Peter and Xiaoli Tours

China, here I come

All booked Auckland to Shanghai return late August. Still to book the various internal flight as I need go from the bottom to the top. To many meetings China so Singapore and Malaysia now relegated to another trip.

A good feeling to have bookings in place. Over 5 years since I have seen Xiaoli’s family in China so long overdue and I no I will be spoilt rotten once there. Better brush up on my Cantonese. After 5 years of not seeing them they may be in for a little shock.

Business appointments slowly coming together 3 different provinces. Shandong just added which was not on my agenda. But bonus is all fishing equipment is made that province so need allow time to source reels in particular.

Well that has committed me. No more procrastination why I talk about but don’t do. Now its just cement a few more appointments.

Get the China visa and here we come in a bit over a month

www.peterandxiaoli.com

 

 

Why do people send out mixed messages?

 

I have spent recent months marketing Peter and Xiaoli Tours to travel consultants abroad. Mixed reactions which I totally expected. Some just no response and it could indicate contact lists I have sourced through Tourism NZ and other places are not totally up to date. Some say they will keep our details on file which I guess is great but you know probably you may never hear from them again. Then there are those that respond positively that get you excited.

So I have tuned my lists into 3 categories. No response and those I will email again but no hurry. The ones keeping our names on their books, they will receive what I term update emails just to see if maybe we can get them to the next step.

My favourites are the ones that have given an indication with a bit more prodding they may just start working with us. So for 2 months I have taken subtly different angles without being pushy. But 24 hours ago I decided well I need hop on a plane and go see them. 4 particular travel consultants, 3 countries. So I have asked for appointments.

One has responded with a need to talk to her team. Not quite what I expected given previous emails. 3 are yet to respond. There is a 5^th but I know for a fact they will see me as I am already quoting their tours.

It’s the weekend now, so I guess I need wait until Monday, well Tuesday our time. Frustrating as I need lock down travel arrangements which involves more than me as my boss (Xiaoli) will be China and for 2 probable appointments that country I need her to change her itinerary so she and her South African friend Jen can meet up with me. I need a translator. My spoken Mandarin and Cantonese is as good a zilch although I can understand a bit.

Then there is Xiaoli’s family. They will come together from various areas in Guangxi so we can all have a family reunion even though apart from Xiaoli plus a niece we will not be able to understand each other. But 5 years since I have been there. An overdue visit.

So we wait now until Tuesday. Then hopefully we get appointments and make the necessary travel bookings. And I conquer my hatred of long haul flights yet again

 

www.peterandxiaoli.com

Today I bought my wife flowers

 

I know, you are saying how romantic but its exactly the opposite, I am really fuming/angry with her but cant seem to get through to her potential damage she could cause doing actions helping others in what I term dodgy ways.

No benefit for us can come, maybe only a slight chance of harm but why take the risk. Letting someone else use our untainted business name in a way that can never benefit us but can potentially harm us. And this person in the meantime she is helping is robbing people blind. Or at least that’s my take on it.

I know as a reader you are thinking what could be that bad but for me its principal. We are very good smart operators who do everything above board. We do not fleece people on the way through. We are not in China where sometimes shoddy things may happen. We are in New Zealand where I value our reputation and have no intention of tainting it.

It wont happen again and if it does I am sure I wont know about it. But my buying flowers is a gesture of peace. No she is not angry with me, its vice versa. But I need take the mood away so I can talk in a calm peaceful way.

Why is life so awkward. I know for Xiaoli and I even after 9 years the issues stem from us coming from 2 completely different cultures with different ways of doing things.

I am a person that will never go bed with anger in the house. I like calm. So it is me with the anger but Xiaoli causing it so I must pacify it.

I left Auckland over 10 years ago because the stress of being in very big business got to me. I was a wreck but only those that were close to me knew how close I was to derailing. Many years of dealing with clients million dollar budgets and the worry of whether campaigns we were doing were going to work or not. The 12 to 15 hour days of meetings with creative people, with clients, with the media all with their own theory on what was right and wrong with the final decision always resting with me.

Life is short, at 54 I realised that and took early and to most very unexpected retirement from an industry I was very good in. I went fishing in the far north of New Zealand. Mainly off Ninety Mile Beach. Fish I caught I often gave to elderly friends who would then distribute amongst their other elderly friends who couldn’t afford to buy fish. And being the far north I knew the fish would be eaten from head to tail and appreciated.

My time out before starting in tourism with Xiaoli in 2009 I discovered the real me. I had succeeded in big business I realised. I did extensive fund raising over 15 years for a childrens charity. I had played many sports but had never slowed down enough to discover me. Fishing on my own off a beach for a year or so gave me space to think, who am I and what do I really want to do.

First thing I made up my mind about was never again would I go to bed angry, without having vented my thoughts. I wanted to wake up the next day with a smile at the start of the new day.

