imjustshane

Flying into yesterday

First things first, its always a little sad to be flying out of my sleepy little metropolis Brisbane. Being an inner city resident makes it especially poignant as we bank and I get one last look at what when inside feels like big city living, knowing after this trip its going to feel a whole lot smaller. 

So I say goodbye to the Story Bridge, my symbol of making it to the big city na d soar above for a gorgeous cloud framed red sunset enroute to London via LA via Sydney. 

It feels awful strange to be heading off knowing the next time Im on land its going to be the same day as when I first lifted off.

Checkpoint: TIME EXTENDED!

The first checkpoint is reached with little fuss, though I feel regret for not getting the second cheese and cracker thingy I wanted the second the hostie walked away. God bless Premium Economy and everything being free, though Im left feeling like I possibly didn’t take full advantage of it.

A couple of notes from customs: #1 Wireless internet dongles clearly look like bomb components on Xray. #2 Customs officers care not for how neatly you packed your backpack, they will tear it all out and just jam it back in.

A late pushoff from Brisbane played out perfectly making the Sydney stopever super quick. An empty seat beside me is a lovely treat, sparkling wine knecked and now my only decisions are the chicken or the beef (Hi Ash!) and weather I plan on getting wasted on Vodka or Baileys. Oh and its going to be the chicken… Herb chicken with mushroom cream sauce mash potatos, carrot and brocoli is epic win. NOM NOM NOM!

Was not disappointed by the food it was all brilliant, tiredness meant I didn’t get as drunk as I hoped but I guess that isn’t such a bad thing. The only bad thing on the Sydney LA leg was when the cat lady the other side of my empty seat decided to make me get up rather than walk down her own aisle, and then proceded to knock over the orange juice I’d just gone to get. Thanks cat lady! (Not sure if she actually has cats, but she sure looks like she does.)

TIME EXTENDED!

Coming in for landing and my first glimpse of American soil and my first impression was that Americans must love rulers and set squares. LA is so perfectly laid out in perfect squares that it was almost a little creepy, I miss my random urban sprawl of home already. The only thing I actually recognised as we came in was the old Forum, the former home of the LA Lakers, which of course was where the Lakers home floor when the Knicks rolled through them for our only championships in ‘70 and ‘72.

It only took 2 minutes of being in LA before I was heckled for my Knicks jacket, I probably should have seen that coming. Considering the size of LAX, it would appear that Virgin uses the ghetto terminals, they were pretty much empty, with crap shops and most importantly no showers!!! WTF! Air New Zealand offered to let me use their shower for just $55. Fricken Kiwi’s!

In another piece of unplanned genius there is an NBA game live on television timed perfectly with my flight. As soon as the game is over I board. Wolfgang Puck my have the most gaudy tiles and ridiculously fattening sandwiches, but NBA on TV is pretty win. Though as I write this  we seem to have been switched over to Ice Hockey which is less than optimal. Though with 13 minutes till I board and a growing desire for one of those wacky travel pillows its probably time to get moving anyhow.

Next stop London!