Family Time

My second week in Auckland was all about family. I wasn't feeling too well on the Monday and Tueday I spent time sleeping and chilling with the people that I was staying with.

Wednesday was spent driving down to Taumaranui to drop Alice and her friends off at horse riding camp. Lorraine made me drive part of the way (I haven't driven in six years so it was an interesting experience). While at the camp I ran into my old youth pastor who I haven't seen in about 10 years - I don't know who was more shocked.

Thursday involved visiting my grandmother (who is 91). She struggles to remember people so I was very encouraged to see a hint of recognition in her eyes when she saw me. She didn't remember my name but nevertheless is was great to spend time with her. I went with my Aunty Elaine and spent a great afternoon with her. I had dinner that even with my Uncle Rowland and their children. It was a great time of catching up and was a nice relaxed evening. One of the aspects of being overseas that is the hardest to deal with is the lack of family contact. I feel that I have definitely made up for lost time during this trip.

Friday consisted of catching up with some dear friends Mike and Rebecca Walker and their family, Mike has been like a mentor to me and it was fantastic to catch up. In the evening I had a wonderful dinner (including pavlova) with my Aunty Eyvonne and Uncle Monty and cousin Emma. I had a thoroughly enjoyable time with them.

Well that's the end of family week. Tomorrow I will tell you about a wedding a two fun filled weeks in the South Island.

Greetings from Middle Earth

I have been having an amazing time in my homeland. I have forgotten how much it means to me and how relazed I feel when I am here.

My last few weeks have been fairly hectic (but absolutely amazing) which is why I have not been very good at keeping my blog uptodate.

In the time allowed on this internet site I will attempt to fill you in on some of the things that I have been doing.

My time here started off with a New Years party with about 25 of my friends who I have not seen in years. It was great. At 8am the next morning (after being away unitl 4am) Heather and I headed down to Rotorua where we did activities such as skyline and luge rides. The weather was overcast but I still managed to get a bit of colour. We also did the zorb ride which involves sitting in side a big plastic ball with water in it and being pushed down a 200m slope. It was awesome.

We then soaked for a while in the thermal pools before heading to Tauranga. While here wandered around the Mount and the beach. It was great. We then headed back up to Auckland.

We ventured into Auckland City on the Wednesday and wandered along Mission Bay and enjoyed some yummy fish n chips and L&P. I ran into an old school friend - I love small countries.
And then on the Friday Lorraine, Doug and I drove to Hamilton where we visited the factory shops (I'm well stocked now) and then went to visit some friends who unfortunately were not at home - oh well we still managed to have a look at their new house. On the way down we also munched on some yummy mussel fritters and I enjoyed the thickest of Kiwi thickshakes (my jaw is still recovering).

My original plan was to travel to Palmerston North on the Saturday and spend a week between there and Wellington. I soon discovered that I had way too much to do in Auckland so decided to do that part of the trip at the end. So on the Saturday Nathan (a friend from London) and I went to my favourite sports ground (Eden Park) to see NZ v Sri Lanka, let's just say it was a very short game.

On Sunday I spent the day with my little sister Nikki. We played mini golf (it turned out to be a hard fought out draw) and then travelled into Mission Bay where we sampled some Belgian beer before heading to the Sky City casino. Incidentally I won $12 on my first go - not bad really. We then met up with Alison and Leo (friends from South Africa) and Nathan and headed out for dinner at the Viaduct. It was great to see London friends in Auckland.

A world of contrasts

I have had the odd moments of culture shock while I've been away and one of these was on my arrival in Singapore. I landed at 4.30am on the 28th of December. The airport is immaculate (I'm sure you could have eaten off the floor). I was processed through immigation, didn't have to stand in line, then walked down the stairs to prepare to wait for my luggage. I arrived at the baggage carousel and there were my bags. I was shocked. Walking out of the airport I saw some advertising that I haven't seen in months - a McDonalds sign (there is only one in India and that is in Delhi). I have become used to noise, dirt and dust and strange and interesting smells, I found none of these in Singapore.

I arrived at Paul and Caillie's place (friends from London) at 6am and spent some time catching up with them. They then went to work and I crashed for a little while. I then endeavoured to get into the city to meet Caillie. Caillie had said that I was to meet her at a shopping mall on Orchard Road called Lucky Plaza. As soon as she had left the house the name of the mall escaped me. She had mentioned that I was to take bus 111. I was flicking through a tourist book and the first page that I came to said to get to Lucky Plaza take bus 111. I was very relieved.

