24 Hours Later...

…and I’ve finally arrived in Sydney! 

The journey was long but not too bad, being in Business Class probably helped a bit (thanks Mum!). Check-in at Heathrow was quick and easy, and the goodbyes came around pretty quick as I had to move on to go through security. Both my parents and my sister Ella came with me to the airport (Hannah was at a festival...) and they handed me over a goodbye card with some lovely well-wishings and a bit of money to spend in Duty Free! After a few tears and much talk of how exciting it will be to see them all again when they come out for Christmas, I headed off to begin my adventure alone. They hung about a bit to watch me er… well… queue for security (!?) and then finally waved for one last time and headed home again.

Security was also quick, though I did get frisked (as usual – I need to learn to take my jewellery off), and then I followed my nose into Duty Free where I found my favourite perfume on sale. Rather than being content with saving a bit of money, I decided this was money I had to spend in here, and I spent the next half an hour hunting around, trying out all the new ones, to pick a new scent to mark the beginning of the new Australian me!

I wondered around a bit, window shopping and contemplating what to eat, and suddenly stumbled across the Star Alliance Lounge. As I got closer, I saw the sign saying ‘First Class and Business Class Passengers Only’ and a whole list of airlines – including Asiana Airlines. Of course! How could I have forgotten!? I signed in at the desk and wandered into a peaceful low-lit room where tired business men were drinking red wine and furiously typing on their laptops, and a few families were trying to stop their toddlers from screaming. People were coming and going with various combinations of food and drink and settled themselves in one of the hundreds of comfy armchairs and sofas. I suddenly felt very out of place and sheepishly snuck over to a table at the corner. I walked over to the food service area and asked a waitress in a quiet whisper if all the food and drink was free. She laughed loudly and told me that EVERYTHING was free, and so, embarassed and with half the lounge now fully aware of my presence, I helped myself to some mini sandwiches and a gin and tonic.

The lounge was perfect, it had wireless internet, cosy sofas, departure boards on every wall so that you didn’t have to even move to check your flight, and nobody gave you a second look if you went up to get your *ahem* fourth drink. I browsed through some emails and chatted briefly to a mum about how my mum used to feed us drowsy Calpol when we were little to keep us quiet on aeroplanes (she said she’s keep it in mind for next time!).

Sunset at Terminal 1

Finally my flight was called and I made my way to my gate, zooming through the Business Class queue and was ushered to my seat by a smiley hostess. The plane was one of the newest that Asiana Airlines had and the Business Class seats were like little mini cubicles all to themselves. We each had a personal tv, slippers (!?), headphones, a little toiletries bag with L’Occitane (!) goodies inside, a pillow and a blanket. I made myself comfortable, playing with all the adjustable seat controls and was soon offered a glass of champagne. Don't mind if I do!

The plane filled up quickly and we took off on time. Once the seatbelt signs were off, the hostesses came round and offered us each a menu with a Western or Korean choice for supper. Then next unfolded our tables for us, and placed down a white table cloth, placing on top our own personal little salt and pepper shakers, a napkin with silver cutlery inside (apart from the knives which have to be plastic) and poured us a drink of our choice (another gin and tonic please!). The supper they served was six courses long: bread, salad, starter, main, cheese, pudding, and then tea and coffee afterwards. The food wasn’t incredible, but was a hell of a lot better than normal plane food...

The amazing view as we left Heathrow

I slowly felt myself slipping into a food coma and used the seat controls to make it into a bed, falling into a deep sleep quickly and easily. I slept for a good seven hours - which is so unusual for me on a plane! – and woke up just before they started serving a ‘snack’ (which was hardly a snack at all seeing as it was another three courses!). 

We landed at Seoul in South Korea at 6.30am English time, 3.30pm Korean time. Incheon airport was amazing, huge high ceilings and everything was glass and marble. I made my way to the Asiana transfer lounge and here I booked myself in to have a shower (YUP!) and grabbed some more free food. Four hours of wireless internet, food, drink, and a shower later, I hopped on to my second plane.

The plane was delayed 10 minutes but this didn't seem to be a problem as we still landed on time once we reached Sydney. We landed at 7.30am Australian time and I made my way through customs. This queue took a little longer as you have to declare all food and medication etc., but finally I got through and followed the signs to the 'Meeting Point' in the arrivals hall, where I was to meet my UNSW transfer.

Sat in the Asiana Lounge

View from plane as we left Seoul

I met up with a whole bunch of New York students and one guy who was at Birmingham Uni and we were herded into a shuttle bus by two UNSW students who handed us each our welcome pack and drove us to our relevant accommodation. We arrived at my accommodation, The University Terraces, at about 9.30am and one of the guys helped me with my suitcase to the lift, showed me how to activate my access card and wished me luck for the semester ahead. My apartment is in the East Tower on the 7th floor and is very modern and clean. I am sharing with a Korean girl called Isabelle who goes to Cornell University in the USA and we each have our own bedroom but share a bathroom, kitchen, and living are. I haven't met her yet but she will arrive in the next few days.

I've just unpacked all my clothes into my little room (pretty basic but nice; a single bed, a desk, a bedside table and some storage shelving for my clothes and books etc) which took me all of 10 minutes - 30kg of luggage is not a lot! - and have had a quick shower. A family friend of my Step-Gran, Julie, called Amber is coming to pick me up at 11am and I'm going to stay at hers tonight so that she can help me get my bearings and take me shopping to get me some sheets and towels, and stuff to kit out my room.

So far, so good! And hopefully I will stay awake long enough today to make sure that I have a good night's sleep tonight and conquer any jet-lag. My body has no real ideal what time it is and so I am hoping to use tonight to reset my body clock. I don't have any internet in my apartment yet, so this has been typed up but won't be posted until I sort everything out, but next update will come soon!

Lots and love from Sydney,

B.