Day 1

The 15 Parkinson’s Challenge participants are:
Leanne Barnes, Helen Bignell, Maxwell Bradfield, Sue Dutton, Clare Eizenberg, Kim Harris, Nahid Jones, Brendan Lourey, Karyn Spilberg, Nicholas Taylor, Fred Van Ross, Christine Van Ross, Catherine Watson and Jenny Young, Janice Mulchinock

Early to bed early to rise, well it certainly was an early rise as neither of us could sleep. A neighbour (Ian) took us to the airport by 08.20am, living so close to the airport is certainly an advantage. We joined the check-in line and slowly the other participants started to arrive and joined the line. Unfortunately we did not have the advantage of a group booking so seat allocation was a bit hit and miss. Glenn Mahoney (CEO Parkinson’s Victoria) and Judy Mooney (Parkinson’s Victoria) and Chris Harrison (Memorable Challenges) were there to send us off.

Many of us put on our Parkinson’s tops for a group photo prior to departure. But wait - there is someone missing from the photo – Catherine. Where was Catherine – well she was busy saying goodbye to her new boyfriend. After the group photo, we all made our way towards customs and the departure lounge, where everyone got through without problems except one. Customs thought Karyn looked suspicious and she was given the touch search. Some drifted off for some last minute duty free shopping, while the rest waited in the lounge for the boarding call. We boarded the Vietnam Airlines 777-200 and our seat allocation was down the blunt end of the plane. It was not a full flight so some took advantage of the empty seats to spread out and try to sleep. We were able to freely roam around the cabin and talk to other participants.

After a long 8 hours we arrived at Ho Chi Minh where we were required to deplane and go through Customs and catch a domestic flight to our destination – Hanoi. We were unaware of this, as we assumed that we would retain the international flight on to Hanoi. We stayed together as a group and managed to get to Hanoi where we were met by our guide “Hilly” After welcoming us and handing out a flower to everyone we boarded a bus ready for a 1 hour drive to get to our Hotel in central Hanoi. Vietnam is 4 hours behind AESDT, so it as after midnight AESDT, but only 8.00pm in Hanoi. We were all starting to feel the effects of a long day. We were quickly assigned our rooms and of to sleep – I think.

I want to get some sleep now.