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David ColesDavid Coles
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viajou para 9 países Leia mais
  • Viajante60 years - its a diamond!
    1
    Dia 1

    Onwards and upwards

    30 de abril, Austrália ⋅ 🌬 18 °C

    Arrived at my SYD stopover with a bit of time so I decided to not go and sit in my room or a cafe but to go to the SYD Business Lounge for a coffee and a sit. A bit drizzley outside so I will do a little sightseeing tomorrow morning. Time to reflect on a big couple of weeks - BNE for work, MEL for DEA, DRW for me and now BNE/SYD/SIN.. mind boggling! I am very much on the 'do it while you can' tram! A wet track for my morning run on Mascot -packing wet clothes is not ideal. Found a large building with a covered veranda all round so did circuits (about 20) - bit like a cruise ship!! Had my free brekkie at the hotel and then had a (thankfully) dry walk to Mascot station. Went to Circular Quay for a look at iconic Sydney! Back on the train to International. I was able to check in online so security et al was quick and seamless. I looked briefly at duty free fizz but decided Singapore will be a better option. Qantas First Lounge - aah, my happy place! Great views, great fizz, good food and excellent service -one day K! When the bloke at the desk knew I had a few hours he quickly suggested I have a 45 minute spa session. Despite knowing what K would think - I declined! Had some lunch with some more Champagne Lallier (a first for me - it's very good). Buffalo Mozzarella with Heirloom tomatoes. I loved the flavours but don't get heirloom tomatoes - tough and not really adding anything. The Bao was delicious #recommended. A treat was seeing QF1 arrive at the dock #thequeen. I will upload this shortly as I will be boarding and Qantas hasn't caught up with international internet yet and I will be late into Singapore. Enjoying it all so far! Been upgraded to premium economy - another first so will report on the experience #upperdeckLeia mais

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  • Viajante60 years - its a diamond!
    Dia 1–2

    And again!

    30 de abril, Austrália ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C

    After a day in the office (more of a nuisance really) here I go again! Uber Reserve, while more expensive, is at least reliable. Too often in Cairns, last minute uber/cab requests go unanswered - don't need the stress tbh. Security and the lounge were deserted and airport management put some entertainment (speccey rainbow action) for the lounge guest. Was upgraded to BC at the last knock - Its no longer a given with the new Qantas Reward Seats being thrown open. Anyway the first flight is an Embraer 190 and I have one of the single seats up front.
    These Penguin posts are going to be under pressure in the next few weeks with everyone's trips but hey - great sharing!! An uneventful transit through BNE but did get the welcome sms from Qantas that my upgrade request for Premium Economy on the hallowed QF1 has been accepted - YAY. A great way to fly long haul on an A380. Daytime too!    Leia mais

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  • ViajanteHop hop to the top
    1
    Dia 2

    Winding down

    27 de abril, Austrália ⋅ 🌙 25 °C

    Ended up at Alfonsino's for dinner. As predicted I didn't wander far - 2 doors from the Thai place, next door to the bahn Mi and across a carpark from my hotel! The pizza was quick, blistered and very tasty - all signs this place knows. All the ingredients named and origin acknowledged. It was also not stupid huge! The red was montepulciano - a snap with K having the same at Enzo's with dinner. Dawn would have a knowing smile! This morning a pleasant walk to Kopi Stop and then a detour home via the Esplanade Park. A cracker of a morning. I had a late check out so a couple of hours at the pool. Dropped the hire car off - I was just saying to K I had never driven an electric or hybrid car - now I have. The Corolla was a hybrid. Would know any difference other than it didn't much to fuel up at the end. What it did have was the myriad of safety add ons that we supposedly need these days but make driving a misery. The Qantas lounge was open!! It has been closed every other time I have been here. Quite impressive - lots of different areas, very light and airey and quite a variety of food. Nice platter options like dolmades, pickled Italian veg, eggplant and a really very good rendang. Rich, coconutty and falling apart. Kudos!! Flight seems to be on time. Cairns appears to be the only place in Australia that's raining - but that's ok! I enjoy Darwin but I think I would miss the wet tropics and the rainforest. Arrived back in Cairns and - well, my nice comments re wet tropics have come back to bite! My home town is wet! Oh well - only a day at work and then...✈️✈️Leia mais

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  • ViajanteHop hop to the top
    11111
    Dia 2

    The full day!

