Mr Beady-Eyes (not his real name) was not an extraordinary man. Standing at about 5' 7", he had a sturdy but otherwise sloppy built and an altogether unappealing beady-eyed leer in his gaze. The man, probably mid-fifties had a wife in Bangkok Bank, a daughter in a Bangkok International School, cooks at home for an eighty year old mother with fluctuating blood pressure, studied geology in New Zealand and later Stones and Minerals in Australia. How he finally ended up as a freelance Tour Manager was never brought up but none of us were short of ideas.
Our destination was New Zealand. Transiting in Singapore, we were headed for Christchurch, South Island with Mr Beady-Eyes on the lead and the seat in the plane in front of me. Our number was 18 comprising of family members and friends.
Complementary coffee and tea were provided at all hotels. The washroom sink and tap needed no introduction. No bidets were provided and water from the tap is safe to drink. Speaking of public toilets, New Zealand had Automated Public Toilets which was something I hadn't seen before but we'll get to that when we get to that.
Kiwis were friendly and smiles greeted us wherever we went in South Island. Streets were safe.
However in North Island, we were advised not to leave any valuables in the coach as the local young Maoris were inclined to break windows in order to secure what's inside. The Maori women were mostly large in stature while their men looked hostile.
Then again ... nah...there's no then again.
Kiwis were friendly and smiles greeted us wherever we went in South Island. Streets were safe.
However in North Island, we were advised not to leave any valuables in the coach as the local young Maoris were inclined to break windows in order to secure what's inside. The Maori women were mostly large in stature while their men looked hostile.
Then again ... nah...there's no then again.
The kumara (sweet potato) does not speak of its own sweetness .....Maori proverb
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