Back in Australia

I really did love Japan, I'd love to go back. Saying that I think I would take Japanese lessons before going, as that would make communication with the locals so much easier.

Tokyo was, as I wrote in my earlier posts a bit overwhelming at first. I soon got into swing of it though. I don't think I would want to live there, but it was nice to see how all those people live. I was amazed that amongst all those grey buildings there were large green spaces. In fact at one place, the Meiji temple at Harajuku it was hard to believe that you were in the middle of one of the largest population centres of the world.

I loved the electronics stores that were around Ikebukuro, never seen stores with a staff to customers ratio that was probably close to 1:1, and it was packed with customers! A department store I found called Tokyu Hands was great. It's slogan was "The Creative Lifestyle Store". You name it, if you make it or do it with your hands you can find it there. I found Tokyu Hands in the other cities I visited as well, but the one at Shibuya in Tokyo was the best.

Osaka was an interesting place, with some great food and shopping streets. I also visited Kyoto and Nara for day trips. Kyoto I found draining as I tried to fit so much into one day. I was really over temples by the end. Nara was quite the opposite, it was very relaxing walking around the beautiful park. I saw the big Bhudda too. The only downside to Nara was that I was bitten by a deer while feeding them.

Hiroshima was a surprise. The A-Bomb dome, and memorials and Museums, were as I'd expected. The Museum in parts was definitely confronting. As for the city itself, you'd never know that the place was wiped off the planet nearly 70 years ago, it is every bit as vibrant as Tokyo or Osaka. It even had trams, which in a way made me feel at home.

The nearby island of Miyajima was a great day trip as well.

I plan on doing a few features on a selection of the places I visited, rather then a blow by blow account of my days. I think it's less boring that way, and easier to do now I'm at home.

I arrived home over a week ago now, last Wednesday at 10pm, almost two days later than I'd intended. The extra stop over in Hong Kong was great, albeit rushed. I think I managed to do everything I wanted to do. I was a bit shocked when I walked into my hotel room and thinking there must be a mistake, I can't possibly have all this space to myself.

Even though it's only been 5 months since I was in Hong Kong, I still did the touristy things I did last time. Those being, the Star Ferry (2x's!), Peak Tram, and Nathan Road. I also visited the the ICC building in West Kowloon, which is something like the 4th or 5th tallest building in the world. I decided not to go to the top as it was way too hazy, but spent some time walking around the shopping centre at the base (as you do in Hong Kong). Even though it's crowded, hot, dirty, and sometimes smelly, I really like Hong Kong for some reason. I mean, it is really just another city, but it has something else about it.

I can't really fault Qantas on how they have handled the refund process. For an action that was so blatantly pre meditated, I wouldn't expect any less. As I had made payment by BPay I to make special arrangements, but it all went smoothly. I can definitely use the free return flight to anywhere in Aus/NZ.

Japan - The Plan

Day 1 - Arrive in Tokyo
Day 2 - Tokyo/ANA 787 flight to Hiroshima and return
Day 3 - Tokyo
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Day 7 - Train to Osaka
Day 8 - Osaka/kyoto area
Day 11 - Train to Hiroshima
Day 13 - Train to Fukuoka/Hakata
Day14 - Fly to Tokyo, Fly back to Australia

Ammended plans due to the joyce factor

Day 14 - Fly to Hong Kong
Day 15 - Hong Kong
Day 16 - Fly back to Australia

I couldn't resist adding a day in Hong Kong. Also meant I didn't have to go via Adelaide (the only flights I could book straight through from Tokyo involved a stopover in Adelaide), and could take a daytime flight home. Suits me fine.

Shunted QANTAS Style

It was pretty annoying (now that's an understatement) to realise that of the flights that left Singapore on Sunday evening ours was the only one that diverted (the Jetstar direct flight was delayed by 8 hours, but I couldn't think of a better airport to be stranded at than Changi). On one hand the three Qantas staff that were on hand to organise 400 odd passengers from our Airbus A380 did a great job. However I have no sympathy for Qantas management and in particular CEO Alan Joyce.

While I had read about the problems with the ash on the internet, we didn't find out that Qantas had cancelled all flights into Melbourne until we approached the check in desk at Changi airport. We were informed that we would now be going to Sydney. Well at least we were going to Australia. In hindsight, a few extra days in Singapore would have been nice too, although we had already extended our trip. That is why we were now returning on Qantas after leaving Australia on Singapore Airlines.

We landed at about 6:40 am and we were actually dealt with fairly quickly and efficently, at most it took 20 minutes from stepping off the aircraft to get through customs, this included a bus ride from our remote stand to the terminal. Once inside the terminal the three staff members dealt with the crowd efficiently, taking down details and handing out hotel and bus stop details. Immigration was again very quick. Our bags were already on the conveyor and we got to go through the green customs lane with nothing to declare.

Eventually after nearly a two hour wait in the cold we got on a coach and and drove to our hotel. The hotel was the Four Point's Sheraton on the Darling Harbour side of the Sydney CBD. By the time we were nearing the check in desk for the hotel the manager informed us that Qantas had sent too many people and that there were no more rooms available. To his credit he arranged a coach to take all 30 or so remaining passengers to a sister property and full use of the breakfast buffet which they kept open for us while we waited. By now it was about 11:30 am.

After around an hour we were taken to our new hotel, the Sheraton on the Park, overlooking of course Hyde Park in Elizabeth Street. This was clearly a much higher class hotel. After checking in we had to wait about 2 hours until the rooms were ready. So we eventually made it to a hotel room at about 3pm, about 8 hours after landing.

And what a hotel room it was, the best of the whole trip. The best bit was that it actually had a view of the park!

I should add that the last we heard from Qantas was two of those same staff members telling us which coach was going to which hotel at the Sydney Airport coach stops. It was very much a case just getting us out of the way. From then we heard nothing, and if I hadn't done what I'm about to tell you about, I fear we would still be there. I tried calling Qantas that night and the next morning on their regular phone number 131313, but it was so busy it played a message and hung up on me.

Rather stupidly I had left my phone on the plane, which was latter found by a cleaner and handed to the Qantas found property office. Luckily my brother was trying to get in contact and someone in the baggage services office heard it and answered. When talking to my brother that night he gave me the details I needed to pick it up the next morning.

So the next morning I left Mum at the hotel and caught the train to the airport to pick it up.

After retrieving my phone from the baggage services office on the arrivals level I ventured upstairs in search of someone I could talk to about the situation. In the end I found the Qantas sales desk and managed to get us on to a flight latter Tuesday afternoon. It seemed effortless.

So it was back to the hotel to pack up get mum and head back to the Qantas domestic terminal. I hate to think what the others did, although we met one woman who was on our flight in the hotel lobby and I told her what I'd done. I think the best bet for her was to find a Qantas sales office in the Sydney CBD and organise the flights in person.

We left straight away for our 5:15pm flight, arriving at the airport about 2 hours early, as I thought the place would be chaotic . I was wrong, the place was deserted.

Check in was a pain though as we couldn't use the self serve kiosk and the old style check in desks are gone. Now you print your own baggage tags and put your luggage on the conveyor yourself. We did find a staff member to help and she managed to get the system to work. Apparently it was something to do with the way our onward flight was booked. While she was great and helped us out, once again we feel Qantas as a company let us down.

Once through security we could relax, had a bite to eat and went and had a look around the Qantas Heritage Collection (which I do recommend going to have a look at if you ever have time to fill in Sydney T3) before going to wait at the gate for our flight.

We were back on the ground in Melbourne about a day and a half late.