Needles to say, lesson learned, I am now probably flagged as a green apple smuggler for all future airport checkpoints. Up to this point I'm not sure if Austrailia just wanted my many American dollars so that ther was smooth siling entering the country; as well as the quick pass that you recieve when you fly Business Class allowing you to go thru a priority queue to get thru customs. Sweet benefit with purchase of your outrageously priced ticket or for the lukcy that have their actual business expense/frequent flyer miles benefit. I may not be George Clooney in that movie "Frequent Flyer" or whatever it was called living to rack up miles/points just for the sake of being silver/gold/platinum/metallic? whatever but it is sure nice to have a smiling attendant, a short line at ticketing/customs and priority stickers all over your luggage once you recieve your bag stating BUSINESS so that even the suited up buisness traveler gives you the eye like you may be someone special. Which I am!
I don' t rememeber if I mentioned the passport locating scare. I knew I had seen it but could't rememeber from my 6:30am shuttle pickup, 5:30am alarm, and the smiling Quantas Airline ticket agent where it was...obviously not with my ticket itinerary in the tastfully printed Precision Travel black leather travel documents holder where it should have been. So unlocj the luggage, shuffle thru the dirty clothes (why are they always on top?), rifle thru the carry-on packpack, have a flicker of memory that the passport was in the daypack which is different from the backpack for obvious size/weight concerns of looking like a pack mule while attempting to look cool while staring in awe at all the new city locations sights without looking like you aren't a local. trust me the locals have their own baggage and it isn't about the travel bags it is all about what you wear.
Aside: I have located of course the Aukland City Library - Tamaki Pataka Korero which welcome to another Country with Idiginous people that ask to be represented; The Mauri. Let me just say that upon getting off the airplane which to the best of my memory did not contain any of these very large Sumo sized individuals, as posssible their slimmer uncle/cousin/duaghter was actually on the plane. These people are big boned, have very strong features or maybe just their size was intimidating to my small, mini me stature. I have just looked up and if I didn't rememeber tha tI was sitting in the CBD (remember it mean central business distict) and of course the guy wasn't dressed like a club kid, he has the full on Mauir war paint on his face....ok well he has it all tattooed on his face, like he could leave at the end of his Aukland City Library closing hours and head right into the changing room strip off his clothes and come out in tribal wear for the historical dance of the shrunken head. ou can tell I have just arrived and have not completed my reserach on the Mauri people...but it was really disturbing for my city boy mind to be confronted with in the Library of all places. Ok, Ok back to the passport fiasco.
Needless to say once I had aired my dirty laundry in the business class queue at the Sydney Airport I located my passport and was graciously provided direction thru the espress corridor...most of you frequest flyers know all about this secret passageway that the common folk/coach class may not even be aware. Why is it that the reporters at any given airport only talk to the common/coach flyer and never to my knowledge or years of TV viewing been given a glimpse of this other worldly place called that Executive Lounge. Hmmm...allow me to share. Once thru this usually unmarked door/hallway, you enter the world of priveledge as you are only 1 of 12-20 passengers on a carrier of over 100-300 full price paying ticket holdesr that are greet by your own set of customer officials (they are actually pleasant) who seem to ask the easy pleasant questions of how long will you be gone, where have you come from, will you be here for business or pleasure, not the coach questions like your luggage is 2 kilo overweight and that will be another $35 excess baggage charge, please go tot he end of the line that at this point snakes outside the termal for as far as the eye can see as you failed to fully complete your customs card or it appears from the smell eminating from your luggage that thee lost passport is the least of your worries...kidding kinda.
Once you have breezed thru this initial customs Q & A. You continue your lonely walk out to the bouistrous airport terminal and via the very detailed directions provided to you from the ticket agent, you wind your way away from the noise and what I will call the tourist/coach traveleers of coffee kiosks/over priced snacks/ last minute souvenirs usually up a level to the executive lounge. Note to self: there is not any signage for these cloistered get aways so pay attention to the detailed directions as no common people seem to have the directions: at the end of the unmarked hallway, turn right, have your customs card completely filled out before procedding to the customs counter, a long counter with pens are procvided for your convenience (I rememeber having to ask 6 motherly types back in couch to dig deeper in their purses/satchels/grocery bags to borrow a pen to complete the custom card back in the day), once in the terminal turn left and proceed for about 30 meters to the escalator up which is on the left as as an American it would be on the right and you will look really dumb walkig into all the people coming down the esclator, at the top fo the escalator turn right and proceed down to the corridor to the entrace of the Business Class/Frequent Flyer/First Class waiting lounge where you can partake in Breakfast and a refreshing beverage.
Wow, what an under statement. You are greeted by several perky front desk personell that want to see you ticket to confirm you are worthy to enter the realm of the deserving and are not shy or polite in turning/advising thsoe curious travelers who might have followed a in the know traveler into the inner sanctum. Once confirmed, you are politely guided to enjoy a coffe and breakfast and that you flight departure will be announced 15 minutes before departure. Such personalized care. I headed to the food first only to be stopped in my tracks by the monstroud esspresso machine that had a queue of 2 early arrivals requestion their tripple shot expresso's and cuppaccino's, I added my request to the list. The food was a freezer of bottles water/beer/orang juice, a full bar of self pour top shelf liquor and mixers coke/sprite/tonic etc rememeber this is 8:40am in the morning and the line was well...the fact that there was aline was amusing, did I mention champage (MOET). The food ran the gambit from crousant's, muffins in 3 delicious recipes, fresk baked cookies, danish, multiple selections, apples/oranges/banana's, cereal (3 kinds and milk), scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon, toast well I was if nothing else full when I left 45 minutes later to catch my flight. YUM!
Does Starbuck's take the time,hardly....I think he liked me, it wa my third cuppaccino. And I tipped!
Another view of Downtown Sydney, AU...bye Sydney, I enjoyed my stay!
Not the double decker for the long haul over from LAX to SYD, but a smaller you get to walk the tarmac and climb the stairs departure to Aukland, NZ. This should have set the tone. (walking, uphill climb, nore on this later)
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