We spent the morning looking through shops and drinking some wonderful fruit juices - I had a celery, cucumber and red apple drink, amazing! We met Paul for lunch and I was treated to a wonderful Singaporean dish - Mae Goreng. It was superb. Paul went back to work and Caillie and I headed to the shops and then to Raffles.

Then the rain came. Caillie and I ended up being absolutely drenched. We both had umbrellas but I was saturated up to my knees, down my back and down one side. Thankfully it was warm which made it a bit more bearable. It was rather uncomfortable walking round these really nice stores dripping water as we went - oh the joys of the monsoon.

We then headed to Raffles - the home of the famous Singapore Sling. This is a famous cocktail in Singapore, it's bright pink and reminded me lots of a Snakebite (if anyone is unsure of what this is go to any Walkabout and you'll soon discover it). It costs Singapore dollars $18 which is about 7 dollars more expensive than the other cocktails available - but as a tourist its just got to be done. It's not just the drink that is unique but also the surroundings that you are in while you drink it. You sit in the Long Bar (named because of the length of the bar) and upon sitting down are given a large dish of peanuts (still in their shells). When you are eating the peanuts you don't place the shells neatly on the table you throw them on to the grown. The entire floor of the place is covered in peanut shells - quite an experience. There are also birds flying around hoping to pick up the spoils.

I was feeling quite tired at this point and Caillie was suffering with a cold and so we decided to pamper ourselves by having a pedicure. I have very sensitive feet and just having spent 2 months in India my feet were in a shocking state. I was only going to have a manicure but they ladies said "you have to have a pedicure".

I survived the process - after treating Caillie to a display of me giggling and yelling as my feet were dealt to. I took a before and after photo and they looked like completely different feet. The ladies who worked in the salon were very proud of the change.

We spent the evening eating spring rolls and peanut satay. We stat in a really neat outdoor market. It was really pleasant and had a good vibe - even though it was still raining.

The next morning I ventured out on my own and headed to Sentosa Island. The journey started with a cable car ride from the mainland to the island. This enabled me to get some good views of Singapore. Upon arrival headed to the acquarium which had a section for for petting sting rays and sharks and a display of such huge crabs (I was thankful for the thick glass between us). I then headed to the beach and enjoyed some sunshine that I had been missing. Following this I took a chair lift down to the lower part of the island and wandered along to southern most point of South-East Asia. This is quite an interesting claim as it can only claim this because of some loose connections. The link from Singapore to the Sentosa and then a rope bridge that separates Sentosa to this little piece of land. Lunch was chicken and rice (a local favourite) accompaned by a banana dacquiri at a bar overlooking the water - tough life! Followed by a dolphin show and a return chairlift and cable car ride back to Singapore.

Caillie was still feeling under the weather so I met up with Paul for dinner. We ventured into Chinatown and had a drink at a really cute little rooftop bar. You can only have one drink there as the music is quite loud for some strange reason. We then walked across town to the Quay where we caught a river boat and saw the Singapore skyline from a different angle. It was then time for dinner. It was my decision where we ate and Paul was very patient with me as I took quite a bit of time trying to decide where to go. I finally decided on a place at the waters edge. The restaurant was great but unfortunately the dish that I ordered was not - Soft Shell Crabs. This dish would have to be the saltiest and greasiest dish that I have ever had, it was pretty much a pile of salty batter. I could feel my arteries hardening. After dinner we wandered around the streets and Paul was a brilliant guide pointing out various points of interest includin an ice bar. The final stop of the evening was at a micro brewery. I sampled the taster selection - I know I'm definitely a fan of white beer.

We headed back around midnight.

After a few short hours of sleep it was time to get up and head for the airport. I said goodbye to Paul and Caillie. Thanks for being such brilliant hosts and for making me very much at home and looked after - hopefully I will see you in NZ this weekend.

Singapore airport amazed me again when the checking in process and clearance of security took me approximately 30 minutes - most impressive. Then at 8.30 we took off - destination New Zealand....

It was a great flight and the time went quickly (helped by the fact that Lord of the Rings was showing - taking up 3 hours of the flight).

I arrived in NZ at 11pm and was welcomed home by the customs official who was quite amazed that I hadn't been back for so long. It was strange to hear so many New Zealand accents and it took me a while to stop turning around every time I heard a New Zealand accent (which I was used to doing in London in case I knew the person).

I was met by the Robinson family at the airport - thankfully we managed to meet each other as I had told them that I was arriving at 11.30 instead of 11:00 so they were walking into the airport as I was exiting the airport - at least no one had to wait :)

It was great to be back...