Final Destination: Bristol

So, Bristol it is then. After some soul searching and many job applications we've decided to live in the lovely city of Bristol. It's been a crazy time- we can't believe we've been back in creamy old England for 4 months now! But Bristol seems to be a good choice, the waterfront has been gorgeous in the June sun & we can't wait to explore the surrounds- the mendips, somerset, cotswolds, malverns...etc and Emma is happy to be a west country lass once more. The pensive bronze fellow is John Cabot watching his ship the Michael sail off to America. He got there before Columbus you know.

We'll keep putting news on here for far flung friends & rellies.

Back in Blighty

There really is nothing like a good old British pub.

Cheers!

Last few days on the road... Singapore

The last few days of the trip were spent in Singapore. We were passing through so we thought, why not stay a few days. It's a rather bonkers place: we felt a bit like we never really left the airport because of the superfluity of spotless, shiny air-conditioned (dare I say soulless) malls, as shown below. What we liked more was the fabulous zoo and night safari (We officially love mouse deer!!) which treats its animals so well: better than we've ever seen in a Zoo. The Indian quarter was fascinating and uncannily like really being in India.

Stupendous Sydney

We spent just about 3 weeks downunder and spent most of that in Sydney (will have to come back to see the rest sometime...) It's a really fantastic, beautiful city. There's SO much to do - museums and cafes and walks and beaches and incredible views. We loved it! Here's a few iconic Sydney shots and Em writing a postcard or two. Wendy's friend Liz was kind enough to put us up for our stop in Sydney and even took us to the Opera house to see the Magic Flute. That's got to be on the list of things to do before you die, right?

Rarotonga, the Cook Islands

This place was beautiful. It was the hottest and muggiest place ever though! The air humidity can hover around 90%... isn't that like breathing in water?! It didn't cool down a jot in the night either. We also got bitten to pieces by mosquitoes. Which just shows that paradise really isn't as simple as washing up on a desert island!

Did some amazing snorkelling in the lagoons which circle the whole island. You can walk out to this small island in the pics from the beach - the water reaches about to your waist. The water is crystal clear and warm... properly warm, like bathwater!

Akaroa, on the Banks Peninsula

First settled by the French, this is a lovely little village south of Christchurch that is nestled in the hollow of a large volcano. This was our last jaunt in New Zealand before flying on...

Road warning sign from Oamaru...

You don't get many of these in Old London Town.

Moeraki, place of large balls

There is a complex geological reason why these strange spherical rock balls emerge from the cliff-side in Moeraki, roll onto the beach, then slowly crumble like honeycomb into the ocean. However I never did look it up. The boulders were too large to pinch as souvenirs, so Emma had to make do with some beautiful shells from the sands instead.

Milford Sound

Milford Sound is actually a fiord, it's a huge opening from the Tasman Sea that comes in between staggeringly large mountains. It's one of the UNESCO world heritage sites, along with cool towns like Carcassone in France. We took a coach from Te Anau, where we saw some great glowworm caves, along to the Sound, and took a cruise all the way out to the sea and back. On the way out the tops of the mountains were misty, and when we started to come back in from the sea the sky cleared and sunlight opened up the route back. It was stunning. On the first picture, look at the small white dot at the foot of the mountain side bursting from the water to give you an idea of the scale of this place... that's a massive ferry! The second picture is called The Lion Rock, and the third is one of many waterfalls that cascade down the mountainsides along the Sound, this one called the Bridal Veil waterfall. Emma particularly enjoyed the cruise because she got to drive the boat at one point (luckily we survived that one, I don't know what the captain was thinking). We also went into one of the waterfalls, so just for the fun of it we stood on the foredeck of the craft and let the waterfall gush over us. It was so powerful that you couldn't actually open your eyes for the spray when you got within ten feet. It was a spectacular day!

Mmmmmmmm...

....New Zealand coffee

On the road again, heading West

Wow- what can we say... we drove out west from Christchurch over the southern alps that run down the centre of the south island like a spine. The views just got more and more stunning as we went along. We stayed in Arrowtown, just down the road from the famous Queenstown- the home of bungee jumping and mecca for adrenalin junkies (and completely surrounded by beautiful mountains & lakes). There's a view here of Queenstown from a gondola. The hills are aptly named 'the Remarkables'. Tim was in his element snapping away some fantastic shots. see his Flickr page:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/10199214@N02/sets/72157612979741951/

Arrowtown was a goldrush town now given over to tourism and LOTR site of 'Arwen crossing the river Anduin' scene for all you fellow geeks out there. A really pretty little place with the best icecream EVER.

Tranz Alpine... for those who liked the trams....

You'd have loved the train! some great pics here taken by tim who became our official photographer for his stay. The train wound high up into the southern alps through some amazing wild scenery until it got to Arthur's pass where we walked up to this beautiful waterfall. Seen here is the cheeky mountain parrot the Kea who'll chew the fixtures off your car or open the zip on your bag in the blink of an eye. They pretend to be flightless but are actually quite nifty in the air if they know they're in trouble. Which is often.

One of the great railway journeys of the world, we're told and we could see why. Shame it was an hour and a half late going home. Still, we had the chance to play the worlds longest round of eye spy. I think 'b for beverage' was the low point. Or perhaps Lee's 's for steel'. Still debating that one. anyway, a fantastic day and little did we know the scenery was about to get a whole lot more dramatic...

The lettuce patch

We took this flat bit of grass in Patrick's back garden, removed the turf, turned it over, bordered it with some sunken bits of wood, and planted lettuces and spinach, which we are now eating! Which proves that wwoofing teaches valuable skills and when we get back we're straight on the allotment list...

A special treat for lovers of trams

You know who you are! The tram service runs around the main town centre tourist spots in Christchurch, and in the evenings you can enjoy a meal in the special dining carriage.

Goodbye for now Christchurch

We have been in Christchurch for over two months now. It's on the Canterbury Plains, which is kind of flat and strangely reminiscent of the midlands! We have been following the icy cold winter weather in England with interest - definitely picked the best year to avoid winter... The other day here in Christchurch it hit 40 degrees! Anyway Emma's brother Tim has joined us for a week or so, so we're on the road again tomorrow and heading further south (and ever closer to Antarctica!) where we'll be seeing Queenstown, the famous Milford Sounds, and other exciting and hopefully warm things. The pictures show the Avon River, a rose bower in Hagley Park Botanic Gardens, and the "Christchurch Cone", which sits in the leafy main town square next to the cathedral.

Happy New Year from us

Hello to all who've followed our blog this year- thanks for all your messages. Wishing you all an exciting and very happy 2009
love
Lee & em
xx