New York

There's this tall building just across the road from us, then the bridge that looks as though it's held together with string, and the Phoenix rising from the ashes of the Twin Towers site.

Still here in Vegas...

Glitz, Glitz, and even more Glitz where the cars get bigger along with the menus. They dress you in a hospital gown at this restaurant to save them doing it at the hospital! The reception area at the Bellagio should give the Lincoln Hotel some tips, and the Rio where we saw the Rat Pack perform, sadly for only 80 minutes....:(......£26 invested in the slots, $32 taken out, Woo-Hoo....a profit!

Dentistry

There must be 100's of very rich dentists here if the amount of perfect sets of gnashers is anything to go by!

Our hotel in Vegas and its sister one. The truck was hired to move B's winnings to the bank but not used yet! and only in Vegas would you see Elvis being driven round in a pink Caddy!

Off to see the Rat Pack tonight.

Last night in NZ

....and dinner out with friends, superb.

Auckland

On the last leg in NZ, fabulous country. Pics of Auckland fish market, modern loos and the Everton trees at a local winery!

Coromandel

Hot water beach where the water rises from underground sulpher springs and reaches up to 64 degrees C........HOT.

Cathedral Cave, lovely rock formation, if you like rocks that is!

Still enjoyong the sun!!

Fame at last!

No H & S here

Fish off the dock, into the display cabinet and the deep fryer, delicious! But NO H n S, they still wrap it in newspaper!

Tauranga

Back to Waitangi Day, think this Maori didn't like somebody!!

Tauranga

Walked round the base of this Mount today, 3.5k in baking sun. Tonight we are off to a fish shop on the docks that also does fish and chips, yum yum! Picture to follow.

Waitangi Day

Sydney for Australia Day, Rotorua at this unpronopuncable Maori village for Waitangi Day, fabulous!

Rotorua

Accommodation a vast improvement on Taupo, overlooking the racecourse, could be Market Rasen!, form the balcony of our suite. The lounge measures 9 x 5 m and B and I have to use the intercom in bed! Oh, and there's a double jaccuzi bathe there too!

There's snow in them there hills...

Taupo, cold and wet and a bit of a come down in the accommodation after Napier.

Huka Falls and the 2 of us enjoying the jet boat ride!

Lake Taupo

Malfunction between SD card and computer, unable to post with pics until sorted :(

Now in Lake Taupo for 3 nights with the intention of going jetboating today, really, at our age we should have more sense!

For Art Nouveau.....

....read Art Deco, sorry!

Napier...

...fabulous hotel in this, the NZ capital of Art Nouveau. Flattened in 1931 earthquake and rebuilt in the AN style in just 2 years.

Also had the pleasure of meeting up with an old Imperial mate.

Who put the....

....Fairy Liquid in the fountain?

Found a bar that'll suit me!!

Wellington

Blue skies and warm today!

Sydney Airport

A 3 hour delay whilst they repaired the plane! At least they let us off and gave us a $30 food voucher.

Arrived Wellington to find it colder than Owmby during December.

Hotel pretty central, the odd looking round building from our bedroom window is the NZ Parliament Building, called the Bee Hive!

Australia Day

The Rocks on Australia Day, Martini on the rocks, scotch on the rocks...

Torrential downpour in the morning but both got sunburnt later on.

Marita Chang and Geoffrey Rush popped in to say hello, young Oz of the year and Oz of the year.

Darling Harbour buzzed, fab day!

Sydney...Day 2

Persisted down all day (Wed), but managed a surf on Bondi Beach. Made full use of all day travel card and went to a restaurant where you have to cook your own steak. Oh, and the district where we are staying is the red Light district of Sydney, B has had to keep a close eye on me!

Oz/NZ

Off to NZ today, will update Blog from Wellington

Off to Oz

What a climb down, business to cattle class in one easy move :(

Stopping in this B & B, which is very nice, but in BackPack City. Cheap cafes, booze shops and sex shows abound!

Had buffet lunch up this Tower today overlooking Sydney. The place is full of Sheilas and Bruces!

Still here...

Not a city either of us would choose to rush back to, but interesting nonetheless. Masses of wealth but, oh dear, so much poverty too. Went to a market on Sunday that makes Hemswell look like a VERY poor relation. Crap!

Chang

A few of these, and you might need one of these too!!

Still in Thailand!

Temple tour and river cruise done. They've got a 5 and a half ton GOLD Buddah here, good job Gordon Brown didn't know about it or he might have sold it!

Thailand

Arrived in Bangkok in 32 degrees. Hotel very acceptable but in the middle of the middle eastern quarter. Think it was used by the boy scouts....Be Prepared....cos look what we found in the bathroom!