Auckland New Zealand? What are we doing here? Well the Tonga twist had us all fouled up. We missed our flight to Fiji then missed our flight to New Zealand.Finally making the plane out of Ha'apai we spent another night in Tongatapu at Little Italy. We woke to the best weather we had seen in days and of course we had to leave.Heading to the airport we waved good bye to all of our Tongan friends. Passed the Rainbow Bakery with the greatest donuts in the Pacific and the lady with the green eyes. We went through traffic circles where people wait their turns instead of barrowing through like they own it. Sweet Tonga where cell phone service is expisive so people still talk to the person right next to them. Tonga where the mangos are falling from the trees this year and nobody picks them up as there are so many. Tonga stop on the side of the road and pick a fresh banana they grow like weeds here. Tonga where if you need a lift to the airport the entire family wants to take you, I saw an entire dump truck full of people drop off one person and waited to wave as we walked across the tarmac to wave to them. Soon we were in our seat aboard the nicest economy plane I have ever seen Air New Zealand.

The safety video was watched by all as it was interesting, Richard Simons doing the airplane stretch, to upbeat music and a plane full of people buckling up their belts. Watch out Southwest Air New Zealand could wipe you out. Soo we were at the end of the runway looking out at beautiful Tonga, thinking that even with those bad days the people and the land make for a great vacation. Engines to full it seemed like a rocket after all of our Corvair flights. Up,up and away we cleared the coast ans were southbound to a Kiwi visit. We had real food on the flight and new friends as Joy and I never sit together on short hauls,what better way to make new stories then to meet the person next to you and maybe share a story. I got the couple who had just spent a week with family and were just as happy to sit next to someone else as I was.Joy got the Newlywed couple who were as she says "all over each other" well hope they enjoy that while it lasts soon they will be sitting in separte rows.

Welcome to New Zealand! What a great day to fly in. The city skyline in view as were the rolling farms. Now is there any reason that the US Border agents can't be a nice as those here? They did their jobs yet really made you glad to be here. I bet the guy on the plane Joy would want McDonalds if she saw one and there it was just outside of security.I nixed that I wanted a New Zealand burger. Off to the airport hotel we quickly comedeered the two washing machines yes clean clothes and a bounce sheet we were smiling in soft clothes again. Out in to the fresh air of summer not to hot and no humidity. Funny summer things you never notice, lawn mowers and the fresh smell of cut grass. ANd look at this cars that had no rust unlike Tongan cars.We made our way to dinner and there it was a New Zealand burger with AMerican mustart as a selling point. Well it was more bun then burger I enjoyed it as Joy watched and wanting to say McDonalds.

Okay the beer was cold and the night was upon us, we made it back to the room just in time to watch a show on people with embarassing conditions.And let me say I have never seen anything like that on even cable at home. And if I had some of those conditions I would probaly just keep it to myself. If anybody has a link to these shows please send it to me. And that leads us to where we are now. Minutes from boarding a flight to Korea (South) then to Vietnam for the night. Finally China layover and then Burma. We have our American money all ironed out and plan on being off the grid again for a week.We'll take many picture even that one for Pete back at NSA. I always smile in Asia. And away we go!!