Croatia...France...England

Croatia
I am probably not going to get the photos or video up from Croatia until I get back to the states. I am trying to maximize my time the next few days here in France, which is beautiful.



France
It is exactly what you might expect. Sunflowers, vineyards, hot sun are plentiful. I think I am going to like it here.




England
I am only doing business in London, visiting a few friends and going to a party, so I doubt there will be much to report.



I can't believe the trip is almost over, it has been the best! Stay Tuned!

Republic of Egypt

Observations
- Immigration is not that straight forward, you have to purchase a visa on arrival, but there are no signs to do so, it is at a money exchange desk
- People, especially women were constantly arguing with the Immigration Officers, and quite loudly
- I am staying the leafy suburb of Maadi, which is every nice
- Cairo is more of a desert than I expected. It is very rocky, which makes it quite interesting
- Egyptians keep Cairo very clean
- Egyptians seem to be very curious, and often ask questions about your origins


Around the City
Being in Egypt has been fantastic! When I arrived, my friend Kahled had organized a taxi pickup for me at the airport. After being in transit for many hours, it was so nice not to have to organize any transportation. I was staying at a friend of a friend’s home, the Besch’s. They have been living in Egypt for about three years as US government workers. Fortunately for me, they have a very large, air-conditioned apartment in the leafy Cairo suburb of Maadi. The family was off to the beach for the long US holiday weekend, so I spent most of the time alone in their home. My first evening, I was very tired, because of the lack of sleep, so it was a nice steak dinner and then off to bed.

The next day I explored Maadi and the nearby Nile River. During the evening I met up with my friend Kahled to explore the downtown area as well as the XXXXXXX Bazaar. There were heaps of shops selling about everything in this outdoor mall. I even saw one many try to sell us a hairbrush, as we both have a significant amount of hair on our head. It was busy, yet manageable and I enjoyed walking through the city.

Giza and Egyptian Museum
One of the main reasons I wanted to come to Egypt is the Sphinx and Pyramids. I met Kahled very early on Friday morning to beat the heat and delayed crowds (Friday is a holy day for Muslims). The pyramids and Sphinx do not disappoint! They are large, worn, and quite special. I was also amazed by how close they are to the city; they are close to the central part of Cairo, and very easy to get to. As the morning became midday there were busloads of tourists coming into the general area. There are constant inquiries from horse and camel owners for pictures or rides on the animals. There are small children and adults that offer momentous for purchase. There are plenty of Egyptians willing to take your photo or give you a tour of the area, for a price of course. It really is a very special place, I am so happy I went!

I am often skeptical of a museum. I have been to many around the world, but the Egyptian Museum is known to be one of the BEST! It was very good as well. For me, it was most interesting to see artifacts from as early as 3000 BC, much further in the past than I can comprehend. I also, don’t believe I have ever seen such old things. There are two pieces that stand out for me. First, the mummy exhibits are both interesting and expansive. When I was walking the halls of the museum, there were hundreds of these wrapped up ancient people. There are small children, women, men, and even a few of the royal families. The artwork and skill to mummify someone is very interesting and special. Parts of the exhibit were the tombs constructed when these people passed away. Some are huge, with plenty of room for the other things that are buried upon death. The second most interesting item was the exhibit about King Tutankhamun. He was only 19 when he died, but has become a very popular ruler since his tomb was discovered in the 1920’s. I have seen pictures of the various coffins used (there were at least 3), and of course the very famous mask was on display. King Tutankhamun was not there, as he remains buried in Luxor, at least according to the information from the museum.


Mosques/Islamic Cairo
The plan on Saturday was to go to the various mosques and Islamic Cairo on my last full day in the country, but those plans were sidetracked. I woke up on Saturday and was vomiting. I must have had something that didn’t like me. So I spent the day resting, doing laundry, and watching old episodes of The Cosby Show. I was disappointed that I couldn’t see those parts of the city, but I had to keep my strength for the rest of the trip. The good news is that I was feeling much better on Saturday night before my early Sunday morning flight to Croatia.

Thank You
First, I want to give a big THANK You to the Besch family for letting me crash their house, use the washer and dryer, eat and drink food and beverages, and providing excellent hospitality. Second, Kahled, for everything you did for me. The SIM card, airport pickup, bargaining, and friendship. I appreciate it so much.

I am planning to be back in Egypt, there is so much more to see, it is amazing.

There are only a few photos and a short video from Egypt. I forgot the camera one day, had it on the second day (but the museum restricts video/photo), and was sick my last full day. I did get Giza and the Sphinx, as they are the most important to me!

I HAVE Flown on this Plane

An investigation is underway after a propeller broke free and struck the fuselage of a plane flying from Great Barrier Island to Auckland.

Eleven people were on board the flight on Sunday.

Chief Inspector with the Transport Accident Investigation Commission, Tim Burfoot, says the three engined Islander aircraft turned back and landed safely.

He says it is too soon to say how much danger the plane's passengers were in as it depends on the nature of the damage.

An accident investigator has been on Great Barrier all day inspecting the aircraft and looking for the propeller.

FULL STORY and PICTURE

Air New Zealand

I saw the advertisments using body paint on the workers of Air New Zealand, well they have gone a bit further and started doing the safety videos with only body paint. It is SO funny!

