Time for travelling again

It's been 12 weeks since we returned from New Zealand (via Hong Kong and San Fransisco).
So its been a while and thought we needed to get flying again. Caroline has been wanting to get to Budapest for some time. It was my job to sort out some flights, hotels but also took the liberty to add a trip to Vienna. So I set about the easy jet timetable, found some good hotels shortlisted and then looked a train journey between Budapest and Vienna. Train tickets purchased, it was a straight forward process to then look at return flights from Vienna.
As you might therefore guess, the blog page will be running again and regular updates providing wi-fi is accessible.

Returning home

The few days in San Francisco were amazing and was just what we needed to enable our bodies to recover from the 4 weeks in NZ.
The hospitality shown by Caroline's cousins was without doubt the most terrific experience and one which I will not forget in a very long time.
Our final day meant that as many things as possible were seen before heading out to the airport and taking a long last look at the Pacific Ocean.
It might be some time before we manage to get over that part of the world again, but we'll certainly be keeping it mind.

The offer of an extra few inches of leg room on the flight did not pass us by, and we struck a deal with the checking in clerk. We boarded the aircraft, but not before the security had one final peek inside by backpack to find nothing more than a tangled mass of charging wires, some books and a few pens. A satisfied nod, gave me the all clear and found my seat and settled into the flight. Unfortunately unable to sleep for long as there was a small child who decided this was a good time to stay up also and cry, cry cry... and the parents took it in turn to walk him up and down the aisle to ensure nobody else was having quality sleep, whilst the child's feet clipped the occasional passenger, who's head was in direct line as they walked him to and fro in their arms.
Never mind, there were some good films which helped pass the 10hr 35min journey.
Where next..... it anybody's guess

application for 30 hr day in SFO

The last couple of days we were being given all sorts guidance on what to see in SFO. It was great to experience an art exhibition in the De Young Museum, the Japanese Tea Gardens, a fundraising crab feast, ride on the trolley car, walk around chinatown, walk around Muir Woods to see the Redwoods and having a variety of other experiences.
Where did these last 2 days go....
Reflecting on the photos from the entire trip, we've had something of an amazing trip which have ticked so many boxes. Some were unknown boxes which weren't planned, but we've added to them as the days have passed by.
I suppose the only remedy will be to look at more hours in the day or perhaps the more logical approach will be to have more days to pace our whole experience.

But for now, there's just time get our bags packed and consider our plans for getting to the airport and catch our overnight flight back home.
And as for the next journey... watch this space

Lets go to San Fransisco

Although checked out of our hotel in Auckland, we had til around 4pm until getting to the airport. So its was time for some more exploring.
We decided to take a harbour cruise around Auckland and also briefly visit one of the uninhabitated islands across the bay.

We duly paid up and set off for an hour and a half trip, (which included a free tea/coffee and muffin snack). An added bonus was once returned, we could take a free ride on the ferry to Devonport, which we did immediately on the 12.30pm crossing and walked the seaside resort style streets. The pace was different and encountered a completely relaxed approach to life once walking around.
Caroline was attracted to having a 15min biotone massage, before catching the return ferry, afterwhich, we sat and watched the world go by on a waterfront bench and the sun shone.
We found our way into Vulcan street to find a place called 'Raw Power' who's menue was full of vegetarian delights. The tongue twister 'falafel pitta pocket' took our fancy and sat watching more of the Auckland world go by from a 1st floor window, whilst sitting next to a table of men holding a very formal business meeting while drinking their fruit juice style smoothies!
We only had a 5 minute walk back to the hotel and collect our bags and then catch the 'airbus' to the airport.
The check at the airport went smoothly and we were on our way to San Fransisco, crossing the intenational dateline, we would experience the longest day so far, and have Wednesday 8th Dec all over again as we arrived at 10.30 in SFO.

last night in Auckland

I had exchanged ideas about meeting up in the evening with Jane and Bob in Auckland as part of our New Zealand finale. We spent Tuesday morning walking around some of the major sights in the city. We’d walked to the Victoria Park Market as it was one of the ‘must do’ recommendations provided. Unfortunately it was not living up to expectations as the main chimney landmark was under some reconstruction work and many of the allocated stall/shop areas were empty. We walked around a few shops then went off in search of the wealth of Auckland at the harbour. This did not disappoint in both respects of the grandeur affluence of the presenting boats moored up along the quayside but also the weather, with gradually turned into a blue sky experience.
We took a leisurely walk around the waterfront area, passing the maritime museum, bars, restaurants and other noticeable landmarks and artefacts.
After returning to the hotel for a short rest, we decided to take the lift to the top of the Auckland Sky Tower. A significant landmark which had turned into, like so many communication towers, a main tourist attraction where so much of the area could be observed from the highest vantage point.

