Filed under: new zealand
home sweet home!
So we left Hong Kong and headed South across the equator and in to Winter. The rain in Auckland was torrential and the bleak ocean view wasnt quite how we hoped touchdown in New Zealand to be.
After a brief internal flight we landed at our first stop, Christchurch; the ‘garden city’ – which was equally bleak and soggy, but nevertheless quite quaint to walk through during the daytime.
We managed to catch a bus to New Brighton which lies on the pacific coast. Hoping for an improvement on its Wirral equivalent, we were pleased to find it to be a pleasant if not slightly run down town complete with its own museum run by a chirpy and highly enthusiastic chap whose family originate from West Derby.
Glad to finally escape the bright lights and chinese restaurants, we took the bus to oamaru, which is much more like the New Zealand we came to see. Despite the continuing bad weather, there was a break in the clouds during the 3 hour drive where we managed to get a peak of the Southern Alps and what is to come during the next few weeks.
Oamaru is a ‘one night town’ according to its resident Scot, whom we met whilst penguin spotting at bushey beach. We stayed for two and were duely rewarded with some fine, sunny weather and some nice photo opportunities with the local penguins, fur seals and ocean views.
We even stumbled across world famous fush n’ chups in a small town called hampden, where we sampled some rather tasty elephant fish and beer battered chips.
We are currently updating this blog, whilst under the influence of a mighty fine ‘Speights’ Brewery tour and Cadbury experience in Dunedin.
Our clapped out banger is booked for Monday, which we hope will see us through the Southern most corner of NZ.
Good as gold.
Filed under: Hong Kong
The minute we walked out the hostel I knew something wasn’t right – Argyle street was not awash with rush hour crowds, shutters were down on shops – and then in the MTR station it all became clear. Typhoon Warning Signal 8 was hoisted – Typhoon Nuri was on its way.
Sadly when a Level 8 is in place you are unable to go anyway, shops close, restaurants closed and therefore our plans of seeing the pandas in Ocean Park, visiting Stanley Market and Aberdeen were gone with the wind!! Hehe – awful play on words!
It was a shame that we didn’t get to do all the things we wanted in HK, but for the attractions/sights that we did see and do it was most enjoyable (if not a tad hot at times)! I would certainly recommend it though as a city to visit.
Will post some photos to show you all shortly!
Filed under: Hong Kong
Hong Kong skyline
So we headed East to HK to start our travels, and here we are three days in. I’ll be honest, its roasting, its manic, and there has been a threat of a typhoon heading this way. But in the main we are enjoying the city and all its delights!
Those of you who know me, will know I love my food. However its that hot here that I don’t want to eat. But tonight I managed dim sum – a selection of small parcels of food. Neil and I enjoyed the chilli and garlic tofu wonton, the duck spring rolls and the vegetable dumpling. The pork and pumpkin was maybe pushing the taste bud boundaries. But unless you try – you don’t find out hey? And as for the chopsticks, well i thought I was a real wizz with them until I tried the dim sum (its far too slippery!!)
Its our first stay in a hostel too, which we haven’t found too scary. I think Neil is finding my jet lag sleeping habbits the most frightening aspect. Lets hope that tonight I do manage to sleep before 2am!
Highlights so far – The Peak (tram ride and the view from The Peak), The Mid Layer escalators (fascinated with them), The Star Ferry ride across the harbour and Big Buddha on Lantau Island.
Will leave it at that for now – and try and get off to sleep!
Filed under: departure lounge
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- All this into 55 litres!
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- I want to hide!
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- Its all in there – and I’m not tipping up!!
I left the doors of RSA last Friday and I feel like I’ve not stopped since then. I have spent endless hours at the computer/printer ensuring we have all the relevant documents we need, plus copies for anyone who cares to have them. We have ordered foreign currency that I can not get my head around, bought last minute goods (even this morning Snow+Rock were still getting their moneys worth from us) and eaten our way through relatives biscuit and cake offerings.
Today though sees the final countdown – copies of all important documents have been left with responsible parents, backpacks have been packed and I’m now busy ensuring all loose ends are tied up whilst Neil plays golf!
So the next instalement will come from us once we have been to Hong Kong – thankfully the weather appears to be on our side, and hopefully we will be able to offer plenty of picture postcard images!
But for now – the chaos of packing all of the belongings you anticipate needing in 8 months into a 55 litre rucksack!
Filed under: departure lounge
It feels like this trip has been in the making for years. Originally it was to be a three week extended holiday to New Zealand last August, it then stretched out as far as encompassing all of the world, starting in Thailand and ending in South America. In reality our trip is now upon us and is a more affordable and realistic journey - Hong Kong, New Zealand and Japan.
Its so close that all my emotions are out in force, excitement, joy, anxiety, nervousness (especially as my Japanese hasn’t progressed much!) I’ve surprised myself though at the laidback approach to this trip in recent weeks, Neil and I only got around to buying our Hong Kong guidebook this week and we still have plenty of loose ends to tie up!
I believe though that there is only so much planning that we can do, and its about time to hand over to chance. Will we find the snake restaurant in Hong Kong? Can we manage to get through 5 nights in typhoon season without a torrential downpour and the dreaded thunder and lightning? Lets just see…and I promise I’ll keep you updated!
