Rob & Judith's World Dive Tour: March 2006

Saturday, March 25, 2006

Dinner at Soul...great meal...great company and an awesome night...I think that was bottle of wine number 5 when this was taken...all gets fuzzy after this shot...

Beach in Kaiteriteri...my mum enjoyed just cruising along and chatting with Ties and Lies...I think Lies and her swapped recipes for most of their time together...

The "Folks" checking out the view from Hawks Nest...Judith and I had the car keys and were looking for a chance to run...

Looking out from Hawks Nest just before Takaka at the top of the Takaka Hill...the view was awesome and there was a huge drop below the lookout...Judith still eating...hehehehe

Mitai and seeing the "Hangi"...believe it or not there was enough food to feed 200...Ties asked if they pre-cooked the food and this was only for show...he soon realised that the taste cannot be duplicated any other way...it was scrumptious...

Lies is all smiles in this photo but ask her to show you the first photos taken...here we are just below the Huka Falls...

Dinner in Paihia before watching the Crusaders kick butt...we only had main meals this night as we were late to watch the game

Friday, March 24, 2006

Ties and Lies were here!!!!!!

Hey all...sorry about taking so long to update the blog but Judith and I have been head down and bum up working ourselves to the bone saving money so we could take time off work for her father and his partner visiting us...now for all my mates that cannot pronounce very simple names....Judith's dad's name is Ties...pronounced "Teece" and his partners name is Lies...pronounced "Leece"...

Had wanted to put pictures with this text but can't download program as the internet cafe won't allow it...hopefully next time.

Ties and Lies arrived here in Auckland at about midnight on March 1st and by the time we arrived at their hotel it was closer to 2am. We took them for a coffee after their marathon 27 hour flight and were all ready to let them retire to bed when Ties asked if we would like to go for a beer...now Judith had told me that her father drank very seldomly and only a small glass if anything...he had also said to me on the phone prior to his arrival that he did not drink...mmmmm...so we took him to a small pub we know and introduced him to New Zealand beers...I must point out that it took a few visits to various pubs over the next few days before he found his beer of choice..."Speights"...pride of the south...as we drove them both around the North Island Ties could be heard to say as the clock struck 4pm..."Is it beer o'clock yet?" Seems I had slightly corrupted the man...hehehe

Ties and Lies were here for 3 weeks of which Judith and I spent all but 5 days with them...too much happened to list it all here so I will just tell you some of the highlights...

I introduced Ties to Rugby Union and he quickly settled into watching the Super 14's with me...obligatory beer in hand...and after a few explanations as to the rules he began to enjoy the sport...he quickly saw that the team to support was the very same that I support and has become a Canterbury Crusaders fan...during this in depth discussion about great sports he told me that Football was better but only just...had to agree to disagree on that...at this point it was mentioned that we could bet on the Super 14 games at which when Ties heard I was about to place a bet put his own bet alongside mine at the TAB...we both lost because the Crusaders beat the other team by more than 13 points...

Judith and I showed them around Paihia and had the normal "STOP!!!!" as we approached the Dutch deli mentioned in a previous blog...we had to drop in there for a quick bite and coffee...we even saw that world famous toilet just before Paihia...being as we were tourists..Paihia gave us beautiful days and dolphins aplenty when we took a Dolphin Tour...Ties said "Awesome" heaps and his camera was going non-stop...

After spending a few days in Paihia we headed for the city of Rotorua...to my foriegn readers this is a place that smells like a rotting fart due to the sulphur gases from all the volcanic activity in the area...Ties and Lies took in all the sights and we even had an evening at "Mitai" a Maori evening exhibition introducing everyone to maori culture, beliefs and customs...we all enjoyed it immensely and they were also introduced to a "hangi"...(it's the way Maori's cook food in the ground)...

