Author: Jenny’s Brave New World!

Before dropping my sister and brother in law off at the airport to fly back to Brisbane, we visited Nelson Bay’s Lighthouse for coffee. Driving up the North Coast we had lunch at a very basic fish restaurant hidden down a country lane known only to the locals and my brother in law! The meal was delicious but I can’t remember the name of the restaurant or where it was!

My husband and I had decided to drive up from Sydney to Brisbane! We had achieved a staggering 7,000 kilometres in New Zealand but weren’t satisfied! An opportunity to follow the coast up to Brisbane was too good to miss! So, later that afternoon, we drove from the airport to an apartment we’d booked in Shoals Bay. Unfortunately the evening was a washout so we bought a pizza and had a quiet meal looking out onto a car park or, the other choice, staring at the television!

The next day was long, wet and not very exciting! We drove through many forests and saw lots of trees on our way to Sapphire Bay. We didn’t seem to be following the coast because there was no sea view! My husband blamed the sat nav and decided to use a map the next day. When we arrived at our apartment a workman was in our room fixing the patio table! Not ideal but he was very amicable and told me that dolphins had been sighted earlier. We had a spectacular panoramic view of the ocean but unfortunately the dolphins must has moved on. We never did see them!

The next day we headed for Byron Bay but stopped at Coffs Harbour for a very substantial brunch! After the meal we walked to Muttonbird Island nature reserve past a marina. The wind was so strong that the noise blowing through the rigging of the boats was deafening! By the time we reached the point I was frozen and found no enjoyment looking out across the mighty Pacific Ocean! I just wanted to get back into the car and thaw out! The promise of abundant bird life was unfounded, probably because the birds had all blown away!

Byron Bay was a lovely, picturesque town although our ‘stroll’ along the beach to get to the fish restaurant for our evening meal was a real challenge! The gale force wind mercilessly buffeted us as we struggled to walk along the beautiful coastline. Sand stung our bare legs and my hair blowing around my face made visibility almost impossible! I dared not open my mouth for fear of swallowing hair mixed with a healthy dose of sea sand! Just managing to keep upright I battled through the howling gale, eyes down, barely open to prevent the stinging sand from blinding me. The three miles to the restaurant felt like ten! Or twenty …..

At lunchtime on day three we arrived at my sister’s house. She had arranged for her family, with the two new little additions, to meet in the evening for dinner. I couldn’t wait! And the wait was worthwhile! Meeting up with the family was a real joy! My niece and nephews and their partners have grown into lovely, caring adults and my great niece and nephew, absolutely adorable! I wouldn’t have missed this reunion for the world! So sad that we can’t meet up regularly but WhatsApp, videos and photographs are the next best thing. That’s life!

A visit to the Glasshouse Mountains the next day, in temperatures of 40 degrees plus, resulted in a sad Fitbit who finally gave up begging me to feed it and went to sleep! The air conditioning in the car was set to maximum and the only stops we made were for comfort breaks and cold drinks. That evening we caught a ferry to the Wharf and enjoyed the wonderful ambience of a thriving city filled with joggers, sightseers and inhabitants all out on the town and having fun! The atmosphere was electric! The meal was delicious!

Two days later we landed back in Manchester. It was -3 degrees and felt bitterly cold. Our taxi was waiting as prearranged. As we walked into an ice cold house I made a beeline for the heating switch! Six wonderful weeks after leaving England we were back, rejuvenated and with a multitude of wonderful experiences to mull over and share!

So, let’s see what the New Year brings …..👠

After a cold, wet three weeks in New Zealand we landed in Sydney. It was warm and the sun was shining! What bliss! The taxi dropped us off at the apartment we were sharing with my sister and brother in law, the latter waiting outside with the access code to let us in. My sister had prepared an evening meal. What a pleasure to unpack our bags and not have to go out looking for a salubrious restaurant and one offering a gluten free option!

The next morning I awoke to the delicious smell of bacon and eggs! My sister is the early bird. I’m the night owl. She had been up for a couple of hours so was beginning to get impatient to start our sight seeing! We walked to Circular Quay and caught the ferry to Manley. Sailing towards the Sydney Opera House was spectacular. It glistened in the bright morning sunlight, a feat of architectural beauty, the pride and joy of all Australians. And who could blame them?

