Pre-Planning

Queenstown to Manchester

04.04.2008 - 01.06.2008
View AKL-MAN on suggs69's travel map.

As you may or may not know, nine years after leaving the shores of the Republic of Mancunia, I'm shaking things up again like a Market Rasen household and returning. Not sure how long for, but I'll consider it a "long holiday", i.e. more than a couple of weeks and possibly till after Christmas ('cause it's been a while since I experienced the magic of yuletide in the UK. Do children still roll their hoops down the road in the snow and pipe out a tune on their penny whistles?).

The rough plan* is:

March 13: I leave SKYCITY here in Queenstown.
March 15: Chill out at Glenorchy Hotel
March 25-ish: Road Trip up to Auckland
April 4: Auckland to Sydney (via Melbourne.. don’t ask)
April 9: Sydney to Singapore
April 10: Singapore to Phnom Penh
...travel round Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos..
...before heading out via Bangkok and Dubai to..
May 27: Manchester
May 29: Poland for a 3 day stag do

* this is liable to change as I currently have a back injury (which I'll expand on in the next entry)

I have a few requests to different parts of the world………

NEW ZEALAND
Road Trip: does anyone fancy a quick road trip near the end of March from Queenstown to Auckland? (I'll sub up some of the costs). I don’t like driving long distances at the best of times and my sciatica is going to be a nightmare.

Cats: does anybody like cats, live in a safe place and most of all, want to look after two soft-as-shite furballs; Bender & Fry?

Car: I don’t really want to get rid of my car. Does anybody want a second car while I'm out of the country?

Drinks: fancy a drink before I go?

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA
I'm thinking of being in the centre on 4th & 5th April (and need a place to stay)
..then heading up north of Sydney to Woy Woy on 6th & 7th to Dani's gaff then
..down south of Sydney to Thirroul on 8th & 9th to Seattle Steve's pad.

Drinks: Will you be there and do you fancy a drink?

SOUTH EAST ASIA
Have you been and do you have any hints and tips for the area?

Drinks: Will you be there and fancy a drink?

UNITED KINGDOM
Car: If you know of someone with a spare car, or a car going cheap (as long as it's waterproof, it goes and has a radio - ooh, and one of these) then please bear me in mind

Comedy: Not seen decent comedy for a while so keep your ears open for any upcoming shows (eg. Jeff Green, Daniel Kitson, Smug Roberts)

Trips: I wouldn't mind going on a few trips around Europe if anyone's got similar tastes. The La Tomatina festival in Spain in August has caught my eye and wouldn't mind a peek at Iceland too.

Money: any short term contract jobs? (would prefer minimum work, maximum pay and plenty of travel) :o)

Mobile: what's the best plan for a SIM card over there?

Drinks: fancy a drink?

love n hugs
Suggs x