Next stop was Lake Taupo and on the way we told Ties and Lies we were going to see the Huka Falls and also a Prawn Farm...ok the prawn farm was just a way of us disguising the fact that we were taking them to the Huka Jet...now Lies being a delicate lady was none to pleased to find out that I had prebooked the trip and there was no way out...the Huka Jet can best be described as "strapping your bum to a rocket on water and the only person that can steer is 30 seconds behind the boat"...the Jetboat get up to a fair speed and spends most of its time sideways sliding across the water...I think I may have scared Lies at first because she wouldn't open her eyes and would just mutter at me "You nasty, nasty man"...hehehe...she eventually opened her eyes and actually enjoyed the ride and took back her comments to me...Ties gave Judith a big high five when we got back to shore and they all got to see the Huka Falls from right underneath...absolutely awesome!!!

We wanted to do the Tongariro crossing but due to weather we decided it would be too dangerous...and my old body were very thankful of that decision...we cruised around seeing all the touristy things before heading to Wellington...Ties wanted to see Te Papa Museum and all the Maori artefacts...while they were looking at my culture and history Judith and I ducked out for a beer and a cigarette...history is so yesterday...hehehe

During our travels we ate out every night at an assortment of restaurants and due to always having an entree, main and dessert I have added 10 kilos to my once very trim body...ok it hasn't been trim since I was 14 but you know what I mean...we both put on weight and are in the process of starving ourselves...

We left Ties and Lies in Wellington and they headed to Milford Sound and we headed home for a few days work and to give them a break from us "kids"...we flew down to Christchurch 5 days later to pick them up and headed north...a quick stop at Kaikoura to see the seals and a beer...both Ties and Lies found they liked NZ mussels so we had some of those too...we managed to eat approximately 497 mussels during their stay here in NZ...

Arriving in Blenheim we stayed with my mum Kitty...she had planned a quiet evening with about 8-10 other guests to greet Ties and Lies and they were shown the traditional Fijian extended family...much food and wine was consumed and my mum and the other ladies put on a delicious meal with lots of different dishes...that meal alone accounts for 4 kilos that I gained...

The following day we all took off to Takaka to see Pupu Springs and also the Abel Tasman National Park...now I'm sure it was a navigator in the back seat...all women...that said "don't go back the same way...go the coastal road"...this is from Takaka to Kaiteriteri...now when we hit the dirt road there were some comments from the back but Ties and I decided to continue...all was fine and I was enjoying the loose gravel road when after about 14 kilometres we screamed to a halt...beach...some bugger had put a beach across the road...no choice...we had to turn around and go back the way we came...I laughed as did Ties but it was very quiet in the back...hehehe

The day before we left Blenheim we went to a winery "Wither Hills"...the wine maker and previous owner of the winery is Brent and him and I went to school together and still catch up when we can here in Auckland...he had organised a tour through the winery with his staff...his staff were incredible and very keen about their work and their boss...they had an obvious pride in their work and it shows in the final product...so if you are looking for a great wine, try Wither Hills...ok Brent there is your advertising...hehehe

That night was another night of mum and her friends trying to kill us by over feeding us with too many scrumptious dishes...both Ties and Lies had big helpings and seconds...and again much wine and beer was consumed...the following morning we departed for Auckland...Thanks Mum for all you did for us...Judith and I love you heaps XOXOX

Auckland greeted us with warm weather and Judith and I took Ties and Lies to dinner at the restaurant where Judith works..."Soul"...Brent (the wine guy) and his beautiful wife Rosemary joined us for a drink before they headed off for a movie and romantic dinner by themselves...Brent bought a bottle of Champagne to celebrate and we all enjoyed each others company...after they had left we sat down for dinner and enjoyed ourselves immensely...after dinner we had a pleasant surprise...Thanks mate!!!!

The crazy day of departure approached too soon and we headed to the airport very quiet...tears flowed at the departure gate and Judith and I stayed until we saw their flight leave the ground and disappear...a few more tears on the way home and we both felt there was something missing...funny how spending so much time with family does that to you...you miss them heaps and you only saw them yesterday...oooops keyboard getting damp...

Well that ends anoth epic tale...Judith and I miss Ties and Lies heaps and look forward to seeing them when we get to the Netherlands...unless they come back first...seems they are planning to return regularly...something about visiting grandkids etc...don't know where we'll find them...hehehe

As always take care all and email us with your thoughts...love Rob and Judith

Rob & Judith's World Dive Tour

Saturday, March 25, 2006

Friday, March 24, 2006

Ties and Lies were here!!!!!!

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