Disembarking in Manley we walked along the esplanade and saw school children having surfing lessons! Some other classes were being held on the beach which I thought such a good idea. Getting outside in the fresh air and soaking up much needed vitamin D! I wondered if those children realised how lucky they were! No pasty white faces to be seen, all were tanned and healthy! We had a drink at the New Brighton Hotel before heading back to the water and catching another ferry to Watson Bay. I’m not a particularly good sailor but the ferry rides were great. I could see land on either side so this also made a difference!

The thing that I remember the most about Watson Bay was the enormous sole I had for lunch! I have never seen one so big and was convinced that I would never finish it! But I did and it was absolutely delicious! We weren’t in any rush so we lingered over our meal before heading back to Sydney and another quiet evening. A pleasure as my sister and I had a lot of catching up to do! She had proudly become a grandmother for the first time, not once but twice! Both sons wives had given birth within a few months of each other. An adorable little boy made his entrance first, followed by a petite, beautiful little girl! I couldn’t wait to meet them!

We visited the Opera House, climbing the stairs to the top. The usual tourists taking selfies or in groups was the only downside to another glorious sunny day. From the Opera House we walked to the Botanical Gardens and saw our first kookaburra of this trip. He was perched on a tree stump staring across at the cameras pointed at him, flashing continuously. He ignored them, slowly shifted his position, without a care in the world, then flew off out of sight!

We caught a taxi to ‘The Rock’ where we had a light lunch before my sister and I went shopping for clothes for her two new grandchildren. We were spoilt for choice! As the new ‘Great Aunt’ (ouch!) I wanted to see them bearing gifts! Shopping completed we headed back to our apartment to get ready for our evening meal. It was fun going out into the throngs lining the wharf. The atmosphere was electric! For a small town girl I really enjoyed the buzz and bright lights of a big city! A rare treat and not to be missed!

The following morning we caught a taxi to Bondi Beach which was another unforgettable experience. There was a 1.5 kilometre ‘Sculptures by the Sea’ walk which was so different and very enjoyable. The sculptures were in glass, resin, wood, metal and a whole lot more materials. The imagination of some of the artists was astounding! There was a vintage truck made from palm fronds and seed pods! All along the walk there was something for everyone. Stunning bronze statues glistened in the sunlight, glass shards tinkled and sparkled as the sea breeze gently wafted around the exhibits.

Our first visit in our hired car was to the Blue Mountains. We booked a ride on the Blue Mountain Scenic Railway. This is the steepest passenger railway in the world with a 52 degree drop into an ancient rainforest on the Jamison Valley floor. My brother in law knew about the steep drop. The rest of us didn’t! The experience literally took our breaths away! Spectacular didn’t come close!

Wild fires had started burning in a number of areas outside Sydney so we had been warned that some roads would be closed. A haze hung over our apartment when we returned home that evening and we could smell the acrid smoke. Little did any of us know that these fires would still be burning weeks later and swathes of this beautiful country would be destroyed! Devastating!

Our last night in Sydney was wonderful. We joined the masses of residents and visitors sitting in bars opposite the beautiful Sydney Opera House. Soaking in the atmosphere as I sipped my gin and tonic I recalled the last five weeks. We had experienced so much, met so many wonderful people, eaten delicious meals and seen so many cultures living happily together. Hong Kong was different! Not somewhere I’d like to rush back to until the country resolves it’s political issues and I’d feel safe!

We headed for Brisbane after spending a night in Newcastle with my brother in law’s sister. She was generous to a fault and welcomed us into her beautiful home my brother in law had built for his mother many years ago! We had one last week left to enjoy the warmth of Australia before flying home to an English winter and Christmas. I was going to meet my great niece and nephew! I couldn’t wait! 👠

From cold Queenstown we headed to Franz Josef Glacier. This was going to be the coldest place we would visit and I had come prepared. I had packed one pair of thermal gloves, one pair of thick socks, a scarf and my puffer jacket. All items of clothing had been worn many times and were beginning to look the worse for wear! I had no choice. I packed them at the top of my suitcase.

