Saturday, 28 August Around 2:30pm I arrived at the Auckland International airport. Normally I’m not that excited to be leaving New Zealand, but with the current state of affairs in the country and the poor job the government has done getting us vaccinated with only around 20% of the population double vaccinated and a recent […]
The sun sets at Glentanner Station, near Mt Cook Reflections on Lake Pukaki Once arid land with irrigation now runs thousands of cows just south of Twizel Ahuriri River running from the Lewis Pass past Omarama The Clay Cliffs, created out of layers of silt and gravel deposited by glaciers some 20 million years ago […]
1 November 2020 It’s been a while since we have been anywhere to write about, having being locked up in NZ since March. Sylvia headed off to Singapore in early October to spend some time with her team there. I have taken the opportunity to head down and visit our good friends, Ross and Helen, […]
Monday 24 February 2020 Boarding the Lufthansa flight at Tokyo Haneda Airport I was surprised to see the the number of empty seats. Two thirds of business class was empty and over half of economy class. Obviously the coronavirus is having a big effect. At Frankfurt they only had 2 customs officers on with a […]
February 2020 The year has had a busy start as I joined Sylvia for a few days in London mid-January, after which we flew to Las Vegas where our good friends, Dave and Chrissie, got married at the Gracelands Chapel. Yes, they even dug up Elvis for the occasion. This was followed by a week […]
Tuesday 26 November 2019 A bus picked us up from the Intercontinental Hotel in Seoul and drove us the 6kms to the Suseo station. There are two high speed train operators in Korea, which I had discovered on a previous visit when I turned up at the wrong station. This time its all organised by […]
Tuesday 19 November 2019 Having arrived late yesterday from Singapore and caught up with Matt, from Australia, in the bar briefly we had had an early night. Sylvia and her Asia Pacific Leadership team were all here for a meeting. Sylvia and the team headed into their meeting this morning while I did a few […]
Saturday 19 October 2019: Sylvia I was sad this morning to leave Kazakhstan and the stunning Ritz Carlton hotel. I feel there is so much more to explore in this vast land with its steppes, mountains and friendly people. We enjoyed one last delicious breakfast, savouring the food, the views and the impeccable service, before […]
Tuesday 15 October 2019: Sylvia We had a very leisurely start this morning. There is not that much to see in Tashkent after the wonders of the older cities we have been to in recent days but it has provided a good opportunity to rest before we head off to Kazakhstan and beyond. Our first […]
We would like to dedicate this section of the blog to those that live and have lived by the Ode below. thank you for your service to our country. The Golden Road to Samarkand [1913]) “The Master of the Caravan said: But who are ye in rags and rotten shoes, You – dirty bearded, blocking […]