SYD-MEL-SYD 25th-27th (australia open womens finals pics)

[Alexander.L]

Hello Everyone,

Well as you all know the Australian open has to come to an end. I was over Melbourne on the 25th to the 27th for the womens final and on the way I picked a Nikon D800. Yes I know it’s not an aviation spotter camera but 36mp is like 1.4x tele-converter with you all the time. I stayed at the vibe savoy since it was very close to Southern Cross Station where all Skybus buses terminate.
Departure
January 25th, 2013
Qantas
QF415
VH-OGS Boeing 767-300
Seat 52F
http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb414/alex_lam1/melbourne/DSCF3497.jpg
Arrived at the airport at 7:35am. Just 5 minutes before check in cutoff. There was a trafic jam on the M5. This was the fastest I've gone through check-in and security. I went through in under 3 minutes.
http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb414/alex_lam1/melbourne/DSCF3500.jpg
Boarded the aircraft on-time at 7:40am. I didn't get a window seat :(
http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb414/alex_lam1/melbourne/DSCF3501.jpg
The plane I was flying was VH-OGS, which was fitted with the new Q stream system with ipad and reupholstered seats.
http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb414/alex_lam1/melbourne/DSCF3502.jpg
Catching up on my aviation news during take off.
http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb414/alex_lam1/melbourne/DSCF3503.jpg
The remains of my breakfast. Qantas has seemed to downsize the breakfast since the last time I had breakfast service with them. No more hot stuff :( but overall still good.
http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb414/alex_lam1/melbourne/DSCF3506.jpg
A clean toilet :D
http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb414/alex_lam1/melbourne/DSCF3510.jpg
Cabin shot. Everyone is into the new ipad even though its only a hour flight.
http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb414/alex_lam1/melbourne/DSCF3515.jpg
Q streaming perfectly. Me listening to Carly Rae Jepsen new album.
http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb414/alex_lam1/melbourne/DSCF3519.jpg
Arrived in Melbourne on time. Taking the skybus to southern cross station. I think the Q streaming is a very nice addition to the aging 767 fleet and will bring it up to the standards of the A330s

The first thing i did was drop my bags of at Vibe hotel. I then headed out to JB Hi Fi to get my D800. From now on all the shots are from the D800.
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[Alexander.L]

January 26th Australia Day
I headed out to Little Bourke Street for Yum Cha a Dragon Boat resturant. Right after i went to the Australia Day parade and below are some shots.
http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb414/alex_lam1/melbourne/DSC_0048.jpg
http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb414/alex_lam1/melbourne/DSC_0054.jpg
http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb414/alex_lam1/melbourne/DSC_0058.jpg
http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb414/alex_lam1/melbourne/DSC_0060.jpg
http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb414/alex_lam1/melbourne/DSC_0066.jpg

That was the few shots I took of the Australian Day parade. Below is a shot of the old melbourne tram
http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb414/alex_lam1/melbourne/DSC_0072.jpg

After all of this I did a bit of shopping before having dinner at this Vietnamese restaurant in chinatown. After that I went to Rod Laver Arena for the Women's Final. Li Na unfortunately lost against Azarenka . She unluckly fell down twice. Here are some shots on flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/73202829@N07/sets/72157632631776004/

By the time they finished it was around 11pm so I took the tram to Crown Casino to have a bit of a mid-night snack before heading of to the hotel to sleep.
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[Alexander.L]

27th of January
Departure
Qantas
QF464
VH-EBH A330-200
Seat 57E

I arrived at the airport 2 hours prior to departure. I was doing the self serve when suddenly it said it couldn't print. I went to one of the agents and they checked me in through their system. As a result I lost my window seat :( I was disappointed. I went through security smoothly and has some hungry jacks before the flight because last time I had dinner with qantas they served me a vegetarian ravioli so this time I didn't want to starve. I had some spare time so I just took a few pictures.

http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb414/alex_lam1/melbourne/DSC_0312.jpg
Dash 8 Q400
http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb414/alex_lam1/melbourne/DSC_0317.jpg
767-300 to Perth
http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb414/alex_lam1/melbourne/DSC_0319.jpg
Jet* A320 which was 10 minutes ahead of my flight

I boarded through Gate 23 at 7:10pm. I was one of the first board but didn't take any cabin shots :(
http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb414/alex_lam1/melbourne/DSC_0325.jpg
As we taxied I saw a Tiger A320 but i was in the middle so this is the shot I got
http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb414/alex_lam1/melbourne/DSC_0334.jpg
Take Off
http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb414/alex_lam1/melbourne/DSC_0338.jpg
Right after the seat belt sign turned off I took some picture through he window of the crew rest area.
http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb414/alex_lam1/melbourne/DSC_0342.jpg
This dinner was good. 4 out 5. Ginger Chicken with rice and vegetables. I choose coke of course.Qantas is the luck of the draw. When i prepared for a bad meal they gave me a good meal :mad:
http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb414/alex_lam1/melbourne/DSC_0351.jpg
Sunset was beautiful. There another 2 shots below
http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb414/alex_lam1/melbourne/DSC_0362.jpg
http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb414/alex_lam1/melbourne/DSC_0376.jpg
Beautiful isn't it ;)
http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb414/alex_lam1/melbourne/DSC_0369.jpg
Cabin Shot. After that the crew commenced descent into sydney. We headed turned south over Wollongong then did a full 180 degree turn to the north before landing on 34L. Very smooth landing thanks to the crew.

[Alexander.L]

http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb414/alex_lam1/melbourne/DSC_0378.jpg
Arrived at Gate 11. Special thanks to the cabin crew and a very special thanks to male flight attendant who was extremely welcoming and nice. Didn't get a name but he wore black specs, anyway very nice person, ashamed i didn't get his name so i can give positive feedback. Great Flight as always.

Thanks for reading.

[Alexander.L]

deleted double post

[Tim B]

In don't know about other people, but for a Sydney-Melbourne flight, the meal is not really a concern. I just like the fact that the Qantas wing at the airport seems a lot more civilized (and I say that in the nicest possible way) than the other wings of other airlines.
I think most people would just be happy for their flight to take-off and arrive on time, something which my recent flights on Jetstar have been unable to do.
Good photo's, but where were the photo's of the Womens Final at the tennis? I got all interested again when Serena Williams got bundled out.