Sunday, February 18, 2007

Not so Pukka Puka

The QM2 thing proved to be fun, if a little long. The ship is massive and I suppose very impressive. It looks like a cuise ship should anyway. But I guess someone once said that about the Titanic! It was fun following in the flotilla as she left. Not quite so much when our captain seemed hell-bent on being on the last boat following her. At one stage we thought we would end up back in Sydney!
Yesterday we drove down to Panaunui to stay at the Puka Park Lodge. The drive was impressive as always: long mountainous twisty-windy roads. When we arrived at the hotel we were met by a film crew and staff so intent on having their 15 seconds (it was a short film) of fame that we guests were very much an irritant. I'm not sure who the manager is but I'm pretty sure he's tall, has a moustache and goes by the name of Basil.We were told that our room would be 10 minutes. Fine, chance to have a drink, catch up on my journal etc. So we messed around for 45 mins only to be told that the room would be another hour! And so it has gone on...and on...Don't get me started about the meal last night(because it's annoying isn't it Adrian?!) But I do think that Pietr the Porter(yes really) deserves a special mention because if I haven't punched him in his stupid face before we leave tomorrow it will be a miracle bigger than the wine and water thing.
I have to say that the setting of the hotel is superb and our chalet large and airy, but the whole thing was breaking point for me yesterday. It felt like we'd been away from home for a long LONG time.
However today is another day and we've had a great time. We went to Hot Water Beach when 2 hours either side of low tide you can dig a hole which fills with hot water from a volcanic spring below. It was a fun place and kind of unique. I'm pretty sure that kind of thing doesn't go on at Leigh-on Sea!
On our way home we stopped at a lookout on a mountain top which afforded a panorama of forests, clear blue seas and islands in the distance. It was just the kind of view that my dad would have loved.

3 comments:

Nigel & Christine said...

There are warm puddles along the sea front at Leigh on Sea but you wouldn't want to sit in them!!

I'll still ready for the homeward leg Robert!

marilyn and david said...

Now I hope by the time this arrives
the porter has not suffered a black eye!!
Today was grey, a little drizzly and rather bleak so ENJOY!!
Thinking of dolphins there was a touching story in the Times today about a dolphin who had become rather attached to his trainer - hope you can see it.
Marilyn and David.

LilacRose said...

Hi you two! You sound to be having a lovley time in NZ! I hope you're not feelng too homesick now. It does seem a long time since you left England, though. We're all well and embarking on our half term holiday - which means clearing out the study, in the process of which I seem to have disconnected the internet and so we're having to plug in the hall socket!! So any technical hitches are all my fault! Hope you are seeing some wonderful sights - can't wait to hear about them all. Love you and take care. V F E I xxx