Singaporing

We spent four super nights in Singapore with family. Jas, Manmeet and Rasnaam welcomed us in so nicely and made us feel part of the family. 

We were in Singapore five years ago when Olive was one so we wanted to retrace our steps. We went to see Marina Sands with the big ship perched on top of sky scrapers. It still looked amazing if a bit weird!

And the Merlion statue spurting its water from its double body. The spray from the water cooled us in the sizzling Singaporean heat - much hotter now in March than in November when we visited before. 

We were spoilt by tasty homemade food: butter “chicken” (the guys are veggie so it was paneer) and daal were our favourites. 

We spent a happy day wandering round Chinatown. It was nice watching the locals and taking an old coffee which is a traditional favourite - cheap coffee beans and very sweet. Olive and Selina did not approve!

We also visited the Tooth Relic Buddhist Temple. Very impressive - the chanting was mesmerising. 

We went swimming (and quick jacuzzi!) one night which was refreshing in the heat and then had a feast of different foods in the club. Rojak and eggplant were particularly good. 

Olive was a superstar in the local Gudwara - taking on Pooaji’s instructions brilliantly and making us proud. 

Sadly it rained all afternoon when we tried to see the Bay of Gardens. However we did get some shots to compare to those from five years ago. 

We had a lovely last evening with Ravi and Jaspreet’s family - again so welcoming. Olive loved playing with Jasleen. 

We departed Singapore really feeling we wanted more time. Hopefully we will get to spend some more time at the end of our Asian adventures as we fly home from Singapore. We had a great time. Although we did decide to take in a dinosaur display the airport had put on. Unfortunately it all took a bit longer than expected which, combined with Olive’s fingers not playing ball at the security scan, meant we had to run to catch our plane and just got on at last Call! All good fun in the tapestry of life!

Bye bye NZ

Our six months in New Zealand have come to an end. We handed over the keys for our van to a lovely French couple and stayed in a gorgeous Airbnb back in Titirangi - it felt like we were in the middle of the jungle. 

We linked up with some friends and Selina’s cousin Ras and his lovely family. Great, fun family who really look after us. We all went to Butterfly Creek which had a little bit of everything - butterfly house, animal enclosures, petting zoo and a little train ride. 

We also swung by Olive’s old  Steiner school to say hi and catch up. Carlene’s homemade buns with copious amounts of butter are still to die for!!

It’s been an eye opener seeing the damage caused by the cyclone and hearing some of the stories. Roads are still closed all over the place and whole communities are still trying to get back on their feet. 

There was a cultural festival, Pacifika, that we went along to in Western Springs. There were different dances, singing and food from the different islands in the Pacific. We liked the Hula dancing with ukelele the best. 

Selina and Olive went up the Sky Tower to enjoy the views. We also had some of our old favourites like butter chicken curry in the village we are staying in and Giapo ice cream from the CBD. 

We have always wanted to visit New Zealand and it hasn’t disappointed. There is lots like Britain, lovely countryside, nature and activities - it just feels like the dial has been turned up for each bit! The upping of the scale from the north to the south Islands leans me to prefer the south but then my absolute highlights have been travelling through the geothermals of Rotorua and the natural features around the middle of the north Island like the glowworms in Waitomo and the waterfalls around Taupo. 

Next we are flying into Asia. First stop a return to Singapore…

Coromandel peninsula

We had hoped to use our return journey to Auckland to take in Hawkes Bay, Coromandel peninsula and Northlands. However there were some really bad gales caused by a cyclone that hit NZ in January. This caused problems to all three of these areas so we missed out Hawkes Bay but did take in Coromandel as it sounded like there would be some bits to do there. 

On the way to the peninsula we stopped in a few places. I liked this mural in Katikati. How many actual people are stood looking at the mural?

We camped in Whangapoua. It was away from the main highway loop with another lovely beach and beautiful clear views of the Milky Way that we watched laid on the beach. 

We dug holes in the sand at Hot Water Beach and enjoyed the super hot geothermal waters. No photos!

Karangahake Gorge between Waihi and Paeroa had lots of different walks. We walked along the old train track and looked round some old buildings. 

We’ve now got one week left in NZ which we are going to spend in Auckland. We sold the van to the Wellington guys who are going to pick it up in Auckland so we will be back into a hire car for some catching up with family and friends and some last treats in Auckland. 

Repeater part 2 - Rotenrua strikes again

Rotorua or Rotenrua as we call it still smelt terrible. A smell I strangely like but not sure why. Ever since we left Rotorua we have been saying we must go back and do the volcanic valley, something cultural and the mud bath. 

The Waimangu volcanic valley was great. The valley was created by an eruption 150 years ago. The steaming craters were stunning and Inferno Crater super blue - it fills and empties every 38 days - we were lucky that it was very full. The cruise on Lake Rotomahana after the 4km walk was fun with a geyser going off the cherry on the cake!

We were reminded of our mud experience in a Colombian volcano when we lathered on the brown stuff at Hells Gate. Sadly no photos of the mud bit, but suffice to stay we got absolutely covered. 

We also did a cultural night in the heart of Rotorua. It was super touristy but still fun. We saw a Maori traditional canoe chant, ate tasty hangi dinner where all the food is cooked underground, watched a cultural show with the Haka and different dances and songs, and a glow worm walk. All this was crammed into three hours! A feat of well oiled (and well practiced) organisation!

I love Rotorua, even the stomach churning smell as you open the van in the morning! Nothing like starting your day with a chuckle. 

Repeater part 1 - through Taupo

As we head back to Auckland we are repeating some of our favourite places. We stayed in Kapiti again but with better weather this time. The play park by Waikanae Beach had a great scooter circuit that we spent ages messing around on. We were hanging around a bit as a couple from Wellington were coming to view the van that we are looking to sell before we head out of NZ.

We also stayed by the rugged sea at Whanganui. They pronounce it Wanganui rather than Fanganui. There was lots of big driftwood on the black sand beach and the impressive river feeding into it. 

The Carrot themed Playpark in Ohakune was still a hit. Great nearby coffee and pies as well! 

Taupo Lake still looked stunning and the burgers at Paulys still tasted great even with the torrential downpour and hail! 

I really like Aratiatia dam. We went to a couple of viewpoints further down the gorge this time!

We also did another hot springs in Taupo. We love these too much. 

Next stop is the more touristy things in Rotorua.