Travelling Swift

Stories from a Single, White, Idiotic, Female, Traveller

From the Philippines to New Zealand

I got to New Zealand which was an experience in itself. It comes directly from 'Planes, Trains and Autombiles' but included a boat which I also had to endure. The best bit was being dumped on the equivalent of an interstate by the local bus and told to get a taxi from there to the airport in Manilla. Even more amazing was that a taxi screeched to a halt from 70mph and took me there. Guardian angels doing overtime I think.

New Zealand is lovely. The whole island feels like 4-star in comparison to my previous month. I'd forgotten that you can have warm showers, that toilet paper goes in the bowl and not a bin, and the toilet automatically refills instead of by hand from a bucket.

My first day I went to see an old sail ship with my mum, an italian ship. I think my hormones went into over-drive. However I ended up feeling like an unfertilised egg with a serious case of jet lag, unable to make contact with the outside world. Damn!

The weather is a little similar to an English summer being temperamental, but I'm still getting a suntan. I'm due to go on the press boat for the America's cup which should be great fun, just not sure when though.

So far so good, though I'm a little concerned that there aren't enough pubs here and I'm feeling deprived. Maybe I'll have to start my own chain over here.