Oh my... you and the missus had such a good time in Bali that the following year (1984) you've decided to take a week in Japan to attend the Hirosaki Cherry Blossom Festival, featuring over 2,500 trees, pink-petaled moats, and illuminated castle grounds.

From your home outside Kalgoorlie, located a couple hundred miles east of Perth in Western Australia, you've booked a bedroom aboard the Australian National Railways' eastbound Indian Pacific for the three day ride across the bottom of Australia to Sydney. Following a nice weekend with your wife's parents out on Bondi Beach, it's off to Sydney's Kingsford Smith Airport for your flight to Tokyo, with an intermediate stop in Cairns.

Your aircraft today is one of Qantas' two Boeing 747SPs, registered VH-EAB and bearing the title of Australia Asia Airways. You note that it's named "City of Traralgon". The Captain offers a cheerful welcome aboard and informs the passengers that it should be smooth flying up to Cairns, but there is a possibility of thunder storms later this afternoon out over the Bismarck Sea, north of Port Moresby.

A pair of deliciously spicy Bloody Marys - complete with celery stalks - are delivered to you and your wife, followed by amenity kits and finally the menus, housed in attractive maroon folders embossed with the Qantas logo. Your flight attendant informs you that brunch will be served out of Sydney, followed by a full luncheon between Cairns and Tokyo. Right on! You're thankful you didn't over indulge in too many of those delicious breakfast pastries in the Captain's Club airport lounge.

Well alrighty then! Let's see what we have to look forward to...

QANTAS / AUSTRALIA ASIA AIRLINES

BRUNCH
Sydney to Cairns

Orange Juice ~ Champagne and Orange Juice ~ Tomato Juice

Cold Poached Salmon
Accented with herb vinaigrette
~or~
Fresh Fruit Platter
Served with honey yogurt dressing

Eggs Benedict
Poached Eggs and ham on English muffin with Hollandaise Sauce
~or~
Grilled Fillet Steak
Served with savoury horseradish butter and grilled peppers
~or~
Lobster in Pernod
Served in an individual casserole

Fresh Asparagus ~ Broiled Tomato ~ Almond Rice

Strawberry Flan
Accented with King Island Cream

Earl Grey ~ English Breakfast Tea ~ Coffee

Qantas Handmade Chocolates
Specially created by our master confectioner


LUNCHEON
Cairns to Tokyo

Hervey Bay Prawns
Served with fresh mango
~or~
Terrine of Mushrooms with Pistachios
Served with a tomato and tarragon sauce

Spring Salad
Served with vinaigrette or Blue Cheese dressing

Roast Fillet of Beef
Prime Australian beef carved at your table
~or~
Barramundi Meuniere
Barramundi fillets are lightly dredged in flour, then pan-seared in butter until golden,
and finished with a rich, nutty brown butter
~or~
Duckling with Green Peppercorns

Vegetables in season

Crepes Normande
Apple pancakes served with whipped cream

Cheese Board
Served with the traditional accompaniments

Fruit Basket

Coffee ~ Tea ~ Green Tea