Singapore (Christina)

(from Chaz) Singapore is just as interesting, busy and Westernised as I remember from 28 years ago. The humidity is nearly overwhelming, especially for 'Otago-ites' who are just not used to it. Had to remind ourselves yesterday to ensure that we ate and drank regularly or the energy levels would fall. Managed to navigate the public transport system with only minor hitches and visited the Singapore American School where our friends are teaching. The schools is like a private school, they follow the American system and are so well resourced - amazing.
Ella is very excited with her new pink camera and we are loving looking at the incredible amount of things to buy - even at the supermarket.
Off to the Ritz tonight for the wedding celebration and our 28th wedding anniversary!




The School Library!







Depending on how you pronounce this, it could be an interesting place to go!

Christina's next Christmas cake

The mallies in action!

Singapore

We have arrived in Singapore after a long flight, including rice! Christina and I spent a bit of time gazing at Australia out the window.Wow Not a rice paddy in sight but very red and huge. We must visit the outback sometime. Unfortunately it was pretty bumpy for quite a bit of the flight but the service from the cabin crew was incredible.
We were met at the airport by Debbie and our first impression of Singapore is heaps of high rice :-) buildings, rain and clean!
We spent a lovely evening with Debbie and Ian at their apartment (no rice)and today we head off to explore the city.
It has been great to have such a lovely place to stay and with ex-pat Kiwis it is making the transition to Asia very pleasant.






Ella has found a new favourite fruit mangosteen - which none of us have heard of before and Christina has just eaten a whole mango for breakfast - heaven!



Mangosteen... yummy!












High Rice Buildings!

Airport waiting again....

We are on the way! No rice yet. Currently in Christchurch waiting to board. Anyone who knows us well knows about our enthuisiasm for Croc style shoes (above) for travelling. In fact we are off to the counntry they are made in! Half the stuff we have is made in Vietnam or China:-) I wonder if visitors from Asia wear NZ clothes..... oh now I remember... NZ doesn't make anything now! So our clothes and stuff are going home and taking us for a visit....


Chris Bear filling in TIme with a little reading...

Away to Asia

Hi Folks! After 2 and a half years we are off again! We wanted to visit Singapore for the second half of my brother's wedding (see below) and decided to make a trip of it and carry on to Asia. Christina has always wanted to go to China and Vietnam, I am not really fussed and Ella likes watching TV - so add all that up and we are off to China, Vietnam and Cambodia. We will have a real mix of summer and winter - currently the temp in Beijing is -8! Shanghai's temp seems about equal to Dunedin's winter, but with rice. I will look strange in my togs and furry hat!. We are basically packed and leave Thursday morning at 7.20 - propellors willing. Hopefully we can make a post here at least every 3 days - more often if we find the internet.

Bags and Bear ready to go!

Sydney

We woke up to wild wind and rain this morning - and a bit colder than it has been! After a long slow journey to the airport to drop the car off we headed into the city by train and visited Sydney's most famous building - needs no introduction! Fab.
After a bit of a shopping expedition we headed back to Elton and Jac's place a for our last evening in Auz. Will be sad to leave after the great time getting to know Elton's new wife and family.

The Wedding

Has been a busy 2 days. We have been staying as a big family together at Cockle Bay Homestead. A great way to get to know the new family. Yesterday we attended Elton and Jacintha's wedding. What a great day. Lovely service in a wee small church followed by the reception at a venue on a nearby water front. Flat Stanley also attended the wedding!

Blue Mountains

We had a quick trip to the Blue Mountains near Sydney. The traffic getting there and back - whew! Thank goodnes for Nav Woman - one female worth listening too
Great scenery and we enjoyed a few short walks.

Flat really broke out and insisted on having a swim!

He also insisted on being the forth sister while we visited the Three Sisters rock formation.

Meeting my bro!

Met Elton and Jacinintha at the airport - great to finally meet! Ella was reunited with Flat Stanley from her school project. Flat has been visiting Sydney as part of Ella's school project.

Flat is now part of the tour and is widening his horizons.

And the bear comes too

One well traveled bear! Kris Bear has been out of NZ a few times and round the world. At the mo he is sitting in Auck airport waiting to board. Was great to catch up with Craig/Net/Cameron/Charlotte last night tho we went to bed a bit late and found it hard getting up this morning! Auckland is warm! Next stop Sydney to meet Dave's bro and my new to be sister in law.

Away to Sydney

Well it has been over two years since the family went abroad! Christina and Ella managed a trip to Cairns last year but they didn't make the blog. We are all away again for a short trip to Sydney for Elton's (David's bro) wedding. At the mo we are in CHCH airport feeding our faces before heading to Auckland then Sydney tomorrow. On the way will will briefly catch up with the Browns with whom we shared our previous trip. All looking forward to some warm weather after a particularly chilly spring in Dunedin!

