Day 9 - Hamilton

Saturday 31st  December - New Years Eve

Rose around 10.30 and the rain was still pouring down. Decided to chill out and catch up with the blog. Sandra decided to start the jig-saw she had bought at the charity shop yesterday in Hamilton.

Sandra doing the jig-saw in the kitchen - dinning room at M&M's

Because of the poor weather most of the New Year celebrations were cancelled. We decided not to make the three hour round trip to Auckland to celebrate the New Year but stayed home and played Canasta.

Day 8 - Huntington

Friday 30th December
Eventually rose around about noon to yet more rain. M&M drove us into Hamilton where we visited the i centre and a refuse centre to buy a teapot for our travels. Yes, back to the teapot again! We checked out the Methodist Church to go to on Sunday and stopped on the way home to collect some groceries because Sandra offered to cook a New Years Eve roast dinner. Mark's favourite.
Maria cooked a delicious lasagne for tea after which we settled down to a serious Canasta session. Sandra and JB beat M&M on both games though it was touch and go at one point. So it would seem that Sandra's luck is still running - at the moment. Mark says it is down to pure luck except when he wins and then it is down to skill. Maria says 'no comment'. Will Sandra's luck end tomorrow at midnight when the New Year arrives? Follow this blog to find out.

Sorry no photos today due to rain and more rain. Warm and humid again temperature around 20c.

Route Map

Days 6 & 7 - Dubai to New Zealand

Day 6 - Wednesday 28th December 2011     Dubai to Auckland

Emirates car collected us at 07.05 and we were at Dubai airport within 15 mins and met at the door by an Emirates lady and porter with a trolley. Checked in effortlessly and in the Emirates business lounge by 07.45. Checked e-mails and had two cups of tea. Boarded at 09.45 for 10.15 flight. Took off at 10.45. Good journey and JB seat by the window was great.

Day 7 - Thursday 29th December 2011        Sydney - Auckland to Huntington near Hamilton.

Landed in Sydney at 07.00 had cuppa and re boarded at 08.15. Finally Landed in Auckland at exactly 14.00. Met by A2B car hire and collected an old Mazda 4x4. JB drove the 114 km to Mark and Maria's new home in Hamilton arriving at 16.50 hrs. They now live South of Auckland in a new housing complex called 'The Sanctuary' in a smaller house than their previous one but more like a home than a lovely holiday house.



Front view of Mark & Marias new house showing our Mazda 4x4 and M&M's people mover.

 It's a good sized three bedroom garage linked detached house. Main bedroom with en-suite which means Sandra and I have our own bathroom - with a bath and a shower. Didn't have a bath in Dubai!

Rear view of house in between heavy showers



Started to rain and rained on and off all night.   Route Map

Days 1,2,3,4,5 Manchester - Dubai

Day 1 - Friday 23rd December.
We departed Manchester airport on Emirates A380 at 13.50 a mere 20 minutes late. The flight was excellent, food good and we just managed to watch 3 movies before coming in to land at Dubai. We had to circle Dubai a few times as the airport was busy which meant we did not leave the airport until 01.30 (Dubai time). We are now 4 hours ahead of GMT. Got to our apartment at Golden Sands and eventually in bed around 02.30 ish.  Dubai Map

Day 2 - Saturday 24th December - Christmas Eve
Didn't feel a bit like Christmas even though there were sightings of Christmas trees in lots of places.Temperature around 23c and wall to wall blue skies. Leanne (Sandra's Niece) came across to find us and we spent a couple of hours at her apartment and pool which is a very short walk from our apartment.  Route Map

This picture was taken before darkness fell and the camera batteries went dead!

The highlight of the day was a visit to Dubai Mall and the musical water fountains.  

Dubai has something for everyone, endless stretches of white sandy beaches both public and private. Many public parks and gardens. Shopping Malls galore including the 'Dubai Mall' which features a waterfall feature and stands close to the Burj Khalifa where you can gather around the water area to watch the magical musical water fountains and guess what? they are the tallest performing fountains in the world. These water fountains display each evening every 30 minutes usually commencing at 18.00 hrs or just after sunset.

Sadly JB was not prepared and only managed one photograph before her camera batteries were all flat! Disaster! We will have to go back. You can read more information and see pictures by clicking on the links placed in this blog.

The Waterfalls inside the Dubai shopping Mall not to be confused with the outside Musical Fountains



We all gathered at an Italian restaurant adjacent to the   Musical Fountains  which began displaying at 6.00pm and every half hour onwards. A spectacular sight at the foot of the tallest building in the world the Burj Khalifa which is said to also hold the world record for the highest graffiti. On the top of the spire of the Burj Khalifa, according to a stunt coordinaror who worked with Tom Cruise when filming 'The Mission'. Cruise apparantly used a combination of elevators and ladders to scale the 828 metre building, etching a signature, a heart and the names of his wife and children during a break from filming at the Burj. Not sure just how true this story is but we have no intention of climbing up to find out. 

The highest building on earth was constructed by Chicago firm SOM and completed on Jan 4^th 2010.
Standing 2,176 feet - 828 metres tall, that's half a mile, and 160 stories high. 124^th floor being an observation tower.

