Since we are on movie themes, this one seems appropriate for today! The Eagle (us) has landed (in Sydney anyway)!

While there is no plot to steal Winston Churchill, like there is in the movie (Movie synopsis here) we have certainly been on a big adventure, and at times it was like something out of a movie!

Given the unpredictable nature of the world’s current situation, we thought we had best get to the airport in Bangkok as soon as possible, rather than wait until the last minute. The same transfer car driver that took us to Hua Hin on Monday, picked us up at the same location that he dropped us, the Avis Shop in Hua Hin, then safely drove us the three hours to Bangkok airport.

Things are very, very quiet in Thailand (and most other places in the world no doubt). The decline in the tourism and travel industry in particular is going to have a massive impact on the Thai economy, but also, importantly, the well-being of the many Thai people. While many of my Australian countrymen/women are complaining that the government is not doing enough to support small business and their employees, I cannot even imagine how the many Thai people, already struggling to make ends meet are going to manage in this crisis with reduced or no work, and no easy financial support mechanism to draw on. My thoughts are with these beautiful, always smiling, people. We may have had to leave a few days early, but we will be back as soon as we can to support the amazing tourism industry in this beautiful country.

I expected the airport in Bangkok to be bustling given that many countries had either closed or threatened to close their borders. There was a few people around, and a couple of long airline counter queues, but everyone was calmly going about their check-ins and making arrangements when their flights were cancelled, or sitting or lying quietly around the terminal if their travel had been delayed. We arrived too early for check-in so we found a quiet place to sit, and when check-in did open it was a quick and simple process. The Qantas rep offered to move us from centre seats to the bulkhead on the side, which I was very pleased about.

There is no Qantas Lounge in Bangkok, but were told we could choose to access three other lounges: Cathay Pacific, the Miracle Lounge and the Emirates Lounge. The first two were open 24 hours a day, but the Emirates Lounge didn’t open till 4pm (we departed @6), so we chose the Cathay Pacific Lounge and settled in for some quiet time and a late lunch before departure. I choose a red chicken curry with a BBQ pork bun which you can choose from a menu to be cooked to order. Dave found some crisps and a cold drink and we sat and enjoyed lunch while watching a few planes arrive and depart. Many flights were cancelled, so there wasn’t a lot to see, given this is usually one of the worlds busiest airports.

We were curious what the other lounges offered (and to be honest a little bored) so we decided to move to the Miracle Lounge. Dave was aware they had a make-your-own pikelet machine, which was a big attraction for him 😉 I helped myself to some fresh fruit and a serve-yourself vodka and soda. It wasn’t long before we again became bored, so off to the now open Emirates Lounge we headed!  This was definitely the pick of the three, with comfy lounges, a lovely view and a huge buffet to choose from! I was getting pretty full but did manage to enjoy a selection of cheese from their cheese board. I’m a cheese lover (as you know Kara, Stacey, Sharon and others from work!) and had gone nearly 10 days without it, so I couldn’t knock the opportunity back!

Maybe I could write a blog on international airport lounges 😉

The plane boarded on time. The vast majority of people were wearing masks, as we had seen right across our time in Thailand. But the coronavirus situation has brought on a whole new level of protection choices. Can you believe the guy sitting behind me was wearing a raincoat, a face mask, a shower cap, plastic safety googles and even had his hands inside a plastic shopping bag! There was more plastic raincoats on this flight then you normally see on a wet day in Pitt Street!

Half a sleeping tablet and another vodka soda (on top of a 2am wake-up this morning to call Qantas) was all I needed to go off to sleep quite quickly and made the nine-hour journey to Australia go by quite quickly. When they  woke us for breakfast I couldn’t believe we only had an hour till landing.

Sunset in Bangkok at take-off, sunset in Sydney before landing:

After clearing Immigration and Customs we took our bags to the Qantas domestic check-in, which allows you to leave your bags and be transferred from the international to the domestic terminal in Sydney. Which is kinda handy considering we are now in a 14-day self-isolation period and therefore not allowed outside the airport in Sydney. Unfortunately, just before we left Bangkok, we were notified that out 11.50am flight to Wagga had been cancelled, but they had rebooked us on the 3pm flight.

Which brings me up to date, as I sit here now in the domestic terminal, waiting patiently for our flight to Wagga.

When we got notification of the delay, my initial though was concern that we were going to be bored at the domestic terminal for 7 or 8 hours, but then I remembered that after today we will be in complete isolation at home, so I decided it wasn’t such a bad thing after all!

Once we are home (taxi rides are allowed if transferring directly to home) we will be stuck there for 14 days. I’ll work from home, which I do from time-to-time anyway so no problems there. I have an amazing team who are based all over the state, and they normally only see me via Skype anyway.

I’m not really sure how I will cope with the self-isolation. I’m normally pretty mobile, travel a lot to Sydney for work, spend my weekends watching sport (live), shop most days and am a big hugger of friends. I couldn’t tell you the last time I had a 24 hour period at home without going out, let alone 14 full days. Work will keep me pretty busy, and I’ve already thought about cleaning out a few cupboards and doing some other things around the house, but 14 full days, with only Dave, the dog and the cat to hang out with…

Part of me is worried about it, and weirdly, part of me is sort of excited. Maybe it will challenge me in a good way?

Maybe I’ll have time to be still for a few minutes, and think more clearly?

Maybe I’ll read some of the books I’ve loaded, yet still remain unread on the Kindle?

Maybe I’ll have time to do more cooking (pending ingredient availability)?

Maybe I’ll get to spend more time with Darryl, my very much beloved dog?

Maybe I’ll continue to blog about the two week isolation and what I’m cooking? (thoughts please)

Maybe I’ll start planning our next overseas holiday.

Where shall we go?