India

I was overwhelmed in my first hours on the India Sub-continent. It was hotter than I expected, it was busy, it was polluted, it was loud, and it was dirty. I couldn’t find anything and was constantly being haggled and scammed. After I got over the bad things there is something very romantic about the country. Families and groups are very important in the country. Families are big and loud and very involved in each other’s lives. While, there is separation between men and women, friends seem to be closer than others I have encountered. You often see men embracing, hugging, touching, and holding hands as friends. There is no sense of boundaries, which make Indians very intimate with each other and visitors. When I was standing in line for a drink, there were people coming up next to me. When I was standing in another line for train tickets people gathered on both sides of me as I tried to work to try and get out of Delhi. It was very difficult being a solo traveler in India; I think being alone made me more of a target by Indians trying to make a few rupees. I hope of future respective on India I will be reminded of the amazing things I did see, such as the Taj Mahal and Monkey Palace. I hope to learn to accept the scams, lack of personal space, heat, and pollution.


India Quick Observations
- I have seen one dead cow, that has been dead for a while on the side of the road
- In the alleyway to my hotel, there was a small child on a small horse
- More than one armless beggar came up to the van window on the taxi ride from the airport to the hotel
- It is really hot, much like Phoenix in the summer, with more pollution
- I had about 27 near death experiences in the van from the airport to the hotel
- There are stunning gardens throughout the city, and Hindu temples for that matter
- There have been about 16,000 inquiries for money
- There are some fantastic colors in clothing, plants, and people
- One of the amenities of the hotel is a non-working television
- Everything is run on commission. A man stopped the catering people on the train for me and was paid 5 rupee in front of me.
- The old women beggars are very persistent about getting money out of you; they even do it on the train.
- If you take out your camera out, people will want you to take their picture, over and over again
- Agra has tons of cows walking the streets, they look much healthier than the cows in Delhi
- It is VERY common to see men holding hands in public, especially amongst younger men. It is not a sign of homosexuality, but rather a sign of affection between friends or family. Women and men rarely show public displays of affection between each other
- I saw many camels walking down roads in Agra and Jaipur
- It is frustrating when you don’t ask for a service, such as a tour guide. They follow you around a monument telling you interesting nuggets of information and expect to be paid. It is more frustrating when they ask for more rupees.

Facts about India
- Cows are sacred, they milk them but they are not eaten in any circumstances even at McDonalds
- There are 1.1 billion people in the country, second most behind China. India will pass in population in a couple of decades
- They use the Rupee. There are currently around 47 India Rupees for each US dollar
- There are more “love marriages” occurring in India, while arranged Hindu marriages are still most common
- There were about 6800 dowry related deaths last year, usually the husbands family kills the woman, rather than suicide by the woman (there are reports the number is much higher than 6800)
- Homosexuality amongst men is highly illegal and carries fines and imprisonment, however there are no laws against homosexuality amongst women.
- The formal caste system, although weakened by prosperity, is still in affect in society. There are five castes: Priests and teachers, Warriors, Merchants, Laborers and Untouchables.
- I saw several monkeys in Agra and Jaipur hanging out on buildings and power lines.

Delhi
Delhi is busy, polluted, busy, busy, and busier. But, with 14 million people it shouldn’t be slow. There are thousands of touts asking for your money and even more green and yellow auto-rickshaws dotting every road. There are confusing bazaars that create mazes, making even the simplest streets unmanageable. There are constant, I mean constant people asking to take you on a tour, show you a site, introducing themselves, asking you where you are from, and welcoming you to India.

Delhi, and India for that matter are very confusing. When I was attempting to organize a train to Agra, I was mis-informed by a man claiming to work for the train company. He was scamming me, and I knew it from the start when he said there was a national holiday the next day and I had to go to the “Ministry of Tourism” to book a train ticket. When I got there they said all trains were booked from Delhi to Agra, while only looking up one of the trains, when there are train nearly every hour on that route. Then they gave a pitch for one of their tours, a total hoax, and I left as quickly as possible. I thought to go check out the buses and went to what I thought was the main bus station. After an enquiry, the long-range buses run from another bus station. When I went there it was completely disorganized, and no quality information was given to me. In fact, the long-range bus stop was in a very bad area, which I felt unsafe. I finally got back to the hotel, after getting lost again, and went to use the very slow, but free internet service. I wasn’t able to figure out the train company online system, it was more confusing that then train station. The man running the system showed me how to get to the legitimate train booking station, which was closed by this time of the day and which trains to try and get on.

When I woke up the next morning I headed down to the proper spot, and he was completely right about where the foreigner booking station was. I wanted to get on one train, which wasn’t able to be booked from the station, and went down to a booth where I found the train to be fully booked. I went back up to the foreigner booking station and booked another train later in the afternoon. I was feeling much better and got on the train, the very hot and crowded train to Agra and a reasonable hour. The train station is incredibly chaotic people were sleeping, hanging out, and trying to scam tourists.

Agra
Agra has a population of about 1.5 million and is located in the state of Uttar Pradesh. Agra and Uttar Pradesh are very important to the India political system, as it has produced half of the prime ministers in the country. The center of Agra is the Taj Mahal. Emperor Shah Jahan built it after his second wife died during childbirth. He started building the Taj in 1631 and it was completed in 1653, just before his third son overthrew Jahan from power.

