Planes business lounges and more planes with delays and a marathon with suitcase.

That pretty much sums up my trip over here.  It was long, boring, and even longer. The first leg of the trip went great, my sister and her hubby picked me up and drove me to the airfield. Check in went fast. I have never gone thru safety check any faster. No line what so ever, but for passport control there always is a line. Then up to the business lounge and relax, have some drinks. Something to eat. A relatively clean toilet without a line. So that works. I can get used to traveling business. My wallet wont but I will.

The plane was even better. In business there is enough room to lie down, and there is privacy. Before the plane even takes off you already get something to drink. It is that I don’t drink alcohol or I could have been drunk the whole trip. Champagne at ten in the morning? Why not.

First part of the journey from Amsterdam to Hong Kong I watched 4 movies. Finally saw the shape of water. Didn’t go to sleep because not at all sleepy.

The layover in Hong Kong was a bit of a disappointment. I had a hotel room, but to get to the hotel I needed to enter Hong Kong for real, so thru customs, and while not as dreadful as the American version it was close. So forget the hotel, business lounge it is. Still it has lazy chairs, clean toilets, plenty to eat and drink, ( again no alcohol for me but the wines beer and champagne where there for the taking). And miracle of miracle’s ( or not for the experienced business class flyer.) there even was a shower. With plenty water pressure. And fresh soft fluffy white towels. It was amazing.

Only down side, the plane to Auckland was delayed for more then an hour.  So lay over was more then 10 hours. And after a while even the business lounge gets boring.

But so far everything went pretty okay and no stress.

But then Auckland, it is a small airport compared to Amsterdam or Hong Kong or some others I have been to. Getting suitcase no problem, customs no problem, but finding the national flights was a problem. Turns out you have to leave the terminal, walk for over 10 minutes, check in again. Well that didn’t work out. Seems they overbooked the plane and I needed to be reseated. Bummer.

I came from winter, you know temperatures close to freezing. And all of a sudden I have to pretty much run for over 800 meters. In the burning sun shine at over 20 degree’s ( 70 for the Americans). Because my time to change was 2.5 hours and suddenly because of the delay I only had 1 hour.

Everything is automated now a days, so first terminal, nope no good. Ask for assistance, no it is fine just check in your suitcase. Suitcase check in, nope computer doesn’t recognize me. Assistance, no problem you get a new thingy for on your suitcase. Wait five minutes, (now 9.30 and plane leaves at 10). I am overdressed because dressed for Dutch winter weather. Not for a marathon in 70+ temperatures while pushing the cart with my luggage. Sweating like a pig and getting stressed because flight is leaving. No go to that service desk where nobody is. Wait, wait, wait, wait. Same person comes back and looks in computer. “seems we will have to book you for a later flight” What? Why?

Somebody else shows up, no I can get my flight but in different seat.

Landed in Christchurch, got my car, no satellite navigation, How is that possible, all modern cars have satellite navigation. Nope not this one, I can rent one for 12 new Zealand dollars a day. With 60 days that is over 700 dollar. Cheaper to buy one. So no. I will take my chances and improve my map reading skills. I survived the pre satellite navigation days as well.

So on my way to the first B&B, missed the second to last turn. And lost. Oeps. 20 minutes of extra travel time but found it in the end. Beautiful Victorian house, ground floor room, bed with a heat matrass ( it is over 20 Celsius, 70 Fahrenheit, what do I need a heat matrass for??)

Never mind, I am in Christchurch, it is a nice town, plenty of building work still going on after the earthquake from a few years back. But also plenty of old buildings survived.