Back on the Highway we headed up the west coast to our penultimate destination. Our accommodation was described as staying true to the ‘Arts and Crafts’ style of architecture. Different. The colonial homestead had been lovingly restored and the beautiful rimu timbers whispered the history of this 1926 family home. Sounded interesting! Every one of our accommodations had been so different, all first class and highly recommended! We would be staying for two nights so could spread out and hang up some clothes which looked as if they had been buried at the bottom of the ironing basket!

The house was beautiful. The owners were so helpful. We were made to feel at home in their immaculate en-suite bedroom. The balcony overlooked an old barn with a backdrop of stunning views of the hills. That evening we walked through a little wood to the town centre and had a superb meal.

We had been told to take a torch if we wanted to walk back through the wood. The other route was via the motorway, empty at that time of night, but boring! It was as we were preparing to leave that my husband realised he had forgotten to bring his pride and joy, his torch with the brightness of a million candles! Or so the manufacturers had claimed!

‘Don’t worry’, I told him nonchalantly, ‘glow worms will be our guides! They’re even better than your fancy torch and far more fun!’ So we left the restaurant with street lights illuminating the way to the wood at the end of the road. Actually, if you didn’t know there was a wood at the end of the road, you would be forgiven for thinking it was a huge black hole and something to be avoided at all cost!

We reached the opening of the black hole and it was pitch black! The bravado of earlier had disappeared and I was feeling very vulnerable. Anyone (or anything) could be lurking in that dark pit! But then, as I was about to suggest the motorway route home, I spotted a tiny, flashing light. I moved towards it and then looked further out. I couldn’t believe my eyes! Masses of tiny flickering lights lined both sides of the path, not giving off much light but keeping us on the straight and narrow! A magical walk home under a starry sky and accompanied by what we believed to have been tiny fairy lanterns when we were little, living in South Africa!

The next day was dry but cold, perfect for exercise which we got in abundance! We walked as far as we could to the Franz Josef glacier, marvelling at the size of this huge frozen lake which must be seen to be believed! We were even warm enough to take off our jackets and feel the illusive sun on our backs! A novel experience which we thoroughly enjoyed! We saw some beautiful coloured rocks and stones on our walk to the glacier and I would have loved to have taken some home for my rockery! We finished the day with an old mine trail walk from Okarito, to Three Mile Lagoon. Because the tide had come in we had to retrace our steps and follow the same route back! I did 37,030 steps that day! Fitbit was ecstatic! I was exhausted!

The next day we headed up to Greymouth to board the Tranz Alpine train back to Christchurch. The scenery changed from thick rainforest and native bush to high country grasses. We passed through river valleys, deep gorges and towering viaducts which gave way to vast rivers fed by the many snowfields along the way. We continued west, passing through the foothills of the Southern Alps, over the Canterbury Plains to descend into Christchurch. Once more they had an open viewing carriage which was where my husband spent almost the entire four and a half hours! He only briefly returned to his seat for a drink and a sandwich before rushing back in case he missed any of the stunning scenery!

The next day we boarded our plane to Auckland, then on to Sydney and a week’s stay with my sister and brother in law in the centre of this beautiful city. My brother in law had prepared an eye-watering itinerary! He had been born and brought up here so every day would be filled with more visual delights!

But I’ll never forget our three weeks in New Zealand. Despite the rain, cold, wind and snow we had met some unforgettable people, stayed in first class accommodation, had amazing meals and feasted our eyes on spectacular scenery! We’re definitely going back, sooner rather than later! 👠

When we arrived at our accommodation the night before, unbeknown to us, the key had been left under the mat. The place was in darkness and only after frantic knocking was the door flung open by a rude middle aged man who berated us for disturbing him! Apologies from the management staff and blame heaped on everyone from the travel agent in the U.K. to the gormless taxi driver was the outcome of my exhausted tirade the following morning! After breakfast we collected our new hired car, loaded the suitcases and, with permission from the landlady, parked in her driveway. We walked into Christchurch on a warm, sunny Sunday morning.

