The Festival of Erk 2013

[erkpod]

In the morning, I went on what would be called an Aqua Duck tour on the Gold Coast. A mixture of road based tour & harbour cruise at the same time. Recommended, especially if your time is limited. If you are in the window seat near the front, you will get wet as the duck enters the water. But it's Darwin, you'll be dry in 5 minutes.





The controls have to be capable of road use & water use.

I had a massage & then after that I had lunch at Shennanigans. I was served by a very tall, very blonde, very fit lady from Sweden.



I had purchased my double decker bus tour ticket earlier but the routes after lunch in the dry season are extended. It's one of those hop on/hop off deals but I hopped on & stayed on for a full lap. It'a a good way for a Darwin newbie to get to know what is around & what is worth seeing. If you only do one lap, go in the afternoon.



A local bar was offerring me a birthday party but being solo & only here for the day, I don't see the point.


I was dozing off on the double deck bus tour - the wind created by the bus as you sit upstairs was nice but lack of good sleep overnight & today plus the heat is getting to me. Seeing a local Big Red Truck from the bus woke me up.

I posted the photo above with a comment on a Facebook firefighter group I belong to with the caption:

Where am I?

Several smart coughd answers followed (they are, after all, firefighters) which led me to accept the following answers:

Darwin, Northern Territory, somewhere where the price of fuel is a joke, a double deck bus tour.

Now I'm awaiting the shuttle to leave for the airport. Despite an hour's power whoring while getting my massage, I need to power cough again. That won't be easy, especially considering no Vlounge at DRW.

 

[serfty]

...
I was dozing off on the double deck bus tour - the wind created by the bus as you sit upstairs was nice but lack of good sleep overnight & today plus the heat is getting to me. ...

You wouldn't have that problem in Melbourne today:

[TABLE="class: tabledata obs_table"]
[TR]
[TH="class: rowleftcolumn"][/TH]
[TH]Date/Time
EST[/TH]
[TH]Temp
°C[/TH]
[TH]App
Temp
°C[/TH]
[TH]Dew
Point
°C[/TH]
[TH]Rel
Hum
%[/TH]
[TH]Delta
T
°C[/TH]
[TH="colspan: 5"]Wind[/TH]
[TH]Press
hPa[/TH]
[TH]Rain since
9 am
mm[/TH]
[TH="class: bgcolor1"]Low
Temp
°C
time[/TH]
[TH="class: bgcolor1"]High
Temp
°C
time[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR="class: rowleftcolumn"]
[TH]Melbourne
[/TH]
[TD]22/04:45pm[/TD]
[TD]13.6[/TD]
[TD]7.6
[/TD]
[TD]5.3[/TD]
[TD]57[/TD]
[TD]3.9[/TD]
[TD]-[/TD]
[TD]26[/TD]
[TD]-[/TD]
[TD]14[/TD]
[TD]-[/TD]
[TD]1005.6[/TD]
[TD]0.0[/TD]
[TD]9.6
02:06am[/TD]
[TD]15.4
01:02pm[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: rowleftcolumn"]
[TH]Darwin[/TH]
[TD]22/04:24pm[/TD]
[TD]29.3[/TD]
[TD]28.7[/TD]
[TD]20.5[/TD]
[TD]59[/TD]
[TD]5.8[/TD]
[TD]NNW[/TD]
[TD]24[/TD]
[TD]28[/TD]
[TD]13[/TD]
[TD]15[/TD]
[TD]1010.2[/TD]
[TD]0.0[/TD]
[TD]22.3
05:38am[/TD]
[TD]31.3
01:05pm[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

 

[erkpod]

You wouldn't have that problem in Melbourne today:

The display on the sign outside the casino said 34°C if that can be believed. Back to reality of Melbourne at 2300!

 

[markis10]

Where am I?

Several smart coughd answers followed (they are, after all, firefighters) which led me to accept the following answers:

Darwin, Northern Territory, somewhere where the price of fuel is a joke, a double deck bus tour.

