Review: Qantas Airways

Date: 12 March 2010

Sector: Perth (PER) - Melbourne (MEL)

Qantas is the national airline of Australia. I was able to try on their Domestic sector for my flight. It was different and an experience gainer for me. I love it.

Check-In

It was supposed to be easy to check in at the airport. You could easily check yourself in using their kiosk. It is easy and at breeze. I was however supposed to be flying on the day before. So there were a bit of a problem for me to check in. However, the check in lady was extremely nice and helpful. She helped me and guided me to the right source so I would be able to continue my journey on that day flight. As a first-timer, I was impressed with their excellent service.

Departure Hall

It is small but yet ample of seat available as it was an open area. So you could virtually seat anywhere you like until you are called for your flight. There are a few shop and cafe. Since it is a Qantas terminal, they have a service desk located at the center of the hall. So if you have any problem you could just go and ask for help from them.

Aircraft

I flew on the Boeing 767-300ER. The aircraft is very well maintained and very clean as it should be. I was seated at the bulkhead seat. So there was plenty of leg rest for me. The seat was spacious enough for a Economy Class. I can say everything is just right.

Cabin Crew

They are very friendly and helpful. They also very soft spoken. I enjoyed their service and actually felt happy flying with Qantas. They never miss smiling back at you when you smile at them. The most important thing is they are all very professional and did a very good job at their work. I think they love doing their job and that what count.

In-flight Entertainment

Since it was a Domestic flight. They only show some TV show and a movie at the main screen. I was seated at the front and had the best view of it. You could also can opt to listen to music if you do not want to watch the movie. So it is not boring for a three and half hours of flight.

Meal

They are very generous at their meal. I was amazed that they actually served lunch for the flight. It was after all a Domestic flight. You could ask for extra and they will definitely give you if they have more. I just can't take anymore as one is enough for me. The main dish was Greek style Chicken with Pearl Barley and Vegetable, Cheese and Crackers, Bread and Juice/Soft Drink/Wine. Sweet snack was served an hour before landing which was ice-cream. Nice.

Overall Rating

Check-in 5/5

Departure Hall 4/5

Aircraft 4/5

Cabin Crew 5/5

In-flight Entertainment 4/5

Meal 4/5

Perth Completes My Australia Trip

Travelled date: 9th March 2010 - 11th March 2010

Hey people. I know you might wonder where in the world did I go since I did not update my blog for a week already. Do not worry. I am still alive and actually just got back from my breakaway.

Yeah. I was having a mental breakdown and I needed to go somewhere to release my pressure. I just packed my bag and go to the airport the next day and flew off to my favorite country - Australia.

I would also say, this trip actually completes my all Australia cities I supposed to visit and the last city on the list was Perth.

I managed to message a blogger I know who stay at Perth and he agree to let me stay at his place for awhile. It was my first time meeting him as well. Making new friend was great and even greater when this new friend of mine was extremely nice. Word can't describe how nice he was as it is very rare for you to find such a nice people around these day. I can go on and talk about the goodness of him all day but lets not do that today.

I arrived at Perth around 715pm. So basically, there was nothing much I could do in the first day. I just hang around at the house chatting with my friend and his housemate. We had a nice home made pumpkin pie. My first time eating it and I already had seconds.

The next day, my friend had some event at his Guild. They were painting room. So I was doing nothing and just tagged along. Basically, we just paint the room with white paint and spray it with colours paint. It was fun. In the between time, I found a kite and played with it for while. It was a sunny day but not until some one got on hold to it and played with it until it flew high up in the sky. It was amazing.

The paint job was done until late in the evening. So me and my friend head back to home for awhile to freshen up and he dropped me off to the nearest train station. I found that the public transport system here in Perth were not easy and a bit expensive. I think you still need to use cab if you need to get to a place fast but it cost you extremely a lot. I was meeting a friend at the city. He landed in the morning. He was working, so he did not stay long at Perth. He is flying back the next morning. So I just hang with him for dinner and invited him later for something exciting.

We both went to the Guild. It is actually at the Murdoch University, which is where my friend studied and the Guild was having a movie night just for the group to hang around. We just tag along for awhile and see if my friend was free to bring us to the place he told me the day before (It's a secret). P.S. We did went to that place and I was amazed.

