The night before my train from Grafton to Sydney, I dosed myself up so I could wake early and did so at 4am with plenty of time to get ready before leaving just after 8am. En route to the train station in Grafton, we pulled in to see Shark Beach, a lovely stretch of beach not far out of Iluka. This morning there were lots of 4 wheel drives and fishing boats getting ready to go out for a days fishing.
It only took us an hour to arrive at the station so with plenty of time to spare we drove out looking for a café. Not so easy as we couldn’t find the one marked on Google Maps and it seemed the roads here weren’t so straight forward. We finally found one before returning to the station, I’m glad I did as the one on the train wouldn’t have been up to standard, being instant.
Big hugs and goodbyes, we parted hoping I could be back to visit in a few years. My concerns re weight of luggage were unwarranted, as no one checked. I found someone else sitting in my allotted seat so sat in another. The guard came around and was rather gruff letting me know I was in the wrong seat, saying “This area was for allocated for unaccompanied minors”. Hmmm. I didn’t book the seats. Fortunately it wasn’t a problem as the next carriage up was empty. I’m sure there were others moved from their seats and slowly the carriage I was in began to fill up.
The journey itself wasn’t too bad although I couldn’t get all the things done that I wanted to do as the mobile reception was next to none most of the way! We even had to wait 20mins twice for a north bound train which was 20mins late, to pass us. There seems to be only one track in some places. On another occasion we were told the train had to suddenly stop as there were children on the line!
During our trip I was struggling with whether or not I should talk to the lady in the seats across the aisle from me. She was flipping through her tarot cards. I prayed silently waiting for an opportunity but really not wanting to engage. Then on returning to my seat after stretching my legs she started to talk to me. This lead to a lovely conversation about the Lord and how she had seen a vision of the Lord when she was in hospital on death row. The Lord said she needed to forgive the three people who had assaulted her as a child; when she did, she came out of the coma. She had also met Christians at a church in Port Macquarie who were very nice. I suggested when she returned home she should revisit the church and ask them to disciple her, letting them know she wanted to know more about Jesus. I also gave her a tract to read. Having been very reluctant to engage with her, I was glad the Lord had prompted me to do so.
Towards the end of our journey I checked the train timetable app to see what platform I needed to go to once I arrived at Central. There was a train going straight through to Padstow at 9:02pm and we were told we would arrive at 8:55pm. This arrival time changed several times during the evening, eventually arriving at 9:30pm. We had been scheduled to arrive at 8:15pm! There weren’t any direct trains going to Padstow as there was work on the tracks. With two other ladies wanting to get to the international airport and one guiding my to the right platform, we took off at a jog as the train pulled to a stop. Well I certainly got my jog in during this time! Bidding farewell to my guide, I took the escalator to platform 25. I needn’t have rushed as there was a 10min wait, this train was running late here too. Safely on the train, I disembarked at Wolli Creek and queued with the crowd taking the train replacement bus to stations on the Revesby line. There were quite a few buses straight after another, going that direction but stopping at every station. The first two were packed, plus I wanted to get the one that was going directly to Padstow no stops in between but in the end took an all stops bus as it looked like it was about to rain. Praise God only a few got on who were going further and although we stopped at every stop we passed the previous two buses and arrived in good time. I say good time, for by the time I reached Padstow and Vi-Lay’s home it was nearly 11pm! What a day!
I was glad to see Vi-Lay who also had a challenging day and was up late finishing her work. I did a quick unpack and readied myself for bed, exhausted, it was nearly midnight!
I was woken by the garbage trucks at some ungodly hour of the morning and only dozed off, waking just before Vi-Lay was up for her early start, leaving the house by 6:30am. I had a heap of things to do that day. After breakfast I headed to the train where I had another lovely chat with one of the passengers. I was going to take train, then bus but she advised me to stay on the train, changing at Wolli Creek to take the train to Hurtsville. My first stop was the 888 hairdresser, I wanted a close cut with long on top which I’m hoping will be cooler during the humid wet season. Then I searched high and low for my favourite Chinese mung bean cakes. I asked as several Asian groceries without seeing them; I even showed them a picture of what I was looking for. Then, there they were, I bought two containers and then saw them again in another store and bought another one, as well as some black sesame seed mochi. I was happy now and took my goodies back to Padstow where I ate where Vi-Lay and I had eaten previously at the Malaysian store, before returning to the house.
