Down Under

We head off to New Zealand for Christmas, on the invitation of Andy and Paula. It's my first trip out of SE Asia since arriving in Thailand, and it's strange the things that come as a shock. First thing is the silence. We arrive in Nelson, which is ostensibly a city - but where are the swarms of people and the craze of traffic? At the B&B, we amuse the owner with our resilient habit of removing our shoes at the threshold. Meanwhile, I’m delighted to be able to drink from a tap, but horrified at the prospect of having to use toilet roll again. (Sorry to bring this up, but once you’re used to the cleanse of a jet wash, smearing on to paper does seem somewhat medieval)