Many photos with captions and previous travels on my website www.THinnc.co.uk Terry’s Travels TT 44-1 Family in Dubai 19th November 2013 We are still getting congratulated on our marriage, I have to ask is it the wedding or that we have lasted over two months! It was a joy to have Chris, Lindy, James and Dan take a penthouse apartment at the Pullman Hotel for almost a week together. The location overlooking the Dubai Creek and the fantastic skyline was perfect with sun and around 30C. Dubai has a lot to offer and especially at this time of year with wonder- ful balmy (barmy?) evenings. We used the Metro underground—very impressive and ferries on the Creek both with and without aircon. Had fun in the Souks and malls. The family did a desert drive with camel rides and barbie. We went to the crick- et ground and saw Pakistan (they use this as their home ground) well beaten by South Africa. Ate several meals together including a special Friday brunch—hic. Yes there is alcohol if you choose your places. Even though we could see the Burj from our hotel it took the Metro and quite a bit of walking to get there— we had booked a sunset time 5pm to see the lights come on the amazing 360 vista. It was so worth it, the engineering and quality is to be marvelled at. Just 1 mi- nute in the lift and you hardly feel the movement, your ears tell you about the height gained. A less plush down lift gives a bit more feeling. There is a mall (they are everywhere) adjoining with lots of the most upmarket shops and outside this mall is where the music and wa- ter jets give a truly amazing display right there with an amazing night skyline topped of course by the Burj. The family returned to school and work whilst Di and I are now in our favourite Changi Village Hotel in Singa- pore—around half way to New Zealand. We plan a week in Brisbane and a week in N Island NZ to make it a very leisurely way to make this long journey. The Du- bai airshow was doing record business selling futuristic- new more efficient longer flying jets. From highest outdoor platform The needle building near the centre is The Burj Khalifa, the highest build- ing in the world at 828meters or 160 stories. Shot from our hotel. Same shot 20 mins after Chris & Lindy top of Burj Khalifa
Transcript
Many photos with captions and previous travels on my website www.THinnc.co.uk
Terry’s Travels
TT 44-1 Family in Dubai 19th November 2013
We are still getting congratulated on our marriage, I have to ask is it the wedding or that we have lasted over two months! It was a joy to have Chris, Lindy, James and Dan take a penthouse apartment at the Pullman Hotel for almost a week together. The location overlooking the Dubai Creek and the fantastic skyline was perfect with sun and around 30C. Dubai has a lot to offer and especially at this time of year with wonder-ful balmy (barmy?) evenings. We used the Metro underground—very impressive and ferries on the Creek both with and without aircon. Had fun in the Souks and malls. The family did a desert drive with camel rides and barbie. We went to the crick-et ground and saw Pakistan (they use this as their home ground) well beaten by South Africa. Ate several meals together including a special Friday brunch—hic. Yes there is alcohol if you choose your places. Even though we could see the Burj from our hotel it took the Metro and quite a bit of walking to get there—we had booked a sunset time 5pm to see the lights come on the amazing 360 vista. It was so worth it, the engineering and quality is to be marvelled at. Just 1 mi-nute in the lift and you hardly feel the movement, your ears tell you about the height gained. A less plush down lift gives a bit more feeling. There is a mall (they are everywhere) adjoining with lots of the most upmarket shops and outside this mall is where the music and wa-ter jets give a truly amazing display right there with an amazing night skyline topped of course by the Burj. The family returned to school and work whilst Di and I are now in our favourite Changi Village Hotel in Singa-pore—around half way to New Zealand. We plan a week in Brisbane and a week in N Island NZ to make it a very leisurely way to make this long journey. The Du-bai airshow was doing record business selling futuristic-new more efficient longer flying jets.
From highest outdoor platform
The needle building near the centre is The Burj Khalifa, the highest build-ing in the world at 828meters or 160 stories. Shot from our hotel.
