Day# 2

We started the day with the best breakfast in the world. We ate till everyone else was done and hotel staff started staring us. Those hash brownies and pancakes had something supernatural into them!
We had this plan to go for whale watching to Kaikaura. The place was 170kms from CHC. We had a car and a GPS, nothing can stop us. I reached the car and Hello! I am not able to start it. This is embarrassing. I went to call the chauffer and he started it at once. I asked him to let me try once and I couldn’t do that again. Even more embarrassing!! Later I figured out the use of breaks while starting the car.
We started for the whale watching center. This was probably the best way I had ever drove a car. Rail track follows all way long. Grass everywhere. Even the mountains are covered with grass. There are cow, sheep and deer farms along the way. The cows are so beautiful. The sky is clean and sun is bright. We are not feeling cold anymore. I felt like I have achieved my ultimate honeymoon driving destination. Soon the vast lands would finish and here come the much awaited ocean. Shades of blue in the water! Now one side was the water and other side was the mountain.


We reached Whale watching center wondering how someone can possibly track a whale down in the wide deep ocean. The group before us came back happy; they claimed to see couple of whales and few naughty dolphins. Impressive!
We started for the trip. I asked the guide for the best seat in the boat. I was determined to take that one. She said her seat is the best!
We saw Tiaki the whale with all his glory. He was 21m huge and really massive. There was a strange excitement in the air around him. There were two more boats other than ours. He doesn’t seem to care about any of these. He came on the surface to breathe and returned back in the blue ocean. Tiaki was on surface for about 10 minutes, giving everyone sufficient time to zoom in and zoom out.


We saw couple of groups of the dolphins too. They are naturally naughty animal. They were following the cruise, bouncing and jumping in their own way. It was certainly joyful to watch such a cheerful animal.
We then return back to the land satisfied. There was a train track right behind the whale watch station and the train timings were according to the trip schedules- or may be the other way round. We went to grab lunch. That was a handsome burger we had.
We drove back to the town and had the dinner at Two Fat Indians- they changed us $3 for the pickle!! Food was Okay.
We came back to the hotel, saw the pics we clicked that day and prepared ourselves for tomorrow’s big journey.

Day# 1

I asked her a night before and she said she can’t imagine how that would be like. I asked myself to have the same answer; I can’t imagine how that would be like!
Butterflies in stomach!!
We woke up 0630 to start at 0800 from home to catch the flight at 1155. We had no idea where we were going and what we were about to experience.
We started clicking random pictures as soon as we reached the international terminal. We have 2 complete GB pictures to click. We got the lounge access coupons. I handed them to her as we lined up for security check in.
After the security check in we find our way to the lounge when I asked her for the coupons. Instead of coupons she found a used boarding pass in her pocket. The name was Malvendra Chanani. We were completely stunned and laughing like hell. We anyhow went to the lounge and managed (of course) our way in.
Inside was beautiful. All different types of cornflakes, fruits, juices, beers. It was too early of the day for a beer. I opened a pint and started to swallow Kingfisher. She had flavored yoghurt. She liked it.


We boarded into the flight and being tired from last night, slept immediately. It was business class, nice and comfortable. We decided to keep the blanket and traveler kits. I wanted to keep those headphones too but she said a no. We woke up and had the lunch. It was not too bad. I started with the champagne. The only fact I know about champagne was they charged it $8 a peg when you travel in economy class. So no matter which brand it is or what time it is, when it’s free, just drink.
The airhostess asked for the blanket on our way out. I said, ‘Yeah, we have decided to keep it!’

We landed Thailand International airport and ran to our lives to catch the connection to Sydney. We realized that Thailand airport is really huge. We boarded into the flight and crashed straight away. We grabbed two more traveler’s kit and now no more space was left in our bag.
The Sydney airport is beautiful. It’s a strip extended into water. We saw the lonely planet outlet at the transit. We clicked some other pictures and sat by the side of the departure gate, we were too tired.
We slept as soon as we boarded the Sydney- Christchurch flight. It was economy class for her and upgraded to business for me. I gave my seat up and went to sit with her. A man was really happy to be sent to business from economy. We were happy too.