After our family return to trip to Sweden was cancelled due to Covid-19, we gave up on the idea of a return to Sweden at least for a while. We all got our vaccinations, two each for everyone and a booster for Kristine and I, but international travel was too unpredictable with cancellations and border rules continually changing.
Then a work trip came up that needed me to head to Malmo for two weeks. Unfortunately it was a business trip so would just be me this time and there was some risks around Covid I would need to consider.
Overall I was pretty excited to get a chance to return, but there were mixed feelings as well. Disappointment that I couldn't take the family along for this one and some trepidation about the Covid situation and the risk of not being able to travel or return. But it was an important trip for work and a great opportunity for me personally and professionally, so after talking it over with Kristine and the kids, I accepted and started making plans.
The original discussions were in late November, with a plan for me to fly in early December. This was going to be a big rush, but was needed to ensure that I could return and complete the mandatory quarantine before Christmas. In the end it was all too quick and was delayed until the 15th
The first problem we ran into was trying to find a flight. At the time we were looking at booking it, there weren't that many flights travelling out of Australia due to Covid restrictions (border closures meant only essential travel was allowed) and there was a big risk that flying through the Eastern states (Vic or NSW) would result in a two week hotel quarantine that I was keen to avoid. Eventually we found a flight from Adelaide direct to Doha then to Copenhagen and the same on the way back. I ended up having to delay the return flight by a few days as the limited flights meant that the return flight would either be 40+ hours or over $11,000 (66k Sek).
Everything was planned and booked in and I went off on Christmas leave to spend some time with the family. When I returned to work it was straight back into organizing. I managed to get the paperwork all sorted out and then 3 days before I was due to fly, the Adelaide to Doha flight was cancelled and the recommended replacement flight was a week later. Since I was only going for a two weeks, this didn't work out. Fortunately the company was able to find a replacement flight Adelaide-Melbourne-Doha. It added about 5 hours travel time but it got me to Sweden at the same time the previous flight would have.
The next issue was the ever changing Covid testing demands. Fortunately there were no isolation/quarantine laws in Sweden if you received a negative Covid result - as a two week quarantine would really mess up the 2 week trip... The only problem was that to enter Sweden you needed to have negative Covid PCR test that was no more than 48hrs old at the time of arrival in Sweden. Since the total travel time was about 30hrs this didn't leave much time. Adelaide had a single travel PCR test site and that wasnt open on Saturdays. Since I was flying out at 5pm on Saturday I was not going to be able have a test within 48hrs of landing. I also needed a negative test result less than72hours before departing. The turn-around time for tests in Adelaide was about 48hrs so it would all be a little risky. In the end we booked the test for Thursday afternoon and decided I would need a test in either Melbourne or Copenhagen to meet Sweden's entry requirements. This was a little risky as I didn't have a massive amount of time in Melbourne (4 hours) and a positive test in Melbourne or Copenhagen would result in a return to Adelaide or a hotel quarantine for 2 weeks. I stayed at home for the week before the Adelaide test, avoiding people, shops, rugby etc to make sure I returned a negative test, but I was still worried. A positive would be a significant delay to the trip.
I got my negative result within 12hours and was ready to fly.
I was packed on Friday night and spent Saturday morning playing minecraft with the kids, then the family dropped me at the airport at 3pm. From arriving at the airport to arriving in Sweden I would need to wear a facemask full time except with eating or drinking.
Adelaide airport was almost a ghost town:
To check in, I needed to provide my negative Covid test and proof of vaccination on top of all the normal paperwork. It took a while to check-in, but there weren't any queues so I passed through security quickly (after the mandatory explosive residue test).
While my later flights were going to be Business class (my first time ever), the flight from Adelaide to Melbourne was standard economy. Not a problem as the flight is only an hour, but I always have fun with legroom:
The flight was only about a third full and I had the row to myself.
When I arrived in Melbourne and entered the terminal, there was a Covid testing station just outside. There were no queues, so I made an online booking on my phone, paid the $75 and walked in. The test result could take up to 2-3 hours, and my flight was due to leave in 4.5, so I crossed my fingers and headed to check-in for my flight to Doha. I still had my test from Adelaide that was only about 60hrs old at this point.
Unfortunately the check-in needed a test that would be 48hrs at max when I arrived in Sweden, so I needed to wait.
I received an SMS about an hour after taking the test that I had a negative result and I waited in a short line to receive my printed results. I could then check-in and head into the terminal. I had about 2.5hrs to burn, so I headed up to the Qatar airways business lounge and enjoyed a yoghurt and cheesecake:
The food was good, but it was also nice to get the mask off for a few minutes. I chose a quiet corner away from other people (and hence Covid risks) and read my book until the flight to Doha was boarding.
Had I flown from Adelaide straight to Doha I would have had about 12hrs travel time. The additional trip to Melbourne added about 7 hours - 1 hr flying time Adelaide-Melb, 4 hrs in the airport and an additional 2 hours flying time. At 16.5 hours travel time it is one of the longest flights available. But I was going to get to do it in comfort.
This flight would be my first ever business class flight, and the kids demanded I take pictures to show them. I was going to be flying in a Qatar airlines Qsuite (
Qsuite | Qatar Airways) which is a group of four pods with dividing privacy walls and the ability for the seat to convert to a bed.
