Day 3- 7.45am UK- 3.45pm Hong Kong TimeIn the air with Virgin!

So lets start with a recap of what happened at the end of day 1 and yesterday. We met Becky Hug, Shan and Karen at Leicester square Then walked through to a bar for a drink with Becky before getting some dinner in the Salisbury with Karen and Shan, the conversation great, it was lovely to see Becky doing London she looked fantastic and the girls really looked great. Old Oxford stories, uni days and holiday chat and both of them asked how mMrk was liking London. We talked work, holidays, houses you name it before heading back to Charing Cross and then home to our little Orange Room!

By that time I was knackered- I'd bought a pair of hugely expensive jeans (saved for though and asked for discount 10%) and was thinking ahead to the following day. The room was tiny but adequate and, had only recently opened, passed my rigerous shower grout inspection!! It was also a bargain at £40 for 2 of us I couldn't really complain.

Friday morning dawned and we checked out at 10am leaving our luggage at the hotel. We discussed seeing James Bond, but I wanted to see the tower of London so we started out with the intention to do both and get an afternoon Cinema showing.

As we surfaced at tower station on of our first sights was a garden of rememberence for those who died in WWII who had served in the Merchant Navy. In the garden was an anchor of remebrance and also a buidling (not disimilar to the Thiepval memorial in Belgium) The names of those who died were listed by ship and also by port so we were not suprised to see a ship from Penzance mastered by a Thompson on the board. Being there with Mark was particularly poigniant. I asked him whether he thought that if he had been passenger boating in the 40's whether he'd have been called to serve in some capacity or another.

There were also lots of recently layed wreaths which were a timely reminder to me that we continue such sacrifice. There werecrews from Hong Kong and Greece, Austrailia and I wondered how they felt dying for someone elses war? What would they thinkof todays wars were they ultimately proud to be serving Britain or at a loss how their ultimate sacrifice would help.

Mark and I tried to imagine boating at that time with no GPS, and Furuno and also in waters peppered with other new wrecks.My great uncle was lost at sea and this having never seen his name commemorated I found this garden both a reminder of my dissertation work in Ypres, Normandy and the Somme and also a haunting reminder that all these men had families and individual srories.

Tower of London

After a little while we moved across the road to the Tower of London- Initial thoughts this looks exciting but £16.50 to go in EACH!!!Blinkin Eck! I want to look at the crown jewels not take them home!Then, ...£4 for an audio tour!

Well after at least 4 hours how I had to eat my words- It was absolutely fantastic, Mark although concerned with the monumental journey ahead said he really enjoyed it. It helped also that we saw the Thames lifenboat in action too!As it was Prince Charles 60th birthday there was a full gun salute which we witnessed and we also joined a tour with a beefeater!!!! So in total we saw the ravens! Went around William the Concereres White Tower, Saw the roman walls of London, looked at weponry and armour from all the king and queens of England. We saw pistols, horse armour, speers, royal mint, the jewels, including the koh-in-noor? gazillions of diamonds, grafitti from those famously imprisoned, saw the glass pillow which was the site of private executions such as Anne Bolyne and and learnt so much- a really great day-which wore us out for the night ahead!

We reluctantly left the Tower and headed back to Paddington around 3ish so we could get to Heathrow early. As it happened this was an excellent Idea of Mark's as we had to re-pack some of our luggage at Terminal 3's Virgin desks.

Having checked in on-line We eventually got through 'bag drop off'and through passport control. They are understandably rigorous, and having briefed Mark to the general procedure couldn't help chuckle at his shock/surprise and general concernwhen he was asked to remove his shoes, belt and was searched.

That over we eventually got into the haven that is Duty Free. I was sorely temped by all sorts of gadgetry but also reminded that we had exceeded all luggage limits and had only enough space for a mascara!

1 1/2HRS later we went through to the departure gate before boarding our plane. An big airbus named "Sleeping Beauty". My request for extra legroom was compramised by a 6ft giant asking just after me but at least we got seats together by the window! Having missed James Bond earlier I was hoping it would be on the plane for Mark so that at least he got something he'd wanted from the day.

I felt exhausted, but pleased for Mark for whom this was another tick on his 'travel complete' list. As we taxi'ed down the runway I felt so excited by the prospect of what was ahead and I thought of all the nights at Chez Michel's which had enabled me to live out this dream adventure. I love Travel!!!!!

Mark slept through dinner so I decided it would be rude to leave food and ate both our inflight meals- which were good before dozing off (very full) to a film- unfortunately not James Bond : (
We dboth dozed fitfully before breakfast- again I ate both (Note to self- Soph eating everything is ot mandatory- even when you have paid for it!!)