My hotel here is really nice. I have an “Indian Toilet”, hot water, a television, and most importantly air conditioning. My main mission in Agra was to go to the Agra Fort and Taj Mahal. Both of these very famous buildings are the cornerstone of the town and India. My first full day in the city was doing some organizing, because the Taj Mahal is closed every Friday. When trying to organize the travel I was once again let astray by a rickshaw driver. He took me to a ‘travel agency’ that was charging a commission to book tickets on the bus and train. I stood very tough and got out of there as quickly as the red flags were going up. They were promising to deliver the tickets to my hotel for only a small deposit. I completely questioned if the tickets were going to show up. It is a very common scam run in India. I did end up booking a bus ticket to Jaipur on an air-conditioned bus, so the outcome was good.

How do you describe the Taj Mahal. There are pictures of it everywhere in India; the photos always seem to be fake. I went to the Taj on my second full day in India, but there were glimpses of the 1st Wonder of the World on my first day. I was working around the city a bit and looked up and the Taj was in the distance. My heart began racing, and I patted my driver on the shoulder saying, “There is the Taj!” He replied gently “Yes.” What seemed unreal is the Taj looked just as fake from a distance as it did in all the photos. It looked completely imaginary. On the day of my visit to the Taj I had arranged to have a driver for the day for many of the sites around Agra. He was to pick me up at 6 a.m. for the sunrise over the Taj. We arrived at the Western Gate and I bought the ticket and went in. Video photography is extremely limited, and I didn’t bring the other still camera so I didn’t get a lot of content while there. It really is a place a person should see, for it is truly wonderful. There are gardens around the complex. There are scammers that walk up to you, explain something about the area and then ask you for money. There are optical illusions between the mosque and outer buildings and the actual mausoleum. The marble used to construct the building is strong and in incredibly good shape. There are different carvings, symbols, and a whole lot of love poured into the construction. I have never been to such an interesting place, and I am not sure I will see another.

After the Taj Mahal my driver took me to another, older moseulem that was built mainly by the Iranians called Chinikarauza. It was several decades older than the Taj, and was still in its complete original state. It was wearing down a bit, but still had a very interesting charm. The difference with this building is that it was built without any braces, just blocks of plaster, marble, and ancient glue holding it together.

Another interesting site was something called the Baby Taj or Itimaduddaulah. It holds the bodies of the family of the emperor and architect of the Taj Mahal. It is similar to the Taj, with the symmetry, gardens, and use of other buildings of worship, but on a much smaller scale, minor price, and fewer visitors. There are also great views of the Taj Mahal from the Baby Taj.

Then it was time to sell me something. Drivers are often paid a good commission for bringing people into shops and restaurants. I was first taken to a rug shop, which was interesting, but I am not in the market for a carpet. I then went to a fabric shop, embroidery bazaar, jewelry store and finally a marble making shop. They often do a good job of making you feel like you are ruining their lives or wasting their time if you don’t buy something. I don’t give into these people, I don’t think they will remember me and I certainly won’t spend my precious rupees on something I don’t need or find very tacky. It is part of the culture, so I am sure it is something I need to at least see, however frustrated it makes me.


Jaipur
Jaipur is the entrance to the state of Rajasthan. The city of over 2.6 million is known to most as the “Pink City.” The city is just as congested and polluted as the rest of India, but has its own charm. The main sites of the city are the Old City (Pink City), which still has a barrier in many spots. Other sites include Hawa Mahal, City Palace, Jantar Mantar, Central Museum, amongst others.

I enjoyed being in Jaipur. The city is much more relaxed than the other stops I have made in India, but still busy and congested. The city has had rulers that were more progressive and built quality streets and of course the Old City has and amazing charm. I wanted to see the City Palace, which includes a lot of history. Jaipur is a fairly new addition to India, being built in 1727. It was really its own kingdom for many years, up until India became its own nation in 1947. It still has a royal family that can trace itself back many years. The royal family, weapons, dress, and transportation are all on display at the City Palace. One of the most interesting things for me was the Sarvatobhadra which has two large silver jars reported to be the largest pieces of silver in the world. Each of the jars can hold over 900 gallons or over 2000 liters. They are about 5ft 4in tall and weigh a lot.

Another impressive place was Galta or Monkey Palace. This is a holy pilgrimage center has a temple dedicated to the Sun God and natural spring. It crests the ridge over a picturesque gorge and provides impressive view of the city. As the legend goes Sage Galav performed difficult penance here. The reason it is more commonly known as Monkey Palace is because at dusk thousands of monkeys converge on the site, and play with some of the visitors.

I was feeling refreshed and sick in Jaipur. This was my first time being sick on this trip, and it came at me very mild, just some strange stomach issues, no vomit or diorreaha. My hotel was very comfortable, run by a very nice man and his wife. The put a lot of time and money into keeping the rooms sparkling, having true hot water, western toilets, cooled rooms (by air con or desert coolers), televisions, and a place that seemed to be safe and lacking any sort of scams. It was true comfort and made my final days in India wonderful!

