Wednesday...6 April 2011

Well now that was certainly an experience. We got to Melbourne at 8.00pm, way too early but one surely cannot be too early to catch an airplane. Well yes you can if you are flying with Virgin. They won't even take your bags until two hours before the flight, so there we were loaded trolley in tow wandering around Melbourne airport looking for something to do for five hours! Couldn't go to some areas due to the luggage trolley. Eventually found a bar which allowed us to bring our trolley in, remembering that even if we wanted to, it is now illegal to leave any luggage unattended in an airport. Couple of drinks and wow that must have taken care of a couple of hours, nope, only one hour, guess we were really thirsty!!
We strolled around and watched a couple of international flights departing and that used up another half hour. Honestly, how many of you have had to kill off a few hours in an airport whilst still loaded down with luggage and not even have access to the QC...and add in the very late hour of the day and fatigue adding to the stress levels.
Spent a lot of time watching other people as they went about their business; security, catering staff, flight crews, passengers, cleaners, maintenance dept, quite a mixed mob. All equally important to themselves or us as passengers depending what they do.
Eventually we were allowed to deposit our bags and enjoy the freedom of having nothing to do in a place where everything is closing down for the night!! By the time we could access the shops for gifts or souvenirs they were closed.
Now it appears that school holidays have started this week in the NT. So of course the plane was full and there were plenty of excited kids who by departure at 1.45am were very tired and teary, and plenty of harrassed parents wishing the blessed thing would get up and go so that their kids would fall asleep. Credit to the flight staff, we were barely off the ground when they hit the dimmer switch and the plane was plunged into near darkness, ten minutes later silence was all you could hear, well in between the snores of the adult population on board. Yeah I know, that made it easier work for the hosties but I reckon those parents would not be complaining.
Himself snoozed off and on most of the way as did the stranger on my other side in our set of three seats. I tried to sleep but alas it was just not happening for me. My body insists on being horizontal before it will go to the land of nod. Was extremely bleary eyed on arrival in Darwin this morning at 5.30am. Was lovely to get through the various check in procedures for the hire car and accommodation and have a cuppa and go to bed for a couple of hours to improve our attitudes.
We are staying at the Defence Establishment Berrimah (DEB) because of a connection to Keiths sisters son-in-law who is in the navy. We have a three bedroom donga type cabin with split systems in every room. Nothing flash but plenty of space and it has everything we need. And it is reasonably priced. Keiths youngest brother will be sharing this with us when he arrives tomorrow.
Once we had had some sleep we all went into town and had fresh fish and chips at the Darwin Wharf. Still the best fish in Darwin and it is wonderful to eat with the view of the harbour and a breeze blowing in off the Arafrua Sea. After lunch we went into the CBD and  located the hotel the birthday party is at on Friday night and then finished our afternoon off with a quiet drink at the Darwin Trailer Boat Club watching the afternoon tropical rain water all the plants and palm trees. With luck we will be able to return to this club for dinner one night to watch the famous Darwin sunset, where the sun is a red ball on the water one moment and gone in the blink of an eye. Amazing to watch.
Now we are about to go to the birthday girls place for a BBQ tea. Love Darwin, so much to see and do. Only shame is that the famous markets at Mindl Beach do not re-open until the official end of the wet season on May 1, so that is one less thing we need to find time to do.