travelling allrite

I'm not a Melbourne virgin, but I did catch one to get here. In fact as soon as I arrived at the airport I felt like I was home once more. What is it about the city of my birth that brings me such comfort? Reflected in the mirror in front of me is a panoramic view of Melbourne with the CBD in the distance. I wish that I could go there now, but I suppose that I should be a good boy and socialise here at the distant Bell City Convention Centre. While colleagues at the conference I am attending spoke of 3am starts in order to reach the airport in time, I left at the same time as yesterday and even caught the same train. The difference was that I got out at Wolli Creek and changed to the airport line. With a preprinted boarding pass from the online check in facility in hand I raced through security, though was detained as I almost always are for an explosives swipe. This has been happening for twenty years now. Motes sparkle across the hazy tunnel entrance Having eaten...

A year ago we had just arrived back from our tenth anniversary trip to Europe via Malaysia. Sometimes I think it can take a year or more to properly appreciate a trip, time discarding those memories of jetlag and weary feet, the race to stick a schedule and keep everyone happy and highlighting all those wonderful experiences in your mind. Vignettes suddenly pop into your head, leaving a feeling of wistfulness for the year gone. A hotel room of toys with Alex in the centre of them, mountain scenery below, a meal in Paris, breakfast on the train. The same thing happened in 2010, a year after my previous trip to Europe. Dreamily falling asleep to music alone in a hotel room, tinned mandarins for breakfast, a quiet walk through central London, cobblestones in Ghent. As I said in my last post there is something special about travel to Europe and the long, long flights there. Whenever the earlybird fares are released I feel a tremendous urge to book them. I know what we want to do; just g...

Once I'm on the NEX I can relax, pull down the tray table and eat some of the snacks as we smoothly say goodbye to Tokyo. I note the new very tall Skytree tower, standing proudly in the clear air. As we race along I listen to music and reflect on this trip, short as it may be. Was it worth it? Oh yes! I have seen such beauty on my long rides through the countryside and discovered new places worthy of return visits. Three days is not long enough, but I feel like I have made it count. Unfortunately, this run of the NEX doesn't stop at Narita city, only the airport. Two railway companies serve Narita, the private operator Keisei and JR East. My pass only covers the latter, but services are not frequent enough that I feel entirely comfortable returning to Narita city before checking in. The Qantas check in desks won't be open for another 45 minutes, so I use that time to explore the landside shopping and food area. Boxes of strawberry cheesecake and wasabi Kit Kats temp...