Slowly I began to relax, soaking up the ambiance of a city lovingly restored after the devastating earthquakes of 2011. We eventually found our way to the entrance of the botanical gardens. Majestic old trees, which had stood the test of time, towered high above beautifully manicured lawns and stunning flower beds! Families punted on the river Avon or relaxed on benches or blankets dotted around the extensive gardens. It was all very tranquil and I would have defied even the most stressed person (usually me!) not to automatically begin to unwind!

Our next stop was Lake Tekapo. Our accommodation near its shores had spectacular views of the Southern Alps! We headed down Highway 8, very ‘chilled’ and looking forward to our next adventure. The journey was uneventful and we arrived late afternoon, still no rain but bitterly cold. The view from our balcony of the turquoise-blue lake nestling in the valley was stunning. The mountain range covered in snow with luminous shades of blues, greys and brilliant sparkling white etched against a cloudless sky and formed a magical backdrop. We donned warm clothes, (my well-worn puffer jacket and jeans), and headed for its shores.

We found a restaurant and had a delicious meal washed down with a couple of glasses of delicious wine. The light was fading as we headed back outside where were met by a howling gale before the heavens opened! I hadn’t brought a handbag or umbrella so the mile back to our accommodation was horrendous! The biting cold and battering rain made walking very difficult and I clung onto my husband’s hand as we fought our way through the storm, visibility almost non existent!

The next morning we climbed a hill to see the view of the lake from above and the surrounding landscape. As we reached the top the wind was so strong and so freezing cold that I had to sit down and huddle into a ball to avoid being blown away! Once more my husband had to take on the role of super hero and help me down the exposed path, the biting cold numbing my hands and feet, making movement even more laborious! I didn’t go quietly! I have never been accused of being a martyr! It was one of the most unpleasant walks I have ever undertaken and also one of the coldest! The car soon warmed up but it took a long time for me to thaw out!

Back on Highway 8 and feeling human again we headed down to Queenstown. Once more our accommodation was of a high standard and we arranged for our breakfast to be left outside our room at 5:30 am the next morning. We had to meet the coach at 6:30 am on an arranged trip to Milford Sound.

The driver / guide was great. There were only eleven of us on the coach so each had a double seat to spread out and relax. We passed by the magnificent mountain range called the ‘Remarkables’, drove through lush farmland and on to the Fjordland National Park. We past the beautiful Mirror Lakes and it was then that I noticed the change in the weather. The sky was becoming very heavy. The few snowflakes, which had gracefully floated outside the window, had begun to thicken and form a menacing blanket blocking our view. We headed for the Homer Tunnel and our guide was confident that the snow would soon abate and we’d reach Milford Sound.

But, alas, we never did see the series of uniquely shaped rocks and potholes formed by the Cleddau River rushing into a dark abyss! We didn’t board a small boutique boat and view the stunning snow-tipped mountains or cruise past rugged cliffs covered in the magnificent native rainforest. We never saw seals, dolphins or penguins in the fjord fed by powerful waterfalls that tumbled hundreds of metres down into the valley below!

We had to turn around and drive back to Queenstown! Too much snow and too little time to clear it! The once jolly guide concentrated on the drive back and we were left to stare forlornly out of the window in a hushed silence. As we approached the city the snow gradually turned to rain. But our luck hadn’t changed! After the first few passengers were dropped off the door of the coach jammed and we had to walk about two miles back to our room! Once more cold, wet and also very hungry!

But our last day in Queenstown was dry and slightly warmer. We drove around the coast, walked along the lake, had a super meal and awoke bright and early the next morning to start the last leg of our journey. Franz Josef Glacier here we come!👠

Up bright and early we had breakfast, did our final packing and went downstairs to wait for our prearranged taxi taking us to the ferry terminal. Peering out of the window I noticed that the sea and sky had merged into a grey ominous mass, but the wind, strong and cold, posed more of a threat. Security was less onerous than the airports so we walked on to the ferry, carrying our hand luggage and made our way to a seat at the window, facing forward.

The outside viewing decks were shut due to the weather so my husband’s photo opportunities were limited! Alas, this was really bothering him and he went on a walkabout to see how he could get around it! Mid week and not in the holiday season, yet the place was heaving! I had to put my bag on the seat next to me so that the nomad would have somewhere to sit when he finally returned!

