Missed By A Day and Another Stuck In Transit

I came across a lady from Brunei who had arrived in Sydney one day too late for the birth of her second grandson. Her daughter, who lives in Sydney, had given birth 3 weeks earlier than expected so it was quite a rush trip this time for her. All were well and happy.

Weddings still seem to be a popular reason for visits to Australia. I spoke to an Irish woman here with her husband and their 4 year old daughter. They stayed with relatives in Gosford and attended her sisters wedding in the Hunter Valley.

On the V Australia flight to LA was a Canadian women who had been in Australia for almost a year with her husband and was going home for a short family visit. They were both working in Sydney and she was happy to advise that they had now received longer term Australian visas.

I also chatted to a young New Zealander who works for Emirates Airlines and had been stuck in transit in Sydney for 2 days. She was on her way back to Dubai (her base) after a family visit in New Zealand and had great difficulty in getting on a flight. Her Sydney stay was one night at the airport and one night in a motel nearby and was happy to finally get a seat on a flight. She was however not so happy to be due back at work on long haul flights within 24 hours of arriving in Dubai.

Other visitors I spoke to last weekend included a Canadian and her mother here to stay with relatives in Blacktown, an Aussie living in Singapore back for a stay at her own house in Neutral Bay and a 70's Kiwi couple in OZ for a family visit.

Till next time.

Peter

Souvenirs Australia Warehouse

More Planning Their Return, Lots of Swiss & A Problem Thai Dental Treatment

It was another interesting bunch of people that I came across this weekend at the airport. These included 3 Swiss travellers - more than I would usually come across. All enjoyed their stay and travels here and one did an intensive English course at Byron Bay. It'd have to be a good combination there - beach, partying and learning English all at the same time!

There were a lot of backpackers who had seen much more of the country than I have. One of them was a young Swiss guy who had strayed off the beaten tourist track a bit and visited quite a few places that I had barely heard of. It was his intention to get away from the tourist hordes. A German girl I met was only here for a short stay this time but had already organised her return trip in April with her boyfriend and had a job lined up.

Another one who loved Sydney so much that he was planning his return was a 30ish English guy. He was here doing 2 weeks training for his company and they offered him a full time position here. It sounded like he was going to to take it - just had to talk it through with his wife and sort out visa and other formalities.

I briefly chatted to a Kiwi on an Emirates flight who was travelling back to Bangkok to get his dental work redone. He had dental treatment there last year (at one third of the cost of in New Zealand) but there had been some complications. He didn't seem too upset about it though and thought that the Thai dental treatment was generally good and he had just been unlucky.

Till next week.

Peter

Souvenirs Australia Warehouse