Jan 29 morning

(Chunlin's photo above)

A walk around town this morning. The Victoria Park Market didn't open till 9, though. We walked around the park in the hot sun and rain, stopped at a cafe for brekkies. Pack up. ... Too hot in the room to wait, so outside the SkyTower, waiting for the AirBus a bit too early. Another day, another airplane flight.

Sunny tour of Auckland on the bus. I just noticed -- we've been sitting at the airport an hour -- that it's pouring rain outside. Quick come, quick go. Like last night, too. We must still be in the tropics, right?

It's sunny down on the Tasman Sea. I'm sure we'll find clouds when we reach the South Island. Qantas makes you pay extra for juice & soda. I shouldn't've put milk in my tea. ... They don't talk like Californians, though. ... Land. Clouds.

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Queenstown." Mt Aspiring NP had recent snow. But we're not going that high. Dry hills like Eastern Wash. A bit more green down here further. Time to get a car. ... after the plane stops...

A great view from our bed. Lake, mountains, clouds, boats, houses...