4th to 14th Jan - Papa Moa, NZ

After the dizzying sky scrapers and half chopped, beating fish we made it safely and soundly to NZ. Erika (sister Beverley) and Clayton (sisterBeverley's fiancee) met us off the plane with waves and cheers looking decidely brown and healthy compared to our palid Christmas faces framed in aeroplane greasy hair! - hopefuly we will soon be indistinguishable from all the other honed antipodeans!!

Despite the worst summer in NZ for 50 years the place is beautiful - so much space and greenery compared to the metropolis of Hong Kong. On the 2.5 hour journey from Auckland to Mount Maunganui/Tauranga we could have been mistaken for thinking we were back in Somerset or Dorset with the beautiful, lush rolling hills, thick woodland and farms with the proverbial NZ sheep.

We were soon reminded that we weren't in the South West of England, however, when within 3 or 4 hours of landing in Auckland we were jet skiing through the Pacific ocean around the stunning Mount Maunganui a couple of miles up the coast from Erika and Clayton's place! Definitely the best way to get over a crippling combination of Hong Kong alcohol abuse and jet lag!

The 10 days we've spent with Erika and Clayton have been wonderful - great to be see where the little sis is living after the last couple years of hearing about it. We've been pampered with our own bedroom and bathroom, gorgeous food and copious amounts of booze at their bars and cruising round the local area in their cars! Well above your average levels of comfort for the start of a travelling holiday.

One of the highlights of the last few days have been a couple of superb days out in their boat on a local lake and the sea when I (J) got the chance to master the art of wakeboarding. After an unsuccessful attempt in Poole, UK, where Guy and I failed miserably using my kiteboard and a severe lack of knowledge I was over the moon to be up and riding after a few faces full of water! (we'll post some proof pictures soon!!).

Lastly, we've managed to get a camper van to continue our travels - although I must admit the comforts and hopsitality from Erika and Clayton were starting to make real travelling look like something we could put off! After a day cruising round Auckland looking at flea infested vans being flogged by dirty students on their gap year we plumped for a great little Toyota Hi-Top camper a couple were selling back down in the Mount. She's been named Little Tinker by the previous owners (due to the number plat of LT6908) so we are continuing the tradition, although I think Love Truck is also a pretty apt name. A day's scrubbing, cleaning and polishing she's looking just the part and we're off on our first road trip around the East Coast of the North Island...

Happy New Year - Hong Kong 31/12/2004 - 03/01/2005

Happy New Year from Hong Kong

After months of waiting, planning and sorting we've eventually made it!! - Safe and sound in Hong Kong for our first stop. Met Beth and Stew at the hotel and headed out for new year celebrations in the streets of Hong Kong.

Found a great little restauarant (starting our trip in the vein we intend to continue searching out food and drink around the globe) - we had some interesting dishes including deep fried fish skins in soup, local green lobster...all washed down with several litres of San Miguel beer (Tsing Tao only came in small bottles so that wouldn't do of course!).

Moving on in search of some more entertainment we tried our luck getting into the Sky Lounge on the 18th floor of the Sheraton Hotel with fantastic views over the harbour and city. After much negotiations we were escorted to a private room with huge windows onto the best view in town!! We quaffed champagne and ate like kings and queens until the place closed - photos and more details to follow.

Needless to say that the first day of 2005 was a bit of a write off for me (J) due to the obligatory excesses - however, it was made more bearable by a particularly comfy queen size bed and view over the harbour and city from our room.

After fully recovering we're now seeing the sights, sounds and smells of Hong Kong and will update you all later.

Me now - Pol - have just finished exploring Hong Kong island with Beth and Stew on their last day. Over on the Star Ferry and up the near vertical Peak Tram (American couple squabbling about feeling sick spoiled the way down!) but all very stunning - and almost just like m & ds photos of 28 years ago. More flashy buildings today I suspect though!

The smells are intriguing - some good - some bloody hideous :-( but all part of being here! Couldn't find Stinky's market but did find alleys full of butchered fish and goats. Fish cut in half from top to tail - stomachs intact left around the spine and the poor buggers were still flipping and gasping for breath. Nice. I liked the vegetarian alley best.

Much against James' wishes of being here and sampling the delights on offer - the Fatties Food Around the World Guidebook tasters resorted to Pizza Express for a short break from our 'travelling experience'. It's amazing what a flipping half hacked fish can do the appetite.