I shall now return to the subject of Qantas and their unique approach to in-flight catering. The flight from Alice to Ayers Rock is no more than 30 minutes. Qantas, however, is going to serve and clear a meal of some description to its 150 passengers, come what may. 

So at break-neck speed the cabin staff distribute a semi-opaque oval shaped clam shell style plastic box. I am sure that for those who have seen this before, effecting entry presents no problem. To the uninitiated it is a little more of a challenge, but eventually we're in!  It contains quite a lot of celophane, clearly the airline's material of choice. One celophane package contains a piece of vintage cheddar; another contains two crackers that we suspect are designed to be consumed with the cheese. The final and largest celophane package contains a large cookie. Finally there is a 250ml bottle of water. 

My award for most carefully thought-out package goes to the cookie wrapper.  The package designers have done their very best to entice you to open the wrapper and consume the item therein contained. On the wrapper in several different fonts and print sizes and set at different angles are words like 'yummy', 'delicious', 'good', 'tasty' and so on.  The problem is that by turning words through 90 degrees relative to one another, you are almost certain to become a victim of the law of unintended consequences.  Relative to the word 'tasty' as an example, the word 'good' has been turned through 180 degrees. Then the cookie has been carefully placed inside the wrapper. Then the sealing machine has closed the wrapper and in so doing has obliterated the upside down letter 'g'. You now pick up the wrapper and read....'yummy, delicious, tasty and poo', which by an amazing culinary coincidence is exactly how the cookie tastes. 

Another Qantas catering triumph. The flight, though, departs on time, arrives on time, circles Ayers Rock on its final approach providing amazing views and delivers us and our luggage in good order.  

The first person we see as we walk into the arrivals hall is one of the guides from Longitude 131, our home for the next two nights and the next adventure is under way. 

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