I was supposed to fly to Melbourne today on the third day but I really want to buy that leather bag my friend had. He told me it was cheap and he brought me to Habourtown later around 11am and we saw it. I was really at shock. It was really cheap. I mean. $10 for a leather bag. Everything was cheap. I wanted to shop a lot but my budget was tight. Damn it. I should had bought that 2 pairs of shoes which cost me only $30. Damn it. [$1 = RM3.16]

Later in the evening, we went to Fremantle. It is a harbour I presume and you could get good seafood there. There are a lot of shop around the pier. Oh ya. The shop in Perth close around 5pm. So shop early. However, some restaurant open until late especially on week nights.

I went to the airport quite early and the whole day spent on the airport and flight to Melbourne itself. There is a three hours time different and that how I lost so much time. It was a relaxing trip for me to Perth. Meeting new people, seeing new places and trying out new things. I really personally want to thank you my new friend at Perth for his hospitality.

We Are The World : Before And Now

Before


Now

Six Year Is A Long Year For Visit

Yes. That is how long since I last visited my other side of the relative at Kelantan. I remembered that the last time I was back is when my grandfather passed away. So total up it is already six years long. Honest to say, I almost forgot how my aunties, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews look like. I had to call my parents to remind me back.

I arrived late at night and since there was no public transportation to Kuala Krai at late hours, I asked my fellow friend to stayed at his room in the hotel. He is there for a night (the flight that I flew in). Even if I can find people to 'tumpang', I still need to stay a night at the hotel and at least I was saved by him. (So need to pay for room).

Late in the afternoon only I checked out and head myself to the main bus station. The taxi fare is only RM2. I myself can't believe it. It is that cheap. So to travel in the city area, it is better to just take the taxi. Cheap and convenient as you can easily get it anywhere.

The bus cost me RM7.50 and the journey is an hour 45 minutes. It is a very long journey. So that is way I took the intercity bus instead of taxi. The taxi will cost you RM15/person but it need four people to go or you have to pay for the price of four. In my case, I just take the bus since I am not in rush.

Everything is the same I thing. Nothing much changed as the last time I remembered I was there. The only thing is my cousins, nieces and nephews are all grown up and almost as tall as I am. It took me two days to remember back all their names (I am such a bad uncle).

It was nice to live in the rural area. Seriously no air conditioner, no internet (nearest is at the town) and even the water also sometimes not available. I am a city boy but I don't really mind living in that environment. My auntie and uncle had been very great to me. They tried to accommodate with what ever they have. I was not used with the idea of sitting around and let people do things for me. So I would normally said to them that I will do it myself.

I usually stroll along the road to the paddy field in the evening and sometimes I just stopped at the river to see if there are fishes in them. It was relaxing. My cousin would bring me for prawn fishing. I had no idea how it was done but it does look fun. So at night we were out to get some bait which is a small prawn. We got ourself a live bait which we catch at the lake.

I tried playing the Wau. I almost hurt my finger since they use a nylon string as the rope. They had to or otherwise it might just snap. It goes way up high in the sky at almost 200m for my calculation (which it turn almost look like a dot from the view below). Truly 'Kampung' style.

Flying back to home with the morning flight. I don't want to take any risk with the evening flight since it is Sunday and surely there would be a lot of overbooking. Phew. Done.

Memory Lane Balik Pulau

I was back to my parent hometowns last week. Unfortunately, only now I have the time to post it on the blog.

Well, there is nothing much I can say about my trip actually. I just wanted to go away for a week and the only place I could go is to visit my hometown. Both my grandparents past away long time ago already and only my aunties and uncles left at Balik Pulau.

Do you know I was from the boarding school in Balik Pulau? So one of the day I went back to the school for a visit. It has been quite a while since my last visit to the school. Most of the teachers have either transferred to other school or no longer working. I miss my school so much. So many memories there I guess.

I stayed at the school for almost the whole day. Basically, walking around the place, meeting teachers and looking at my old classroom. They have an event going on that day and I was invited to attend as well. Since I have nothing to do so I just accepted it.

Most of the time in Balik Pulau I would just hang around with my cousins. So basically like I said, doing nothing. I was enjoying it.

Flew to Kota Bharu on the third day. I took the night flight from Penang and had a 40 minutes transit at KLIA. The flight was delayed actually and luckily there were no further delay or I might lose the connection to Kota Bharu.

Next post: Kota Bharu/Kuala Krai trip.