New Zealand

This blog is written and submitted from Dunedin in New Zealand in late October. One would expect it to be warmer, but it is just around 15 centigrade and the breeze is quite cold from the west. From the walkway at the hotel I can see the brilliant green hills to the east dotted with mustard yellow vegetation. The air is clear and crisp.
The opportunity to visit this beautiful country arose suddenly and despite huge cost, we decided as a family to just do it and make the break! The flight from Johannesburg on Qantas started late as expected. I am sure that this is not the fault of Qantas, but rather that of the system shared with South African Airways and by the Airports Company of South Africa. Checking in took over three hours and we were only airborne after 21:00, and this with the flight planned to leave at 18:10! In typical South African fashion everything went along at a snail’s pace, with all sorts of extra events invented to slow progress to departure, like several searches of luggage, each successive one being successful in finding something missed by the X-ray machine and previous rummaging. When we finally took off in a typical Gauteng thunder storm, things became more organised, with Qantas assuring us hat we would still be able to connect to Auckland on the same day (or within eight hours). This was important, because the process at the Australian embassy to get a transit visa is now so drawn-out that we could not get that done in time (it could take more than a month, and this to pass through the airport!), and all our flights were planned to ensure that we had a smooth passage. I was told that most South African families on trips to Australia and New Zealand are now viewed with suspicion by the staff at the Australian embassy. I wonder why?
We were put on another flight to Auckland when we arrived in Sydney, with the real Aussies at the airport being friendly and VERY professional. Our introduction to New Zealand after more than 13000km of travel was smooth and professional, with friendly and efficient people working at 02:00 with a smile. The next day we had another great flight to Wellington, where a friend that emigrated to New Zealand about a year ago awaited us as we walked off the plane. It was as if this new Kiwi was just an extension of the psyche of the nation here, friendly and relaxed, light years away from the stressed person we knew in South Africa. A couple of glasses of Sauvignon Blanc later we finally went to bed at a civilized hour. Wellington is a wonderful place, rich in culture and atmosphere, and we definitely left too soon.
My first glimpse, through clouds, of the Otago area was filled with lots of emotion. The sun brushed the hills with yellow strokes. The brilliant green patchwork was dotted with white flecks where the sheep reflected the sun slicing through the clouds. The airport is modern, but the single runway is just long enough to handle the 737. Dunedin mixes the modern with the old in an effortless way, the pace is relaxed, but there is a purpose for everything.
As I look out at the new clouds rushing in with a cold front I think about the many decisions ahead of us. On an island things are so finely balanced.