Day 51: Good Day Mate, I am on my way to Australia

Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
June 16-17: Day 51-52 Leaving Kristin and  Auckland for Melbourne


With limited seat availability on my upcoming flight from Sydney to Johannesburg, I am once again am trying to do an adjustment to my ticket.  This is perhaps the best part about my ticket, I can change dates as much as I like to accommodate changes of plans when I travel.  So, I currently have the following booked:
June 17: Auckland to Melbourne
June 18: Melbourne to Sydney
June 19: Sydney to Johannesburg to Cape Town
June 29: Cape Town to Joberg to Madrid
The long segments are tough to find availability and I need to keep  June 29 to Madrid.  So,  in order to stay with my cousins in Melbourne longer, I need to change both the June 18 flight to Sydney and the June 19 flight to Joberg.  
I contacted my Uncle Bernie in Melbourne who is very excited to pick me up at the airport on the 17th.  From my last meeting with him, perhaps when I was about 12, he was such a good hearted person and it is nice to have such a warm welcome.   I go to an internet café and find out how to call American Airline in Australia or New Zealand.   I use Skype (an internet phone service), which I have grown to love, to call American for almost free.  The connection is good and I quickly find a flight to Joberg on the 21st and to Melboure on the 20th.  Good enough, I will at least be able to spend a few days in Melbourne.  I love flying by the seat of my pants adjusting schedules to meet my desire at the moment and adjusting schedules like we did to go to Fiji when I want something different.  It has been a great way to travel. 
Leaving Auckland, it is tough.  Kristin and I have spent the past 3 weeks together.  Although we have generally got along well, we have also grown together in getting along when we might not see eye to eye.   Thinking back to the 2 weeks together in a camper van, we have done well.  She is an amazing person that I hope to introduce to those of you that have not met her yet.  
I get aboard my plane in Auckland.  Amazing how much get better I get at checking in with each stop.  Adjusting to hiccups in checkin or new requirements at certain airports new departure fees, special things that I must do with my bags prior to take off, it all goes smooth.   Flying Business Class, I get away with a lot.  Anytime there is a problem with something,  it seems like there are exceptions for Business Class travelers.  I forget about that this time, and go through my process of satisfying a tough customs guy by reducing the size of my carry-on by taking out some of my bulk in my carry-on and just wearing it.  It is pretty hot in the airport, but I am dressed like I am in the arctic after putting on a few heavy jackets and pulling my jeans out.    Eventually, my bag is under the size and weight limit and I pass through.  I realize afterwards that I should have just mentioned that I was Business Class and would have been fine.  Sitting in the line waiting for the customs line, I realize that the Business Class check-in took care of this already when I checked my bags.  I walk back out the never-ending line and proceed to a “special” section that allows me to walk right through.  I admit that it is really nice, but probably something that I may never experience again in my lifetime.
Going aboard my flight, this is where Kristin and I depart.  Her flight leaves at 2:20PM to LA, then Denver.  The gal in Bus Class check-n department arranged to block off an entire row of seats for her so that she had plenty of room.  I wish I could afford to upgrade her to Bus Class, but this is a good option.  We say our good-byes and I am sad to leave her.  It will be just over a month til I see her again.  Although it seems like a long time, I am very aware of  how lucky I am to be doing what I am right now and am firm to continuing with my plan.   
I board the plane and take out the Macbook.  I got so into journaling while I was traveling with Kristin that I worked out a deal to buy the laptop from her boss.  It is used a cheap laptop, but priceless for my ability to type away and record my thoughts.  So, I sit here in my comfy seat on Qantas recording journals with renewed invigoration to give the necessary detailed description that will allow everyone that reads my journal to feel like they could visualize what I am write. Whether others are able to make the leap to do such a journey in their lifetime or not, I hope to give enough information for everyone to feel like they were apart of the trip with me and it becomes increasingly more interesting for me to document my trip. 

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