The Journey Began
At Changi Airport:
Thanked to Changi airport ground staff at Royal Brunei check-in counter, I nearly died of heart failure early in the morning when she told us that we need visa because we are stopping at Brisbane, Australia. Frantically, I tried to explain to her that I had double, triple checked with our travel agent, Zuji, that the stop-over at Brisbane do not require any visa though we are holding Malaysian passport, because, it wasn't even a transit because we would not be allowed to leave the transit lounge and that we would be boarding back to the same craft. But she insisted that still required us to have visa. WTF!? As if we would sell buns and dumplings illegally at the transit lounge!
Frustrated and panicked, I asked her where we could have that done and she refered us to the visa counter and informed us of the charges (forgot the exact amount, around S$50 - S$60 per person if remembered correctly), as well as solid proof to show the immigration when we arrive at Auckland.
'How about our return tickets as well as domestic flight ticket from Christchurch back to Auckland?'
'That too, also your hotel booking and sufficient fund for your holiday.'
But we are backpacking!!
'How much money do we need to show them?'
'NZ$400 each'
Thank God I'd changed NZ$1000 for both of us.
While we were at the visa counter, we explained the situation to the staff. Being more awaken and obviously better-informed and trained at her job, she told us we do not need a visa and helped checked with the check-in staff. In the end, the check-in staff (mind you, not just one seemingly new and semi-conscious girl, but also another more 'senior' staff) had made a mistake.
'Sorry we printed the wrong ticket and thought you are going to Brisbane.'
Hello? But I thought I had explained clearly that we were going to Auckland and will stopped at Brisbane briefly because of refueling. And hadn't she also informed us about the solid proof and money to show the immigration at Auckland?? Whatever, I was reliefed that it's just mistake and I didn't die of heart attack afterall.
From Singapore to Brunei:
We boarded onto Royal Brunei Airbus A319 at 6:55am and there were only 15 passangers including us on board. We arrived at Brunei Internaional Airport at 9am and had to wait for 4 hours for the transit! What more, there were less than 6 shops inside the lounge, including a Coffe Bean, a mamak-style restaurant, Coffe Garden, a convenient store, a Cyber cafe, a duty free, and a local art/craft shop. 4 hours!!! We were bored to death and started fearing for the 16-hr return stop-over a month later. Apparently, the average transit time in Brunei must be awfully long as there was a private tour operating company providing various city day tours for transit passangers. Also, day rooms were available in the airport lounge, charging at an hourly rate.
From Brunei to Brisbane:
After going through a super tight security check (with the new liquid/aerosols/gel restriction), we were finally on board again.
Out of sheer boredom (and some creativitive and imagination), I'd created Mr. Furbie, my in-flight companion. Ladies and Gentlemen, meet Mr Furbie,
He claimed that he was a distant relative of the Simpsons and I think I believed him.
I had also made a to-do list during the boring 9-hr flight from Brunei to Brisbane:
1. Sky-diving
2. To scare the shit out of a sheep to see if it really will go rigid and faint
3. Hitch-hiking
4. Wine tasting at vineyards
5. Horse riding
6. Sheep shearing
7. Milking a cow
8. Plucking kiwis/apples from trees
Thanked to Changi airport ground staff at Royal Brunei check-in counter, I nearly died of heart failure early in the morning when she told us that we need visa because we are stopping at Brisbane, Australia. Frantically, I tried to explain to her that I had double, triple checked with our travel agent, Zuji, that the stop-over at Brisbane do not require any visa though we are holding Malaysian passport, because, it wasn't even a transit because we would not be allowed to leave the transit lounge and that we would be boarding back to the same craft. But she insisted that still required us to have visa. WTF!? As if we would sell buns and dumplings illegally at the transit lounge!
Frustrated and panicked, I asked her where we could have that done and she refered us to the visa counter and informed us of the charges (forgot the exact amount, around S$50 - S$60 per person if remembered correctly), as well as solid proof to show the immigration when we arrive at Auckland.
'How about our return tickets as well as domestic flight ticket from Christchurch back to Auckland?'
'That too, also your hotel booking and sufficient fund for your holiday.'
But we are backpacking!!
'How much money do we need to show them?'
'NZ$400 each'
Thank God I'd changed NZ$1000 for both of us.
While we were at the visa counter, we explained the situation to the staff. Being more awaken and obviously better-informed and trained at her job, she told us we do not need a visa and helped checked with the check-in staff. In the end, the check-in staff (mind you, not just one seemingly new and semi-conscious girl, but also another more 'senior' staff) had made a mistake.
'Sorry we printed the wrong ticket and thought you are going to Brisbane.'
Hello? But I thought I had explained clearly that we were going to Auckland and will stopped at Brisbane briefly because of refueling. And hadn't she also informed us about the solid proof and money to show the immigration at Auckland?? Whatever, I was reliefed that it's just mistake and I didn't die of heart attack afterall.
From Singapore to Brunei:
We boarded onto Royal Brunei Airbus A319 at 6:55am and there were only 15 passangers including us on board. We arrived at Brunei Internaional Airport at 9am and had to wait for 4 hours for the transit! What more, there were less than 6 shops inside the lounge, including a Coffe Bean, a mamak-style restaurant, Coffe Garden, a convenient store, a Cyber cafe, a duty free, and a local art/craft shop. 4 hours!!! We were bored to death and started fearing for the 16-hr return stop-over a month later. Apparently, the average transit time in Brunei must be awfully long as there was a private tour operating company providing various city day tours for transit passangers. Also, day rooms were available in the airport lounge, charging at an hourly rate. 
From Brunei to Brisbane:
After going through a super tight security check (with the new liquid/aerosols/gel restriction), we were finally on board again.
Out of sheer boredom (and some creativitive and imagination), I'd created Mr. Furbie, my in-flight companion. Ladies and Gentlemen, meet Mr Furbie,
He claimed that he was a distant relative of the Simpsons and I think I believed him.
I had also made a to-do list during the boring 9-hr flight from Brunei to Brisbane:
1. Sky-diving
2. To scare the shit out of a sheep to see if it really will go rigid and faint
3. Hitch-hiking
4. Wine tasting at vineyards
5. Horse riding
6. Sheep shearing
7. Milking a cow
8. Plucking kiwis/apples from trees
you're so funny!!
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