[Alanslegal]

Hello All,
I had a bit of free time earlier this evening so thought I’d give a good go @ writing up my very first trip report, ever.
After brainstorming momentarily, it is very easy to get stuck on an idea! So it made me think that writing a report is actually much harder than I initially thought it would be. From the amount of time that is required to write up a story that flowed, to then vividly describe an experience, all the way through to the time it takes to transfer photos, the re-sizing of a photo to the point they are ready to be uploaded is very time consuming.
I can only applaud everyone who has had a crack @ writing up a TR and can only start to imagine the enormous time & effort some of our fellow AFF’s (eg. QF009, Simongr) have gone though to post such marvellous reports.
This report will be brief – it will be considered (by me) as a practice run, dummy test, a trial version, a first draft copy, the beta version and/or a demo – but more importantly it will show me how the finished report will be presented. Will the photos be too big? Too small? How about the size of the text? The layout? So many questions but only answered once the final result is seen, online.
I’d be more than happy to accept any feedback, good or bad.

Sunday 24 February 2008 @ 2:15pm
What: Australia v India – Commonwealth One Day International Cricket
Where: Sydney Cricket Ground, Moore Park NSW
It was a postcard perfect day in Sydney to be the host of the One Day International Cricket between Australia and India. After much controversy in the past two months between these sides, it was good to see that both sides were out on the quick paced cricket ground, soaked under the cloudless blue skies.
I was seated quite high up in the Churchill Stand but had lovely views of the game. Paying AU$103 for the experience was most worth it and would be more enjoyable @ the game than watching it on TV in the comfort of your home or the QP.

“Australia’s Innings – M Clark batting, R Pointing @ non-strikers end”

[Alanslegal]

Monday 25 February 2008 @ 10:40am
What: JETSTAR JQ29 SYD - MEL
Where: Sydney International Airport, Terminal 1
I checked in around 9:30am and headed straight to the QP for a quick bite and drink.
At this time of day, the huge hordes of early business fliers have long left for their onward journey, so I was left with a near empty QP.
Simple breakfast choices included yoghurt, cereals, various toasts, croissants & quiches.
Beverages on hand were the usual, being various fruit juices, the all-in-one espresso coffee machine as well as the alcohol bar.
Shortly after 10am, staff were removing breakfast items and replacing them with lunch items. I took up the newly brought out mini vegetable wrap, as well as a small salmon sandwich. I grabbed a few bottles of water and headed for the JQ boarding gate @ 10:30am. The quick meal and juice was good since JQ does not provide these basic goodies, for them being a LCC.
I arrived at the designated gate and realised that boarding hasn’t commenced yet – aka flight is delayed.
It appears that there was an engine warning? And the engineers had to have a quick inspection before we were given the green light at around 11:20am.
The packs of awaiting people boarded the shuttle bus which takes us from the terminal to the awaiting JQ Airbus A330 plane, where we take a few steps on airport tarmac before climbing up a flight of stairs onto the plane. It reminded me of the HNL airport where you hop on these shuttle buses which take you to the main terminal.
I was assigned an aisle Seat in Row 33 – this is a standard JQ seat & nothing to write about other than being a delayed flight, the pilot had to fly faster to make up lost time and hence less time in this seat. Where’s the 3rd and 4th engine when you really need it??

“Here’s a view of my seat, it seems like a common picture many AFF’s are taking”


We arrived into Melbourne Tullamarine @ 12:45pm. 35 minutes behind schedule but at least we made it! Another problem emerged when everyone had to wait a minimum of 15minutes for the 1st bags to appear on the carousel. Many passengers were getting impatient, me included.

After retrieving my sole bag, I headed straight for the SkyBus stop to catch the 1st bus into Melbourne City. The price is $32 return isn’t too bad but can only be paid via cash? This is so not fair, I really wanted to earn some 32 FF points by using my credit card!

[Alanslegal]

Monday 25 February 2008 @ 2:00pm
What: The Westin Melbourne Hotel
Where: 205 Collins Street, Melbourne VIC
Being dropped off by the Skybus mini-shuttle @ The Westin Melbourne, I checked in at the designated time of 2:00pm.
There were two front desk consultants and I approached the empty Gold & Platinum line. I was served immediately and as A Starwood Gold member politely requested if I could get an upgrade out of my reserved Queen bed with No views. The FD consultant was friendly, pushed some buttons on his computer and offered me the choice of either a King room facing Swanston Street or a King bed with a balcony overlooking Collins Street. Naturally I took up the room with the balcony as I like to gaze outside and absorb the city atmosphere. Staying for only the one night, he also asked if I required a late 4:00pm check out, I accepted his offer but would have requested one if he did not ask.
The room was modern, fresh, inviting and well proportioned. Upon opening the curtains it revealed the city below, Collins & Swanston Streets. Outside noise was not a problem at all.

