Au Revoir Sydney!
Until we meet again, my love, I carry you in my heart. Au will always be home, an anchor, safety. Of all the adventures and comings and goings, none felt so personal as this visit. Cementing that the heart lies here, and why am I not where the heart is?
Despite the noise and crowds, the air just felt familiar. Moreno in CBR, where 8 days were not enough.
Writing from seat 11 L on an A 350, of China Eastern enroute to Shanghai. My first time on mainland China. 🇨🇳 Decided on “Follow the Plane ✈️ option on the Flight tracker option in my TV screen. Have about just shy of three hours there, before boarding to CGD. Then on to BHX from CGD, arriving Monday morning in the UK.
Left the hotel early enough, Pakistani taxi driver who’s been here since 2012. From Lahore. Airport was not too busy though checkin took time. Had to miss going to the Sky Team lounge as TRS lines too long, and decided not worth the wait. Was sucky, as Sydney lounge would have been awesome. The amazing quality of produce. Had mangoes and lychees and oranges, 🍊 fingerling banana and apple, delicious golden and geeen kiwis purchased at Fyshwick Markets. And in Sydney from Paddys Market. Shopped at Coles and Woolies in CBR, and at the IGA in Haymarket- full of Asian groceries. The IGA at Redfern was a class apart. However it’s not surprising since the whole area is so gentrified.
Abel was right. I’ve moved on from Meadowbank. The high rises told me Meadowbank has moved on. So got some closure there. It’s become congested and just not the same. The trees have grown larger and the canopies are taking up more airspace. Which is not a bad thing.
Our attendant is He Jing, and she just laid the table for me, and told me, “we have WiFi to connect to the Internet.” She brought out a card with instructions on how to access it and handed it to me. So perhaps I’ll post this inflight, instead of leaving it in my notes.
Was such a hectic trip and when meeting up with folks, did not seem like the years have gone by at all. Seemed like yesterday. We were able to catch up from where we left off.
William, the Yugoslav landlord of our Airbnb in Canberra was a great bloke. Very spacious two bedder, two bathrooms and large living areas, in Braddon, very handy to Civic.
They just came offering wines, juices and drinks and I asked for ginger ale. She said Ginger Ale and showed me an orange can with all Chinese wring. Poured it in a glass and left me with the rest of it in the can. Honestly, doesn’t taste like ginger ale to me. Should have just asked for sparkling water. A gave me the window seat and took mine across the aisle. Clear blue skies outside- the happy blue of Australian skies. K thinks it’s the thinning ozone layer in the atmospheric conditions.
The first meal just served and done, as we’re flying over Rockhampton. The salad was interesting with a balsamic vinaigrette and one half a cherry tomato with greens and asparagus tips. The balsamic must have dripped on my shirt as it left a spot!
Too much food, but then I hadn’t eaten breakfast or anything since morning, except two cups of tea! The stain on the left side of my shirt is annoying and tacky. Tried to scrub it with a wet towel, but not successful enough. Should carry a Tide pen- how could I not remember that?! Should have asked for a bib, but not sure they have them. Restaurants in Amsterdam do.
It’s almost 2:00 pm, so about two hours after take off. I think I’ll nap. It’s a 10 hour flight and they’re offering two meals. I hope the other is breakfast and not sure if it’s the light meal, but I think they both offer what I want. Congee with Chinese pickles! They used to serve it in the Singapore Conrad, and it was very nice. Fresh natto too. Wonder if the Chinese pickles will be something similar?
The window shades are electronic. So I’m quite impressed with China Eastern. Going to stretch out and maybe take a nap. Not changing just yet. If I write, the trip will go faster and happier. Or perhaps edit and finalize the scripts languishing in Pages. Anyway, A is going to spoil me if he keeps on doing this! 2:19 pm Sydney time.
Okay, I’m impressed. Wasn’t expecting much, but the service is very attentive. Restrooms clean and they’re folding the toilet paper after almost each visit. Opening doors and the toiletries are pretty good too. An adjustable magnifying mirror built into the wall mirror, which slides in and out depending on which part of the face the focus is required upon. 2:42pm on the phone so presuming Sydney time. Becoming teary eyed at the thought of leaving my country behind. Even the Uber driver, Shahroze, said, “Australia bahut accha hai, sirf door bahut hai.” So true, far from everywhere else in the old establishment world, a hidden gem of bountiful resources to be shared by so few. Was population 21 million when we left, small than the population of LAX and now I think it’s over 25 million perhaps?
