I'm giving blogging a go. Post #4 - A little bit posh

[Kristin5]

Thanks for the compliment. I've been so rushed off my feet at work lately, I haven't had any time to add to anything to my blog. But it's nice to hear that it's still being read.

I love my camera. It's a Panasonic FZ100 (predecessor to the current FZ200). I've often thought of upgrading to a DSLR, but am actually pretty content having a point and shoot that is easy to use and takes great photos in automatic mode. It's the third Panasonic FZ camera I've owned (I like to upgrade every 2-3 years) and I can't quite bring myself to try a different brand.

However, in saying that, a few of the pics of the Fiji blog were taken with my Sony TX10 - a small waterproof camera I bought for swimming and snorkeling.

I also have the Panasonic FZ100 and love it! It is fantastic for daylight photos. However, I have recently been reading one of PIO's TR and seen her photos of fireworks - my camera can't get shots like that (or can it? Is it me who is the problem and not my camera?) Makes me think maybe I need a DSLR, but then I don't think I can be bothered (or have the knowledge) to use all the different settings and change lenses. That's why the fz100 is a great all-rounder (except for damn fireworks!)

 

[WanderlustNZ]

I also have the Panasonic FZ100 and love it! It is fantastic for daylight photos. However, I have recently been reading one of PIO's TR and seen her photos of fireworks - my camera can't get shots like that (or can it? Is it me who is the problem and not my camera?) Makes me think maybe I need a DSLR, but then I don't think I can be bothered (or have the knowledge) to use all the different settings and change lenses. That's why the fz100 is a great all-rounder (except for damn fireworks!)

Interesting you say this as this is the main weakness I've also found with Panasonics. Outdoor, daytime photos come out amazing, but nighttime or artificial lighting pics - not so much.
I went to a short beginners photography course and brought this up with the instructors. They showed me how to adjust the speed and white balance and for a while I was taking some pretty good night shots. But then I discovered that my little sony actually takes some reasonable night shots using automatic mode and I became lazy and started using that instead. I've since forgotten how to change the manual settings on the Panasonic.

So, in short, yes it is possible to get some reasonable night shots on the panasonic, but not with automatic mode. And I'm still not convinced that it's one of the cameras strengths. I think there are other brands out there (including DSLRs) that do it better.

 

[WanderlustNZ]

Another post for those who are interested

http://3batteredsuitcases.blogspot.co.nz/2013/03/a-little-bit-posh.html

 

[Sugarglider]

kind of fun to see how the others holiday! Nicely done

 

[PrincessInOz]

Great update. Love the pictures.

 

[aussietravellers]

Fabulous blog! Really love the photography too!

 

[WanderlustNZ]

Thanks everyone. It's nice to know my blog is actually being read and enjoyed

 

[WanderlustNZ]

kind of fun to see how the others holiday! Nicely done

You're right - it is nice to see how the other half live.
To be honest though, even if I won the lottery, I don't think I could ever fully understand the want to pay that much for a hotel room. Unless perhaps it was somewhere insanely exclusive such as Laucala Island in Fiji.

 

[Franrose]

Sigh; very nice to see how the other half live!!! I wonder who else has enjoyed that room before you??

As for airline upgrades, shesh they're hard to get when you travel with kids, lol!

 

[WanderlustNZ]

Sigh; very nice to see how the other half live!!! I wonder who else has enjoyed that room before you??

As for airline upgrades, shesh they're hard to get when you travel with kids, lol!

I did wonder if any celebs had been in the room before us. My DH seemed to think that Justin Bieber stayed at the Langham recently and may have had the room, but I was hoping for someone a bit more interesting than this.

Also, agreed about getting airline upgrades with kids. We've only ever received them when traveling childless.

 

[Aussie Wendy]

Love the latest blog and the sentiments-think we'd feel a bit like you. In fact, think I'd feel awkward when we arrived-like I should tip three times as much or something. You obviously can't quite erase London working class origins out of this girl!