Hence the flowers for Xiaoli. I don’t want to be angry with her and I don’t want her going to bed thinking I still harbour that anger. Say your piece, move on. Life is to short.

What else did I come up with on the beach as I fished all alone, I wanted to enter tourism. Didn’t know exactly how then but I went home and started working on a business plan. I still have that plan albeit direction changed considerably, and yes I love tourism

 

http://www.peterandxiaoli.com

Who the heck named the far north of New Zealand the winterless north?

 

Today we have not received so far the gale force winds predicted but our farm is in a valley. Maybe our beach property 10 minutes away is suffering the winds though. But we have received hail both yesterday and today. And now we have sun shining and our solar power unit you can hear working its heart out recharging the battieries.

 

Last week we moved our fridge/freezer unit across to the beach property for guests to use and purchased a fridge only unit for the far. We already have a stand alone freezer here so hopefully the new fridge should use a lot less power. So far after 5 days and some gloomy weather the batteries have lasted the night so maybe the change in fridge units has helped.

 

Last night I had the gas heater on 2 bars to warm the lounge why I sat on the computer. Xiaoli disappeared to bed with one of the dogs for company to do her work as she felt under the duvet was warmer.

 

Right now I could not call our area the winterless north. I have no idea what the temperature is but it feels single digits.

 

Its good to hear the snow is falling down south. Once it lets up and roads thaw out again it will make for some beautiful tours down there. The mountains abundant in snow. The trees on the Milford road covered in snow. I love South Island winter tours if you can get great days and yet heavy snow all around. The only part I hate is having to get out in the freezing snow to fit the chains to the vehicle. That is not fun

 

http://www.peterandxiaoli.com

Painted over 20 years ago

 

I looked young once obviously as this painting was painted some 20 years ago by a Mary O’Callaghan. Memory says she lived the Whangarei Heads area but for this portrait I sat stock still for 1.5 hours in a shopping mall in Auckland. I remember vividly all the passers by obviously observing how handsome I was but I think more interested in Marys talent of capturing me.

Those were the days when I was in very senior positions in advertising agencies. Certainly my dream of becoming a tour guide running a small tourism business was not even thought of then as far as I can remember.

The days of 3 piece suits and colourful ties. Memory says I had about 5 ties with different style smiling faces. I was known well for my vast selection of character ties. When I departed Auckland I threw them along with about 5 3 piece suits in a dumpster. Should have kept them, the grandchildren if there are ever are any might have had a good laugh at them.

About 10 years after that painting was done I moved to the very far north of New Zealand to start my foray into tourism. A risk at the time and some very loyal clients were asking me to reconsider but I had made my mind up. Time for a change. Less stress but still a challenge, and I thrive on challenges.

Just had lunch with an ex client today who was visiting the far north on business. Finally he has decided enough of big business and will retire in the not too distant future. Six months older than me so I always refer to him as the old fellow. Over 30 years I handled his advertising business creating television commercials and print advertising. Hugh and I travelled New Zealand a number of times why I spoke to his dealers at conferences. Several times in Australia and even one conference Singapore. Happy not to speak at conferences anymore and try excite and motivate people.

How time fly’s. 20 years since sitting for that painting which now hangs in one of the holiday units at Ninety Mile Beach. How fashions have changed but more importantly for me, how I have changed. Now a laid back attitude to life. No stress that I cant manage and an absolute passion for tourism and doing our tours. I never dreamt I could actually love working.

http://www.peterandxiaoli.com

From tour guide to duck herder

 

For the last few years amongst all the other animals we run on our farm we always had about 100 Pekin ducks. A beautiful white duck. Okay egg layer in season but a good meat eating duck. Downside for us of the Pekin ducks was being white the young seemed to be a good target for the hawks. We have decided without research that hawks must see in black and white as its always the white young hens or ducks they head for first.

 

Now we could shoot the hawks. They are not a native of New Zealand in our region and are very territorial. But I detest guns. I dread the risk of shooting any animal for whatever reason and only injuring it so it suffers. So for me its just better no guns here. I love animals of all kinds but yes I am a meat eater.

 

So we have now sold off our Pekins, well what Xiaoli did not eat over time. I guess I enjoyed a few to. Now we have started building up a flock of Muscovy’s. Up to about 50 now. A much larger duck than the Pekin which come in a variety of colours. Hopefully being larger plus mostly black the hawks will leave them alone. The hawks also not liking the adults.

