Three bounds and I'm home
Trip Start
Feb 01, 2005
1
16
Trip End
Mar 14, 2005
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Christchurch, New Zealand
Tuesday, March 15, 2005
It takes you past modern as well as historic sites. Took lot's of pictures. The third walk finished at the hotel, which was handy. Also worked out I finished a reel of film at the last spot. Took a detour to New Regents Street. It's a narrow pedestrianised road, although trams go down there. On the first floor the building fronts are painted bright colours. The building style is that of the Spanish in California.
Then got on a tram to the art gallery. Lot's of good stuff including one called 'is that you Caravaggio'. It's by a New Zealand Artist Kees Bruin and is absolutely brilliant. Put his name into an NZ search engine, he has a web site. The image on there doesn't do justice to the original but it's worth looking at all the same. Quick visit to the Botanic Gardens then off to the hotel bar for a coffee and catch up with the cricket ('what happened?' I asked when looking at the score, New Zealand had collapsed).
Set off for the airport nice and relaxed, not really wanting to leave. Hardly any traffic - never is apparently. Got to the lounge, had a VB and watched the end of the cricket.
Flight to Sydney was smooth, then a two hour wait for the flight to Singapore. Gave me a chance to shower, change and watch TV. Even squeezed in a draught VB!
Flight to Singapore 7 1/2 hours. Managed to get a few hours sleep. Other people seem to spend the whole flight asleep, don't know how they do itThree hours wait to the onward flight. Went to the lounge and made the mistake of reading an English newspaper. Got all confused with what day was what. It's yesterday was my four days ago.
Finally back on the plane and back in my seat. Again people go to sleep, I'm wandering up and down as it's 4pm to me. Drink lot's of water and a couple of VBs. Finally nod off, it's mid-night to me. Problem is we're just about an hour away from London. Feel wrecked after something like 24 hours of flying and being 30 odd hours since I set off.
Then customs at Heathrow. Why are they so grumpy? In Australia and New Zealand customs are polite and friendly. They smile and speak to you. They hand checked the fast film I was carrying without complaint. Here they all look as if their dogs just died and grunt at you. Everythings too much trouble. Charming welcome back home.
Still had a fantastic time out there. Australia and New Zealand are both well worth going to. Want to go back. See some places again, get to see places I didn't see this time.
