September 16th 2024

In the Uber (barely big enough to fit our bags in back despite being an Uber X) at 615 and courtesy of the M4/M8 we were in the Terminal by 640.

Quick ticketing and Customs had us in the Duty Free in no time and then lounge for a quick bite to eat and opportunity to pick up a supply of Vegemite satchels for Europe.

Onboard amenities were good and staff very helpful. We certainly were not flying with the South Korean basketball team and two Caucasians of our stature certainly stood out. Pretty sure the crew was expecting a very ‘different ‘ Mr Lee.

Flew directly over home on the outward journey and it was one of the few times I didn’t curse the planes flying directly overhead.

Sydney sure looks great from above as you head north up the coast. We stayed with the coast all the way up.m before turning left over New Guinea.

I was concerned , but then pleasantly surprised, when the passenger next to me roused from a comalike state after we were airborne – thought she had died or experienced a medical episode the way she was slumped over.

Still unsure where we were staying overnight and the advice from cabin staff of ‘just pick any hotel when completing the Immigration Card’ created images of those idiots that get picked up on Border Patrol for incorrectly completing the form. 

Only time will tell when we present ourselves to Customs – can’t imagine time in a South Korean gaol would be much fun.

The lunch and dinner menu’s  were great. There was also a good selection of wines and other drinks.

Service was fabulous, polite, engaging and prompt. 

Bit of a limited film selection but I found a TV series called Riverdale which was a takeoff of Archie comic series. Think I got through 6 of 15 episodes.

Once we got over New Guinea  we were peppered with multiple ‘turbulence no service’ messages including one which mentioned ‘heavy and typhoon’. Must say it was bumpy but not frightening.

Coming into airport it was a real fairyland with the waterways crossed by extraordinarily long bridges choked with traffic. In the outskirts were 3-4 floodlit golf courses- little wonder golf clubs in Sydney are getting inundated with Korean members.

Passage through Customs was quick and a long walk from one end of terminal to the other had us at the kiosk to get picked up.

Ended up that our hotel was the one we guessed and wrote on customs declaration.

Airport Hotel was not a misnomer, it was a 20 minute  drive – sometimes at 108 in an 80 zone  and you can hear every plane that lands or takes off. Hoped there was a curfew but they were dashed when a little Google search showed they proudly open 24 hours a day.

Quick drink at the bar and it was that for the day, 14.5 hours door to door.

Tomorrow is a lunchtime flight to  Rome.