Kia Ora from the Land of Auck!

I'm feeling horribly jet lagged- its like being on a heaving boat-but I have made it to the other side of thw world in one piece and I'm not upside down!

The 33 hour journey was, unsurprisingly, long and ardous in parts but I took to gambling with a fellow passenger to while away the hours for coppers and american cents/dimes (which now confuse me totally mixed in with my NZ cents!) but sadly I didn't make my millions!

Its lovely and sunny here- about 28 degrees with blue skies and a light breeze. Bit better than rainly Blighty?!

Its Anniversary Day here and there are lots of celebrations- last night I headed down to the harbour with some people from the hostel as there was (terrible) live music and some fantastic fireworks. Today there was a regatta and lots of tug boats meandering about, as well as a full bagpipe band with drums and the lot, very stirring- my Scottish half felt very moved.

Almost seen some of the smaller local wildife- a grasshoper type creature called a Wetta was seen this morning but made a run for it before I spied him. I was presented with a dead and rather battered corpse instead as one of the Kiwis at the hostel is fond of them....have seen several sparrows and some Minah birds as well aslots of tropical flowers and trees- some look like Bottle brush and bougenvillia as well as those big trumpetty pink and red flowers whose name I have forgotton. But theres still the humble daisy!

Its very like England here, except the signs are more American in style. The people are very friendly and there are strange names for coffee!

Happily my hostel is comfy and clean- even the beds-and we get real fluufy (ish) towels. It is surrounded by trees and a small garden and a hammock which I nearly fell out of this morning!

Right, the boat of jet lag has just hit quite stormy seas again so I am off to strap myself to the deck!

Bye for now!