Same shot 20 mins after
Chris & Lindy top of Burj Khalifa
Many photos with captions and previous travels on my website www.THinnc.co.uk
Terry’s Travels
TT 44-2 Union Jack at the Gabba 25th November 2013
Our friend Jonette met us in Brisbane airport early after the red eye from Singapore. Her house is on the coast in Redland Bay. We saw the first day of the Ashes on TV and then had bought tickets to take Jonette with us to the impressive Gabba, the first 3 days were a sell out and the stadium seats 30,000. The tickets give you free public transport to get there. I was proudly wearing a Union Jack T shirt but much less proud when the Aus-sies gave us a stuffing, I took the stick even when we went to a downtown pub restaurant. Drinking is a BIG part of going to the game and there were a lot of really pissed people—what fun. The barramundi (fish) tasted really great at the Story Bridge Hotel. There have been big storms over the weekend bringing some very welcome rain but not saving England at the cricket! We always enjoy the sights and sounds around Brisbane and 8 of us ate at a marina outside under a canopy. We have more action planned with a couple of nights on a friend’s house boat in Bums Bay—that sounds like it should suit us very well.
Jonette with Louie (her dachshund) in her lap looking with envy at the Great Dane chomping his ice cream in two gulps. A steamy 31C deserves a cold treat.
30,000 at the Gabba
Free for spectators, the hillclimb showed cars of all types and ages. This one is using Valentinos famous number. Karts were quickest.
Sunday Xmas market
Tropical Trees & blue skies
Many photos with captions and previous travels on my website www.THinnc.co.uk
Terry’s Travels
TT 44-3 Glamping? aboard Love Rocks 29th November 2013
Terry’s comments We were invited to a couple of nights on a houseboat. Of course I said yes, it was another thing off my bucket list. We drove to Bums Bay where several houseboats were wild camping. You perhaps have heard the word glamping—GLAMOROUS CAMPING. David’s house-boat was smaller than Noahs ark but similar vintage. The top deck (is that the poop deck?) had a new tent and double air mattress for Di and I. Provisioned and with some bait we left passing splendid multi million dol-lar pads with similarly expensive boats driven by quite a large percentage of pratts. Two hours later having picked up the girls from Paradise Point we were in a quiet genuine paradise with jellyfish drifting by, fishing lines out and anchored by a beach. During the night the wind got up, the boat dragged the anchor and we all got up in darkness—how exciting, Capt David knew what to do. I had slept through a lot of the tent flapping and mattress wobbling. Seriously though, I had a really great time, Capt David was an amazing host, as well as Capt he was chief navigator, engineer and most of all shipboard cook. He made the best bangers and mash we have ever tasted and has an invite to the UK and NZ if he can take the time from his real estate company in Brisbane. Di’s comments Thanks to David I Survived!!!!!! Off the boat we returned to Jonette’s dads impressive estate, the best house in Brisbane, Ormiston village. Use Google Earth and fly down Beckwith St to the wa-ter—look left. Di and I dined with friends in a superb Thai restaurant in the village and I had an audiophile evening enjoying top level hifi before a few hours in bed and a 4am start to finally get to Auckland NZ and south in rush hour traffic to stay in another Di selected bou-tique hotel called the Tuakau Hotel which dates from 1876. Quite remarkable how this place buzzes with lo-cals during happy hour and TVs everywhere.
What we did!
When the strong winds eventually dropped the mangrove waterways were simply wonderful. You could hear the distant surf breaking.....
What we caught!
