NickTheTraveler

Travel Time

2012-01-06T19:08:00.003-06:00

My 2012 resolutions will be HUGE this year. While many people are on the treadmill, trying out Zumba classes to get fit, I am going to travel this year. I have lined up 6 trips that will take me to the 6 continents I can get to on a commercial flight.

Right now the destinations are secret, but some places I will be visiting will be new, others will be a bit of a re-visit and I hope all will be with friends from the past and maybe a few in the future.

So, watch every other month for videos, tweets, pictures, and commentary of the places I will take you on this year.

And look for a few surprises too!

Des Moines and Florida...Interesting Combination

2011-08-08T14:20:00.002-05:00

This morning Frontier Airlines announced new Florida flights from Des Moines. Last year, AirTran start doing flying between the central Iowa city and Orlando International. Allegiant made moves to MCO to compete with AirTran, but then moved the flights back to Orlando Sanford, to reduce some costs. AirTran doesn't seem to be doing the route this season so Frontier stepped it up and will now compete with Allegiant.

This time is different, because Frontier will be matching the days and also compete on the Des Moines - Tampa route.

This is a win for everyone, any maybe even the airlines. The prices will probably drop once again. Des Moines, which has traditionally landed on the high priced airport list might be helped again. And it will force the airlines to really show why they are different and better.

It has been fascinating to see the expansion Frontier has had in DSM. We see double flights to Denver, more flights to Milwaukee, and now the Florida expansion all while seeing the load factors high and passengers pleased.

You Go AirNZ!

2010-12-23T22:47:00.001-06:00

Aircraft like no other for Air New Zealand
23 December 2010

Air New Zealand’s first Boeing 777-300ER aircraft has been delivered in Seattle, USA and will touch down in Auckland on Christmas Eve morning, bringing the Kiwi designed economy Skycouch to New Zealand for the first time.

“This is the best Christmas present we could possibly imagine,” says Air New Zealand Chief Executive Officer Rob Fyfe.

“Four long years of planning and design to create an absolute world-first interior and passenger experience is now a reality.”

In Seattle to accept the aircraft, Group General Manager International Airline Ed Sims said the aircraft heralds a whole new long-haul flying experience for Air New Zealand customers.

“The majority of our long-haul flights are overnight and we fly on average 90 minutes longer than any other airline. That’s why we set out to overcome the seemingly impossible challenge of finding a way for people to lie down in economy without compromising affordability.

“Few airlines have invested time and money beyond First Class, whereas we have focused on the areas where most of our passengers sit by reinventing every aspect of our Economy and Premium Economy customer experience.

“We’ve created the world’s first economy seating that enables people to lie down and a Premium Economy seat that many airlines would call Business Class.

“We’re also the first commercial airline to introduce induction ovens for all cabins to give our customers freshly prepared food and have developed an inflight entertainment (IFE) system to give people greater control over the way their journey will unfold,” says Mr Sims.

More than 30 airlines have been in contact with Air New Zealand regarding the new seats and formal negotiations are underway with carriers from Asia, North America and Europe to licence the seats following an 18 month period of exclusivity for Air New Zealand.

Highlights of the new aircraft interior include:

* Skycouch – affectionately known as Cuddle Class, giving couples and families the opportunity to lie down like they would on their couch at home
* Two distinctive Premium Economy seating designs to meet the demands of both individual travellers and couples
* The first commercial airline to have induction ovens in all cabins, giving customers the opportunity to have steak cooked the way they want it, fresh pizza and burgers, toast and eggs
* A kiwi-designed pillow that slips onto the winged headrest in economy (meaning the challenge of pillow slippage is gone forever)
* Unique bathroom imagery with wallpaper depicting book cases, chandeliers and other home interior elements
* An on-demand food and beverage service via the IFE system in every class
* Children’s story-time in the rear galley hosted by our cabin crew
* Inflight wine tasting in the forward galley hosted by our Inflight Concierges

The aircraft, registration ZK-OKM, is due to leave the Boeing facility in Seattle at 3pm local time today, 22 December, flying to Los Angeles before arriving into Auckland at 8.45am on Christmas Eve 24 December.

Air New Zealand has five Boeing 777-300ER aircraft on order, with the second due for delivery in February followed by a third in April. The 338 seat 777-300 aircraft is configured with 244 in Economy (including 60 seats creating 20 Skycouch combinations), 50 in Premium Economy and 44 in Business Premier.

The first routes to guarantee travellers the next generation of long-haul travel will be on dedicated return services on NZ1 and NZ2 between Auckland and Los Angeles and through to London from April 2011.

A Travel First...

2010-11-30T09:34:00.003-06:00

Friday is a huge day for me. It will my very first flying experience on Southwest. Yes, I have flown thousands of miles over the last decade, but never on Southwest. I haven't been avoiding the airline, it was never an option. My home airport used the be Des Moines, and it is not a Southwest city. But since my move to Oklahoma, I am firmly in Southwest territory. In my 11 months here I haven't seen a flight price that makes it logical for me to fly on the famous airline, until this weekend

We are going to San Diego to a wedding of a childhood friend. I scored $180.00 roundtrip fares and looking forward to the trip. I heart San Diego.

Keep it classy San Diego!

It Has Been Since June...

2010-11-23T14:05:00.003-06:00

You are right, I haven't made a post to this blog since June. This year has been crazy for me. I moved to a new city, joined a swim team, started a different job, met heaps of new friends, and I have been trying to keep my sanity.

I have done some traveling this year. I went to LA in February to visit my friend Krystal. She is one of my friends from New Zealand and was in the states by herself for the first time (She is only 20). We had a chance to hang out a bit and I was able to fly from Tulsa to LAX on a buddy pass from my friend Sean.

I made a very quick trip to New Zealand in May on a last minute flight, and a cheap one at that. I was there to see my friends, visit some of my favorite spots, and to eat some great food. Mission accomplished.

In July, I spent a long weekend in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. It is in the middle of the Ozark mountains. The hills/mountains are beautiful. There are some very historic buildings and the place we stayed was AMAZING!

Since I am living fairly close to my relatives, I have spent some time over the last year with family in Iowa. They have mainly been long weekends, but still fun to catch up.

I have some plans over the rest of the year. I am going to San Diego for a wedding the first weekend of December and a trip back to Iowa for 10 days in late December.

I am trying to make a renewed effort to do more and document some of the travel I have planned in 2011.

Welcome Home Bro

2010-06-28T19:30:00.007-05:00

Kenny Vo said it best, "Welcome Home Bro!" when I arrived in New Zealand last month. It was surreal. I had been living in the country only a year earlier and everything was familiar. On the decent, we came through some massive clouds. It was around 5:00 a.m. and the lights of Auckland made me fill so happy.

I went on this trip as a last minute uber cheap airfare. It only cost me $483.00 USD roundtrip, but I was only going to be in the country a total of 4 days. But it was a chance to take a break, and be around people I so admire.

It started with taking a long walk to the cheapo rental car agencies just a bit outside of the airport. I climbed into my non-working radio Nissan for the drive down to Taupo. The minute I jumped in the car, I was already doing a great job driving on the left side of the road. I zoomed, literally down to Taupo in a mere 3:15 minutes and stopped immediately at the hotel to see Auntie Ali. I walked in the door and Di was standing there, looking confused about who I was and then gave me a HUGE hug. Oh, how I miss her. I walked into the breakfast area and there was Ali, saving me some Cherries and Berries yogurt and fixing me a much needed (and deserved) proper Mochachino. After a bit of conversation it was time to go look around town and meet up with Jeff.

I met Jeff at his work, Burger King. Jeff is one of the most loyal friends I have, and I was crashing at his place during my stay. He is such a good friend, and I miss being around him. I got the key to his place, and made my way to the shower.

After the long, hot shower I was ready to go and visit a few of my old spots. Five mile bay is wicked in the Summer with heaps of boats, swimmers, and parties. Being the start of winter the lake, and Five Mile Bay were desolate. I put my toes in the lake, took a few pics, and smelled the clean air. It was then off to lunch with Auntie Ali, Auntie Lyn, and Kenny at the local Thai hotspot.

On the first evening, we met up with my mate David, and Breakers and had a few laughs about life and where it has taken us.

Lets just say I fell asleep very early on my first night and made sure to get rest for what would become some epic times.

The next day was time to explore. Ursula, my future wife, and I spent time at Zest Cafe with my favorite B.E.T.A and then off to Huka Falls and Spa Park. I used to run and hike in this area a couple of times a week. It is a place I go to talk to God, my Grandma B, and for some good solitude. There are some secret spots I showed Ursula, and I think she didn't quite want to kill me for going to these places. I also went up to the forever green Taupo Botanic Gardens for a look at my old mate Mt. Tauhara.

I took Jeff out for some amazing food at the restaurant. And to get my fill of nice Pinot Noir and lamb. And it was time to go out a bit and see my buddy Karl.

I needed a good sleep for what happened on Saturday night. We started off with amazing steaks at Steak and Ale and then went on the town. Bond, Clubhouse, and Finns around the entertainment district of Taupo. It was booze filled, Maccas laden, and a great time. We made it back to Jeff's via his staff.

The next morning was brunch with Phillip, Heather, Shane, Jeff, Seb, and a couple of others. I had a peaceful, yet slightly emotional drive back to Auckland for my evening flight out.

I miss my New Zealand whanau so much. They mean a lot to me and I always have such a great time.

Thank you all for how you impact my life!

New Zealand Return!!!

2010-05-23T21:52:00.002-05:00

I left some of my heart in New Zealand last year when I returned to the United States. It as mainly the lifestyle I lived. I met some amazing friends, ate stunning food, had an interesting flatmate, and overall had a fab life.

Since the very day I left the country, I have missed it. I talk about the life everyday and think about all that I am missing.

That is changing. I am headed for a very quick trip to visit friends in New Zealand.

I am lucky, I snatched up a roundtrip ticket for $400 USD. That is not a misprint. The time off is needed. I need the lake to rejuvenate my spirit. I need the time off to relax.

Nomdic Matt in Taupo

2009-12-24T13:38:00.003-06:00

I love Taupo, as does Nomadic Matt. It came as a Christmas gift for me last night when I got the daily message from Matt that Taupo is is favorite place in New Zealand. It is mine as well. Huka Falls, the Lake, Fishing, and just being outside in such a great town makes me very happy.

Merry Christmas to everyone!

Nomadic Matt Tries to Fish in Taupo

Show Us Your Santa-kini

2009-12-17T19:16:00.004-06:00

Ali Mau is the equivalent of Ann Currey on the Today Show. She reads the news for the popular TVNZ show Breakfast. Also, she is married to the main anchor at night Simon Dallow.

This morning, the always persistent Paul Henry was begging her to show the Santa-kini she was wearing underneath her red jacket. She initially refused but then gave Paul and subsequent show. It made him speechless.

So, what does your Santa-kini look like?

Ali Flashes Paul

Scattered Thoughts...