Now I'm awaiting the shuttle to leave for the airport. Despite an hour's power whoring while getting my massage, I need to power cough again. That won't be easy, especially considering no Vlounge at DRW.

Christie St Fannie Bay obviously!

 

[DGW]

Now I'm awaiting the shuttle to leave for the airport. Despite an hour's power whoring while getting my massage, I need to power cough again. That won't be easy, especially considering no Vlounge at DRW.

Sure there is: http://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/community/showthread.php?p=867541#post867541

 

[erkpod]

Sure there is: http://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/community/showthread.php?p=867541#post867541

The Vlounge has moved temporarily to opposite the International Departures entrance.

 

[DGW]

I hope you're coming back in J? I did that flight a few months back, and in a J window seat with a few G&Ts, watching the sun set it was really quite pleasant.

 

[erkpod]

I hope you're coming back in J? I did that flight a few months back, and in a J window seat with a few G&Ts, watching the sun set it was really quite pleasant.

No J but I am in 3A. I think I might be sleeping on the way back as I was on the red eye up here overnight from MEL.

 

[DGW]

No J but I am in 3A. I think I might be sleeping on the way back as I was on the red eye up here overnight from MEL.

Well at this stage you've got a shadow so that's something at least.

 

[erkpod]

Well at this stage you've got a shadow so that's something at least.

View attachment 18212

That's handy to know. I got the DRW - MEL BP prior to leaving MEL last night.

 

[erkpod]

Oops, I'm in 3D, not 3A. But I still have a shadow. Boarding now.

 

[erkpod]

I've relocated to the DRW Vlounge while boarding commences.





I miss PB!

This should be my last non PB flight.

See you in Melbourne!

 

[erkpod]

DRW was congested & boarding started late. I found the AFF version of the Vlounge. From there, I could see a couple of staff members having problems with a printer after a paper jam. After removing the jam, it was clear to me that they needed to turn it off & back on again.


More tomfoolery with signs. We don't take kindly to people who don't keep doors clear around here.

DRW is useless for plane at gate photography. I noticed above the entry door a plate with the plane rego on it but I got distracted by the hot FA.

I boarded near last & settled into 3D & not the 3A I thought I had. I still had a shadow but the arm rests were fixed.

Taking off a little late with VH-YFP, CSM Damien advised us before take off & again while heading up to cruise that the wireless IFE (WIFE? LOL) was available when the seatbelt sign was off. This time, I got the moving map to work. There's probably a couple of unneeded button pushes to get there.



With the little magnetic Y keeperouterer thingo deployed, I decided to sleep most of the flight. On my next flight, I knew I would be on the other side of the purple wall. My next Y flight will be as VFF gold. 3D with a shadow is not too shabby.





Over the next few hours, I slept lightly, There was a couple of times that the seatbelt sign needed to go on due to turbulance. I know that one of the flight crew trod on my foot.

I used the moving map a couple of times. I only had my iPhone with me & the WIFE was not as important to me as sleep. Many people around me had tablets & some J pax had the Galaxy tablets.


Quiet - the crew are talking.

Loading both ways into Darwin was good & we soon landed in a wet Melbourne close to time.


coughpy plane pic on arrival

 

[JessicaTam]

Welcome home, SG erkpod!

 

[erkpod]

Welcome home, SG erkpod!

Not quite, Jessica! LOL. When I get back to Sydney on Tuesday, I'll be SG (unless you're giving me extra credit for my TR. LOL.)

 

[erkpod]

Some odd pics:


A little better on the NT News wacky headline front but not up to the usual standard.


One for the off topic thread & that puntacular friend that we all have.


No party for me, all my friends are not with me in body but many are with me in spirit. Dare you to read the sign in a Kiwi accent.


One for my inner 13 year old boy. The 2 tours did not fully agree on the origin of the name Fannie Bay.


