I'm here!

yes! finally! or maybe too soon but here I am down in sunny seaside Napier, home of the lovely Anna and AJ and my new home for a bit

AJ met me at the airport and we drove through the ridiculously beautiful landscape (photo is lake taupo, the volcano is 'mount doom' apparently) before arriving in the dark to a warm fire and homemade pizzas, mmm

just been enjoying unpacking and getting to know the neighbourhood and eating my first kiwi, see mugshot

my talent for gate-crashing national events continues and this weekend is topped off by Labour Monday, a national holiday and marker for the start of the summer season. so just enjoying the holidays and will crack on with life here as everyone goes back to work on Tues

am starting to digest the journey too, such a lot to think about, many happy memories and some regrets too but I had a brilliant time and was lovely to know that I could keep up with you all

will keep this up to date as life goes on here but for now just going to enjoy being in one place for a while

so here's to the journey, now I just need to think about getting back...

lots of love, 

Polly xxx

manly bay, grr

sydney today, landed 7am this morning and lost another 3 hours so nearly on kiwi time

the amusingly but not factually named Manly Bay is a 30 min ferry hop across the beautiful Sydney harbour, good views of the opera house and big old bridge from all directions

night-flight fatigue was catching up and an early heat wave led me and the masses to this beautiful spot for some posing in the waves (them) and some snoozing in the shade (me)

also had my first dip in the Pacific, woop, lovely to wallow again

sydney is gorgeous in an LA-beautiful-people-way, lots of interesting buildings too, bit san fran too I'd say, very nice and would happily pop back

last day here tomorrow, maybe a museum, def something to eat and celebrity-spotting at a branch of Bills and generally preparing for the last journey on Fri morning

sure it's gone quick but feels like I can't remember not being on the road, will be funny to stop

lots of love, 

Polxx

ozzie rules

ooh australia's nice! bright and fresh and full of spring. I have been given extra special treatment and been chauffered around Perth and surrounding, been up the big park in town and over to see my first and last glimpse of the Indian Ocean, I had a paddle, it felt right to be back near the salty stuff

then more importantly an amazing cake, they know their caffs over here

as warned, David got the camera so pictures of me for once

lovely to stop in a real home for a bit, back to hostels in Sydney before the final hop on Fri

Polxx

perth

australia already! flew into Perth last night and met by the lovely David and Helen Ryder who are putting me up for a couple of days, providing washing facilities, showing me around a bit and generally being lovely

David is also insisting we take a photo of me somewhere significant as the blog is lacking mugshots, apologies in adavnce then for me grimacing in front of the Indian Ocean or something.

Blissfully quiet and cool after Asia, more of this to come I guess.

Flight to Sydney Tues night, had to rule out the train on this one for costs/time, next time...

Polly xxx

identity crisis

so just an hour and a bit on a plane (boo, first one) and it's singapore already

v confused, it's hotter than ever (the nearest bit of land the whole trip to equator) and so steamy the trees are growing ferns half way up. the streets are spotlessly clean and suddenly everyone is using the crossings again

all seems very clinical after Vietnam, I miss the grime. so I look for the dirtiest, most dingy looking locals caff for some food and get fried rice and sweet and sour fish, super-confusing, I miss the one-dish nations, maybe communism to thank for that

international again although I'm still stared at, not sure what language to speak, english obviously. so it feels like I've gone West again before I got to grips with East. but mainly I've gone South, that explains the hot bit

but that doesn't mean I'm not loving it! check out the picture of  my groovy pod-like hostel and the main street in Little India, I've managed once again to crash a significant festival and tonight is the eve of Deepvali, the one with all the lights. 

oh, and have touched base with local contact,  captain haddock william horne who is taking me out on bender tomorrow night, wish me luck

PollyGone and Got on a Plane and Went Too Quicky and Got Really Confused xxx

Hotel Continental, saigon

made it, another monster 2-day on train snaking down the whole coast to steamy southern belle, Saigon (HoChiMinh City to the pc)

a bit of luxury for one night at the Continental, last of Saigon's old hotels to escape proper modernisation - it's luxe but old school and lots of amusing 70s-kitsch

loving the slippers as you can see

PollyGone And Had Her First Bath in a Long Time xxx

florist Vietnam-style

Hanoi now, it's all about the style here. elegant and crazy place, quadrophoenia-meets-naples-in-asia-on-acid

so many mopeds, I love the space-invader game every time you cross the road

the first time the journey went from going east to going south and it don't half show - hotter, brighter, louder, altogether more spicy thanks

noodle soups for breakfast, iced coffee with condensed milk (thank the frenchies for that) and the local tipple, bia ha noi - mocrobrewed fresh, yeasty beer, on evry corner, mmm...

think we're caught up now so maybe a last one before two-day train to Saigon tomorrow, yes, I'll try not to miss it...

PollyGone To Look Around Hanoi and Loved It xxx