    27 de abril, Austrália ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    Up early for a run on the Esplanade - very little humidity which is a change from FNQ the last 5 months. Off to Kopi Stop for the best Singapore Breakfast - kaya toast and Kopi O. This place is award winning for their barista coffee but is also run by a Singaporean and it shows - they also have very good nasi lemak, congee and laksa. Then a visit to the Parap Market which is food based but with other stuff thrown in. A Darwin staple. Then Rapid Creek Market which is an Asian producer market - fresh as! Return via the shoreline at Nightcliff - people swimming in the sea! (🪼?) Then a walk around the Esplanade with a detour down to Lameroo Beach. Bring your reef shoes!! The BEST bahn mi for lunch from a Vietnamese hole in the wall near my hotel. Set me up good and proper for a long afternoon at the pool. Not sure about this evening but I can't imagine wandering far. The weather is absolutely perfect - 32o and relatively dry.Leia mais

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  • ViajanteHop hop to the top
    1
    11
    Dia 1

    Easing in

    26 de abril, Austrália ⋅ ☀️ 33 °C

    Well Jetstar did the job I paid them for - on time, pleasant team and row 3! Wasn't asking for more. Picked up my hire car and went straight to the hotel. It is a Mantra and on the Esplanade. Upgraded to the top floor but not with a balcony😞. However a water view and a few steps away from the action (Mitchell St). I picked up some essentials then repaired to the pool to enjoy the 33o sunshine. Up to the room for a Friday #wineoclock bubbly. There is a brew pub next to the Mantra that I gravitated to it was happy hour and the man recommended the croc lager - so I had a schooner out on the street front opposite Croc Cove (go figure!) Nice enough beer and a LONG time since I have had a $6 beer! A Thai place next door offered a chicken (Gai) larb so a no brainer! I ordered fried wontons ($8), larb ($18) and a glass of superb Jim Barry Watervale Riesling ($8) - I know why I like Darwin....... A big day and a good day. Tomorrow - a couple of markets then pool pool pool!Leia mais

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  • ViajanteHop hop to the top
    2
    2
    Dia 1

    A bonus

    26 de abril, Austrália ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    While my main trip starts on Tuesday the opportunity arose to pin on a quick trip to Darwin. I have had several not unpleasant trips on Jetstar recently and joined their 'club'. Almost immediately a decent fare became available to Darwin - a town I do like. Darwin is prohibitive normally. So here I am - flying Jetstar to and from Darwin. I will let that sink in a bit......through choice as well!! I know you will be worrying about my mental capacity but I don't need the Status Credits or points atm. I also have just had a massive strategic planning week with my DEA Board so today is a TOIL day - I need to stretch my a/l days as I am not retired yet 🙄Leia mais

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  • ViajanteColombo ho ho
    1
    Dia 9

    Last leg (I hope)

    31 de dezembro de 2023, Austrália ⋅ ☁️ 29 °C

    Finally boarded and on my way. This is a (relatively) tiny 737 MAX so my seat number 64K looked odd. I asked at the desk if it was right. He asked if I liked to be more forward. Of course I said yes so he gave me 47A??? On board this turned out to be 7A in a normal plane! Even more of a bonus I am seated on my own!! There is inflight WiFi as well!! As I am not a member of the family it came at a cost $USD15.99!! Worth it to try it on an international flight. Qantas say they hope to get some international flights connected in 2024. Interweb and power - almost civilised! I haven't flown in a MAX before and it is certainly a step up from the old 737 - quieter and a bit more roomier. Uneventful flight with a blast from the past - water in a cup with a tear off lid - so last century! Back into Cairns International - it is very close to Domestic but this is a first time for me. Home now - showered then unpacked. It has been steamy up here - mould threatening! So tropical FNQ! Thanks for the follow and I am pleased to be able to share what in the end, was an eventful trip away. I hope everyone has a great 2024!Leia mais

