Well, ladies, Airboy got pulled out for a Sydney – Christchurch for the remaining days of his reserve ! How on earth did that happened ?? I have no flippin” idea. But apparently I was put on airport standby with a priority for any Sydney or Melbourne trip. And obviously being positioned of standby after a Friday night one is most likely to be pulled out because some wild crew decided it was better to down 9 JD’s rather than having a trip Down Under. Yep, sometimes, you wonder what goes through a cabin crew’s mind.
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So. I was all geared up and showed at the packed standby lounge ready to hang around for 4 hours before being told to go back home. But, fortunately, after 7 minutes, my staff number was being shouted out…. Was well comfortable on the couch between 2 magnificient looking crew and had to pack my laptop to get to the standby officer who, with a grin on his face, informed me I was leaving for a Sydney – Christchurch. A long flight ahead and some good layover. My smile instantly ran across my morning face. Thank God I packed for a 9 days trip unlike many other crew who rely on 2 pairs of underwear and a few tees. I was fully kitted. Suitcase weighing around 18kgs.
I headed to briefing counter to get on a private limo that would take me to the aircraft. Yes that happens when the crew already left the briefing room and you’re basically late. Hopped on, got to the aircraft and met the others. Happy lot. From various backgrounds and seemed happy to be there. The only downside was the aircraft. An Airbus.
Skip forward, I will not go into detail about the flight… You’ve kind of already guessed what I was going to talk about. Sydney, and Christchurch. This was my first encounter with Australia (except maybe my short 17 hour stint in Melbourne which I spent sleeping…). And I cannot stress enough about the fact that Aussies are soooooo layed back. It seems that the ounce of sweat they produce every day is from talking to someone else they’ve met walking down the street. Wonderful people, wonderful country. Not because I have many Aussie readers and stuff, but really, you people make me reconsider my VERY european way of life. Just seeing the average Joe, walking down the street in flip flops, swim gear and a t-shirt going to the office was kinda weird.
We’re put up in the heart of downtown Sydney, which adds to the glam of being an FA for Emirates. So we got there mid-afternoon and there was no time for me to sleep and miss out on the Opera House (Of Course) and the Sydney Harbour Bridge (bigger copy of the one in Newcastle, UK). I ventured out of the hotel in the wrong direction, but after asking a newsagent, who kindly replied I was heading the wrong way, I did a U-turn and finally got to Darling Harbour. Heaving with tourists and locals enjoying the harsh afternoon sunshine. My nose will remember. The sun in Australia and New Zealand has nothing to do with the sun back home or in Dubai. It’s just raw UV-As and UV-Bs…. Ready to turn you into BBQ flammed bacon strip as soon as you peak outside for a few minutes.
Took some pictures and walked back towards the hotel, not missing out the Apple Store along the way. Checking out the OK-ish new MacBook they had on sale. I really like my Black version of the MacBook. Feels special to me.
Slept some more. Then headed to Christchurch on our easy 3 hour run into New Zealand. Regularly cheking on the cockpit for some 360 degree view of the NZ alps and the everlasting snow topped mountains. Checked in the hotel in the pitoresque city center of Christchurch. Lovely little coast side town. Very peaceful. Cute. We’d all agreed to pay a visit to the Gondola, which is a cable car that runs just outside the city’s outskirts upon the top of a mountain. From there the views were just absolutely amazing. Loved it so much. It reminded me of Wales less the rain and coldness. This was the best thing I saw in months. Green, lush countryside with deep turquoise blue sea and SHEEP ! SHEEP ! God how long as it been since I saw a living soul apart from drunk crew and wild taxi driver ??? I don’t know, but I was in a truly nostalgic moment as those lambs and woollen creatures brought the memories back from when I used to feed the unweened lambs from Grandpa’s farm… Check ou the pictures below for more visuals.
This is a WPSimpleViewerGallery
Unfortunately these are the only pictures I could take as my camera ran out of juice for the rest of the trip. I couldn’t be arsed to ask for an adapter from the lobby.
I’m writting this from my room (with panorama) in Sydney. Loving every minute of it ! Club Sandwich with mayo is my favourite ! But hell it doesn’t come cheap !
PS: Melissa, we did go to the Tap Room, which I recommend also if you’re in CHC. They have a wide selection of delicious meat to get stuck in and all of that comes ready to be grilled on a hot stone ! Loved their music too. And no I didn’t get a free meal to plug them !
Finally, this is all the places I’ve been with Emirates so far. It only comes into light when you see the destinations on a world map… Bigger the dot gets, the more I went to that particular destination.
You lucky dab getting all the way over to christchurch…….with Sydney sandwiched in between !!!
hey you were in sydney!!
Yay you finally made it to my home! So glad you think it is wonderful and you only saw a glimpse. I used to love my stays in Sydney. Next time you go you must do the Bondi to Coogee walk, clifftops along the ocean (http://thesydneyvisitor.wordpress.com/2008/05/03/bondi-to-coogee-walk/) I do prefer to go from Coogee ending in Bondi for a beer at either Icebergs right on the water, with a view of Bondi beach or at Ravesis right across the road from Bondi Beach.
I love that you think Aussie’s rock too, because living abroad you can sometimes forget how awesome your own people are. What a lovely post!
Isn’t Sydney just a gorgeous city! Not because I live here…but yeah it’s great! That’s why I never went back home, much to the joy of my parents!
I could’ve shown you round if I was in town because I live right smack in the city, near Darling Harbour!
OMG GirlonTour, you’re like my best friend now. Everyone does the Bondi to Coogee but I do the Coogee to Bondi (or Bronte to Bondi when I’m lazy) just so that I can have a few nice cocktails or wine at Icebergs after. I mean seriously, what could be better? Ravesis is also not a bad spot .. especially after paying the premium prices at Icebergs!
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great to hear you enjoyed my hometown. from your photos it seems you didn’t venture out of the cbd which is a shame. we have some awesome beaches with great swimming on offer, like clovelly or cronulla (NOT bondi). maybe next time ay!
Hey! Glad you enjoyed the Tap Room, definately has amazing steak, though you do get the few lame comments that you have to cook it yourself. (Usually from the lot in the front). I actually have a MEL-AKL coming up so I’ll get to breathe in some clean crisp NZ air.
BTW you’d better be careful about your love of sheep or you’ll end up with a Kiwi passport before you know it!
AHAHAHAHHA. I got these comments too. Asians make me laugh, one of them asked if they had any spicy meat… To that the SFS replied, tabasco will be fine !
TABASCO!!!!
Why the crew go crazy over it I will never know! Alright for a bloody/virgin mary, but they put it in everything! Once they start in Training College they really don’t stop! Saw a crew put it in caviar once, absolutely insane!
urghhh. There’s a lovely, juicy, prime beef cut in front of them and all they can think of is where is the Tabasco ! Suicidal.