Fri 05 / 11 & Sat 06 / 11

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Thur 05 / 11 Chengdu - Hong Kong - Melbourne

With Chengdu our final hotel, today was simply catching our 14:05 flight to Hong Kong for a 2 hr transfer and connection Melbourne

With a 07:00 wake up call ready for a pack and go by 09:00 we were able to enjoy the best breakfast of the holiday. A few 'domestic issues' within the Group and with the Tour Company / guide delayed our departure and by 09:30 we were away on the bus.

A short stop at a pearl en-route to the airport we visited a pearl centre as the last of the buying opportunities

Boarding passes for the CTU - HKK flight proceeded well, however all of the group were weel scattered on the HKK - MEL sector. Some difficult negotiations got me and Rebecca together without an aisle seat

As we boarded the plane, KA821, on time at 13:50 preparing for a 14:05 we were advised of delays due to Chinese air traffic control and would be delayed up to an hour and half.

After a hot 1 hr 10 min, at 15:15 the plane was pushed back preparing for take-off and eventually lifted off at 15:35 being the 2nd plane in a departure queue of 4 with arrivals between these departures - obviously a very busy time

Rebecca had good discussions with first time flyer and potential Wollongong Uni student about overseas study

With a lunch served at 15:55 we landed at a remote dock at Hong Kong at 17:45 then bussed to the terminal arriving around 18:10.

Heading directly to our transfer CX135 to Melbourne we had little time to walk through the terminal take the inter-terminal train and locate our lounge for a 19:05 boarding

Push back from HKK gate was spot on time at 19:15 and we were in the air at 19:40

A sleepless and not too comfortable night flight watching new release movies

Landing at 07:25 (less 3 hrs for China time) we were able to depart the terminal at 08:00 holiday over

Arriving at home was a very nice presentation of cakes

As you see - the excitement of the day was in time recording

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As a result of equipment malfunction there is no photos en route this day with only the cakes on arrival taken from an alternate camera

NDC 06/ 11

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