Well, I’m sitting in the Air New Zealand Koru Lounge at the Sydney Airport, getting ready to board my flight back to the States (I’m flying United, but their lounge is pretty lousy here – I can use Air NZ’s lounge because I’m Star Alliance Gold – the food’s a lot better, and the furniture doesn’t smell like mold). I’ve been down here for 5 weeks, and it really has flown by. I’m a lucky guy. I can spend this much time in a part of the world that I love, and still call it “research” for my new company.
Looking back, there have been a lot of highlights (and a few lowlights), some really good times and experiences on this trip. Here are a few of the best (and worst):
Best moment. This is a tough one. There were so many. I’d have to go with sitting on the front deck of our room on Kangaroo Island in the evening, feeding Roo food to the neighborhood wallabies who have grown accustomed to a free nibble from the tourists down the hill. At one point, we had six wallabies (and a possum) surrounding us, and a couple of them were brave enough to rest their paws on my knee while they ate the little pellets (looks a lot like guinea pig food, for those who had small, caged childhood pets). One practically climbed into my lap. It brings out the kid in you in a really wonderful way. Top that off with a brilliant clear sky and a zillion stars, and you have a pretty perfect moment. Seeing John at the airport in Uluru is up there, too (you know who you are…). Honorable mention to touring the Adelaide wine country with Ralf, spotlighting the animals with Bruce and Lesley, and every time my jaw dropped at New Zealand scenery.
Worst Moment. Two of them, both courtesy of United Airlines. The first was realizing that my luggage was lost and they had no way to track it (as if it was 1960 and they handwrote a bag tag) upon my arrival. The second happened yesterday, when I checked the status of my flight only to discover that it had been cancelled. They rebooked me on a later flight that more or less trashed my connections in LA. Granted, I can’t complain too much, because I used miles for my ticket here, but they haven’t exactly established a stellar track record with me on this trip. Going forward, it’s Qantas or Air NZ for me.
Best Hotel. A virtual tie between the Sofitel in Queenstown, NZ (five stars isn’t enough – you will feel like you’re among the pampered elite from the minute you check in) and the Star City Grand in Auckland (a 5-star hotel with a slightly funky, Ian Schrager feel – great lobby, great rooms, and a fantastic restaurant in Peter Gordon’s Dine). I’m also always partial to the Swissotel in Sydney, where the service is impeccable.
Worst Hotel. None were disasters, thankfully. One a five week trip, that’s a stroke of luck. But I would have to say my “chalet” at the Hermitage in Mount Cook (in fact, an overpriced motel room with an unlocked connecting door to the next room – when, much to my surprise, my “neighbors” quickly opened and closed it at about 11 pm, I pushed a table in front of it to block further entry the rest of the night) was slightly less impressive than the Lost Camel Hotel at Uluru (billed as a “boutique hotel”, it’s actually a motel with some edgy paint colors to give it that “boutique” feel. $300 per night, and no extra charge for the window in the shower/toilet facing a busy walkway and the wasps dive bombing us in the pool).
Best Food. A really tough call. There was so much good food – a lifetime on the exercise bike couldn’t work it off. This is truly a foodie’s paradise. So, as a Risotto freak, I’d say my very subjective number one would be the best Risotto I’ve ever had in my life, at Tutto Bene in Melbourne.
Worst Food. OK, this is entirely my fault. Driving north from Auckland to the Bay of Islands, it was lunchtime and I thought, “I ought to have a pub lunch in one of these small towns.” Bad call. The “pub” I picked – and this is unusual, because though I’m not so good at many things, I can usually sniff out the good stuff when I travel – was more of a biker bar upon closer inspection. I ordered some chicken thing and a salad. The chicken was fried to the point of being a blunt instrument/weapon, and the salad was covered in canned beets with a big dollop of mayonnaise on top. I ate a bag of chips and left. I’m not naming names or towns, because the people there were pretty nice and the chances of any readers doing something similarly idiotic are pretty remote.
Nicest People. Everyone, everywhere, especially in smaller towns. The bar for “nice” is so much higher here than in the States, and it’s consistently reached. A friendlier, more cohesive society will do that.
Meanest People. There has to be one – I’d say it’s the guy in Sydney who started yelling (actually, more of a loud, drunken slur) at me in a bar because, in his considered opinion, I was taking too much time to select songs on a video jukebox. He didn’t back off. Foregoing the details, lets just say that was one encounter I won't want to preserve for my mental scrapbook.
Biggest Surprise. New Zealand is big – it takes awhile to drive what look like short distances on a map. Good thing the scenery’s always so stunning.
Biggest Regret. None, really. If I didn’t do it this time, I’ll do it next time. I’ll be back.
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