This is my last enttry. I am using Ratko's laptop at the airport. I still haven't downloaded most of the photos of Rotorua and Auckland, will do that and add those tomorrow. We spent this morning going back to Mt Eden to take photos and video but it was quite foggy, not the clear sunny day we had hoped for. Then, we did our super cheap sightseeing trip. I found yesterday a loop bus, that goes around the perimeter of the city for $1.60, takes about an hour. I thought it would be a good way for Ratko to see the city without driving. So we did that and then headed to the airport. It has been a wonderful ttrip and a glimpse of some beautiful country. Will update the photos later. I have not taken ... read more

Kia Ora from Rotorua! It has been hard getting internet access. $30 a day at the hotels!!! We had a lovely day at Napier. The buildings are lovely. I will load some photos when I can. I am using the computer in the novotel lobby. The drive from Napier was quite spectacular, rolling green hills, snow covered mountain peaks and acres of pine forrests. Really beautiful. Yesterday we did the Waitaupo thermal valley - truely amazing. Masses of steaming craters, boiling water lakes & plopping mud pools. Last night we went to Mittai Village. A local maori village here in Rotorua for a hangi and cultural performance. RATKO WAS THE CHIEF FOR THE NIGHT! He had to be challenged by the chief and speak on behalf of the 8 world nations that were there. It was ... read more

Thursday: Hello everyone. Another busy day today. Ratko is starting work really early, so it is an early start for me too. I headed to the Wellington Zoo today. It is only a small zoo, but you can get quite close to the animals. It is like Taronga, on the side of a hill! AND no gondola to the top! Got quite a workout. I headed off with my coat not knowing what the weather was going to be like. I was HOT! Carried my coat most of the day. Headed back to the city and up again on the cable car. There is a great gift shop at the top, so went souvenir buying today. I still don't have any photos for you. Ratko is leaving really early, getting back late and then using the ... read more

Tuesday 25th: Arrived at Sydney airport in plenty of time for the flight, only to find out my boarding time was one hour late as the flights coming in were all late. I was due to fly out 40 minutes before Ratko. We had to split up as he left through a different customs area! On my own! It turned out that we had a 200+ tailwind so arrived only 5 minutes late. Ratko arrived around 30 minutes later. It was a bumpy ride and I landed at 11.25pm! We arrived back at the hotel at 1.15 and to our delight they had upgraded us to a club floor, with access to the club lounge, where I am typing this. I have been out and about since 8.30 this morning, back is a little sore, so ... read more

It has been 3 months now since going to Hong Kong. I cannot wait to go back. There was so much I didn't get to see. At least it leaves something for next time. Ratko wants to go somewhere different next time but I would love to go back. I feel so safe there and it is so easy to get around, I don't know how I would go in a country where little english is spoken. I have been organising all my photos and I am about to scrapbook the trip, have been having fun getting all the supplies together. I never thanked all the people on the www.tripadvisor.com forum for their help in organising the trip. I could not have done it without them. Please, if visiting Hong Kong, get out of the city ... read more