Father and Sister. My 30 odd days of travel is based around a DONE3 starting from DPS and finishing with my first ride aboard an SQ jet (in J, of course) home. Whilst the DONE3 departs DPS I will first recount my travel to DPS from MEL then onwards to fun and frivolity dodging a likely Foreign Affairs warning about travel to Bali.


So the route:
MEL-ADL-DRW-DPS-NRT-HKG-JFK-YHZ-JFK-SEA-ORD-RDU-MIA-LHR-HEL//SVO-HEL-LHR-DXB-LHR-HKG-NRT-DPS-SIN-MEL.
While this is not the most maximised route nor does it have any new legs on RJ it does serve its purpose admirably by shifting me, my laptop and a stubby holder from the Royal Yacht Club of Victoria to various locations around the globe.

I intend on this trip to enjoy myself, catch up with old friends and enjoy a trip of life time with my sister and father. Accommodation will be provided by Starwood in North America with my father responsible for Europe. Saying we have different tastes is a understating it a touch but I will soldier on regardless of which tourista hotel we stay in. In all I will view it as part of the rich tapestry of life.

Now that I have waxed lyrical for a touch let’s get down to the bones of this TR.By the way I flying these legs today so this is pretty live.

[sr81]

LEG 1
MEL – ADL
QF651 (economy)
737-800
7.11.08
Dept: 0710 - all times are local and actual times (not from the booking ref)
Arr: 0820

After a less than full nights sleep I piled out of bed for a quick shower then off to the airport. The freeway was a breeze at 5:30am and soon I had checked in but the QF agent was not sure if my Air North flight later that day could be interlined. The flight was sold by QF, has a QF flight number so I was a little surprised that I couldn’t get my bags tagged the whole way. After a few phone calls the excellent Anglea arranged my bags and it was off to the QP Business section.

This lounge has been discussed at length so my only comment is about the odd layout in MEL. Why the newspapers are buried in the back corner I don’t know. Food was ok and it did have plenty of space. Was not the scrum that can be the QP at times.

Boarded on time and got away nicely too. Flight was the usual and I have no photos because we have all seen a QF Y seat before. Breakfast was the usual and the flight landed on time.

LEG 2
ADL – DRW
QF 754 (economy)
737-800
7.11.08
Dept: 0850
Arr: 1130

I was a little concerned that I would not be able to make my 40 minute connection at ADL but it turned out the plane I got off became my aircraft to DRW. This excellent news took me off to the QP which is quite nice given the very new state of ADL. For an airport that size I think ADL is just grand and very usable. Kudos to the designers and planners.

We boarded about 10 minutes late and took off for the tropical north. Breakfast was again served but this time I passed, settling only for a rather tepid tea. Interestingly on both flights only three seats in the J cabin were taken. This could either be because of the financial crisis or that these flights are not terribly popular for business travellers. I could have upgraded as I was on a suitable fare but decided not to as 4 hours to DRW is not worth the points from discount economy.

The movie being shown is Brideshead Revisited. UTTER TRIPE! I cannot understand why anyone would bring this travesty of a film into the world. Good cellulite was used that could have been better employed to make some midget porn film in outer LA.

Arrival into DRW was very easy and it was a quick cab ride to the centre of town. It was wonderfully hot and sticky – remember I am from Melbourne – though after three hours of wondering I was very grateful to stumble across Parliament House that offered marble coolness. The state library was also a top place for a 30 minute nap whilst pretending to read Business Traveller.

NEXT:
DRW-DPS
Air North (TL) 528
Fokker 100

[sr81]

Just a note that the QP in DRW is closed from 14:30 to 21:45 each day. This sucks BUT if you sit in the area closest to the QP you can still get free wireless!

[Will]

Enjoying the TR!
DRW is a good place to spend a while - did you go for a swim?
And I think the ADL QP is my favourite domestic lounge...

For your future flights can you put the times down? It would make it easier for me to know how long you are in each place!

[QF009]

The movie being shown is Brideshead Revisited. UTTER TRIPE! I cannot understand why anyone would bring this travesty of a film into the world. Good cellulite was used that could have been better employed to make some midget porn film in outer LA.

An sr81 classic!

Great start to what's shaping up to be a fab TR. I look forward to the updates!

[sr81]

editing now....

see all these little things.

