Kay arrives Buenos Aires

I had the most amazing flight to Auckland which just topped off the start of my trip . Before flying Les surprised me by making time to walk around the mount before we headed to the airport to catch plane number one, the beach, sky and harbour were crystal clear, sunshine glorious views and lovely home images to take away.After a slightly delayed flight from Auckland I arrived in Buenos Aires. The Aussies had to cross the ditch to catch the flight to BA so for once NZL was on the direct route- makes a change. After 12 hours flight I flew across the coast and farmland and it showed the smog getting thicker the closer I flew to Buenos Aires. If the sky had been cloudless and clear over the pole I would have been able to see the south pole but cloud meant no polar views. Argentina still sprays it aircraft on arrival against insects back to NZL quarantine days. The airport was a shambles with departing and arriving passengers intermingled and signage just enough to find my way around and collect my baggage. But for all that the process was reasonably quick with minor passport checks. I changed some money and was warned to make sure I only received authentic Peso (1 Peso=.47 NZD) back but how would I know. The currency exchange also checked every USD I gave them for authenticity..After Mike's warning over the BA taxis I thought I had it made and booked via the desk just through customs - looks were deceiving-only to find they weren't the officially registered taxi operation in Argentina. Thought I would take a risk as I had already paid. No problems though the driver knew where he was going and 25 kms and 1 hour 40 mins later after fighting through the traffic and watching in amazement at every intersection armed federal police occasionally stopping the traffic for pedestrians and forever writing on their pads?I pulled up at my hotel . Doormen, luggage and concierge greeted me and all was well. the The hotel is great, really old school 150 years old-I even have marble around the bath and shower and a marble vanity, with English speaking concierge, Internet, clean and comfy surrounds it OK being by myself-I am so pleased I cancelled the previous booking. It is central and i have gone for an explore, drunk the local coffee, got lost and found my way again, bought water and feel I have it under control for now. Tonight I am going out for dinner somewhere close the hotel will recommend somewhere.. It was strange seeing children finishing school at 5pm and heading home. Everyone has a siesta and then everything opens up much later at night. My rooms looks out over a lovely gardened courtyard and is quiet. The lift is old school-open the door, pull across the concertina door and push the brass numbers. Fits two people in just at a squeeze.

Smog at BA aeroporto

The taxi I should have takenTraffic on the drive inLots of people on bikes and scooters My hotel entrance
Dog walking just isn't for the NY'ers
That coffee cup is just over thimble size and strong


Cheeses, hams and breads just like Europe

2007 Father's Day

The Fathers being spoilt again by the girls!!!!

2007 Rotoiti Uni Break

Images of China

At the hotel

The hotel we have been put up in is modern and very luxurious with a grad extrance and guard who salutes every time we drive or walk past. The hotel has its own fishing ponds for carp and you can hire rods etc. I hav swum a couple of time but it is so expensive about NZ$18 a swim but ohhhh so good after being out and about in the heat. the pool is a lijke a commercial cmplex but no one hardly uses it so each time I have swum a life guard comes out and sits there waiting for me to drown and give him something to do. In the ladies they run around turing on showers, bringing towels, opening lockers and just making sure everything is as one could possibly want. rather disconcerting when you are used to doing everything yuirself. the hotel has so many staff. Today we are all exploring Tiananmen square , shopping and the Forbidden city. Time is quite limited as we also have meeting in the early afternoon so having an early start into town and hopefully it will be a little cooler.

At Beijing Course the only Kiwi

Great wall of China

2007 China

Today we organised a bus to the Great Wall of China. Organising anything out of the ordinary takes time in China but we managed it. It was about 37 degrees and most of the clim was down hill as we all cheated and caught the gondola up to the first point of access. The steps are all inconsistent with some just 5 cms and others 50 cms so at times it was a slog climbing up and down. Along the wall are areas similiar to garretts where the temperatures drop ut of the suna nd many peopple just stop, smoke and eat in the shade. Locals have carted water and drinls for the tourists and are hawking them along the wall.There are 3000 m able to be walked and orginally there were 6kms of wall. The wall was only ever breached once in its history and that was when one of the local important commander's wife was taken as a concubine by the emperor and in revenge the commander allowed the mongolians through the gate . I guess his life was cut short. The views are amazing looking across the hills and mountains. today we have had blue sky as the smog is a thick haze across the city and stretching towards the valleys, hills and rural areas.

