Berlin - London - Sydney The Finale The emotional lead up to finally flying home was underwhelming. It didn't quite sink in that this was the flight that would carry my across the world to my homeland, family and friends. I guess I had just been on so many flights over the past year, packed my belongings so many times, that I had become a bit numb to the whole excitement of a new adventure. That sounds really grim, like I don't appreciate what I have been doing or have become incredibly blasé. I suppose when you do something often enough, regardless of how amazing it is, it becomes the norm. You sink into habits and routines, by placing your passport in a certain pocket of your bag or making your favourite jumper accessible when you're on the plane. So I left Berlin. I had breakfast at my cafe and said goodbye. It was really weird. I didn't feel like I was about to undertake a journey that was going to last 28 hours and take me across several continents and time zones. I flew to London and was nearly refused entry into the country. I had a connecting flight, I even flew into the same airport that my connecting flight was going out of. But I completely forgot that I had to go through passport control. I hadn't printed my flight details that stated that I actually was leaving the country nor could I provide any details of an address of my location that I was staying in England. There were two passport officers, one a large and jolly black man who seemed to be joking about with everyone that came through his station. The other, was an older lady with one arm a scowl that would scare Scrooge. Just my luck, of course I managed to get the scary, old lady with one arm. She was so impatient and angry. I swear she wasn't going to let me in. I was trying to explain to her that I didn't have any travel documents but I was leaving on a flight back to Australia in 5 hours. I was desperately trying to connect to the Internet on my iPad, so I could show her some sort of proof. I think that she was getting so impatient at my inability to provide any documents, that she just let me in so I'd get out of her sight. Incredibly relieved, I hurried up and made my way to the international terminal. I was at the terminal several hours early, a few hours before the check in desk even opened. I got some food, a coffee and sat down next to a morbidly obese woman who was trying to sort through several suitcases and cull various items from them. She was screaming on the phone to a poor person that I'm sure was just trying to offer some advice. She was getting so frustrated that she had to sacrifice her own clothes and shoes, for the sake of her children's. Finally the Emirates check in desk opened and I was one of the first in line. I just wanted to check in, dump my bags and go sample all the beautiful perfumes in duty free. The excitement finally hit me and my impatience was starting to grow. I just wanted to be home already. I wanted to get these 2 long flights over and done with already. I wanted to be in my parent's embrace. As I checked in, the attendant seemed to have a bit of a troubled look on her face. She told me that there was a note on my file, to call her manager when I checked in. She called the man, had a quick chat and then hung up. She looked at her computer, looked at me and then said "It appears that you have been upgraded to business class". What what what. WHAT. I was so excited, so thrilled and so ecstatic. I barely managed to control my excitement and composure. Because I was there so early, about 4 hours before the flight, they granted me access to use the Emirates lounge too. So off I went in my grungy, beat up Nike sneakers and ripped jeans, through the VIP security screening and off to the Emirates lounge. I arrived and I was like a kid in a candy store. First of all, I stuck out like a sore thumb. Here I was, the broke backpacker in amongst the business men and rich, swanky families. First things first, I went straight to the bar. I poured myself s very generous glass of Verve champagne, got a cheese and fruit plate and went and sat down. I still couldn't quite believe my luck, I felt like I was in a dream. I skyped my mum and discreetly showed her the entire lounge. It was amazing. I got so drunk. Then the dinner was served and I could hardly control myself. I swear I must of looked like I'd never seen a buffet before. I had everything, all piled on multiple plates. All the while constantly topping up my champagne glass. When my flight was finally called, I sheepishly got up and composed myself. I walked to the gate and by the time I got there, the line was horrendously long. But ha, not if you're in business class. I proudly walked past everyone, with my business class ticket high on display in front of me. God, I must of looked like I was 5 years old and got my first ever class award. Whatever, I was living it up. The seats, well more like personal booths, were amazing. I had my own bar next to me and I could completely outstretch and put my feet under the TV in front of me. The seats had a massage machine built into them and could completely recline back. The screen was a little too far forward to comfortably use the touchscreen, so there is a wireless remote (that looks a bit like a PSP) that I could use to control everything. As soon as I sat down, a flight attendant - there was 1 attendant to every 3 passengers- came and offered me a glass of champagne or juice. I sort of figured I'd keep the good times going and I took the champagne. After we took off, the same attendant came and asked me if I'd like a drink before dinner was served. I looked at the menu and decided an espresso martini seemed like the only appropriate choice: the alcohol would keep me buzzing and the caffeine would keep me awake so I could continue absorbing this whole, crazy experience. It was delivered with a small bowl of mixed nuts. There were a few macadamias in the mix, and I was so excited because I hadn't had macadamias for over a year. I asked if there was any possibility that I could get another bowl of nuts, but this time only with macadamias. My attendant was very polite and obliging and said of course, that he would be right back with them. A few minutes had passed and my bladder had decided that it needed to be emptied and needed to be emptied stat. So I left my booth, walked through to the back area where the lounge and bar area was located and went to the bathroom. As I walked past the bar (there is a full sized bar in the back of the business class area with lounge seats on the side of the plane were you can mingle and relax...) I noticed that the girl behind it had a very large box of mixed nuts and appeared to be searching through it. I went to the toilet, made my way back to my seat and there waiting for me when I got back, was a bowl filled with macadamias. Amazing. The food was incredible. They placed a linen cloth over my tray before they delivered my dinner. My cutlery was proper silverware and the crockery was porcelain. I didn't want to sleep, it seemed like such a waste! But all the champagne, cocktails and a belly full of food got the better of me and I was quickly nodding off. My seat was able to fully recline and I was given an extra mattress to put on top so it essentially became a bed. It was actually heaven. So this is how the other half live. Ergh, the annoying thing was though, that now I had tasted how sweet business is, I knew that economy was going to be very bitter. I arrived in Sydney at 7:30am. We flew over the ocean and city as the sun was rising and I have to admit, I let a few tears of happiness fall. It was so beautiful to see my country again, to know that I'd soon be back with my family. Passport and customs was a breeze, which I was so thankful for. I really didn't have the patience of ability to stand around waiting when I knew that my parents were on the other side of the wall waiting for me. I ran down the path, screaming and waving my arms like an idiot. I saw my mum and dad, but they hadn't seen me. They were looking at the other entrance, that everyone else was walking down from. So I took advantage of the situation and settled down, snuk up behind them and said in the deepest voice that I could muster: "Excuse me, what do you think you're doing here?" Their initial, split second reaction when they turned around was annoyance. They were probably thinking it was someone telling them off and they were going to tell me to piss off. When they realised it was me, my mother screamed and jumped about 4ft in the air and my dad literally just burst out crying. I was instantly embraced in the biggest bear hug by the both of them that I had ever received. I was crying, they were crying and my stuff was everywhere. Throughout my travels, I'd seem various family reunions and I was always slightly envious. I couldn't wait until it was my turn and I got to have a sappy embrace with my loved ones. Finally, my turn had come. And it hit me: I was home. After 12 months on the road, which was originally only supposed to be 3, I had made it back in one piece to Australia and to my family. Holy shit. What a year. ps I don't think I have ever posted so many photos of myself the entire trip, let alone in one photo set. And Im really embarrassed that I have something in my tooth in the second photo. Whoops.
