Japan 5, good bye - New Zealand, Haere mai

Tue January 23rd,2007: Day of depart from Japan. Early morning Hiro came to wake us to come and see: finally Fuji-san is showing his head!! So we quickly went up the hill with him, and were very happy, to, at the good end, we also could see Mount Fuji in his majesty in the far. After taking pictures, breakfast, we went together with Hiro and Kimiko to Yokohama - Chinatown. After strolling through chinatown we were invited to a very fine chinese meal, and after all we were brought to the Bus terminal for the Narita-airport-bus. There we had to say good bye to Hiro and Kimiko - how sad after this nice, interesting and intensive week with them. After that we took the bus to Narita, checked in, went through at least 4 security checks, and flew off at 18h30 with New Zealand Air to Christchurch.

Wednesday, Jan. 24th, 07. After a very tough flight (we were booked to the wrong seats in the middle of a Boeing 777-200ER, no sleep), we arrived first at Christchurch, and after an hour stay in the transit area we went on to Auckland where Gerti and Hans Peter Stoffel (sister, brother in law) waited for us at the airport. By chance we met at the airport an IBM colleague of Guenter/schoolmate of Elisabeth for a short chat, she was due to leave. After a short stop at the house of our hosts we still went on to Long Beach at Auckland, and after that we celebrated Guenter's birthday with Champagne !!! That way we tried to overcome the new Jet-lag for the 4 hours difference to Japan. Then we go to bed really tired... By the way, Haere Mai is Maori language and means 'welcome'.

Thu. Jan. 25th, 07: Car to TITIRANGI, along the Tasman sea beach. After a shopping stop there we passed the bay of HUIA - look out at Big Huia and Little Huia, then we continued to WHATIPU, where we took lunch at the nice beach. After that we had a walk along the beach and an ice-cream, returned via a scenic drive back to Auckland, with an additional stop at the visitors center of ARATAKI, continuing thus to see the special plants, trees, wood types of New Zealand: Fern, Kauri-, Lance- and many other local trees. After an Indian dinner (take away) we still enjoyed a South-African dessert brought to us by a friendly neighbour of Gerti and Hans Peter.