Day 2 - Saturday 6th January 2024

Well, it happened as predicted. Wide awake at 1:30 local time in Los Angeles, and at 2:30 I resigned myself to the fact that I wasn't going to get any more sleep, so got up and got on with the main task of getting my first Vlog started; the plan is that I'll try to consistently load the vlog on the same day each week (yet to be decided but initial thoughts are Sundays). Not much video footage yet, but that changes from today.

Away from the hotel on the courtesy bus at 7:15 to check in for my 10:50 flight; a bit of a queue, a payment for the overweight baggage, and through TSA (as they call security here) and to gate 30 good and early.

All aboard this more than half empty plane (in the cheap seats anyhow), and pushed back spot on time for the 8 hour 45 minute flight down to Tahiti in the southern hemisphere; it's the first time I've been south of the equator since the year started with a number one! The flight was a bit bumpy to start with; the seatbelt signs stayed on for a good hour after take off, but then settled down. 

I definitely lost a couple of hours in the flight, and as a result it seemed to pass really quickly; before I knew it we were starting to fly past the odd atoll and descending into Papeete in Tahiti.

Through immigration and reclaim quickly, a quick stop at a cash machine for some currency, and then a taxi to the Royal Tahitien hotel, which is where you find me now at 19:18 local time; the time at the bottom right of my screen reminds me that it's 05:18 tomorrow back home.

It was dusk as I arrived, so I've not had a chance to explore just yet (just a chance to cool down in the pool) but suspect I'll be out with the cameras at dawn in the morning. The sun rises at 05:30, and I suspect that I'll be well awake by then.