Monday 1 st
of August 2016
and it just took a few minutes to walk to the other terminal, terminal 1 I think. I took the escalator up to the departure floor and I could not believe my luck. No people lining up to check-in and I had been worried about missing my flight because of many peoplewaiting to check-in.
All the desks where empty, no staff to be seen except at on desk saying “international” I went up to the desk and I asked where to check-in for domestic flights.
He pointed at some machines. So self-service and I saw that Qantas wasn't going to survive much longer.
Same as with SAS, they save money on all the “selv-service” so people stopped flying with SAS and they have been almost bankrupt several times. Security check went quickly and I was soon inthe departure terminal. I would have made it in time for my flight, but the flight was delayed until 12:20
I needed a bathroom as I was about to piss my pants. I went inside and I was instantly turning around and left.
Airport bathrooms, aren't thatsomething of the most disgusting there is? Paper walls like in a Japanese house and you have to stand there whilesomeone is having a dump 10 cm away from you. Next bathroom at the far end was the same story and I walked to the other end. I was lucky and I was alone.
I had been there for 5 seconds when one guy came inside. It wasn't long before the thunder starting and that is even though it was 4 or 5 booths away. I'm losing my appetite just thinking about it. Anyway, all the walking around looking for a bathroom had made me an expert on whatkind of drinks they had around here. And it was only Coca Cola products everywhere.
So I was surprised to find that Hudson cafe had diet drinks, the real thing. I bought a bottle and I was sitting down at one of their tables for 15 minutes before I went to gate 22 to check in on Qantas flight QF682 from Adelaide to Melbourne.
Yes, I know, I should have given up the MAX, but darn! Sometimes it taste so good. I had to wait for a few minutes at the gate before boarding started. I was in the last row and I had got it confirmed that I would be alone inthat row.
I was almost the last passenger to board and I saw when they prepared the plane for departure. Connecting the car to the plane to back the plane out from the flight bridge or whatever they call it. And we were on our way soon after I had taken my seat.
Leaving Adelaide behind
Approaching Melbourne
Time to get off the plane in Melbourne
We took off from Adelaide and we expect 50 minutes or so to reach Melbourne. We ran in to heavy turbulence after take-off and I tried to take a video of the excitement. But it was notpossible as the plane was jumping up and down.
It lasted for a few minutes and from there we had a pretty smooth flight and we could seethat it was foggy and raining when we approached Melbourne.
Yeah, gloom and grey for a change. We landed and I was soon in the terminal walking towards the luggage claim area and it was quite a long walk.
I'm working my way through boring domestic flights and now I can put yet another flight behind me. But they have been surprisingly good:
Cairns to Darwin My own row
Darwin to Alice Springs My own row
Ayers Rock to Adelaide Seat next to me empty
Kangaroo Island to Adelaide The best seat so far
Adelaide to Melbourne My own row
Melbourne to Sydney
I stopped to book a car to down town Melbourne at a transportation desk. There was a guy in front of me and he took his time. I waited and there was no sign of him getting ready so I went to pick up my bag.
I was back at the desk with my bag and now there was another guy occupying the desk and I went out to look for the taxi stand.
There was a jolly man from the SkyBus. He asked where I was going and he told me that the buswas only 19$. I told him that I was going to Vibe Savoy Hotel and that I was going with a taxi.
He knew the hotel and the hotel was just across the street from Southern Cross Station. So I bought a ticket and I was soon on board the SkyBus.
Coming out from the terminal looking for a taxi
SkyBus
Red carpet SkyBus
Plenty space for the luggage
I move to the top deck after recommendation
My new friend waves good bye when we leave
Approaching Melbourne
Approaching Melbourne
I can see my hotel when I come out on the street
I was sitting on the bottom deck when my new friend came on board and recommended me to go up to sit on the top deck. I did so and I had a good view over Melbourne when we were approachingon the highway
It was a quick ride in to Southern Cross Station. I bought three bottles of diet drinks at 7 Eleven and I crossed the street and I had soon checked in to my hotel. I need to buy new shoes and I asked for a shopping centre. And I was told that there was one on top of the Southern Cross Station.
- Do you know if they have any shore stores there?
- There should be anything
I found a Kathmandu store and I bought a pair ofKathmandu trekking shoes.
I asked them to throw my Timberland shoes. Timberland, amazing quality, I have used this shoes around the world in very rough terrain. I bought them in Brazil back in 2005.
That is 11 years ago and the soles looks like new. But I had never bothered to untie the shoes when I have beentaking them off. So the back of the right shoe was trash. But I have decided to untie my new Kathmandu Strowan NGX Shoes and they willhopefully last for 10 years.