There are hundreds of photos on my facebook page!

Toilets

I need some advice...What is the proper way to use a toilet (as in #2) like the one below. I seemed to have found an ok way, but I am afraid I cannot squat as far down as many of the Indians...How would you do it?

The Kingdom of Thailand

Bangkok
The largest city I have been to since beginning this trip is Sydney, it has around 4 million people evenly spaced around the harbor. Then I arrived in Bangkok, the population is about 8 million. I was staying in the “quiet” area of the city called Hualamphong. It is near Chinatown and one of the most important train stations in the city.

Bangkok can’t be described. I was immediately overwhelmed when I landed at night. There was no sign of a real city center, there was oppressive heat for a 10 p.m. night, and there were 7-11’s block after block after block. I had to get into the city to book a bus and ferry to get to the islands, I was most interested in seeing. The city is really laid out like a big mess. Roads change names, meander in strange ways, and sidewalks end very quickly. On the 3km walk to get to the booking agent I had to walk through some of the more historic areas. On the walk there are impressive Buddhist temples, shrines dedicated to the King and Queen, and lovely gardens. Amid all the chaos, is beauty and serenity.

It is really hot in Bangkok, I felt like my organs were beginning to melt. In the morning, it was just the heat following me through the eating joints, flower market, and constant flow of consumerism. It was hot, but not too bad. But, by the afternoon the heat combined with the pollution, made it extremely difficult to even be outside. I would walk into a shop with air conditioning to recharge and look around. Since I didn’t have air conditioning in my room at the hotel, I didn’t sleep the two nights I stayed there, I laid down some towels on the bed to make sure some of my sweat would soak through it, not through the bed.

The Islands
I was completely surprised to see very few people when I was out on the islands in the Gulf of Thailand. I centered myself on the most central island Ko Pha Ngan. Each month thousands of party people descend on this 193 square mile island for the Full Moon Party. The party is centered on Sunrise Beach in Hat Rin, which receives an incredible amount of tourists in comparison to the rest of the island. Most of the island residents live near to Throng Sala, which is the main ferry drop off point for the island. On the island there are heaps of stunning beaches, an active fishing business, 20 Wat (Buddhist Temple), unbelievable diving, elephant trekking, waterfalls, and good food.

I stayed at a small hotel in Haad Salad that was offering a free night if you stayed for more than three nights. It was inexpensive, but also didn’t have air conditioning or hot water, but it was clean and quite comfortable. I got to the island from Bangkok via bus and ferry, which was a long trip, but let me see heaps of the countryside. This is very much an island and the residents are extremely relaxed and not as pushy as what I experienced in Bangkok. I got around mostly by foot, and rented a very cheap scooter for a couple of days to get further from Haad Salad. This is my kind of place, although a bit too quiet, I didn’t find many other travelers to meet up with, but an amazing experience.

Ko Samui is a completely different place. It is located south of Ko Pha Ngan and has become a rather luxurious spot for people to visit, complete with the higher prices. The island has been blessed with heaps of beaches on all parts of the island. Like its northern neighbor Ko Samui has waterfalls, diving, beaches, marine parks, but also has more spas and yoga facilities for those needing a bit of relaxation. The island also has some Thai cooking courses that are popular tourist activities.

Ko Tao to the north is a heaven for divers. According to what I have read, the island certifies more divers than those on the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. This island north of Ko Pha Ngan has a great reef just off the shore, which makes the diving easy and accessible. Most of the island seems to focus completely on the diving, with a few spas and yoga facilities scattered about. There are also lots of expats that have made the island home after coming for a visit.

I am very sad about leaving Thailand. I really enjoyed being on the islands and wish there was more time to explore. The laid back vibe is something I completely appreciate. The heat is tough, but manageable if you are on a striking beach or a motorbike. The people here are comfortable and happy. I will be coming back to Thailand.

Interesting Thailand
- Near my hotel there were several shops selling coffins.
- You must remove shoes before entering any building with a Buddha, which is the rule in both hotels I stayed at in Thailand.
- There are phallic symbols all around Bangkok, the bigger they are, the more power it shows.
- I really wanted to go to the Forensic Medicine Museum, but ran out of time in Bangkok.
- When you are on Thanon Khao San you feel like you are somewhere else, there are so many backpackers and cheap stuff to buy.
- There are way more lady boys (gateui) around Bangkok than I expected.
- I think you can buy anything in Thailand, for a very good price. There are miles up on miles of stores, shops, and stands selling literally everything! President Obama even has shops dedicated to him (but I think they are unauthorized)



There are more pictures on my facebook page!

Thai International Airways

I can’t believe how much I am sweating so far on my journey to Thailand. What was amazing was getting here. I flew on Thai Airways from Sydney to Bangkok. The 9-hour or 4,600 mile journey was the second longest of this Round the World trip (Los Angeles to Auckland was about 6,500 miles). The service was impeccable. When I was seated in my economy position, it seemed like I was in a United Premium Economy seat (heaps of leg room), but no, it was the regular economy. The passengers were given a menu of what was being offered on the flight, remember, I was in economy. Then the drink carts were rolled out. Free booze and soft drinks for everyone, constantly. Every time I looked at the aisle there was someone offering something to drink, I felt like the Flight Attendants never had a break.

