Sidney says Farewell from Sydney

Saturday 3rd March 2007
Moving on day today. Farewell to Australia. The suitcases are becoming a bit of an issue and a bit of a competition. At each airport they label them ‘very heavy, bend knees when lifting’ (for the airport staff, not Sid) and put the weight on them. At Cairns, mine reached 29kg whilst Sid’s was only 26kg.That was remedied and at Ayers Rock airport, we both checked in at about 26.5kg each (I’d also jettisoned some books). The temperature when we left was was. up in the 40Cs so instead of spending the hour round the pool as planned we repacked the suitcases and set off for our lunchtime flight. We happily packed the flynets, hoping we won’t need them again. The flight was fine and only a two hour wait at Sydney for our connection to Auckland –everything on time.

So, reflections on Australia. Well, if Dan and family hadn’t moved there, it would never have been on our ‘places to visit’ list. But what a country – or really what a lot of variations in one country. We’ve loved every part of it, and they are all so different. Sydney, a wonderful city of water, and even as ‘not-city-people’, it was great. The Gold Coast – fantastic and of course, great staying with the family and seeing how Aussies live and having a break from just being on the tourist trail. We both loved Port Douglas, and would go back there anytime. The Red Centre, really worth a visit for the outback experience and The Rock is not JUST a rock!

What I forgot to mention about our arrival in Australia is how strict they are about what you bring in. No animal, vegetable, mineral products or food are allowed in, so our coffee mate was confiscated although the coffee survived, and the packet soup that Sid has carried half way round the world (in case we were hungry in China or Vietnam), survived. My conical hat from Vietnam was surveyed very carefully, but in the end allowed through. (fortunate as it became my base for the fly net in the Northern Territory, as the pictures show). It all took about an hour. The reason for this is that Australia does not use pesticides and so they are paranoid about getting any insects or infections or anything else from us outsiders. Don’t blame them, as an island continent, even if it’s annoying when you’re in the queue.

Well, that was nothing on New Zealand. It took us two hours at midnight (although only 9.30pm Ayers Rock time – work that one out if you can), first queueing for immigration and then having my didgeridoo (that I’d bought in Australia, obviously!) unpacked, examined for termites (didgeridoos are made by termites eating the inside of the wood to hollow it, which makes the sound). You’ll be pleased to know it is termite-free and was allowed in. A nice New Zealand guy in the queue had been to a conference in Sydney and had a round of golf whilst he was there. Even though he’d washed his golf shoes, he still had to declare them and queue to have them checked so he wasn’t bringing in soil from elsewhere. He was very laid back about it and accepted that that’s the price he pays for living in a nice infection-free country.

We stayed at an airport hotel, cornily named the Jet Inn, so that we can pick up our car from the airport early tomorrow. So, tomorrow’s blog from another country.