I always start a journey with a sense of anticipation, that excitement of not knowing what's going to happen next - being away from day to day routine. And so it was on Tuesday evening, the holiday count down had finished, bag is packed, travelling sandals on and finally we are standing in the H line at Sydney airport waiting to board our Sichuan airlines flight. Quite noticeably we are the only Australians amongst the line up. We get to the check out and a ...

Southern China Airlines sounds daunting to a first time user, but a cheerful welcome saying that the pilots and hostess will cherish us for the flight set me at ease quickly. Ive never been cherished before. Turns out - on reflection - that the cherishing may not have been the best translation for the service received. More quick, efficient and minimalist would be terms that had a little more truth attached. IN the next row over sat four sterotypical Chine...