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  • ViajanteColombo ho ho
    2
    Dia 9

    Well - this is different

    31 de dezembro de 2023, Cingapura ⋅ ☁️ 27 °C

    Well - arrived and my next step was an entry card for an all night lounge - not a hotel. Well I marched off to T1 to see Qantas but both lounges were closed. So back to this lounge - in any other circumstances it would be excellent - the food is great, french wine (Bordeaux white & red) but it is hardly an overnighter.. well yes it is!! I did get some sleep then a brisk 5km walk along these amazing terminals. I then spotted a duty free outlet that I saw on my way before and - yes they had what I wanted. A bottle of Chateau Suiduirat 1er Cru 2008 for $89 SGD is now mine- an absolute bargain for top level sauternes. My flight is in another terminal (of course) but is direct to Cairns. I am 23 credits away from lifetime Gold but I think it will be a while before it clicks in.....I will have a bit of negotiation ahead to get the 100 credits I should have got this trip - don't worry, I will get them! Some Singapore musts ticked without even leaving Changi - Mr Merlion and Kaya Toast! I am going to be tired when I get home - travel has never been like this before!Leia mais

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  • ViajanteColombo ho ho
    Dia 8

    The journey begins

    30 de dezembro de 2023, Cingapura ⋅ ☁️ 31 °C

    After a very longish but comfortable stint in the excellent lounge I headed towards the gate with no real clue as to current status. People were moving through the gate so all hopeful. The gate person changed my seat from 23c to 7d - YAY an upgrade to BC! Making a potentially ordinary day memorable. Joseph Perrier again but will throttle back as I have work to do in Changi to see how this rolls! Excellent experience boarding and flying at this class - as good as I have had - seriously! Great service, the green mango salad sublimely spicy, the wine excellent (Brokenwood Cricket pitch) - living the dream (so far) having reached Singapore this is no longer living the dream - given a pass to a sit up lounge for the night. Went to T1 to hunt up some Qantas help but all shut. Back to T3 to sleep in a chair for a 7.30 start. Without knowing it looks like a direct flight to Cairns??? Again - good luck with all my status etc!!! Good night (I hope!!)Leia mais

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  • ViajanteColombo ho ho
    1
    Dia 8

    Homeward bound (sort of....)

    30 de dezembro de 2023, Sri Lanka ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C

    I choose to start this with a calming glass of Champagne Joseph Perrier. Fun fact - I was there at the launch in Australia of this house at Dan Murphy's Fine Wine Cellars in Prahran. Dirty Dan was the first importer and was a firm fave back in the day (until I discovered Pol Roger). I left the hotel knowing there was a 1 hour delay out of Colombo. By the time I reached check in it had blown out to nearly 4 hours. Means my Qantas Business Class connection from Singapore is ripped up - in fact instead of an 8pm flight ex SIN it is 8.30am tomorrow morning - on a Singapore Airlines flight!!!! Not even One World. I cannot comprehend this as being even possible. I am told I will know my accomodation when I arrive in Singapore. I will head straight to the Qantas desk when I arrive and say (thanks Kerry) if I had wanted to fly Singapore I would have made those arrangements. The options don't suit at all and the hassles of getting my points back, points owed, status credits owed blah blah don't bear thinking about. Anyway - I am here in the Sri Lankan international lounge with champagne and brilliant Sri Lankan food. By the time I went for food the selections pictured had been changed - so, I had dahl with mutton and potato curry plus a couple of sambals and pappadum. Excellent food! Nothing will change until I board - hopefully not delayed again so I will post this.Leia mais

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