In our itinerary we were told that this trip from North to South Island was one of New Zealand’s most iconic tourist experiences! The most spectacular cruise in the world! Alas, the weather put paid to any confirmation and only cleared up as we approached Picton!

We walked slowly towards the station, taking in the pretty village delights! We were going to Christchurch from Picton on the Coastal Pacific train. I love train journeys so was really looking forward to this! The rain and fog had finally moved on (or headed back to North Island!) so the promise of a scenic feast was realistic! We passed through Marlborough country, mile after mile of grape vines proudly displaying their new green foliage!

As we neared the coast the Kaikoura mountain range rose magnificently to my left and the rugged coastline of the Pacific Ocean stretched to the right. The open viewing compartment was next to ours so my husband was in his element! He should have worn my Fitbit as I watched him darting from one side to the other, lost for scenic choice!

We chugged into Christchurch at 8:30 pm, collected our luggage and followed the crowd to the row of taxis parked outside. We had to queue so waited our turn. Having to repeat the address a number of times and being asked if we were going home so could we advise a route, should have been a warning! Forty minutes later and after many stops to check his Sat Nav, we finally pulled up outside our bed and breakfast! I had tried to ring them for help and to explain the delay but had no reply!

I almost fell out of the taxi and made my way to the front door. All was in darkness! Not a good omen! I rang the doorbell once more as panic began to mount to high blood pressure levels! A light came on in the hallway! A middle aged man flung open the door and told me that the key was under the mat! I had been informed! He was very busy so explained where to find the room and vanished!

After trundling upstairs with all our luggage I put the kettle on, made a pot of tea, showered and went to bed, really annoyed and forty five dollars poorer! Tomorrow morning heads would roll! Tonight I needed to sleep! Easier said than done! It was a long night!👠

Yes, it did rain and there was a howling gale for our two days in Wellington but we visited museums and had an apartment so were able to cater for ourselves. It had become a rare treat to buy ingredients and cook an evening meal! I never thought I’d be in that position. Isn’t life a funny thing!

We arrived late afternoon and, while the weather wasn’t too bad and it had stopped raining, we went up the cable car and had a pleasant walk down the mountainside, through the botanical gardens. The light was beginning to fade as we arrived at the supermarket and bought ingredients for a Chilli Con Carne. Delicious and washed down with a smooth New Zealand red!

The highlight of our two weeks in New Zealand so far was our visit to the Gallipoli exhibition at the Te Papa museum! This has been the most visited museum in New Zealand and I can understand why! The displays were magnificent! Ta Papa joined forces with Weta Workshop who were responsible for the special effects in films such as The Lord of the Rings, the Hobbit trilogies and Blade Runner 2049 amongst others. The significantly larger than life models (2.4 times larger!) of eight ordinary New Zealander’s tells the story of the war through their eyes.

I cannot do justice when describing the workmanship! I was gobsmacked! There was a fan blowing gently down on a soldier and the fine hairs on his fingers were ‘tickled’ by the breeze! The detail to every aspect of those depicted was truly astonishing! I was very tearful as I took a poppy and wrote a message on it. Visitors were given this opportunity. Apparently over a million poppies have been collected to date and the number just keeps on growing. The exhibition, which enthrals all age groups, will remain open until after Anzac Day 2022! Hurry, time’s running out ………

We dropped the car off and walked back to our apartment in the pouring rain. My umbrella finally folded as the last of the spikes holding it up were ripped asunder! I threw it into the nearest garbage bin and soon looked like a drowning, miserable ‘rat’, hunched against the elements but soldiering on! We stopped at the supermarket and bought chicken pieces and found a curry mix in a bottle that was gluten free! What joy when I eventually got out of the bath and sat, warmed by the heater and a glass of NZ red, watching the sun setting on our final evening in North Island!

