The Motherland & Beyond

May - June 2023

I off to see Serena in Finland and then off to the Motherland. Read more

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Traveler The Motherland & Beyond
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- May 16, 2023, 8:05pm
- 🌙 9 °C
- Altitude: 70 m
- New Zealand Wellington Wellington City Tawa Flat Marshall -41.177309, 174.81486141°10’38” S 174°48’53” E
The packing
May 16, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌙 9 °C
Lucky for me my daughter and my brother-in-law reminded me of the extras I need to take to the Motherland. I thought I should take beads and blankets to trade with the locals (new Free trade Agreement with UK & NZ), but no, it's Whittakers chocolates and maybe L&PRead more
Traveler Hope the L&P doesn't explode in your suitcase.
5/16/23Reply
Traveler Haha, just a prop!
5/17/23Reply
Traveler I like the map tracker. So far you've made it to the letterbox.
5/17/23Reply
Traveler 😆
5/17/23Reply
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Traveler The Motherland & Beyond
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- May 16, 2023, 8:59pm
- 🌙 9 °C
- Altitude: 70 m
- New Zealand Wellington Wellington City Tawa Flat Marshall -41.177319, 174.8145941°10’38” S 174°48’53” E
Packing has started
May 16, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌙 9 °C
I'm traveling light this trip, can't fit everything in my bag as I have to take "Mr Boofle" on this trip.
Traveler I was going to say you'd forgotten the Jaffas and the L&P
5/16/23Reply
Traveler 😆 Serena has just reminded me of the Jaffas
5/16/23Reply
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Traveler The Motherland & Beyond
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- May 18, 2023, 6:25pm
- ☁️ 12 °C
- Altitude: 104 m
- New Zealand Wellington Wellington City Tawa Flat -41.160538, 174.82254541°9’38” S 174°49’21” E
Day 1
Last drinks with Gavin
May 18, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C
At my friends, Gavin & Glenys for a farewell meal and drink.
Up at 3am tomorrow to get to the airport, grrrr!
All packed, and at weight limit mainly because of all the Pineapple lumps and Whiitaters chocolate.Read more
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Traveler The Motherland & Beyond
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- May 19, 2023, 4:23am
- ☁️ 10 °C
- Altitude: 12 m
- New Zealand Wellington Wellington City Rongotai Wellington International Airport -41.328703, 174.81128441°19’43” S 174°48’41” E
Day 2
At the Airport in Wellywood.
May 19, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C
I'm at the airport thanks to my good friend Geoff Mills who delivered me in style in a Kia EV6, cool as!
Just about to go through Customs / Securitycontrol - oh no, there's a person with a big rubber glove, should I be worried?Read more
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Traveler The Motherland & Beyond
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- May 19, 2023, 10:37am
- ☀️ 16 °C
- Altitude: 7 m
- Australia New South Wales Marrickville Tempe Alexandra Canal -33.938174, 151.16699933°56’17” S 151°10’1” E
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Day 2
Australia stopover
May 19, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C
I've arrived in Sydney, "Ostrailya" ( that's how the locals pronounce it) and as I'm here for 6 hrs, I booked myself into a private lounge just to sleep and get away from the noise of the main airport.
Nice lounge and great food. By the way, the AirNZ flight over left a bit to be desired, tiny seats! And cleaniess???
Having a light lunch at Sydney after a shower and a relaxing read.
The weather in Sydney today is a sparkler!Read more
Traveler Hope you had a good flight so far
5/18/23Reply
Traveler Oh just read your comment about cleanliness 😳
5/18/23Reply
🤣😘 [Sx]
5/27/23Reply
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Traveler The Motherland & Beyond
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- May 19, 2023, 12:21pm
- ☀️ 17 °C
- Altitude: 10 m
- Australia New South Wales Marrickville Tempe Alexandra Canal -33.938063, 151.16602333°56’17” S 151°9’58” E
Day 2
Mr Boofle joins Graeme on his trip
May 19, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C
Just by chance, my best mate, Mr Boofle happened to be on the same flights and airport lounge. He accompanied me in 2013 to the Motherland.
Traveler Hope Mr Boofle is up to date with all his jabs and paperwork
5/19/23Reply
Traveler Of course, he had it in his bread and jam sandwich 😆
5/19/23Reply
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Traveler The Motherland & Beyond
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- May 19, 2023, 1:58pm
- ☀️ 18 °C
- Altitude: 11 m
- Australia New South Wales Marrickville Tempe Alexandra Canal -33.938539, 151.16561933°56’19” S 151°9’56” E
Day 2
London bound in 1 hour
May 19, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C
Mr Boofle and I will be on this jet from Sydney to London. I hope the seats are big enough or I might have to sit on Mr Boofles knee.