2007 Queenstown Abs and Mum

Central Otago hoar frost

The Shotover River frozen . Abby walking on water!!

2007 Abs time out from Uni at the bach

Sometimes its good to be out of sight!!

Les and the family planned a surprise birthday for my 50th last year. I had a great time and the best part was having all my family and friends together. Thanks Les, James, Mike and Abby

More Mountain Biking

Dunedin Working Bee

James, Les and I headed back south to help with some serious gardening at his house in Dunedin before moving north to support him and Mike B on the challenging coast to coast event. Alice came along to support the crew and we had such as exciting time. The Coast to Coast is an amazing event, the early morning starts , the fog lifting and the clear days across the Southern Alps, 800 competitors racing from the West to East coast was just spectacular. Mike B and James were ecstatic with their results, each individually achieving their goals and overall as a team result.

Summer Fun

Late morning ski up Hunter's Creek

Lazy summer days

Relaxing at the bach and time at the hot pools on Lake Rotoiti. An absolutely balmy summer ensured a great time just relaxing after the busy few days and even managed to get the boys working on the stereo system

The BOYS (Les and James) on Tour

Les packed his mountain bike into his new expensive bike cover threw in his helmet, bike shoes camelback and a couple of changes of clothing and flew down south for some quality time with James, the excuse was to see his new house in Dunedin but I know better it was really just the boys away AGAIN. They headed out of Dunedin with James's car packed to the brim for traveling north and a map of all the mountain bike tracks to explore clearly marked on their route north. The next few days were jammed pack as they pushed their limits. A bit of carnage always adds to the stories.This is becoming their annual excursion. Check out the photos

Katherine heads to Adelaide

Sydney here we come

Aussie kept the weather just super warm and we headed to a catch up with Leigh and Peter ( Mike's adpoted Aussie parents) Peter said follow him and an hour later after winding around, through, over we ended up at Watson's Bay a very beautiful bay looking towards Sydney and the harbour bridge. out longest ever lunchtime 7.5 hours of yakking continually and a little walking and moving on to a dessert cafe. We ate at this great pub (Yeah fish and chips with salad!!)right on the water edge and we had this amazing view over the harbour. Magic moments

Forster- A Touch of Heaven

2007 Aussie-Forster and Food

Well this is actually almost two months ago since we hit the big smoke of Sydney in Jan. Picked up a very average car from Sydney Airport Rentals- cross them off the list for hiring as the next day we noticed the bald tyres, the stereo didn't work anf the indicator light was hanging by a thread- not impressed at all.But that didn't stop us having an awesome time in the beautiful beach resort of Forster where Gina and Bruce hide themselves while pretending to work sorry guys!!. they were the tops to stay with and Les and I fell in love with Aussie all over again beats staying at Penrith hands down. We couldn't tear ourseleves away and ended up cancelling out of the B&B and staying put in Forster for an extra night. Bruce and Gina lead us a walk along the coast not a ship in sight just a stretch of blue sea as far as the eye could see. The beach was great, pounding waves, warm water and not a shark in sight but on the second day those pesky jelly fish turned up so Bruce and Gina took us to this pool where the water crashed over the rocks into a natural rock pool. Talk about a masage from heaven and a pushy wave every so often sent us scattering. It was so hard to tear ourselves away. Seafood for lunch with just a glass of vino looking out over the estuary and wonderful company, BBQ bacon and eggs for breakfast I am surprised anyone ever leaves with that hospitality. Thanks Bruce and Gina for a great couple of days