Scam

My nutritionist has given up and gone away.
Deciding the UK is not for him, has moved to Frome to grow tabacco.
' till we meet again.

Charles Darwin in da House

Down House

In deepest Kent, Charles Darwin lived in Down House with his 10 kids, it now a museum and English Heritage site.

unlike any museum I have been to

its just like walking around someone's house, stuff everywhere, you can walk around and pick things up.

At dinner parties he would announce: none of you are made in gods image, you all come from fish'

old toys left behind

I have a few theories of my own, being a great authority on most things.


Fancying it as just some old tired B+B, I asked how much a room was, so witty...the staff thought.

Hong Kong

The last leg of the trip has us in Hong Kong for a few days, just to break the journey. I was a bit worried to be honest, kids don't like spicy food, jet lag, don't speak the language...

star ferry from Hong Kong to Kowloon

We're staying in the Hong Kong YMCA, honestly, and its great, cafe, restaurant, swimming pool, suite overlooking the harbour, we get a few hours sleep and the kids tuck into egg fried noodle and chocolate shakes, I start to relax

flower market

bird market

and goldfish market !

we pick up a dragon T-shirt, good price

We take The Peak Tram funicular cable car right to the top for the views over Hong Kong Island

it goes 1365 meter straight up, 27 degree angle

great views at the top

Hong Kong was really good to us, no need to worry really, travelling with kids here is great, people are friendly, huge groups of women would surround Tara squeezing her checks and feet, very bemusing. The stable diet of plain noddles and shakes kept the kids happy.

sea cucumber, pigeon and chickens feet salad

Ocean Park is a massive theme park, struggling to compete with HK Disney Land, until China gave it 2 giant pandas, LeLe and Ying Ying, you can watch them sleep live on webcam,

Whiskers, the waving sealion

the wrong trousers

hair raising roller coaster rides

the gondola lift is enough thrills for me

feeding time

We're here for the aquarium, a 4 story aquarium no less

sting rays, leopard sharks, guitar fish...its a massive tank

There's also sea lion pier, a chinese sturgeon tank, a massive jelly fish tank, dolphin theater and killer whale show, hmm, not sure about that, luckily we don't have time...got a plane to catch, so jet of to the UK

so long Hong Kong

New Zealand

after another 12 hour flight, we arrive Auckland, New Zealand, on the day of my 40th birthday, Champagne n birthday cake then, every one's buzzing in the lovely warm south pacific sunshine, its 7:00AM.

happy birthday to you

So first things first, off to the excellent Domain Museum, to see the dinosaur's.
http://www.aucklandmuseum.com

T-rex named Sue

In the Weird and Wonderful children's gallery, the kids get down and dirty,

diggin for dem bones

In the afternoon temperatures soar to 32 degrees Celsius. Kids love it, lots of suntan lotion and hats though.

splash

ready for the beach

Auckland water front is home to Kelly Tarltons aquarium, lots of sharks and antarctic encounters, its nice and cool inside.
www.kellytarltons.co.nz

lobsters big as your arm, yum

After a week in Auckland doing the sights, we head to the Coramandel peninsular. www.thecoromandel.com a remote land covered in lush green bush and golden sandy beaches,
we hire a holiday cottage for the week

rent a batch

There's nothing much to do but go to the beach, perfect

Matarangi beach

temperatures come down to about 28,

which is just fine by me

native kiwi bush

just love it

Back to Auckland for Valentines, our favorite seafood restaurant, right on the harbour

Kermadec, dozen oysters each

The holiday is going just to fast, soon be back on the plane to Hong Kong, we spend our last day at the zoo.

white rinos

Thames loves a day at the zoo.