What an adventure and we still had another eight days before we flew to Australia to catch up with new arrivals in my sister’s family. Adding to the ambience of our little apartment was the warm glow I felt when remembering that I still had three more weeks of holidays. I didn’t have to go back to a manic catch-up at work! What joy! What bliss! Life was good! 👠

We head down North Island to the the Art Deco city of Napier. It rained throughout the whole journey! We follow the directions to our next accommodation, a ‘beautifully restored single storey 1890’s residence’. It stood nestled in a quiet cul de sac on Napier Hill and was indeed beautiful! Breathtaking! The floors, ceilings, windowsills and most of the furniture was from kauri wood and worth a fortune!

We unpacked and drove into Napier looking for a restaurant for our evening meal. It was still pouring with rain, the sea and sky had merged into a dense grey mass and even the commuters looked miserable, heads bent as they left their warm offices and trundled home. We parked our car and, umbrella held firmly on one side so as not to blow away in the howling gale, we made our way to the first restaurant we found open. It didn’t look very salubrious but had maintained the Art Deco style throughout although required some ‘tender loving care’!

 The next day we booked a walking tour to see the collection of Art Deco buildings. There were also some impressive statues which would be well worth a visit. But there was a catch. It was still pouring with rain and blowing a gale! I needed to get my priorities right! I was on holiday and no one knew me. Our last day in Napier with no control over the weather! I could either stay in my beautiful warm room, curled up in bed with a good book (which I had) or get out there, puffer waistcoat, jacket and umbrella and ‘do’ Napier!

I ‘did’ Napier! But I’m going to be honest! I didn’t enjoy it! In fact, I really didn’t enjoy anything of the walk for two hours clutching my umbrella with one hand and trying to keep the tiny speaker in my only good ear with the other! Seen one Art Deco building you’ve seen them all! I know I was pathetic but no two people are the same! My husband loved the tour, took hundreds of wet photographs, revelled in the architecture and enthused over the statues. He hung on to every word the seriously loquacious Australian (can you believe?) guide bleated on and on about! We studied the designs in detail, piece by tedious piece, brick by cold, wet, insanely boring brick!

But we had an escape route! Oh what joy! Our car parking ticket expired after two hours! My husband had to physically drag himself away from completing the tour of the theatre and the final film show to avoid getting a fine! I cannot describe the sheer bliss of sitting in the warm, comfortable car, heated seat on, dry, survived!

We ended the day on a high by having a six course meal at a restaurant recommended by the owner of our apartment. She also provided the taxi. We included a wine tasting with every course, mainly from the local Hawke’s Bay vineyard. Delicious and well worth ironing my only smart outfit which had been left to atrophy at the bottom of my suitcase!

What a surprise the next morning. We woke up to a golden glow in our bedroom. The sun had finally made an appearance. We sat staring out at the Pacific Ocean, a glorious shade of azure blue, mirroring the cloudless sky. 

But the sun is fickle. As we head down the Highway towards Wellington for our final two nights on the North Island, clouds returned to remind us that this had been and still was one of the wettest Springs on record! The sun played its favourite game, ‘now you see me, now you don’t’ and then vanished behind a black storm cloud which guided us into Wellington! And another two days of gales and downpours ….👠

We loaded up the car and headed  for the State Highway and a little village called Thames. Rain and wind remained our constant companions but we soldiered on in the hope that we would leave the bad weather behind!

The brochure described our boutique bed and breakfast as having stunning views of the Kauaeranga river on an acre of beautiful countryside. There was a spa pool and patio with access to our own private garden! We would be close to local beaches, bird watching and a base to explore the beautiful Coromandel Peninsula. All fine and well if we had the time.  We didn’t! We were arriving in the evening  and leaving early the following morning!

The bed and breakfast apartment was all the brochure said it would be! Our hosts were lovely. We drove along the very winding road of the peninsula as the setting sun cast its glorious crimson glow over the horizon. The sun, like a golden orb, created a glistening path stretching across the shimmering waters of the Pacific Ocean.  It narrowed as it reached the shore, waves that lapped gently over the sand sparkled like millions of tiny diamonds.  The next morning, after a delicious breakfast, we headed to a small town called Katikati to meet up with friends we had made thirty five years ago in a little mining town in South Africa called Secunda.

Who would have thought that, so many years later, we would meet up on another continent. Our lives had moved in such different directions yet it felt as if we had just popped in for a chat, like old friends! We spent a wonderful few hours looking at photographs, swapping news of our children and grandchildren and just enjoying each other’s company. Like we used to over dinner or cups of tea in Secunda!