Then the meals came. I had the lamb, which was a good serving size, and very tasty for airline food. After they dimmed the lights I got to watch several movies and television shows on my own time, not them telling me what to watch. Then, about two hours prior to landing we had another dinner service of some type of pasta dish, which was also quite nice. Plus, two different hot towel services and I am convinced that Thai International Airways might be the best out there, but they have some awards to prove it! Thanks Thai!

Australia!

Australia is a very important place for me. In 2002-2003 I lived amongst the Aussies on my first solo trip and first time living out of the United States. I had a very memorable experience living in Sydney and traveling to Canberra, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Alice Springs, Uluru, Cairns, Brisbane, and all the way down the East Coast. In Australia, I met some of my lifelong friends, saw spiritual land, took a long train across the Nullabor Plane, learned to dive, went on a three day sailing trip, got lost on Fraser Island, chilled out in Byron Bay, kept up with the Sydney speed, went to heaps of beaches, had a great tan, drank too much Goon, hung out with Kwokkas, and had the time of my life.

On this trip, I decided to revisit my old stops in Sydney and then head up to Cairns for some heat! Remember, this is winter in Australia!

Sydney
Sydney is such as special place for me. I worked at the Four Seasons hotel meeting heaps of celebrities and friends. I lived with a big group of people at Footprints Westend for a few months and then with Greg at a flash place on Kent Street. I loved spending time in the Royal Botanic Gardens, Oxford Street, Tamarama Beach, Lady Jane Beach, the Opera House, Hyde Park, and in the Rocks. Sydney is amazing not only because it is vibrant, but the harbor and weather make it even better.

On this trip I went down Pitt Street, Darling Harbor, Watson’s Bay, Bondi Beach, Manly, and a whole heap of other places. It makes me so happy that I lived, worked and played in Australia. What was different was the weather. It was really cold in Sydney and their was heaps of rain. It is crazy to be in a winter where it is still around 20C/68F everyday.

Cairns
Cairns is in the tropical north of Queensland. After a week in Sydney I needed a few rays of sun. Cairns is home to one of the best spots to get onto the Great Barrier Reef. It also has a huge lagoon for swimming (there are crocs and box jellyfish in the waters of Cairns, it will kill you) and laying out. During my stay there was music most days around the lagoon.

Cairns also gave me an opportunity for me to hang out with my mate Heather, from Taupo whom lives in Cairns. We did a lot of walking, drinking, and hanging out while in the tropical north. It was great!

There are heaps of photos on my Facebook page, check them out!

That Plane is BIG

I am so excited to have finally seen my first Airbus A380. It was actually an Emirates plane in Auckland, but I got impressive pictures of one parked in Sydney and owned by Singapore Airlines. It is parked next to a United 747, which is a big plane anyway. I hope you enjoy the photos!

More Niue!

I have put together a couple of more videos on Niue, but these just show off the beauty of the place. I might have some big news about Niue after I return back to the states, at least it could be big for me!

Niue Sunset



Vaikona Chasm

The New Tattoo!

Here are the pictures of my new tattoo I received on my final day in New Zealand. It turned out much better than I expected. Thank You to Geoff and Murray for going to the shop with me. Also, a huge THANK YOU to the tattoo artist that did it. Finally, THANK YOU to my mate Jeff for getting the sketches of the symbol from his grandfather.

What it is is of course New Zealand with the Maori symbol for Aotearoa in the middle. Aotearoa in Maori means "land of the long white cloud," which is what Maori call New Zealand.

Leaving New Zealand…Welcome to Australia!

I flew from Auckland to Sydney yesterday and it was magical. More on that shortly, but I finally got the tattoo I have been working on designing for the past couple of months. It came out better than I expected thanks to Jeff, Kenny, Murray, Geoff and tattoo artist Victor. It is the shape of New Zealand with the symbol of Aotearoa in the center. Aotearoa is Moari for New Zealand, or “Land of the Long White Cloud.” I had Victor put in a few blue highlights, because it is not only my favorite color but also a reminder of the country. I hope everyone that sees it will like it as much as I do. And don’t worry, it wasn’t that painful and I am not too sore today.

My flight to Sydney was AMAZING. I think I have flown on about 300 flights in the past few years and this one was memorable. I didn’t get upgraded to business class on the Boeing 767-300, but I was in what Air New Zealand calls Space+ which is like United’s Premium Economy with more legroom. I was sitting on then window of seat 13A, with nobody next to me. The 767 is configured with a 2-3-2 seating arrangement. The airplane was equipped with small in seat TV’s that each person has control over. I watched heaps of episodes of “The Simpson,” “Big Bang Theory,” and “Two and a Half Men.” Then there was dinner, Chicken Kiev and a rice pilaf. It was so amazing. I love Air New Zealand even more!

Sydney
This is my first time back in Sydney since living here six years ago. I spent the evening walking up Pitt Street, where I used to live down to the harbor and then back up George Street where I used to work.

