From Kurri Kurri to Dehli - A Journey of Checks, Flights, and Butterflies
The day had finally arrived. Passports? Check. Wallets? Check. Phones? Check. Luggage? Double-check. By 2:00 PM, we were all packed, fingers crossed that everything we needed was safely zipped up in our bags. After days of gloomy weather, the sun decided to make a grand appearance, as if giving us its blessing for our adventure. Our destination? Sydney, with a final goal of reaching Delhi.
Glenn, my ever-cautious travel companion, was a little on edge. His main concern? The cyclone brewing near Brisbane. After a quick check of our flight path, I reassured him that we’d be nowhere near it. Phew. But his worries didn’t stop there. The drive to the airport was another source of stress. Glenn took the wheel while I handled navigation—a system that works best for us. The alternative? Me driving and navigating, which, let’s be honest, is a recipe for chaos because I tend to argue with Google Maps.
We rolled into the airport at 4:30 PM, right on schedule. Since our check-in wasn’t until the ungodly hour of 4:30 AM, we decided to stay at the Rydges Hotel nearby. Dinner was a quiet affair, followed by an early night. Sleep was essential—we had a 3:45 AM wake-up call waiting for us.
The alarm buzzed, and we were up in a flash. A quick shower later, we were across the road at the terminal, ready to drop off our bags. Surprisingly, baggage drop-off took longer than getting through customs, which was a breeze. With time to spare, we grabbed a quick breakfast at the only place open—McDonald’s. Not exactly gourmet, but it did the job.
As we made our way to Gate 55, I couldn’t help but notice how empty it was. A quick glance at the departure screen revealed why: our flight had been moved to Gate 59. Of course, it had. Gate 59 was bustling with passengers, a stark contrast to the ghost town at Gate 55. We settled into our flight, watched a couple of movies, and attempted to catch some sleep. Keyword: attempted. Let’s just say it wasn’t the most restful experience.
The flight to Singapore went smoothly—so smoothly, in fact, that we landed 30 minutes early. With a few hours to kill, we indulged in a cup of tea and explored Changi Airport, a destination in itself. We hopped on the Skytrain from Terminal 2 to Terminal 3, a journey that took all of two minutes. Terminal 3 is home to the famous Butterfly Garden, and for the first time, I had the chance to visit. It’s not much larger than the Butterfly House near Coffs Harbour, but the fact that it’s nestled in the transit lounge of an airport makes it pretty special. We wandered through, marvelling at the vibrant butterflies fluttering around us.
After our butterfly encounter, we tried to head to the gate, but we were too early. Instead, we found a quiet spot to sit and relax before the next leg of our journey.
The flight from Singapore to Delhi was relatively short—just 4.5 hours—but it felt longer, thanks to my seatmate’s complete disregard for personal space. She propped her feet up on the armrests in front of her, then tucked them under herself, eventually encroaching on my seat. I had to politely (but firmly) ask her to move.
We touched down in Delhi around 10:00 PM local time. The hotel was about an hour from the airport, so by the time we checked in and collapsed into bed, it was close to midnight. Exhausted but excited, we drifted off to sleep, ready to dive into the chaos and charm of Delhi the next day.
And so, our adventure began—one checkpoint, one flight, and one butterfly garden at a time.
Accommodation: Rydges Sydney International Airport - Sydney
Hotel Park Inn by Raddison - Delhi
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