The entire floor on level 100 has been purchased by the Indian billionaire B R Shaddy who made his fortune selling healthcare products.

On 122^th floor is the highest restaurant in the world and is fully booked at least a month in advance. Maybe they know the head chef is a Kiwi. The Armani hotel on floors 5 to 8 is of course, five star. 

The 23,000 windows are cleaned by men abseiling and takes three months to complete only to start all over again. The huge glass area is the equivalent of 17 football fields.

Day 3 - Sunday 25th December - Christmas Day
Got a taxi to join everyone at Judith's apartment. Opened presents and went down to pool for rest of day.

Route Map


Had buffet lunch close to the pool in the shade of umbrellas with temperatures peaking at around 26c.

 They told us this swan was carved out of butter and had to take it away when it started to melt.

Judith selecting her starter.

We were entertained by Santa and his singers who lead the carol singing after which the children were given christmas gifts.

 

Swam in the chilly pool water and after it became too cold to be outside we went back to Judith's apartment and played a few games of charades.

Christmas kiss from Jim not Santa!

Day 4 - Monday 26th December - Boxing Day            Route Map


Walked to 'Sun and Sand' to buy anti fog liquid for swimming googles and discovered our first air conditioned bus shelter.

 



 Then over to Leanne's apartment to meet up with Glenis, Carolyn, Iain and Wendy.

Leanne drove us along the beach road to Jumeirah beach and harbour area.

Stopped for a stroll around the Suek Madinat where we had ice creams and bought some nuts. Sandra found it hard to choose from the huge selection of nuts and ice cream. 

 

 



 

 We continued to Jumeriah harbour which had changed dramitically since we were last there in 2000.

 

 Then on to the Palms and the impressive Atlantis 5 star hotel.

 

Day 5 – Tuesday 27th December 2011 Dubai               Route Map

Walked to Al Karama Metro station for a 20 minute journey to 'Mall of The Emirates' where we got a taxi to the 'Wild Wadi Water Park' next to the Jumeirah Beach hotel. This 12 acre water park combines thrilling rides, a surf area, a wave pool and many more activities for all ages. Met up with Lee, Carolyn, Iain, Wendy, Glenis and stayed all day enjoying the exciting rides in rubber rings and floats through tunnels and water shutes. JB was advised not to take the camera so sorry folks no photos again. click on the links to see images and more information. Temperatures again peaked at around 26c.

Dubai - New Zealand 2011 - 2012

Yes, we are going back via a four day stopover in Dubai for Christmas. We are booked on Emirates A330/800 flight from Manchester on Friday 23rd December and arrive in Dubai at 00.25 hours (approximately 8.30 pm UK time) that's almost 7 hrs flying time .
Map of Dubai        
The plan is to stay in a studio apartment and get together with Sandra's Sisters, and family over Christmas. So it will be Christmas lunch around the swimming pool in temperatures around 26c. Dubai will be quite different to when we last visited back in 2000. 

On Wednesday 28th December we continue our next leg of the journey to New Zealand leaving Dubai at 10.30am. We fly again on the Airbus A330/800 for 18 hrs 45 mins via Sydney and arrive in Auckland (North Island) at 2pm on Thursday 29th (03.00 hrs in UK).

We collect a hire car and drive South for almost 2hrs to Mark and Maria's new home in Huntington which is North of Hamilton.   Route 

New Zealand is the first place in the world to celebrate the New Year and we hope to be joining in the celebrations and see the fireworks in Auckland. UK celebrates 13 hours later.

Tuesday 3rd January we head back towards Northland area (North of North Island) and stay at Whangarei - Paihia - Whangaroa - Kaitaia and 90 mile beach before heading back to Auckland airport on 16th January to fly to Queenstown in South Island.

Four days in and around Queenstown and slowly drive North towards Franz Joesph Glazier - Hamner Springs - Kaikoura and Christchurch where we fly back to Auckland. Four days on the Coromandel where we will meet up with Mark and Maria then return to Huntington for a few days at Mark & Maria's house before returning to UK on 13th February landing in Manchester on Tuesday 14th February (Valentines Day).
Hope you enjoy the blog and travelling along with us.

**Good news! Sandra has received a letter with her recent angiogram results. The AVM has completely cleared - almost as if it had never exsisted. Five years on and she has at last had the all clear! **

Earthquake Aftermath

Have found this picture of 'Stonehurst' (our accommodation in Christchurch) after the earthquake. We were so lucky not to have our holiday spoilt by this disaster.
                                                                       
                                                                  
 
Our studio was just at the back and we drove in through the gap between the two buildings shown in the 'after' photo.

Day 48 - Sydney - Dubai - Manchester

The flight from Sydney to Dubai was good except Sandra's 'ICE' screen was not working fully and she had a problem moving her seat but that got sorted by the steward.

 
We both watched another movie and actually managed to get a few hours sleep. We only visited the bar briefly to grab a cup of tea after sleeping. We were served a breakfast before landing at Dubai so did not need much to eat in the lounge. Sandra was presented with a bottle of champagne as we were coming into land at Dubai because she had been inconvenienced by faulty electrics during some of the journey.

