Back to NZ

Well, well, well - in the morning went to visit a camel souk where there were camels for sale as far as the eye could see - didn't even mind the smell. Eventually got to the airport and, on check-in, were given new boarding passes that happened to be business class upgrades as far as Singapore - the three of us had the whole business section to ourselves for the section to Dubai so we were made a fuss of by the incredibly attractive Singapore Airlines flight attendants - Andrew informed them that it happened to be my birthday so that started an almost non-stop supply of Singapore Slings, Silverkris Slings, Dom Perignon, single malt scotch and almost anything else - Andrew and I were well stewed by Dubai - was the best birthday present ever! Unfortunately back to cattle class Singapore to Auckland - don't know why people don't travel business class all the time.

An incredible experience going to Saudi Arabia - hadn't fully appreciated that there is no tourism there and one doesn't just apply for a visa to go for a visit - have to be sponsored and invited. An amazing time.

Terry

Riyadh

Lovely gig at lunch time yesterday - very cosmopolitan audience and, as usual, amazing food.

Went out to the escarpment and watched the sunset - had to 4-wheel drive up the bumpiest road ever to get there but well worth it.

Today we went shopping then to the Al Faisaliah centre to the observation platform - incredible - then had lunch at the Kingdom Tower.

We cannot thank the people here enough for their amazing hospitality, especially Louise - I don't know how we can reciprocate in NZ but we'll think of something.

Have to get ready to fly home now.

Cheers, Terry

12/11/10

Hi from Riyadh again. just finished our second gig for the NZ Embassy - this time for the Tui Club, which is for the Kiwis in town. Big night for most of them as they never get to enjoy Kiwi hospitality unless they are here at the Embassy. Wonderful day today - taken to the Souk (market) this morning and bought some mementos. Walked through Chop Chop square where the occasional beheading and limb-removal takes place, We stared fixedly for a while at a large red stain on the cobblestones which was probably a spilt boysenberry ice cream. Wonderful lunch at our friend Louise's house - in her tent on the roof of her apartment. We all were given thobes (the long white robe-shirt) and appropriate matching head gear and sandals and strutted around like Yassar Arafat for a while, ordering the staff around and demanding oil for our tea. Lunchtime gig tomorrow after which we have been invited to drive out to the 'Escarpment' to watch the sun set over the Arabian desert , after which we might watch the All Blacks play Scotland at the Embassy (no the game isn't actually at the embassy - they have a big TV) and a BBQ. I said we'd try and find room to fit this in.

Andrew

Saudi Arabia

Hi everyone from Riyadh. What a trip. about 30 hours and 4 flights by my reckoning. Second leg to Singapore probably the hardest, bearable after a couple of Singapore Slings. Changi Airport immense. We had six hours stopover and a hotel room each to relax in. Shopped for shoes and ate Mea Siam for breaky....sort of Laksa soup with a boiled egg - very hot. Third leg to Dubai not so bad and Dubai even more awe in spiring than S'pore. A couple more Singslings on the way helped. An hour's stopover in Dubai then on to Riyadh. Completely alien environment. No women at the airport and no shops. A plane load of Phillipino labourers and us. Fortunately Brian Chambers and his Yemeni driver Abdullah met us and using Abdullah's command of Arabic we were able to negotiate customs and be photographed and fingerprinted without too much bother. All gear arrived OK. Driven to the Dip. Compound which is guarded by a couple of machine gun posts and some khaki-ed military types who checked under our vehicle with a mirror for devices, and met by the NZ Embassy staff with a magnificent meal and a couple of cold drinks. temperature very mild in mid-20s. Off to the Embassy for lunch if we can rouse Nils who got in from Hamburg about 4.00am this morning. Gig tonight for assembled diplomats and friends hosted by Rod Harris, NZ ambassador. Will report tomorrow if poss.

Andrew

AOTNZ tour Kerikeri & Waiheke

Had a great day yesterday playing tourists. We visited the Waitangi Treaty Grounds & House & soaked up a bit of history. Feeling culturally and historically enlightened we smugly returned to Kerikeri to set up at the fabulous new Centre complex. Chef Terry organised pork chops for dinner and we duly recited our now-semi-automatic repertoire to the assembled citizens who would have numbered about 50 I guess. Most enjoyable evening and back to the cocrete block motel for an early night.

Off at 7.30 after poached eggs on toast and drove through shocking weather to arrive in Auckland about 10.30 - pretty good going apparently. The GPS took us straight to the ferry terminal at Half Moon Bay to check in and there was time for coffee, soup & the Herald before embarking at 12.30. Safely tucked up at Briar Ross's Matiatia Estate with cups of tea & her own lovely olive oil. Looking forward to the gig at Morra Hall in Oneroa.

Andrew

AOTNZ tour Coromandel & Whangaroa

Great night at the Coromandel Bowling Club and returned to the Jacaranda for an appointment with Mr Jameson. Wonderful breakfast from Robyn and we were on the road early for the long haul to Whangaroa. Six hours and almost constant rain. The river in Kaeo looked about ready to burst it's banks and we just had time to set up at the Gamefish Club, check into the Sunseeker, catch our breaths and get back down to the venue to have a meal and kick off again. The Whangaroa Marina was opened in 1997 by Hiwi Tauroa and another bloke with the splendid name of Tarzan Hori.

Great crowd and an early finish. I met up with some rellies and stayed out at their place while T & J retired back to the Digs. Met up again this afternoon at the Kerikeri Motel - the boys had spent some time with Ray Woolf and Billy Christian in Mangonui (SP?). We've had a terrific dinner at the Curry King and are all enjoying a night off before the final assault.

Andrew

AOTNZ tour Tauranga & Kauaeranga

Mills Reef fabulous. Treated like royalty by Jan & her team and there were

oysters once again. Derek had done a superb job in generating a crowd and we

also caught up with Graham Clark from Brilleaux. James drove us up to Thames

next morning and we managed to find Eric & Nancy Zwaan's house deep in the

Kauaeranga Valley, just past the old Hall. Eric built the house out of 'cob', a

mixture of mud, clay & straw I think - very cool. The Hall was filled with about

70 locals, all getting stuck into the mulled wine. Home by about 10.00 for an

early night....lovely not being in a concrete block motel. Nancy made us a

spectacular breakfast of omelettes & home-grown sausages and we lit out for

Coromandel.

Stopped just outside town at a roadside seafood place - had pots of mussel

chowder & T bought some oysters. Just arrived at the fabulous Jacaranda Lodge

and off to set up shortly. Sold out at about 70 tonight apparently.

Andrew