Lovely Laos

Have just started writing two stories from this media trip so hunted out a few pics (don't worry, the Animator took far better ones for actual publication purposes!)

We flew into Vientiane where we spent a few days exploring this compact and friendly city, before an early morning flight south to Pakse and a two hour drive to the 4000 islands, some of the most unblemished real estate left on the planet. It was a magical trip. Now I just have to write the stories - arghhh!

           

Laos

Tonight I fly from Wellington to Canberra and then onto Singapore with the gorgeous @singaporeair. And then after an eight hour wait in Singers (thank you to the god of airline lounges) I will be on my way to Laos for a couple of stories.

See you on the other side.

(Pic credit: Google Images)

     

A capital time

In July, you may recall, three Kiwi journos slipped over to Canberra for a few days to help publicise Singapore Airlines' direct flights from Welly to the Australian capital.

I was one of those writers and my second travel piece from that famil is published in the January 2017 issue of NEXT Magazine (click here to read).

First Canberra cab off the rank

Back in July, you may recall, Singapore Airlines sent three journos to Canberra to publicise the new Wellington-Canberra-Singapore route.

My first story from that famil was published in last week's NZ Woman's Weekly Magazine (click here and here to read).

What I did last week

Yes I know I've been back almost a week but it's been a little frantic. I finally managed to download some of the photos of our three night Singapore Airlines famil to Canberra.

Overseas readers may be scratching their heads about this point, wondering why Singapore Airlines would fly three journos from Welli to Canberra on a media trip. And you'd be right but, as of September 20, Singapore Airlines will be flying from Welli to Canberra (the first international flight to land in Australia's capital) and then onto Singapore and points beyond. So no more doing the tiresome conga to Auckland or Christchurch from now on. Thank you, God of Travel.

But back to the script. Canberra was a lot of fun; dispel any notions of it being a boring, public servant town because while we weren't looking, this perfectly planned city morphed into a cool wee town full of fabulous restaurants and bars and more museums than you can poke a stick at. We also spent a night at the wonderful Jamala Wildlife Lodge where Hummer the resident giraffe was right outside my window (we got to feed him carrots from our balcony and my word, he's got an enormous tongue!)

We even spent a few hours at the excellent Truffle Farm, hunting for black gold with owner Jayson and his gorgeous dogs. Sadly, the only thing we didn't manage was an early morning balloon flight (thank you, fog and wind) but at least that allowed us a sleep-in one morning.

And what a sleep-in it was: I'm lucky to have stayed in some amazing hotels during my career but Hotel Hotel in the heart of Canberra's trendy New Acton district was outstanding. I dare you to click on that link and not start counting your pennies.

A brief but very cool visit, and now I just need to write the stories.

      

Opening night of the NZ International Film Festival

I'm shattered after the 2.00am bedtime (late flight from Canberra via Sydney) and having to show up to the part-time contract at 8.00am today, but nothing will keep me from tonight's opening event which I was lucky enough to get a media tix to again this year.

Opening the festival tonight is the gorgeous flick The First Monday in May which I have been wanting to see for a very, very long time.

Ohh and the Singapore Airlines media famil to Canberra was a blast - pics to come.

Byeee....

Tomorrow I have to wake at 4.30am, a time I very rarely see, for my flight to Sydney and then another to Canberra for a three-night Singapore Airlines media trip.

As ever, I will miss my two boys, especially this furry bundle of joy.

See you on the other side.

    

Canberra

Hand on heart, the Australian capital has never been top of my bucket list. But when I was offered a three-night media trip starting this Sunday, I'll admit I was more than a little curious. Would Canberra be the staid government centre people make it out to be? Or is it actually the Southern Hemisphere's best kept secret?

To promote Singapore Airlines' new Capital Express flight - linking Wellington with Canberra and beyond to Asia - I'll be one of three journos heading across the pond to check out this man-made city.

I've had sneak peak at the itinerary and there will be lots of eating and drinking and even a hot air balloon flight. I won't deny that this pleases me so. Canberra, here we come....  

 (Pic credit: Google Images)

Goodbye India

You've been quite a ride.

The last few days we've been kicking back in Delhi, shopping, eating and working (well I have; the Animator has been swanning around the swimming pool).

The heatwave shows no sign of abating and today we almost melted while visiting the beautiful Lodi Gardens, a huge oasis of green in the middle of the melee which contains several 15th Century tombs. Sadly that is all I can tell you about them because I was too busy trying not to die of heat exhaustion to pay too much attention to the gardens' historical significance.

