Again we owe a huge thank you to the Peets for lending us the use of their VW van and especially to Brian (Grandpa) for driving us and our five suitcases from Dubbo to Sydney.
Before boarding the plane, I managed to squeeze in two last minute treats. The memory will have to last me a long time!
Once again we flew Malaysia Airlines, and the children were absolutely fantastic on the flight to Kuala Lumpur. We intended staying at the airport Transit Hotel for the night, but were disappointed to find it fully booked up when we arrived. Likewise, the other two hotels near the KL airport had no vacancies, so we decided just to "rough it out" for the the night in the airport. How bad could it be? we asked ourselves.
Here's Jemilla trying out a few positions, searching for the most comfy way to sleep in a chair.
We ended up finding some flat benches on which we could stretch out. At least we were horizontal, if not entirely comfortable.
Poor Tirzah started vomiting during that long night in the airport, and her upset tummy continued through the flight to Hong Kong the next day. She went through at least three sick bags on the plane, and as if that wasn't unpleasant enough, added diarrhoea to the mix. I think even the pilot turned around and asked a flight attendant to find out what on earth was that "seriously foul stench coming from row 16". We funkified the entire aircraft, and left a permanent stain on one of the seats. (So sorry, cleaners!)
So here we are in Hong Kong airport with our luggage, ready to board the bus back to Tai Po. Jemilla and Keegan are looking cheerful about wearing their summer clothes again and getting stuck into their doll house and Toy Story Lego respectively. I look slightly sleep deprived, and the invisible speech balloon above my head reads, "I want to be back in Australia." Tirzah is in a daze and obviously getting ready to vomit again. And Craig? He's happy we're nearly "home".
