Sydney by Morning; Melbourne by Nightfall

Welcome to Aus!

That's what I have heard from many people today as I stepped off a plane from Vancouver to Sydney at 8:09 am local time, some were paid to say it, some were genuinely happy to see me! It was hard to tell at the state that I had arrived in.

Although Mack tried to fit into my pack:

The trip from Vancouver to Sydney was as expected... long, loud and bumpy! The seating was more then I could have expected or hoped for it consisted of singular pods that had a chair that folded out into a bed, a tele and more attention then I needed from countless airplane staff and stewards. They told us before hand that if we felt "uncomfortable" we could request to be moved and/or they would do anything in they're power to create a more comfortable and relaxing trip, as if you could get more relaxed then a pod even being tens of thousands of feet above the ground/water.

The ride did cause a little stir in my belly as it bumped, drop and rose through the clouds and wind gusts for various hours through the flight including the last 4 hours which basically turned my stomach inside out and then back again. Once the Sydney arrival was through I packed up my gear, climbed out of my pod and headed for baggage claim, a fresh pair of jeans a clean shirt later and I was on the tram to the Terminal 2 sector where I would hope on JetStar flight 509 to Melbourne where my Aunt Kim would be waiting for me to arrive.
The simple 1 hour and 45 minute flight that took me to Melbourne proved to be smooth and relaxing as I read the final pages of my e-book, the cool but refreshing air that greeted us as we stepped off the plane onto the tarmac took the cake though. After being cooped up in a cabin for over 19 hours it was simply fresh air that I needed to rejuvenate my senses and shake me from my daze of sleeplessness and flight-sickness.

As I walked through the tiny section of domestic flights in Terminal 2 that was packed from wall to wall with travellers I saw the hands start flying and my name yelled and ran to give my Aunt Kim a long over due hug for me and for you Pops. We travelled through the terminal to the car and headed the hour drive to Chirnside Park where Aunt Kim and Uncle Derek live in a beautiful little place in a quiet neighborhood, I even have an electronic heating blanket and one of Gabe's stuffies to keep me company through the night or to "snuggle" as Aunt Kim reasoned it. Much needed Aunt Kim!

It is strange how some places feel so different from others, I have been to Belgium and France, Vegas and Bahamas, Africa and Hong Kong and Alaska, but they all felt like visits I couldn't wait to get home to a place I remembered and recognized, but that is why it is truly so strange, the second I stepped off the plane in Melbourne the second I smelled the air and sat in the car on the drive back to Chirnside Park it was as if I was home, like I had come home somehow. That is not a great explanation but it is the only one I can relate it to well enough.
Nothing seemed strange or unrecognizable, everything was just... good. obviously the fact that it was missing the rest of the family, my little munchkin puppies and of course Daryl it was still a place that I already loved and felt as if I had for a long time before it.
I can already see my month here slipping by fast, even with Uncle Len's "itinerary" laid out in full!
I'll have many stories to share and many photos to show soon enough!

We are now settling down to have a nice BBQ dinner and as I am being spoiled by Aunt Kim and surely Uncle Derek when he comes home from work, then I will have a shower - if I can still stand by then - and crawl into a nice warm bed, with Gabe's stuffy by my side and wrestle sleep... or fall face first into it... one or the other.

Till tomorrow.

-A.G