Now that I’ve been gone about 3 weeks, I’m getting the hang of using the various Internet cafes and access points to keep my blog updated. Internet access in French Polynesia and New Zealand has been ubiquitous – every place I’ve stayed either had it, or had it within a short walk. The question is […]
New Zealand
What I’m Eating (Might Surprise You)
My diet in New Zealand has been an odd combination of food. Most eaten items would have to include sausages, cheeseburgers, ham and cheese sandwiches, pizza, fresh muffins, Cadbury chocolate bars (soooo good), granola bars (specifically a brand called “Bumper Bars”), bananas, ice cream bars/pops, and biscuits (ie. cookies). Not too exciting! Still, there seems […]
Tramping the Tongariro Crossing in New Zealand
The Tongariro Crossing is an 11-mile (18km) hike between two active volcanoes, one of which is Mount Doom from Lord of the Rings.
Video: Traditional Maori Haka Dance
During our third night of the bus tour, we stopped in Maketu for a bit of traditional Maori culture. We were entertained by a family’s music/dance show, and then the guys were invited to learn the Haka dance, while the ladies learned another type of dance. The lack of shirts was mandatory and it’s clear […]
Joining the Backpacker Bus Brigade
After paying a hefty sum for a bus tour with the STRAY company (new kid on the block to The Kiwi Experience), I almost missed my first departure. Yes, myself and 2 others were waiting in the right spot outside the hostel when time slowly ticked away and after more than an hour, I called […]
Dare #1 – Completed – Nose Pick @ Sky Tower
#1 – From Justin: I would come up with a sweet dare for you, except that, like you are soon to feel, my bank account has been poured into a not-too-narrow funnel. But if you pick your nose in front of the Sky Tower, I’ll buy you a beer. Reward: a tasty beer in New […]
Canyoning – Abseils, Jumps, and Chutes
I’d wanted to go canyoning since I first learned about it in 2005 while planning a trip to Costa Rica. It consists of maneuvering down a river canyon by combination of hiking, sliding down natural rock chutes, jumping off cliffs and waterfalls, and abseiling (rappelling). The Rough Guide referenced canyons a 40-minute drive west of […]
Goodbye Tahiti, Hello New Zealand
I spent my last night in Tahiti couchsurfing with Sam, though he actually gave me a spare bedroom to myself. With the open windows all the time, rather large roaches are not uncommon. Sam managed to squash two, and I surely injured a third before going to sleep. I didn’t sleep much though being that […]
