Is it just me, or is the text on the Australian inbound arrival card getting smaller?

Is it just me, or is the text on the Australian inbound arrival card getting smaller? Between the tiny font, the bright yellow background, and the notoriously dim cabin lighting, I found myself squinting at those boxes, wondering if my eyesight is failing or if they’re trying to fit a novel’s worth of regulations onto a piece of cardboard. I used the camera app on my phone to zoom in. It’s a stark contrast to the simplicity of the flight itself. I noticed there is a trial underway for an electronic version—similar to what I used when travelling to Thailand—and I truly hope they roll that out soon to save us all the headache.

My final day in Bangkok was all about the slow burn—or rather, avoiding it. With the mercury hitting 34°C, I spent the bulk of the day hiding in the glorious air-conditioning of my hotel room. I did attempt to head up to the pool twice in the morning, but it was a sea of tourists claiming every available chair. Instead of fighting for a spot, I retreated to my room to recover from the exertion of the last few weeks, listening to podcasts, and soaking up the cool air.

Before heading off, I did a final cull of my luggage to keep things light and easy. I left a few bits of clothing behind, ensuring my bag was well under the limit before I made my way to the airport. The transit was simple enough—a quick tuk-tuk trip to the train station and then the airport. Once there, I bypassed the crowded lifts to the fourth floor; there were just too many people with massive suitcases to make it worth the wait. Checking in with Jetstar was a breeze, even with that slight moment of “luggage-weight anxiety” we all get.

The flight itself was actually wonderful. I scored a bulkhead seat with only two of us in the row of three, and the crew were absolutely terrific.

We arrived in Brisbane earlier than expected, which usually sounds like a win—except for me, it just meant a much longer wait at the airport before the final hop. I’d clearly reached a peak level of relaxation by then, because by the time the flight attendant came to get me for pre-boarding for the final leg, I’d actually fallen asleep.

As we were leaving Brisbane, most of the other passengers had to do the walk up the stairs from the tarmac, but another woman and I were able to use the lift.

There’s always that distinct sense of travel shock when you arrive back home—seeing familiar faces in familiar surroundings after being a world away. By the time I finally walked into my apartment, the exhaustion was starting to set in. I think I underestimated just how much of an exhilaration it would be to return to a peaceful home after three weeks of such intensity.

I’ve got a couple of days to decompress before heading back to work. And then? It’s only a couple of weeks until the next adventure begins… though I can’t talk about that one just yet.