| Submitted by: Gopal VenkatUnited States |
| Submission Date: 14 February 2005 |
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Also bought a First-Day Cover along with a A$5 Commemorative Coin of their living legend Series - Donald Bradman. Had nothing else to do and wandered to the Gate. The flight finally took off around 1 PM (1:15 Behind Schedule)
The flight was Packed. My flight companions kept rattling about work related stuff almost forcing me to shut them up. (For Good !) I think its pretty pathetic if all you can talk with a colleague (especially on a long flight) is work !! These Guys were headed at least till LA. Read the most recent Issue of National Geographic Traveler. Funny how I had to read the Magazines (I subscribe to) elsewhere !! Ate the stuff that Passes for Asian Vegetarian Meal. Must definitely look at other Vegetarian Options (on the flight) before my next trip.
This was a flight from Melbourne to LA, with a Stopover in Auckland. From LA, I had to change planes to New York. The Flight from Melbourne to Auckland was 3 Hours 10 Minutes. The Approach into Auckland is Beautiful. And I was told by a colleague of mine (who has lived in New Zealand) that Auckland is the New York City of New Zealand. South Island is even Spectacular. (Auckland is on North Island). We landed in Auckland at 4:10 PM (Melbourne time - 6:10 PM Auckland Time) Was told to report back to the Boarding Gate in an Hour. Wandered around the Airport. Lots of Maoris working here. Looks like they've been integrated a lot faster in the New Zealand Society than the Aborigines have been in the Australian Society. Quite sad to see these native people suffer.
From Auckland the flight took Off around 7 PM. After flying for an hour or so, I think we crossed the International Date line. The change from light to Darkness was Dramatic. Slept most of the flight after that. Landed in LA the same Day (January 26) and on time. The Delay in Melbourne and Auckland was made up during the long flight. Was able to get my connecting flight to New York on time. As we were Approaching the end of our flight Journey to New York, the Captain tuned into a Local Radio Station to let us hear the SuperBowl Commentary between the Green Bay Packers and New England Patriots. Reached home (Connecticut) around 10 PM. (1 PM, January 27, 1997 - Melbourne Time !!)
It's been one Loooooong Day.
References :
Baedeker's Australia - An Excellent Guide
http://www.sydneycity.net/directory/guides.htm (Covers Sydney in Depth)
http://www.csu.edu.au/education/australia.html (A Site maintained by Charles Stuart University) (Covering all of Australia)
http://www.aaa.com.au/Exploring2.shtml (Another Site covering all of Australia)
http://www.sydneyoperahouse.nsw.gov.au (The Official Site of the Opera House)
http://www.melbournepark.com.au/ (The Site of the Australian Open) Not to be confused with the IBM Site (http://www.ausopen.org) that Operates during the Tournament.
Tickets on sale through all Ticketmaster outlets in October. For enquires regarding group bookings please contact the Melbourne Park Group Booking Office on +61-3-9286 1347 (or) Fax: +61-3-9654 6214
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