Walking up Pitt Street made me think about the past. The backpackers I lived in for a few months was still there, but with a paint job completed. Some of the old restaurants, sex clubs, bars, high rises, and souvenir shops were still in their places. But, there seemed to be new life on the street. The World Tower, which was being constructed when I was living here has been completed, it is such a bright spot on the way down to the harbor. There also seem to be a few unfamiliar buildings and hotels. There were more eating spots, which were very posh. I am proud of what the street has become.

When I arrived at the harbor, much was the same. The Museum of Contemporary Art, the Harbor Bridge, and the Opera House were still in their spots. Although it was pouring rain, it was amazing to see the Opera House full of color as someone was projecting lights on it and the museum. It seemed to give it new life.

Then I walked past the Fours Seasons, which is still wonderful down George Street, past old stomping grounds like Jackson’s on George, Scruffy Murphy’s, amongst others. I went near the huge cinema complex. There was a premiere of something going at the State Theater; there were heaps of media there.

Much is the same, but so much is different. I am glad to be revisiting my old home.

I am staying at a very unique and spotless backpackers. The Sydney YHA Railway Square is literally at the main train station. It is a converted old train building and even has rooms in old railcars. It is fairly new, and wonderfully spotless. If you are coming to Sydney, check it out!

Goodbye New Zealand!

In less than 24 hours I will be leaving the place I have called home for over seven months. I am having mixed emotions about leaving this great nation, but so glad I spent time here.

The way of life in New Zealand is wonderful. The people know how to work hard and smart, but like their personal time as well. Everyone spends their time outside, with friends and whanau, and love their sports.

Everyone is welcome in New Zealand, as they should be in the rest of the world.

A huge THANK YOU to all those who made my experience here perfect. Hopefully, our paths will cross again!

What I will miss about New Zealand…

- Burgerfuel
- Tamati Coffey
- Outrageous Fortune
- Diplomatic Immunity
- Shortland Street
- broTown
- Taupo sunrise and sunset
- Paw Paw Jam
- Grab-A-Seat
- Paul Henry
- No Ozone Sunshine
- Auckland International YHA
- Airbus
- Yummy lamb
- Feijoa
- Boy racers
- Sheep trains
- Huka Falls
- Internet bandwidth restrictions
- Tetrus on my phone
- Jip Jip Rock Shiraz
- Steinlager Pure
- Tui
- “Sweet As, Cool As, Cheap As, Kiwi As”
- Maori language
- IMAX Auckland
- Piha
- John Key
- People not wearing shoes or jandels in the summer

Niue - Rock on Polynesia!

Getting There
Getting to Niue might seem difficult, but it is actually rather simple. There is one flight a week on Air New Zealand from Auckland. But what is interesting about the flight is crossing the International Date Line. When I left Auckland at around 10:00 a.m. on Sunday morning I arrived in Niue about 2:30 p.m. on Saturday afternoon. So, it is easy to get here, but rather confusing.



Getting Around
Niue has a main road that goes around the island, through small villages with spectacular views. Because of the 20-40 tourists on the island each week, there isn’t a public transport system. I found, as did my new mate Josh, the best way to get around the island is on a Suzuki motorcycle. In many parts the road is only one lane and quickly changes over to gravel, but the maximum speed limit of 60 kph, makes the uneven roads seem easy. Plus, renting a motorcycle is easy and only requires the purchase of a Niue Drivers License for $11.30 NZD. There are also car options starting at around $45.00 NZD per day. Even a few people use bikes, which are even less expensive to run.


Sunday
Christian worship services seem very important to the people of the country. There are churches in nearly every small village, and the people make the churches quite attractive. Since, I was staying in Alofi, the church bells for the local Presbyterian congregation start ringing at 9:00 a.m. a warning bell chimes at 9:30 a.m. with the service beginning at 10:00 a.m. The service I attended was full of music with most of it being conducted in the native Niuean language.

Oh, and the hats. The cute older women and even a few of the younger ones are well dressed including a hat on the top of the head. I believe that some of them may have even constructed the hat themselves.

Sunday is also a day of rest. The country does not allow swimming, fishing, or diving in the waters on Sunday. Josh and I went on a long walk around and found nothing open and the streets and roads deserted. We did find one place that allowed us to buy some much-needed water to help us through the tropical heat.

Monday
We obtained our Niue drivers license and picked up the motorcycles and headed out. We started by heading north from Alofi to the Palaha Cave near Tuapa Village. After walking down a steep hill we came across what we thought was a small cave. Further exploration revealed a rather large cave that opened up to the ocean. It was massive, stunning, and indescribable.

We continued further north to the Limu Pools for some much needed time in the water. Because Niue is a coral atoll there is very little beach space, but plenty of swimming spots. We got into the clear, blue water and had a look around. The fish were swimming around our toes and it was incredibly relaxing.

Following the pools, we headed back towards Alofi to find some food, which was some great Indian Chicken Moti, yummy and then went south. Our first stop south was near the Tamakautoga Village and the Togulu Sea Track. The old coral in this area makes for a spectacular view of the ocean as well as shallow enough for some great photos of the scenery.

We finished up the journey following the road even further south past one of the farms and to the Hakupu Village. Beyond there the road got a wee bit difficult until we found, but haven’t seen the famous Togo Chasm. We road back to Hakupu and then a short cut across the island on what I believe is the best, smoothest road in the country called the Alofi-Hakupu Road.

