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updated 15/10/2003 |
07 July 2005 - Not Blown Up Just a quick update to let anyone wondering know that Jenny, myself, Mum and everyone that i know in the UK didnt get blown up today. 15 March 2005 - Back from holiday and updating page OK, im planning to remake the page, and do some neat stuff that integrates my bookmarks at home (which i upload on a regular basis as an XML file) so that the links are generated dynamicly each time the page is viewed, or possibly updated on a nightly basis if the dynamic thing is a bit slow, yet to fully decide. Anyway, apart from that there is a fair bit to write about for a change, so lets get started (having put it off for 2 weeks now). Since last update there was Xmas which was neat, we spent it with out employers family and friends, good time had by all and richard joined us as well. since then, january was pretty quiet, apart from jenny getting very sick, about 4 days before we were due to leave for NZ. the morning we were leaving she was vomiting and could hardly stand, so good fun all round. Luckily she hardened up a bit at the airport after a greasy english breakfast, go figure. Anyway, nice flight on royal brunei airlines 6 hours before touching down in Dubai for about 45 minutes and then 7 hours before touching down in Brunei for a couple of hours before landing in Brisbane 6 hours later. So a well broken up flight with plenty of leg stretching time. Dubai is the most beautiful city i have ever seen from the sky at night. Brunei airport was pretty old and not terribly impressive. Landed in Brisbane in the evening, caught a taxi to the hotel, as they run a train specificaly as a high speed link between the city and airport, of course the last train is a considerable time before teh last planes for the night get in, i cant help but suspect they hired a brit to consult on the timetables for that one. Anyway, arrived at the hotel, checked in and went to sleep basicly. The next day we took a relaxed walk aroun the city center. Enjoyed the food and hot weather (exceptionaly well priced and tasty sushi) crossed the river and had a look around the arts centers and gardens lining the far bank before finding somewhere to eat dinner. The following day we took a ferry cruise out to Moreton Island, after a massive panic in the morning trying to get cash out for the fare which we finaly sorted via a travlex "cash passport card" which is quite spiffy and is essentialy a PIN protected card that acts as a travlers cheque. So we had the cash hopped in the 1st taxi we found, and he got us most of the way there fine.... most of the way. after a bit of dodgy driving including at one point reversing up a motorway to get back to the exit he came out of we got to the dock hopped on and were on our way. While there we took a walk down to the artifical reef made by sinking a few old ships, got a bit sunburned and walked back to then put on our wesuits and catch the tour boat out to said reef/wreck for a snorkeling tour which was great fun. We then got back, had a few drinks, played some beach volleyball and relaxed before watching the dolphins being fed (only one mother and her calf showed up) and then catching the ferry back to the mainland. The next day was spent walking around a bit more, visiting some of the parks and heading down to chinatown where we had some exceptionaly tasty food for lunch. On the last day we visited Alma Park Zoo, where Jenny got to feed various animals etc, and we had a pretty good time overall. Upon getting back to brisbane we found the train to the airport costs $10 per head wheras we had payed just over $20 for a taxi when we arrived, so we opted for the taxi again, got there with time to spare as usual, bought a book and waited for checkin which was delayed an hour :/ Auckland: we were met by Jenny's brother Ken, and her uncle and niece (who kindly had us up for a night). We went and had lunch, visited a market and watched a movie while there, then slept the 2nd day before catching a taxi to our flight to dunedin. Dunedin: Jenny's father and my whole family met us at the airport, we then got a ride to jenny's mums where we picked up the van and headed down to her uncle Dougs who was our host for the next couple of weeks. Over the next two and a half days we guided our Employer and her two friends she was traveling with around Dunedin, visiting all the main attractions: After that we shocked one of our friends when we were sittin in Mazagran (my favourite cafe in the world) and she walked past, having no idea we were in NZ as i had neglected to tell pretty much anyone :) So we basicly spent the next 2 weeks loitering, shopping, eating drinking and catching up with everyone. Amongst other activites, i got to play golf for the 1st time in a few years, kayak'd from port chalmers to portobello & back, and went sailing with Dad and an old family friend, so thanks again Nigel, it was great fun. Near the end of our stay we attended one of Jenny's friends wedding, which was a nice service and exceptionaly catered reception, as the grooms family runs BBQ Bills a catering company in Dunedin. We then Flew to Wellington where we stayed for 2 nights catching up with Tim, Monique and Jaques unfortunately his now wife was still working at the time. We also looked around Te Papa, and ate nice food, the standard of food in NZ is so far beyond that of UK cafe's, bars and restaurants its not funny. Arriving in Auckland again, and again staying with Jenny's uncle. We caught up with Nick, Nick and Nic. Met a friend of theirs, unfortunately we were too tired to do much that night. The following day we had lunch with my Aunt Marion, and my cousins Andrew & Hannah. We then went out to a free concert for the rest of the day, before heading back and buying a big pizza dinner as a thanks to jenny's uncle. All through our stay in NZ we took full advantage of the NO SMOKING IN PUBS AND RESTUARANTS law. Although always being a vocal supporter of such laws we had never been aware of how amazingly pleasant pubs etc could be, the difference it makes being able to breath freely and to come home without having to throw all your clothes in the wash as they reeked of tobacco is truely amazing. Upon returning to the UK we went for lunch in a pub which has a good big non smoking area and were disgusted to find we stunk of tobacco when we got home, even though we were the only people in there pretty much, the sooner its made law here the better. Arriving in Brunei, we checked into our 4 start hotel, and were mightily impressed, with the free wireless net access, and breakfast buffet. Having a full stomach made the day that much easier to cope with considering we did quite a bit of walking, in quite considerable heat. Some of the locals looked at us like we were insane when we said how far we had walked, but it was worth it as we got to see the city much more closely than we would have otherwise. The food was cheap and tasty, the people very friendly and helpfull and the city quite clean. The other advantage was that because our feet were so sore we felt fully justified in getting an hourlong foot reflexology massage that evening after getting back from the night market where we enjoyed local quisine in the form of flame grilled chicken, flavoured rice and many other little nibbles, all disturbingly cheap (you could buy a full takeaway style meal with rice meat and veg for BR$1.00) thats about £0.35 where you would expect to pay about $5.00 or more here for one of lower quality. The following day we were picked up by the Canopy Walk tour guide, driven to the river where we took a 45 minute boat ride to another "major" center of brunei, passing through malaysian waters en-route and within sight of the south china sea. We then drove for about 15 minutes to where we rode upriver over mild rapids in long riverboats that were pretty much canoes with outboards mounted. After a quick stop and signin at the conservation center we walked up 1299 steps gaining about 800m in altitude, at which point i then went up the 40m scaffolding to walk above the canopy layer of the rainforest and get some amazing views down 3 or 4 different valleys. We then descended and were provided with a delicous home cooked lunch, before resting for a half hour or so then returning by the same route downriver. Got back to the hotel, packed, had dinner left for the airport. Joel picked us up at Heathrow and drove us home, thanks again joel :). NB: I will update this post over the next week when i have sorted out the photos so that you can see thumbs of each location etc. |
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