2009-12-10T19:55:00.003-06:00

- The Thursday night lineup on NBC will make me fat.
- Getting ready to move has been theraputic. I have been going through things I haven't seen in years. I love seeing pictures of me from 1992.
- I have been working on a private video from the trip. It has been really difficult to watch some of the video.
- Does anyone else remember smells and sounds almost as vividly as sights when traveling?
- The snowfall makes me more excited to get to Tulsa.
- I am excited that 2 people have been helping me try to find housing in Oklahoma.
- I want to do a big trip at the end of this year. Any ideas?
- I might be the King of Organization.
- Two of my favorite people are going to be in Iowa for Christmas, I can't wait to see them. It has been 2 years.
- Goats are facinating.
- I miss my dog, Tuffy.
- Niue is great. It would be so warm today.
- One of my NZ friends and I did a video chat. He was wearing his togs and jandels. I was wearing my complete winter clothes.

O-K-L-A-H-O-M-A

2009-12-07T16:10:00.001-06:00

Yes it is true, I am moving in January to Oklahoma. I have accepted a job, with an organization I love and cannot wait to get started! Stay tuned!

Round the World Favorites

2009-11-05T19:16:00.003-06:00

This video has been weeks in the making, it is some of my favorite spots on my recent Round the World Trip. I made it of a higher quality, so I hope you enjoy it!

It Is a DREAM!!!!

2009-11-04T19:13:00.003-06:00

I am head over heels right now. Airtran is making me SO HAPPY! My nearest city Des Moines has been plagued by above average airfares for the past year. In fact at one time they were the 5th highest in the country. Well, today AirTran announced they would begin service between Des Moines and Milwaukee to go against Midwest Airlines. I am so hoping that airfares will go down and maybe Airtran will add service to places like Atlanta???

Paula Bennett

2009-11-02T17:14:00.006-06:00

I love Paula Bennett, she is tough, she can be loud, and she is fun. I met her when I was in New Zealand on a very memorable New Years Eve Dinner. She had a big crowd of people and they were have the best time a the restaurant. I got to serve them hundreds of dollars of adult beverages. Well, she has made it through cuts to her cabinet portfolio, breaking up a fight, seeing her daughters partner in jail. She is now the third most effective cabinet minister in the New Zealand Parliament. Here is a story from the New Zealand Hearld

Paula Bennett Story

Nomadic Matt is the BEST!

2009-10-19T20:18:00.003-05:00

Nomadic Matt, one of the websites I check often has written a post about how many people think that when you don't fit the mold and spend one week a year in the Caribbean on a ship, you are running away from something. Of course I am paraphrasing. But I often have heard comments about my traveling as running away from something, but traveling is really my passion.

I think about travel everyday. I look at websites to see where I can get a cheap ticket. I love reading about travel experiences. I love hearing about new things. Travel is part of me.

In the coming weeks I am going to put together a FAQ about traveling and some of my experiences. I hope to prove the traveling can be most memorable when you don't spend much money and aren't running to see different sites. I hope it will help all the people that read my blog understand how great travel is, and how much of a lifestyle it can be.

But before that, you should read the story about Everyone Says I'm Running Away from Nomadic Matt.

San Diego and San Francisco

2009-10-15T14:34:00.005-05:00

I celebrated an important birthday in September, it ended in a 0. To celebrate, I wanted to spend a weekend somewhere. I had my Facebook friends pick my location, and the winner was San Diego. My heart was set on San Francisco, but the flight price and time did not match my budget or work schedule, so San Diego it was. A couple of days before leaving I was playing around on an airline website and notice there was a very good price for airline tickets for the Sunday I was going to be in San Diego to go to San Francisco. I bought the ticket.

San Diego
I have often heard rumors that San Diego has the same feel and look that Sydney does. I love Sydney, so I knew San Diego might be my style. I arrived in San Diego very early in the morning and wanted to head straight for the beaches. I spent some time on Black's Beach near La Jolla, just a few minutes north of San Diego. The beaches were covered in fog when I arrived, but it ended up being a stunning midday on the beach. There were interesting people all around, I loved it. Plus, the beach had tall cliffs, similar to those on the east side of Sydney.

I then spent some time in and around the center of the city. Since San Diego is one of the main spots for Marines, there is a strong military presence. There are boats scattered all around the harbor and even some boat, museum type spots. The downtown area has a great district call the Gas Lamp District. There are heaps of high end stores, restaurants, and lots of hotels.

San Diego had a great vibe. There were lots of things to do around the city and the people seemed to love to be outside, and who wouldn't with perfect weather most of the year, as well as being real people. I loved it!

San Francisco
San Francisco has a very live and let live attitude. You can really see anything there, and I wish I would have been there more than 12 hours, but I don't think it is going anywhere. When I got off my early morning flight I went immediately to look for the sites that San Francisco was so famous for. There was Fisherman's wharf, the Financial District, Golden Gay Bridge, Alcatraz, Bay Bridge, amongst others.

There were also interesting people. From businessmen in suits to people walking down the street with very little clothing on. There were good restaurants, nice people, and beautiful weather when I was there. I will be back, soon!

Photos of San Diego and San Francisco on Flickr

NEVER RENT WITH AVIS!!!!

2009-10-13T16:40:00.002-05:00

Here is a warning, you should never rent a car from Avis Rent a Car. Today, I was checking my credit card statement and noticed there was an additional charge from the company. They added the charge because I didn't drive over 70 miles, and didn't show a receipt for filling up the vehicle when I returned it.

First, I accept responsibility for not reading the contract completely. I have rented HUNDREDS of vehicles during work and personal travel so I thought I would be ok. I have never been charged this, and often didn't drive over 70 miles. But, is it a sound business practice to charge people $13.99 for driving only a few miles? Also, when I returned the car nobody asked me to produce a receipt when they looked at the mileage, and the gas was something like $3.00!

Where is the logic. You don't use the car very much, and are charged a fee for not using it enough? Come on, get REAL AVIS.

I guess this means I am going to stick with HERTZ!

UNITED makes me smile

2009-10-13T14:49:00.003-05:00

When you think of the US legacy carriers you don't really view them as being customer friendly. That has changed today with United's elite members. They are rolling out complimentary upgrades for all elite members. This is something that Northwest did in the past. I couldn't be more elated when I received the news via email this afternoon...

United Announcement
We know how you value the ease of travel being an elite member brings to you. Now we're making it even easier. In the second quarter of 2010, we’ll automatically request an Unlimited Domestic Upgrade on behalf of all elite members and up to one companion when they travel within the Continental U.S., Hawaii, Alaska, Canada, Central America, and the Caribbean.

When Unlimited Domestic Upgrades are launched, we’ll be transitioning all of our elite members to the new upgrades, replacing 500-Mile Upgrade certificates. Elite members can still use their existing Regional Upgrades during their full 12-month validity period. However, new certificates will no longer be issued. If you’re not an elite member, don’t worry – you’ll still be able to use your existing certificates any time during their full 12-month validity period, just like you do today.

Further details on Unlimited Domestic Upgrades and other exciting enhancements will be available on Mileageplus.com in early 2010. Stay tuned.

Orange Sydney

2009-09-23T21:56:00.002-05:00

The "Red Center" of Australia has decided to move into Sydney and Brisbane. The dust storms are creating havoc amongst residents, tourists, airports and outdoor activities. The pictures are rather stunning, so I had to share.

Apparently, the dust is on its way to New Zealand, I hope all my friends will be safe!

San Francisco...Why Not?

2009-09-20T15:48:00.003-05:00

I will be honest, I really wanted to go to San Francisco next weekend. It is a city I am very interested in learning more about and exploring. But, the day I wanted to book the ticket from Des Moines the prices had shot up over my budget. I was slightly crushed, but still very happy about the weekend in San Diego.

Thursday night I was bored, so I thought why not see how much it would be to fly from San Deigo to San Francisco for a day, my friend Max would be there and it would be great to see him. I was shocked! I found a roundtrip ticket on my favorite domestic, hub-and-spoke, legacy carrier for only $76.00 for the day! So add San Francisco to the list!

This trip is totally my style, trying to cram in a lot, at a reasonable price. I will have video and pictures to show off the fun I am having!

Keeping it Classy San Diego

2009-09-18T21:01:00.004-05:00

I have a big week ahead of me, including a birthday that ends in 0. So I thought it would be appropriate for me to go on one of my last minute trips. I actually need to take it because United Airlines is offering double EQM (Elite Qualifying Miles) for trips before mid-December and this one trip will allow me to keep my status for next year.

I started looking for the Special Deals for last minute fares that come out on Tuesday. It usually requires a Saturday departure and a Monday or Tuesday return. It was a banner week for Special Fares from Des Moines and I found inexpensive tickets for lots of destinations.

I decided to allow my 500 Facebook friends the chance to vote on where I should go. Of course, I did have the power of veto at my disposal. The destinations my Facebook Friends had to choose from were:

Albuquerque
Austin
Charleston,SC
Charlotte
Denver
NYC
Palm Springs
Phoenix
San Diego

Within about 3 hours, and after 20 responses it was clear San Diego was the winner and New York City was in a close second place. Part of the draw to San Diego was the fact I have never been there, it is often referred to as the Sydney of the USA, and there are plenty of hostels to choose from.
As, I said this would be a Nick the Traveler trip without some kind of hostel included.

I am not sure what I am going to do in San Diego. I know there are nice beaches, I know I will be scouting some hotels for a friends wedding, and I am sure I will have a great time.

If you have any suggestions about the trip, please let me know by posting a comment!

Paul Henry Promotion...YES!

2009-09-17T20:43:00.002-05:00

Henry poised for bigger role at 7pm

TV One breakfast show host Paul Henry is poised to take a bigger role fronting Close Up.

Television sources say momentum is gathering for a change.

The debate is whether TVNZ will wait until Mark Sainsbury's employment contract runs out in late 2010 before making the move.

But it would be a risk. Sainsbury has appeal with viewers but is a weak interviewer.

Henry flies close to the wind in his interviews and takes chances that can provide good TV. But he polarises audiences.

In that sense he is a broadcaster's broadcaster and favoured by Close Up boss Mike Valintine and further up the TVNZ pecking order.

But Henry would also be a risk for TVNZ.

In March he humiliated a female news guest over facial hair.

A public broadcaster was rubbishing the way a guest looked for a laugh.

TVNZ upheld a complaint, but Henry wasn't embarrassed.

The bad attitude from the broadcaster's studio fortress illustrated the dangers when big egos misuse their power.

It came close to bullying.

Now he is up for promotion to prime time, the question will be whether he can manage his wish to shock.

Is he Paul Holmes without a self-deprecatory streak?

This week Henry declined to discuss speculation about his Close Up role, the state of the 7pm current affairs slot, or his acknowledged aspirations for Sainsbury's job.

Asked if the "lady with a moustache" incident indicated he was not up to the prime time spot, Henry said: "You cater for the show you are on, but I am always me. I walk on that fine line, but to me that fine line is the place to be."