We've been around the block...

We are back!!

Well folks we have been around the block!!! A fabulous time made even better by being able to share it with friends - and with you via this blog.
We landed together in Auckland and then the Youngs carried on to Dunedin to a chilly 7 degrees... argh!! - even my tan is shrinking!
The flight from LA was good with all of us getting some sleep at least! The flight from Auckland to Dunedin was perfect, though we did manage to sleep through some of it.
It was great to be met in Auckland by the familiar faces of my brother Graham, cousin Jan and her husband Don, after so many impersonal arrivals.
Our friends have really spoilt us, the fire was going and some supplies to keep us going.
Hoagie is happy to be home, though she is rather rounder than when we left, so obviously hasn't been pining for us.
Bags are unpacked, washing on the line and David is enjoying a marmite sandwich and Ella has ordered noodles for lunch.
Catch you all soon.

The feet return

The Feet return...

And these crazy shoes - the Youngs wore them on the whole trip (-and some of the Browns most of the trip) including the National Park walk in the rain - no other footwear!!. We left in them and arrived back at the house with them on. Mine have no tread left and are dangerous on smooth wet flagstones .. but they have been great ..... $15 from the Warehouse. Maybe I will write a poem about them..:-)

At LA airport

LA airport and we have very nearly come the complete circle. We were very lucky to all be able to come into the Koru lounge, so are enjoying Jaffas, pineapple lumps and yesterday's Herald! David and Ella are looking forward to some NZ Marmite which is on the menu tonight!!

Ella and I went 'shopping' this morning. We managed to catch buses to the closest Mall and return safely, inspite of all my worrying. David decided that he would make the most of Disneyland and spent most of the day there, with Craig, Annette and the kids. The airport is big disappointment, Heathrow had heaps of shops where we could spend our last pounds, while LAX has very few. Guess we will have to save our dollars for our next trip.
Looking forward to catching up when we finally get home. Thanks for the emails, texts and Blogg comments. Knowing that we have such great friends and family around the world has been very special.
Arohanui.



Screams of joy!!

Heading home

Tomorrow we head home - looking forward to seeing everyone again - but not to winter!!

Still having fun

Still having fun......

Disneyland

Disneyland, just as magical as we remembered. Being here midweek is great as the crowds are not too bad and the sun shines enough to add to our European suntan. Ella is not keen on the 'wild' rides - mind you, neither am I, but she is loving the 'girlie' stuff that is here.
We had a great flight from London. The plane had 100 empty seats, yet we were not seated together! Thankfully there was enought room and we were able to reorganise ourselves and could even sit with our friends, but you do wonder how hard it would be to seat three members of the same family together!
US immigration was a nightmare, the queue went forever. Unfortunately (or fortunately!) Ella was sick while we were waiting and not long after, an official came along and told families with children to move to another queue. It hastend the process hugely!
Our hotel is about 10 minutes wald to the main gates - 8 of those are through the parking lot. We can see the lights at night.
Off soon for another day of 'magic'.

Time to leave England

We are at Heathrow airport. We are ready to move on again. London has been great, but the weather was just as we remember. We met up with Geoff Young, David's cousin, for lunch and then Janine, my niece and her partner for a lovely pub meal last night.
So much to do, so little time. Despite the weather, we have had a fantastic time visiting landmarks such as Tower Bridge and Big Ben.

More from LA!

Fountain

London

Wow, London! It is still as dynamic, colourful, eclectic, and interesting as we remembered. We have packed a huge amount into the couple of days we have been here. We have 'done' Hambleys, The British Museaum, Changing of the Guard, Harrods, Madame Tussards, Tower of London, watched Tower Bridge being raised, Big Ben and some shows thrown in for good measure. I feel exhausted just looking at the list. Last night the girls went to The Lion King (awesome in Ella's words) and the boys went to see The Lord of the Rings. Tonight the girls have been to Mary Poppins, Craig and Cameron have been to Othello, at the Globe Theatre and David met up with his cousin and went to a comedy show. It is now after 11.00 on Sunday night and we are at Victoria Station waiting for Craig and Cameron to meet us before we catch the train out to Clapham.
The Hotel is great, not too far from the train station, and only a 15 minute ride into the middle of the city. Think we might need a sleep in tomorrow.

England and rain....

Back in England - true to form we got stuck in traffic and it has been raining! Think we might flag London and head back to the south of France!! Our flight was great, we had fantastic views over the French Riveria and the alps before hitting the clouds and murk further north. Air NZ could learn a lot from EasyJet, the plane was new and very quiet. We were very lucky because we had a child, we were priority, so were allowed onto the plane first, so didn't have to rush for seats.
It is great to be able to spend some more time with Joan and Martin and we had an English pub meal at their local pub last night.
Today we are heading back to London to meet up with Craig and Annette.
More news when we get a chance.