Tuesday

Josh and I started the day by moving north towards the Matapa Chasm and Talava Arches on the far northwest side of the island. It was an interesting place, and according to others is even better when you are there during the low tide. We arrived at the peak of high tide, but it was a beautiful spot.

On the ride back, and with a stop for lunch at our favorite Indian restaurant we made it through the Tamkautoga village, Togulu Sea Track and finally to the Avatele village. There were a few really nice spots on the way that we ere able to see some great pools in the coral as well as massive expanses of coral.

We finished the night with a dinner at the Falala La café, and takeaway fish and chips.


Wednesday
The plan on Wednesday was a trip through the middle of the country towards the Togo Chasm, one of the most popular tourist areas. The road across the country finishes in Liku and then it is a few short kilometers down to the Togo Chasm. Along the way we noticed there was a sign for Vaikona Chasm. We decided to try it out and explore this chasm we didn’t hear much about. The beginning of the walk was very nice, then the forest got thicker, almost jungle like. The heat was increasing. Then, strange structures started to rise out of the ground. In the middle of the forest was coral, in amazing shapes, sizes, and colors. Then, the trees started growing downwards, there were vines running up the sides of the coral shapes, and the most interesting tree, with the tall and wide roots was along the trail.

Then, the brush was getting thick. There were plants with splinters, large spiders, small walkways with sharp coral. By this point, we knew very few people ventured to this area, and loved it even more. Several times on the walk, I didn’t know how far we were going to make it, I was bleeding a few different places, it was hot and rainy, and it seemed like we were never going to make it. But after more bush, we arrived. The site is simply remarkable. You could see a large portion of the coast, there were heaps of chasms and the water was slamming the coast with astonishing force. I haven’t seen power like that in ages.

We didn’t end up making it to the Togo Chasm, we were so sweaty, tired, and hungry (we didn’t plan meals very well!). But, it was mind-blowing, nonetheless!

This is one of the best travel days in my life!


Thursday

Josh and I thought it would be good to finally make to the Togo Chasm. The walk was simple compared to the previous day. The leisurely walk to the chasm was nice, and well groomed. There is a clear path, ropes over the difficult parts and even a New Zealand couple on holiday.

The Togo Chasm covers most maps, brochures, and is a place highly recommended by locals and tourists. It is stunning, almost like a Peter Jackson movie. There are tall, sharp coral formations for many meters. The blue water below splash up on the coast, creating an intense scene and sound. We walked around the area a bit and came across a ladder that can be used to descend down to the ‘beach.’ There are few beaches on the island, but a bit of sand never looked so good. Deep between the pointy tops of the coral are a few palm trees, a cave or two, sea snakes and a small pond that seems to reach further in the cut. It is almost like and oasis in the middle of tall, gray and black coral.

After finished the Togo Chasm, we made our way further south to the Vaiea Village, in hope of finding the Fatiau Tuai deserted village. The ride on the motorbike was interesting, with fairly large hills for me as an inexperienced rider, but I made it safely. We never found the actual former village, but found a decent walking trail, more ocean scenes, and some large spiders and complex webs. On the way back up the trail and hill I did manage to fall off the motorcycle for the first time when I hit a rut and lost control, but I was never hurt.

When we arrived at the main road, we made our way to the Avatele Village in hopes of finding the famous Washaway Café and only real beach on the island. When we arrived the café was closed and the rained ruined any beach trek, but it was fun to see some sand.

We finished the day having a late lunch, once again at the Indian Restaurant, and went to dinner.

Friday
Both Josh and I have been rather beat, and have essentially seen the entire island so we decided to return to the Timu pools for a bit of a dip. The high tide was raging and it was difficult to swim or stand up, but the cool water was quite relaxing.

We then stopped at a few small sea walks and beaches we missed on the way out to the pools. After that we went to town to do some shopping. We had to pick up a couple of t-shirts (I never do this, but that is how cool this place is to me) and sent some postcards.

For dinner, we went out with a big group, the woman serving us was also the Acting Preimer of Niue. We pestered her to contact President Obama, but she declined. It is crazy that someone serving you dinner has the power of the government!
Interesting Niue

- Safety belts are not compulsory for cars, but helmets on motorbikes are
- Bikinis and Speedos are not allowed in public
- There is no fishing, diving, or swimming allowed on Sunday
- Niue has a television station with news two times per week, it is presented in Niuean and English (they repeat every story)
- The rugby team is good, despite the small population.
- There is wireless internet provided in the entire country, however I wouldn’t call it very reliable or fast
- There is a yacht club, but no permanent yachts
- I never once locked my room and left the keys in the motorcycle at all times, there is so little crime
- Temperatures range during the year from a high of 27C-30C and lows of 19C-23C
- There isn’t a single ATM on the island and only one bank
- There are 123km (76 miles) of paved roads
- Tipping is not encouraged
- The 1,500 Niueans on the island also have dual citizenship with New Zealand
- There are at least 20,000 Niueans living in New Zealand
- Niueans travel often, are well educated, and are very independent
- Niueans wave at almost everyone on a bike, motorbike, car, or walking when you go past
- There are two languages and nearly everyone is bilingual: Niuean and English
- Chickens are everywhere, even on the golf course
- There is one Reef Shipping boat that arrives per month. It brings everything, food, clothing, vehicles, and fuel
- Four is an important number, phone numbers are four digits, car plate registrations are four digits, and cell phones are four digits.
- According to the listing of services of the hospital, it is possible to get a circumcision for only $100.00


This has been one of the most exciting weeks of my life. While, Niue is so small and remote it provided a wonderful view of the South Pacific. Every time I think about the people who have lived on the island all of their life and struggled through devastating cyclones and economic uncertainty I am in awe of their way of life, their independence and what seems to be pure happiness.