Looks like the mechanic left his tool kit behind.

The British Airways flight is full and Economy class puts a new meaning on packed like sardines. Food is good as is the Service and cleanliness. Seats are narrow and not comfortable and I have another 13 hrs of this.Read more
Traveler You’ll have to put Boofle on a diet😀
5/19/23Reply
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Traveler The Motherland & Beyond
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- May 20, 2023, 1:15pm
- ⛅ 19 °C
- Altitude: 22 m
- England Hillingdon Heathrow Heathrow Terminal 3 51.4724, -0.461951°28’21” N 0°27’43” W
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Day 3
Arrived in Helsinki
May 20, 2023 in England ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C
I've arrived and what a nice flight on FinnAir. If the air hostesses are an example of Finnish women ( blonde, tanned, gorgeous), I'm in for a treat! But the biggest treat of all was Serena waiting for me at the airport, what a joy it is to have such a loving daughter. Serena arrived with a NZ flag, groceries and all, for my BnB.
Helsinki,on first impressions, reminds me of Auckland, lots of volcanic rock, big areas of housing and a large rail station downtown. Today it's very warm, probably 20+c and the bluest of skies.
My accommodation is also an impression of NZ. Built in 1936 in the art deco fashion and looks very similiar to my nephews and his partners (Matt & Rose) place in Upper Willis St. In fact I could swear it was the same architectural design inside in particular. It has the quaintess old lift. The owner, Pekka, came and met me and Serena, a older Finn and very hospitable.
Serena has now left me to rest while she parties and then tomorrow, it's all go.Read more
Traveler 👍
5/20/23Reply
Traveler You’ll be needing some resilience alright!
5/20/23Reply
Traveler 👍
5/20/23Reply
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Traveler The Motherland & Beyond
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- May 21, 2023, 5:29pm
- ☁️ 19 °C
- Altitude: 27 m
- Finland Newland Region Helsinki Töölö Hesperia Park 60.178381, 24.92446960°10’42” N 24°55’28” E
Day 4
Helsinki and the countryside
May 21, 2023 in Finland ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C
After sleeping 14hrs straight, I woke at 6.30am to a brilliant day. I had a wonderful breakfast ( supplied by Serena) and decided to go for wander around the neighbourhood. Many of the buildings in my area of Helsinki, Toolo, are built around the 1930's in the "Art Deco" form. Mostly apartment buildings and an upmarket area. I took time to walk around the local lake taking in the views. I then called into a local Cafe to sample delicious pastries and had a coffee. Sadly Finland is not known for its coffee compared with NZ.
Serena came by the apartment at 9.30 and we planned the day starting with a walk to the seaside and partaking in a hot chocolate each, now Finland is known for its hot chocolates, yummy! After a walk around the seaside and a local park, we went to the train station to get a train to Espoo, then on a bus to meet some real live fair dinkum reindeer. That was a highlight as the reindeer park was magic. At the park, Serena and fed the reindeer lichen and then we went into a traditional Finnish tent (like a Yurt) with an open fire and drank tea and ate a traditional pastry.
I bought a traditional drinking mug made of wood by the native Yasami people. This is the tribal people of Scandinavia that used to herd reindeer across the top of Sweden, Norway, and Finland.
The day was full on with a walk around the lake to going out to the countryside to feed and watch real reindeer (in training for Christmas 2023).Read more
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Traveler The Motherland & Beyond
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- May 21, 2023
- ☁️ 19 °C
- Altitude: 27 m
- Finland Newland Region Helsinki Töölö Hesperia Park 60.178397, 24.92442660°10’42” N 24°55’28” E
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Day 4
Finnish Buildings
May 21, 2023 in Finland ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C
Attached are photos of my apartment and local Toolo buildings.
Traveler It's interesting to see similar products in different packaging.
5/21/23Reply
Traveler Very empty looking streets. Opposite of Oxford Street London.
5/21/23Reply
Traveler Hope Mr Boofie isn't cramping your style.
5/22/23Reply
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