I spent my last four days in New Zealand in lovely, relaxing Christchurch. I usually don't fall for small, cute cities but Chch won me over with good music and excellent people.

We saw the Moeraki rocks on the way to Christchurch View image.

Within 2 hours of arriving I attended a free jazz concert--disguised as a religious service--at the cathedral. It involved 50 minutes of music and about ten minutes of very un-catholic 'worship-how-you-want' ceremony that usually involved me praying for a piano solo in the next tune. Religion I could get into.

The next night I attended a chamber music gig by Hungarian piano virtuoso Peter Nagy at Chch's impressive Arts Centre View image. A fabulous room, grand piano, Liszt, Shubert, Brahms...it was all good. The staff at the Arts Centre even let me use a practice room the next day. It's important to remind myself that I will never come close to being as good as Mr. Nagy. That night Monique (Dutch friend from the bus tour) and I had beers at a cafe that had a decent jazz trio. Three notable nights of music.

It felt good to be liberated from the Stray bus, enjoying a new city, getting ready to leave NZ. The downside was bidding adieu to several new friends who I'm sure to keep in touch with and visit in the future. Chch's botanical gardens, shops, cafes, bars occupied the rest of my time before leaving for Bangkok March 4, exactly one month after landing in Auckland.