Jer Mahon

Jer Mahon

melakukan perjalanan di 22 negara Baca selengkapnya🇨🇦British Columbia

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Bonaire - Diving For Life 2025
🌞 Sautéd Saturday 🌴🫠
20 September 2025, Bonaire ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C
After a later-than-usual night, we tried to sleep in before joining the group for one final breakfast together. Most were heading off to catch their flights, so it was a bittersweet farewell.

We graciously accepted a ride into town from H, who was on his way to the airport, and took the opportunity to explore a bit. The 4 km walk back to the resort was lovely, mostly along the beach front. We popped into a couple of shops—partly to browse, and partly to cool off as the heat was becoming intense. Along the way, we spotted a gelato shop and couldn’t resist sharing three scoops: passion fruit, tamarind, and lemon. So yummy!

Back at the resort, we retreated to the cool comfort of our room to sort through photos and reflect on the trip. Only one other couple from the DFL group had an early Sunday morning flight with us, so we invited them for dinner. While eating, we watched two rays gracefully glide in and out of the lit shallows—a quiet, magical end to a memorable journey.Baca selengkapnya
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Wonderful photos, sounds like a very worthy cause. Glad you enjoyed it and are safely home, I guess it's packing up time now? Love NAN [Nan]
22/09/25BalasMenerjemahkan
PelancongAnother great trip that you've graciously allowed me to experience vicariously. Where are we going next? XxooBarb
24/09/25BalasMenerjemahkan
1 suka
Bonaire - Diving For Life 2025
🪅 👯 Festive Friday 🎉 🪩🕺
19 September 2025, Bonaire ⋅ ⛅ 31 °C
The morning was a frenzy of activity as we prepared for the final dives of the trip. With three boats ready to go, everyone was hustling to get out for the 8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. morning excursions.

A storm was brewing at the north end of the island, rumbling with thunder and flashing with lightning. Fortunately, our first dive was planned at the southern end, at Chez Heinz. Visibility wasn’t ideal, but the ocean currents revealed a fish feeding frenzy along the reef. Sadly, that also meant encountering more floating plastic garbage, which we collected during the dive. Midway through, we spotted a large lionfish stalking a smaller reef fish. Nearby, a shimmering tarpon and a couple of barracuda appeared to be hunting as well. We were lucky to be visited once again by a pair of reef squid near the boat.

After a quick shore stop to refill our tanks, we headed to the southern tip of Klein Bonaire to steer clear of the storm. Our destination: South Bay. Visibility remained poor, but marine life was abundant. In a dark crevice in the reef wall, we discovered another spider crab. Without a macro lens it was not possible to photograph. We also encountered a fairly large spotted drum (a misnomer, as the fish is striped) with its elegant trailing fins, along with several spotted boxfish. On our way back, a pair of barracuda watched us cautiously as we passed.

The two of us wrapped up the day with one last shore dive, bringing our total to 16 dives for the trip, before returning our few items of rented gear.

Dinner was another highlight: prawns, chicken, pumpkin stew, mashed potatoes and more! We capped off the week with a farewell tiki-themed pool party that our group organizers had planned—a perfect end to an unforgettable diving adventure. Our exclusive use of the pool allowed us to have the music loud and dancing both in and outside the water. The staff enjoyed themselves getting into the costumes, dancing and even the pool!Baca selengkapnya
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Bonaire - Diving For Life 2025
Tan Lines and Lionfish
18 September 2025, Bonaire ⋅ ☁️ 31 °C
Woke up to a moist landscape after a light overnight rain shower. The day was mostly cloudy, but by midafternoon the sun burst through with intensity, making up for the cooler start. Despite applying sunscreen, J ended up with a very defined leg tan where the wet suit stops.

Our first boat dive wasn’t until 11 a.m., so we decided to squeeze in a morning shore dive beforehand. This time, we headed north along the reef—unfortunately, right into a strong current. Along the way, we spotted an abundance of marine life and various manmade features. The return trip was much quicker than expected, so we lingered for a few more minutes, watching fish dart through the shallows.