There are heaps more photos on Facebook! Check it out.

Thank you Niue, for giving me an amazing experience I will always remember. Josh, it was great traveling with you. All the Best!

Garden City, Trains, and Glaciers

Garden City - Christchurch
Christchurch is a beautiful city. When you take the drive from the airport to the city center it is evident the city planners loved gardens. There are gardens, well maintained medians, and of course the expansive Hagley Park and Botanic Gardens on the Avon River.

Christchurch is also the third largest metro with approximately 348,000 people (Auckland has 1.4 million and Wellington region boasts 503,000)

Christchurch has a history of involvement in Antarctic exploration – both Robert Falcon Scott and Ernest Shackleton used the port of Lyttelton as a departure point for expeditions, and there is a statue of Scott, sculpted by his widow, Kathleen Scott, in the central city.

Within the city the Canterbury Museum preserves and exhibits many historic artifacts and stories of Antarctic exploration.

Christchurch International Airport serves as the major base for the Italian and United States Antarctic programs as well as the New Zealand Antarctic programme. The International Antarctic Centre provides both base facilities and a museum and visitor centre focused upon current Antarctic activities. The United States Navy and latterly the United States Air National Guard, augmented by the New Zealand and Australian air forces, use Christchurch Airport as take-off for the main supply route to McMurdo and Scott Bases in Antarctica. The Clothing Distribution Center (CDC) in Christchurch, has more than 140,000 pieces of extreme cold weather (ECW) gear for issue to nearly 2,000 U.S. Antarctic Program (USAP) participants in the 2007-08 season. I am fascinated with Antarctica, I have read books watch documentaries and movies and feel like I know a lot about the continent. So, I went to the International Antarctic Centre and was more than disappointed. Despite the nearly $50 charge to attend most of what I saw was out of date. The museum has a better exhibit.

Tranz Alpine Train
The Tranz Alpine Express is a passenger train operated by Tranz Scenic in the South Island of New Zealand. This trip is often regarded to be one of the world's great train journeys for the scenery through which it passes. The journey is 223 kilometres (139 mi) one-way, taking about four and a half hours. There are 19 tunnels and four viaducts, with the Staircase being 73 metres high.

The train has become increasingly popular, and carried 204,000 passengers in the financial year ending 2007.

The train runs daily between Christchurch and Greymouth. After leaving Christchurch, the train travels through the fertile Canterbury Plains past the Waimakariri River along the Main South Line, to Rolleston. It then turns onto the Midland Line, which passes through the Southern Alps past the spectacular Waimakariri River gorge, via the Otira Tunnel and terminates in Greymouth, on the West Coast.

Franz Josef Glacier
The Franz Josef (Ka Roimata o Hinehukatere in Māori) is a 12 km long glacier located in Westland National Park on the West Coast of New Zealand's South Island. Together with the Fox Glacier 20 km to the south, it is unique in the fact that it descends from the Southern Alps to less than 300 metres above sea level amidst the greenery and lushness of a temperate rainforest. It is also one of only three glaciers to come so close to a coastline.

The area surrounding the two glaciers is designated a World Heritage Site. The river emerging from the glacier terminal of Franz Josef is known as the Waiho River.

The glacier is currently 12 km long and terminates 19 km from the Tasman Sea. Fed by a 20 sqm large snowfield at high altitude, it exhibits a cyclic pattern of advance and retreat, driven by differences between the volume of melt water at the foot of the glacier and volume of snowfall feeding the névé. Due to strong snowfall it is one of the few glaciers in New Zealand which is still growing as of 2007, while others, mostly on the eastern side of the Southern Alps, have been shrinking heavily, a process attributed to global warming.

Having retreated several kilometres between the 1940s and 1980s, the glacier entered an advancing phase in 1984 and at times has advanced at the phenomenal (by glacial standards) rate of 70 cm a day. The flow rate is about 10 times that of typical glaciers. Over the longer term, the glacier has retreated since the last ice age, and it is believed that it extended into the sea some 10,000 to 15,000 years ago.

This cyclic behaviour is well illustrated by a postage stamp issued in 1946, depicting the view from St James Anglican Church. The church was built in 1931, with a panoramic altar window to take advantage of its location. By 1954, the glacier had disappeared from view from the church, but it reappeared in 1997. This is due to the highly variable conditions on the snowfield, which take around 5-6 years before they result in changes in the terminus location.

The glacier is very difficult to describe, but absolutely stunning. I didn't get very many pictures or video as the weather conditions were horrible (there was 240 mm or 9.5 inches the day before). You need to visit a glacier to see how fast it moves and how different it is each day.