Our Vacation Down Under and Yonder - Part 1

March 7
We left our house at about 7:45 am to catch the 8:30am bus to the airport for our 3:30pm flight to New Zealand with a transit stop in Melbourne. We have to leave early because there was no later bus and it takes just about 1.5 to 2 hours to arrive at the airport. So it was wait and wait and wait!

Waiting!!!

Our first part of the journey was in a Boeing 777 and after waiting for 5 hours we were able to board our flight.

Our ride

What a relief we were finally on our way. The flight was not full so we had a whole row of seats to ourselves. The seats were quite spacious too.

On the way!!! 


Bye Bye Malaysia

March 8
After flying for about 8 hours we finally landed in Melbourne at 2:05am Melbourne time. The airport was kind of a deserted at this hour and the only thing to do was to go to sleep because our connecting flight was at 8:10am

Blaring TVs.


Sleeping is impossible! 

Sleep was almost impossible because of the blaring TVs and the early morning cleaning crews doing their job in the wee hours of the morning. Round about 6:00am people start trickling in and in just a couple of minutes the airport was really busy. Grab ourselves a cup of coffee and a slice of banana bread before heading to the departure gate to board our flight to Auckland, New Zealand. Once again we got a full row of seats to ourselves and this time it is a Airbus A380.

Our ride to Auckland 

Flight from Melbourne to Auckland is about 4 hours and we landed in Auckland at 1:45pm Auckland time. We were excited and wide awake when we stepped into New Zealand. Wow!!! That was like more than 24hours since we left home, guess that is the hazard of being a travelling by air… the waiting! Our host in Auckland is my wife’s cousin and she was already there when we step into the arrival hall. The weather was beautiful, it was cool even though the sun was shining … lovely!

Finally in Auckland. 

We saw our first sheep right in front of our host house and it was interesting. They were curious about us and started bleating at us as though to welcome us to New Zealand. The grass was all brown from the draught that they were experiencing then.

Our Host.


Hello!!! 


Baa Baa!!!

There were lots of catching up to do and we did not go anywhere that day except for dinner. Sorry I forgot to take photos of our dinner but it was delicious. We had our dinner in Denny’s a family restaurant and I had Moroccan lamb, yes it was really good… yum!!!

Another cousin of my wife from Christchurch was in Auckland doing a gig for his church and so more catching up till really late.

Host’s Brother.

March 9
We overslept and our host had to wake us up, must be the very long journey and the very nice weather. We had to meet up with our host’s brother to go for a luncheon. The luncheon was hosted by a Samoan family and we were invited.

New Friends

We met up with them in a shopping mall nearby and grab a quick sushi bite before that.

A quick snack. 

The luncheon was in Onehunga (pronounced as onyhunga) and when we stepped into the house, I noticed that the door knobs were installed really high like almost at my neck.

Giants? 

I was told that houses built in the early days had their door knobs placed up high was to ensure that the children did not leave the without permission. Met lots of people and filled our tummy with taro, sweet potatoes, grilled beef, roast chicken, Kentucky fried chicken, salad, buns and chop suey. Chop suey here is basically Chinese cellophane noodles stir fried I think.

My Lunch ...YUM!


Chinese influence- "Chop Suey"

The boys performed a couple of their self-composed songs before we dispersed on our way.

Entertaintment. 

From here we headed to the Pasifika Festival in Western Springs. The sun was really hot but the breeze was cool. It was crowded but I was surprised to see dancers in grass skirt gyrating their hips at such high speed!!!

The Crowd.


Me

We were surprised to see free sunscreen located at several strategic position for visitors to use. This is something that will never happen back home.


Free Sunscreen.

Wild ducks were everywhere with black swans and geese too!!! What a lovely integration of humans and wildlife.

Black Swans. 


Wild Geese.

Another first for us, a dog litter.

Cool!!! 

Next destination was Mount Eden, the highest volcanic peak in Auckland. Right on top of the peak is some sort of structure which I have no idea what it is.

Mt. Eden Survey Mark. 


Base of survey mark.

A crater is just beside the peak with Auckland in the background.

The Crater. 

There was also direction and distant disc and since we are closest to Singapore, I chose to snap this part.

Wow more than 8410kkm from home.

The drive to Mt. Eden was interesting, lots of old buildings offering lots of goodies from souvenirs to yummy food. We just went pass them without stopping …. grrr!!! I could just kick myself but we were rush for time then.
On returning to our host home, we met her fiancé who had just return from a short trip to Wellington. After some chit chat it was time for dinner … yum!!! We went to a Italian restaurant own and run by Italians. The food is yummy and the mussels are to die for … wish I am still in New Zealand!!!

At Rossini's.


Best Ever Mussels.


Prawn Salad.


Fettuccine with Delicious Scallops & Smoked Salmon. 


Succulent Sirloin Steak with Brandy Sauce.


Pan Fried Snapper.

March 10
Our host’s fiancé took us for a quick round trip in Whitford area where we stayed for a look see in the morning. We stopped at Pine Harbour and my jaws dropped in awe, the number of pleasure craft easily outnumbered those back home all together like 5 times over!!! or more. The sea water is also so clean which made me felt like taking a morning dip!

Volcanic Rocks.

Care-Bear? 


City Of Sails. 


More Sails.


Maraetai Coast Road. 

After that quick little tour, our host’s sis took us to Zarbo in New Market area for a lovely brunch … yum!!!

A Lovely Place.


Yummy Spread. 


Happiness is when the tummy is filled.

Next was Viaduct Harbour – a high class place at the Auckland Waterfront.

Happiness. 


Our future apartment in Auckland will be over there!!! 


Big Sail Boat. 


and more. 


Hamilton Jet.


The largest America’s Cup challenger in 1988 – the KZ1 .


More racing yacht. 


Voyager New Zealand Maritime Musuem



Tasman Trespasser 2.


some old stuff!!!


The Cloud. 

After that it was to our host sis home to meet up with her husband and one very fierce mongrel.

Watching some photos from home.


Lovely cherry tomatoes. 


Yum!!! 


Ate all of them  


Relaxing on the deck. 


With the very fierce mongrel.

Then it was to another friend’s place and to dinner.

A small world. 


Festival Garden, Aotea Square, Queen St.


Queen Street. 


Yes, we are having Japanese.


Happy Diners. 


Yum!!! 


Sashimi Raw and fresh … yum yum!!! 


Sushi … yum yum!!! 

Having our tummy filled, we went back to our host place for a early night cause we have to wake up early to catch the bus for a 11 hour ride to Dannevirke.

It was really great to have met up with people we know but have not seen for quite a while and meeting new friends.

Next is Dannevirke and beyond.