Then on to Rotorua and our next accommodation, a lodge set in two acres of lush grounds nestling on the slopes of Mount Ngongotaha. It was the smell that ‘welcomed’ us into the spa town and followed us until miraculously vanishing as we started the climb up the side of the mountain. The air became fresher and cooler and the persistent rain finally abated, our first sight of a blue, cloudless sky for days! But it was cold, very cold! Out came my puffer jacket and favourite black jeans as my ‘go to’ outfit for the evening meal! Certainly not up to my usual standard! But no one knew me and probably wouldn’t see me again ……. whew!

The next day was my birthday in New Zealand. Not in England! Bizarre! I got a card from my husband and our host baked a gluten free chocolate birthday cake. Delicious! My Australian relatives sent texts and Facebook messages but I had to wait for later that evening before relatives and friends in England caught up with us!  Threatening grey clouds had replaced the cloudless blue of the previous evening as we drove to the Waimangu volcanic valley. The threat of rain was always present but we walked the entire route to the bottom of the valley and  back up, not catching the bus like the rest of the tourists! Earned a brownie point from my Fitbit who got really excited when I reached twenty thousand steps! I celebrated with a couple of glasses of red wine and a delicious steak!
The next day we went to the village of Taupo and walked along the beach, the blue sky had returned and added some warmth to the sun. We went to Te Puia, a Maori heritage site and watched in awe as the huge Pohutu geyser, the star of the show and the largest active geyser in the Southern Hemisphere, erupted spectacularly up to 100 feet, as it did twice every hour.  Geothermal hot pools gurgled along the route which were used by Maoris for cooking, washing, bathing and preparing flax down the centuries. Fascinating! We ended the afternoon with a visit to the kiwi sanctuary, peering through the gloom at these strange nocturnal birds with spiky feathers and long, pointed beaks.
We headed back to our accommodation as the sun set on another enjoyable day and watched the four resident alpacas getting fed, greedily digging their noses into packets held out to them by other residents. I packed my suitcase, again, in readiness for our next adventure, Napier, the Art Deco capital of New Zealand! It had begun to rain and the temperature had plummeted. Grabbing my old faithful puffer jacket we headed out to the town for our meal and a warming glass of wine. I could get used to this …..! 👠

 

We left Hong Kong and set off for New Zealand, landing in Auckland on a sunny afternoon. We collected a car and found our way to an apartment near the city centre. All good so far.

The next morning we awoke, bright and early, watched as a shower of rain made a brief appearance and then the sun heralded the start of another exciting day. We drove up to Paihia, a little town where we had booked a coach trip the following day. Alas, as we headed up north the rain became our constant companion!

On our arrival that evening we wandered into the town armed with my umbrella and had a delicious meal on the quay, watching a large cruiser anchor just outside the inlet to the bay. Walking back to our apartment the wind picked up and the rain became significantly heavier. Lying in bed a bit later the wind had morphed into a howling gale and rain lashed down on to the flat roof making sleep almost impossible!

The owner of our apartment had left us a continental breakfast because we were meeting the coach at 7:15 am the next morning. The rendezvous was in front of a motel about a kilometre down the road. I really didn’t feel like going and the last thing I wanted was to be stuck inside a coach with masses of people breathing and coughing, fogging up windows!

The strength of the wind had mobilised our patio chairs and table and hurled them against the iron railings. This clanging noise periodically rose above that of the wind and rain, sounding like heavy chains hammering against steel! When the alarm finally woke me at 6:00 am the weather hadn’t changed! I really didn’t feel like going on the trip and voiced my concern! But we made our way to the meeting point and climbed onto the coach to join the other intrepid looking travellers.

The name of the tour was the ‘Cape Reinga and 90 Mile Beach Day Trip’. We visited the magnificent Puketona Kauri Forest and saw the majestic kauri trees. These giant trees have become protected as their very versatile wood was exported around the world, leaving one of New Zealand’s once prolific species on the brink of extinction. We visited the most northern point of North Island, Cape Reinga and walked along the cliff to the light house. We saw the meeting of the Tasman Sea and the Pacific Ocean as they crashed together like two powerful giants rushing headlong into battle. According to Maori legend, spirits depart on their journey home to Hawaiki at this historic site.

