Shanghai Christchurch, with a layover in Auckland. I touched down in Auckland at 5 AM New Zealand time. By 6 AM, I had already breezed through the exit procedures and rechecked my luggage. Everything was surprisingly smooth. If I had known it would be this seamless, I would have booked an 8 AM flight to Christchurch.

Now, I find myself with an extra two hours to kill. Although I’m not particularly hungry, I decided to treat myself to two special bagels (21 NZD each) and will continue to wait patiently, enjoying the local flavors.



