Brisbane in the morning

Brisbane CBD from my hotel,
originally uploaded by BrisbaneBryce.

I took this photo from my hotel room balcony this morning, just at sunrise. After another travel adventure, I'm back in my new home town. Ah, relief. I also got more good news...my work visa is valid until 2010.

Yesterday, at the time when my flight was supposed to leave Auckland, it was announced as cancelled. Plane load of people descend on three workers to get new bookings. Naturally, I was toward the end of the line. I was offered a plane to Sydney, then a transfer to another airline and another plane to Brisbane. So, a direct flight that would have gotten me to Brisbane at 4:30PM ended up being a bit of a hassle (along with even more hassle for many of my fellow riders), lots of stress, and arrival in Brisbane at 9:55PM local time.

My biggest concern, of course, was my luggage. Miraculously, it made it on to both planes and was available for me in Brisbane. Phew -- another bullet dodged. My tags have my US address, so I can only imagine where they would have ended up had they been lost in transit. Several of my travel-mates did end up losing their luggage. I feel very sad for them.

One of my seatmates on the Auckland -> Sydney leg was an older fellow who had some motor coordination problems, as well as a bit of a twitch. Most likely Parkinson's. I felt quite sorry for the bloke, but it was a bit trying to have someone continually jabbing me in the ribs, however unintentionally. I had to help him with his tray table, seatbelt, and a few other things.

In Sydney, the promised assistance in getting us transferred from the International to the Domestic terminal was not present. So, another bit of a mad scramble to locate the proper bus. Wait...wait...wait. Ah, the bus is full. Ah, the bus transfer will cost A$5. Ah, it's 45 minutes to flight time -- a bit of a concern because in the US, they will not board you on the flight if you have checked baggage and are ticketed less than 45 minutes before flight time.

Arrive the terminal, stand in line for ticketing and checking of baggage. Have someone else run to the front of the line because they have a flight to Melbourne at the same time as me ... I nearly kicked the guy in the shins ... as if! Backs checked with only a slightly higher than expected charge for excess baggage. Waft through security ... so much easier than the US, with no silly "take of your shoes" dance. Realize I had no idea which gate I was supposed to go to. Only 20 minutes before flight time.

Arrive at gate, and thankfully find a departure lounge full of people. Hah...plane had arrived late. Delay for cleaning plane. Boarding time arrives. Ah, this time we will be boarding through the front and rear of the plane. Those passengers in the rear of the plane, please take the door to your left (that was me), onto the tarmac, follow the lines, follow the instructions of the ground crew, walk through the rain, up the stairs, into the plane. Find seat. Ah, met by a garrulous teenager who very much wanted to talk about his lost luggage. Advised by plane staff "do *not* put on your seatbelt as we are still fuelling the plane."

Push back, mad scramble to put on seatbelt. Plane staff advises us there is no smoking on the plane, and the lavatories are equipped with video...sorry, smoke detectors. Titters all 'round.

Still and all, I was very happy to finally make it to Brisbane and find my bags were at the carousel. Big sigh of relief.

Taxis for all. Friendly driver who knew exactly where I was going. Enjoyable conversation through the much-needed rain. Five minutes after arriving the hotel, I was in the lift and on my way to my ninth floor room with fabulous view of the Brisbane River and Central Business District, AKA downtown.

Ah, relief. So glad to be at rest again.