Farewell, Land of Oz

I have left Australia now, and I am on my way back 'up north' in an effort to reach Hong Kong in time for Chinese New Years celebrations.

I've already said it, but I will say it again: I quite like Australia. I am not sure if I would want to live here, but if I did, it would be quite comfortable. There is the obvious advantages, like everyone speaks English (even if it doesn't sound like English), there are Starbucks everywhere, I can get pork at every meal, the climate is nice most of the year, and I can get clothes in my size easily. But maybe because it is too comfortable, I would not be happy. After all, I am trying to find a new place that provides me with significant challenges. Not one that is so easy to adapt to.

So, some final observations from my keen eye and weird way of looking at things ....

- The girls dress quite hoochie in Australia. I'm talking seriously short skirts and boobs up and out. I am no prude, as you know, but I was shocked by a lot of what I've seen.
- The boys don't dress that way, sadly.
- Australians look a lot like Americans and British, body shape wise. Most straight men look slovenly and don't take care of themselves.
- Melbourne has the 'second city' attitude. It doesn't try to be bigger or better than the First City. It just tries to make it a truly livable city with lots to enjoy in arts, sports and culture. For more examples of this, think of Montreal vs. Toronto, Osaka vs. Tokyo, Shanghai vs. Beijing.
- There are just as many Thai restaurants in Australia, as there are in Thailand.
- No matter where you go in the world, including Australia, you will see a Peruvian pan flute band busking for cash in the tourist areas.

On my way out of Melbourne, I was unfortunate enough to encounter the most surly of check-in counter staff at the airport. I don't know why I was chosen to to be the lucky one to suffer her wrath, but she made me think twice about ever returning to Australia. I swear I did nothing to incite her vitriol. I just happened to be at the wrong place in line.

It started with her asking me to prove I had a ticket onwards from my next destination. I explained that I have an e-ticket, but she told me that I must have a paper ticket in order to board this portion of the flight. She sent me away, to print out my next flight ticket, even though it was with the same airline. I am sure she could simply look it up with the reference number, but she wouldn't. When I returned with a paper copy, she told me that my carry-on luggage needs to be weighed. She said that the limit for cabin luggage is 7 kg, and since mine was 11 kg, I would have to get a second bag, and split it into 2, with neither weighing over 7 kg. Since it was all my camera gear, it was pretty difficult. Off I went again, and purchased a small cheap carry bag to stuff what I could into it. Her reasoning was that if I have a heavy bag in the overhead bins, I would drop it on some baby's head when I pulled it out. Promising her that I would be careful, was not sufficient.

I returned to her counter again, this time with 2 carry on bags. She weighs my luggage. I know it is overweight, since it always is. Malaysia Airlines has a really strict limit of only 20 kg per person. My luggage, with all my clothes, and computer stuff, etc, weighs in at 30 kg. She tells me that the excess charge is $24 per kg. I was shocked! $240 for excess luggage! I told her that I've never paid so much before. She replies "Yer in Australia now. You should know better." Off I go again, to pay this ransom to the sales desk. Last time I flew on Malaysia Airlines, I paid $15 ringit per kilo. That's roughly $6 UAD. She didn't care.

When I was finally checked in, I was booked into a seat that was 4th in a row of 5 in the middle, despite booking an aisle seat online. Clearly, she was not doing me any favours. Thankfully, the plane was only about 70% full, and I switched to another row by myself. That woman was a discredit to Malaysian Airlines, and is enough reason to not fly with them again. Or visit Australia again.

I was surprised to see my luggage pop out on the conveyor belt in Kuala Lumpur.

*Update*
Malaysia Airlines redeemed themselves when I flew from KL to Bangkok yesterday. When I checked in for the flight, the girl at the desk told me that I should carry one of my bags on to the flight, rather than check it. I was surprised, and she told me that I was allowed 2 carry on bags, if one of them is a camera bag. Even when I showed her my camera bag, she said it was OK. It is not considered luggage to them. She said that this way, I would avoid the excess luggage fees. What a sweetheart.