The views, as expected, were magnificent and the vista of extinct volcanoes could be seen in every direction. We’d been informed that you could see somewhere in the region of 25 disguised volcanoes. In fact there was the notion that if you were going uphill or downhill anywhere in Auckland it was probably at some point of other, a volcano.
The plan was to be met at our hotel at 5 by Jane and then meet up on the waterfront with Bob. Like all our plans, everything worked as predicted and by 6pm we were all sitting in a sun-soaked bar on the waterfront enjoying some fine samples of New Zealand wine and beer. We found an entertaining Italian restaurant a little later with waiter who will be remembered for all his smart ‘one liners’ and helpful photography skills when thrown my camera to record the event.
A final wander around the waterfront and Britomart (train station) and we exchanged our farewells and thanks for Jane and Bob to have shared NZ with us.

Tomorrow was going to be a far different day least alone with the fact we were flying out of NZ, but also in that it would be the longest day, due to us crossing the international date line and having most of Wednesday the 8th all over again in San Fransisco, CA.

Time to Fly again

It was only an hours drive back into Queenstown Airport and park up the rental car for the last time. We calculated doing 4,242Km throughout both north and south island adventure.
We arrived just after 10.30am ready for the 12.20 domestic flight to Auckland. We checked in and found that surprisingly the cases were still a few kg below the limit.
We were sat waiting to go through the security check and looked around to see our hosts from a Tranquility Lodge, Kingston. They said they were passing and wanted to see us off.. Now thats the first time anything like this had happened and we were really touched by them remembering when we were flying and come to see us off.
So the flight was as good on time, we flew a circuit and headed north.
We landed after an hour and twenty minutes in Auckland and within half an hour travelling on the airbus into the centre of Auckland.
Now in Auckland, we've done a quick walk around the central area of Auckland and ready for a further days adventure tomorrow.

an afternoon in Glenorchy

after the morning's strenuous venture onto the mountainside known as Invincible Mine, we had a restful afternoon looking at the clouds drifting by the windows, glancing off the mountains opposite.
we thought we'd take another short venture into Glenorchy and see what was happening.
It seemed like everyone had cleared the streets as we walked down onto the wharf. Taking pictures, it was as though it was a place waiting to happen, but I was about to learn different.
A beer might make a difference, so we strolled into the Glenorchy Hotel... not what you'd think.. apparently the place was rockin last night, and the quiet state of the place reflected the good time had by all.
So the barman served up a Mac Black and white wine for Caroline, and watched the other staff putting up lights on the oversized real pine christmas tree in the corner.
Another local couple came in.... they were in for the sunday roast beef and yorkshire pudding. They chatted with us and was informed about some of the history of Glenorchy as the kiwi chatting was a farmer and lived and worked in Glenorchy all his life. His grandfather had mined locally for gold. He said that the township had been a thriving busy port when the steamer would transport everything to Glenorchy before the road was laid. There remains a large shed by the wharf where everything was distrubuted from as a testimony of days past. Everything including supplies and tourists, thousands of them came in here. So it seemed like Glenorchy had had its high moments and the drift of tourists who were looking for Lord of the Rings filming location further up the River Dart, was just about keeping the place alive.
The couple were called to eat their meal and I finished off my second pint.
We fly back to Auckland for a couple of days tomorrow.

time for walkabout!

We awoke to a morning that had mixed weather potential. The mountains opposite us were partially covered in cloud but as we were expecting, they should be burning off with the sun coming through. Patches of blue sky looked promising as we ate our breakfast which was delivered on a tray to our room. We had opened the door to the decking and been looking down the valley, which was attracting a little more cloud.
Some options for a walk were presented by the host, Vladka and made our decisions once we filled water bottles and packed our back packs.
we headed off to Invincible Mine as opposed to Paradise which was signposted to the left. We soon encountered a stone track which was more suited for 4x4 and crossed 1 ford with caution. We came to a second, having passed the Invincible Heli-pad, which looked a little deeper and the stream running through it was fast running. We made one attempt and felt like it was beyond the car's ability to cross it!
I reversed, not wanting to ground the car on its last day with us. Just as I cleared and considered parking up, a small 4 WD minivan came passed and went straight through and looked back at us and gave reassuring noises that it was OK. We decided not to, but they offered to give us a lift in the van if we waded across to join them.
This seemed a far better offer, so we took off our socks and shoes and joined them on the other side. We jumped in, Caroline in the front and I bundled into the back with 2 bikes!, and went round the next corner. Within 100m Caroline shouted, thats where we're heading... the invincible mines were signposted at the side of the road!
We jumped out and thanked the good samaritans and started our trek up the hill.
After around 40mins of vertical climbing we soaked in more views in all directions and headed back to the car.
We had to wade back across the ford and drove back along the 9km track and decided that lunch was a well considered option before deciding what to do this afternoon.

the way to Glenorchy

We were about to set off from Te Anau and travel the length of Lake Wakatipu from Kingston, where we popped in to re-visit Margaret and Peter for a midday break, and Glenorchy which was being billed as the star attraction of the entire tour of NZ. Not only because of its stunning views, but also that it was not on the main tourist track and were in for a couple of days virtual isolation on a mountainside retreat. Such blissful environments are rarely listed, but we zipped through Queenstown, getting our bearings on the airport in readiness for Monday's flight, as the sun glowed against a blue sky.
We stopped shortly after, with views of the Lake, which had been in our view all the way around Queenstown. We had noticed a massive yellow cloud from before entering Queenstown, and wondered what it might be. Caroline's worst nightmare was confirmed when a local New Zealander pulled into the car park we were stopped for lunch as we observed more clouds of yellow coming from a forest of trees above us.
"thats pollen.... from the pine trees... breath a few lung fulls in... it'll do you good" said the driver as he put his window down and I enquired as to what it was.
"worst I've seen in years" his wife sat beside him nodding in agreement.
He didn't stop as a mini tornado of dust whipped up between our 2 cars.
we didn't stop long, and ate our picnic lunch and drove north for another 35 minutes and pulled into Precipice Creek Station.
We introduced ourselves to the owner, Vladka (from the Czech Republic). I did my Czech greeting "Dobry Den" to which she responded accordingly, but reassured her that it was as far as my czech translation went.
She showed us where to park and we entered into a very modern designed unit which from the outside appeared to be a corrugated metal shed, (painted dark green). But inside was a very nicely decorated and well thought out lay-out with a kitchen area, living area, separate bedroom and a bathroom. From both the bedroom and the living area you could access the wooden deck area which looked across the valley floor to the snow capped mountain opposite.
we had come here to have our final chill before heading into urban Auckland and then San Fransisco on Wednesday. so this was going to be just great... we could already tell.

Milford Sound

We were booked for the 10.30 trip from Te Anau to Milford sound. A 2 hour coach journey and 2+ hour boat trip out into the Tasmin Sea. The coach pulled into Te Anau after we'd been picked up from our hotel by a smaller coach. Only 4 boarded the coach here and struggled to find seats as the coach had come in from Queensntown and was full of people.
The driver, John, gave us full commentary during the entire journey to Milford, stopping at strategic photo stops (as well as toilets) to keep the photographers amoungst us happy.
We arrived and walked straight through to the boat and boarded it. It wasn't long before we were having our picnic lunch and riding the waves, viewing the massive rocks as the boat weaved its way through, pointing features of interest. The sun was shining, but on deck the wind was strong and we felt the full force of the so called 'day breeze' that filtered through the islands and mountains. Wildlife in abundance, we saw penguins (sorry, 1 penguin!) many many seals basking on rocks and a pod of around 15 or so blue nose dolphins.
Once on the open seas, the captain opened 2 sails on the boat to assist our venture from the mouth of Milford Sound. After a 15 minute turn in the Tasmin sea, we turned and headed back to port. Again the coach was waiting for us to board and made a direct jounrey back to Te Anau hotel by about 6pm leaving the Queenstown passengers to journey on for another 2 hours.