Sunday, August 05, 2007
Andy, no longer in New Zealand
Hello,
Well an awful lot has happened over the last few weeks, it has actually been stupidly crazy. Finishing up in New Zealand was a bit of a farce. We decided in our wisdom to go out the day before we flew out of Queenstown for a few goodbye drinks with various people we had met in Queenstown. As we were moving out/flying the following day we thought we would just have a few drinks but after a rather heavy night we both surfaced at about midday.
I drove into town in my hire car which resembles something Noddy would drive to get us an emergency KFC delivery to kick start us. We showered and changed, packed, cleaned the house which included emptying the fire – not a particularly clean job. Racing about town in my Noddy car, resembling a scene from The Italian Job we stopped by banks, not to rob them but to close accounts and change addresses. Post office to send 5 rather large packages of winter clothes home between the two of us. Estate agents to drop off keys, supermarket and then to the airport. Checked in at 3.55pm. Flight departed at 4.15pm. We cut it rather fine.
Got to Christchurch and stayed in an airport motel, and the next day flew to Auckland and on to Hong Kong. Amazing flight. It was half empty and we had middle rows all to ourselves. We had two meals and were allowed snacks throughout and it was the first time I was actually full on a plane.12 hours later and caught up on Peep Show and Scrubs we arrived! Thank you Cathay Pacific :)
Hong Kong was so refreshing. Out with snow and freezing temps and in with the sun and humidity. We loved it! We got to our hotel in Mong Kok which was rather awesome and cost us a hundred quid for 7 nights between the two of us. It was such a nice place and had a great restaurant. The weather was amazing too. Not one drop of rain the entire 7 days just blue skies and sun.
The day after we arrived we met Net and Kim, our friends from Mount Maunganui and the day after that we did the most epic sightseeing trip ever. We did in one day what had taken about 5 days with Robyn at Christmas!
Net and I at Hong Kong MTR station.
Kim and Net near the ferry terminal at Tsim Sa Tsui.
Wong Tai Sin.
Me outside the temple at Wong Tai Sin.
Busy Hong Kong Island from the revolving restaurant in Wan Chai.
Net, Myself, Victoria and Kim at the revolving restaurant.
Bank of China building.
View from the peak.
Another view of the skyline but from another angle..
Vic and I waiting for the MTR.
A hungry panda at Ocean Park.
The cliffside cable car at Ocean Park.
Po Lin monastery.
The big Buddha.
Jules and Doug.
Big Buddha, Lantau Island, Hong Kong.
At Po Lin.
The temple.
We were suitably shattered. Net and Kim departed the next day and I met Robyn for lunch in Causeway Bay which was nice. I also met another couple we had planned on meeting, Julie and Doug on the way to have lunch with Robyn, which was rather bizarre. I pointed them in the direction of our hotel so they could see Victoria. The next day Victoria and I went to Ocean Park, we saw the Pandas and did the rides, well ride; it was so hot we just wanted to get wet on the log flume which is what we did... It was good. The next day we met up with Julie and Doug and went to see the Big Buddha. We also went to the monastery which was really nice and had lunch there.
Next day we hit the shopping malls! Don’t panic Dad, didn’t spend that much. But I don’t know what Robyn was complaining about no good shops. We found loads of surfy shops and I bought about 6 Quiksilver t-shirts, a man bag and a shirt for 55 pounds. Bargain. One Quiksilver t-shirt back home would probably set you back about that much! There was also a brand new Oxbow shop that opened on the day which had stupid discounts as well as camera crews and I presume a famous Cantonese surfer. Lots of girls were asking for his autograph. We came back after the crowds were gone and the shop assistant was like “So have you heard of Oxbow?” I was like “Yeah, Of course, very big at home” He had never heard of it before that day.
So the next day we flew out of smelly Hong Kong, the smell, I forgot about the smell... And into beautiful Thailand. In Ko Tao now and just spent the niceset most relaxing day on the beach but will update in a few days.