We ended what turned out to be a most enjoyable journey, with a drive along 90 Mile Beach. The coach left lone tracks in the sand for miles! We had been so lucky all day as we followed the patch of blue cloud, keeping just enough distance between the rain and the sunshine.
When we arrived back at the meeting place I held onto the umbrella as we walked up the steep hill to our apartment to collect the car keys. We found a small supermarket and bought some cheese, biscuits, grapes and a bottle of wine.

Sitting in our cosy bedroom cum sitting room we listened to the storm showing no sign of abating. We were comforted in the knowledge that we didn’t have to get up early the next morning as we were heading down the coast to hopefully significantly better weather!

I am very grateful that I don’t have a crystal ball! I would not have enjoyed the evening as much as I did if I had known that the next stop was going to be as wet and windy as our current one! Alas, we can’t control the weather! But we can make a concerted effort to enjoy ourselves despite it! 👠

 

 

We landed in Hong Kong a few days ago. Filled with trepidation I was not looking forward to spending five days here! Five days of potential protests! Five days staring at the four walls of our hotel room!

But this hasn’t  happened. We have been out every day. We have passed two protest pickets. The first one was in Kowloon. It was small but noisy. Not at all intimidating and quite exciting! The next couple of hours passed calmly and without any incident. We boarded the ferry back to Hong Kong island without any sense of foreboding.

We made our way into the centre of the city and climbed steps up the side of a bridge to cross over the street. As we neared the top we could hear chanting. We looked down. Thousands of people, most dressed in black with some wearing masks, were chanting what sounded like ‘Freedom Hong Kong’. Police cars, their blue lights flashing ominously, had surrounded the protesters. I took a photo on my phone and we hurried across the bridge and into the station.

It was heaving! A kind young girl helped my husband and I get tickets for the MTR (the underground train) and, after dicing with death just to get onto the escalator, we boarded our train. It was 4:00 pm and not yet peak hour but the station was amass with people of all ages hell bent on getting out of town.

We got back to our hotel and I had a long soaking bath. It left me feeling less stressed and much cooler! Having lived in South Africa for many years I was always on my guard. It was indoctrinated into us to hang onto our handbags. Seeing luggage or bags left unattended always resulted in a check to find the owner or reporting it to the police. ANC bomb threats were a part of our lives, much like the IRA in Britain. But time has moved on and the terrorist threats in England are largely only highlighted at airports and wherever crowds gather. They don’t affect our normal daily lives.

But we had survived unscathed and I moved on. The next day we went on a coach trip to see the world’s second largest Buddha. The cable car ride up to the top of the mountain was spectacular. We had glass windows and a glass floor so views were totally unrestricted!

It was another blisteringly hot, humid day so the climb up 260 steps to reach the Buddha was more of a challenge than usual! We had a halfway rest break when a Chinese couple asked us to take a photograph of them standing in front of the Buddha and they returned the favour.

We then moved on to a small fishing village where the main industry is drying fish. They are the lowest caste so cannot live on land. They have built their houses on stilts above the water or live on their boats. Bizarre in this day and age! It gave poverty a whole new meaning seeing how they had to survive. Without their small dried fishing industry (fascinating once your olfactory senses became immune to the strong smell!) they would have nothing.

Sunday morning we tried to get to the top of one of the small hills, climbing steps between huge tower blocks which is where the majority of people live. We had been warned to be back by 2:00 pm as that was when the protest march had been predicted in a park very near our hotel. We spent the rest of the afternoon reading and relaxing in the cool and safety of our very pleasant room.

Later on we went back up to the 41st floor and had a most enjoyable meal watching the spectacular light show. Lasers and moving pictures formed a magnificent background as we had panoramic views across the whole coastline.

We fly to Auckland today. It’s raining so we are once more immobile. Not ideal but have little desire to get wet and clammy before our long haul flight. So it will soon be goodbye Hong Kong, hello New Zealand…. 👠