HAPPY 2009

Happy New Year everyone.

That really was some show. A spectacle that we'll never forget.

Enjoy the last few hours of 2008 on your side of the world as midnight
approaches!

Love Stuart & Sophie

NYE

We are in position with a mixture of friends of friends of friends.
Picnic, beers, sun cream! It is 6.30pm and the tension is building.
The numbers grow every second. The sun is lowering behind us. Boats
are heading into the harbour. The scene is truly amazing!

AUS

Ciaran, Siobhan, Stu, Sophie, Brett in a pub.

Sophie on a rock, on our Manly scenic walk to Manly.

Stu on the edge. Long trek to Manly.

Little Big Planet

We've never spent Chistmas out of the UK before. So it is fair to say
that Christmas in NZ was a little unusual!

The days are long, so there was no creeping around in the dark to open
our (duty-free) gifts under our six inch tree :) Make-up and perfume
for Sophie, smelly and LIttle Big Planet for me. Thanks Santa!

We are about as far from home as is possible and on Christmas day in
particular, the world seems a big place. But a quick call home reminds
us how small the world has become.

Christmas lunch was familiar, pork and lamb rather than turkey. Mike,
a chef by trade, made light work of cooking for 9 people. But with the
warm sunhine, it was easy to forget that it was Christmas day.

Boxing day was our warmest day in NZ. So off to the beach for a swim!
Body surfing in the sea followed by ice creams on the beach then off
in the car for some last day sightseeing.

Wellington really has so much to see. Beautiful wooden houses next to
modern business towers. All nestling in valleys rolling down to the
sea. I could write more but we have a plane to catch.

Huge thanks to Lizzie and Mike who have done an excellent job of
showing us as much as possible in our short time here.

Next stop Sydney!

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Day morning on the beach :)

Whirlwind tour

As you can see we had great fun on the Rotorua luge and were amazed by the thermal pools at Wai-O-Tapu. Then lunch at Taupo before the drive to Napier.

Arrived and checked in at the Albatross Motel. Dinner at the Thirsty Whale with Christmas songs in the background then bed.

Wet morning in Napier, so we took in the Art-Deco architecture from the car before heading to a couple of vineyards in Hawkes Bay for wine tasting, then began our long drive home.

Picked up the cases from Lizzie's place, and de-camped to the house in Houghton Bay, in which we will be spending our last 3 nights in NZ including Christmas Day. Breaking with tradition, we had champagne then bed.

Wai-O-Tapu

In English means Sacred Waters. Amazing colourful geothermal pools to
me and you.

Luge Fun

Going back to the top for another go on the Rotorua Luge.

Oh what a drive

It really makes a difference staying with locals. And on the sunny 6hr
drive north from Wellington to Rotorua, Lizzie and Mike ensured we
didn't miss a thing.

Climbing along a ridge out of Lower Hutt to the join the coast road,
stopping at the peak to take in the panorama at the top. Paekakariki
down below and Kapiti Island in the distance. The island used as the
backdrop for Skull Island in Jackson's King Kong.

Joining the 'State 1' road we drive through many coastal towns. Most
of which have festive banners adorning the street lights. A timely
reminder to us in shorts and jandles (flip-flops) that it is Chistmas
sometime soon!

Lunchtime, a quick stop in the small town of Bulls for a 6 inch sub
and we're off again.

Heading inland now, still on 'State 1'. The tarmac cuts through hills
and forests, the towns less frequent. Then in the distance we catch
glipses of the snow topped peak of Mt Ruapehu, NZ's most active
volcano. We seem to be driving in it's shadow for quite a while due to
the size of the thing.

Ruapehu now behind us. We set our sights on lake Taupo. We reach it's
southern end, State 1 clings to the eastern shore. We stop for a
paddle, the water's cool and clear. Taupo is a larger town, we don't
stop, instead we head for the Huka Falls. A few miles out of town, the
Falls/rapids are spectacular. Photo opportunity taken, we get back on
the road and head for our destination of Rotorua.

We are now in tribal Maori lands. Sulphur city, rotten eggs. We check-
in at our Motel and head out for food. Sightseeing tomorrow. Following
a theme, we drink beers then bed.

Southside

The flight from Singapore to Melbourne was on time and took us both into the Southern Hemisphere for the first time. 7hrs later (including eating, sleeping, Hellboy 2 and a gorgeous sunrise) we landed.

Our flight to Wellington was delayed by 1.5hrs, meaning a wait of 4.5hrs in a relatively quiet and comfortable departure lounge. Then we were off again. Smooth 4hr flight over the sea to New Zealand. That was until the last few minutes as the plane was blown around by winds that make Welly one of the trickiest places to land ( see YouTube ). Applause for the pilot as we taxied in safely.

After being met by our NZ hosts, Lizzie and Mike, and taken the long way back into town to show us a few of the sights, we settled in with a take-away pizza and beers then walked in to town for a drink then called it a night. So tired!

This morning we have walked around town, sight-seeing, shopping, with a visit to Te Papa, then lunch. Then this arvo, Mike kindly drove us around the wider area including a stop at the 'look out' (top of a hill) with 360 views of Wellington. Peter Jackson also lives and owns a few places around here, and we saw the boat used in King Kong.

