Back to New Zealand

Back in green New Zealand!

It was time to head back to New Zealand. The weather was cold and rainy in the United Kingdom but it was getting hot in New Zealand, so it seemed like a good time to head back. I flew back on a very long flight from London through China and then on to Auckland. It was a great price. Off I flew - at an obscure hour the plane took off, and I had a little nap, and awoke to the sight below of the Gobi desert of Mongolia, far below. 

The plane landed in Beijing and then I had a fairly brutal 20 hour layover. There wasn't really anywhere to nap, just some uncomfortable chairs. There was one slightly less busy corner of the airport with plenty of chairs, but there was some kind of strange alarm going off at the time. My circadian rhythm was already thoroughly confused by this point. This was worsened by the fact that the flight to Auckland left at 2am. All I wanted to do was sleep, but had to keep my eyes open to board my flight. Then when I was on the flight I couldn't sleep! Anyway, I got back to Auckland in one piece! Recovering from the jetlag was a pretty long process - it took about 2 weeks! 

The weather was balmy and warm. I could go for walks through the balmy subtropical rainforest and see family and friends for Christmas!

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