Pavlova and barbeques, hokey pokey ice cream and long blacks: we've abandoned the cold and damp of an Irish December for Christmas in New Zealand! The Husband, Little Missy and I left Cork last Saturday and eventually arrived in Nelson on Tuesday. This way LM gets to spend her first Christmas with her Kiwi family and we all get to enjoy some proper summer weather (we are, however, hoping to bring the sunshine home with us...)
This time we travelled with Malaysia Airlines, who, we discovered, are brilliant at dealing with children, overnighting in Kuala Lumpur on the way. Travelling with an eight-month-old baby is a little more challenging than travelling solo, to say the least, but at least we're two to deal with one, rather than the other way round. It would have been quite useful if the one out of the two doing the packing had managed to travel a little lighter but small baby = many nappies, changes of clothes, sleeping bags, small toys and books for distraction - and that's just the carry on luggage.
One of the other advantages of coming over with Malaysia Airlines is the food. Take the Malaysian offering for meals and you won't go far wrong, with dishes like nasi lemak and beef rendang on offer. LM didn't fare as well in the dining department, both flights having only two basic Heinz baby foods but I was able to bring a good amount of food, both homemade and jarred, through security in Cork, Heathrow and KL airports without any problem.
Little Missy was great on the plane from Ireland but I wouldn't like to have been the hapless inhabitants of the room next door during that night in KL as she disregarded the eight hours time difference and stuck resolutely to her normal sleep time, which turned out to be 4.30am in Malaysia! Still, it was worth it for the break from travelling, not to mention the mugs of teh tarik, trays of roti telur and, one of my all time favourites, spicy laksa johor that we got a chance to devour while there.
Now, with Christmas almost upon us and a family wedding fast approaching, we're planted here for most of the next month. Plenty of time to soak up the sunshine, enjoy vineyard and brewpub visits, savour the fantastic food both at home - the Husband's mother is a fantastic cook - and around Nelson, and introduce LM to all her family in the southern hemisphere. Merry Christmas to all!
Oh wow.. I am so jealous! Firstly of the fact that you are in New Zealand for the holidays but also because I can't remember the last time I had teh tarik and genuine nasi lemak! :( Malaysia Airlines are amazing with kids, my Mum will attest to that, after bringing each of the 4 of us on long-haul flights with them as babies! Have a wonderful Christmas! xxx
What a trip - it sounds fantastic! Hope you and all the family have a lovely Christmas, and Happy New Year.
Glad you got there safely, enjoy it all, as I have no doubt you will!
long blacks? is this some traditional kiwi food we haven't eaten yet?t
Did those stewards on Malaysia Airlines take you off for a wander around the plane, Siobhan? Little Missy disappeared off with one and had a great time looking about the place on one of the legs of the trip. Hope I'll be able to pack more baby food on the way back. There was no problem at security coming over but, I can imagine, the way back will be more difficult after that man was caught trying to blow up the plane in America.
Thanks Lucy and Spud - we're having a ball here! Really enjoying having a bit of summer weather.
A long black is the Kiwi style of coffee that I most like - double espresso, over hot water. Very strong and with a good crema. After cycling through all the different NZ coffee offerings (short black - not enough coffee; flat white, latte, cappuccino - too milky) now it's always a long black, milk on the side!