“The Room”


All the controls in the room were activated via soft touch buttons but it would have been a good if the curtains were electrically operated as well.
As usual, the heavenly beds are great but I have slept in a nicer bed in a hotel called The Hotel Angeleno in Brentwood-Bel Air, Los Angeles CA, where there they promote their beds as It’s All About The Bed and it is truly that!
The Westin monsoon heavenly showers are great providing extra jets, pressure and angles – it definitely revives you should you wish to turn the pressure on hard & fast!


“The View of Collins & Swanston Streets below”


I had a quick shower, a change of clothes and straight out of the hotel for some leisure / tourist things. With only 60 hours in Melbourne I had to pack in as many things as possible. The last time I was in Melbourne was a very long time ago, back in 2005 when I was here to witness my home team Sydney Swans defeat the West Coast Eagles @ the MCG.
Walked north up Swanston Street, detoured around Bourke Street, Little Collins Street, Little Bourke Streets, visiting the many arcades, blocks as well. Walked back down Elizabeth Street and intertwined myself in the various side streets until I got tired of walking and went back to the hotel to sit down and check my emails in the Westin lobby.[/font]

[QF009]

Cheers for the nice words.

Loving the TR so far - awesome effort! Keep it up!

The Westin Melbourne is one of the best Westins in the world that I've experienced. Far surpasses the ones in America, Europe - and I even prefer it to the ones in BKK and KUL (and the latter 2 are great properties themselves). It's just a pity that it has to be in Melbourne as that means I have very limited opportunities to stay there.

[Yada Yada]

Originally Posted by QF009

The Westin Melbourne is one of the best Westins in the world that I've experienced. Far surpasses the ones in America, Europe - and I even prefer it to the ones in BKK and KUL (and the latter 2 are great properties themselves). It's just a pity that it has to be in Melbourne as that means I have very limited opportunities to stay there.

I love Westin hotels. I've stayed at the Westin in MEL and it is a very nice hotel. However the best I've ever stayed at is the Westin St Francis at SFO. It's right on Union Square, with cable cars going past the front door. The glass tower rises up from the original old hotel building at the base, and the ride in the glass elevators on the outside of the building is stunning.

[QF009]

Originally Posted by Yada Yada

I love Westin hotels.

Indeed, Westins are usually my next choice if a certain city lacks Ws or Art + Tech Le Meridiens. They usually have such a nice, refreshing feel to them. Unless they have ancient decors (or in real estate terms - "charming" ) or something like the Westin Rome. I like the clean line modern ones.

Sorry about the thread hijack, alanslegal.

[Alanslegal]

Originally Posted by QF009

Sorry about the thread hijack, alanslegal.

Not a problem Am testing / practising how posting large amounts of information plus photos would work on this forum , am quite a newbie at this

I have stayed at the Westin St Francis SFO & Westin Gaslamp Quarter San Diego last year and they are all very solid hotels. Each had perfect location on Union Sq and Gaslamp Qtr respectively.


PS. need to mention that the Westin Gaslamp Quarter charged me $25USD for taking a hand towel home ...... thumbs down!

[serfty]

Originally Posted by Alanslegal

Not a problem Am testing / practising how posting large amounts of information plus photos would work on this forum , am quite a newbie at this ...

If you are testing, may I recommend you consider those who may need to use dial-up access now and than and keep the images small (file size).

I suggest centred image "Thumbnails" < 10Kb, with embedded links to larger versions.

Syntax:

"[CENTRE][url=<larger image url>[IMG]<image thumbnail URL>[/IMG]<new line>
<Image Title/Desc>[/url][/center]"

e.g.

MEL First Check-in
Internal Door

Cheers ...

[Alanslegal]

thanks, good pointer serfty.

[brissyflyer]

Originally Posted by Alanslegal

After retrieving my sole bag, I headed straight for the SkyBus stop to catch the 1st bus into Melbourne City. The price is $32 return isn’t too bad but can only be paid via cash? This is so not fair, I really wanted to earn some 32 FF points by using my credit card!

You can purchase tickets online in advance by credit card and then just print it out and the driver scans it. You can also get a discount by booking through some travel providers, I know Virgin Blue offer this.