Day 1 - Arriving Christchurch

After 10+ hour of flight, Lao gong slept like a baby on the flight from Auckland to Christchurch. zzzzz....zzzzzzz.....

在New Zealand的第一顿晚餐, 我们当然叫了当地出名的Lamb chop, 果然肉嫩,汁多,完全没羶味.在之后几天的行程中,先后试过lamb pizza, braised lamb shank; 都超好味,而我们也很快知道好味的原因---如此的好山好水养育出的羊,确是没得比.

It was almost 9pm after dinner, but the sky looked like if it were in the afternoon. The south island of New Zealand enjoys long-hour of sunlight in the summer time -- sunset usually occurs after 10pm.

On the way back to hotel, we passed by Christchurch Cathedral Square, where coincidentally there was a new year's eve concert - 对于一个跨年晚会说, 人数还真不算多.但再想想,在这个羊比人多的地方，这样已经称得上是“盛况”了吧. Although wanted to stay till count down, we decided to head back hotel to have a good night of sleep, and get ourselves ready for the 6-day-road trip.

The most BEAUTIFUL country

Just back from New Zealand, the prettiest country we ever visited.

Our itinerary:

31 Dec '08: Arrived Auckland at North Island. Flew to Christchurch(A), which is the base for our South Island trip.

1 Jan '09: Aoraki/Mount Cook(C) via Lake Tekapo(B), Lake Pukaki

2 Jan '09: Queestown(D) via Twizel, Lindis pass,

3 Jan '09: Milford Sound(D2) via Te Anau(D1,D3). Back to Queenstown enroute to Fox Township via Lake Wanaka, Lake Hawea., Haast Pass.

4 Jan '09: Helihike @ Fox Glacier(E). Hokitika via West Coast infested with sandflies

5 Jan '09: Hokitika Gorge(F) in the morning. Christchurch via Arthur's Pass.

6 Jan '09: Akaroa Bay(H): Land of the one-eye penguin & limping sheep

7 Jan '09: Home Sweet Home

This is touching

A story on Newpaper, from a man who lost his wife in the Mumbai hotel attack.

The language was so simple and undecorated, yet it made me cry.


He loves her :
"I told you it looked like I had my demands not because I wanted you, but because I needed you.
You were really my entire life
......
You were not something that was nice to have around.
You were what I needed.
You were part of me."

He treasures her:
" I didn't even want you to get wet in the rain.
......
Everything I did, I did for you. My whole life really revolved around you.
You were truly the meaning of my life. "

but, now, he lost her:
" I remember my last words to you: 'I love you very much.'
And those were your last words to me, too.
......
Right now, it's one day at a time. There's no planning, no thinking of tomorrow.
In your obituary, I said: 'My life has no meaning and no purpose.' "

降温

从回到家里到现在，一直缩在小粉红被子里 --- 好像，今晚特别冷。不知是因为天气预报里说的冷空气袭港，还是你不在身边。

祈祷

最近发生了很多事.
只想祝福我爱的人都顺利,健康...

Nobody Gets Left Behind!

"Yes, we finally made it home, after 10 years of 颠沛流离.

Life onboard the ship in that stuffy container was abit hot and dark, but now that we are back, well worth it."

When I said Nobody Gets Left Behind,

I really mean it.

The most beautiful carvings

Here comes the last one on Cambodia, and a long-overdue one.

A bit of history about Banteay Srei Temple first, just to refresh our memory. " 'Banteay Srei' (Citadel of Women) is the modern name of which was originally called "Tribhuvanamahesvara" (Great Lord of the Threefold World), an appellation of the god Siva. Consecrated in 967A.D., Banteay Srei was the only major temple at Angkor not built by a monarch; its construction is credited to a courtier named Yajnavaraha, who served as a counsellor to king Rajendravarman." (will offer $5 to whoever can pronounce all these names correctly)

Due to its relatively remote location, 25km north to the main group of Angkor temples, we made a separate trip to Banteay Srei. (no, it was not a typo, 25km in Cambodia is a long way to go)

We have long heard, during our stay in Siem Reap, that Banteay Srei is famous for its intricate, beautiful carvings, and it's definitely right. Amazing details!!!

Before we left the temple, I spotted this lovely girl sitting by the doorway. She looked so happy and contented playing with that plastic bottle, paying little attention to tourists passing by -- a reminder to us city dwellers: hapiness is to treasure what one has, often the simplest things in life.

Temple-in-Jungle

Being referred as the "big-tree-temple" by the local cab driver, Ta Prohm is famous for its jungle atmophere.



According to the guide book, Ta Prohm was intentionally left partially unrestored from jungle overgrowth, to provide a unique "temple-in-jungle" scenery.

Angkor Thom & Bayon

The highlight of the day is Bayon.

Constructed under King Jayavarman VII, during late 12th century, the giant stone faces of Bayon have become one of the representatives of the classic Khmer art and architecture.



Although early in the morning, Siem Reap was still brutally hot.

June is the rainy season in Siem Reap. We were very fortunate to have clear sky everyday, which definitely made the outlines of the temples more breathtaking.

Other temples/monument visited in Angkor Thom area: Terrance of the Elephants, Terrance of the Leper King, Phimeanakas.

Lao gong had a unique feeling while climbing up the sandstone pyramid of Phimeanakas. =P

Hotel de la Paix - Siem Reap

Can see the Angkor / Khmer art influences everywhere.



Real flowers, with a little creative touch.