Our trip to New Zealand began disastrously when we showed up at the check-in desk at the airport and were told that since we were Indians flying via Australia (we flew Qantas (http://www.qantas.com.au/) - and there was a one hour stopover and change of aircraft at Melbourne airport), we would need a transit visa. Much pleading and cajoling followed but to no avail. We began desperately queuing up at every ticketing desk to see if there were tickets available to anyplace outside Hong Kong including Bali, Bangkok, India (surely we don't require visas to go there), just about anywhere. But this was the Chinese New Year holiday season. At the end of the day, two dejected souls returned back to their apartment, having failed miserably at their very first holiday from Hong Kong.

But Sabs was not going to give in that easily. Early the next day, phone calls were made to Thomas Cook (www.thomascook.com.hk), our travel agents for the holiday, and the blame for "trip" was squarely laid on them. After all, a global agent of their repute should have ensured that our passports had the necessary entry requirements all along the route. A couple of hours later, two seats were miraculously procured in that night's flight, and we hopped, skipped and jumped across to the Australian Consulate (http://www.australia.org.hk/) for the transit visa. Later that night, we were finally on our way to New Zealand hardly believing our own luck!

 TIP: Check all entry restrictions on your passport at all stops along your entire route before embarking on your holiday.

 TIP: Both Australia and New Zealand are very particular about the food stuff you get into their countries. Specially trained sniffer dogs ensure that apart from the usual drugs, narcotics and contraband, you're not carrying any restricted food. They believe that the unique ecosystem of their country may get altered if they allowed the entry of substances that are alien to that region. So, make sure there is no uncut fruit or unbranded processed food that you're carrying with you. Customs in Australia and New Zealand are so serious about this that they even check the soles of your shoes to ensure that you're not carrying inordinate amounts of alien mud and muddy substances too!

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