It’s 8:20 am in Auckland and I’m sat nursing an incredible, and needed, coffee as the sun rises into a clear blue sky. In the distance, over the water from the peninsula the airport sits on, mountains stretch up from the horizon.
I’m here.
We’re in Aotearoa New Zealand!
…and I am KNACKERED!
Pic.: Kawau Kitchen, Auckland. Also, Legends & Lattes makes for gorgeous reading!
Before we go down that particular path… Let’s recap.
LONDON HEATHROW, ENGLAND – 08:00, 3 May 2024
Despite working as an actor, a job that sees you wandering off hither and thither all the time, saying goodbye to my partner never gets any easier. They came to see me off, which was so lovely and the perfect way to start the day. Holding a nice amount of time and space to be sad, miss my person, and then be able to move through that into the excitement is something I’m very grateful for. It all felt very natural and, luckily, never rushed.
After a couple of very average movies, we were getting closer to Malaysia for our transfer. We left slightly late, but were making great time and as we headed over Bangladesh and India, Jon decided to get some sleep (a luxury on transport that I am not blessed with…) and so…the eye mask made it’s debut.
I am travelling with a fashion icon to say the least!
KUALA LUMPUR AIRPORT, MALAYSIA – 07:30 (00:30 BST), 4 May 2024
A whistle-stop visit to Kuala Lumpur Airport that involved a very British “worry walk” to our next gate (like a power walk, but add a taste of crippling anxiety), and suddenly, after just under 24 hours, we were standing in Aotearoa New Zealand after talking about it for over a decade.
I wish there was more I could write about the flights. But, realistically, they were just great, smooth long-haul flights. That said, it was fun to be reminded of the sheer size of Australia. We flew over the town of Broome, WA, and left just underneath Brisbane, QLD. Essentially, less than a third of the country…it took 3.5 hours to cross just that!
This is where I can make a special mention of how great Malaysia Airlines are. The vegan meals I had during the flights were incredible, and one hostess was repeatedly belittled by an older man on our second flight and she handled it with such an applaudable firmness and professionalism. I would absolutely recommend them to anyone.
AUCKLAND AIRPORT, AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND – 22:50 (11:50 BST), 4 May 2024
And so, we arrived! Shattered, sore, and with legs like jelly (though enjoy this photo of the wonderful travel socks that Jon gifted me…it was like my calves had been vacuum packed for a day). In a moment of pure bliss, we got to our baggage pick up just as both our cases came gently past us. Hey, it’s the little things.
One sniffer dog walk-by later (in a queue…to check for any bio-security issues. We both had to declare our walking boots, not 15kgs of cocaine.) and we were finally in the place that had been mentioned as if merely a dream for so many years.
We had arrived.
And now, this morning. I am sat here in Kawau Kitchen with a damn strong coffee and as I say…
…KNACKERED.
In fairness, I knew I would be, but maybe not quite to the level of being in the air for so long that I get spells of vertigo as I slowly remember what its like to be on terra firma! Apparently, this is called “disembarkment syndrome,” courtesy of my ears. B*stards!
This coffee and a good breakfast are definitely going to get me through the first day of discovering Auckland…
Haere mai!
– Jake
5 May 2024
P.S. Jon is also writing about his version of events over on his Tumblr page, Misplaced Midlanders! Check it out!
The Long Expected Journey 