HIT HIM OR HUG HIM

A former TVNZ head of programming once told me that the secret of an X-factor TV star was that viewers either wanted to hit them or hug them (or words to that effect). In other words they should elicit a strong emotional response.

Henry acknowledges he polarises opinion and says that the days are gone when broadcasters are overly concerned about polarising people.

But bringing in Henry will be the subject of extensive market research.

In August last year Henry told this column: "It is no secret I have ambitions [to present Close Up].

"Seven o'clock is where I want to be."

TVNZ did not take the bait. In a recent Sunday Star-Times interview he was ambivalent about the Close Up role. It is a handy "I can take it or leave it" stance after missing out last time, and now being courted by TVNZ with the prospect of pay negotiations ahead.

Nick the Traveler Talking Niue

2009-08-13T09:33:00.003-05:00

I recently recorded an interview with the Ameutur Traveler Chris Christensen. The topic was my trip in May to Niue. While I am sure I will sound like a complete nerd it was such a good time talking about a place I fell in love with. So, the interview will be on this Saturday and can be listened to online or better yet using iTunes Enhanced to download the podcast (it will have some of my pictures on it).

To get the podcast go to the Amateur Traveler website. Instructions are on the right side of the page. Or, search for it on the podcast listing if you already have iTunes.

My Niue Trip Reports:

Niue - Rock of Polynesia

More Niue

I Bought the Ticket!

Paul Henry is the BEST!

2009-08-12T22:37:00.001-05:00

Paul Henry is the reason I miss living in New Zealand...

-------------------------------------------

TVNZ is backing its controversial presenter Paul Henry despite his bizarre suggestion that one way of stopping the boisterous antics of Mahia Peninsula dolphin Moko would be to shoot the mammal.

The comment came during Breakfast yesterday and has made waves not only in the northern Hawke's Bay, the waters of which Moko has made home for almost 2 years but also among those charged with protecting marine wildlife.

TVNZ spokeswoman Andi Brotherston, confirming no "official" complaints had been received, said the comment had to be taken in the context of the programme and of Henry "having fun".

She said it wasn't a serious suggestion from the Breakfast host, who has previously voiced support for dolphins at Marineland, and who regards Hawke's Bay as a "second home". He reportedly enjoys watching dolphins from his beach house north of Napier.

Napier-based DoC area manager Jan Hania said Henry's comments were "highly inappropriate ... but, I'm sure, were tongue-in-cheek," and anyone causing any harm to Moko would be liable to prosecution.

One Mahia resident said today: "Everyone's unhappy about Paul Henry ... but they just think he's a bloody idiot.

" I think the locals are quite possessive about Moko, and Paul Henry just opens his mouth without thinking first."

Peninsula resident Maria Preddey, who once had to wait in a kayak while Moko stopped her from getting back to shore, did not see the programme, but quickly learned of the comment from neighbours.

It didn't surprise her, and she said today: "That's just Paul Henry. I think it's just a very provocative thing to say."

She doesn't agree with his utterance but says any publicity about Moko's behaviour helps people understand the position of the dolphin and how it should be respected in the environment.

If people weren't happy with Moko being at the beach they could just "steer clear", advice she said kayakers in particular should heed.

She watched a TV3 Campbell Live segment last night and said it was "probably the most accurate" look at the issue.

Henry is one of television's more controversial presenters, but Ms Brotherston said that was part of his appeal.

Henry had at least as many fans as he did detractors, and he had won a TV Guide popularity vote.

His Breakfast antics have prompted at least 14 complaints to the Broadcasting Standards Authority in his four years on the show. Ten were in the past 18 months.

The only one to be upheld related to his reiteration of reader comments that female guest and Greenpeace worker Stephanie Mills, had a moustache.

While co-host Alison Mau pleaded with him to stop, he commented at that time: "That was a moustache on a lady. People can say what they see, it's television isn't it?"

Mau later read a letter from a woman who talked about the medical causes of female facial hair and said she had been reduced to tears by Henry's comments. But he responded: "Start a group, really."

Recently Henry said he didn't know why complaints against him were on the up but said it didn't bother him. "I think it's an indication that I say what I think and in television that is not overly common."

He thought there were "a lot of people that don't have much of a sense of humour" and "a large number of people who have nothing better to do than complain".

- HAWKE'S BAY TODAY

FRANCE!

2009-08-06T11:35:00.004-05:00

Facts on France
- There are about 60 million people in the country
- The language is of course, French
- Paris is the largest city, and capital
- The currency is the Euro
- France is about the size of Texas
- There are seven mountain ranges
- It is the FIRST tourist destination in the world, 76 million visit per year
- 30% of the French don't have a religion, about 63% consider themselves Catholic
- There are about 20,000 hotels

Observations
- In Provence, the lavender fields are beautiful, yet smelly (at least for me)
- The roads are very windy, and sometimes hard to maneuver
- There are acres and acres of sunflowers, which are stunning in the summer
- Little villages pop up all of the time
- Large highways can be expensive, because of the tolls
- If you at least attempt to speak French, they will love you
- The old chateaus and cities are stunningly beautiful

My Trip
France for me was about being in the famous French sun. I booked a few nights at a very lovely, and relatively inexpensive guesthouse near Montclus between Avignon and Lyon. The views were incredible as I looked out of my window at Montclus, which is a city from back in the 13th century or so. There isn't a lot going on this the area. A few people were playing games outside of the church. There was a small cafe, and lots of homes for people. The streets and walkways were small, and windy but really nice.

I also spent quite a bit of time doing my favorite thing, hiking. There was a river in the area with lots of places to hike and spend time in the sun. The water was refreshing and clean. The trails were fairly well marked, but nobody was on them except for me.

Finally, I did spend one day at the beach on the South of France. It was nice, expensive, and of course full of people. I didn't have my camera with me as I left it at the hotel accidentally, so there aren't any pictures. The water was blue and warm, and the sand was golden and quite hot.

I will be back to France, soon!

ALL THE PHOTOS FROM FRANCE ARE ON FLICKR

Visit FLICKR, to see all the photos from my Round the World Trip

Croatia

2009-07-31T10:33:00.003-05:00

Facts about Croatia
- In Croatian, it is pronounced Republika Hvatska
- Located in Central and Southeastern Europe, at the crossroads of Western Europe, the Pannonian Plain, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean Sea. Its capital (and largest city) is Zagreb.
- Croatia became and independent nation from Yugoslavia on 25 June 1991.
- There is a population of about 4.5 million
- Currently in a Parliamentary System of Government.

Observations
- It was less expensive than I thought, although being a very popular country for Europeans to holiday.
- Croatians personalities aren’t warm when you first meet them. They all seem to be a bit skeptical, but that is what I expected from the former Yugoslavia.
- The beaches and rocks are more stunning than I ever expected.
- The hostel I was staying at had turtles as pets, they didn’t bite.
- For about every beach there is also a FKK (nudist) beach just around the corner.

Around Split

I have come to realize it is better to spend time seeing a small area well, than to rush around and see lots of things very fast. I had a week in Croatia, and I stayed quite close to the city of Split. My accommodation was the Three Turtles Hostel, which I highly recommend. Split is an interesting mix, there is the old Dalmatian city walls which is an UNESCO World Heritage Site. Inside business owners have converted the old structures into beautiful shops, restaurants, and hotels while keeping the old feel to the city. There were concerts going on during my visit and the small corridors in the old city were fantastic.

Split also has a great market, just outside of the Dalmatian walls. They sell everything from beautiful fruits and vegetables, to sunglass, shirts, underwear, swimwear and towels. Remarkably, the prices in the market are quite cheap for the items being offered for sale.

One of the highlights for me in Split was the Marjan Hill and Park. I spent heaps of time in this park exploring. One day I climbed up the top of the hill. It was quiet with few tourists and had brilliant views of the ships, harbour, and city. You could see the sapphire water, gray and brown rocks, and olive grass. Around the edges of the park are rocky beaches, which are common in Croatia. Some are busy, while other beaches are quiet. I did a lot of exploring on the rocks of the beaches and did heaps of swimming in the water. The small fish, sea urchins, and sea cucumbers were thrilling. I loved the park so much.

Hvar

Hvar is GREAT! The ferry ride over from Split is a bit long, but well worth it. The ferry drops off at a non-descript area, and a bus is required for something more adventurous. I wasn’t sure what I was going to do, but I went the 20km to Hvar City to check out its offerings. It is a stunning town, with part of it built on the side of a large hill and the rest in an incredible valley. There are lots of ships in the harbour, including some very large yachts. They were impressive. Also, there is an equally impressive fort built on the side of the hill. It was remarkably well preserved and provided a bit of historical value to the area, not that some of the homes weren’t old. When I arrived I took a look at the map and there is a small island with an FKK (nudist) written on it. So I decided to be a bit local and check out Jerolim. I wasn’t disappointed here either. While most of the people on the small island are naked, it was even more beautiful than the other spots I had seen. I actually walked around the island, found a decent beach with other people around and went starkers. You have to be local, right? Anyway, after a few hours in the sun, my bum was burnt, although it now glows with an auburn hue. There was more animal life in the sea here, and I was only touched by a pesky sea urchin once.

Brac

I did a day trip from Split out to the island of Brac. This long island is a famous place visited by many tourists. The ferry takes around an hour to get out there and I quickly made my way to Bol and the Golden Cape Beach. It is considered to be one of the best beaches in Europe, and it didn’t disappoint. There were thousands on the beach, playing games and enjoying the seemingly unending sunshine and heat. The water was crystal clear blue and there were great biking and hiking trails.

The walk from the beach down to the city of Bol is also very nice. It was a wide walkway with lots of hotels, eateries, and heaps of people walking around. I think it would have been even better towards the evening.

See the rest of the photos on my FLICKR PAGE.

Random Thoughts...Update

2009-07-31T09:40:00.003-05:00

I have lots of things running through my head...Let's explore it:

- Southwest might try and buy Frontier Airlines. It is exciting and interesting, especially if Southwest decides to keep Lynx Airlines, Frontier's regional flying. Des Moines would definately be on the Southwest radar.

- Transitions to the United States after being gone for months is very up and down.

- I am considering something big for my 30th Birthday in September, possibly.

- The job search is ongoing, and diverse to say the least.

- I have been anti-social, I wonder if it is because I am coming off of a travel high?

- The video for Croatia is complete, France is still coming along.

- I am posting ALL of my photos from the trip on Flickr, it is taking days, but there are hundreds, if not thousands.

- I miss New Zealand, they know how to live life.

A Dream Come True

2009-07-18T11:42:00.004-05:00

Since I started on my trip Round the World I was hoping and praying the trip would be the BEST if I was able to fly business class from London to Chicago, my last long haul flight. This morning, I asked the check in person, I was still wait-listed. Then, when I arrived at the gate, still wait-listed. Then about 10 minutes prior to boarding my named was called. YES, I was going to sit in Business Class! I am flying on United Airlines and they have recently upgraded their Boeing 767 fleet with lay flat business class seats, with about half of them facing the back of the plane. I was fortunate to get one of the seats facing the rear of the plane, which was a new experience for me.

