In flight

Friday 4.00am

Breakfast at 0400 am was a hot omelette or muffin and fruit. I picked the omelette, deciding that protein would help with jet lag. We declined the champagne as we passed across the international dateline.

We flew out of Salt Lake City on Wednesday evening at 5.30pm, arriving in Los Angeles an hour later. I can't remember how many times I packed and repacked my luggage.

We caught a shuttle from terminal 6 to the international terminal. Thankfully the luggage has wheels and we drag stuff off and on the bus, up the elevator into the ticketing area.

We both like window views, so sit behind each other, it works well.

The plane is huge and literally leaps into the air, it's a 747-400 Boeing Jet, very comfortable. Pillow, blanket and headphones are provided, it took me most of the flight to figure out how to use the remote, but three movies and a game of bejewelled, it was time to put the thing away. Movies are free and the selections excellent. Tea and coffee are served whenever you ask, and the staff routinely walk through the cabin every two hours offering iced lemon water. The explanation was that it would help you with jet lag.

Air NewZealand served dinner of beef or chicken somewhere between Los Angeles and Hawaii. You could have glasses of red or white wine with your meal, juice and the proverbial tea or coffee. The best thing is no charge.

My sister Connie meets us at the airport in Auckland, we arrive at 545 am and it takes 15-20 minutes to get through immigration and biohazard checkpoints.
Spent a few hours changing travellers checks and US currency into local money. There are coins for one dollar and two dollars, notes for $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100 dollars.

We are both tired but determined to stay awake until evening and try to sleep at a normal hour. My sister has offered us the use of her car, it's a little freaky. Trying to drive on the left hand side of the road will be interesting. Tomorrow is another day and probably better after a good night's sleep.