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Published: January 22nd 2009
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Airbus A 380 at Sydney
This one's for Steve. I wish we'd been on it. "As this flight terminates in the US, regulations demand that passengers do not congregate, particularly around the lavatories" was the announcement. Sniggering, was the reaction.
"It is important that you remain in your allocated seat for the duration of the flight" was the second announcement. "Fuck that" was the reaction from
everyone, at least at our (back) end of the plane. Never again will I badmouth JetStar. The plane was more empty than full, and a comfortable nights flight beckoned. As pushback got nearer there were nervous glances up the aisles from everyone, all hoping that the gaps wouldn't be filled. They weren't. Conversations were struck up between adjacent passengers and tacit agreement was reached about who would relocate where. It worked like a dream, a chance for sleep was grabbed by all, and not a word from the cabin crew. The vegetarian meal option was even edible, if a little bland. Good job too because all the decent catering facilities, and there are a lot of them, at Sydney airport are, without warning,
before security. Of course we only discovered that after going through screening. Verdict, a rubbish airport.
A shame, because Australia was a month well spent.
Beach
40 steps from our Best Western room Honolulu airport saw the quickest entry to the US that we have ever experienced. No queues for immigration..... at all. Even though we had complied with the new 'ESTA' requirements we still had to fill in the green 'visa waiver form'. Actually, I wonder whether that
is what we should be doing? We have a multiple entry, indefinite US visa from about 3 passports ago. I wonder if it is still valid?
Sailed through customs without even a glance, though I noticed that the asian stewardess (and her baggage) from the flight was getting a close examination.
Off to the 'commuter' terminal to get our 'Ryan Air' style flight to Maui. As in you have to pay $10 to check in each piece of baggage. Never mind, the flight was reassuringly cheap.
Oh yeah, 'Ryan Air' style too. They managed to mangle my case in fine style. And I'll still have to pay $10 to check in the replacement on the return leg. Fortunately the 2 litres of Stoli that had to be stashed in it at Honolulu airport due to laughable security 'theatre' regulations survived. They've already been put to good use.
So far Maui has been just
Same beach
looking the other way lovely. Look at the pics and see for yourselves. One more night in our Best Western and we're off to our supposedly lovely apartment an hours drive up the coast. I'm optimistic 😉)
We've been away over 2 months now and despite staying at a variety of sunset-facing places this is the first opportunity we've had to really piss you all off.
Sunsets and 74 channels of everything you might want to watch (or not!!) on TV. What's not to like??
Ah isn't he sweet? I don't want to piss anyone off.
On the way to the airport I felt so hot (not in a good way) think it was partly a hangover and partly it was really hot! By the time we got to the departure gate & security check I felt so out of it. Hence I made no sense and got tugged - checked over (in private) and had my bag checked - Jb reckons for drugs?! like I was wearing cut offs & t-shirt nowhere to hide anything. Can understand why though, I looked trashed!
The airport was being refurbished so very little choice in eating or drinking, apart from they were selling
half bottles of rum/vodka/baileys/scotch etc., $5.99 - bargain, got the rum and some coke and - et voila - drinkies! that and a valium and I started to make more sense - shame I didn't have it on the way to the airport! Flight was brill - still didn't sleep too much but lots of room not to! How weird though, left Oz 6pm on Tues 20/1 and arrived in Hawaii at 8am Tues 20/1. Love it, so this year we have 366 days!!!
Lovely to be staying almost on the beach and now back in the land of the free - so hoping Obama lives up everyone's expectations - feel very positive that he will.
I'll echo B's words about Barack Obama....... to mangle the words of an email from a friend who we'll be staying with in the Bay Area........... for the first time in my life I don't feel that I have to be
at all apologetic about my abiding love for the country that I'm now in.
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Dani
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Welcome
To one of the most beautiful places on earth Maui. And to a new day in America ! But please rum and coke, get a proper drink ! When you land in Ca. in the weeks to come, get some wine ! Be sure to go up into the mountains of Maui, stunning. Sorry, about the exchange rate, kinda, helps me in England !