Came home, ate out, beers then bed.

Tomorrow we are all leaving early for the trip north. A long drive to Rotorua for the first night, then across to Napier for the second night. Loads of sight-seeing, walking, swimming, and mud-bathing maybe, but probably no wifi! So hopefully catch up in a few days and also post a few photos.

Just four sleeps to Christmas! :x)

Four down, four to go

Flights that is.

18:33 Singapore time. No delays from KL to here, so we are killing 4 hours at the airport. Done duty-free, Subway, electronic foot massage. Now relaxing on a recliner staring out past some palm trees on to the runway. Long flight ahead to Melbourne, then on to Wellington. Should be landing about 14:45 NZ time.

I'm a celebrity...

...get me out of here.

Well not quite, but they do look at you like a celeb here. But I'm referring to our jungle experience on our third day. A fairly early start by our standards for a taxi pick-up at 10:30 to take us to FRIM (google it). I'm really glad we took time put of the big city to sample the jungle for a few hours. The highlight, literally, was a canopy walk. Amazing views of the forest and the city far off in the distance. Oh, and Sophie got a leach on her foot!

After a well earned nap in the afternoon, it was out for a lovely Chinese meal at a local restaurant. Then into town to get up close and personal with the beautiful Petronas towers. Spectacular at night, the steel structure glows like something from space.

Opposite is the Quattro bar, with rooms themed in each season. Stopping only for a cocktail in 'Spring' and a splash through the rainfall corridor before heading to the Zeta bar (in the Hilton) for some live music and perhaps one too many drinks.

As it was our last night with Tim and Jane we didn't want to call it a night. But at 5am we thought a few hours sleep is better than none!

It is now 2pm and I'm typing this in the departure lounge at KL airport. It doesnt feel like our feet have touched the ground and we're off already. Bye bye Malaysia. Thank you Tim and Jane for everthing.

View from Menura KL

You can see the Luna pool bar where we were the night before

Petronas Towers

Menura

Up the 4th tallest tower we go!

Above K.L.

Day two in Kuala Lumpur. Had a swim, then breakfast, then in to town.

First stop, the Menura (meaning tower), 4th tallest in the world. Less than a minute in a lift to the circular observation deck around 270m above K.L. Great views of the Petronas Towers and the city beneath.

Then down to earth for a wander around the bustling centre. More malls, markets and beers and finally ending the day in China Town. Hectic is an understatement! Single file as we squeeze our way through the packed streets with traders calling and pulling you in with the promise of the best price. We stopped half way around for a Fish Spa, Jane insisted that Sophie and I try this unusual treatment where you sit with your feet in a pool of Doctor fish and try not to squirm around too much as they eat your feet clean! After 15 minutes the sensation almost becomes enjoyable. The last part of the walk round China Town was a breeze with our tinging new feet :)

A beer for the road and we're off to bed.

"Craaazzzy Pizza"

Super tasty pizza with french fries topping! 

And a Sangria, bit like Mulled Wine i guess :)

Luna bar

Luna Bar

Sophie and Jane in foreground

Petronas towers in the background

Pan Global tower

Back garden

Just been for a swim

Catch up

Well, my bag caught up with me. YAY!

But this is a catch up post from yesterday. This mobile blogging isn't going to be as easy as i thought. There is plenty of free wifi about, but having to register with all your personal details does get a bit tiring at every bar.

Really enjoyed our first day. Jane and Tim are great hosts. We had a tour of the condo and all the leisure facilities on site including 2 pools, tennis, badminton and squash courts. Think all-inclusive resort!

Had a look around the local shops. Had a stroll around the local park with the monkeys.

Went to the largest shopping mall in Asia, just up the road.

Came home, had a snooze, then shower and change, and went out at 10pm to see the bright lights of the centre.

WOW!! amazing... first stop, the Luna Bar, 33 floors up and out on to the roof-top terrace bar with pool! No swimming tonight though, Just incredible views of the Menura and Petronas towers and the city spreading out beneath.

From there to a great Italian for food... I had the 'Craaazzzy Pizza', a cheese and tomato with french fries on top, covered in mayo and ketchup. So wrong yet so right, MMmmm!

More drinks then home. Excellent first day!

First destination

We're here.

Kuala Lumpur airport is an hours drive from the city centre. Longer
when the sat nav gets confused! But we're here. It's taken 28hrs, but
we're here.

Singapore

Made it, just!

Unfortunately the Heathrow flight was delayed, which mean't we only just caught the Jumbo from Frankfurt to Singapore, but my bag didn't! For some odd reason, Sophie's did! So i have filed a report and they say it should be in KL tomorrow. :(

Off to get the AirAsia flight now, should land in KL at 22:40 local time.

Mmm noodles

T5

Just arrived at heathrow T5. Bags are checked in and we're off for a
look around Harrods!

Packed

One sleep to go

Getting close!

So with just over a week left before departure, do we have anything
sorted? Are we stressing? Are we excited? Yes to all!