I'd never really managed to sleep much on planes, so was quite excited to try the bed and was looking forward to the extra legroom.
Legroom and the ottoman that forms the base of the bed:
The Entertainment screen:
Starting the trip with an orange juice while we waited for everyone to board:
Ahhhh, leg room:
The pod next to me was empty so I took this shot to show the layout:
My pod:
I sent the kids a copy of the menu and Tomas asked if I was in a restaurant:
Coke, nuts and a movie:
Entre -artisan breads and Grilled Tiger Prawn, Scallop and Tuna with Heirloom Tomato:
Main Course - Baked Queensland Crayfish with Creamy Cheese Sauce:
Dessert - Chocolate and Raspberry Tart with Crème Anglaise:
I watched a movie and ate dinner and then was ready for a sleep. The flight attendant fitted the seat with a mattress and it folded down flat to create a bed. It was long enough for me to sleep on, but I did find my shoulders and knees did hit the edges a little, but I'm a big guy so this wasn't unexpected. I normally don't sleep on planes, and despite feeling like I woke often, my fitbit told a different story:
I awoke to find there were only 3 hours left until I landed. After a breakfast of a mixed berry smoothie, fruit platter and steel cut oats with manuka honey, I watched another movie and then we landed in Doha. I think I may be spoilt flying Business class. The 16hrs seemed effortless and I landed feeling good. I can only image how it would have gone in economy.
Cameron asked that I document the movies I watched (please don't judge me for my taste in movies!): Before bed I watched The Joker and Bill and Ted - Face the Music. After I woke up, I watched Deadpool 2.
I was one of the first off of the plane at Hamid International Airport. We had our temperature taken on arrive and then were free to head to the lounge. I only had two hours and it seemed like a fair portion of the airport was closed (for renovations or due to Covid I wasn't sure). In the end I had a quick walk around and then sat by my gate chatting to Kris and the kids on a messenger call.
Apparently there is a massive teddy bear at the airport but I wasn't able to find it.
The train runs between terminals - but I didnt need it:
HIAQatar (Hamad International Airport)
Then there was this guy. A massive wooden statue of the sad love child of mickey mouse and Pinocchio. When I got to Sweden I looked it up and it is a statue called "Small Lie" by an American artist called KAWS.
It is 32 feet high and is said to represent a wooden toy for a child. To "makes the viewer feel small but also want to protect it and console it." (
HIA and Qatar Museums Unveil 32-ft Sculpture SMALL LIE by KAWS - Marhaba Qatar)
It was 6am in Qatar and 22 degrees and raining. Business class boarded last and we got a special business class bus to the airplane:
And of course it was still masks on. I had changed mine at the end of the previous flight and was now on my 2nd one:
The Doha to Copenhagen flight is 6hrs 45 and I was again in business class, this time with a normal seat instead of the Qsuite.
My seat:
I was just inside the main door. This is taken from my seat and shows the main door:
Still plenty of legroom:
Because of the strange flight time, I had the option of lunch or breakfast. I'd had breakfast before landing in Doha, so I chose a lunch of a Duo of Nova Scotia Lobster, followed by Herb Stuffed Salmon. You might be noticing a trend for seafood on all my meals. There were a few reasons - first I don't often get to eat seafood normally, second it was generally lighter and easier to eat while flying for long times and finally, Tomas had decided my last family meal before flying out was going to be fish. He cooked it and unfortunately it wasn't a very tasty fish (very chalky) and he was a bit upset, so I decided to respect his choices by picking the fish options.
I watched two movies, keeping with my superhero theme - Shazam and Wonder Woman 1984 and then read my book for the last hour until we landed.
As we came out of the gate, there was another Covid testing site offering free testing. I was pretty confident my Melbourne test would be fine, but I was in no rush and wanted to be sure so I took a test. Since I couldn't receive SMS messages (no international calling on my phone) I had to wait 30min for a printed result. My third nose probe in as many days came back negative and I was off.
The terminal was pretty empty and I got through pretty fast.
I purchased a train ticket to Malmo and the train was pulling up as I arrived at the platform.
Crossing the Oresund:
I was expecting to have to show my passport and my copious amounts of Covid-19 data but there were no border checks on the train and I arrived at Trianglen station without any issues.
It was strange to walk back into Malmo again. In some ways it felt like being back home, but in others it felt new. It's hard to explain. Malmo had been our home for almost three years and while some things had changed and it had been a long time since I'd walked around, some things just felt the same as if I hadn't left.
The walk to my hotel was about a kilometer, which wasn't bad at all - but not as much fun when lugging heavy bags. After a shower and a chat to Kristine, I headed out to the shops to pick up some basic supplies.
Kristine and I had decided to be smart and packed some of the international power adapters so I'd be ready to plug my Aussie equipment in, but some how we messed up. I had an Aussie plug, as Sweden to Aussie adapter (the wrong way) and a Aussie to UK adapter. So part of my shopping trip was picking up a couple of new adapters.
I'm now sitting in my hotel room at 6:45pm, writing the blog and trying to stay away for another hour or so to keep my sleep patterns somewhat under control. Work starts tomorrow.
