Well after about an hour of queuing, Chris and I are having a quiet drink on the less stressful side of the customs wall. Our bags have come in at a feather weight to the point that the check in lady was impressed. Chris's bag weighed 7.6kgs and mine at a staggering 10.8kgs. Plenty of room for souvenirs me thinks. Anzac Day was quiet on public transport. We had lunch with Mum and Dad then Dad dropped us to the station in Gosford. Quick stop at Chris's work for baggage tags then the airport line to the International Terminal. Dropped our bags with the lovely Mina at Smarte Carte ...... For free (words all good backpackers love to hear). The had a decedent snack of cheese cake and red wine to celebrate the beginning of this adventure proper.

Which brings us to now. Sitting in a bar on the less stressful side of customs. More red wine and blog updates and Facebook updates etc. We board in about 20 mins then it's media blackout for 20 odd hours while we fly on QR 909 to Doha, Qatar. It is all very real now and I am feeling excited. Chris has a window seat to watch the light of Sydney so lets hope we we not over the wing. But given the essential nature of wings on planes I'll give up the view for the ability to stay in the air.

We shall wake up in a different hemisphere

Written by Rod