Kia ora – Hello everyone!

The day has come I’m going to fly to the end of the world today!!! Well, I already did, but let’s go back to the beginning of this long journey!

Before Departure

Excited? Nervous? No sign of it, maybe a little bit. The last days were filled with goodbye feasts, finishing my work student job, celebrating Christmas and New Year! There wasn´t really a little moment to actually think about the big journey!

But then on Monday 04. January 2010 my journey should finally start! I put this huge backpack on my (petite) back and without falling backwards I went to the airport in Frankfurt am Main.

The time schedule

Monday 04.01.2010 – the plane is leaving Frankfurt am Main International Airport with one hour delay!

First stop in Dubai – round about 6 ½ hours to fly! I said goodbye to my family and the next step was going to take me further than I ever thought I may go.

Tuesday 05.01.2010 – Arrival Dubai International Airport.

Now I have to wait 5 hrs till the next flight. Unfortunately there was no chance to take a look at the newest highest building of the world ‘Burj Dubai’, because the Terminal had no viewing platform. Therefore I created a Plan B – having a nice walk in the Terminal and observing the hustle and bustle around me.

Later a large group of Asians, who were able to talk faster and a lot more than the fastest and most talkative women on the planet so that they held me awake and I was very sleepy.

At long last my flight trip went on – Auckland was the last stop! It’s going to take 16hrs till I get there. Mmmh, more films and TV series and sleeping and hopefully better food during this flight.

Wednesday, 06.01.2010 – Stopover at Melbourne Airport 1hr long

I remember we landed at 6am and I called my parents that I’m ok. I have been already on the way for 2 days, well it felt like it!

After an 1 ½ hr the plane was ready for the last bit. Additional 3 hrs to Auckland!

I´m so close :-)  At least Breakfast was nice!

After what seemed like an eternity – 18.000 km, many time zones, round about 30hrs flying (not including the check-in, check-out and waiting time), many films and tv series (I think I have seen 8 films and a couple of TV series, can’t remember exactly I just watched all those awesome films ) and not to forget the rather less tasteful flight meals, oh and not to forget the time I slept- I arrived 2pm on Wednesday 06.01.2010 in Auckland, New Zealand!!!

At long last I’m there! The sun is smiling at me, 18 degrees and it’s so warm! When I left Germany we had snow storms and ice cold winds. First thing I was on my way to the hostel – Bamber House – had a refreshing shower after checking in and enjoyed that I could put on summer cloth! Yep, ¾ pants and a t-shirt, well I didn’t want to overdo this after -10 degrees and snow back home!

While having a comfy walk to the supermarket (open 24hrs and 7 days a week, very americanish) and exploring the neighbourhood at the same time I slowly realised: You are really in New Zealand! *jiipiiieee* All the additional work next to my studies and saving money paid off!  Honestly, I will have to sleep on it still haven’t internalised it (back then)!

My intention (note- this part was written a long time ago. I thought I could keep like it is!)

Within the next months I will tell you about my journey at the end of the world and my return flights to Australia and Singapore towards Germany, adventures, troubles and beautiful places and so much more! First problem already emerged – my cell phone charger didn’t work. The connector didn’t want to fit in the adapter. Mmmh, after a short and clever analysis I figured out I had to buy an appropriate adapter within the next days. But hey, I took it as easy as the kiwis!

During the first days I met some very nice backpackers at the hostel. Our hostel ‘The Bamber House’ is situated in a very nice suburb called Mt. Eden in Auckland. Mt. Eden is a extinct volcano of many ones in Auckland! The walk up to the Mountain was steep but nice, because with each step you can see more of Auckland’s city! Guilhem, Tereza and I made for this place and wanted to see the beautiful view with our own eyes and also to test our cameras. You can find the result in the gallery!

Helpful tips for long flights! 

If you have to fly for a long time, every one of us knows that you are going to be exhausted when you arrive! So to at least enjoy your first day a little bit I will give you some tips, which helped me a lot!  

If you are going to fly through many time zones it’s good to change the time on your watch to the local time of your target country! Change your rhythm to this time and eat, sleep and everything else along it! Either you have to stay awake or you have to sleep to get into this certain rhythm. If you made it then the jetlag won’t knock you out that much!

Move and drink lots of water! Prevent dehydration and thrombosis! All airlines have information for little workouts while sitting, but also short walks to get some water are helpful! The sweet folks of you shall enjoy a Coke or something else! Nevertheless the important thing is – drink lots of water! The walks to toilet help as a workout

If you have a very long flight with many stopovers, like me on my way to New Zealand, its good to have some toiletries (toot paste and brush, shampoo etc.) in your hand luggage with you! Don´t forget maximum 100ml per bottle! But you will be very happy for a refreshing shower! Check on the websites of the airports if they provide certain facilities like bathrooms with showers!

All those tips are helpful for short flights, too!

Cheers your stewardess, Livia