New Zealand Journal Part 1

Back before this blog was born, I took a trip to New Zealand. I kept a journal for the 3 or so weeks I was there. A friend or mine, Angie typed it up for me. Some of my friend reckoned that it was quite a good read. So, I found the document on my computer and I ave decided to put it on my blog, in instalments. Some of it may not be terribly interesting or relevant. But here it is anyway:

Sunday, 16th January 2005

2pm flight Dublin to LHR. Nothing special. Arrived LHR. Business as usual going through Heathrow. Just got something to eat and got on plane. Got lovely bulkhead seat next to English couple on way to Longkawi. Flight full of Brits. Not many Malaysians there.

Monday, 17th January 2005

Flight stopped at Longkawi. Ah, the familiar tropical tree-filled hills brought back memories. So did the heat when got off the plane! Around 31oC but like oven. I wanted to stay a while but Malay security women wanted everyone in transit lounge. Read a bit of my book there - quite funny. Got on board plane again. No companion this time except Malaysian Air-Steward who was a sound Liverpool fan. Going back there to KL brought a lot of memories back - both good and bad (but mainly good). I remember being so excited the times before! Anyway, got in and wanted to find ATM. Got the Skytrain to what I thought was the main terminal as I was told there was an ATM there. The place where I got off plane didn't seem so familiar. I remembered the 4 arm corridors feeding into central area with the little forest in the middle. Looked around there and saw no ATM. I then went back to the other Building. Only then did I realise that this was the main terminal - I had arrived at Domestic Arrivals. So back on Skytrain to satellite terminal. Walked around to trying to get a phone card. Didn't find ATM but got my money changed. Walked around upstairs. I had never been there before. Saw Starbucks, BK, Cheers, Malay food place and others. I went for food, to the Malaysian food place (which I originally thought was Chinese). Got nice Rasi Green Curry and eggplant.

Went for plane. There were a few more Malaysians this time. Got on plane. Was wrecked at this stage. Sat in wrong seat. Got into proper seat next to what I thought was the teenaged kid Osbourne (whatever the girl's names is!). Turns out, she was Dutch and going to NZ for cycling holiday. Penny dropped when she mentioned her husband. Well didn't look much like a woman. Crap looking ginger hair and a fat belly (and had no chest). Turns out she was an Amsterdam Police Officer (reminiscent of Harry Enfield). On my other side were some Malaysians. Turns out they could speak Mandarin so had good chat. They were 2 bothers. Was talking with one mostly. He was living in New Zealand. They swapped seats with Irish guy at window so didn't get to talk after that.

Well, had a few beers and drifted into sleep when was woken by some screaming child. Couldn't sleep after that. Played some Mario World to cheer myself up.