I arrive at Cairns airport early (courtesy of Jacquie – thanks Jacquie) thinking that I will breeze through departures. Not so. I join the long cue. I was expecting a spacious flight being a return flight to China. It seems for ever, lined up with a multitude of stuffed Australian animals eye-balling me from within open shopping bags – well…simulations of stuffed Australian animals. The irony is acute and makes me laugh. Stuffed Australian animals made in China, shipped out to Australia, bought by Chinese tourist, taken back to China!! The static wide-eyed expressions beaming out from their fluffy little acrylic faces suggest the irony hasn’t escaped them either! World economics can be a bizarre thing. Koalas are the most popular.
Non-Chinese passengers on this flight are rare and I count about 10. The plane is full and China East Airways are finding success in their experiment to fly direct to Cairns from Shanghai – so much so they have extended their trial to September 2013. And by the look of the fat shopping bags in the hands of returning visitors, Cairns is liking it too.
Eight hours of flying had to be endured before Shanghai loomed out of the smog. I calculated six hours but failed to take the time difference into account. Very smooth flight despite the noisey boisterous passengers around me. The Chinese seem to have much smaller personal space requirements to what I’m used to. I guess it’s out of necessity considering their population. Perhaps they are very efficient users of space.
I’m only here in Shanghai to catch a connecting flight to Saigon.
angusmccoll 