The meals were fantastic, the wine poured easily, and I did get a couple of hours of excellent sleep after not getting any in London. It was the best flight I have ever been on. It was worth spending the extra points for the upgrade, and I am excited to be back home.

Croatia...France...England

2009-07-12T08:31:00.004-05:00

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

2009-07-07T10:24:00.005-05:00

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

2009-07-06T03:37:00.002-05:00

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

2009-07-02T02:47:00.001-05:00

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

2009-06-30T03:41:00.004-05:00

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

2009-06-27T02:57:00.001-05:00

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

2009-06-22T06:10:00.002-05:00

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

2009-06-22T06:08:00.001-05:00

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!

2009-06-16T01:19:00.004-05:00

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

2009-06-16T00:03:00.002-05:00

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!

2009-06-12T05:13:00.002-05:00

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!

2009-06-10T20:32:00.003-05:00

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!

2009-06-03T19:13:00.001-05:00

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!

2009-06-02T00:31:00.003-05:00

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!

2009-06-01T23:58:00.005-05:00

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

2009-05-16T23:37:00.008-05:00

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.

Mummy and Daddy Visit New Zealand

2009-05-12T02:17:00.006-05:00

Traveling has been crazy the last 12 days. My Mum and Dad made the long trek to the "Land of the Long White Cloud" on their first international trip. They arrived on an early Saturday morning, which I was nursing quite the hangover from a night of drinking games. We drove down to Taupo for the night for me to catch up with mates and co-workers and for them to see what my life was like on the Central Plateau.

We woke up early Sunday and flew down to Dunedin. We rented a car and spent a couple of days on the Otago Peninsula. The weather was great, and the sites were wonderful. We went to "The Chasm" which was utterly amazing. When we walked up there I thought it wasn't going to be much, but once looking over the edge it was stunning. We also went to the Larnch Castle, which happens to be the only one in New Zealand. It was really nice, especially the gardens.

It was then off to Southland and the Catlins. I loved this area. We did quite a lot of walking, seeing some great waterfalls, a heap of sheep, some seals, and even a penguin or two. It was my favorite part of what we saw.

Finally, it was on to the Milford Sound and Queenstown. Milford was great, we did a cruise from Te Anau in the rain. The mountains are indescribable, the scenery was stunning, the water was everywhere. One of my favorite things was visiting Puzzleworld near Wanaka. I am still trying to figure out how everything worked.

We took heaps of photos, and I will have more up once I get to a place that doesn't have uploading restrictions. They were wonderful!

Thank you Mum and Dad for everything, I hope you had as good of a time as I did!

Baldwin Street - Dunedin

2009-05-11T19:30:00.002-05:00

This morning, I woke up to rain once again and thought it would be a good idea to go see the steepest street in the world, Baldwin Street. I spent a good 20 minutes looking for the place, it was so confusing. As I was getting frustrated I decided to turn back. I turned down a street and realized it was Baldwin Street.

I pulled up to the steep section to walk up it. Frankly, it didn't seem to steep. Then I started walking, it got tougher. It got really tough. Towards the steepest section, two cars couldn't make it and had to go down a driveway and head back down. Tires were screaming. It was crazy.

There are wonderful views from the top, and it was quite a workout!

Fire at the Hotel

2009-05-10T23:44:00.003-05:00

Update - There was a lot of damage to the reception area as well as extensive damage to the roof and conference rooms. My mate Jeff took a couple of photos for me.

My former workplace, Millennium Manuels caught fire this afternoon. According to former co-workers and friends the fire occurred in the roof and their is extensive water damage. Also, there was heaps of smoke that could be seen for miles. Thank goodness, everyone is OK!

Staff, guests evacuated after fire at Taupo resort

New 4:15PM Monday May 11, 2009

Guests and staff have been evacuated from the upmarket Manuels lakeside resort in Taupo after fire broke out in the roof.

Three Taupo fire appliances were in attendance at the blaze and five more were on the way after the alarm was sounded about 3pm, northern fire communications shift manager Steve Smith said.

Mr Smith said all people at the resort were accounted for and there were no reports of injuries .

A local resident said the fire was clearly visible from State Highway 1 although traffic was still flowing freely.

There was a large crowd of onlookers watching the action.

She said the fire had burnt a hole in the roof above the reception area and smoke was still coming it.

- NZPA

Marlborough - Nelson and Picton

2009-04-30T17:06:00.006-05:00

The last few days I have spent traveling around the Marlborough Region of New Zealand, and more specifically Nelson and Picton.

Picton
Picton serves as a big transportation town in New Zealand. The Interislander Ferry brings thousands over from the North Island every day. Also, there are heaps of semi trucks that make the three hour journey across the Cook Strait. Also the Tranz Scenic railway takes people further south to Christchurch.

I woke up early on my day in Picton and did a walk through the hills. There was hardly anyone on the track, and it was very stunning. The walk is surrounded by hills and looks over the very attractive city.

After the walk, I went over to the cinema to see what was playing, Slumdog Millionaire started about 10 minutes after I arrived, so I bought a ticket. The theater was very funny, three rows, 20 seats, and a screen the size of most televisions in the United States. As a bonus I was the only person watching the flick.

Marlborough Wine Region
Between Picton and Nelson is the Marlborough Wine Region which has something like 96 wineries dotting the area. Some of my favorites like Montana and Cloudy Bay have wineries. The hills in the background only make it better!

Nelson
Nelson was better than I expected. I have been transiting through the city the last couple of weeks and it seemed rather boring and sleepy. But, I was surprised to find out besides being and important port it also has an edgy side. I did a heap of walking around the city and found lots of interesting things. For example, a book store sells a title called "How to Smoke Pot" and there are lots of artsy types hanging about.

Another interesting side were all the churches. They were absolutely stunning. A few were converted into other services like a funeral home, but it was quite nice. Also nice was the walk up and down the Center of New Zealand. I was skeptical about the walk as well, but it was nice. the 360 degree views cannot be expressed in video or pictures. The sea was beautiful and there were heaps of colors.

Speaking of color, one of my favorite spots in Nelson were the Queen Gardens. They are handsome, interesting, and full of songbirds. There is a small waterway going through it, and it was perfect. I didn't get much video, but there are some pictures below.

I am currently in Auckland and my parents should be arriving in less than 24 hours, I hope they are excited about their first international trip!

Abel Tasman and Golden Bay

2009-04-29T18:58:00.002-05:00

Who Is Abel Tasman?

Well he was an explorer, pretty early in New Zealand. But, Abel Tasman is also the site of one of the best National Parks in New Zealand. Although being the second smallest National Park in the country it has one of the Great Walks.

Initially, I thought it would be awesome to do the three-day walk from Marahau to Totaranui. I was planning to rent some equipment, stay at a few huts and head off up the track. But, upon closer research I found it might be interesting to do the route via kayaking and walking.

I booked the kayak and took a water taxi up to Anchorage Bay begin my journey. Once there I hopped on a kayak and went north past Torrent Bay, Medlands Beach, Sandfly. We came across several small islands.

Then, we made it to Tonga Bay and Tonga Island, which is a seal marine reserve. These little guys came up and flirted with everyone. They climbed on a few kayaks and loved for us to pet them. According to the kayak guide, seals only eat live food. They concentrate on squid and octopus, and are quite picky. Lots of the older seals spent their time in the sun or doing a bit of hunting in the sea.

Our stopping point for the day was Onetahuti Beach, where a water taxi took us back to Anchorage.

Overnight I stayed a place called Aquapackers. Which is a backpackers hostel on a boat. There was music, a barbecue, boat jumping, and a good sleep.

The next morning, I set off on foot from Anchorage back to Marahau. This section of the track follows the sea and there are amazing views of the water, rocks, and trees. I was so impressed by all that I saw.

It was great kayaking and hiking the Abel Tasman. It is now low season, and very few people on the track. It was great to hear the birds, see other wildlife, and have such an amazing autumn day!

AWE...Good Bye Bea Arthur...

2009-04-26T00:52:00.002-05:00

Golden Girls star Bea Arthur dies at 86

April 26, 2009 - 9:26AM

A family spokesman for Bea Arthur says the star of TV's Maude and The Golden Girls has died aged 86.

Spokesman Dan Watt said Arthur died at home early on Saturday. He said she had cancer, but he declined to give further details.

The tall, deep-voiced actress won a Tony Award for the musical Mame and Emmy Awards for The Golden Girls and Maude. Arthur's razor-sharp delivery of comedy lines helped make the TV comedies hits and turned the veteran stage and film actress into a popular TV star.

Arthur first appeared as the character Maude in the 1970s landmark comedy series All in the Family, making guest appearances as the loudly outspoken, liberal in-law of blue-collar bigot Archie Bunker (Carroll O'Connor).

AP

A Little Tease...

2009-04-24T00:22:00.002-05:00

I am going to tease you just a bit. I checked out my photos from Golden Bay and the Abel Tasman. They look great. I hope the video looks nice as well. But, before I get everything ready, here are a couple.

Abel Tasman Completed...

2009-04-22T02:41:00.002-05:00

I am fresh from a fantastic trip to the Abel Tasman National Park. I will have a great video and many, many, many pictures to show. But, you will have to be patient, I need some time to relax. I have hiked and kayaked 56kms. Stay tuned!

Welcome to the South

2009-04-20T03:11:00.003-05:00

Wow, I am exhausted today. I didn't do much siteseeing, but I spent a lot of time getting a plan of travel attack worked out. Yesterday, I spent the day traveling. It started with a ferry, then on to a bus, and finally a nice walk. I am currently in Motueka awaiting my early morning start on the Abel Tasman.

My Abel Tasman experience will be different then I expected. Instead of renting equipment, making hut reservations, buying food, and walking the darn thing. Instead, I will start my day with a water taxi up to the top of the walk, use a kayak to get down from the north and spend a second day finishing up the trek walking. I have been promised that I an only see the sea lions up close on the kayak, so it should be great.

After the trek I am going up to Takaka and Golden Bay to help out on a farm for the ANZAC weekend and then back to Picton to visit some friends and finally to Nelson before flying off to pick up my parents at the end of April.

Motueka, where I am staying isn't too interesting besides the factory, mussel farms, and the Marlborough wine are just up the road a few kilometers.

Anyway, I need my rest and to finish up the planning. I won't have access to a computer for a couple of days, so expect and update when I get back

Wellington

2009-04-19T16:50:00.003-05:00

I had a fantastic time re-discovering Wellington over the last couple of days. The city is rich in culture, from brilliant restaurants, to seaside trails, to a diverse population. Wellington is the center of government in New Zealand and holds a lot of corporate power as well.

Describing Wellington is difficult. It is small and compact stretching across hills right down to the sea. It has a vibrant city center concentrated around Lambton Quay, Cuba Street, and Courteney Place. There are also many stage theaters around the have everything from Wayne Brady to Puppetry of the Penis.

