Fiji the long way with our last QFi JASA.

[drron]

Going west from the old station you pass the old railway yards.locked up and falling apart.But guarded by that symbol of FNQ-the mango tree.

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then some buildings not quite so old-

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[drron]

I found I could read Greek-

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The scenes walking back along Sturt street were not as visually appealing as on Flinders street but there were a few older buildings and a precarious rock-

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The new Townsville-

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[drron]

The last of the buildings from my first day's walk around the CBD.

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Now that last building has been put to good use-

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Though I am partial to a bit of Thai-

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[RB]

Looking forward to reading another saga. Disappointed not to see a photo of the Wicklow hotel in Armidale-it was the home pub for my Uni college (Robb). Unfortunately the Wicklow later went through a stage of being called the "pink pub" & the associated change to the building exterior. Google seems to indicate many bouts of receivership since the great days of the late 70's

 

[drron]

Walking back to the Oaks I was taken by the sunset colours.The sun was behind me-

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[love_the_life]

Great photos - the light was excellent and the water still by the look of it.

 

[drron]

Mrsdrron today received this picture taken when the Silver Explorer was waiting for the ice breaker in it's voyage through the North west passage-

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Just checking to see if lunch was buffet style today?

 

[drron]

So a bit more of Townsville.There is an enclosed garden and kids playground within the new hospital.But something is going on-

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And here is the culprit-

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Good how some of our native wildlife have adapted to our presence.


So near the Showground the National Trust has preserved some old buildings.Walking there is a typically Australian church-

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Unfortunatley the gates were locked at the National trust reserve due to lack of volunteers-

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The next night I walked the other way down flinders street towards the strand and old port.A lot of renovated buildings,not all sensitively done.-

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And an example of the before and after-

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[drron]

And today it was good to see this photo of the Explorer getting out of the ice.

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And the various sites to see where a ship is now report her as off the Russian coast.

 

[drron]

The eastern end of flinders street is predominantly entertainment district with nightclubs,bars and restaurants.Again some renovations are well done,others not so.

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And once again some different street art-

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This building really impressed me-

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And it appears to be were the friendliest ladies in Townsville hang out-

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[drron]

Some magnificent old pubs-

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But this one takes the prize-

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The old Queens hotel.I found a short silent film clip of it in the 20s-
Round About Townsville (1926) clip 1 on ASO - Australia's audio and visual heritage online

And now a couple of pubs in South Townsville-

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[parsonstrish]

Thank you for pics of Townsville, almost embarrassed not to recognise some of the buildings. Maybe it's working away for past six years although my home is still there.

Looking forward to your all's tr.

 

[samh004]

Ahem ... That would be me.

Same, just not actively.

 

[drron]

Isn't it always the way.We tend to just take for granted what we have.I was born and raised in Sydney but appreciate a lot more of it since leaving-though that was back in 1975.So now I do enjoy getting out and walking where ever I am even when working there.There is so much to see of Australia still.A very short history of urban construction but there can be much to see in our cities.
So now a little more of Townsville-

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Across from the old Queens hotel is Anzac Park.The Moreton Bay figs can be seen in the 1920s film clip as young trees.now magnificent specimens.Townsville is close to one of the significant events of our past-the Battle of the Coral Sea which thwarted Japanese plans of invasion-

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Next the First World War memorial and Heroes Corner with some aussie VC winners remembered-

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And the park entrance-

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[drron]

Lokking out from the park it is now a busy marina-

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Back when we stayed at the Casino it had a big red S on it and I was a lifetime member of my first loyalty program-LTG in SCI-Sheraton Club International.Unfortunately it died when Sheraton became part of SPG.So I then switched to Hhonors before returning home and now LTG with SPG.
Some of the developments on the water aren't too bad.Others......Why do we have to build toasters near water?

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But overlooking the park is the old Customs building-

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[drron]

And the last assorted buildings in Townsville.First the old Government offices-

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And residential buildings QLD style-

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Another well preserved building-

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An old lighthouse relocated to the South Townsville precinct-

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Many Union buidings in Townsville but the Teachers have the best-

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And finally another of the restaurant buildings in South Townsville-

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So that is all until the trip proper starts on Tuesday.72 hours from now should just be finishing lunch at the SYD Flounge.This trip will not be done in real time as when cruising near Japan their Government has a silly regulation preventing the hip from allowing us internet access.So I will fall behind and know I just wont be able to catch up before cruise's end.
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[drron]

Time to get the TR proper underway.The wifi here at the Westin Sendai was woefully slow but today thet brought up a router for the room so now it is at least reasonable.
Tuesday and we as usual awake early even though our pickup wasn't until 0730.As usual we start with our limo transfer.Passing the Bribie Island turnoff the driver gets a call from the car in front- a breakdown at Pine Rivers and traffic not moving so we divert via Deception Bay and Redcliffe.About 30 years since we have been to Redcliffe and basically didn't recognise a thing.Not the quickest journey but still in the lounge by 0845.Recognise an older fellow as a politician but still haven't come up with a name-must be from the wrong party!
Before that the usual delay for me now through security and then got picked for the explosives check.At checkin we had got the bags right-travelling light with only 2 checked bags and 1 carryon!Bags are 23.4 and 24 KG.

BNE-SYD. QF517. ETD-1025. Push back-1040. Take off-1107.
ETA-1155. Landed-1229. At gate-1234. Seats-2A,C.

Behind mrsdrron was a young girl.A chronic seat kicker.But after the snack the mother became upset.I looked around and the girls face was covered with red blotches.The FA arrived as I turned around and the mother said="that was rhubarb under the yoghurt wasn't it?".The FA goes away and comes back saying it was strawberry.The mother then says she is allergic to strawberries and capsicum.Can you do something?The FA brought an iced towel.So the old allergy story-ask before and not after eating something you are not sure of.And if your child has allergies travel with some treatment.This time it was only Hives but surely you should have some antihistamine to lessen the child's discomfort.

