Jun 2007

After a loooooong journey from NZ (I was on the same flight as the All Blacks so can't complain too much!) arrived safe and sound in BK. It's just a wee bit different to NZ and OZ!! It's a massive, crazzzy city.

We spent a couple of days in BK mainly being shown around by my school pal KT's mate, Adisorn who's from Thailand. We got to see a completely different side to the city than we would have if we were on our own as 'farangs'. He also took us to Ayuthaya, just north of the city with his pal, Sky who drove us there in her a/c car!!

The temples 'wats' are amazing, especially in Sukhothai where we cycled round them all. It was very quiet and beautifully kept.

We're now in Chiang Mai which is much more touristy, heading of on a trek tomorrow and when we get back hopefully going to do a cookery course. Then it's of to Laos to meet up with friends from Doharrrrrrr, the time is flying by!

Check out the piccies....

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=30390&l=c6a14&id=542280642

We've had an AMAZING time in NZ, the time has absolutely flown. The south island is very different to the north and even more stunning.

We travelled for the month with Nina, a lovely German girrrrrl, who actually understands sarcasm! The scenery is breathtaking, seems like every corner you turn it gets even better - just check out the photos (the links should be below, or just get yourself on facebook, my name on it is SJ Rennie)

One of the best things we did was in Kaikoura on the south island where we swam with 200 wild dusky dolphins. You forgot how cold it was when the started playing with you, they loved to make you swim in circles, wonderful animals. We did a heli hike up to the Franz Joseph Glacier, I love helicopters!! Loads of gorgeous walks, particularly around Marlborough Sounds on the Queen Charlotte track at the north of the south island. The spectacular Fiord Land (yup the Kiwis spelt fjord wrong!) , very fun Queenstown and the tranquil Wanaka. It's grrrrreat how much we've managed to fit in, wish we had more time here....

Gordon even managed to do the Nevis bungy jump from a cable car - something I was not even remotely tempted to do.

Now we're back in Auckland, next stop Thailand........

heli hike piccies:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=27170&l=b4aec&id=542280642

Black water rafting:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=26039&l=40cd2&id=542280642

North island piccies:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=24650&l=3a626&id=542280642

South Island:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=27173&l=fcdef&id=542280642

Dolphins:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=28392&l=9a07e&id=542280642

I've managed to get the slowest computer in the world EVER, so amlacking the patience to write a looong entry, will try soon when I can find a computer that doesn't run on potatoes.

New Zealand is absolutely stunning and we've only seen the north island. We flew into Auckland and spent a few days there with Bindu. Managed to fit loads in and then hired a car for the next month to travel both islands. Managed to see most of the major sights, bay of islands, hot water beach where we were the only ones mad enough to watch the sunrise from a big holes dug in the sand while it was 10 degrees brrrrrrrrrrrrr but very warm in the hole!
Black water rafting in Waitomo which was amazing, abseilied in, saw loads of glow worms while serenely drifting through the cave on an inner tube then rock climbing back out.

Hmmmm what else...... Gordon sky dived... loads of walking (or tramping as they say here) especially the Tangariro crossing near Taupo which is of course gorgeous. Through volcanic craters, emerald green lakes all with stunning views.

The link for the photos.........
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=26039&l=40cd2&id=542280642