AUCKLAND

The plane from Sydney to Auckland was delayed so I eventually got to the YHA in Auckland around eight O clock at night on wedesday. I felt quite nervous about venturing into another country as I had got quite used the ways in Australia. On the plane , despite it being in the afternoon we were given breakfast. This was because they had swapped our original plane for another one that was all geared up for serving breakfast.They did say that it needed to be served as it was not good for it to sit around in the storage cartons..I should have let the alarm bells ring then!!! but I did not and proceeded to tuck into a breakfast with very dodgy looking sausages. Later that night and the next morning I spent a long time on the loo!!! and my tummy was not too good.I should have gone without the breakfast!! It is rediculous that I travel all around south east Asia and Australia without any stomach problems and the minute I fly to New Zealand I get my first tummy upset.
But I did not let it put me off exploring the city. I armed myself with plenty of water and a map and headed off for the Auckland Museum to learn all about the Maori culture.
It is the most amazing museum I have been to, there was so much to see and I got the opportunity to see a performance of the famouse HAKA.
Afterwards I visited the winter gardens and saw an amazing collection of ferns.(You lucky thing ! I hear you cry) They thrive in the climate of New Zealand, and they were very beautiful! Then I walked down to the art gallery. The main one was closed, but I went to see the latest exhibition in the new Auckland gallery before wandering down to the ferry terminal, where the views over the harbour were beautiful.
I am looking forward to getting a ferry out to the volcanic island in the Bay.

I wandered around for a while just soaking in the atmosphere, then I went to this great bar called MINUS 5.
It is all made completely from ice. I had to don some very warm clothing before I entered ,including TWO pairs of gloves!. I had a vodka cocktail served in an ice glass.(They warn you to hold onto it with two hands because people keep forgetting and let their drinks slip out of their hands because the glass is made of ice.) I was only allowed to stay in there around half an hour because it is so cold. It was a fun experience. I met a Scottish couple from Glasgow inside and we got chatting and afterwards we went for a Mexican meal together. They gave me some tips about places to visit in Auckland. That is the great thing about travelling ,other people on the road are only too eager to pass on their experiences. Most times I have taken people's advice I have found some great places I would not otherwise have explored.

GOODBYE AUSTRALIA

I took the plane from Alice Springs to Sydney and settled into the YHA in central Sydney for the last time. I have been through here so many times on my journey in Australia that I felt like I had come home for a while!
That evening I met up with some friends who live in Sydney.Katherine, Emma and Lucas. I met them some months back in Cambodia.We had a lovely meal and said our goodbyes.
We promised to meet up again in England.
The next day I went shopping for warm clothes for my trip to New Zealand. I was lucky that Kathmandu had a 40% sale on, so I got all the things that I needed at a good price.I walked along to Sydney harbour and had a nice lunch at a cafe opposite the harbour bridge and then wandered along to the Sydney Opera Hourse, where I had a glass of champagne to toast the great time I have had here in Australia!!!
Later in the day I met Carmel and we went for a fantastic meal together to say our goodbyes.
I was particularly pleased that she met up with me as she is so snowed under with work on the film festival at the moment.It was very sad saying Goodbye to her because I do not know when I will see her again and we have had some brilliant times together, especially climbing the harbour bridge with Sammie!!!
But we have hatched a plan to try and meet up again in Canada when she goes to the Toronto film festival later in the year.We will see if we can match up our dates.
Tomorrow morning I fly to New Zealand for ten weeks and I am so excited!!!!Everyone says it is such a beautiful place and I cannot wait to check it out.