Well we sure were relieved to leave Saigon , the day that we left the temperature was 97c and getting a bit much.

So having landed in New Zealand, like a jilted lover on the rebound we have fallen for this place in a big way. It reminds us of home only brighter, cleaner looking and wider streets. The sun is shining, but you can walk down the street without producing a couple of pints of sweat. It is taking a while to get used to well behaved traffic, we have to keep remembering that the cars will stop for us and that we do not need to 'jay walk' to get across the road.

Whilst in Christchurch we stayed in a very futuristic hotel called the Hotel SO. Not very big rooms but very well laid out. The in room wake up alarm could be set for 'natural sunrise', where the light above the bed gradually brightened and then the TV turned on showing views of NZ lakes and mountains with pleasant musak.

Today we collected our campervan, and are travelling south clockwise around the south island 'free camping' where possible. The roads are very empty, the views are amazing of mountains and lakes. They drive on the left, like us, the only thing you have to remember is that traffic from the right always has right of way; e.g. when turning right from a major road into a minor road, you have to let the cars turning right out of the minor road go first.

You know you are in New Zealand when the ad break during their version of dancing with the stars has one for a parasite treatment for cattle and sheep. Talking of dancing, we tried to go jiving in Christchurch, but it was cancelled without notice. So we watched dancing with the stars instead, judged by Craig and Brendon. Who were billed as the bad guys, but appeared very pleasant to all of the contestants compared to when they are on 'strictly' .