Dominic says: Okay back in the big city (well not really very big) which is great. Good vibe here very friendly - Kiwis really don't know what they are on about when they call Auckland the 'rat race'. Caught up with more M relatives - (are there any Sri Lankans left in Sri Lanka!!!). Very nice - was fed an enormous quantitiy of food which was not a suprise... Off to LA this evening. 12hr 10min flight economy - ooh the glamour.

Milford Sound - very beautiful. Not a Sound however, but a fyord... Trip to the sound itself almost the best bit - amazing scenery. Anyway, off back to Christchurch then Auckland then LA next Sunday.

Dominic says: Went to see the famous Franz Josef Glacier which was pretty cool but Lake Mathieson was cooler. Look at this photo! That's Mount Cook in the background. We have been so lucky with the weather; everybody keeps telling us how much it rains here (9.7 metres per year!).

Michelle says: We've arrived!  And it bloody cold...brrrr.  Met Dom's crazy friend Scott and had LOTS of dirt on D from yesteryear - ooh so much blackmailing potential!! More later Mx 

Michelle says: We were only here for an afternoon/evening but from what we saw Wellington is really cool.  Stayed in a great backpackers - yes BACKPACKERS - which was situated on top of a hill that meant walking down (and later, up) a hundred steps to get to the city centre.  We didn't really get far because there was a rather lovely pub at the bottom of the steps that we called in at for sustenance. We got chatting to a couple fo suits and well everyone ...