Surfers Paradise splendour
Many photos with captions and previous travels on my website www.THinnc.co.uk
Terry’s Travels
TT 44-4 North Island, NZ 4th December 2013
Just over 3 weeks into this action packed round the world trip and we arrived at by-passed Mangatiwiri to stay a night with David & Maureen. Suddenly it was early Xmas with mega decorations inside and then twin-kling lights outside as night fell. It was great to catch up. After the horrendous traffic of Auckland it was nice to be driving in rural NZ, there seems to be more cows than sheep now and more cafes than ever, we gave one at Waihi Beach our custom—excellent and drove on to get a lovely motel in Mt Maunganui for a couple of nights to walk the beach, catch the Sunday market visit Rosie O’ Gradys and have a poor Mexican meal. Our self catering efforts were better. Heading SW took us to smelly Rotorua and then bril-liant driving through this extensive thermal springs area on quiet roads before we stopped above the huge Lake Taupo to enjoy the panorama. The resort of Taupo has grown a lot since we were last here and was still busy after one of the biggest weekends of the year, officially summer started on Dec 1st. We found a suitable motel with a balcony giving a bit of lake viewing and Di made prawn pasta in the excellently equipped kitchenette in our studio unit. We even got a good programme as darkness crept in on the decent TV, I think all NZ has just gone fully digital. The drive from Taupo to Stratford was the best days driving yet, especially the 41 and the 43 known as the Forgotten Highway. There even was a 16km stretch of quite lumpy gravel and all the time nearing the snow capped Mount Egmont which slowly got bigger. Seeing and dining Irish friends Cameron & Aleata was our fun time, we knew them from time in South Island before they relocated to North Island. Further knowledge of going Southwards on this trip, with more knowledge of Ireland and Turkey for possible future trips was much appreciated. Tired and happy we flopped into bed.
They all sang to us
In the distance is massive Lake Tau-po. We arrived a day after the huge event of cycling round the lake, a dis-tance of 160 km.
Maureen’s impressive preparations
Final night in Brisbane
Many photos with captions and previous travels on my website www.THinnc.co.uk
Terry’s Travels
TT 44-5 Rain 6th December 2013
Heavy rain spoiled our plans to drive to the snow capped Mt Egmont and to get a photo of this impres-sive volcano formed mountain. Careful driving in very heavy rain south and once again a McCafe for the cof-fee and banana bread deal, all super tasting and great value. The free wifi had us checking the cinema in Whanganui. We checked into the prebooked motel which was excellent and by the river. A short walk to the city centre had us watching the 3D film Gravity, very escapist, set in outer space, we both enjoyed it. It was sunny when we came out and a walk confirmed that the city had a similar nice feel—like Nelson but with more downmarket bits. Whanganui city centre is built along-side a tidal river with very pleasant walking and a very swish iSite centre. We had chosen a motel with Sky which allowed us to see NZ thrashing the W Indies, but even better the tus-sle with England v the Aussies in the second Ashes test which is a bit more of a battle so far. It was the special Millenium year that we first came to New Zealand very close to fourteen years ago for a once in a lifetime trip, we rented a camper and scurried round both islands for three weeks before riding our old BMW motorcycle across Australia. NZ had impressed us enough to then send the bike to NZ and the rest is history, returning to ride again in 2001/2/3 and buying the house. It was a great decision, as was buying in South Island and spending time in retirement. This re-visit to North Island has been fascinating and we have been to new places but it has only confirmed just how special South Island is to us. It is a big journey from England but more friends than ever are expected. Today we head down the last bit of the West coast (Kapiti) to meet friends Des & Steph before the final re-turn of the rental car in Wellington (the capital) and a very short flight to Nelson on Sunday morning.
Amusing beer ad
New Zealand’s last paddle steamer the Waimarie. Sunk on berth in 1952 then raised from river after 40 years and restored. Sails some Saturdays.