Then there is sport. The Westpac Stadium holds thousands for rugby games. I saw kids playing the street. Dad's teaching their young son's and daughter's how to skateboard. Plus there are the skate parks, as well as trails all through the city for those of us that love to run.

Oh, and I must speak about the restaurants. I had a delightful experience at my favorite restaurant Hummingbird. I also went to a place recommended by my friend Ursula Mensen called Monsoon Poon. AMAZING!!!!

So, Wellington is the size of Des Moines, the landscape of San Francisco, and the feel of New York - I can describe it after all!

Oh, check out Facebook, I put heaps of pictures on there.

Congrats - 2 Guys

2009-04-18T04:24:00.003-05:00

Two Guys Around the World just won the Lonely Planet Best Blog and Best Video Blog. We have similar plans, although theirs might be more aggressive. We have the same budgets - $10,000. We are going around the world. They aren't working, and spending more time in Asia as well as time in South America. Anyway, they have an amazing blog and website. Congratulations guys!

Clever Marketing???

2009-04-16T21:00:00.003-05:00

I get to see the Wicked Camper vans very day. I saw them in Taupo, I see them on the road, and even this morning I walked past one on my way to Te Papa. The same company has a site in Australia and are using clever marketing to get people to rent their vans. Show up nude, and you get a free day rental.

So far, hundreds of people have walked into the offices fully clad, gassed up a cheap van, and had their picture taken for the wall of naked backpackers.

Wicked campers are usually known for their spray painted, and sometimes racy vans, but this story is gaining a lot of attention around the world.

On their website there are 55 pictures of people showing up in the clad, don't worry their bits and pieces are covered on the website.

Most people know I would totally do this. So wicked.

Full Story

Wellington is Like Des Moines, Des Moines is Like Wellington

2009-04-16T20:46:00.003-05:00

I have been thinking about Wellington a lot lately. Granted, I am in Wellington right now. I love Wellington, but I also love Des Moines. Maybe a comparison is due:

Similarities

1. Waterfront: Wellington, Tasman Sea - Des Moines, Des Moines and Raccoon River
2. Center of Government: Wellington, National - Des Moines, State
3. Population (regional): Wellington, 504,000 - Des Moines, 525,000
4. Weather: Wellington, Cold, Hot, Windy - Des Moines, Frozen, Hot and Sometimes Windy
5. Cultural: Wellington, Te Papa - Des Moines, Science Center and Historical Society

Differences
1. Theaters (stage): Wellington, Heaps - Des Moines, Civic Center
2. Mass Transport: Wellington, Ferry, Train, Bus - Des Moines, Limited Bus
3. Suburbs: Wellington, none - Des Moines, Way too many
4. Shopping: Wellington, City Center - Des Moines, Corn Fields
5. Nightlife: Wellington, Like New York - Des Moines, Getting Better

To conclude, if Des Moines had a more vibrant city center, fewer suburbs, and a bit more culture it would be like Wellington. If Wellington were more spread out, had less mass transport and malls it would be like Des Moines.

They are both awesome cities.

I am in Wellington

2009-04-15T01:18:00.002-05:00

After a very enjoyable last night in Taupo I have made it to Wellington! I am staying at my favorite hostel in the entire world, it is GREAT! Last night, I went out with some mates to celebrate a birthday and me leaving town. I got home pretty late which means I am totally tired today. Anyway, I will be spending time at Te Papa, hiking around the city, looking at the government buildings...And plain enjoying myself.

Here We Go...

2009-04-13T21:31:00.001-05:00

And I am off, it is time to start traveling. Over the next 90-odd days I am going to be moving on around the world. First, of course, New Zealand. I will start with stops in Wellington, Nelson, and Golden Bay. I will go back to Auckland to pick up my parents. We will spend a night in Taupo and then fly off to the deep south and explore Dunedin, the Caitlins, Milford, Te Anau, and Queenstown before they fly back to the United States. I will be going up to Christchurch and then over to the West Coast via train before going back up to Auckland.

At the end of May I will be going to Niue in the middle of the South Pacific for a week. After Niue I am going to Australia to revisit my old stomping grounds in Sydney and to see the sun in the Northern Queenstown city of Cairns.

After, Australia I am leaving for Thailand and its stunning scenery. Then off to spiritual India and the Taj Mahal. The heat will continue in Egypt where I will hopefully see the Pyramids. After Egypt, I move on to Europe and see the idyllic beaches of Croatia. Then it is on to the Mediterrean where I will work on my tan, eat beautiful bread, and hopefully drink some astonishing wine.

Finally, my last stop, a couple of nights in London to catch up with friends and party a bit.

I am ready to get this part of my journey started. It should be a great three months.

Goodbye Taupo!

2009-04-13T21:28:00.002-05:00

I am leaving Taupo in less than 24 hours. It is time to start traveling without the work attached to it. I am so happy about my decision to live in Taupo over the last 6 months. I have met new friends that will be in my life for a long time. But it is time to move on, I am ready to see more and do more in this fine country.

Before, I leave I wanted to expand the list of things I will miss:

- Going to Zest Café on paydays to eat the Asian inspired dishes
- Walking down Tui street and hear all of the birds
- Walking to work on a clear day with the snow-capped mountains and the sun gently setting
- Watching the purple and blue colors during the wee hours of the morning
- Having a refreshing run along the lake path
- Watching the morning fog on the Waikato River
- Completing my weekly run to Huka Falls
- Learning to play cricket with Jeff
- Learning how to make proper coffee
- Seeing my mail delivered by a person on a bike

Thank you Taupo, for giving me an amazing experience. One I will never forget!

Tongariro Crossing

2009-04-08T20:43:00.006-05:00

I completed the challenging Tongariro Crossing last week. It was a crazy time, but great!

8 Days...

2009-04-04T20:23:00.002-05:00

I can't believe I have only 8 days left of work at the hotel and then it is off traveling. I can't wait. I will miss Taupo, and the friends that I have made here. But I have had some scattered thoughts about the town...

- I need to get a picture of the Karen Walker line of clothing. I knew she was a drunk, New York socialite, but I never thought of her as a New Zealand clothing designer.

- Last week was a perfect autumn week. Very sunny and warm during the day and near freezing at night. And the trees are starting to change colors.

- I did the Tongaririo Crossing last week, it wiped me out and I still need to get the video together.

- On my daily walk to work, I pass a Maori graveyard, it is really beautiful.

- Daylight savings time ended yesterday, the sun is going down way to early.

- I am going to miss seeing the sunset every night on the lake.

- I am SO proud of my state.

Nick the Traveler NOW on NicholasIrving.com

2009-04-01T18:01:00.002-05:00

I have just made a huge update. From today, when you check out www.nicholasirving.com you will also be checking out this blog. I hope you enjoy it!

Rotorua...A Bad Smell or Place for Playboy?

2009-04-01T16:36:00.000-05:00

'Aphrodisiac' smell sees Playboy mansion plans for Rotorua
April 1, 2009 - 12:36PM

The rotten egg smell emanating from New Zealand's popular tourist town, Rotorua, is such a powerful aphrodisiac that Hugh Hefner wants to build his next playboy mansion there.

Well, that's what the city's savvy tourism board would have you believe on April Fool's Day.

The board has issued doctored photographs of Hefner in town and a racy media release quoting the Playboy magazine founder as saying: "There's definitely something in the air in Rotorua."

"At my age it's great to get up in the morning without relying on any form of medication."

There is a nugget of truth in the seasonal tomfoolery, with Kiwi tourism executives keen to capitalise on research by Italy's University of Naples showing a link between the city's pongy hydrogen sulphide smell and male sexual arousal.

The research, published this month in the prestigious Journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, goes so far as to claim sulphide could be used to restore sexual function in men.

The city has used the claims to bat away recent criticism from a cheeky Australian expat who wrote on his blog site, fushnchups.co.nz, that Rotorua "smells like the whole town let rip at once".

The media release claims Hefner was jet bound for Rotorua as soon as he heard the sex claims and brokered a deal to convert the city's museum, which incidentally resembles his Los Angeles mansion, into a Playboy holiday mansion.

"While I thought the research findings would attract a lot of international interest from men looking to improve their sexual performance, I never expected a call from the man responsible for the sexual revolution of the sixties," Lyall Thurston from Rotorua Centennial Trust said in the release.

Destination Rotorua Tourism marketing manager Don Gunn admitted the launch, which included doctored audio of Hefner apparently answering questions about how much Rotorua had improved his virility, was "just a bit of fun".

He said he hoped Hefner wouldn't take issue with it.

"We thought about getting in touch with him but decided we'd just wait and offer him a free trip to check it out if he hears about it."

Traveling with Mates

2009-03-19T19:15:00.008-05:00

Since the middle of February I have had several guests from the states pay a visit to me in New Zealand. First was John who came to New Zealand on his first international flight. We started our trip at Great Barrier Island, bummed around Taupo, looked for the Whalerider movie sites on the East Cape, looked at beautiful beaches. Andy and Mindy arrived on the day John was leaving New Zealand so we spent the day on Waiheke Island. Andy, Mindy and I then went off to Taupo to see the Ironman, spent a day in Napier at a winery, and then headed off to Northland, Pahia, 90 Mile Beach, and the Bay of Islands.

I think everyone had a great trip and I have the video and photos to prove it!

Finally Rested

2009-03-18T19:32:00.002-05:00

The last month has been crazy. I had some wonderful visits from friends in the states. We went all over the North Island doing some travel. Then I have been working extremely hard the last 5 days. Well, I am going to post a few photos and some videos in just a couple of days. Here is a peek.

Guess Where I Am???

2009-03-09T02:02:00.001-05:00

Do you have any clue where I am at right now...Please be specific!!! Here is a hint.

Haere Ra John!!!

2009-03-03T01:02:00.002-06:00

The past 2 weeks have been crazy busy. Why? My dear friend John has been in New Zealand on his first international trip. We started the journey immediately after he arrived in the country and went to Great Barrier Island. Then we went down to Taupo, he spent some time in Wellington. And we finished the trip with Rotorua, Gisborne, Napier, Auckland. We have been in the water, watched the rain pour, climbed up several mountains, took 3 minute showers, drove around a Mazda 121, and had a few BurgerFuels. I think we both made a few memories on his trip. For me, it was great to see someone from home. For him, driving on the left side of the road and seeing clear water was the best (at least I think)

While tonight is John's last night in New Zealand, I have 2 more visitors arriving in the morning. Andy and Mindy Laubenthal arrive here on their honeymoon in less than 10 hours. I am very excited to see them, but sad to see John leave.

Have a great flight John!

Great Barrier Island

2009-02-23T17:28:00.002-06:00

John and I spent a few days hanging around Taupo and Great Barrier Island. Here are a few shots. There will be more later, I promise!

On Monday

2009-02-13T17:36:00.000-06:00

Check out this video of where I am going on Monday!

