MMDown Under

Possibly on show in someone's house.

You must have been exhausted after flying for 24 hours ex Brisbane. My daughters had a bad experience in Houston also, They were flying in different directions, at the end of a holiday. so were basically on their own, I always make it hard for staff by being extra nice. When we used an air pass in Alaska, because of bad flying conditions, we were in and out of the areas where you wait for your flight You've guessed it, no toilets. We had to go through full security every time. The locals didn't and apologised to us. In the end, when my husband had to take his belt off one more time, I worried what he was going to do with it!! I went up to the nicest customs guy and quietly asked him if there was anything on our tickets which highlighted us for extra attention? YES!! He quietly told his staff to not open every single container inside another container, which is how we travel. This was the series of flights which returned to where they started before we joined (I heard man behind me telling his wife they were back to where they started.) This was also the flight where the pilot tried to land, then aborted the landing, then next time around asked whether anyone could see the runaway, (This experience prepared me for landing on Lord Howe Island. Our Brisbane flight landed, whilst the Sydney flight behind us had to return to Sydney,)

We don't need the glitz and glamour but we do need the infamous red carpet with so much history.

I spent all my Summer school holidays in Mackay region and the islands. I have a healthy respect for the power of cyclones. The damage left behind from a tropical cyclone has to be seen to be believed. Mackay had huge gutters for when the king tides and cyclones came in. Everyone lived in high houses on stilts, with push out windows. The old kerosene lamps and small stoves were handy when the power inevitably went out. They also used candles so everyone had light. My uncle had his good billiard table under the house, where it was cool to play in the summer. But when the cyclones and king tides came suddenly, the billiard table and big refrigerator just floated out. They used to get all the residents and holiday makers off the islands for safety. It is sad to see some of the islands never recovered. Travelling to different islands from Shute Harbour used to be a popular day trip. Mackay used to be the main airport hub for the islands and cruising before Proserpine. I used to love staying on all the different islands, with day trips to the Great Barrier Reef, fishing trips, and trips to other Whitsunday Islands. Island life was perfect for families, where full board included everything.

Nice visual picture.

Good idea to change the itinerary south,

I hope you are not correct because my cruise from Auckland from 12/1 spends two nights at OPT in Sydney. A highlight of the 11 day cruise for Aussies in particular!

Suggestions for improvement for transitting LAX - Don't mix long haul flyers, who are just transitting and have already been through intense security at their country of boarding. Don't mix them with every man and his dog who are just newly boarding. Encourage the friendliness of their American staff. Don't treat all flyers like potential terrorists. I'll always remember my first arrival in US from London. I was feeling lost and overawed at the size of the place and wondering how I would get out I asked an officer "How do I get out?". He replied, with a laugh, that I was already out! What a difference from my first arrival to my last LAX transit.

Yes, it certainly wasn't good for my high blood pressure. On reflection, if passengers don't want to fly via LAX, there is a hidden cost to Log Angelos/California. We used to holiday there annually to break the long journey, but haven't holidayed there since. We also will never fly on an Alaskan Airpass in Alaska again, That is another story. However, we'll use the wonderful Alaskan Marine Highway with the locals.

They should have a final run through by future customers, with common sense. Eg we are not all 6 foot giants. When we did a pre opening visit to the refurbished CWA in Brisbane, my first comment was "How am I going to reach those hangers?"

We all avoid LAX because of our war stories! On my last flight to NY, travelling on my own, we had to go through Customs in LAX. I had two problems - money hidden on my body - had to be taken to a special room to be checked by two burly women - and something they couldn't find in my hand luggage. My plaintive pleas "You wouldn't make me miss my connecting flight to NY would you?" "I'm being met by my girlfriend at JFK" were to no avail. They didn't find "it" and didn't want my suggestions. They treated me like I had a gun in my hand luggage, when I made any movement towards the bag. No matter I'd just flown all the way from Australia. I made my connection, all hot and bothered, to be met by my fellow travellers all freshly showered and shaved. Welcome to America, the land of the friendliest people, except in Customs. This is why Air NZ now has its direct long haul flight from JFK to Auckland!

It demonstrates just how popular pies etc are that most suburbs have their own specialty pie bakery. When we lived at Main Beach on the GC, we'd see Keith Williams in his Rolls Royce driving to the local bakery. He and his mates would eat their pies at a table on the footpath outside the pie shop. The humble pie is a good old equaliser. It holds its own with fish and chips.

