Hamilton New Zealand

roadside fruit and veg stall...can you guess where we are ay?

It's been a while since I last posted.

We're on the road again in New Zealand. We flew Air New Zealand direct to Auckland and then flew in a tiny 19 seater to Hamilton.
The first thing you notice around here is the green. There must be plenty of rain here. Also, gorgeous blue hydrangeas and blue and white agapanthus line the roads.

gorgeous tree ferns on the steep slopes of the river in Cambridge

bridge at Cambridge

found this stray on a park bench

view towards the town of Cambridge

We had a car for the afternoon on Tuesday and drove to nearby Cambridge which is also a lovely green with beautiful tree ferns.
My camera is beeing difficult so no more photos until I can work out what is wrong!!!

Cricket started yesterday. It was only about 26 degrees but really humid and felt hot. Today is clear and sunny with 30 expected. That's a heatwave here.
I went to the cricket yesterday and met people I'd chatted to 10 years ago here. Off again today. I can manage going just before lunch and leaving at tea. There was lots of Aussie cricket bashing going on around me but I guess you can't blame them.
There are more restaurants/pubs/cafes than shops here. No shortage of nice food, wine and coffee.
Rod Tucker is on field umpire with Daryl and Roshan Mahanama is Referee. Gary Baxter from Christchurch is 3rd. We had a nice meal out on Thursday where we all celebrated the Harpers' 38th wedding anniversary.
Kelly, Tim and Kate are still overseas and it has been great to be able to talk to them on Skype.

Abu Dhabi Big Bus Tour

ready to go

 Yesterday Kelly and I took a Big Bus Tour around Abu Dhabi from 11am til nearly 4pm. We enjoyed the chance to see more of the city and to take lots of photos.We got out at Abu Dhabi Mall, nice but more modest than Dubai. I enjoyed the Villeroy and Boch store with 30% off. Our stop at the Iranian Market was a let down...full of trash and not much to see. We weren't allowed to take photos as it's a working port. It was a long wait for the next bus from there. We finished with coffee and cake at the Sky Tower, very high above the Marina Mall.

Emirates Palace Hotel

The Corniche, a walk and family area along the beach...goes for kms.

catnap time

Heritage Centre, build on a reclaimed peninsular

love these signs

the bus

Abu Dhabi skyline, taken from the Marina Mall Sky Tower.

the malls have all the familiar brands

they are keen on having the more unusual structure in this part of the world

carpet souks..on our tour...we didn't stop here

power boats on board

View from Sky Tower

sunset from Sky Tower

what the window cleaners (nearly) saw, back in our room

Abu Dhabi Visit to Yas Island Grand Prix Track

Enjoying a wine with Kelly and Daryl, at the Yas Hotel

Caught that one!!!

Just a blur

Yas Hotel

Gotcha...just

Light is fading

Catch that moon!

View from the other side of the hotel, over the track. You could watch the race from your room!!!

View from same spot

Yas Hotel at night.

Our Hotel Chef told us he had entertained Michael Schumacher at the hotel the other night and recommended we take a taxi to the Yas Hotel from which we would be able to see cars on the track. We took his advice and found ouselves at an amazing hotel built over and inside the Grand Prix track. We stood at a railing above the track and were treated to the sights and sounds of six cars racing around the track right in front of us!!!  Not sure why they are still here but we enjoyed it. The track winds around the hotel. Yas Hotel is stunning as you can see from the photos.

More From Dubai-Lots of Photos

We are still here in Dubai. Kelly is still with us. We head to Abu Dhabi tomorrow, about an hour's drive away. Another Test starts for Daryl on Friday. Kel and I will return to Dubai Monday and then fly to Bangkok Tuesday. I fly home on Friday week, arriving in Sydney on the 27th, where Daryl should have already arrived from Dubai. Kelly will continue her travel from Bangkok and isn't expected home until Feb-March next year.
Here are a few of our recent photos.

Halloween in Dubai

Dubai Marina at night.

Sue and Ian with an abandoned car, near our apartment. These sandy cars are a common sight, apparently left by expats leaving Dubai in a hurry.

Julia Gillard eat your heart out!

Desert scene

Can you see the Hatta Mtns in the distance? Seen on our desert adventure.

Canal Walk at Festival City Mall. This lad jumped in while his Aussie expat mum took the photo for us.

Say that quickly!!!

View of Canal Walk

Thai dinner at Canal Walk

Raffles Dubai, next to Wafi City Mall

ceiling in Wafi Mall

helpful sign at the lifts

spot the Dubai influence

Large screen in Mall of the Emirates while we were eating lunch at Chili's

fabulous waterfall displays at Dubai Mall

burj khalifa as seen fromdinner while watching water diplays

Arabic restaurant we were taken to, with the Match Officials

This was put on our table...entree? decor? carrot sticks were good

bulging dinner table...startes in the small bowls

This tray was loaded with many variations of lamb and chicken, buried under arabic bread and fries. The flat bread had a very thin layer of meat in side and was delicious. We took doggy bags home!!!!

just to prove Daryl has done some work here

Dubai Sports Centre...note the snd around it

view from stadium...Dubai City in the distance

more views from stadium

abra wharf where Kel and I paid 1 dirham to ride across the creek to the souks

abra close up..sit on the raised box platforms

view from abra

wiew from abra

view from abra...mosques always evident

from abra

in the souk area...couldn't resist

gold anyone?

how about rings?

the real thing...no fashion jewellery here

How gorgeous are the shoes? Saks Fifth Avenue at Burjuman Mall. Only 9000 dirhams...about $A 3000

tasty salads at Paul, a favourite restaurant chain here

Dinner last night at hotel restaurant, Wox...found something mild D could eat

Weseem to attract small kids!!! These 2  Korean treasures jumped in when the waiter took this photo.

view inside hotel atrium, where we have breakfast, very lush and green with a small stream running through it