Well excitement abounded as we rose early to board our two day Rocky Mountaineer train journey including an overnight stop in Kamloops. Luxury is an appropriate word. We are in a glass domed roof carriage with very comfortable seats, lots of leg room and what seems like an incessant supply of gourmet food and beverages. As an example, there are two dining sittings and as we were the second breakfast sitting today, we were served tea, coffee and hot cinnamon roll...

After 14 hrs in the air we are again reminded just how far Australia is away from ........ just about everywhere. We quickly deplaned and collected our luggage to go through Canadian customs and then walked in a big circle to get back on the same plane, in the same seats for the next 4 hr leg to Toronto. (Kim's luggage was wet, and I mean wet from the condensation inside the baggage compartment). There wasn't too much sleep occurring on either leg really and we'...