Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Hong Kong

[henleybeach]

That time has come when you grab the bags down and start deciding what to pack. Double checking everything, triple checking everything because you don’t trust yourself. Well that’s the wife , as long as you have a credit card and a passport you’ll be right I always say.

Our quick trip due to work contrainsts is —

ADL-MEL, Y, Virgin Australia
One night in Melbourne and heading to Rayne for our first wedding anniversary dinner, another AFF recommendation. Now to just decide which bottle of penfolds to take.
MEL-PEK, J, Air China (2hr30 transit)
PEK-ICN, J, Air China (5hr30 transit)
ICN-TAS, J, Asiana Airlines

We have 6 nights in Uzbekistan, Visiting Bukhara, Samarkand and Tashkent. We have one internal flight with Uzbekistan air from Tashkent to Bukhara and then two train trips on our way back to Tashkent.

TAS-ALMATY, Y, Air Astana

We have 2 and a half nights here (mecure hotel) Before leaving at 2330 to Hong Kong.

ALM-ICN, J, Asiana Airlines (1hr transit)
ICN-HKG, J, Asiana Airlines

Our first time to Hong Kong, and looking forward to it, Singapore is my favourite but I have high expectations for Hong Kong . As my luck would have it, the peak tram is closed for upgrades !
3 nights in hotel vic north point.

HKG-MEL , J, Cathay Pacific
MEL- gods country, J, Qantas

Can’t wait for lift-off this Saturday so we can stop getting silly looks about our holiday! If I had a dollar everytime our parents said “are you sure it’s safe?” I’d be a millionaire and retired!

 

[craven morehead]

First on board for a change sounds very interesting.

 

[RooFlyer]

Excellent. Hoping to hear details on navigating arrival formalities in Uz and Kaz, money matters, all the tricky bits .

You'll love HKG. Don't worry about peak tram; try to get over to Aberdeen, especially if its fine, for a walk around.

 

[VPS]

I do like your TR and interested in the stans -have a wonderful trip

 

[Freq Flier 2013]

I’m onboard looking forward to reading your report.

 

[I love to travel]

Count me in too

 

[Major]

A couple of interesting Stans

 

[Dudditz]

You'll have a fantastic time in the stans - look forward to the read!

 

[henleybeach]

The holiday has started !

We flew over yesterday with virgin, the standard 60 min flight with no dramas.
We stayed at the double tree Hilton , its a nice new hotel and only $160 a night.

We were celebrating our first anniversary and after some searching on AFF to find a nice restaurant with corkage I booked ryne. Absolute Devine food, and service was spot on. Another great example of how good this forum is !

We took a 08 bin 707 and it was sublime with the wagyu, I had to slow myself down when drinking it as it was so smooth and flavoursome.
Back to the hotel room for a quiet night in.

Now to kill some time before our flight to Beijing at 8pm with a long lunch somewhere.
Then a pub lounge crawl in the Melbourne airport , amex lounge , Singapore airlines lounge and the air nz lounge.

 

[henleybeach]

Wowsers, we arrived 3 hours before departure at Melbourne airport and the air China line was huge. I’ve honestly never seen so many suitcases and Boxes, every person had about 3 bags each to check in. Every person who checked in, in both lines had to argue so it took around 30 min to check in. It was such a slow painful experience, with people trying to push in.

We got through and we are currently in the air Nz lounge, having a sparkling and looking straight at the big boy, a Qatar a380

 

[Major]

Probably tins of baby formula

 

[henleybeach]

Air China
A330-300 business class
Mel-Pek 8pm departure.

We boarded through the premium line which was well managed and took out seats on board. Champagne (pol roger) was offered and accepted of course with some nuts and Slippers were personally unwrapped and placed by our feet. I’ve gone into this flight with low expectations, but so far so good. The seat is certainly no Qatar or Singapore airlines but has plenty of leg room and are comfy. We were handed menus and FA came around shortly after to take our order. I love the western option .... both are lamb shanks! ( check out the photo)
Dinner was served about 45 minutes after take off. Canapés with champagne first and then a 5 minute break before the entree and main was served on a single try. I opted for the lamb shank and it was quite nice , a couple fatty bits but not too bad. The wife went the Chinese beef with veggies and said it was nice. 3 pieces of garlic bread to accompany the lamb went down a treat.

Another glass of champagne To wet the whistle and out come the fruit platter which is the best fruit platter I’ve had in the sky , along with cheese (with only 2 crackers!)and a chocolate cake. All very nice and no complaints. Service was friendly, quite quick and the language barrier wasn’t too bad, although I did order a vodka soda and I got a vodka, and can of lemonade and a glass of water!

IFE doesn’t have the best range , so I decided to read a book for a couple hours before putting the bed down

We slept for about six hours and I must admit the bed was quite comfy and fine if travelling with your partner due to the 2x2x2 configuration, although Mrs HB and myself have never been so dry throughout the night. I went through 3 bottles of water because my mouth was so dry during the night.

We were woken 2 and half hours before landing for breakfast, I wasn’t all that hungry but the FA convinced me that I should have the hot meal as well as the fruit and cereal . Fruit again was delicious, I’ll give air China that, they do a lovely fresh fruit platter. Cereal was “just right” and a crossiant which was washed down with a coffee. I didn’t touch my bacon and eggs, I was just too full. Overall the food was good, without being great or spectacular. The couple next to us had pre ordered the kosher meal which wasn’t loaded so the whole flight they got stuck into the FAs which i felt sorry for, at least I now know what a kosher meal is !
We landed on time, safely, drink some champagne and we got some sleep, that’s all you can ask for.

 

[henleybeach]

 

[henleybeach]

 

[henleybeach]

Breakfast

 

[LadyC]

Sounds like a great start to the holiday. I must say China Airlines hasn't been high on my list but their product seems reasonable. I look forward to more, especially your Stans tour.

 

[henleybeach]

Sounds like a great start to the holiday. I must say China Airlines hasn't been high on my list but their product seems reasonable. I look forward to more, especially your Stans tour.

They certainly weren’t on my list and ain’t in the same league as Cathay or Singapore but the price isn’t in the Same league. I’d say value for money , there isn’t a comparison for air China if its the same price as SIA, CX , VA , EY , QR etc

 

[henleybeach]

Air China
A330-300 business class
0830am departure

We stopped in the air China lounge for a barista made coffee and dumplings and got to see the most beautiful girl ,a 747-8 before walking to our gate.

We boarded and took our seats and straight a glass of champagne was in our hands and slippers unwrapped and placed by our feet. Blankets and pillows were at our seats, no amenity kit for the 90 min flight. Menus were giving out and it was Asian breakfast or western.
We weren’t really hungry so we went for western but without the hot meal. Just the fruit , crossiant, cereal and champagne of course. All up an uneventful flight to Seoul , landing early and we have booked the transit hotel to have a rest , 5 and half hours in the lounge before the next flight to Tashkent is too long, we needed a proper bed

 

[henleybeach]

Our chariot to Seoul

 

[Major]

Sounds like a great start to the holiday. I must say China Airlines hasn't been high on my list but their product seems reasonable. I look forward to more, especially your Stans tour.

China Airlines and Air China are 2 different airlines