Andy
Well an awful lot has happened over the last few weeks, it has actually been stupidly crazy. Finishing up in New Zealand was a bit of a farce. We decided in our wisdom to go out the day before we flew out of Queenstown for a few goodbye drinks with various people we had met in Queenstown. As we were moving out/flying the following day we thought we would just have a few drinks but after a rather heavy night we both surfaced at about midday.
I drove into town in my hire car which resembles something Noddy would drive to get us an emergency KFC delivery to kick start us. We showered and changed, packed, cleaned the house which included emptying the fire – not a particularly clean job. Racing about town in my Noddy car, resembling a scene from The Italian Job we stopped by banks, not to rob them but to close accounts and change addresses. Post office to send 5 rather large packages of winter clothes home between the two of us. Estate agents to drop off keys, supermarket and then to the airport. Checked in at 3.55pm. Flight departed at 4.15pm. We cut it rather fine.
Got to Christchurch and stayed in an airport motel, and the next day flew to Auckland and on to Hong Kong. Amazing flight. It was half empty and we had middle rows all to ourselves. We had two meals and were allowed snacks throughout and it was the first time I was actually full on a plane.12 hours later and caught up on Peep Show and Scrubs we arrived! Thank you Cathay Pacific :)
Hong Kong was so refreshing. Out with snow and freezing temps and in with the sun and humidity. We loved it! We got to our hotel in Mong Kok which was rather awesome and cost us a hundred quid for 7 nights between the two of us. It was such a nice place and had a great restaurant. The weather was amazing too. Not one drop of rain the entire 7 days just blue skies and sun.
The day after we arrived we met Net and Kim, our friends from Mount Maunganui and the day after that we did the most epic sightseeing trip ever. We did in one day what had taken about 5 days with Robyn at Christmas!
Net and I at Hong Kong MTR station.
Kim and Net near the ferry terminal at Tsim Sa Tsui.
Wong Tai Sin.
Me outside the temple at Wong Tai Sin.
Busy Hong Kong Island from the revolving restaurant in Wan Chai.
Net, Myself, Victoria and Kim at the revolving restaurant.
Bank of China building.
View from the peak.
Another view of the skyline but from another angle..
Vic and I waiting for the MTR.
A hungry panda at Ocean Park.
The cliffside cable car at Ocean Park.
Po Lin monastery.
The big Buddha.
Jules and Doug.
Big Buddha, Lantau Island, Hong Kong.
At Po Lin.
The temple.
We were suitably shattered. Net and Kim departed the next day and I met Robyn for lunch in Causeway Bay which was nice. I also met another couple we had planned on meeting, Julie and Doug on the way to have lunch with Robyn, which was rather bizarre. I pointed them in the direction of our hotel so they could see Victoria. The next day Victoria and I went to Ocean Park, we saw the Pandas and did the rides, well ride; it was so hot we just wanted to get wet on the log flume which is what we did... It was good. The next day we met up with Julie and Doug and went to see the Big Buddha. We also went to the monastery which was really nice and had lunch there.
Next day we hit the shopping malls! Don’t panic Dad, didn’t spend that much. But I don’t know what Robyn was complaining about no good shops. We found loads of surfy shops and I bought about 6 Quiksilver t-shirts, a man bag and a shirt for 55 pounds. Bargain. One Quiksilver t-shirt back home would probably set you back about that much! There was also a brand new Oxbow shop that opened on the day which had stupid discounts as well as camera crews and I presume a famous Cantonese surfer. Lots of girls were asking for his autograph. We came back after the crowds were gone and the shop assistant was like “So have you heard of Oxbow?” I was like “Yeah, Of course, very big at home” He had never heard of it before that day.
So the next day we flew out of smelly Hong Kong, the smell, I forgot about the smell... And into beautiful Thailand. In Ko Tao now and just spent the niceset most relaxing day on the beach but will update in a few days.