We were amazed as to how 'lax' the security was at Dubai airport. No one even questioned the bottle of champagne in the hand baggage which at Manchester would have been confiscated. They seemed arrogant and did not appear to give a dam.

Had to queue for a shower for around 20 minutes but felt much better for it. The three hours passed quickly and we managed to browse the duty free and buy a couple of bottles.

We were the last to board as we did not hear the flight called (again). Very poor communications in the business lounge area. We were not impressed with the new terminal 3.

This time the electrics were fine and we soon settled into our seats for the last leg of the journey. Dubai to Manchester. We waved goodbye to sunshine and shortly after were served more food. We were now confused as to whether it was breakfast or lunch.
We watched another movie and snoozed on and off.

Landed at Manchester on time at 11.45. Luggage was quickly through and we were met by our chauffeuer who soon whisked us back home in a Merceded E class to grey miserable skies but at least it was not raining. We were home with the kettle on at 12.45.

Day 47 - Bondi Beach - Depart Sydney

Tuesday 15th March       map

Packed our suitcases and left them at reception of the hotel.

Overcast but we walked to Circular Quay and boarded the 'Hop On Hop Off' bus to Bondi Beach where we had a coffee by the beach. Some television filming was taking place but did not know which programme - Home and Away??

 Sandra with her coffee in a beach shelter at Bondi Beach - View of Bondi Beach

Hopped on the bus again about 1.15 pm. Passed Rose Bay and back into town where we walked to the Pylons Bridge Museum. via The Rocks and Old Sydney.

 View of sydney Harbour Bridge from the Rocks are and The Holiday Inn where we stayed.

Views of The Rocks area in Old Sydney

  Sandra climbing up towards the Pylons Bridge Museum and looking back on Sydney

The entry fee to this museum was included in the bridge walk and we had to climb 200 steps but it was well worth it as we gained splendid views from the bridge. The sun emerged for a short while just long enough to get some photos.  

  

Looking down on our hotel and The Rocks area from the bridge. 

 More views of Sydney and The Rocks from the bridge
.

Views from the Pylons were almost as good as those on the bridge walk..

We walked across the bridge which was very busy with traffic and finally back to the hotel where we were collected by our driver 5.45 pm. He came for us early because four lanes on the bridge had been closed and the traffic was really bad. Apparantly some nutter had dumped a truck load of sand on the bridge from his truck in a protest against something the Government had done to upset him. Our driver drove like a maniac to the airport as he had another pick up after us for the same flight and the traffic was still very heavy.

Checked in effortlessly and were in the Emirates lounge before 7pm. Had a light meal. 

JB updated a blog on the free WiFi. Our flight should have left at 9.40 pm but it was just after 10 pm when we finally took off on the 15 hrs 20 minute flight to Dubai. 7562 miles.

Bye Bye Australisia - it was a fantastic holiday.

Day 46 - Sydney Bridge walk

Monday 14th March      map
Bright start and warm but deteriorated as the morning went on.

Went to do Bridge Climb at 09.20 for 09.50 start. The whole experience was very well organised like a military operation. Everyone signed a disclaimer form before boiler suits were handed out. Handkerchiefs for those who wanted them which were attached to the cuffs of the boiler suites. Huge harness belts were worn to which were fastened radios and headsets so we could all hear the guide when she spoke. Spectacles were made secure with ties and watches were left with cameras and anything else in lockers and locker keys worn around the neck. Caps were given to everyone to keep and were also attached with a secure tie to the boiler suites.

  

After all this we set off on the 'Discovery Climb'. We were recommended to do the Discovery climb as it was more explanatory giving information on the bridge.

There were twelve in our group and a lady leader. Six were from Westpoint along with two Australian escort officers, Tony a guy on his own who had been given a voucher for his 50th birthday, a Sydneysider lady named Jan who also had a voucher for her 70th birthday and lastly Sandra and JB. Needless to say who was at the back?

Nether the less we still made it to the top.

The whole experience took 3.5 hours and neither of us were greatly impressed with the walk possibly because the sun did not shine which, in one way, was a blessing as we did not get too hot. We were also dissapointed not to be able to take any photographs even though we had been previously told that cameras were not allowed. We felt ripped off with the cost of the photographs. Not a HH but something that has to be done whilst in Sydney - apparantly!

Had a rest back at the hotel and decided to do the 'Hop On Hop Off' bus so walked to stop 1 near Circular Quay and boarded the 3.30 pm bus. We qualified for a 'senior' ticket at $25.
The bus took us to or past most of the Sydney highlights and we were glad of a sit down after the Bridge Walk earlier.

 Bird of Paradise flower in Darling Harbour and views of Darling Harbour under grey skies.

Sandra by the water fountain in Darling Harbour.
 

Tried to rain and went colder. Got off the bus at Darling Harbour and walked around for about 40 minutes then back on the bus until George Street from where we walked back to the Irish Pub just past our hotel for an evening meal. The bus ticket lasted for 24 hours so we intended to finish off tomorrow and ride out to Bondi Beach.