New Zealand, via Hong Kong - 14 Feb

Today is the start of 3 week trip that will take my good buddy Janet & I all over New Zealand (well, as much as one can fit in 3 weeks) via Hong Kong and L.A.

I left London on 14 Feb at 9pm and it's been a real pleasant flight, the 12 hours went by so quickly. Air NZ have a choice of 80 movies, so, by the time I'd watched a couple, plus some documentaries on NZ, and eaten their lovely food and slept 5 hours courtesy of my sleeping pill, before I knew it, it was time to land. I only had 2 seats to myself but managed to doze off quite comfortably, strangely.

Upon arrival, Janet was waiting for me (as she had flown ahead, 4 days earlier). We grabbed a cab and arrived to her brother in law's pad who is in a luxury complex overlooking the harbour. Wow. Spectacular views (but too misty today for me to enjoy them properly -- if it does clear up tomorrow, we'll head for the roof top), private pool, huge jacuzzi in the en suite bathrooms, 4 floors, lift between floors, wooden floors throughout... 3 spare bedrooms... for HK this is seriously high standards. You'd think you're in a hotel really.... pretty impressive.

They're waiting for me downstairs (cooking aspargus risotto, yummy) so I'll have to sign off. Just wanted to let you know that I got her ok and that it's fantastic so far. VERY humid, almost 100% humidity but 28C ... it was 3C when I left London :)

Flying off to Auckland tomorrow on another overnight flight... to be cont.