Not my idea of a special buffet breakfast but children would love it. Dennys in the US used to include pancakes with maple syrup on the same plate as eggs and bacon. Yuk! I used to take all the sweet stuff off the savoury plate and put on a separate plate. 2 course bargain and everyone was happy!!

Thank you for sharing details of your great trip Down Under. Looks like you received lots of advice from locals, as you did lots of things i would have done myself. Well done!! Wish I could convince my NY girlfriend to do something similar.

My daughters had a similar problem with making a connection in Houston. I seem to recall they slept on chairs.

Thank you. I have been the beneficiary of that making connection between overseas flights where they held the flights and family of four literally ran. Eg London to Orlando via Chicago. Aust to London via Doha. My neighbour, a pilot, was shocked at the connection time given between Brisbane and Sydney for an overseas flight. He thought it was a mistake, but it wasn't. He tried to get us on an earlier flight, but they were full. He told me to grab a cab at Sydney domestic to make international connection. Meanwhile my daughter was top of queue at Sydney International. Not the best way to make an overseas flight. Did I mention I don't like flying!

Yes, my daughter had two boarding passes one to Auckland and one to Brisbane. She said although the Brisbane plane was there, they had closed the books on the flight, so she couldn't catch that flight. She confirmed there are no Both passes issued in JFK, In the end she used another Lounge Pass she had through her credit card, because she needed to be able to relax.

Could it be because they normally have a couch and a chair, so no room. Balcony has two chairs on my last cruise. When I previously had a balcony there were two comfortable lilows on the balcony.

I haven't seen her because she only got home Wednesday night exhausted. But I'll ask her. I know she had an Air NZ skycouh ticket from JFK to Auckland (18 hours direct + check in) but I don't know if they are available from Auckland to Brisbane. She was scheduled to arrive in Brisbane at 9 am. When I looked on line it looked like the one ticket.. She said sky couch was more comfortable than premium economy and business on Air NZ. She flew over to NY from Phuket business class and said it was first class. She said the attendant noticed she had a very short stopover, in Doha so walked her to the front of the line for a shower, which is like gold coming from the heat of Phuket. .

Bagels are a specialty. Canadian bagels are different to NY bagels. You can watch them making them through a big glass window. Delis in New york sell bagels with lox, red onion, capers and fresh dill. If you go to ny, visit Zabars Deli and watch men in white coats slice the salmon all day. My daughter even took one on the plane from NY in case it was awhile between drinks!

Wouldn't sitting on the chairs on the balcony be preferable? I already bought my cushion for the uncomfortable looking balcony chair from the Salvos. I use the small cushion on the plane, as the one the airlines provide is too small.

Virgin Voyages are now doing cruises from Auckland to Melbourne and visa versa from Melbourne to Auckland. My 11 day cruise on 12/1 has two overnight stops - Tauranga in Bay of Plenty and Sydney, which are attractive to cruisers like me.

Yes, I said she should have checked again later as lounge occupancy depends on the number of flights. I have quite a bit of experience missing connections due airlines scheduling/weather conditions in hubs in the USA. I have never had staff not care. Our family of four have been run across Chicago Airport to make a connection from London to Orlando. We made it. You just can't do it on your own in a strange airport. I'd say their call centre person was overseas. He kept telling me he wasn't at Auckland Airport. He had an unfriendly voice so different to the friendly call centre staff in Florida, who I spoke with on three separate occasions booking on line with Virgin Voyages. I am a senior who doesn't even understand "aps" so not the easiest of clients. But I understand and appreciate excellent service. Happy staff are the most valuable resource business has.

Good to hear you had an enjoyable holiday Down Under. The secret of acquiring a taste for Vegemite is to put a smear of vegemite with more butter on toast. Babies here are brought up with Vegemite. British and Kiwis have Marmite, but don't let them tell you it is the same. I went on a school excursion to a warehouse where they made Vegemite. It smelt just like beer!!

I always get out of the tram at the top of St Kilda Beach, where I eat in a cafe on the sand, There is nothing like wiggling your toes in the sand, overlooking the Ocean I Love the beach atmosphere. Then I walk down to the shopping centre where I always buy specialty German cake. I call into the community garden and the beautiful cool Botanical Gardens. I visit the beachfront markets, if they are on. I always take different tram routes, one fascinating one through a park. I love this part of Melbourne I visit Balaclava to stock up on Glicks Bakery bagels and hot food in cooler months. It reminds me of NY.