We had to rebook our journey due to the events in the Middle East and had now travelled to Beijing via Kuala Lumpur. This gave us a chance to get used to the time change.

What do you need for China, a sim from China, which we bought at the airport for 30 days. A sim from Holafly that does roaming via Spain, so we don't need a VPN. Apart from Google and Whatsapp, almost everything was accessible anyway. The WeChat and Alipay apps are essential for survival, we almost only needed cash for tips. The translation app then takes care of the rest, which works quite well. We didn't notice much in the way of checks on the locals, only our guide in Beijing was checked once and asked why he had a VPN client on his mobile phone.

Everything in China is bigger, higher, louder and, above all, there are an incredible number of people. You have to get to grips with that first, there's no queuing, you just push until you get to the front. This applies to the streets as well as everything else. But they are all friendly and helpful, and with a few words of Chinese and a bit of arm wrestling you can always get to your destination. And as we had a group tour with only two participants, the guide was always able to help. Apart from two places, we always had more or less German-speaking guides.

It's all very well organised and geared towards large crowds, luckily we weren't travelling in peak season, but we got an impression of what it can be like at the Terracotta Army. Without Mia, who guided us through the back entrances and against the flow, we would never have made it.

We were able to experience so much in the 29 days, new impressions, new cultures and behaviours. It was also physically demanding with almost 5000 metres above sea level, the countless stairs up and down, it was always a challenge. We are a little proud that everything went so well and that we persevered.

The food was consistently good to very good. In Sezuan it was really really spicy, even though we like spicy food, we couldn't eat it. And you don't have to eat everything, such as chicken feet, which is available almost everywhere. It tasted almost the best in Beijing. We didn't realise the legend of sweet & sour chicken, which is a European invention, but it is available in almost every restaurant and is far too sweet. In general, there is sugar in a lot of dishes, which is not really our cup of tea.

China really has a lot to offer, they are way ahead in terms of technology, economically everyone has been moaning a bit because everything is getting expensive, just like here. Covid has caused a lot of economic damage and there are many unemployed people. You don't notice it so much in the big metropolises, but you do in the countryside.

It is a clean country, there is a lot of cleaning. Whether on the streets or in tourist areas, on the train there is always someone running around with a broom. The roads were very good throughout, with a few exceptions in rural areas.

Travelling by train is almost like flying, but cleverly organised. There is a security check at the entrance similar to the one at the airport, just not quite as precise. They took a mousse away from Sylvia because it was more than 100 ml. Then there's a waiting hall and the trains are called, your ticket is linked to your ID, that's the same everywhere, we've never had to show our passport so much. Then you go to the platform and the carriage numbers are marked on the floor, there are almost only reserved seats. The high-speed trains travel at up to 350 km/h.

Hongkong macht den Abschluss, die Führung mit Polly und die Nacht im Penisula Hotel, werden sicher in Erinnerung bleiben.

It is very difficult to make a selection - there are so many great memories that we are taking with us. We will always remember the people, the incredible landscapes, the megacities, the food in Beijing. We could go on and on, but we've already done that in detail.

Hier noch der Link zu allen Beiträgen zum Nachlesen

Unbelievably, our journey through Oceania is "already" over. We can hardly believe it, when we arrived in Perth on 26 March, there was still so much time ahead of us and we didn't even know how long our journey in the region would last. It has now been almost 7 months. Southern Australia with the metropolises of Perth, Adelaide and Melbourne. The impressive drive to Uluru and beautiful Tasmania. The two main islands of New Zealand. Warming up on Fiji and Cook Island. The varied east coast of Melbourne, Philip Island, the houseboat in Mallacoota, Canberra, the Blue Mountains and, of course, bustling Sydney. The beaches on the Gold Coast and surfers' paradise. Brisbane and of course Cairns, although we liked Port Douglas better. The somewhat shaky diving safari on the Great Barrier Reef was a really great experience. And, of course, our first experience of campervan life in the still very unspoilt Northern Territory of Australia. We were able to explore all these destinations extensively, everything went very well, we didn't have any breakdowns and apart from the odd cold, we were always healthy.