Should get a shut eye, last night woke up every. Single. Hour. Feared the alarm may not go off. So puffy eyes from lack of sleep. Want to tell her to wake me up for congee. The hand lotion is non greasy and pleasantly fragrant. Not too overpowering.
4:16 pm Sydney time. Had a power nap and woke up some minutes ago. Very thirsty and should have been drinking more water. Was exploring the Cities of the world they must fly to, as seen in the Flight Tracking App on the inflight entertainment screen.
Going to explore movies and settled on Gems of China category. 5:40 hours more to go. Going to watch The Dumpling Queen.
6:41 pm. Finished watching The Dumpling Queen. It was based on a true story, and I was reminded of Mummy’s life. Not easy with a loser husband. Losers pile lies upon lies to save face while the women carry on carrying on and keep the fires burning.
3:20 hours more to go. We’re flying past Iligan City. Sounds like a Philippine name, not sure. The other end of the island was Davao City. To the West I presume, as it’s to the left of the map, is Cotabato City. To the far left is Zamboanga. We’re between the Sulu Sea and the Celebes Sea. Never knew these places existed. What a vastly magical world. Such unusual names. Our souls can choose to be born anywhere. I think it might be Indonesia 🇮🇩 as such a scattered place, clusters of islands spread out in the ocean.
Right at the far top left edge of the sphere, which is our beautiful world, I see New Delhi. Mummy’s Karam Bhoomi. At the top right of center is Tokyo. Below is Port Moresby with the tip of Australia visible. Hong Kong, Beijing and the Russian cities up top. Wonder where Mummy chose to born again, very far from me I’m sure. I wasn’t a good daughter and let her down. Let them all down. BA, and JM and all those who looked up and at me for support. Loved, cherished and nurtured me. Hope and trust wherever she is now, she is happy, loved, appreciated and cherished.
Did not connect to the internet, may do so. They want the seat number and last four digits of our travel document, so will have to retrieve it from the overhead bin. Or else will post from PVG upon landing.
On the way in had barely enough time in Seoul as inclement weather across Europe had delayed our flight, among many others delayed and several cancelled altogether.
3:11 hours to go. Ate Chinese snacks and feel like hot tea. The map spun around and zoomed back to Australia 🇦🇺 highlighting Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. Possibly cities this carrier flies to. We’re going over the Sulu Sea. Must go home and see where that is! How little we’ve seen of this part of the world. Far Southeast Asia. Kota Kinabalu beneath us, though I see only the blue of the waters. A small island or large island in the middle of the sea?
Iloilo City and Bacolod showing up as the map zooms in and out! Now all the major cities in China. 🇨🇳
Cotabato City. Taibei! Possibly Taipei, just as I thought of Taiwan. Remember visiting Kaoshung and Keelung ports so many years ago. Walking on the streets in a bright pink saree and cars slowing down to gawk at me and smile. Same bright pink saree in line at Disneyland in Long Beach and a Caucasian child touching my saree and asking me, “Are you a fairy?”
In Long Beach being approached by a very young lad and he asked, “Can you spare me a nickel?” So that’s how people beg in America I had then thought.
Connected to the internet and at 38002 feet high. Maybe this will be a new first! Posting from the skies flying over approach approach to Lipa, and Lucena to the right. Flight path goes directly over Manila! Flight MU562 with 2:39 hours to arrive Shanghai from Sydney.
Veenu Banga
November 16, 2025
7:29 pm Sydney time
Couldn’t open the blog website so unable to post. Sent a message to Dr Jean as I had been thinking about her.
1:36 hours to go. They had the second meal service. Took orange juice and water. Wish they had pineapple juice.
The Timeshifter App is asking me to take two hour nap. Did not follow through with much of it on this trip. A had told Kevin about it as well, and I believe he was following it. Thanks to Abel for telling us about it.
Had an awesome last night in Sydney at Abel’s! Dinner and conversation.
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