That afternoon I finished off my blog notes on Iluka with Kat and emailed that plus the next community garden newsletter for Elaine to proof read. Although she had finished them that evening, I planned to post them the following day. That evening I was so drowsy from the lack of sleep the previous night that I was in bed by 7:00pm, unable to keep my eyes open another minute. I was so exhausted that even though I heard Vi-Lay come home, I slept through it all. Then at 10pm just as Vi-Lay had turned in, I was wide awake and knew it would be a couple of hours at least before I could sleep again. Although I’d planned to do my blog in the morning, I took this time to post it and the community garden newsletter. It felt good to get them both out of the way before returning to bed.
I tossed and turned for the remainder of the night finally giving in at 5am and trying to be quiet as I knew Vi-Lay didn’t need to be up early and had also had two late nights. We were both out of our rooms by 6am, she was off to the gym before returning for lunch then out again to see her parents and a haircut before she left for the US on the 30th May, the day after my departure.
I had my bags to pack. First I unpacked my big suitcase then repacked it. On this flight I was only permitted a 7kg carryon and a 25kg suitcase, the smaller personal bag (which usually goes under your seat) was not included. I thought that rather strange but due to this I packed it into my carryon so I could take it out once on board.
I tried to check in online, making several attempts which all failed. Sometimes with smaller airlines it can only be done at the airport. Then I realised I had a Bangkok Air membership. I logged onto their portal but couldn’t see my flight, possibly because I had booked it elsewhere. But through this portal I did eventually get checked in and received my e-ticket via email. I felt much happier. Thanks Lord for helping me through this process. I could now relax, my bags were organised and the big suitcase ready to put in the car for Vi-Lay to drop me off in the morning at the train station.
Noticing that the ticket mentioned Qantas, I decided to call them to check which counter I needed to look for at the airport. I also asked about my luggage allocation for check-in luggage as in one area it stated 20kg and in another area it said 30kg. I was delighted to know the correct weight was 30kg as my bag was nearly 22kg. I was correct about the carryon and no personal hand luggage. I was also pleased that I could claim frequent flyer points for this flight too.
After this I tried setting up a new eSIM which looks like a really good deal and only charges what you use. It’s interchangeable with many countries including those I’m going to. It was a bit of a rigmarole setting it up, especially as my tablet was not connecting to the keyboard and needed rebooting and the connections cleaned. I had started chatting online to the AI chat bot but then due to the computer problems got cut off. I then received an email from them asking how I was going as they could see I hadn’t activated the SIM. Misha said she still wanted to help me. Wow! A real person and being followed up, how helpful. I went back on line and restarted the chat bot with her name and the case number. Misha came on immediately and helped me finish activating and setting it 
up so that I’d be ready to go as I landed in Thailand. I was so impressed with the service and have already recommended my sister Jen try it out too.
I took something to help me sleep through that night but although I had set my alarm to wake me at 4am I had forgotten to turn off the early reminder and was woken half an hour earlier! “Not happy Jan!” Oh well I was awake now so finished putting the last things into my suitcase before locking it. Vi-Lay was up by 5:45am and we were out the door before 6am and I was on the train not long after.
I had assistance getting my ticket before loading my heavy bag into check-in luggage, I had to eat my breakfast and drink the coffee I’d prepared, before going through the check in area. I then headed to the gate where I had plenty of time to wait before my flight. I was really looking forward to visiting Thailand after so many years absence.
Photos: 1. Clerodendrum speciosum – Java Glory Vine 2. Shark Beach 3. My reflection on train to Sydney 4. Track work 5. Mung bean cakes
Prayer & Praise Points:
Praise the Lord for His continuing grace, providing leading, guidance and protection during my travels and stay in Sydney.
Please pray for the lady I met on the train, that she will come to a living relationship with Jesus.
Please continue to pray for my journey and travels through Thailand, that the Lord will continue to lead and guide me so that I can be effective in the work He calls me to do.
Please continue to pray that the Lord will use me to be a blessing to others while I’m in Thailand and that I can continue to practise and learn Thai.
Please continue to pray for my Indonesian visa which is being held up as I’m unable to login to the portal to make payment.
Praise the Lord for Vi-Lay’s generous hospitality on both my stays and for helping me get to the train station on time.
Continue to pray for world peace and countries dealing with major disasters, wars and the unbelievable hardships they cause. Pray for all those caught up in the suffering these events have caused. Pray that God’s peace may be known by all people especially for those who live with despair, that they will find hope in Christ Jesus.
Please keep my sisters, Tricia, Jen and Kat, in your prayers. Pray that they will come to know the love of Jesus.
Have a wonderful time on your holiday,