Andy
Saturday, July 21, 2007
Countdown
Hellooo,
Last 5 days in New Zealand start now!
Finally out of bed due to the worst flu ever. Stupid cold winter. I'm much better now though which is good news as I have a pretty hectic final week in New Zealand wrapping things up here. It's come around so quickly and it is a bit sad but Victoria and I are sick of the cold now and we're more beach people anyway. We want some heat!
First of all though we have to sort out closing bank accounts, moving out, paying final bills, sending many boxes home full of my winter clothes which I don't want to carry round Asia for 6 weeks, which is something I can't do till the very last minute as I need them here! Selling heaters we have bought, DVD players, my car. Well the car is sold.. Funny story actually. I bought it off Laurence in February and I have not had one single problem with it. Nothing. These two guys from Surrey wanted to buy it, I drop it round to there house, money in my pocket, they get in to drive me back home and the stupid car doesn't start.. Nice.
Anyway turns out they still wanted it and they bought it for $300 less as thats what the mechanic said it would cost. Not the end of the world but pretty annoying.
So what have Robyn and myself been up too? We drove to Wanaka, which is kind of like a mini Queenstown, really nice town. We went to Puzzling World. I had been here before with Emma and it was strange to be back!
The 3D Maze. Find the 4 corners. We did. We rock. Last time I remember Emma and I found 2 corners then gave up and found an emergency exit..
Robyn in the turning famous faces room.
Robyn on the toilet..
And me..
We also drove to Lake Hayes which is about 10 minutes out of Queenstown.
Lake Hayes.
We also did a bit of skiing which was so funny!
At Coronet Peak.
Me and ski's.
Robyn in a rare standing up moment :)
Victoria at home.
Victoria at home.
Robyn and I.
The fire going.
No comment.
Last 5 days in New Zealand start now!
Andy
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Epic Blog
Got a spare hour? Great! Read on..
So first of all Christmas Day. We had originally planned a small meal, but it turned into a rather large christmas party. It was really good though and Nic found an old Christmas tree in a box in the cupboard under the stairs which just made it perfect! We bought some bad Christmas music and decorations and even hats!
Freak goat.
So first of all Christmas Day. We had originally planned a small meal, but it turned into a rather large christmas party. It was really good though and Nic found an old Christmas tree in a box in the cupboard under the stairs which just made it perfect! We bought some bad Christmas music and decorations and even hats!
Spot Matt...
Merry Christmas from Andy..
..And Robyn!
The food was good. Yorkshire puddings, gravy, stuffing etc..
Robyn was mostly eating yorkshire pudding.
We played some games..
This one included eating a bar of chocolate with hat, scarf and gloves on..
I was David Hasselhoff and Robyn was Geri Halliwell..
Dirty Dancing..
Then a couple of days later Robyn and I drove out the Bob's Cove, a beautiful little spot on the northern shore of Lake Wakitupu.
Smile!
It was really stunning here.
Clear waters..
The water in Lake Wakitupu is crystal clear and safe to drink. Not that I would but I have been told my many locals that I can if I ever wanted.
We also went back to 'Deer Park Heights' which is always a laugh :)
Me feeding a Llama I think..
Robyn feeding a mini horse.
Freak goat.
View from the top of Deer Park Heights.
Goats smell the food and ambush my car!
View of Queenstown from Kelvin Heights
Robyn and I drove to Glenorchy which is at the northern tip of Lake Wakatipu which was just beautiful.
We also did the jet boat around the Shotover canyons which was sooo cool. Amazingly cold though, ice was floating down the river. Robyn and I are on the second frow from the front. Click photo to zoom in a bit.
And as if we weren't cold enough we decided to do a scenic helicopter ride up to the Remarkable mountain range. It was absolutely stunning and when we got to the top we were able to get off and have a bit of a wander around! It was so awesome. But very cold!
On top of the Remarkable Mountain Range from the helicopter.
Robyn on top of the Remarkables.
Me on top of the Remarkables!
The End!