Growths on many wood posts
Customer of Wangamomona Hotel
Many photos with captions and previous travels on my website www.THinnc.co.uk
Terry’s Travels
TT 44-6 South Island Home 29th December 2013
Waikanae Beach just N of Wellington we stayed two nights with Des & Steph Molloy, he has a work contract which had him relocate for a while before returning to their beloved Golden Bay in South Island. He is with his very rare car that reminds me of a Hillman Hunter. We had fun, beach and lake walking and a superb meal in our own dining room at the beach restaurant. Our next stop was Wellington Airport and a quick flight up and down into Nelson South Island where our Cumbrian pal Tim collected us for a two night stay with him before we were able to take back our home that had been rented to two doctors. Tim’s Delia Smith beef bourguignon was very tasty—fantastic for a nearly 80 year old! Almost three weeks have passed and we are well set-tled back in. We had a surprise visit from Lloyd and Ja-net Gardener, we luckily inherited them as our garden-ers when we bought the house. It was a shock to see how ill Janet was having lost 20kg. She passed away a few days later. When we came as foreigners to NZ we had a lot to learn to understand houses and especially native plants and gardens. Janet’s knowledge and ide-as were a wonderful help aided by Lloyd and their son Marcus’ hard work, she even had strong thoughts that the outside walls of the house should be black. She was right and the house will always stay this colour as a powerful reminder of Janet. RIP. Coming into high summer the outdoor living has been especially appreciated with breakfast poolside, Xmas lunch overlooking the sea on our verandah, walking and leading the motorcycle group the BOFs (Boring Old Farts) and exploring the growing cycleways of Nelson and around. Another NZ$800,000 has just been allocat-ed for more, it will certainly be money well spent. Today is overcast so I bought a ticket to see the latest Hobbit film in3D with the latest Ultra High definition 60fps—should be interesting....Happy New Year.
With his rare Goliath car
From the latest Hobbit (Kiwi) film This hangs proudly from the ceiling of Wellington Airport. Gandalf rides the Giant Eagle
Ken on new cycleway extension
Des outside his rented cottage
Many photos with captions and previous travels on my website www.THinnc.co.uk
Terry’s Travels
TT 44,7 Wedding Celebration, NZ 3rd March 2014
March 1st is considered here to be the first day of Autumn but was our time to say thank you to our many neighbours and friends here in NZ. Around 60 had a super sunny day overlooking “The Cut” and we did Kiwi casual with a delivery of great just cooked seafood with an ice cream kart with ice cream, yoghurt and choice of fresh local berries, the coffee kart had the very best tasting coffee which could have been Bailey’s, Gaelic, Irish or French. Local wines were flowing and specially made greeting cards and presents poured in despite us saying “no presents” one real fun one was some red carpet and a union jack doormat. My brewery owner neighbour sponsored the keg of pilsner. My cousin Paul was here for a month, sister in law Chris and we also had an Icelandic guest. We have so many people to thank but especially Priscilla, Dick, birthday girl Donna, our waitress Julia and the girls on the karts were just superb and left with big slices of cake. Di, Chris and Paul worked hard on all the concept but it was just a FANTASTIC celebration. Donna (just retired teacher) was kept from sleeping with drinking coffee but the enclosed “A Welcome Migration” that resulted brings a lump to our throats, see below. We have two more friends arriving on March 8th from the UK via Aussie. The resulting three ladies (Di, Chris and Tess) are having a road trip,Thelma and Louise plus one! Neil will be my new riding buddy with my two Beemers having a very lively travelling time—he is also a computer whiz so all the range of talents will be put to good use.
Coffee and ice cream karts
Neighbours and friends
Tasted good too!
A WELCOME MIGRATION As October draws near in a small seaside enclave of Nelson, a group of neighbours starts to chatter in anticipation. They confer and share tittle-
tattle gathered and gleaned from various sources. They watch for the first signs of the southern migration. In other parts of New Zealand it is the
arrival of the Godwits that is celebrated with great fanfare. In the Rocks Road-Richardson Street area it is the arrival of the “Northern Goodsorts” that is being heralded.
The first sign is the still creased newly unfurled flag that flies from the flagpole. Then the annual nesting site gets a good turnover with repairs sorted, new nesting materials to replace old and the cover lifted on the bird bath. The local habitat is surveyed, tidied and trimmed and then it’s
official. The “Terry and Diana Birds” are here for the summer and our little corner of the world becomes brighter and livelier.
