last year I got a visa grant. one-year tourist visa , multiple entry. not too bad. until April 28th I was allowed to leave Australia as many time as I wanted and after each re-entry I got another year.
Due to Easter holiday I decided to fly in March to New Zealand and reenter Australia after one week.
And it was a great possibility to see Annika and Roberto from http://www.tastingtravels.com/ again. First I met them in 2012 in Bishkek/Kyrgyzstan, then 2nd time in Kashgar/Westchina. They had been working for one year in Christchurch and now they are cycling around New Zealand and leaving to Hawaii and Kanada and ...... . Awesome reunion !!!!
And I met Elizabeth, a fellow cyclist and her partner Paul. I know Liz only from Facebook, and she lives now in Queenstown.. So great, to meet them !!!!
In Brisbane I booked a flight from the Gold Coast Airport to Queenstown, much cheaper than from Brisbane.
When I arrived at the immigration at the airport, the officer told me, that the scanner can´t read my passport.. OK, no problem, he went to the office, came back... no worries.
Three hour flight to Queenstown. At the immigration the officer told me the same: we have to check your passport.. yes, it became quite funny and well, I suppose they are a little bit paranoid. I have so many visa in my passport, 20 countries, sometimes up to three visa from the same country (Kazachstan, Kyrgyszstan, China, Thailand, Cambodia) , single man , dark hair, with beard.
Officer: well, your passport is used widely, what is your profession ?...
Me: I am a global player in bankrobbery...
Officer: Oh, you are a high potential. you can stay longer .
OK, little joke ! never make such jokes at the immigration !
I only replied, that I am a writer travelling around the world.. not mentioned , that I do it by pushbike. and I entered NZL easily.
When I came back to Australia, same procedure:
Officer: How long have you been travelling in Australia ?
Me: eight months
Officer: how long do you want to stay in Australia ?
Me: up to 10-12 months
Officer: this is not possible, you can only stay for three months.
I showed him the letter/visa grant from the Departement of Immigration..
Officer: I have to check it. after 10 minutes, to his collegue: yes, unbelievable , he has a one-year multiple entry..... I was well-prepared, had all documents as a hard-copy, because I expected that they will check my visa intensely.easy entry again...:-)
Well, and now some pics with comments. enjoy it !
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| guided tour with Liz ! I rent a 29inch MTB in Queenstown.. |
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| the biggest population in NZL. more sheep than human beings ;-) |
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| at Lake Hayes . https://www.google.com/search?q=lake+hayes&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8 |
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| a US-American fellow cyclist in Arrowtown |
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| honestly much better than in China today ;-) |
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| I am quite too tall for those tiny houses ;-) |
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| Queenstown |
Wanaka
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| always wanted to do ;-) |
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| Lake Wanaka |
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| Greg, the pilot and instructor. thank you very much ! |
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| on the way to Twizel and Mt. Cook |
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| the yellow spots are boats with tourist. |
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| Mt. Cook |
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| bye bye Annika and Roberto was so great to see you again ! have a safe ride !!! |
when I drove back from Twizel, I decided to travel to Wanaka again... the weather was great and I joined another flight... it is so much cheaper than in Germany.. take the chance ;-)
Ash, the instructor gave me a 30 min lesson in theory (physics and technique), then we checked the aircraft.
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| Wings are OK ? |
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| oil, engine.... birdsnest inside? |
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| there is one essential screw. check it always !!! |
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| I was allowed to start, did some exercises in the air and landed .... so amazing :-) |
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| Florian a hiker from Germany. he had a very lucky day. Close to Twizel I met him , gave him a lift to Wanaka, and then he got a free flight :-) |
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| Ash, it was awesome !!! |
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| no , I did not Bungee-Jumping. |
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| Queenstown city centre |
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| bye bye Queenstown ! will be back soon ! |
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| and if you know someone from the staff, you don´t have to qeue up and get a good seat ;-) |