 

[WanderlustNZ]

Love the latest blog and the sentiments-think we'd feel a bit like you. In fact, think I'd feel awkward when we arrived-like I should tip three times as much or something. You obviously can't quite erase London working class origins out of this girl!

Thanks Aussie Wendy. The whole tipping thing is why we kept the 'Do Not Disturb' sign on the door the whole time. I'm not a fan of tipping in NZ, so I thought I'd just try and avoid the whole situation altogether. We had the concierge show us to our room and I felt really bad afterwards because I didn't tip her and are still not sure whether I was supposed to.
You obviously can't erase the working class origins out of this girl either

 

[Franrose]

I did wonder if any celebs had been in the room before us. My DH seemed to think that Justin Bieber stayed at the Langham recently and may have had the room, but I was hoping for someone a bit more interesting than this.

 

[Minniemum]

What a lovely surprise! I'm not sure I'd like it on a regular basis as I think I'm too practical. It's great you got the opportunity though!

 

[craxyfox]

sounds like you had a wonderful anniversary very posh indeed! I really hope the likes of Justin beiber wouldn't have such taste

I feel like I'm the same when receiving a great surprise,my mind doesn't fully register it until later on (when I jump up and down) and I feel silly for not being as enthusiastic when I first hear the news

With airline flight upgrades, what steps do you take to increase your chances?

 

[WanderlustNZ]

sounds like you had a wonderful anniversary very posh indeed! I really hope the likes of Justin beiber wouldn't have such taste

I feel like I'm the same when receiving a great surprise,my mind doesn't fully register it until later on (when I jump up and down) and I feel silly for not being as enthusiastic when I first hear the news

With airline flight upgrades, what steps do you take to increase your chances?

I felt quite bad for the guy on the phone. He kept repeating that we were getting the Royal Suite as I think he was expecting a bit more of an excited response.

As for airline upgrades, it generally depends on a mixture of circumstances. Things that help are:

- Not traveling with kids
- Flying on heavily booked flights where extra seats are needed in economy (All of my upgrades have been on child-free trips during the busy school holiday flights).
- Dressing tidily. I was once traveling as a group of four adults where we were told we'd get upgraded if one of my traveling party had something tidier to wear. Thankfully he did.
- Having frequent flyer miles.
- Booking in demand seats (e.g. Bulkhead bassinette seats) which may be needed by other customers.
- Booking seats that have an empty seat next to you. Air NZ is one airline that has this option (e.g. Works Deluxe). If the plane is full, these empty seats are suddenly in high demand. I theorised on my last school holiday flight that Works Deluxe seats would give my DH and I the best chance of an upgrade. If the flight was full, the airline would only have to bump up two people to get three empty seats. The flight was packed and my theory worked.

Obviously there are no guarantees, and the chances of an upgrade are slim at best. But if there are ways of increasing your odds, why not give them a go.

 

[craxyfox]

Thanks for those tips! You're so lucky to have gotten upgrades, I keep hoping one day I'll get a taste of it, and then I remembered that for the past 18 years I've been travelling with my family so an upgrade would never look my way

I'll keep that last point in mind, I normally like to book next to an empty seat anyway for the extra room Always worth a try!

 

[WanderlustNZ]

Thanks for those tips! You're so lucky to have gotten upgrades, I keep hoping one day I'll get a taste of it, and then I remembered that for the past 18 years I've been travelling with my family so an upgrade would never look my way

I'll keep that last point in mind, I normally like to book next to an empty seat anyway for the extra room Always worth a try!

For Works Deluxe you actually pay for that empty seat. It wasn't too much extra (i.e. about $80 per person) and along with the empty seat, it got us preferential check-in and boarding, extra luggage and a few other things I can't remember. That seat belonged to us and couldn't be filled unless they upgraded us.

But in principal, if you happen to be sitting next to the only free seat on the plane (paid or not), you probably do have a slightly higher chance of an upgrade. If a family of three book late, moving the adults who are booked next to the empty will usually be more preferential to the airline than upgrading the family of 3.