I'm glad this power pole in South Melbourne is considered safe.

 

[erkpod]

'More odd pics that don't fit elsewhere.



I don't think I want a drink while in the J toilet.


An ambulance running hot in South Melbourne.



How to get a photo next to a train without needing to go onto a train thanks to this graphic at Southern Cross.

 

[erkpod]

Someone who isn't me might be going home in the back of a divvy van. Notice the difference between the modern Melbourne divvy van & the older style one in Darwin.







Big difference in the city to airport shuttles, too. That said, there are other shuttles in Melbourne apart from Skybus.

 

[erkpod]

Interesting to check my VFF balance this morning.



My SYD - MEL J flight from Tuesday has been credited.

Not surprisingly, my MEL - DRW - MEL Y flight from yesterday hasn't been credited yet. Not complaining about that, yet.

But my silver Vlounge guest pass I used before my MEL - DRW flight has been deducted. I know that's probably standard because I used my VFF card to Vlounge compared to using the BP to board the plane. Interesting.

 

[erkpod]

Flights summary:


Date: 20/8/13
Origin: SYD
Destination: MEL
Check in: Easy. At J desk.
Luggage: 1 bag. 1 carry on.
Security check: Easy. Valet entry.
Vlounge: Yes. Not much time there. Busy enough. Upstairs closed.
Flight Number: VA 858
Plane Rego: VH-VOM (The Vomit Comet)
Plane Colour: Red.
Boarding process: Easy due to PB lane.
Seat: 1A
Shadow: Yes.
Seat belt status: Extender needed.
CSM: Megan.
Safety demo: Script.
Galaxy Tab offerred: No.
Live To Air available: Yes.
Wireless IFE available: No.
VFF promoted: No.
Delays: Not really.
What I mainly did on the flight: Read magazines on iPad. Looked out the window.





Date: 22/8/13
Origin: MEL
Destination: DRW
Check in: Kiosk. Counters unmanned.
Luggage: None.
Security check: Easy. No queue.
Vlounge: Yes (used Silver guest pass). Extremely quiet. Mood lighting near windows at night, please?
Flight Number: VA 1457
Plane Rego: VH-YIT
Plane Colour: White
Boarding process: Lots of people in Y. I miss PB.
Seat: 6F
Shadow: Yes
Seat belt status: Extremely tight. Breathe in, Erk!
CSM: Kristie
Safety demo: Pre-recorded
Galaxy Tab offerred: Not for Y pax.
Live To Air available: No
Wireless IFE available: Yes. (Promoted by pre-flight email, before & after take off)
VFF promoted: Yes (when most pax asleep)
Delays:Nil.
What I mainly did on the flight: Sleep.





Date: 22/8/13
Origin: DRW
Destination: MEL
Check in: Via kiosk prior to departing MEL.
Luggage: None.
Security check: Easier than expected.
Vlounge: Apart from the AFF in joke, nil.
Flight Number: VA 1464
Plane Rego: VH-YFP
Plane Colour: White.
Boarding process: Started late. Very slow for Y.
Seat: 3D
Shadow: Yes
Selt belt status: Good fit. Looked new.
CSM: Damien
Safety demo: Script.
Galaxy Tab offerred: Not for Y. Was offered & used for use of J pax.
Live To Air available: No.
Wireless IFE available: Yes (promoted before doors closed & while climbing)
VFF promoted: No.
Delays: Delayed departure. On time arrival.
What I mainly did on the flight: Sleep.





Date: 27/8/13
Origin: MEL
Destination: SYD
Check in:
Luggage: 1 bag, 1 carry on
Security check:
Vlounge:
Flight Number:
Plane Rego:
Plane Colour:
Boarding process:
Seat:
Shadow:
Seat belt status:
CSM:
Safety demo:
Galaxy Tab offerred:
Live To Air available:
Wireless IFE available:
VFF promoted:
Delays:
What I mainly did on the flight: