New Zealand, definitely 'The Land of the Long White Cloud'

Sorry it has been so long, but we have been too busy to blog!!!!
Sydney was good - apart from a 'rocket ride' around the harbour, which 'did' Sydney in what seemed like 2 minutes! We went back the next day and booked a slower ride more appropriate to our advancing years!!!
Thought about climbing the Harbour Bridge - for about 30 seconds - after seeing several maniacs attempting it. Had meal in Doyle's on the harbour which has possibly the best view from a restaurant in the world (with the possible exception of the Oxo Tower!!!!!)
We sorted out the Fiji situation and are returning to Sydney on 16 th Jan before flying to Hololulu the following day - staying at the Rocks as that is where the action is!!!
Flight to Auckland was fine and it was great to see Kate for Christmas. We had a good few days together, including the wettest harbour trip ever!!! She agreed with us that the scenery in New Zealand was absolutely spectacular, especially when the sun shines. The myth perpetuated by Aussies and Kiwis the the weather is always perfect in Summer is an antipodean myth!!!! The general rule is 'if you don't like the weather, wait for 15 minutes and it will change', actually is very accurate.
We are now in the South Island having flown from Auckland to Christchurch. Christchurch was fine. although we didn't have too much time to explore it. We then drove from Christchurch to Fox Glacier yesterday in torrential, pouring rain! The helicopter flight was booked for today, we arrived at the hotel to find they did not have a booking for us and every restaurant in the town was full for dinner!!! What a good job that, although old, we are adaptable!!! All of the problems were sorted out and we awoke today to a beautiful, sunny, crisp day and went on our planned helicopter trip to Fox Glacier. It was fantastic!!!!!!! Short helicopter trip over Franz Josef Glacier and then a landing on Fox. Deep, virgin snow and unbelievable views - photos to follow!! A great, unforgettable experience which we will undoubtably be boring you all with for years to come!
We then went for a long walk to the head of the glacier for some more fantastic views and photographs.
We leave tomorrow for New Year's Eve in Queenstown and hopefully some more adventures - we are both surprised at how well we are standing up to the strain of travelling - be warned, we have got the bug and will be returning!!!!!
Love to all and Happy New Year.

Sydney 2

Sydney definitely does NOT close @ 9 o'clock. Went and had a fabulous Japanese meal at a sushi bar and a long wander back to hotel. About to hit the town in daylight - Opera House, Bridge etc - after we have been to Quantas to see if they can re-arrange flights to Hawaii. We have decided to spend longer in Hawaii in view of the fact we are having to miss out Fiji. We have been in touch with travel agents in Jersey and cancelled the hotel. Now just have to sort out the rest!!! Love to all.

G'day from Sydney

Plane from Perth was 4 hours late, so when we got to Melbourne all we could do was collapse. Went out adventuring the next day and decided what we would leave until the following day, so that we could have time to enjoy it. However, the following day we woke to very high temperatures - 35 plus!!!! - and very thick enveloping smoke. There were bush fires flaring all over Victoria, apparently caused by lightning strikes, and weather conditions were causing them to join up. Consequently, our day of sight seeing in Melbourne had to be curtailed. A shame as we thought it was a place well worth investigating - next time perhaps!!!
We also had to change our plans for the following few days as our planned route would have taken us right through the fire zone, which had then spread to having a fire front of 60 miles!!!!!
We went north of the Alpine region and had a great time in small town Oz. The food and wine were sensational - who said I would lose weight when I was on holiday!!!!
We have now just arrived in Sydney, shattered but fine, and about to set 'out to do the town' after spending time in places where everyone was in bed asleep for 9 0'clock!!!!!!
Love to all!!

Perth Airport

Waiting for flight to Melbourne. We have been south to Albany via Dunsborough. A very long drive but very worthwhile. Scenery was amazingly English. One moment you could be driving through the New Forest, the next in any of the agricultural area of any English shire.
Dunsborough was a good laugh - only one restaurant open at 8 o'clock in the evening! When we asked why we were told 'It's Monday and it's Dunsborough - they open when they feel like it!'
We may have to change some of our future plans as the climate and military leaders appear to be against us. There has been a miltary coup in Fiji and there are bush fires raging all over Victoria - a wait and see policy is in effect! Will keep you posted of our future movements!!!!
Love to all - is anybody reading this? Please send us some comments!!!

Perth

Aussies in Perth are so laid back they are horizontal! 'No worries' certainly applies here. You get on trams for a tour and they don't bother to collect your money until you remind them you haven't paid, you book a cruise on the Swan River and are told, 'The boat leaves at about 11 o'clock, but it could be 11.30 or 12, depends on how the captain is feeling!'. We think it's great and it certainly makes life interesting.
We went north to see the Pinnacles - limestone rocks on the coastline. We got our first sight of the Outback and even though we had seen the films it is still awe inspiring to see the vastness and emptiness for yourself. On the way we had a ride in a massive 4-wheel drive truck called Desert Storm (Dad wad dying to get his hands on the wheel) That was great. I was really up for trying snow boarding, but could not manage to climb the huge sand dune to get started - very disappointed!!!
We leave today for a road trip south, then it's back to Perth for our flight to Melbourne

Singapore

Fairly effortless journey to get here, but very tired! Slept for 11 hours - obviously the hectic pace of life in HK had got to us.
Have been to Raffles for English High Tea - even better than the Peninsula HK! Had a good wander around the amazing hotel - one day we will stay there - when we have won the lottery!
Had drinks in The Long Bar, which has not changed at all in the 9 years since we were last there.
It is very hot and incredibly humid with occasional rain.
Had a wander down Orchard Road - similar to HK - lots of designer shops and very crowded - more expensive than HK and more tourists shopping rather than locals.
Now off to China Town and then off to Oz tomorrow - arrive Perth 1 am - that will test the energy levels!!!
Love to all, let us know you are reading this!!!!

Hong Kong 2

This is an amazing place!! Consumer heaven, pollution hell! We have had a great time - afternoon tea in the Peninsula playing at being old colonials, up to the Peak on the scary tram, walking for miles rubber necking at the incredible skyscraper buildings, riding the Star ferry between the islands like old hands. We also went on a day trip to China! That was an experience and a half! Went to Shezhou - a new town that has grown in 25 years from a fishing village with a population of 30,000 to the fourth largest town in China with a population of 7.5 million! Saw a giant panda, some of the original Xian terracotta warriors and soem exquisite silk work pictures. We visited a 'Free Market' which sold food- some amazing varieties and we avoided the fried scorpions, Ben!!!Also went to Canton, which was a massive culture shock!!!! I don't think I could survive a long trip in China - I would get arrested for shooting my mouth off, but it was a fantastic experience that we were not expecting to have.
We leave tomorrow for Singapore, but will have to return to Hong Kong at some time. Next time it will be at the end of the trip, so that we can take advantage of the shopping opportunities as well as the sights!!!!
Love to all

Hong Kong

After a most welcome night's sleep we have taken the Star Ferry to Kowloon. Hong Kong is an absolutely amazing place. It is so full of sights you don't know where to look first. Kowloon is where the two cultures of east and west appear to mix without any problems. We are amazed at how comfortable we feel here. A strange feeling when all around us are people of another culture. It is however rather like being in Lilliput. We are so much taller than everyone else around!!
We are going to see about a helicopter flight around HK but are going to wait for the weather to improve first - it is very misty at the moment.

Ready for the off!!

At the Renaissance Hotel, Heathrow and we have 7 hours to kill before the flight to Hong Kong! No doubt the Duty Free shops will beckon. After all the planning etc it still seems rather unreal!! More soon!!!!!

ALMOST ready to go! Lots of decisions still left to be made, but important arrangements are almost in place - we are beginning to get down to the nitty gritty problems e.g. what to pack, how many pairs of knickers will we need, what else do we need to arrange, pay for etc.
Mind is beginning to spin - need to chill and concentrate!!!

'Freedom trip' is almost ready to roll! We have just returned from a 'practice' run in UK - visits to Kent, London, Peterborough, Wolverhampton, North Wales - all requiring different packing considerations. The weather was amazingly good and we had a good time.
Now we are back and need to finish the planning for the 'Big One'!!!
Nearly there!!!