And We Are Off!

We had decided over a year ago that we would take our first trip together after our mission to New Zealand.  We had friends, Marcie and Kevin Carter, who were serving a Church History Mission in Hamilton and we decided that would bump New Zealand up our list to make a trip there before their return home in October. We had a wonderful trip.  I took 1862 photos plus the ones Gary took (which are frequently of me, so you won't likely see them on the blog--Afterall, do you need to see me sleeping or drinking or eating?).

We left on Thursday, March 20 from Salt Lake to San Francisco, from there to Brisbane, Australia, and then to Christchurch, New Zealand. 

We arrived in Brisbane just as the sun was rising in the east on Saturday morning.  This is due in part to the long flight to get to this spot on the map in the southern hemisphere and also because of traveling over the international date line.

We were introduced to a new term at the Brisbane airport--A travelator....and although this sign was near the escalator, it is actually the term for the moving walkways which they had on the upper floor.

Sunrise to the east....

So, I have actually landed in Australia but only for a layover.  Gary has actually been in Australia a couple of times on business.  Ironically, our friends and neighbors, the Pessettos, were in Australia on a vacation at this exact time, but not in Brisbane.  They left the week before we did and will return a week before us.  We have loved their pictures she shared on Facebook--with koalas, parrots, and kangaroos.

HSBC--a banking firm we are familiar with from Hong Kong days.

We flew from Brisbane to Christchurch which is located in the South Island of New Zealand.  New Zealand consists of two big islands called the North Island and the South Island plus many other little islands in the area. Our trip started in the South Island.

The view out of our hotel suite window....Christchurch experienced a major earthquake back in 2012 and lost over a thousand buildings in the downtown area.  As a result they are rebuilding and trying to create more gathering spaces within the main part of the city.  This area is one example.  It is located next to the City Conference Center and has hosted many events and gatherings since its creation.  Paths from it go down to the Avon River walk area of the city.

Fun views of our hotel suite, but it wasn't our favorite hotel.  We asked for new towels after 3 days because in the humidity the towels didn't dry well.  They came to our room about 10:30 pm to deliver them, after I had given up and gone to bed.  I also asked them if they could mail postcards for me--all stamped and ready to go--and they said no.  Never had that experience before and our guide who was standing near us couldn't believe it. Where is customer service, he wondered.

Our dinner Saturday night was just around the corner--Thai Street Food.  It was yummy and we ate here a couple of times. (One good recommendation from hotel staff)--

We successfully stayed awake until about 9:30 pm and then we were so excited to sleep in a bed after only sleeping about 3 hours on the flight over. (My step counter was not happy about no steps on March 22--the day we skipped on the way over.)