Random Travel Thoughts

2009-02-02T17:48:00.003-06:00

Intrepid Journeys, a television show of famous Kiwi's traveling in undeveloped nations has been a huge hit in my book. I found a couple of segments on YouTube, but if you want more, visit the TVNZ website.

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The first Emirates Airbus 380 arrived in Auckland yesterday. The monster will be flying 3 times per week from Sydney and on to Dubai, I can't wait to see these planes!

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I found a great new video about Niue Island from PBS in the United States. I am so excited about going to this small place!

W.O.F.

2009-01-27T19:36:00.002-06:00

WOF is the sound a dog makes, but is also an interesting system in New Zealand to keep quality vehicles on the road. Some consider it bureaucratic, while others see it as a safety mechanism.

I went out to the Automobile Association website to find out more:

What is a Warrant of Fitness (WoF)?

It's a regular check to ensure your car is safe to drive on the road. A Warrant of Fitness is compulsory for light vehicles (cars, station wagons, vans, 4WDs, SUVs, light trucks). It's also required for trailers and motorcycles.

How often do I need to have this safety inspection?

If your car was first registered:

* Less than six years ago
o You're required to complete a WoF every 12 months
* Over six years ago
o You're required to complete a WoF every 6 months

Who can carry out the WoF safety check?

Only approved testing stations and garages. As a WoF agent, we're required to follow the car inspection requirements manual (VIRM). These requirements are defined and monitored by Land Transport New Zealand.

What's checked during a WoF inspection?

This is a general safety check and includes:

* Tyre condition
* Brake operation
* Structural condition
* Lights, doors and windows
* Windscreen washers and wipers
* Safety belts and airbags
* Speedometer, steering and suspension
* Exhaust and fuel system

Once your car passes the Warrant of Fitness inspection, you're required to keep it in this condition.

What do I do if my car fails the inspection?

If your car fails the inspection, you're not allowed to drive it on the road. There is one exception to this rule. And that's if you're in the process of bringing the car into compliance or obtaining a new WoF. But the car must be safe to drive for that purpose. Otherwise, stick to the golden rule: stay off the road until you have a valid Warrant of Fitness!

When you've fixed all the required areas, we'll check it again. If you bring it back to us within 28 days of the first inspection, then we'll complete the second inspection at no charge. After this date, however, we'll have to start from scratch.

What about other safety factors? How can I get these checked?

A WoF is not a pre-purchase inspection. So there are a number of areas that won't be checked. These include:

* Engine, clutch, gearbox and differential
* Lubricant levels and condition
* Brake pad thickness or life expectancy
* Paint work condition and rust in non-structural areas
* Interior condition
* Road test

If you'd like these areas checked, we can help. We provide AA Pre-Purchase Inspections. We can come to you. Or you can visit one of our AA Inspection Centres.

Where do I display the WoF label?

This label must be displayed on your car at all times. Attach it to the inside of the windscreen. Display it on the driver's side (the same side as the steering wheel). Affix it to far-right of the glass (or the left side, if your car is a left-hand drive vehicle).

How do know when my WoF expires?

Take a look at the label. You'll see that there is one circle for each month of the year. The circle showing the month your WoF expires has been removed. This will give you an indication of the month it needs to be re-inspected.

There is also an expiry date written on the label. You must have your car inspected and warranted before this expiry date.

Marie Gookin

2009-01-27T19:01:00.003-06:00

My Great Grandmother Francis passed away when I was very young, around the age of 2, so I really never got to know her. My Great Grandfather Willard was another story. He was a part of our lives for many years, in fact he only passed away three years ago at the age of 98.

Many years ago he introduced our family to Marie Gookin. She lost her spouse like my Grandad, and quickly became part of our family. She would attend birthday parties, holidays, and family events. She moved to Northridge at the same time as Grandad and then on to the nursing home around the same time.

I always liked having her around, she would never be able to replace my Great Grandmother, but she was very Grandmother-like. She only had one child which died young, and very few other family members. I think she liked being around our extended family.

This past weekend after 94 years of life, 10 of which have been in a nursing home Marie passed away with dignity.

I know she is somewhere looking after her beloved husband once again and seeing all the friends and family she has lost over the years.

God Bless you Marie, I was so glad to know you!

Marie Gookin Obituary

A1GP Grid Girls

2009-01-25T19:26:00.001-06:00

The AIGP has been going on this weekend in Taupo and the "Grid Girls" have been staying in the hotel. They have had lots of attention, so much so they were in the NZ Herald GRID GIRLS

Visit Me in Australia

2009-01-22T19:01:00.002-06:00

Friends and Family, you should come and visit me when I travel through Australia. I was just looking online and found a roundtrip airfare from Des Moines to Sydney for only $1064.00 including taxes! I am planning to spend a couple of days in Sydney and then head north for warmer temperatures, I am thinking Noosa or Cairns. So send me an email if you are interested...

Oh, the dates are June 3-17th, 2009!

A Few Political Thoughts

2009-01-22T18:48:00.001-06:00

Weekend in Auckland...

2009-01-19T18:47:00.003-06:00

Weekend in Auckland…

I decided it was time to take a weekend off. Over the last 3 months I have spent a lot of time working, many weekends waiting tables, making drinks and portering bags. I needed to get to the city.

My mate Douglas invited me to stay with him and his flatmate Trevo for the weekend. I arrived on Friday evening and Douglas and I met J.C. out for some dinner and drinks. It was a great evening.

On Saturday we got up to meet Douglas’s mate Bain, whom I have chatted online with several times. We went on some short tramps around several Auckland area parks. Our ultimate goal was to head off to a secluded and massive beach. It was such an interesting place. Strange rock formations, caves, swampy areas, and even a desert like beach. I can’t express the massiveness of it. We only saw one fisherman and a couple during our time on the beach.

We were like teenagers on the beach. Creating Sphinx, Pyramids, Airports, and Hotels in the sand. We jumped in the cold, active sea, and enjoyed our time out there.

On Saturday night, we had a small barbecue with Bain and his flatmate along with a few others.

Sunday was a day to lie in, which was needed. After a nice breakfast, we went out to Mt. Victoria and spent time in Devonport, an Auckland suburb. The views were absolutely amazing. The water was blue, the hills were green, and the clouds were like cotton.

We spent time going through the former watchtowers and learning a bit more about the large guns and Maori history on the area.

Finally, at the end of the trip another beautiful barbecue with many of Douglas and Trevo’s friends. It was a brilliant end to a fantastic weekend!

Homesickness

2009-01-15T18:19:00.000-06:00

Homesickness

Every moment of travel isn’t ‘hunky dory.’ When you are away from everything of comfort there will be periods of ‘ homesickness.’ This trip I have felt a few days of homesickness.

The day I arrived was probably the worst. I arrived in Auckland, and my nerves got the best of me. There were a couple of tearful moments when I was able to get in touch with Kevin. It was so difficult leaving him and the rest of my family the previous day, but I knew this trip was necessary.

The holidays brought another round of homesickness. This year I worked a lot of hours between Christmas, Boxing Day and New Years, which made the holiday even worse. There were too many ‘bah-humbugs’ in the workplace, and too many fun family activities happening back in the States. It was most difficult using Skype during my grandfather’s 80th birthday and Christmas celebration. My family was having such a great time huddled around the fire during the winter storm happening outside.

What is the best way to rid yourself of homesickness? Well, first I think there would be a major problem if you weren’t feeling some homesickness. Admitting, you are feeling alone, or missing your family is the initial step to feeling better. Second, talking to the person you miss. I probably wouldn’t be there without Kevin or my family if modern technology weren’t available. Skype has helped me still feel part of life back home, while being able to live life here. Plus, it is better to have a face-to-face conversation opposed to a telephone call any day. Third, doing something a bit out of the ordinary with the people you are missing. I usually send a heartfelt letter or email to whomever I am missing, it helps me and helps the other party understand your feelings towards them.

There isn’t a cure or medication to help with homesickness, but it can be dealt with to reduce possible issues. It is part of long-term travel to miss everything familiar. I am sure my issues with it will get better with all the upcoming visitors I have, they start rolling in next month!

Scattered Thoughts...

2009-01-15T18:13:00.002-06:00

- Mrs. Copeland is from Taupo and taking a break at the hotel from nursing her ailing husband. He has been sick for sometime. Very sad.

- The morning air has been chilly, I have seen my breath. I think anyone from the midwest might kill me for saying that.

- The lake is stunning first thing in the morning, often very placid.

- Sometimes I think the hotel I work in should be a reality show, there is always so much drama.

- I have 5 DAYS OFF...I am not kidding, but heading up to Auckland later today for my first weekend out of Taupo.

- Taupo has been very busy. You can tell it is summer.

- I saw a story a week ago about how nobody has died because of an accident on a commercial airline jet. I guess that statistic stays the same today after the flight from NYC.

I Bought the Ticket...

2009-01-12T17:25:00.002-06:00

Last week, one of my go-to destiations went on sale. I am going to Niue! I would guess most people have never heard of the country. But it is a small, Pacific Island just across the International Date Line from New Zealand.

There are only 1500 people that live on the island. Air New Zealand flies the 1 flight per week that goes here. I am so excited to go.

A few facts for you about Niue:
- There are less that 90 hotel rooms on the Island
- 19˚south of the Equator. It’s 2,200 km's northeast of New Zealand, 386 km's east of Tonga and 900 km's west of Rarotonga in the Cook Islands.
- It rises no more than 69 m above sea level, and was exposed as a result of dropping sea levels in the last million years. It is protected from the direct effects of the sea by a terraced limestone reef with living coral just beneath sea level.
- The country is a stable parliamentary democracy and has 20 sitting Member's of Parliament, presided over by a Premier.

Niue Island Website

Sport Weekends

2009-01-07T19:27:00.002-06:00

This video is a bit late, but there have been some massive sporting events in Taupo over the last couple of months, so I got some footage. They were so much fun to watch.

Taupo Half Ironman
WATTYL Cycle Challenge

Death Near the Hotel...

2009-01-06T16:25:00.000-06:00

I saw this happen yesterday...

A Maritime Safety official will on Wednesday begin investigating the death of a nine-year-old girl on Lake Taupo.

The child fell off water skis off Two Mile Bay when she was run over by a boat.

Police are also investigating the death, but say it is too early to know whether any charges will be laid.

The boat's driver gave immediate assistance to the girl and her family, but she died before she could be taken to hospital by ambulance.

The boat has been seized and will be examined by engineers and police.

The death has raised some concerns about staying safe while boating.

Lake Taupo harbourmaster Philip King says there are easy ways for people to stay safe on the water.

He says they need to educate themselves on the speed limit, know the laws, and be aware of what's happening around them.

King says the speed limit on Lake Taupo is five knots within 200 metres of the shore.

King wouldn't comment on the incident while investigations are underway, but says he often deals with people speeding.

Happy New Year!

2008-12-30T19:06:00.003-06:00

I know most of my blog readers are in the Northern Hemisphere, so I thought I would share a beautiful photo from a few years ago of a sunset on Caye Caulker, Belize. Since, I am in the first time zone that will cross 2009, so Happy New Year!

