Day 48 Epilogue

We arrived back in Auckland at 9.30am on the 21st January 2015

Many thanks to Christine and Kerry for picking us up at the airport.

It was an amazing trip (though not everyone felt that way)

Finland was superb the variance in the conditions between summer and winter and the experiences of driving in the snow and ice and getting lost!! The Rytisalos summer cottage buried in snow in Lapland coupled with the Skimobile safari were unforgettable.   Thanks to Sanna, Sampo, Virva, Samuli and Leena and Pauli for their great hospitality.

Back in the Bont it was great to catch up with old friends and of course to see my mum that was very important to us all of course. Thanks to Dean and Sue and the Morris family in general for their friendship and inviting us for Christmas day thanks guys.

Thanks to Dave and Linda for the great new year and of course who could forget the Coronation Street tour.  That was a hit even with the kids.

Thanks to everyone else that we met on our travels from Keith and Lin, Hazael, the guys in Bont Rugby Club, Emyr, Stuart, Greg for the curry night, the ski instructors they were great, the man who sold Peroni and Veuve Clicot at the Bottom of the gondola, genius. The neighbours thanks for being there. Karen and Kevin Thomas thanks for your friendship. Richie, Ian, Nia and the Morgans for coming out on my birthday. Thanks everyone sorry if I didnt mention you!!

Skiing/Snowboarding the kids and I loved it Anna not so much.

Hong Kong was mad and vibrant as ever and we did a lot more sight seeing and went on the worlds longest gondola, saw the big buddah, went on roller coasters on cliff tops and met Pandas & snow foxes.  The usual shopping of glasses occurred for Eilian and all round had a great time. 

To my family Kids "you dont know how lucky you are" it would be good to see you appreciate what mum and I do for you. There will be changes afoot for 2015 don't you worry about that!!

Anna thanks for everything and while you were injured and sick you kept on going even if you did not enjoy it

Eilian you had a fabo time everywhere you went which was fabulous.  Your enthusiasm for life is great!

Day 47 Making the most of it.

We had booked a tour for the last day as we were not due to take off until 7.20 PM.

This meant that we had to have breakfast at 7pm be already packed up and moved out by 8.15 this was all done with ease.

The first stop on the tour was Victoria Peak. This should have been the view


 It was amazing to see the transformation and some of the towers were amazing The Batman tower springs to mind.

 A bit more to see

 Not much to see

 The batman tower in the smog.

 Then we drove to Aberdeen Fishing village where we went on the Sampan boat.

 This is the Jumbo floating restaurant.

 Best view in the house

 How the boat people live.

Jewellery factory visit.

 Then we headed to Stanley Market.

Then it was time to go to the airport.

I booked the 2.40 bus as I thought that that would be plenty of time, however when we got the airport we realised that our flight had been brought forward to 5.50 good job we came in time!!!!!!

9 hours til we get home!!!!!!!!

Day 46 Ocean World.

Today we were up with the lark had breakfast early and headed to Ocean Park this is a mix of theme park and aquarium and wildlife park.








This was the boys favourite ride!!

There was some weird species this is a seahorse not a piece of seaweed.

 Boys were excited to see a panda

 and these cool agile monkeys

 These were odd looking

 so were these!!

Great shot Lukie

 Amazing swordfish

Front on!!

The boys were somewhat frustrated by the chinese PC rules you had to be 12 years old to ride some rides but Cody and Luke were taller than some chinese 12 year olds????? They were not allowed on the best ride the Hair raiser. Anna and I played tag team.

Then we went to get my suit. It was great though they brought the wrong trousers, no worries they found them quicksmart and there it was!! I also got a really nice shirt made to measure it will come in the post.

We then went to have dinner at a chinese restaurant downstairs from Sams Tailors. It was ok Cody was more interested in the crayfish in the tanks than eating anything. We ate Chicken, Prawn balls, Fried Lice. All Good. luke was disappointed that he was not allowed the Lobster he craved @ 400 dollars a Kilo.

We then had running races at the courtyard by the Kowloon Park and then went home.

Day 45 Buddah

Day 45 we are all knackered and got up just in time for the end of breakfast at 10.30 we made it just!!

We then went to get sorted with my suit. Well what a shop. You rock up unnanounced get allocated a tailor the questions are like subway but instead of what bread you would like its what material etc. Tell you how much!! They then measure you, then tell you to return for a fitting the same day at 6PM!! These guys have fitted out some real stars like Bill Clinton, Pricess Anne, Prince William to name a few. 

Then we decided to do some exploring so bought the Octopus Card which you load with cash and spend it as you like at almost any shop. We are heading to see the big Buddah on the Cable car.

Now this cable car is not any old cable car it goes for 5.6kms.

 Its fair to say that cody has made friends wherever he has gone!! And yes it is still like travelling with a couple of rock stars but only maybe 20% of 18month old Cody Jones

 View of aoirport from cable car.

 Big span here

 First view of Buddah

 The Monastery.

 Getting close now

 Luke and mum

 Almost there

When we got back I went for my first fitting of the suit!! It fitted great.
I then collected my glasses they look great.

 Teppan Yaki for dinner

 All good

Night Night from a full on Day.

Day 44 ROBBED

Of a day not our possessions. This was payback for gaining a day at the beginning so we arrived in Hong Kong at 5.30PM on the 18th January. By the time we had got our luggage we had missed the 6PM bus but luckily there was a no show so we did get on it with a really nice aussie guy who was in china on business.






















It was now getting late and we needed dinner. Went next door to this giant retaurant next to the hotel  called Kings. Luke demolished Pork Belly funny that.

We then headed to try and get me a suit fitted alas Sams was closed we will go tomorrow.



 So we meandered and  found Classy Optical where I got fitted out with a pair  of Titanium Rayban Glasses they will be ready tomorrow.

We then headed home for sleep

Day 43 Hong Kong via Heathrow and Zurich.

We got to heathrow swimmingly IN RECORD TIME. after a difficult morning saying goodbye to my mum.

WE PACKED AND RE PACKED.

We dropped off the rental car all good.

We are now sitting waiting for our gate to go to Zurich then to Hong Kong.

Watch this space.

We were only in Zurich for 1 hour then we headed to Hong Kong.

Day 42 Bryniago and RIP Donald Roy Jones

Today I was Invited to go to my old primary school Ysgol Bryniago. They are doing a project on where old students have ended up and now on NZ so I was teh font of all knowledge ha ha

I firstly went into a year 4 class the kids were into it and had lots of good questions. Angela killas eldest was in there

Then I went into a year 5 class and Iwan Jones, Marilyn Jones son was the teacher they also had some great questions.

Then I went to a year 3 class with who were very inquisitive which was great, How old are you etc. Angela Killas youngest was in there.

Finally I went into a year 6 class who had Medi Thomas, Caitlyn Davies all kids had great questions as did the teacher.

I was there for 2 hours. Loved it!!

After dodging the rain we all went to see my dad it was tough!!!!For all!!

Then we went to the old Bridge in Llangenech for  a lovely meal.

Home to chill