Approach Down Under

Follow our progress as we traverse our way through New Zealand and Australia.

Coffee cup moment anyone??

Tim, Chrissie, Jon

Today sees the departure of Tim and Chrissie. They will be climbing into a large pressurised metal tube with jet engines on the side and flinging themselves over to the other side of the planet. Something that I myself will be doing in about 1 weeks time.

I’m pretty nervous (maybe that’s the wrong word) about the whole thing. I’m not afraid of flying but 26 hours alone with nothing but my iRiver (much better than iPod) for company is a bit of a daunting prospect. I suppose I could always try getting to know the person next to me on the flight, but knowing my luck it’ll most likely be someone who doesn’t speak English, has questionable personal hygene and will insist upon snoring very loudly for the whole of the flight. Still, I suppose it’s only 13 hours to Kuala Lumpur……………

Best of luck guys and bon voyage. Don’t forget to keep up with the blog while you’re away and I’ll see you both in Wellington on the 6th.

Jon

Today does see the start of the epic journey – and well its exciting in the house and snowing outside. Its gonna be one long flight. From a personal perspective on this one I am really happy to be flying with someone this time round - those 14 hours in Singapore last time did little to help my sanity!!

So there we go – in a few hours its off to Heathrow – and then into the sky – if we find a place to add to the blog in KL we will.

Laters
Tim

Well guys here we are in KL airport - half way through the journey.

So far we have had an interesting stop off in Pernang - which the flight was meant to have. Its just we did not expect to have to get off the plane and into an interesting and bloody boiling airport terminal.

We are now walking and half sleeping our way round shiney KL international terminal following an epic train journey which we drove - Jon - look out for it otherwise there are no shops

Both of us now smell lovely following the visit to the duty free place where Chrissy left before she beat up a women who constantly harrassed us - she has ponited out mid sentance writing here that there was more than one.

Anyway Chrissy wants to add something -

Woo hoo! This many hours together and we’re both still alive and still talking to each other! Highlight of the flight was me getting higher than Tim on who wants to be a millionaire? Spot the brains in our friendship!!!!

Can’t wait to get to Auckland now - we’re placing bets on how soon it is that we get a beer after arriving there -don’t think it’ll be long.

Tim’s back to talk more ………

BADGERS LOVE THE SLIDY FLOORS OF THIS AIRPORT

Ok oh great ones we are off to walk - and get stuff and then a train and then a plane to Auckland in New Zealand in Sub Artic Division 3 HELP ME!!!!(SOS from Chrissy)

Well, I thought I should add to the blog. Ok, I’m not even on the plane yet and won’t be for another 4 days but….I’m just really bored at work. Yes that’s right I’m at work over christmas to conserve my annual leave (see this is vaguely trip related).

I bought myself a brand new rucksack the other day in preparation (well Millets actually ;o) ). It has zip-away straps, a zip-off mini-rucksack, a zip-on cover and zip-together zips. I have even started packing!! Several pairs of pants and socks (you can never bring too many of these) and everybodies shoes for the wedding. The problem is I think I’m rapidly approaching my 20kg baggage allowance and I still need to fit an entire suit and all of my clothes in there somehow. It must be the zips adding extra weight, or I guess you really can bring too many pants……

Guys, don’t forget to switch comments on as you write your blog entries. That way everyone can add to it.

How long was it before you guys got your first beer?

Have Fun!!

Jon

Well Guys we are Here!!!!

Much excitement on this one.
First things first we are in Taupo at the moment but we will give you an update 2moz on this

We touched down in Auckland and after a quick jaunt in a cab to the YHA international we set off into Auckland. I have been there before and spent a little bit of time walking around. This time more walking down to the dock side - A quick wander up to the tallest building in the southern hemisphere 220 metres and a stunning view of Auckland and the area.

First beer arrived in about 1hr 30 mins a Speights for me and a Macs Gold for Chrissy in the Dispensary Bar follwed by a second and a strange guy sitting behind us!!
A Montiths follwed in Wild Fire bar before booking tickets for the ferry and train on the south island (exciting stuff!!)

Then a kip!! The pizza in La Forchatta (Evans we went there last time!) Then sleep.

We travelled out of Auckland this morning and the landscape changed and gave way to some great looking stuff.