After a little while we approached Hong Kong. Mark who was very impressed with the inflight Sat Nav didn't want to sit next to the window so I watched as we approached Hong Kong at 5pm was smothered in a thick industrial haze- a muggy closeness which I often associate with industrial areas. We saw small islands and huge tankers. Mark and I both thought of the journey these would make and that the next time we may see them would be in the TSS (traffic Separation Scheme) between Land's End and Scilly.

Our most memorable part of the flight was just about to happen. As we slowed right down in the final approaches of the runway we saw things up close, we hovered like a giant bird just above the water... then the pilot quickly accelerated up with a rapid accent... the passengers exchanged glances then... Over the intercom the pilot says...." Well I've never done that before!!! 16,000 hrs flying and I've never had to do an second accent,he added very calmly, we practice them every 6 months in the simulator but thats the first one!"..Moments later he added "Our cabin crew were not quite ready but we will circle again then land just after the British Airways flight, ladies and gentlemen we will be in Hong Kong shortly"

Mark then nudged me and said "I think Frazers driving "Ive never done that before boy!!! At least the pilot's honest!" I was utterly amazed- Marks first long haul flight, a double accent and he's fine, if I was ever going to complain about the grassy St. Just landing then Skybus I take it all back! Will any other flight ever be this interesting!

60 minutes later and we are through the chinese passport control and transit desks and in Hong Kong duty free! The airport is clean, efficient and modern. We only have 20 mins before boarding our Air New Zealand Jumbo but again I parked Mark and used the time take a brief look around. I expected cheap silks, and technology but the goods were quite European and each cosmetic counter was staffed by a beautifully made up oriental lady allmost doll like in appearance. I would have love to explore this city but with another 12 hr flight ahead of us and all of New Zealand to see it wasn't possible for this trip. Never mind- Mei Mei lives in Honkers so better to explore with a local- perhaps a trip to take with the girls!

So its 6.30pm Hong Kong Time and we are boarding. We enter the plane and see stairs to the upper bubble of the plane. This time there are 3 seats on each side and 4 in the middle, a huge plane and we are lucky enough to have window seats again andare by a chinese lady. Air New Zealand's economy class offers the most leg room of all the carriers and it was a welcome change to the crampt Virgin journey. (I think we were spoilt by First Great Western!!!!!)
10hrs and 3 1/2 inflight meals later (help me! I'll be needing wider seats at this rate!) We were discending for the first (and only) time over some of the most dramatic scenery and greenery I have ever seen. I asked Mark whether he wanted the window seat but he wasn't that fussed so I tried to work out what exactly I was seeing in our approach. I later learned we were flying over the Dargaville coast we passed from Hokianga Harbour to Baylys Beach. I could see a large mountain ahead and learned that it was Mt Tarinaki in the Egmont National Park. It was utterly fantastic.


Sun 16th Nov WE ARE HERE!

After a little while we passed through customs, got our passports stamped and walked through another clean, contemporary Airport. the international jet-setter in Mark commented that Auckland was a very clean and easy to use Airport. No queues, smiley helpful staff.
We eventaully picked up our car hire... a gold Mazda hatch with wait for it:- 178,450 km on the clock!!!! Although her savinggraces are a new set of tires and seemingly great brakes!! I had a chat with her and asked her to keep us safe on our adventure they gave us a book of NZ driving rules like letting traffic out at junctions but the pictures only showed red and blue cars so I'm working on the principle that it only applys to red and blue cars! The others will have to catch me first!

Both Mark and I wern't that fussed about seeing Auckland immediately and decided to head out, after taking the scenic route we ended up South east of Auckland at Piha a beautiful surfy beach. We were tired but found accommodation elusive. We did eventually find arainforest Estate which had amazing views but was fully booked for a conference.

After some heated discussion about the lack of signposts (why would you signpost a physiotherapists but not the name of the road!?) we found the ST16 a motorway which took us north to Auckland and then out to the ST1 which took us towards Whangarei as we left Aukland we saw millions of White masts and marinas.Mark and I agreed that it made falmouth look miniscule . At about 4pm NZ time (which is 13hrs ahead of us in the UK) we were both utterly done in and over the moon when we found the Beachcomber Motel in Orewa, a series of self-contained spacious units with big comfy beds and a spa bath. They are owned by a guy from Sheffield, although iwas actually too tired to be friendly and after settling $120 NZ for the room we got fish and chips and headed for bed. The road is very busy and the beach across the road looks to be popular with windsurfers and kite surfers.
What a daynight night.

Mon 17th TODay local time 4.45 am!

After catching up on some much needed sleep I am awake and ready to go. I have updated my diary and the bed was comfy although to quote Bon jovi I would sleep on a bed of nails. It is now 7.3oam and I have just run a bath but think that by turning on the spa feature I have woken up everyone who is staying here!!!I've also just used all the hot water. Might have to check out and run! Today's plan is to head up to Russel which is passedWhangarei near Paihia then stay here for a couple of days to explore. We've done some research so the rest is an adventure.
More soon

Lots of Love to all. xxxxxx