Before we left for China last October (from Toronto), I read many comments and suggestions on how to while away the long flight hours. As it turned out, we did not have trouble filling the 12 1/2 hrs. going and the 10 hrs. returning. The Australia flight is several hours longer.

Many suggestions on the China Talk dealt with using valium, sleeping pills, alcohol and to aid sleep. My interest is in finding new ideas for whiling away the time other than the usual reading, crosswords, watching movies and handicrafts.

Games suggestions? Has anyone tried the DVD players? It has to be light and inexpensive.

Hi, Michi!
Get hold of a copy of Clive James's "Unreliable Memoirs", about his childhood in Sydney. You will have arrived before he turns twelve, and you will have gained insight into what it's like to be an Aussie. You'll probably catch the train to Kogarah to check out his neighbourhood!

Alan

Sounds hilarious and would probably offset the doldrums in am in reading "A Traveller's history of Australia."

The book is not readily available and out of print so I can only find it in hard cover. I have problems holding hardcover books but this might be quite small since the price is low -- $14.

A new book about to come out in April titled "Always Unreliable Memoirs" but too late for me. Shall continue to pursue.

Thanks

Hi Alan,

I think I will look for Unreliable Memoirs in Australia. It is out of print here and Amazon has it for $12CD but the shipping rate is about $14!

This is okay since instead of laughing all the way to Australia, I'll laugh all the way back.

Thanks.

Michi, tranquilisers, sleeping pills or more than a few drinks sounds like a bad idea - you'd feel like "death warmed up" after arrival. Valerian-based herbal sleeping tablets might help - they're very mild and have minimal after-effects. Or you could buy a very boring book, or watch the in-flight movie - most of those are pretty mind-numbing.

It's a good idea to drink plenty of water to combat dehydration. However, I read that current security fears may have dire consequences for travellers lining up for the aircraft toilets, as you could be charged with conspiring with your fellow sufferers. Maybe I dreamt that one.

I agree with Allan, Clive James's books are great to while away those hours. I used to suffer jet-lag on flights until I took a long flight with kuwait Airways(no alcohol) and arrived feeling just 'fine', since then I never touch a drop of alcohol and I now arrive feeling fresh! Crossword Books also really make the hours fly by.
It is 'rare' these days to get 12 hours of 'relaxation' so I would look upon it as 12 hours of relative peace and quiet whilst you leave everything in the hands of others, relax, enjoy, and you will be fine.

Michi:

Nothing like a bad movie or two to help sleep on the Vancouver/Sydney leg (most airlines can accomidate you there). I've had to do a bunch of cross Canada flights lately & to avoid seeing the same movie multiple times I picked up a portable DVD player (which is great & I can plug it into the TV in my hotel room), but that option won't help you much (max 4 hours battery, so you'll have to hope you can plug it in at your seat & would not likely work with a TV in Australia as they are PAL rather than NTSC).

But as per everyone elses suggestions, avoid alcohol, drink plenty of water (I always take a 1.5l bottle for each of us in addition to what they provide on the flight with rarely much left) and try to walk around every couple of hours (lots of water will ensure that).

Later,

Z

have you read Bill Bryson's Down Under book!? Gave me a great giggle.

Or something like Australian poems or short stories. Henry Lawson or Banjo Paterson for the old ones, Les Murray for the contemporry

TravelMaster

We just bought a DVD that my daughter and family are trying out on their trip to Cuba. Experience has taught us that we've either seen the movie(s), don't like the movies being presented (and I'll watch almost anything if necessary to pass time), and in some cases the screen is so bad or cannot see it well. Your experience with a DVD player is good news.

Fortunately or unfortunately I am a teetotaller by choice (never liked the stuff so was always the designated driver) and my husband is a teetotaller not by choice but for health reasons.

Margo, thanks for some titles. Will look up availability.

I liked the Bill Bryson book - it's called "Travels in a Sunburned Country" or something along those lines.

I really dread that flight. We're going Toronto > LA > Sydney. On our first trip to Australia (back in 1996), we had problems on the flight and it took us about 48 hours to get there. We arrived exactly 1 day after we were supposed to get there. I always thought I wouldn't go back after that experience!