Traveling with Mates

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!

Being Home...

Of my nearly 29 years of life there are only two places that have felt so right for me. The first is whenever I have my backpack on. But more importantly, my love for Dubuque and Loras College.

My love for Loras wasn't at first sight. I was bored on my first visit in October of 1997, but that was due to a three day weekend for students. On my second visit in February of 1998 I was officially a DuHawk. When I came to campus, I felt God. He led me to the best friends of my life, a sprituality, and the ability to think.

This week I have been back in Dubuque for work. Yesterday, I headed over to the new Wellness facility for a workout (boy did that make me jealous of how the campus has changed) and I felt a tingly feeling. I missed the 'academic' atmosphere. Students, faculty, and staff always interested in learning about the world and its people. I also feel God everytime I look at the campus from the bank window or step near it.

I love being HOME. This place had a gigantic influence on the person I am today. It makes me follow what I love in life. It led me to my passion of travel. It has given me such a fantastic life.

Thank You Loras...Thank You God...

Living in Downtown Des Moines

My buddy Larry just started up a new website about living in Downtown Des Moines. It is packed with pictures, videos, and fantastic commentary. If you live in Des Moines, or are interested in it take a look!

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I just wanted to let everyone know that a couple of weeks ago, I got down and busy, since my creative juices were flowing and started teaching myself more PHP and CSS skills as it pertained to WordPress. What culminated in that effort was a new web blog called Living Downtown Des Moines. I am so thrilled to be living downtown now and thought that it would be cool if there were a place for myself, and others like me, that live downtown would have a place to share their experiences.

I invite each of you to take a look at the site.

The site's address is: www.livingdowntowndesmoines.com

The site is still a work-in-progress also and any feedback you could give would be awesome.

Thanks again for taking a few minutes to let a friend share with you one his many design passions.

This Weekend...VACATION

Kevin and I are heading out on what I deem a much deserved vacation. Our first stop will be the wedding of my friend and roommate in Australia, Dan Smith. It will take place in Knowlton, Quebec, Canada. It will then be off to Montreal, for a bit of a french influence. And finally, one of my favorite places in the country Burlington, Vermont! There is so much to get done before the trip and I am ready to go NOW! We are taking the camera, so it will be just like you are all there!

Lake District

Tucked away in rural England is a wonderful place I visited in 2005. The Lake District. This area of the United Kingdom isn't the first place people think of visiting, but is quite popular with the natives. My friends Lisa and Amy grew up near this special spot which I have grown to love. Nomadic Matt also had a great time on his recent visit to the spot home to famous writers like Beatrix Potter and full of the crazy gardens with brush mazes. I have such fond thoughts of the place.

Australia

New Link...Global Service Corps

I have a great new link that I am adding to my blogroll on the right hand side of this page. The link is for Global Service Corps. Global Service Corps (GSC) is a registered U.S. 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization providing life changing volunteer, internship or fellowship experiences in Tanzania and Thailand. GSC has become a leader in the field of international volunteerism by designing and implementing effective community development volunteer service-learning programs since 1992. Community training programs and volunteer vacations and are offered year round. Community training programs are available from two weeks to one year, in HIV/AIDS education and prevention, sustainable agriculture and food security, international public health, cultural immersion, orphanage care, and English education. Through the development of these community training programs, GSC has also attained NGO status in the countries that we serve and become recognized as a respected international development organization.

If you are looking for service learning opportunities, check them out!

Global Service Corps

Wedding and Camping in Wisconsin

Remember, this is my first movie with the new camera and editing software...

Three Men...120 Hours...48 States

Three guys have been trying to beat a record. They are doing a road trip, quickly. They recently passed through Iowa on the trip and this story. Tell me about your road trip...

Would You Dare?

My friend Chad sent out a email with some interesting pictures of Victoria Falls. Certain parts of a year you can get right up to the edge of the falls, and these pictures prove it! I would do this in a second, Chad made the comment he needs a million dollars to try it. See for yourself!

Disney...

If you have a question about Disney for John, send me an email at nicholas.irving@gmail.com

Kevin and Nick in Munich!

Kevin and I returned from our long weekend trip to Munich on Monday. We had such a blast! Here is a look at our trip:

More photos are available on my Flickr site.

Walking Around
We spent a lot of time looking around the city of Munich. We did some walking tours of the Aldstadt, Marienplatz, and Englisher Garden. Aldstadt is the main center of the city with fantastic architecture, and elite shopping. Marienplatz is a part of the Aldstadt where there is a lot of history. It is an area that the ruling family of Bravaria lived and ruled. It is also a place that Hitler and the Nazis used as a center for its 'Program.' The Englisher Garden is a very famous place. It is a park larger than Central Park in New York, it has a few lakes, some animals, great running, fantastic trails, surfing, and even naked sun worshipers (although it was too cold for that)











Deutches Museum
I have been to many museums, but the Deutches Museum was colassal. There was everything science and technology. The biggest thrill for me was the aviation exhibit. I am sure that Kevin was very bored in it with me, I was like a 4 year old.





Dachau Concentration Camp
Kevin and I were both very interested in visiting a Nazi Concentration Camp. We picked a great one. Dachau was the 'model' concentration camp. They did testing of building design, death design, and work design. The goal was to work people to death. There were 200,000 processed through the camp, and around 32,000 were killed. There were several recreated buildings including the barracks, but several buildings remained including the incinerator, maintenace building, and the bunker. We took a tour that highlighted huge amounts of information about the history of the longest running concentration camp, how it was liberated, what happened to the SS and SA, and what has changed on the grounds. It was a remarkable place, and I learned a lot, but it wasn't the same 'powerful' feeling I have heard others having. There were bits where I realized how many people died there, and amazed by the fact they kept 2000 in a barrack designed for 200. It was one of the most memorable experiences I have had.











BMW
Kevin loves BMW, so we had to check out the museum and Weck. It was a bit disappointing because it was just a huge showroom. I did snap a couple of pictures.




Olympic Park
The famous and infamous Olympic Park was a great area. They have turned it into a fantastic civic area. We checked out the Swimming Pool and large area where concerts are now happening. There was also a great hill to hike up and see fantastic views of the city. What a great spot!









Hostel
This was Kevin's first stay in a hostel, and I think he loved it. We made a short video about it.