Our train trip to Sydney was as always comfortable and convenient. From our nearest city of Taree, the railway winds through some simply lovely country, through the green rolling hills of Wingham and Gloucester where fat black and red cattle graze long grassy fields along the Manning River and iron roofed homesteads dot the landscape. The trip then takes a path through less fertile grazing areas intercepted by moist eucalypt forests before it enters the flat dull river districts around Maitland.

The scenery further toward Sydney is spectacular. The train track winds around the pretty bays and inlets of the Hawkesbury River with its miriad of small fishing boats and stately white yachts. Modern architect designed homes mixed with modest quaint beach houses line the bays and surrounding steep hills. It is a lovely trip and was a relaxed start to our journey. 

With the exception of our housekeeper Shirley having the car keys jammed in our car and not being able to find our cats that afternoon, everything was going according to plan. We spent a comfortable night at the conveniently located Sydney Airport International Hotel and headed off early the next morning to the International Terminal of Sydney Airport.

The China Eastern Airlines check-in attendant was friendly and efficient. She looked carefully at our passports and past and present visa stamps. "Why are you going to western China? Are you going there by yourselves?" she asked incredulously. Yes, we were. "Do you know that the people in Urumqi (far west China) are all Muslim?" We smiled at each other. It was not hard to detect more than a hint of disapproval. 


The Qantas lounge of Sydney International Airport is a fine place to toast your coming trip. And we always do. It's one of the pleasures of our travels. And we always enjoy it.

Our trip to Shanghai with China Eastern Airlines was as usual very pleasant and we arrived on time in this wonderful city of which we have grown so very fond.