Monday, September 17, 2018

2018 Trip to Australia Day 11

The last day of Trip to Australia.

I started the day early from 3 am, took a shuttle at 4:10, flight to Sydney at 6 am.
One hour and a half flight was good, but transit was rather complicated to change the airline terminal first and international terminal next.

To my lucky I could use rhe American Express Lounge.

Flight from Sydney to Narita Airport delayed. At first my seat was middle but to my lucky I could change it to the window side of two seats just behind the wall. I enjoyed the view in the morning and three movies later.

I came back to Japan finally.

This trip was supposed to be 10 days, and airline was supposed to be Cathay Pacific.

But it became 11 days and I used JAL, Qantas, and Virgin Australia.

I could visit four World Heritage Sites, attend the Mega Rockstar Trip, and meet my friend. It was a nice summer vacation.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

2018 Trip to Australia Day 10

It was fine.

I enjoyed the regular Sunday life in Australia.

I enjoyed making candy sushi with my friend's daughter which wasvery interesting.

I walked around her house. There is a pond nearby and thetr were many birds.

We went out for lunch which was very volumy.

We attended balance yoga lesson for an hour.

My friend took me to the airport hotel.

It was a calm day.

Saturday, September 15, 2018

2018 Trip to Australia Day 9

It was fine and beautiful.

I had Australian style breakfast at the wood deck made by my friend's husband.
It was so nice and I remembered my Florida life.

I visited many places in Brisbane such as Queensland Art Gallery, Gallery of Modern Art, Queen St. Mall, City Hall & Museum of Brisbane, Old Museum & Science Center, Southbank Parklands, City Botanic Gardens, and Night Street Market.

After arriving at the airport, I knew my flight was canceled.

2018 Trip to Australia Day 8

It was another moving day.

I checked out the hotel around 10:20 am and headed for the airport by shuttle bus, then took the flight to Brisbane by Virgine Australia. I wished to get a window side, but could not.

After arriving at the airport, I met my friend at the shopping center and went to the pier to see the sunset.

It was another beautiful sunset.

Wednesday, September 12, 2018

2018 Trip to Australia Day 7

It was fine in the morning.

I attended the one day tour visiting two World Heritage sites.

The pickup bus came at 8 am and I went to the peir to take the boat to Green Island. it was about one hour ride. First I walked around the island taking pictures.
It started raining for a while.
Then I got on the glass bottom boat as an option for 30 minutes and enjoyed the Great Barrier Reef.
Then I went back to Cairns.

After 30 minutes lunch break the pickup bus took me to the Skyrail station. It took about 45 minutes to Kuranda stopping at two stations. I enjoyed the Barron Falls.

After arriving at Kuranda I only had 30 mimutes to walk around and got on the train back to Cairns. It also stopped at the lookout to see the waterfalls. It took about one hour and a half to Freshwater station and the bus sent me to the accommodation around 5 pm.

After coming back I saw the rainbow for the second time during this trip and felt happy.

It was a nice sight seeing day.

2018 Trip to Australia Day 6

It was a no plan day.

I wanted to join the catching mudcrab tour but it was fulj.
I tried to eat it at the restaurant, but they did not have. It seems it is not the season.

I walked around and enjoyed shopping.

Tuesday, September 11, 2018

2018 Trip to Australia Day 5

It was another moving day.

I left the hotel around 7:30 am, got on a ferry to Hervey Bay, took flights from Herver Bay to Brisbane by Qantas and from Brisbane to Cairns by Tiger Air.

This is the very first time for me to use LCC. The limit of check in baggage is 15kg, therefore I had to repack.

I wanted to have a window seat but it was middle. So I asked the CA on board and she changed after the seat belt sign became off. To my lucky The seats next to me were vacant. How lucky I am! I saw the beautiful sunset.

I bought hot chocolate and lamington at $6.

From the airport I took taxi which cost AUD22.

After checking in, I visited the Night Market.

Monday, September 10, 2018

2018 Trip to Australia Day 4

It was fine and beautiful.

After having breakfast there was a training for two hours.

Then we ate lunch.

We went to the Lake Makenzie which had a breathtaking view.

I went to see the beautiful sunset.

After wearing Yukata(浴衣), summer kimono, I attended the Gala Dinner. Many people were pleased to see my yukata-style. I enjoyed eating, drinking, chatting, and dancing.

It was a nice day.

2018 Trip to Australia Day 3

It was fine.

Today is a moving day from Gold Coast to Fraser Island via Brisbane. 

First I took G-Line Tram, next Airport Train, third was airplane, fourth bus, fifth ferry and the last shuttle tram.

I left the apartment before 9 am  and arrived at the airport around 11:30 am,  took flight at 1:40 pm  and arrived at Hervey Bay around 2:30 pm and took ferry and arrived at the final destination Kingfisher Bay Resort aound 5 pm.

It was a long trip. But coming here is the main purpose of this whole trip to Australia.

Fraser Island is the biggest sand island in the world, and listed on the UNESCO's World Heritage. I am looking forward to my stay here.

I enjoyed the beautiful sunset and made new friends who have the same sense of value regarding traveling around the world.

I had dinner with two Anerican sisters and had a good time.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Saturday, September 8, 2018

2018 Trip to Australia Day 2

The 2nd day started in Sydney.

I arrived early in the morning and it was a bit chilly outside.

After immigration I repacked to bring liquid.

It was just a transit, and I just stayed for an hour or so. Looking around the shop reminded me of other Austrarian visit before.

I am glad to have tried withdrawl of HSBC for the first time.
Though it is a Chinese bank, all of the advertisement to the plane was HSBC.

After arriving at Brisbane I enjoyed meeting with my friend from EXPO2005 and her family after three years or so.

Visiting  the local supermarket is one of the things I try to do abroad to know people's life. I found many interesting things such as big sausages for dog and cats.

We went to the Japanese school which opens on Saturday to pick up their daughter.

I do not have children, so it was very interesting to spend time with her.

After coming to my accommodation we walked to the Surfer's Paradise. There were so many doves on our way, and seagulls at the sea.

It was very nice to see the rainbows while eating lunch.

At night I attend a Glow Worm Tour which was really good.

I am so glad to have attended the tour conducted in English.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.


2018 Trip to Australia Day 1

The destination of  my summer vacation this year is Australia.

Maybe it's been 18 years since I went to Australia last. It was the time of Sydney Olympic.
I have been to Australia for four or five times before.
The reason I did not visit for such a long time is the death of my friend from Expo '92.  She had lived in Australia and after seeing her in 2005, I was going to visit her. But she passed away so suddenly that I lost the reason to go to Australia.

This time I was invited to the training in Fraser Island and decided to come.

I will go to Brisbane, Gold Coast, Fraser Island, and Cairns this time.

I booked the fight tickets to go to Brisbane via Hong Kong. However there was something wrong with the plane, and it delayed for an hour and a half which made the connection flight impossible.

Therefore they offered me to go to Sydney by JAL and to Brisbane by Qantas which arrives earlier than the original plan.
I accepted this plan. Unfortunately I could not get the window side. Since the ticket was booked by Cathay, and it was impossible to upgrade by mileage. It would cost yen30,000 to upgrade. It would take 9 hours and a half.The connection flight will be at the window side so I gave up upgrading.

The service of JAL is very good. I enjoyed a Japanese movie "Laplace's Witch" which I missed while it was showing at the theater. I watched Queen's Live too.
It was a nice day after all.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.