R.I.P. FLAPS...FLAPS IS DEAD BABY!
From the Khyber Pass to the Dog's Bollix...
29.04.2008
Current location, New Zealand. (As you can see our cheap-ass route map runs out of planet before N.Z.)
Preparing to land, North Island...
...in a bloody wet, grey Auckland! (Skytower.) So I suppose we'll have to put off calling the local branch...
Looks like we might now be needing something (anything!) to get over the shock of leaving the B.E.A.C.H.L.I.F.E. behind for good.
Camp Cove, Sydney. What a difference a day makes, 24 little hours... (that surf blew the bloody cobwebs reet'aff, following the previous *Anzac day session!)
Rufus and Sunna, swimming at Coogee beach, Sydney. Closer inspection of facial expressions will give all necessary information regarding water temperature.
In a few hours we take to the skies once more. Destination Rapa Nui (Easter Island), via Santiago, Chile. Can't wait to see these guys...
(Apologies to the non Norn-Iron contingent, and also Rapa Nui inhabitants for Moai abuse inthat pic.)
Anyway we'll keep this brief. Thanks Rufus, Sunna, Steve (and the rest of the Newtown team!) for making our return visit to Sydney such an enjoyable and chilled time. Goodbye Aussie surf, fish 'n chips & quality vino. And au revoir Auckland too. Still can't believe the first bloody people we run into are from Belfast! Richard and Lydia, see you in Belfast this summer for that pint.
Tomorrow then marks the start of our final leg - South America. Holee Sheet! Chile, Bolivia, Peru, Argentina and Brazil...kicking off on Rapa Nui (3700km west of Chilean coast, and 1900km from the nearest inhabited land mass. Pitcairn Island to be exact geography fans. Cough...remember that recent legal action?)
Before we shoot the crow, I suppose we better explain the post title a little further. Ken you'll enjoy the first part. 'Flaps'? R.I.P.? Eh? Well 'Flaps' is a Sydney graffiti artist. And 'Flaps' is dead. Apparently. Presumably suicide. Couldn't come to terms with having the most bloody ridiculous 'tag' in the history of the 'street'. Maybe. We kid you not the entire train line from Sydney Central out to Newtown is plastered with 'Flaps R.I.P.' Couldn't. Make. It. Up.
And the latter? Well we passed the Dog's Bollix (Groan...Irish pub), after travelling up the Khyber Pass road, here in Auckland. (Seriously, Google map it.) Really. Could. Not. Make. It. Up.
So one thing we won't miss is Australian airport security. Hard to take you chipped-shoulder minimum wage monkeys seriously though when you're surveillance techniques consist of...
...'concealed' roof mics. Fingers crossed those hi-jackers don't look up when they're chatting amongst themselves, eh? (Sydney International airport.) And I'm glad our bag of peanuts didn't make it into your country and, mmm, threaten, mmm, stuff. Enjoy. Cnuts.
*Anzac day. Australian national holiday. Remembrance day (Gallipoli). Legal gambling on the streets ('2up' - heads or tails on steroids), and the Aussies doing what they do best - getting completely mullered!)
So, this is the end, my only friend the end...
Adios, y buena suerte,
S&S
X
PS- My Thai mobile is no longer functional (Steve). Will pick up a new sim card in S.America, in meantime send all spam/smut to Sarah's (+44 (0) 7725 841 399). Cheers.
PPS- Happy Birthday Rufus! Will give you a shout before India comrade.
Posted by rea-neill 06:00 Archived in New Zealand Comments (0)