Chrissy’s turn to write:
He’s finally let me talk! We’re still doing well - only 1 small domestic on the plane, where I unsuccessfully tried to sulk at Tim - didn’t last very long!
Auckland was pretty cool, the Skytower was amazing - reminded me of the CN tower in Toronto - no Claire, i didn’t go on a cart afterwards!!! Tim had planned to do a Sky jump, but chickened out once he realised just how high it was - the glass floor was enough!
The coach journey from Auckland to Taupo was OK - for the people from Raines - we have met the NZ Mr. Croom - he was driving our bus! Didn’t look like him but had very similar style of speech and mannerisms - scary or what??!!
Anyway, we arrived safe and sound in Taupo and trekked to our hotel, arriving dishevelled and sweaty - didn’t think they’d let us in!!

Have been instructed by Tim that I’m not allowed to tell anything more about Taupo - all will be revealed shortly!

Laters and Respect

Tim & Chrissy

Ok everyone - producing this on a keyboard that has letters worn offso it could take some time!!

First of all Chrissy is gonna describe where we are staying!

Ok, hi guys, we are staying in the Cove Hotel - in a luxury suite! Tim couldn’t quite believe it, spacious living room, with wicked mini bar, balcony over-looking Lake Taupo and ……………………………………………………… A SPA POOL ON THE BALCONY!!!!! How cool is that! Needless to say, we’ve been making good use of it - spa before room service brought us our breakfast! This is our extravagant part of the trip - after tonight its back to YHAs. McDonalds and Subways!!!

Now before any of you get too excited - there are 2 beds!!!!! So please no ooohhhh e-mails and comments here kids.

Now then after our excitement over the roomwe headed into town for something - a beer followed by the blog led us to a cool bar. Now Friday night and somewhere this cool does not deserve to be empty.

So we entered to find the cute (acording to Chrissy) barman flinging bottles round in his role as the cocktail waiter. He turned out to be really cool as I drank my way through several bottles of Montiths and Chrissy through several glasses of wine. A stunning pizza followed.

Now during this a f\group of NZ guys entered and drank margarita’s (not something you associate with them!) One knocked one over and a replacement was made free of charge!!

Chrissy spotted a strange bottle thinking it might be papaya liqour - it was banana (too many glasses of wine!) We then asked what he used that in and found out. I then casulay mentioned that I had once had a banoffe pie cocktail. The challenge was laid down and as willing Guinea Pigs he knocked up a free experimental banoffee pie cocktail - (awesome) We may pop in there later with the new immproved recipe!!

So a fantastic evening - we are off for lunch and will return to tell you more about looking at Volcanoes from a small plane - very exciting and awesome stuff!

Our deep joy and falicitations

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Chrissy and Tim

Well guys shock and suprise we are still in Taupo!! We have stayed a third night here, rather than move on up to Rotarua and the egg smelling place that it is.

Villionus - our top number 1 best bar here in Taupo served us well again on New Years Eve lunctime and then yesterday evening as well.

Our barman (Robbie) continued to entertain us and was delighted to continue to continue to update the Banoffee Pie cocktail. We added some grated chocolate - removed the Vanilla vodka and added chocolate sauce to thicken the drink up.

When we left last night after a couple of Montiths Summer Ales (terrific) A Choclate Martini for Chrissy and a top class vodka lime and lemonade. I then drank a large shot of 42 Below (NZ’s award winning vodka and in my view justiflyably so!) also a Mojito and then a final Banoffee Pie Cocktail.

We got discount on the Banoffe Pie on the basis and I quote “for being part of the creation of it!!”

Now other than drinking we have been in a plane!! A small one engined plane that takes off and lands on Water!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We looked in our guide book thought it would be cool and within 30mins of thinking it would be a good idea we were airbourne flying over that lake - To give you an idea on size at its widest point its as wide as the English Channel.

We then flew over 3 volcanoes (including the one which was mount doom in lord of the rings!!) The views were amazing and we have got some cracking pictures! of it all as well as some sunset pictures.

On landing we were having problem mooring and for a few mins I was gonna have to jump past my wife (thats what the pilot called Chrissy!) and then on to the float bit of the plane and un tie and jump off the plane - I was however spared this and mightily relieved I was to as I was bricking myself about doing it!!

Later today we head down to Napier and the Pacific coast and a major wine producing region and we are touring looking at wine tomorow - should be good.

Hey guys,
well Taupo is an amazing place - if u ever get the chance to visit then do - its fantastic! Our extra night was largely due to me, my grandad died on New Years Eve and I found out on New Years Day and we decided that we’d spoil ourselves a bit more rather than face the bus the way I was feeling. Luckily Tim has been fantastic - think he was quite happy to spend an extra night with a spa!!!

