Day 1 - Arriving in Sydney, Australia

We landed at Kingsford Smith International Airport at around 6:30PM.  Rain greeted us. It was a welcome sight given all we'd known was drought for most of our stay in California.

Once alighted, we made our way to the health check counters. Our temperature was checked, instructions were given on quarantine procedures and our orange cards checked. Once cleared, we started the hike to customs and baggage claim. It was pretty easy. I missed how polite and professional everyone is in Australia. 

Exiting baggage claim, our passports were checked once more. This time by NSW Police to tally our names against their records. After which, we exited the airport and were greeted once more by the police who asked us a few questions, are we (wife and I) traveling together, do we need rooms together in the hotel (yes!). Based on the answers, they assigned us to a bus.  The ADF personel manned the loading our luggages in the bus for us.

From what we could determine, each bus leaves at a specific time. Ours left around 7:30PM heading for the CBD.  We are not told anything. Just sit down and enjoy the ride.

We finally arrived at the Sydney Harbour Marriott Hotel.  Everyone stays seated until NSW police briefed us and had complete some forms where we had to provide contact details, allergies, dietary requirements.

The excellent ADF team once again helped with the luggage, all the way to our rooms (eventually!).  Checking in at the hotel, we had to provide our passports and credit card which would be charged for any in-room dining charges and so on I guess.

Once the hotel staff entered our details, we were once again questioned by NSW police who filled a bunch of paperwork and determined our legality to be in the country. They provided us with a "brochure" detailing how to make our 14 days in quarantine enjoyable.

I have to say that NSW Police and the ADF did an absolutely amazing job handling our arrival from the airport to the hotel.

Our room was graciously big enough for the two of us. Everything you'd expect was provided: soap, clean linen, towels, water, tea, coffee and garbage/laundry bags. 

We got our meals around 20-30 minutes after we entered our room. Tonight, it's butter chicken and potato curry. Both meals were quite to our liking.

Day 1: Dinner

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