[Alanslegal]

Nice start sr81 - Am waiting for the parties to begin

[sr81]

DRW-DPS
Air North (TL) 528
Fokker 100
7.11.08
Dept: 1915
Arr: 2020

This is about the most interesting flight I have as it involves a carrier, Air North, and aircraft, Fokker 100 that I know little about. According to The Australian, Air North accounts for 0.5% of all international traffic departing Australia. They seem to have a large presence up north (well done to those more astute that figured it out by North in the name) and serve East Timor, Indonesia and various mining locations around Australia.



As we boarded I noted that Kuwait was on the departure board. This was an Air Services Australia service departing at 2300 (ASY 153). Unfortunately didn’t see which aircraft was operating this service but one would assume it is a military charter.

Boarding was done on time though the QP being closed frustrated me some what, the free internet and a Coopers brought some semblance of normality. Now I WAS supposed to be in seat 3B but with the front ½ of the cabin filled and the back ½ empty I made the executive decision to move myself back a few rows. And low, as I progressed further back into the cabin what did I find? An exit row, with more bloody leg room than the front passenger seat in my Peugeot 405! Fan-bloody-tastic!

It gets better. I thought that no meal would be served and that alcohol was purchased. WRONG! Whilst no champers here I thought that whilst in Rome........ – Bundy and Coke please!



FA - “Now sir, we don’t like missing refills whilst we do dinner service so how about you have two?”
Me - “Ohh, OK.”

Another thing that struck me is the quietness of this Fokker 100. Not hugely better than the 737-800 but certainly noticeable.

We arrived into DPS and the usual scrum ensued at the visa counter. I wouldn’t be too keen on Aussie tourists if this is how we behave. Chatted to a young fella (25 y/o) from Newcastle up for two weeks with his chippy mates, needless to say they were already three sheets to the wind and looking for trouble. The visa was easy and the hotel had arranged a car so it was out into the heat and off to Le Meridian.

Next:
Le Meridian Bali and I try to post some photos.

Edit: Has anyone used flickr before to post photos? I go to embed but the link always fails. Trying to load the images at a*.IMG doesn't seem to work either.

[sr81]

Le Meridian

Tanah Lot, Bali

The arrival at Le Meridian was quite an experience. About 40 min from the airport via a less than stellar road my driver proceeded to sit about 10 inches from the back of anything in front then scoot past on the wrong side of the road. After a day of travel this pushed my frayed nerves along a bit but I held my tongue and made it in one piece. Note to everybody. Get a cab in Bali, do NOT be tempted to hire a scooter.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/32193334@N03/3011715275/

I have never stayed in resort style accommodation before and this hotel is stunning. I got a deal by booking early and only paid USD90 a night. Before I go on and describe the room I will entice you with tales of the spooky kind……

The driveway to this hotel is long, about 1km. The drive way to this hotel is not very well lit with barely functioning lamps dotted along the way. You pause only to have some chap with a gun and mirror check your car. The lobby is dim, the corridor is dim and with me pretty tied a little Balinese man with a chainsaw manic grin jumping out of the shadows scared the be-jusus out of me. Luckily he held a glass of champagne and mango juice. This is the sort of scare I could get to like.

The greeting was very nice and the service prompt.

The room was large, the bathroom was large and the bed was large (theme anyone?) It provided a view over the gardens with a small balcony.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/32193334@N03/3011715269/

Whilst not very interesting at night the morning view was quite something.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/32193334@N03/3011715271/

But far and away the best bit of this hotel is its pool. Massive with a 56 metre water slide! Man was I a kid in just a touch of heaven. After a brisk morning swim I headed off to the local temple which was nice and ate at a local’s café on the side of the road. For about $1.70 I had rice, chicken in a nice spicy broth. The lady looked at me quite strangely and tried to get me to go over the road to the tourist café. Not a chance, eating where the locals do is a sure-fire way of achieving two things.

• Hideous gastro which leads to vile expulsion from both ends.

OR

• A tasty feed that costs you half as much though still twice as much as the locals.

It is now four hours after and I am sitting pretty (pardon the pun).

Back to the hotel for a swim before checkout and then the heavens opened…… As a Melbourne boy I forgot that it could rain like this. Sheets and cats and small pigeons fell from the sky to cover everything. I had to run in the rain. Unfortunately there are no photos of this but it was grand.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/32193334@N03/3011715273/

Waterslides and running in a tropical downpour, quite frankly I think I should head home now as this can’t be beaten. BUT dear reader, I will take your challenge and push on! The summit I say, the summit!

NEXT
DPS-NRT
JL 720

[drron]

A few nice little surprises.hope the good luck keeps up.
As to photos i have just mastered the art.Finally got there when i downloaded Picasa3-free.With the export to folder function you can choose the size.works for me.