the Chomie has landed!
after six days, we finally saw our beloved cat, Chomp-chomp (aka Chomie) again!!
she was due to arrive 2:10pm from singapore via sydney through qantas airways. we arrived very early (1:30pm) to collect her at Air NZ cargo area, and i've also arranged for transportation to bring her to the boarding facility where she'll stay until 28 November.
unfortunately, we weren't informed about a two hour wait before MAF agents can clear the animals. i tried to get in touch with Mr. White's Place (Chomie's temporary accommodation) to let them know about the delay, but no one picked up. so we were there until about 2:10pm when the owner of MWP came to collect Chomie. told him about the situation; joel and i were willing to wait at the airport until they released our cat but owner said he can drive us back home and swing by again to drive us back to the airport since he has something to do in town. so we said yes, we haven't had lunch then and were eager to do our grocery shopping.
when we got in the car, he changed his mind and instead told us he'd give us a tour of the city instead. it was a pleasant drive, we went to victoria outlook (bloody wind!), oriental bay, basin reserve, lambton quay, courtenay place, newtown, etc. it took us about 1 hour to do all these places, he was so friendly and generous to give us a tour of the place and we were happy we chose not to sit it out at the airport.
we went back to the airport around 3:40pm and arrived a minute after 4pm. paid the terminal documentation fee of $33.75 (there goes our pocket money) and isn't finished yet, we still have to pay another bit ($26.00) to MAF for quarantine inspections. MAF people didn't arrive until 5pm, gosh we have been sitting at the office for a good hour before they even arrived. that was frustrating!
anyway, chomie was released as soon the MAF fee was paid, she looked really stressed from flying. was yowling a bit since i think she's in a daze, unsure where she was and what's going to happen with her. but overall she seems fine- doesn't look like she has any illness (touch wood)!
she was peeping out of her carrier all the time and would come up to us for a rub. gosh i miss our cat. and i can't wait to be with her on 28! she's going to stay at MWP and i think she's going to have an awesome time there.
what i like about their facility is they do not have a common area (i'm wary she may pick up something from other cats) and they live like kings/queens there. one more thing is the facility is heated so she wouldn't need to put up with the weather here!
yay, chomie's finally safe and sound in nz! welcome to welly, mamu!
she was due to arrive 2:10pm from singapore via sydney through qantas airways. we arrived very early (1:30pm) to collect her at Air NZ cargo area, and i've also arranged for transportation to bring her to the boarding facility where she'll stay until 28 November.
unfortunately, we weren't informed about a two hour wait before MAF agents can clear the animals. i tried to get in touch with Mr. White's Place (Chomie's temporary accommodation) to let them know about the delay, but no one picked up. so we were there until about 2:10pm when the owner of MWP came to collect Chomie. told him about the situation; joel and i were willing to wait at the airport until they released our cat but owner said he can drive us back home and swing by again to drive us back to the airport since he has something to do in town. so we said yes, we haven't had lunch then and were eager to do our grocery shopping.
when we got in the car, he changed his mind and instead told us he'd give us a tour of the city instead. it was a pleasant drive, we went to victoria outlook (bloody wind!), oriental bay, basin reserve, lambton quay, courtenay place, newtown, etc. it took us about 1 hour to do all these places, he was so friendly and generous to give us a tour of the place and we were happy we chose not to sit it out at the airport.
we went back to the airport around 3:40pm and arrived a minute after 4pm. paid the terminal documentation fee of $33.75 (there goes our pocket money) and isn't finished yet, we still have to pay another bit ($26.00) to MAF for quarantine inspections. MAF people didn't arrive until 5pm, gosh we have been sitting at the office for a good hour before they even arrived. that was frustrating!
anyway, chomie was released as soon the MAF fee was paid, she looked really stressed from flying. was yowling a bit since i think she's in a daze, unsure where she was and what's going to happen with her. but overall she seems fine- doesn't look like she has any illness (touch wood)!
she was peeping out of her carrier all the time and would come up to us for a rub. gosh i miss our cat. and i can't wait to be with her on 28! she's going to stay at MWP and i think she's going to have an awesome time there.
what i like about their facility is they do not have a common area (i'm wary she may pick up something from other cats) and they live like kings/queens there. one more thing is the facility is heated so she wouldn't need to put up with the weather here!
yay, chomie's finally safe and sound in nz! welcome to welly, mamu!