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continued....

     Oh, I had a little drama getting on the plane.  Seems my travel visa didn't get processed.
    Remember where I was moaning about NOT getting hassled by SECURITY....?  Well, I spoke too soon....   When I approached the gate with boarding pass and passport in hand, they scanned my boarding pass and it went red, not green.  They asked me to wait just inside the gate.  Dad sailed through behind me just fine.  I told him to go ahead and board the plane and I'd be along when they got my boarding straightened out.  Dad wasn't buying it.  He waited with me, in case they didn't let me on the plane.
     The 'guy' referred to in the next paragraph was a short stocky SOB (probably someone I shouldn't piss off) with NO sense of humor.  I didn't see a gun on him, but he probably didn't need one to kill me.  He struck me (in hindsight) as one of those characters out of a spy novel.  You know, non-descript, could kill 20 heavily armed, bad-ass agents, with a safety pin and not break a sweat, or wrinkle his jacket, or get any on his shoes.  I wasn't smart enough to be more 'respectful' at the time.  It just didn't occur to me.  It kind of sunk in later what kind of character he probably was and why he was at that gate. 
     Anyway, he knew I wasn't anybody threatening or dangerous.  Just some tourist.
    Dad's visa was approved, but it seems mine wasn't.  The guy came to talk to me and he was a bit rude.  He asked me, kind of sarcastically, if I KNEW I had to have a visa to get into Australia.  (Duh)
I said I knew and had applied for mine and my father's online.  I had the confirmation numbers written down on a BRIGHT PINK sticky-note in my passport.  (He didn't care or want to see the numbers.)  He said he had to put my visa through at the counter (like I spilled his coffee and ate his doughnut) and handed me my passport.  Frankly, he pissed me off.  I did my part, he didn't need to be rude.  Anyway, he let me on the plane.  Big deal, big shot.

     I didn't realize ho big a 747 really is until I stepped on board.  I looked down our aisle and the seats just looked endless!  Almost.  Our seats are in row 70 of 75.

     We settled in.  They served diner right after take-off.  Then came by with a sleep packet.  This contained socks, a sleep mask, and a toothbrush & toothpaste.  All in a little nylon bag with a lanyard to put it around your neck.  Dad and I slept fitfully.  Everything aches.

Date and Time unknown....still in the plane.

    Crossed the International Date Line during breakfast.  One small cup of coffee.  NOT enough.  More later at the airport, I hope.

Checked my travel watch (attached to my backpack).  It is 9:10 at home.  Whether it is AM or PM there, or even what day it is, is unknown.  I have NO idea of the date where I am right now.
    The whole flight took on a nightmare quality.  It was disorienting and confusing as my body and mind struggled with time differences and fatigue.  I honestly gave up trying to figure it out and looked forward to getting my feet on solid ground.  Whatever date and time the locals said it was would be ok with me.  I just wanted OUT of the plane and the seat from Hell!
    Just checked the flight map on the screen.  Still @ 36,000ft, but the temp is -74F (outside)!  54 minutes of this torture left before we land in Auckland.  Daylight is catching us.  -76F now outside.  I guess it makes sense.  We are close to the Antarctic.

     Ok, only 102 miles to Auckland.  Temp outside is a brisk -77F.  25 more minutes until we can get out of this seat!  Oh, my aching butt.

(Auckland, NZ)  Finally!  Off the plane.  Local time:  5:02AM (Thursday?)

     We walked directly off the plane with all our stuff and polluted the first available toilet.  Welcome to New Zealand!
    They make you get off the plane even though you are getting right back on later.  They clean up, refuel, restock and give you time to shop before making you go back through security and get on the plane again. 

     It turns out, it was Thursday.  We missed Wednesday all together.
    The sun is just beginning to come up.  The skys are full of pink and purple and orange.  There is water and mountains visible in the brightening land.  BEAUTIFUL!  As our governor, Arnold says, "I'll be back!"  (ok! ok!  I know I was griping about the torturous flight, and I'm not totally over it, but this place would be worth a return trip in the 747 torture seat.)

Local time:  6:00am.         Auckland, New Zealand (airport)

     Waiting for the last part of our journey to Brisbane.  Lots of people speaking English with a peculiar accent.  I'm beginning to feel like Dorothy.  We're not in Kansas (or California) anymore.

Some differences in terms  (Local to my familiar):
     TOILET = RESTROOM
     ENGAGED = OCCUPIED
I'm sure there will be more English lessons later.
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