Sunday, February 28, 2010

London to Christchurch




After a hearty feed at our Travelodge we were ready to embark on the flyathon. We trundled our bags back to East Croydon rail station where our bags were given the once over by a sniffer dog before we went to the platform. We decided as we had time to have an hour or so in London so we left our bags with the left luggage chappies and went to have a look at Buckingham palace in the rain. After a bit of a wander we retrieved our bags and got the tube to Heathrow. More book reading by Mrs D and more wandering for me whilst we waited for a gate number.

The flight got underway on time (thankfully no wing de-icing this time, good job really as they were that long they would have needed tons of the stuff!) Singapore airlines really do look after you with good food plenty of drinks and the seats weren’t too bad either. With your own personal entertainment centre in the back of the seat in front the hours flew by (sorry not meant to be a pun.) We did manage to get a little sleep before we arrived in Changi airport in Singapore 15 minutes early.

Changi airport, what a place. A friends son told his parents he could live in Changi airport and I am sure he is right as it has everything. Free foot massages, free internet, luxury malls full of everything. TV lounges, butterfly rooms and giant koi fish pools, it has to be experienced to be believed. I also got a geeky airbus A320 super jumbo fix as there were a few knocking about on the runway. I had a wandering feast and Mrs D did a few more books.

After our five hours in Changi our flight to NZ left 5 minutes early and got into Christchurch 15 minutes early and the service was up to the usual splendid standards, overwhelmed with food and drink – just what you need when you are sat on your arse for 10 hours!!

Mrs D’s rucksack was sought out by an over excited beagle sniffer dog in the airport – it was looking for food as you are not allowed to bring any in to NZ. After emptying the contents to the dog handler it was agreed that super sniffer could only smell the oranges that were in the bag a couple of days earlier. He was rewarded and went on his sniffy way…..

Weary and worn out we trundled outside with our bags and found the service bus into town and then a short walk (seemed like an eternity as we were so tired) to Foley Towers backpackers where we would be for two nights. We tried to stay awake as long as we could but had to give in about 8 o’clock as we were well tired. More soon after some serious shuteye!
Pictures are the koi pond and butterfly garden in Changi airport.

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