The Malone Voyage to NZ!

 

Top: Aman, Jack, Bhuta and me at their place

Middle: In the car on the way to Tullamarine Airport

Bottom: Melbourne from the air

This story must be told as it in many ways illustrates the character of our holiday to NZ thus far.

So my friend Aman offered to host us at his place near Tullamarine Airport in Melbourne, and proceeded to offer us dinner and drinks, in return for which I offered him the “American delicacy” of peanut butter on celery sticks! He laughed at first, but every time I put the plate out for him and his friends, they polished it off! I guess that this is not a common treat for Indian Punjabis. As it were, a few days before Aman had gifted Daniel and I with some exquisite clothing from Quiksilver and Puma (one of my favorites!) and so in exchange I provided him with the Masterchef kit. You see, Aman and I work in the kitchen together at The Coffee Club and I always give him a hard time about his work. He is an excellent cook by the way.

I have learned many things about the cultural differences between India and the US during my time spent with Aman, and this night was no exception. However, that is for another post. The important moment came when the flight departure was imminent and we went to drop Jack to the train that would carry him to his work at the KFC housed in the Crown Casino in Melbourne. We then raced to the airport!

Now you may have heard the stereotypes that Indians drive fast and that they are tenacious dealers, often finding ways around the rules. Well I am here to tell you that my friend Aman has in fact lent credence to every single one of these!

Upon arrival to the airport, he and friend Bhuta came in to see us off. I believe that in the US our drivers would most often say goodbye and leave from the dropoff point. Not Aman and Bhuta. They came in, and thank goodness they did. My bag turned out to be 3kg overweight for a carry-on to Auckland, and to check it would cost $160. So, what did Aman and Bhuta start to do? They helped me unpack the bag and pull out all the heavy stuff (including my 3kg Netbook) and then replace the pack on the scale. 10kg. Good to go. But as I reached to decide what of displaced stuff I would leave behind, Aman and Bhuta began to shove it all back in the bag. At first I resisted, then I realized that we had the boarding passes, and all we had to do was make the gate. Even when I tried to hand stuff to them, they would say, “No! No! Take it with you!” and they assured me they would be there if we had any further weight issues.

So we said our parting goodbyes and walked past the threshold to the international gate security check. But, would you know it!? There was a flight personnel representative with a scale! By now I had kept the smaller bag containing my Netbook apart from my pack, and so I left I on the ground and weighed the bag, then the pack separately. The pack read 11kg, and in answer to the attendant’s question, “Do you have a laptop?” I responded yes. However since the laptop was already outside the bag, I simply took out a couple pair of pants and weighed the pack again. Watching, he asked, “Don’t you have a laptop?” – “Yes.” I replied. “Where is it?” – “Right there.” I said. “So it was not in the bag?” – “No,” I replied, “but the pack is under 10kg now.” I could see the wheels turning in his head, “Are you flying with Jetstar.” – “Yes.” He briefly considered, then gave a grunt as if to say “Off you go!” Off we went.

We were on our way to Auckland, New Zealand and all the new adventures soon to be described!