The many wonderful encounters will also remain a lasting memory. We met Manon from Sydney at Uluru and then again later in Sydney. Kathy and Ian from Christchurch, with whom we cooked and baked. We met Jenny and Brad in Fiji and later again in Brisbane. Markus worked with Miriam at Wüst, she lives with her family near Canberra. We met Stephan from Seedamm Plaza in Coogee Beach near Sydney for a chat. And, of course, the warm-hearted Michael with his two poodles and his friends on the Gold Coast.

What we couldn't capture in the many pictures were the ever-present many free-living birds and their calls at any time of day, the smell of the various eucalyptus trees and the calming rustle of the leaves of the many different trees in the botanical gardens or in the unbelievable vastness of this region.

We are returning to Mauritius with so many impressions and it will take quite a while to process everything, sort through thousands of photos and get used to "normal" everyday life again.

It was also very nice that you all accompanied us and that we were always able to keep in touch. We didn't miss work, but we missed our family and friends a lot.

By 1 October, we had flown 20 times in Oceania and stayed in 58 different accommodations. We spent the night in a campervan at eight different campsites. We rented eight cars, a houseboat and a campervan and drove around 10,000 kilometres. We booked an UBER 23 times and took a taxi five times.

Wir haben echt viele Unterkünfte gesehen, viele waren super, alle waren sauber, und ALLE hatten was Schönes.  Wir sind sehr viele Kilometer gefahren und die Strassen waren in einem sehr guten Zustand. Auch die Wege zu den Sehenswürdigkeiten, absolut top gepflegt und instand gehalten.

Die Landschaft ist unfassbar schön, abwechslungsreich und riesig. Vom sanften Auenland über Wälder die forstwirtschaftlich genutzt werden, kilometerlange Weinbaugebiete, Kiwi Plantagen, Mandarinenbäume, riesige Farnbäume, atemberaubende Felsen aus Kalkstein, sprudelnde heisse Geysire, brodelnde Schlammfelder, Wasserfälle in ALLEN Varianten, majestätische Vulkane, imposante steil abfallende Felswände,  Strände soweit das Auge reicht und noch weiter, botanische Gärten und Kriegsdenkmale sogar im kleinsten Dorf. Auf den Feldern stehen ganze Wände aus Bäumen als Windbrecher, Schafe, Rinder, Rotwild und ab und zu Pferde sind auf unseren Fahrten durch Neuseeland überall zu sehen.  Wir konnten auch einen kleinen Einblick in die Maori Kultur erhaschen.

Die ganze Insel ist auf jeden Fall, immer grün, auch wenn es im Spätherbst mal frisch, windig und nass war.

You have to experience the sounds (fjords), they are indeed indescribably unique. 

Die Unwetter im Februar 2023 haben in der Gegend von Napier Dörfer, Felder, Strassen, Eisenbahnschienen und ganze Hügel weggeschwemmt  Traktoren, Autos und Dächer wurden irgendwo weiter unten wieder entdeckt in den skurrilsten Anordnungen in der Landschaft  

Wir durften springende Dusky Delfine, riesige Potwale, supersüsse Seelöwen, Vögel in all ihrer Pracht in der Wildnis sehen. Sogar Kiwis in den Aufzucht Stationen. 

Kulinarisch haben wir keinen neuseeländischen roten Faden gefunden ausser Pies, Fish and Chips, Austern, Lobster und Burgers. Aber die asiatische Küche ist in allen Varianten vertreten und echt lecker. Charly hat uns die Feinheiten der guten Küche in Auckland auf der Foodtour näher gebracht, absolut empfehlenswert. Die Kaffee-, Wein- und Bierkultur ist top und macht Spass. Viele eigenständige Brauereien bieten in ihren Produktionshallen Führungen an und haben immer leckere Snacks zu bieten und frisch gezapftes Bier, Cider oder Gingerbeer.