The floatplane was the most amazing thing I’ve ever done. It was incredible to see such awesome sights, flying right over the volcanoes and seeing the crater lakes - a real mix of greens, blues, oranges and reds. Our pilot was really cool - obviously loves his job, so I can just about forgive him for thinking that tim and I are married - there’s a scary prospect! The landing was fun - never seen Tim look quite so nervous as when the pilot suggested that he’d need his help. I have to say we were both quite relieved that it wasn’t necessary, especially when we saw just how difficult the landing was - the pilot was definitely struggling!

New Years Eve was very chilled - a huge lovely dinner followed by bubbly and fireworks over the lake - beats the pathetic attempts that London normally does!

Yesterday we went for a ‘leisurely stroll’ along by the River Waikato, we walked for a couple of hours before deciding that this amounted to far too much exercise so we headed back to town for Macs Gold beer battered fish and chips - yum!!! The views along the river were awesome - for those of u who were in Canada with me, it reminded me of Bow River in Banff. Also a popular spot for NY picnics - great place to blow the cobwebs away from the night before - can’t be bad!

Anyway, enough of my general chit chat - can’t believe Tim has let me say so much!!

Loadsa luv to u all,
us

Just finished reading the latest installment from NZ. Sounds like you’re living it up out there…A SPA!!! (ah the decadence of western civilization).

I don’t have anything to add that would top that, or even meeting a Mr Croom soundalike for that matter. However, I am all packed and ready to go. My electricity meter is currently spinning wildly as I charge my iRiver, Game Boy, Mobile phone and 2 sets of batteries for my camera.

I have that sort of nervous energy you get before a trip (well I get it, not sure about you) and I’m not quite sure what to do with it (I’ve just finishing alphabetising my DVD collection). I doubt I’ll get much sleep tonight in anticipation (again this always happens when I need to wake up early) but it may help in trying to reverse my body clock for when I get to Australia. It’ll be 8:30pm local time and about 11am in the uk.

This’ll be my last blog entry before Australia unless I have more time than expected in Kuala Lumpur. I hope the next one is a tad more interesting.

Lorinda, if you’re reading this I’m due to arrive in MEL on flight MH129 due 8:35pm on the 4th.

Tim & Chrissie, expect me on the NZ154 at 11:45pm from Melbourne to Wellington on the 6th.

See all you guys soon (hopefully).

Respect

Jon

Hey everyone.

We have arrived in Napier (get your maps out!) on the east coast of the north island - so and much to the delight of Chrissy and indeed me we are by the sea - did I say sea - i meant the Pacific Ocean - did I say pacific ocean - i meant south pacific (Dave will now sing selected songs from the musical!)

For those who don’ know Napier is an Art Deco city and probably one of the finest if not the finest. There is some stunning architecture and I love it!!

After ariving (about 13 seconds) we ventured to Thomas Ian Evans heavan! Otherwise known as the Sea Life Centre of New Zealand - sharks, very funny fish, crocodiles, nemo and kiwis were seen.

We then headed to the links for a round of crazy golf - I won! With 3 hole in ones incfluding one on the tough 18th - pictures of the hole to follow - Chrissy wants to write. SHOW OFF!!!!

Ok shes stopped writing - other than that and I think we may be back there this afternoon as its a cracker of a course we are off to visit Wineries in the surrounding region

Oh yeah and we drank a few handles (kinda pints) last night of Macs Gold, Macs Dark and Macs Sassy Red, as well as a local brew I can’t remember (oh well will have to drink it again tonight)

The journey from Taupo had some stunning moments and now its Chrissy’s turn to write more and stop me dribberling on

Hey everyone! Don’t know if I can ever stop Tim dribbling on but I’ll try!!!
The drive from Taupo to here was amazing -a very diverse range of scenery -rolling hills, mountains, tiny rivers and waterfalls, very dense vegetation at some points and sparse in others (Mr Croom would be so proud of that sentence!!). Tim slept through the most stunning part but as he put it “I’ve seen it before!” (show off- again)
I hope you’re not thinking that all we’re doing is drinking beer - but we do feel it is our duty to try and supoprt the local economy as much as possible. Meant we got into trouble at the hostel with people banging on the wall cos we were talking too loudly - oops! Miserable people!

I was very excited to see Nemo and Doree in the Aquarium - big kid that I am! The sharks were also pretty cool, especially as there’s a tunnel that u can walk through so they swim right over your head.

Anyway, tim’s told u all the exciting stuff - we’re off to visit wineries now (more local produce).

Me again - We have noticed here in Napier that people leave pebbles with messages on them - we are going to do a Approach one with tour details and stuff - we will take some pictures - but our name is spreading.

Rock On!

Chrissy and Tim