Naked People at the Door...

2008-12-26T15:29:00.004-06:00

I am currently recovering from a bit of shock. I guess it was my last Christmas gift. I got a call to bring some ice and lotion to one of the guest rooms at the hotel. It isn't an unusual request. I prepared the necessary items and then went to the room.

I knocked, and it took some time for the people to come to the door. It was dark in the room. When they opened the door, it was two 20-something women, stark NAKED. I kept my composure. I did look at the goods, and from and anatomical perspective, they were proportial. Meaning, they were attractive women.

They giggled, asked for more ice and lotion. I didn't smile, laugh, or even cry. However, I did run and tell everyone I work with.

As it turns out they know one of my work-mates and were hoping he anwered the door. I sent him to the room for more ice, and we timed it to make sure he returned. Oh, they are strippers...

Merry Christmas...Happy Holidays!

2008-12-23T18:41:00.004-06:00

I hope everyone has a great holiday, in whatever you celebrate. I will be spending a rainy Christmas and Boxing Day working, but I am sure it will be a great time!

Scattered Thoughts...

2008-12-19T19:41:00.002-06:00

- It is really funny seeing my parents trying to learn how to use their new Mac and Skype.

- I have been laughing about a comedy sketch I saw. Can you imagine a big Maori guy saying "Sweet As Bro" in a high pitched voice.

- I have only seen 4 Christmas trees since I have arrived, and no lights on the outside of homes. Strange.

- Work has been playing a lot of Christmas music. I am so tired of hearing WAM singing "Last Christmas."

- I went out last night, way, way, way too much booze.

- I am not liking the exchange rate, it isn't doing me any favors.

- United is pissing me off. They still haven't posted an Air New Zealand flight that will put me back in the Premiere status.

- The Iowa family that was on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition will be on TV here on Monday night.

- I love the song they use on Telecom NZ commercials, it is catchy.

- I booked a weekend trip to Auckland in January. The flight up was almost as cheap as going on the bus and about 4 hours less time.

- I have been doing a lot of travel research. My friend Livio in Italy has been really helpful with Europe, India, and Croatia stuff.

- I almost bought a car, but petrol wasn't in my budget

Sunburn

2008-12-10T17:53:00.003-06:00

Kevin Gooch is the sunscreen police. He has seen me endure (and complain) about the pain it has caused so many parts of my body. Well, I was proud to say I have taken his advice and bought a big tube of SPF 30+ sunscreen. I bought it because I wanted to spend some time out on the beach (which is only 500m) near my flat. Last Friday, the weather was stunning, so I went out with 2 books, the sunscreen, and my towel.

When I arrived and found a good spot, I carefully put the cream on my body, hoping not to miss any spots. As I have said before, it is easier to burn here than any other part of the world. I was planning to spend 2 hours at the beach, and I did.

Later that evening at work, I was in some pain behind my knees. I took a look, and they were so red, and in a spot that sees so much movement. I thought, crap, the one spot that has so much use, is causing me so much pain. It was a deep red and incredibly burnt.

Well, it is feeling much better, the pain is gone, the redness has left, and I have beautiful brown tans behind my knees.

I won’t again forget that part of my body.

Mountain Biking

2008-12-10T17:50:00.002-06:00

I have biked hundreds if not thousands of miles. You might catch me on a warm evening or weekend on the Neil Smith or Great Western trail poking along on my bike. I have had a few near misses with cars, been scared by a tree branch on the road, and even misjudged by other bikers, but last week was tough.

My new mate Emma thought it would be fun to get out and do some mountain biking. I am using a mountain bike to get around, why not use some of the trails around the area. We arrived at the Craters of the Moon to check out the Grade 2 and 3 trails. I was almost immediately scared. We started down the trails, and the pine needles were very slippery. I thought my feet were strapped in like my road bike back in Iowa, but they weren’t. I was so scared to be going down the meter wide trail with steep hills, turns, and a few obstructions. I would be at the top of a hill and look down, stopped. Emma would go, and I would walk (or run) the bike down.

By the time we were on our third trail, I was doing much better. My anxiety was waning, albeit slightly, and I was ready for new challenges. But, I was wiped out and ready to get back into town.

I have promised Emma more rides once my busy work schedule calms down, but it still makes my heart beat so much faster.

WOW...Look at the Sun

2008-12-10T17:48:00.000-06:00

I now have a bike, actually I am borrowing it from Braden because he doesn’t us it and sometimes I need to get around a bit faster. It has been such a blessing for not only my fitness but also for cutting my 20-minute commutes down to 5 minutes each way. Enough about the bike.

Just a few minutes ago I was on my way home, via the bike and noticing how peaceful the evening was. I couldn’t feel too much of a lake wind, but there were a few waves clapping below the cliff. The sky was clear after two days of rain, it was really nice.

Off in the distance I could see what looked like remnants of the sun. I was thinking, could this sun stay up this long all summer long? I looked at my watch and saw that it was about 10:45 p.m. Wow, the sun is still out.

When I arrived back at home, the flat mate was about ready to go to bed. I told him to look outside; I could still see some of the sunrays. He went outside, and said, “Look, there is the nearly full moon.” It was the moon rays that were bright, the summer sky twinkling. I must have spent entirely too much time at the bar last night.

Mt Tauhara

2008-11-27T16:23:00.005-06:00

On Sunday, Pete, Braden and I decided it was time we climbed Mt. Tauhara. Mt Tauhara can be seen all across the city, it rises to about 1088M/3569FT. It can be seen all over the area and looks great.

The trail starts in a cow field and then gets very steep. So steep we had to catch our breaths a few times. Then it goes through a strange area that looks very creepy. Finally, you reach the windy cold top. It is very majestic and you can see for miles.

Happy Thanksgiving

2008-11-27T16:19:00.003-06:00

I wanted to wish everyone a very nice Thanksgiving. I was able to chat with my family on the phone and they were all completely stuffed, which is great. I am so THANKFUL to have such a great group of family, friends, and blog buddies. You all are wonderful!

Nick Update

2008-11-25T18:55:00.002-06:00

There have been a lot of random things running through my head the last couple of weeks.

Work
The hotel must really like the work I am doing, they have nearly doubled my shifts starting this week. Now, I am working about 1-3 mornings per week (6am-12pm) and then my regular 5 nights (5:30pm-12:00am) it is tiring but should really aid in my New Zealand travel budget.

Also, I forgot what it is like to work with teens to 20 year old. They are constantly drama filled and worn out from their long 4-6 hour shifts. It feels like a really good soap opera I am not involved in.

Family
I can't believe I have been here for over a month now. Things have been really good so far, no major complaints. It has been fun meeting new people, and waiting for summer to start. Kevin and I have done some video chats and regular phone calls. There are times when I feel a bit isolated, especially knowing Thanksgiving is just a few days away, but I am doing well.

Mt. Tauhara
The beginning almost killed me, we had to stop a couple of times so I could catch my breath, but climbing it was great. Pete (my flatmate) and Braden (my mate) made the early morning trek. I should have a video up by Friday, we had such a great time.

Bike
I thought since I am working a lot more, it might be time to invest in a bike. Well, my investment was just a small one as Braden had an extra bike sitting around. It has reduced my commute time by about 10 minutes, meaning I can get a bit more sleep before my 5am alarm clock. It is hard getting up at 5am when I don't get off the night before until midnight.

Current Reading
I made a strong effort to finish a book I have been on forever. Dark Star Safari is about a trip he took overland from Cairo to Cape Town. He has some interesting adventures over a very dangerous area. Mr. Theroux drives me crazy, it seems the middle section of is books are very down and depressing and then he ends on such a great tone. I guess it is like a lot of travel, but he pisses me off way too much. Anyway, the book is finished and I am on to one of my favorite writer's new book Marco Polo Didn't Go There: Stories and Revelations from One Decade as a Postmodern Travel Writer it is collection of this writing that has appeared in online and print magazines. The stories are interesting, and really fun. I am only on the third story, but can't wait to read more tonight.

Summer Feeling
I think summer has arrived here. There are more sunny, hot days than cloudy ones now. Also, my allergies are in full force which caused me to stop by the pharmacy yesterday for some meds. One interesting point I have made many times, the sun here is much more powerful than in the Northern Hemisphere. You might look at a the temperature being 23C/73F and think not too bad, but the sun is much warmer than that and it loves to burn you up.

Iowa on Neighbours???

2008-11-20T18:44:00.002-06:00

Yesterday, I was watching my favorite show Neighbours (it is so sad I am admitting this). The show is an Australian hit that is shown all over the world and is very popular in England. It has been on for decades, and I watched it nightly when I was in Australia. It is the Aussie's version of Guiding Light or As The World Turns. Well, Donna Freeman is a teenage character that is having heaps of issues. She can't decide which boy she likes, her parents are having huge issues, and lots of the girls don't like her. The story line is beyond the point, because during the show she was wearing a shirt that said "Iowa: The Hawkeye State" it made me smile, and then ask "Where can I get the shirt?"

More about Donna Freeman:

You know when Donna Freedman hits the room. Sure, she’s gorgeous, free-spirited and creative – but she’s also too noisy, and too intense.
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Don’t be confused by the outward confidence – Donna is driven by a fierce need for approval and acceptance. And most people can smell that a mile off, which means she gets neither love nor acceptance. Which makes her try that little bit too hard.

Her parents are in the middle of a toxic divorce, and they each use Donna to communicate their rage and disillusionment to the other. Donna’s father is a copper working night jobs to support the family; Donna’s mother has taken disappointment to a professional level. He lectures her; she has made a sport of outshining her, and each blames the other for what they perceive as Donna’s failings. Since early adolescence, she’s called them by their first names – it makes life easier if she thinks of them as badly behaved kids, not as her parents.

Donna's too competitive to have female friends; you can thank her mother for this. And she’s too out of control to have boyfriends. Who does that leave? No one really. So the music scene has become a home for her. And rising star Ty has become the focus of her heated dreams of love and acceptance. She can recite all the lyrics to all his songs – part of her thinks that he wrote them all for her.

This makes her sound like a train wreck. And it’s true – she’s brittle, awkward, and sometimes completely unscrupulous. But underneath that there’s a warm, vulnerable girl, loveable and charming and playful. She’s just seen too much disappointment to let anyone else know her.

About Neighbours

Taupo Sunsets

2008-11-17T18:36:00.003-06:00

Aratiatia Update

2008-11-16T17:09:00.009-06:00

Braden and I went for a quick look around yesterday at Lake Rotokawa and the dam opening at Aratiatia Rapids.

Lake Rotokawa
This is one of those crazy, smelly, lakes full of what is a mix of sulpheric acid and water. Not much lives in them, but the emerald green is wonderful. Enjoy!

Aratiatia Rapids

This is what happens when they open the gates.

Taupo Webcam

2008-11-14T20:10:00.001-06:00

Here is a look at Lake Taupo, nearly live...

Live Webcam in Taupo

What Are The Chances...