Now this 738 was obviously not one of the newest.Showing a bit of wear and tear-

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A snack service.Mrsdrron declined knowing we were heading to the Flounge.I tried what was described as a potato and egg Tortilla-

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Only needed 1 bite of the cold slice to tell me this was no tortilla.Thank goodness we were destined to have a nice lunch.

 

[drron]

We arrived into gate 4 14 minutes late.Just before our descent the CSM announced that those connecting to QF7 to DFW were fine but those connecting to QF11 to LAX had to see the agent at the International transfer gate.Turned out there were 15 for QF7-counted them as they got to board the bus first.But there were a few more for QF 11.Being in J we were at the transfer gate before most of the QF11 pax.We sat down and a woman came up to the desk asking what was happening with QF11 and was told you have missed it but you would be put on another LAX flight tomorrow.Did that cause a stir.We left on the transfer bus at that stage.
Got a surprise at the International security.The body scanners are working.The agent was a little surprised that I asked to go through it-beats setting the red light off so much quicker for me now.That meant we were in the Flounge by 1315.As we arrived there they made the final call for QF15.They obviously only just made it but did their bags!
So straight to lunch.I started with the sashimi tuna whilst mrsdrron had the crispy duck.Bth very good-

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I then had the Bibim Guksu which I enjoyed.Spicy so not every one's taste.I washed my meal down with Coldstream Hills pinot noir whilst mrsdrron had the Wither Hills SB.

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For dessert mrsdrron had the Belgian chocolate creme with churros which she loved-

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I had a much more traditional dessert-

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Whilst lunching John Singleton arrived.Sat at a table and was on the phone constantly.As we were finishing his current consort arrived with several shopping bags.The 2 young women sitting next to us got up,went over and loudly greeted her.They were all off to LHR.We were able to see them leave-

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[drron]

After lunch I went to the TRS to get the GST back on my new camera.It was just enough to buy a litre of Amarula-one African product mrsdrron loves.After the BA and QF LHR flights left it was very quiet.I read the papers and caught up on emails and AFF.Before you knew it the lovely full moon had risen and it was time for dinner.Mrsdrron had the sqid sans chilli and her old favourite the pavlova in a glass-definitely a smaller glass than previously.I had the coughin lamb shoulder with pomegranate and carrot.Also had a taste of lemon,incredibly tender and tasty.I am sure JohnK would loveit.Definitely Greek style.I then had the banana tart.I find it hard to resist a well presented tart-

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I washed this down with the Reschkle vitulis Cab Sav 2009.A good choice with the lamb.
I have to say IMHO the Flounge is the best OW lounge I have been in.To me better than the Concorde room or CX's lounges.

Walked to the gate about 5 minutes before scheduled boarding and only had to wait 3-4 minutes before boarding.

QF21 SYD-NRT. ETD-2130. Pushback-2129. Takeoff-2145.
ETA-0625. Landed-0605. At gate-0616. Seats 2A,B.
I had a champers pre take off.The crew seemed disorganised.There was some 30 minutes from boarding to push back yet pax had to ask for PJs so as to change.Women'sniyies were handed out just before push back and men's during the taxi.Drink service was haphazard.When I sat down the FA said I will be right back to take your jacket.It was done just after handing out the women's amenities.
Didn't make a great difference to us in flight as after take off we both put the duvet on our seat and very soon were out to it.Awoke at 0245 as mrsdrron climbed over me for a call of nature.I decided I might as well pay a visit too.Came back and was soon off to sleep again.Was woken by the FA for breakfast.At least not the old café brekkie.Mrsdrron had French toast with poached pear and I had scambled egg on a baguette with smoked salmon and roasred tomato-

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The baguette tasted funny and the egg was nearly cold.Tomato and salmon were nice.As usual the tea was served with everything else so by the time you wanted it it was also virtually cold.Also served with no saucer.
We then started to fill in our Japanese entry documents but none of our lights worked.They tried to reboot our seats but ended up with all overhead seat lights having to be all on or all off.This was our first experience of a refurbed 747.I do prefer that front section of J but you do notice the reduction in the number of lavatories.After breakfast there was a queue.It was a little bumpy.When my turn came it was a man there before me.The seat was up and lots of fluid on the floor.
Are the lavs also a bit smaller?Certainly seemed so to me.
Next-Japan.

 

[drron]

We had picked up time due to favourable winds so were the 3rd plane to land after the finish of the NRT curfew at 0600.One was a FedEx plane so no extra crowds at Immigration.A CX plane landed just before us on the parallel runway.Even though we were at the far end of the main terminal and the closest Immigration channel was closed we beat the CX pax to Immigration.
So by 0630 we are at the baggage carousel and what looks like one of our cases with a WP tag,priority,heavy and international transfer tags comes round.I take it off the carousel and hand it to it's owner.Dont think she was amused.We have to wait another 3 minutes for ours.Before changing our JR pass coupons we sit and have a drink and deliberately choose a later NEX to Tokyo so we have a slightly longer transit to the Shinkansen in Tokyo.
So a few shots from the NEX.First the temple in Narita town,then the farmlands near Narita before arriving in Tokyo-

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.https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-E54xx_qhzrU/VA_OlIlKkkI/AAAAAAABXZE/sk7KW6gVQ-E/s400/DSC07484.JPG.

We had 20 minutes at Tokyo for our transfer to the Hayabusa 11 shinkansen service to Sendai.As usual there were a mass of people but got to our platform with plenty of time to spare and able to buy snacks and drinks for our trip.Although it is 352KM it only takes 91 minutes.That next.