 

We will still raise the orphaned wild ducklings which fly off once they reach maturity. Its good as spring approaches to see some of last years orphans return getting ready for breeding season. Always wonder how many got shot in shooting season but nothing we can do about that. At least we gave them a chance in life once their mothers were killed one way or another. Guessing this year we will raise about 250 orphaned wild ducklings for Bird Rescue. Not a cheap exercise but gives one a good feeling inside

 

A little issue with one of our male Muscovy’s. One of the other males picks on it so its decided it will be friends with the geese

 

http://www.peterandxiaoli.com

Another tour over

 

A VIP tour guest on this occasion. A wealthy lady from China here for a quick trip plus wanted business discussions as it happened with us. That we did not know before she arrived but I believe she needed check us out first. I guess we must have passed the test.

 

No English spoken on tour but fortunately Xiaoli was free to travel or it would have been interesting. My understanding of Mandarin is definitely on the improve but Cantonese still easier for me. I refuse to talk either as one word can have a number of meanings depending on how its said. Safer I stick with English.

 

The tour van needs a good clean. Metal roads aplenty yesterday and terrible weather. The sun is up this morning so I guess cleaning will be on the agenda. Just need solar power batteries on the house to charge a little more before I run the pump continuous for cleaning. The joys of living on solar power is learning to pick your time when you run things that utilise power.

 

50 hens added to our flock earlier this week plus another 13 Muscovy ducks. Eggs aplenty so not sure what Xiaoli is proposing to do with our multitude of eggs. Our own chooks had stopped laying as it was change of season so we went from minimal eggs to over supply. I guess knowing Xiaoli eggs will be salted ready for eating later. Still cant after many years get an enjoyment out of eating salted eggs. It must just be my kiwi palate

http://www.peterandxiaoli.com

The ultimate New Zealand 4wd tour!

 

A strong statement but since they are one of our tours on offer from Peter and Xiaoli Tours I am allowed to say it. One of only 2 licensed to do the 4wd tours up Ninety Mile Beach and Te Paki Stream to Cape Reinga.

 

A beautiful winters day today. With weather and tide favourable first stop was for some Tua Tuas up the beach. Just enough taken for a feed. No need take more than you are going to eat.

 

Next stop was a quick photography stop at the bluff then on to photograph the hole in the rock.

 

No need for sand boards or toboggins today in the sand dunes as our customers deemed themselves too old. Interesting statement. I am older but still do it if the guests egg me on enough.

 

Xiaoli did take one up to the top of the dunes for photography. From there on to Tapotupotu Bay for a bite to eat before heading to the lighthouse.

 

The meeting of the oceans was quite spectacular to day and the Three Kings Island quite clear in the far distance.

 

Tomorrow we return our customer to Auckland Airport for their return to China. I am told they will be back. Absolutely loved the far north.

http://www.peterandxiaoli.com

Summer tour season booking up!

 

All the hard work this winter doing marketing it seems maybe starting to pay off.

 

Today I was out driving a lovely Chinese guest around to look at New Zealand farms. The weather wasn’t that inviting but she is only here for a few days before flying home so I just made sure we all went with jackets and gumboots. Saw a lovely rainbow. A full rainbow and if you look closely at one of the photos there was a second full rainbow but very faint. We see rainbows a lot this time of year but maybe today although we didn’t find the pot of gold at the end, maybe we did strike gold in our own way. A 20 day tour booking all confirmed just subject to me saying a final yes. And even more important a second tour quote for an overseas travel agent that I had targeted through winter.

 

For me, I struck gold. 1 tour I need confirm if I will do and the second a potential tour for which the agent to work with me needed change the start and end date slightly but to that she agreed. With quotes, final decision is always with the client but for me my marketing aggressively through winter appears to be paying dividends.

 

So a good day. Our client we are currently running around is happy. I bought 50 hens for Xiaoli to add to her flock at the farm so she is happy. And I am happy as my marketing expertise maybe rusty but rewards are coming.

http://www.peterandxiaoli.com

Will the All Blacks win tonight? Will I win lotto tonight?

 

The All Blacks winning or losing doesn’t affect my day to day life but yes my heart will be broken if the Lions manage to beat them. But some would argue its good if they did because that would make the third test a real nail biter to see who wins the series.

 

I read the articles. Some you wonder why journalists write them but I guess they are looking for anything that makes people read what they write.

 

Truth is the Lions are not bad players individually or for their respective four countries but they are asked to come together for a relatively short period and suddenly put their individual magic together on a rugby field. Maybe tonight they will. Soon we will find out.

 

Now lotto, that would affect my life dramatically. How would I react if I won lotto, I have no idea. Obviously I would be over the moon. Right now I would say I would continue to build Peter and Xiaoli Tours and not let it affect me. Yeah right!

 

Life would change. We are not poor now but far from wealthy. I have a 5 metre boat now I maintain I love. With $8 million at my disposal am I really just going to stay with my 5 metre boat which I supposedly love when my passion is fishing. I don’t think so.

 

You cant plan for winning $8 million because except for a very few, most of us wont even come close.

 

Maybe tonight is my night

 

http://www.peterandxiaoli.com