2008-11-13T17:07:00.001-06:00

You must check out this COFFIN STORY.

Huka Falls and Aratiatia Track

2008-11-13T16:50:00.001-06:00

NZ's New PM

2008-11-09T17:34:00.002-06:00

New Zealand has a new Prime Minister. After a election that saw the National Party come to power and move the country to a center right position, the Labour leader, and exiting Prime Minister Helen Clark has called it quits. Clark resigned as Labour leader during a speech after election results on Saturday evening. John Key, a former banker, will lead the country over the next three years. He stands firmly conservative on fiscal matters and tends to be liberal with social positions.

Congratulations John Key!

It's Election Day!

2008-11-07T17:49:00.004-06:00

You might of thought Tuesday was the big election, but no it is today, Saturday, November 8th here in New Zealand. Here is how the election works.

Setup of the Government

The politics of New Zealand takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic monarchy. The basic system is closely patterned on that of the Westminster System, although a number of significant modifications have been made. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, but actual government is conducted by a Prime Minister and Cabinet drawn from an elected Parliament.

New Zealand was the first country in the world in which all the highest offices were occupied by women, between March 2005 and August 2006: the Sovereign Queen Elizabeth II of New Zealand, Governor-General Dame Silvia Cartwright, Prime Minister Helen Clark, Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives Margaret Wilson and Chief Justice Dame Sian Elias.

New Zealand has no formal, written constitution; the constitutional framework consists of a mixture of various documents (including certain acts of the United Kingdom and New Zealand Parliaments), the Treaty of Waitangi and constitutional conventions. Most constitutional provisions became consolidated into the Constitution Act 1986. There have, at times, been proposals for a formal constitution, but there have not yet been any serious moves to adopt one.

Current Government

The current Prime Minister is the beautiful Helen Clark, leader of the Labour Party. She has served two full terms as Prime Minister and has almost completed a third. On 17 October 2005 she announced that she had come to a complex arrangement that guaranteed the support of enough parties for her Labour-led coalition to govern. The formal coalition consists of the Labour Party and Jim Anderton, the Progressive Party's only MP. In addition to the parties in formal coalition, New Zealand First and United Future provide confidence and supply in return for their leaders being ministers outside cabinet. A further arrangement has been made with the Green Party, which has given a commitment not to vote against the government on confidence and supply. This commitment assures the government of a majority of seven MPs on confidence.

The Leader of the Opposition is National Party leader John Key, who replaced Don Brash (formerly Governor of the Reserve Bank) in November 2006. The ACT party alongside the Māori Party, are both also in opposition. The Greens, New Zealand First and United Future all vote against the government on some legislation.

Legislature

New Zealand's main legislative body is a unicameral Parliament known as the House of Representatives. Since 1996, New Zealand has used the mixed member proportional (MMP) voting system, under which each MP is either elected by voters in a single-member constituency via first past the post or appointed from party lists. Normally, the parliament is 120 members large, however this can sometimes differ due to overhangs and underhangs. Several seats are currently reserved for members elected on a separate Māori roll. However, Māori may choose to vote in and to run for the non-reserved seats, and several have entered Parliament in this way. Parliaments have a maximum term of three years, although an election can be called earlier. In New Zealand, suffrage is extended to everyone over the age of 18 years, women having gained the vote in 1893.

Current Political Parties

ACT - Liberal Party
Alliance - Former Labour Party
Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party - As it says
Democrats for Social Credit - Social, economic and environmental justice.
Family Party - Right winger
Green Party - Healthy Lifestyles, Green living, Free Education, Sustainable Business
Progressive - Similiar to the US Democratic Party
Kiwi Party - Moderately Conservative Party
Labour - Current Prime Minister's Party
Libertarianz - Libertarians
Maori Party - Indiginous Maori party, Maori rights
National - Fiscally conservative, socially moderate. Biggest competition for Labour
New Zealand First - Conservative, Protective NZ party. Very controversial leader Winston Peters.
New Zealand Pacific - Religious, conservative party for pacific islanders
Residents Action Movement - Higher minimum wage, no GST on Food
Bill and Ben Party - Jokesters
Republic Party of New Zealand - Conservatives
United Future - Center party
Workers Party - Socialist party

Current Prime Minister, Helen Clark

When the New Zealand Labour Party came into office as part of a coalition following the 1999 election, Clark became the second female Prime Minister of New Zealand and the first to have won office at an election. (The previous Prime Minister, Jenny Shipley took office as the result of a mid-term party-leadership challenge.) During her term in office women have held a number of prominent offices in New Zealand, such as the Queen, Governor-General, Speaker of the House of Representatives and Chief Justice.

Clark has held the positions of Prime Minister and of Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage from 1999 until the present. She also has ministerial responsibility for the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service and for Ministerial Services. Her particular areas of interest include social policy and international affairs.

As Leader of the Labour Party, Clark negotiated the formation of successive minority coalition governments. The first such coalition (1999-2002) linked the Labour Party with the Alliance Party (1999). The coalition with the Alliance Party collapsed in 2002. In consequence, Clark called an early election and then went into coalition with Jim Anderton's Progressive Party, a spin-off of the Alliance Party (2002, with parliamentary confidence and supply coming from United Future and a "good-faith" agreement with the Green Party). In 2005, following the election of that year, the Labour Party and the Progressive Party renewed their coalition, gaining supply-and-confidence support from both New Zealand First and United Future in exchange for giving the leaders of those parties ministerial positions outside Cabinet.

Clark, like some other MPs and many New Zealanders (including some Labour Party members), supports New Zealand becoming a republic. Some critics of Clark's government have derided her support for a republic, arguing that the Prime Minister has no mandate for such a change. However, Clark's predecessor, National Prime Minister Jim Bolger also publicly indicated his support for a republic in 1994, during his tenure as Prime Minister. Clark's term in office has seen a number of alleged moves towards a republic, under her government's policy of building national identity. Examples include the abolition of appeals to the Privy Council and the setting up of the Supreme Court of New Zealand, the abolition of titular Knighthood and Damehood honours, and the abolition of the title "Queen's Counsel" (replaced by "Senior Counsel").

On 24 July 2008 Clark passed Sir Robert Muldoon to become New Zealand's sixth-longest-serving Prime Minister.[9] Should a Clark government win re-election at the 2008 general election Clark could serve until November 2011, passing Sir Keith Holyoake to become New Zealand's third-longest serving Prime Minister. Clark would need to stay in office until 17 January 2013 (slightly over thirteen years) to become the longest-serving Prime Minister in New Zealand's history. On 8 February 2008, Clark became the longest serving leader of the Labour Party in its history (although some dispute exists over when Harry Holland became leader), having served for 14 years, 69 days.

Social policy

Clark's government has brought in significant changes to the New Zealand welfare system, such as introducing child tax credits in the Working for Families package. Her government has also changed industrial-relations law and raised the minimum wage six times in as many years. Changes have also occurred in tertiary-education financing, with the abolition of interest on student-loans – firstly for those currently studying, then extended to all borrowers living in New Zealand and to education in general with the proposed implementation of the Schools Plus policy. Other changes introduced during Clark's term in office include legal provision for civil unions, the introduction of 14 weeks' paid parental leave, and the Property (Relationships) Act, which treats property division after the breakup of de facto relationships the same as after the breakup of legal marriages. Some of these measures, though initiated by other members of parliament or political parties, nevertheless gained the government support.

Economic growth

Some commentators have praised Helen Clark (along with the Minister of Finance Michael Cullen) for overseeing a period of sustained and stable economic growth[citation needed], with an increase in employment that has seen a gradual lowering of the unemployment rate to 3.6%. Although her critics acknowledge these factors[citation needed], many such critics[citation needed] maintain that the growth has come about as the result of wider economic factors, and that increases in the sickness benefit have caused (at least in part) the decrease in unemployment. On the other hand, total beneficiary numbers (a measurement that includes both unemployment- and sickness- beneficiaries) have shrunk during Helen Clark's time in office. Other economic concerns for Clark's government include a persistently high current-account deficit and an unofficial poverty-rate of about twenty percent.

Stable government

Even though some commentators saw stable government within the relatively new MMP electoral system as unlikely, Clark's supporters[citation needed] credit her with maintaining two terms of stable MMP government, as well as with forming the current government given the relatively close election-result. In 2005, Forbes ranked Clark as number 24 of "The 100 Most Powerful Women" in the world, and then at number 56 in 2008.

Crime-rate

New Zealand Police statistics report a drop in the rate of recorded offences by population over the period of Clark's premiership, which continued the trend shown in years prior to her becoming Prime Minister. This corresponds with a survey of victims of crime, which reported very little change in the number of victims of crime between 1995 and 2000, despite a slight increase in population. New Zealand crime-figures for 2005/2006 showed an increase in a recorded crime over the previous financial year, but rates remained lower than in 1999.

Foreign policy

New Zealand has, during Clark's terms of office, pursued what she and her supporters call an independent foreign policy. New Zealand retains a nuclear-free zone status, a stance also taken by the opposition National Party, (possibly at the cost of a free-trade agreement with the United States of America), and refused to participate in the Iraq invasion without UN sanction.

In March 2003, referring to the U.S. led coalition's actions in the Iraq War, Clark told the newspaper Sunday Star Times that, "I don't think that September 11 under a Gore presidency would have had this consequence for Iraq." She later sent a letter to Washington apologising for any offence that her comment may have caused.

In a report in the People's Daily, Chinese President Jiang Zemin referred to Clark as an "old friend". He hoped to "establish bilateral long-term and stable overall cooperative relations with a healthy development geared to the 21st century", and "broad prospects for bilateral economic cooperation". Clark had strongly supported China's entry into the WTO.

Potential Prime Minister, John Key

Key portrays himself as more centrist than his predecessor, Don Brash. However he also notes the differences are more of style, than anything else.[citation needed] Key has in the past noted others' concern at the pace of asset sales, but argued that the arguments against selling assets in the 1980s were largely irrational.[citation needed] In an interview that appeared in the Herald on March 23, 2002, he is quoted as saying "some form of orientation towards privatisation in health, education and superannuation makes sense."

Key has a mixed voting record on social issues: he voted against the bill creating civil unions, but was part of a large bloc of MPs voting to defeat a bill that defined marriage as being between a man and a woman. Key voted for an ill-fated attempt to raise the legal drinking age from 18 back to 20.

Key says that he believes that global warming is a real phenomenon, and that the Government needs to implement measures to reduce human contribution to global warming. Key has committed the National Party to working towards reducing greenhouse emissions in New Zealand by 50% within the next fifty years. Critics note that as recently as 2005, Key made statements indicating that he was skeptical of the effects and impact of climate change.

Critics note that Key has changed his views on the Iraq war since becoming leader of the opposition. In 2003, as an opposition MP, Key emphasised National's position of supporting New Zealand's traditional allies, the United States and Australia. Key came under fire in the New Zealand Parliament in August 2007, when the Government claimed that had Key been Prime Minister at the time, he would have sent troops to Iraq.