Auckland

Arrived in Auckland. Flight in over the coast was spectacular with the evening sun illuminating the mountains and cliffs in high contrast. Checked in to the Ventura Inn near the airport, so I can easily get back to the airport in the morning to meet up with everyone. Hopefully their travels are going well. The trans-Pacific portion of their flight should, I believe, be departing from Los Angeles in just an hour or two. Meanwhile, I'm off to find some to track down some dinner; looked like we went by some curry places on the free shuttle ride to the hotel from the airport.

Third Leg

Arrived a half-hour early in Sydney. Great early morning view of of
the beaches, harbour, and city coming in. Read up on New Zealand
geology during the fourteen-and-a-half hour flight. Tucking in to a
sausage roll and flat white for breakfast.

If the custom line shortens, then I might even step outside the
terminal to enjoy some fresh air. I've got just under fours hours
before the flight to Auckland.

Second Leg

Arrived a bit late at LAX, but still have four hours to kill. Perhaps enough time to visit the iconic Theme Building and grab diner in the Encounter Restaurant, even though it's still a scaffolding-obscured view. Unfortunately the observation deck is still closed, but the sign says it will finally reopen this Fall.

First Leg

The first leg of the trip to Auckland is off to a rocky start. Stuck at Detroit Metro waiting for an inbound aircraft delayed by the weather, but its sunny out now, and with a five hour layover at LAX, I shouldn't be in trouble... yet... At least I found my winter wool sweater, hat, and gloves.

Packing

Just returned from a trip to TAMU -- on the heels of helping GS-440 out with Atlantic City (Wyoming, not New Jersey) -- and now I am busy preparing for the geology field trip to New Zealand and the upcoming AuSakai'09 Conference in Australia. College Station was quite hot and humid, but its winter time in New Zealand, so I'll need to pack a bit differently for this trip! I have to figure out where I put away various winter clothes earlier this year. Not to mention locating my power plug adapters and all that leftover change from last year's trip to the Southern Hemisphere...