I left Melbourne and my new friends early this morning and went to the airport. I checked my bag and flew to Christchurch, NZ. AS I arrived, I had to go through Customs, then through security as it was another country. The dogs were out sniffing as we tried to collect our bags. One dog, started to smell my bag and the Border/Customs officer asked me if I had anything to declare. I said that I had a few nuts in a bag, but nothing else. She searched my bag and lo and behold, there was an apple in the bottom of the bag! I was taken to a room and given a good talking to about how you are not supposed to bring undeclared fruit, etc. into NZ. The fine was $400! I guess they took pity on me as it was just a forgotten piece of fruit (which I was looking for last night while I was packing and couldn't find.) and didn't fine me. I breathed a sigh of relief and went on my merry way. As I had 4 hours till the plane to Queenstown left, so I decided to take a bus into town and see the devastation that the earthquake wrought. I figured that I would get somethng to eat and then return to the airport.
Fast forward: Dealing with Customs and Borders officers, finding a bus to the city, going through the stop and go traffic left me off at 5:00 and I had 25 minutes to get back on the bus to return to the airport. Crikey! Rushed around and got something to eat and then headed back to the airport. Plane was loading as I got there and we took off for Queenstown.
Traveling over the mountains down the spine of NZ is spectacular. Sorry there are no pictures today, but tomorrow I will be on the lake and take some of this town at the base of the Remarkables Mountain range. My room has a balcony that overlooks the lake and tomorrow will be taking a boat trip. So hello from NZ and I will get back to you soon.
Love,
Kerry
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