Approach Down Under

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 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

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 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)

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

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

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

Coffee cup moment anyone??

Tim, Chrissie, Jon