The laughing call of the Diana Bird can be heard trilling from her favoured habitat of a variety of local decks. Her call is distinctive and appealing and often attracts quite a flock of locals to her vicinity where-in general good fun and mayhem often ensues for several hours.
The Terry Bird has a much deeper call, more like the deep mechanical throb of a motorbike engine, which is always a joy to be heard, especially of a Wednesday morning when it attracts an entire flock of black clad lookalikes. The sound of the collective roar as they move off to an unnown
destination brings a tremble to many a local knee. With the welcome addition of the “Northern Goodsorts” the locals have a very social time as
the Terry and Diana birds perch on their own sunny deck or make organised forays into the habitats of either the Priscilla Bird or the Touties beer laden deck. All occasions are full of food, laughter, jokes and wine.
They bring others into the fold, sometimes from quite distant parts, all generously shared and well appreciated by the Rocks Road, Richardson
Street locals. Joy abounds. And then it happens.
The nest is closed up a the call of the Northern Migration pulls at them. Their longing for more travel beats the lamentations and protestations of
the Kiwi sunny deck dwellers and it happens. The cicadas singing begins to fade. The Diana and Terry birds start their preparations they are off. To the pubs and tavernas of the rest of the world to bask in the sun of Yorkshire and Spain. Our loss is their gain. And once again the small
seaside enclave is relatively quiet as the brown little kiwi await the next migration of the colourful Goodsorts.
Many photos with captions and previous travels on my website www.THinnc.co.uk
Terry’s Travels
TT 44-8 Completing Round the World 27th March 2014
We now have had time to see the presents and
read all the creative cards following the Wedding Party and would like to say a great big thank
you to all. I visited MarchFest which is a real ale festival,
16 new beers were formulated using especially grown hop varieties from the Nelson area. It is a
great concept and the new cycleways are ex-tremely successful especially the “Great Tasman Taste Trail” which cyclists and pedestrians can
use through the vineyards and hops. In the pho-to below is a most novel coffee shop close to the
trail near Rabbit Island. The young couple that own the business split their lives between roast-ing coffee in Cairnes in OZ (during NZ winter)
and the specially made container which is filled with goods for transit, then emptied and sold. I
especially recommend the iced coffee—it fortifies you for the 20km ride back.
Nelson and the N coast of South Island has a large fishing industry. One very successful fami-
ly is the Talleys. The bottom picture shows the deliberately sunken fishing boat that was the
first of their fleet and has been there since the 1950’s.
Just another week here as autumn grips and our first stop off at Sydney en route via Texas and
New York so there should be more to write about as we travel.
Paul visits Golden Bay
Container Coffee shop
Chris flips on Pancake day
Many photos with captions and previous travels on my website www.THinnc.co.uk
Terry’s Travels
TT 44-12 New York City ends trip 10th May 2014
This Round the World trip was 13 flights over 5
months and 2 weeks with our final stay in NYC for three nights. It turned out wonderfully well
and way exceeded expectations. We walked and walked Central Park, Greenwich Village, Times Square and Broadway. We saw Jersey Boys on
Broadway and were given free tickets to a classical concert in Carnegie Hall with seats in
the donors box! It was all cleaner and friendlier than expected—oh yes we had great weather. The quality hotel was expensive but nothing else
was a rip off.
The highlights of the RTW trip were the family holiday in Dubai, friends in Brisbane and the cricket-even though we were thrashed. Our
wedding celebration party in Nelson, NZ. Waikiki was a great stopover and the Austin Texas
racing circuit followed by the stay in NYC.
We have been back in our UK home for two frantic weeks with lots of rain but some good weather to spruce up the garden, do some
walking, motorcycle and bicycle and even cele-brated being 74 with a walk around Bradford
with my daughter, cousin and childhood pal Dave where I lived until I was 23. We start our next travels on Wednesday to Scotland, Ireland
North and South and finally Wales. I have in mind to visit a Buddhist retreat and do some
meditation after all that lot. Central Park New York City