We also hung out in Khan Market, which is apparently India's most expensive retail locations, but where I still managed to snag a gorgeous hand-made quilt for the princely sum of 30 bucks. And had the best Goan fish curry I've eaten in my life.

We are now packing and hoping our over-enthusiastic consumption won't challenge Singapore Airlines' weight restrictions. We have an early start tomorrow for our 5-1/2 hour flight to Singapore, then three hours in Changi and another 10 hours to Auckland. And then a couple of hours wait for the last leg to Welly.

See you on the other side...

Today's visuals are of the last few days in Delhi..a bonkers, frenetic city that somehow manages to slide under one's skin.

Hilariously, we also both the cheapest haircuts ever yesterday. Having run out of time to get to the hairdressers before we left, when we spotted a place yesterday we both submitted ourselves for the chop. Admittedly, I was a little more hesitant than the Animator (you can't really go wrong with his hair), particularly as the hairdressers looked as though it hadn't been painted, or cleaned, since Indira Ghandi was Prime Minister. But the owner was a laugh and at NZ$8 for two haircuts, who's arguing? Happily, it ended well: they're both pretty good haircuts.  

  

Incredible India

Today, while on my way to get my Hep A and Typhoid shots, I ran into a friend, a frequent reader of these pages.

She asked where the fire was and when I told her I had 15 minutes to be injected with fluids, run back to work and get to a meeting, she asked why the heck I was getting jabs.

"But you didn't say anything on your blog about going to India," she shrieked.

Really? This year has been such a blur that she may well be right. For that I apologise.

I have barely recovered from the last media trip to Oman and Dubai and in a couple of weeks I will be off to India's Golden Triangle for a two-week trip hosted by those marvellous folks at Adventure World. And Singapore Airlines.

Best of all, the  Animator gets to come with me this time.

Hence the jabs and the frequent visits to the Indian Embassy to sort visas and organise flight times and meal preferences, etc.

It's been a long time since I last visited India and the Animator has never been so I'm really looking forward to this trip (once I file the million stories from the last famil and an equal number of non-travel pieces that are due in before we go, that is...)

(Pic creidt: Google Images)

Welkom op Amsterdam

Thirty six hours after kissing my two favourite boys goodbye, I finally arrived in Amsterdam.

The first leg with the ever gracious Singapore Airlines was fabulous - lots of room to lie down and service that was as amazing as ever. Even the six hour layover in Singers was softened by the stupendous Changi Airport. I could quite easily move into that behemouth of an airport and never be found.

The next leg, c/o KLM, could have been better: too many of us shoe-horned into a small space. But the enforced sardine situation meant at least I got to know the other Kiwi journo on this famil, Nicky, and her hubbie Carne. We had a laugh and chatted and dozed and watched movies and somehow the 13 hours melted away.

An hour later I was at my hotel and, despite being very tempted to sink into bed, I was a good girl and followed the time-honoured rule of keeping awake until bed time in the country of destination. So, after a scaldingly hot shower, I jumped on the Metro and whizzed out to the fabulous Waterlooplein vintage market and then walked what seemed like miles. But the autumn sun was surprisingly strong and I was ecstatic at finally having escaped the flying tin can.

I should nail my colours to the mast here: I have never been Amsterdam's biggest fan. But that's what happens when your wallet is nicked the first time you visit a city. Still, that was years and years ago and time has been kind to the Dutch capital: it's much cleaner and less debauched than I remember, plus it seems to have pulled off that toughest of tricks - losing its dodgy edge without becoming boring.

On the downside, there seem to be just as many groups of drunken English lads on stag weekends as I recall, but if this city was to list its good points, it wouldn't raise a sweat filling both sides of an A4 sheet. With more heritage buildings than you can shake a UNESCO listing at, Amsterdam is a big fat show-off. And with the yellow leaves gently tumbling to the ground and groups of classical buskers on almost every corner, it was a joy to criss-cross this stunning city. Apologies for the quality of today's images - I was so tired I almost walked in front of a tram. I promise to try harder tomorrow.

For lunch there were these disgustingly fattening frites, drowned in more mayonnaise than should be allowed by the EU. But they are as deliciously decadent as I remember.

And, oops, how did this Zara bag end up in my hotel room? A girl, it seems, cannot live on fine buildings and frites alone...