So we
finally arrived in New Zealand!!! The journey was off to a rubbish start
unfortunately. First the train to Frankfurt Airport was broken and we had to
step over in Cologne (another reservation made in vain). This was swiftly
followed by Emirates (our airline) screwing up our reservation leading to Isi
and myself not being able to sit next to each other during the long haul from
Dubai to Christchurch. Then while getting the obligatory McDonald's meal, I got
shouted at for asking an innocent question . As a consequence, I was very
quickly suffering from one of "those headaches".
The journey
with the plane was looong, but exciting for us intercontinental virgins. We
arrived without incident in Dubai. Dubai airport is an... interesting place.
Very impersonal, loads of different nationalities with all that pomp that stems
from having too much money (water cascades and all that).
The next
surprise awaited us when embarking on our flight to Christchurch. Apparently,
our "direct" flight stops at two airports before (Bangkok, Sydney).
It turned out to be a good thing. Sitting for 21 hours straight would have been
painful.
I happened
to sit next to an Austrian fella who came to NZ to work in their vineyards in
the south island. I gotta admit, that I only understand half of what he said
most of the times, but he was a standup bloke, so we exchanged contact details
to see if we can meet up once more during our respective travels.
Eventually,
we arrived with a cramp in our butt cheeks and being in half-awake zombie mode
for the best part of 35 hours or longer. We started in Frankfurt with 11
degrees, Dubai 20°C (Desert Sand with a taste of the sea), Bangkok 29°C (humid,
soooo humid), Sydney 22°C (sunny boys galore) and finally Christchurch with
summer-like 12°C and winds so strong it blew our suitcases away :/.
After
getting our car and the first hotel room, we crashed unceremoniously after a
shower and two beers each at 21:39 (that's when I last looked) and just woke up
now at 9:something or other. The temperature is sadly the same and the winds
are stronger than before. We'll now get ourselves set up with phone cards and a
surf stick.
With that
wind, we won't be able to do anything exciting like whale watching or hiking,
so we'll take it slow. Suits me. Having chatted with the owner of the hotel (a
nice lady of 50-years old who dreams of travelling Asia), I am looking forward
to meeting more Kiwis :)
Speak to
you soon, guys :)
The journey begins...
Dubai: Slightly tired...
Bangkok: sleep deprivation in spades...
Sydney: Full on Zombie-mode
Christchurch: Strong winds and arrival = Adrenalin-rush
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