Half-way around the World and back againgraphic

Travelogue

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September '05

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Long live your dreams
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The Land of the Long White Cloud
Christmas
Jumping high, jumping higher
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North to South

From island paradise to Middle Earth

5th October 2005 - posted from Nadi Bay Hotel, Fiji

We've finished our two weeks in paradise (even if it did rain for a few days). The last four days we spent in Taveuni - real Fiji. An island on the far east of Fiji, Taveuni crosses the 180 degree merdian line - exactly half-way around the world from London. Incase you're wondering what is on the other side of the world, there's a swing rope attached to a tree over the sea and a little concrete pillar.

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The islands of Fiji and photo update

1st October 2005 - posted from Nadi Bay, Fiji

Just a quick stop over today, moving from one part of Fiji to the other. The second island we visited was home to Celebrity Love Island this summer in the UK. They've left the entire set there, minus all the fixtures and fittings. Lots of one-way glass and dark corridors for the cameras to roam about it.

More importantly, photos! This was taken last night, on Bounty Island. One of them is Andy and the other is Lewis.

Jump!

You can view more of the photos at Flickr.

This is the set of Celebrity Love Island, or what is left of it anyway.

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Welcome home to Auckland

8th October 2005 - posted from Auckland Central Backpackers, Auckland

We arrived after a slightly delayed flight ("Fiji time") and were picked up by an ex-Warlingham school teacher who moved back to his home near here. Andy kept in contact with him and he was happy to pick us up and take us to our hostel.

New Zealand is similar to Britain in many ways. Quite a few streets in Auckland look like they could be in the Docklands or around Covent Garden. They drive on the left and use British spelling; I'm at home.

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A day in the life of Tom

10th October 2005 - posted from Auckland Central Backpackers, Auckland

When I left home I decided I wouldn't ring home. I've been away from home for a month before and was quite happy to old my breath. Last night, though, after being away for nearly five weeks I just fancied a chat. Chat I did, at 2am my time, 2pm at home where Dad listened.

A few days before I went away, Dad asked me what do we do all day? We have no-where to be and no-one to meet. We don't have to go to work and we don't have to study for anything. So what on earth do we do for all our days?

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Around the top

19th October 2005 - posted from Auckland Central Backpackers, Auckland

We collected our van at midday the day after my last post and loaded up our luggage, plus two Canadians who came along for this leg of the journey so long as they pitched in on the fuel. We stormed up the coast through beautiful scenery, twisting roads and long stretches of gorgeous beaches. Parts, such as the Bay of Islands, look like a tropical paradise, further inland looks like the Downs in England - with plenty of sheep and cows.

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Tauranga photo update

23rd October 2005 - posted from Tauranga

Last night we went to a rugby match, the finals of New Zealand's season - Otago vs. Auckland. Great game of rugby, wonderful atmosphere! I've uploaded a couple of photos and a few more from around New Zealand.

Auckland rugby, Eden Park

View more photos on Flickr.

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Possums Possums Possums

28th October 2005 - posted from Rotorua

The day after my last post from Auckland we headed out to a town called Thames - a very new town built on another peninsula near Auckland. We camped there and sat indoors while it poured down with rain all day and all night. We didn't venture any further as we had to go back to Auckland to see the rugby match, of which the photos were from in the last update.

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