Tips for Travelers

At Hong Kong Chek Lap Kok Airport:
* Hong Kong friends will meet you: Mrs Daisy Wan and her sister Mrs Fanny Lee + some Tung Chung friends
* when you get off bus, put your luggage on free special trolley...and keep an eye on your luggage at all times!  Best to "check in" at airport counter straight away before having meal. If you go to toilet, ask someone to watch your luggage
* checking in: need your  passport + Qantas ticket; you are allowed to take only one small bag with you into the aircraft cabin....all other luggage must be checked in; take a light jumper or tracksuit top with you (...can get cool...)
* don't buy anything  - airport shops are among the most expensive in HK
* HK friends will arrange a light meal (rice box)  at Maxim's - don't eat anything else because you might get sick when plane takes off (if you have too much in your stomach!) ..and....you will get another meal on the plane about an hour after take-off
* After the Maxim's meal, have a good walk around the airport outside section in groups....after sitting in bus for 4-5 hours and before sitting in plane for 9 hours. Don't just sit around.
* Always stay in group....don't go anywhere by yourself...
* As soon as you've had the Maxim's meal + walk around, go through immigration and customs: you'll need your departure card + passport.  Immigration area has an x-ray machine for all metal items you are carrying.
* In the departure area (the inside section), again keep walking around in groups (can get small trolley for your small bag...).  Departure card will say what time to be at departure gate....
* all the time at the airport - outside and inside areas: walk, don't run......really good behaviour...don't fool around or be noisy
* go to toilet before getting on plane
* getting on plane: need your departure card......

On the plane:
* cabin crew will help you find your seat (seats are numbered). Put your small bag in overhead locker (...keep your jumper/tracksuit top out...)
* put seatbelt on and keep it on the whole time you are seated, even when asleep. Turbulance = bumps in road....
* Listen and don't talk when safety message is being given...
* plane has several toilets....light tells you if they are occupied....flush = jet air (..don't be surprised by noise).
Not allowed to use toilet during take-off or landing
* take-off: up for a minute or two then level.....
* try to follow English of movies/videos.....sound = no. 1 on headsets. Try to speak English with each other....
* meals on plane....usually a choice...need to tell crew which meal you'd like.....and what you'd like to drink (tea or coffee, black or white, sugar or no sugar)
* meals and drinks are free! (....alcohol?...). Need to put tray down for meal  (...and put it up for landing...)
* exercise your legs and hands while seated.....after meal / before sleep, when you go to toilet, go for a walk around the cabin....take shoes off before sleeping....blanket provided if cool....
* don't be noisy on the plane....don't disturb other passengers....don't block their view of the video screen...don't disturb their sleep....talk very quietly on the plane...
* seat can tilt backwards...need to put it up for landing
* maybe a visit to pilot's cockpit for a minute or two....
* early morning before landing: breakfast....
* on left of plane....beautiful sunrise....
* landing: "bump" as wheels touch ground....  Stay seated until cabin crew give direction to leave the plane.

Sydney airport:
* toilet stop before immigration
* need passport & arrival card for immigration. Keep arrival card, don't throw it away. Teachers will collect all passports and arrival cards....
* baggage collection: have a trolley ready....
* customs: your baggage might be inspected.   A little brown dog might sniff around (looking for drugs).
* Garth/Jade/John will meet you at airport

Traffic in Australia:
* will stop for pedestrians (..say thank you...)
* walk,  never run across a road, look both ways before crossing. Traffic travels on left side (China/USA right side). 
* after getting off a bus, be careful crossing road....maybe a car is coming and you can't see it because of bus...
* getting on/off bus: custom is to say hello and goodbye/thank you to driver
* never feet on seats...

Miscellaneous point for traveling in Australia:
* "ow ya goin Mate?" = "How are you going Mate?" = "How are you?" (..."ok/fine thanks"...);
most people in Australia are very friendly and will say hello (...shops/buses/trains/boats...). When you buy something, always speak to the person serving you....don't just throw money down
* Notes = $100, $50, $20, $10, $5; coins = $2, $1, 50c, 20c, 10c, 5c   (AUD$1 = Y5.2)
* always carry with you the tour contact names/phone nos (Alishan/Sands/John)
* wherever we go, whatever we do: always in groups (for safety...and for English conversation practice with a teacher or local person)
* public toilets - never  by yourself, always with another student or a teacher
* siesta (midday sleep) not common in Australia.  So....we need to have a good night's sleep (lights out 10.30pm, rise about 7:30am, breakfast ....ready to go out each day about 8.30 am)
* breakfast: get our own in Guest House (...noodles/fruit...)
* lunch/dinner: at canteen/restaurant/friend's home
* knife & fork...
* try not to slurp (not a good custom in Australia...)
* wait for everyone to be seated and start together
* wait till everyone is finished before leaving table
* during all meals: try to speak English (with teachers / local people, and with other students)
* put rubbish in rubbish bins.....never drop rubbish on floor/ground (...may have to pay a fine in some places..)
* shopping: no bartering...prices are fixed....but some shops/areas more expensive than others....wait for a few days before buying gifts etc.....first shop is not usually the cheapest....
* pocket money: teachers will mind and keep record.  Don't spend too much too soon...
* phone cards: sometimes cheaper to use at night time and on Saturday/Sunday