An den Linksverkehr gewöhnt man sich schnell, irgendwann auch ans einsteigen ins Auto auf der richtigen Seite, in den Supermärkten gibt es alles zu kaufen, auch Lindt Schokolade, den Alkohol gibt es im Liquor Shop und ab und zu gibt es auch mal gutes Brot in einer Bäckerei. Es lässt sich einfach reisen, die Menschen sind sehr nett, helfen gerne und sind auch mal für einen „Schwatz“ zu haben. Die herzliche Begegnung mit Kathy und Ian in Christchurch wird in unseren Herzen bleiben. 

Alle Bookings haben funktioniert es gab nicht eine böse Überraschung, auch sonst ist alles sehr unaufgeregt und klappt bestens. Mit dem neuseeländischen Dialekt kommt man auch irgendwann klar. Da ja ein „Biid“ (ausgesprochen) ein Bed ist und es so zahlreiche Redewendungen gibt die du erst mal verstehen musst.

Und hier noch die Bilder zum Text…zuerst noch ein Grössenvergleich es leben ca 5.1 Mio Menschen in Neuseeland, also Platz haben sie genug 19 /km2 in NZ und in der Schweiz 210 /km2.

Queenstown in autumn

Steamboat trip with the MS Earnslaw

Million Dollar View on the way to Glenorchy

Milford Sound

Stellvertretend für alle Wasserfälle

The oysters of Bluff

Slope Point nur noch 4803 km bis zum Südpol

Nugget Point

Stellvertretend die StreetArt, die in Städten allgegenwärtig ist.

Dunedin the railway station

Queenstown the meeting with Kathy and Ian

Das Tierparadies von Kaikōura Seelöwen, Dusky Delfine und Potwale

Pancake Rocks

Kea mountain parrot

Artur‘s Pass

Hōkitika

The Franz Josef and Fox glaciers

Jacksons Bay

Wãnaka

We fly to Auckland

Auckland

Food Tour in Auckland

Cultural programme

Der Küste entlang

Whitianga

Te Puia craftsmanship

Pōhutu

Die Farnbäume haben Sylvia so gut gefallen.

Art Deco in Napier

A representative rainbow

Kiwi

Wellington

Botanische Gärten

Whanganui

Mount Ruapehu

Lake Taupō

The Shire

Hobbiton

Waitomo Caves

Whangārei, ok nochmals ein Regenbogen, weil er so schön war.

Es hat uns sehr gefallen in Neuseeland, mit einem lachenden und einem weinenden Auge, fliegen wir in die Wärme nach Fitschi.

It is only a two-hour drive to Kaikoura, an Eldorado for wildlife spotting. After arriving at the motel, we drive to the sea lion colony. There are so many animals, where to look first? Another viewpoint, of course we have to go up there.

The brown dots are the sea lions.

Dusky Dolphins

We were already back in the car when Sylvia saw something jumping with the kayak paddlers. So many dolphins at once and from the land. They were trying to outdo each other with their jumps.

Sperm whales

We book a whale tour with 98% whale sighting guarantee, well, let's see... After a 20-minute drive, the first of three sightings is correct.
And the cameras take great pictures, we are so happy.

We drive along the coast in moderate weather to Blenheim in the north of the island. A stop at The Store was worthwhile.

Our coach for the time on the South Island is travelling quite well.

Manapouri Lookout

Lake Te Anau

MILFORD SOUND

The information on how long it takes to drive from Te Anau varies greatly, Google says 1.5 hours, the cruise organiser says 3 hours, as always the truth lies in the middle. So we arrive on time, and if you've already driven over mountain passes in Switzerland, then it's not a big challenge here either.

The boat is ready for our two-hour round trip.

It's a bit overcast today, but contrary to the forecast, much drier than expected. It rains here 200 days a year and not too little. Many waterfalls transport the water from the mountains into the fjord.

On the way back we passed Lake Mirror.

The name is the programme

Today we were lucky that the forecast rain was delayed. Now it's going to be a bit of muddy weather until Friday, but we're equipped for the weather.