One thing to know about me is that I love the travel. Although my experiences are fairly limited its something I see playing a big part in my future.
In 2006 I went overseas for the first time to the North Island of New Zealand. NZL is one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen (even more beautiful than Australia). We were based in Auckland, staying at the Rydges Auckland. We did a day tour up to Bay of Islands (BOI), stopping at a few places along the way;
A biggg Kurri tree that was about 800 years old on the way to BOI
The gorgeous blue waters of BOI
Most of our time spent in Auckland itself was shopping by day at both the downtown stores and local markets and going out by night. Auckland looked and felt much more cleaner than somewhere like Sydney.
My kooky pals trying on some of the headwear for sale at the markets
Freezing our butts off at Minus 5 Bar
At Kelly Tarlton's Underwater World (great way to occupy us on a rainy day)
A few days later we did another tour, this time more inland to Rotorura. Again, we stopped a few times along the way - one of which was my favourite place Waitomo Glow Worm caves. I couldn't take any pictures there but it was an amazing, naturally beautiful place. Surprisingly, Rotorura didn't smell as bad as I had expected.
The Thermal Spas (this is what makes Rotorura smell the way it does)
Us girls looked a little worse for wear by the end of our first o/s holiday
All in all, New Zealand is not only somewhere I would highly recommend in general, but espeically for those who have never travelled overseas before. I found it wasn't too much of a culture shock and if us 4, sometimes clueless, girls managed to stay safe, have fun and experience a tiny part of NZL than anyone could!
I will fill you all in another time on my recent failed attempt to reloacte to London - which I like to call "My 10 days in London"
P.S I aplogise in advance for any errors or spelling mistakes when it comes to the names of places in NZL. The Maori culture and history is something that is so fascinating to me - but, my god, some of the names and places are hard to pronouce, let alone remember =)
12 comments:
Wow - sounds like a great time! Welcome to the blogging world and keep on writing! :) I only wish I could hear your accent.. heheh.. I once told an adorable australian girl that I could just listen to her read a dictionary.
Am I really the second comment? How cool am I?
Haha maybe if I somehow become computer literate I can do an audio thing!!!
Thomas: You'r possibly the coolest person I'll meet in the blogging world?!?!?!
Only two sp mistakes that I could spot Del - Rotorua and Kauri tree, but good going all the same.
Honestly chick, Auckland? Is that really ALL you did? Walking around Wellington (esp round the harbour) is awesome, there's so much art and poetry right there in the buildings and pavement. Christchurch is a beautiful city, known in NZ as the Garden City, and if you walk on up the port hills the views are fantastic. Go through the tunnel to lyttleton and take a tour round the harbour - there is even a tour I think you can do to a place called Quail island, where Scott practiced before making his expedition to the antarctic. The lakes, especiall tekapo, are gorgeous, I guarantee you'll have a hard time finding the same colour blue in australia, the lakes are fed from melting glaciers. Check them out too - you can even go tramping through the ice on the franz-joseph and fox glaciers.
Basically, Auckland sux - go to the south island girl. Spend a week working on a farm for food and board, that might be good for a culture shock!
Umm, a correction - about the 'same colour blue' I meant as specifically applied to lakes. I'm sure there will be things around in Oz which are similar in colour. Pastels, for example.
Also - if you want to check out a picture of my home, this post of mine shows it off JLS Home.
I grew up in the South Canterbury High Country, SI, NZ.
Wow Ju thanks so much for the tips.
I wish I had more time in NZL but was a little scaried to travel around the whole country for my first o/s trip.
I DEFINITELY will be going to the Sth Island sometime in the next year or two.
You pics were gorgeous. Its just such a serene place.
And the good looking Maori men are a bonus too =)
Yay for NZ! I lived in Auckland for over a year and luuuuurved it. Sydney too, by the way, but in Avalon and only for three months.
And double yay for posting pics. I do it too and though it can be freaky sometimes when you think about all the people who know what you look like, MEH, who cares. I love sharing photos too much.
Keep it up!
No worries, and thanks for the compliments on my home - awesome!
And I agree, there are some pretty hot Maori guys around ;-)
Good going Del, keep it up!
TCA
Del, thanks for visiting my blog last week. That was very sweet of you!
Wow! Look at those photos of New Zealand! I've never been, nor have I been to Australia, though I have plenty of blogger pals over there asking me to visit. One day for sure. You and your friends are very sweet and seem to be having a blast.
I think it's adorable how you're trying to maintain your anonymity. But if you have a chance, please e-mail me (my e-mail is in my profile) because there are some things you should know about. No worries, but I can explain in the e-mail.
Interesting to know.
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