Our midday and afternoon dives took us across to Klein Bonaire. The first site, Sharon’s Serenity on the north side, featured a curious green moray eel that followed us through the hidden coral passages. We also saw a large crab, a lionfish, and a sizable pufferfish.

The Bonaventure site, located at the southern tip of Klein Bonaire, was probably the highlight of the week. Visibility was fantastic. We encountered another pufferfish, an urchin, a crab, and a couple of lionfish. Near a large white anemone, we spotted a pair of tiny cleaner shrimp. The dive ended with three large shrimp gracefully maneuvering near the boat.

The evening wrapped up with the much-anticipated raffle draw and charity auction—an uplifting end to a memorable day. We purchased a gift bag of treats from Hawaii: macadamia nuts, coffee, and more!Baca selengkapnya
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Bonaire - Diving For Life 2025
Turtles, Tarpons, and a Win!
17 September 2025, Bonaire ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C
We kicked off the day with an early and energetic start for our back-to-back dives. Our first stop was a return to the "Bon Bini Na Kas" dive site, as our planned location, "Country Garden," was already occupied. Before descending, we were treated to the sight of two sea turtles gliding at the surface—a magical way to begin.

Unfortunately, once we were in the water our dive camera refused to wake up. Due to the current, we followed the shorter route, but this time the reef was teeming with life. Various species of smaller reef fish had gathered into one massive, shimmering shoal.

Back at the dock, we quickly offloaded our gear onto another dive boat and headed out for a short trip to the "Small Wall" dive site. It was another spectacular dive, full of reef activity. A large, pale puffer fish cautiously watched us as we descended deeper along the wall, and barracuda dotted our route like silent sentinels.

After a light breakfast, the hearty lunch buffet was a welcome refuel. We cooled off in our air-conditioned room before regrouping for some late-afternoon socializing.

By mid-afternoon, we decided to take advantage of the spare tanks for a shore dive. Geared up and in the water by 4 p.m., we casually glided to the reef edge and descended to 19 meters. Heading south into a gentle current, we soon encountered an old sunken boat. Not long after, we spotted a small sea turtle, followed by a large moray eel weaving through the reef. We also saw a couple of lionfish and two flounders near the end of the dive.

After a quick rest back on shore, we joined a group of fellow enthusiasts for an naturalist night dive. As luck would have it, we encountered two octopuses, several moray eels, and five tarpons that followed us, hoping to use our lights to hunt. We figured the lighting would not have been great for the camera, but in hindsight we should have given it a try.

To top off an already incredible day, we were the successful silent auction bid for a week long condo stay in Puerto Vallarta! Our donation for hosting in our Campbell River house had multiple bids and raised some funds too. We look forward to having our guest stay in our new home sometime after the Spring.Baca selengkapnya
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Bonaire - Diving For Life 2025
Staghorn, parrots and worms
16 September 2025, Bonaire ⋅ 🌬 31 °C
Today was the first morning we could sleep-in, with our initial dive scheduled for eleven. We took care of a few home-related tasks on the computer, and then headed for breakfast. Our dive pod gradually filtered in, and we enjoyed some casual socializing over the morning spread. Everyone is assigned a ten-person pod group to dive with for the week. Ours is an assortment of folks from all over the States. We are the only Canadians in attendance this year.

For our first dive, we traveled north along the coastline. Once again, the dive master opted for an alternate site from the original plan. We ended up at Bon Bini na Kas—which means “welcome home.” It was a decent dive, though not as teeming with aquatic life as the previous day. Still, gliding past the soft corals was peaceful, and the Staghorn coral was especially fascinating.

Back on shore, we had a quick turnaround before the afternoon dive. Lunch was another delicious spread, featuring a variety of fresh salads and fish dishes.

Soon we were back on the boat, motoring toward the southern coast of the island. Our destination: Windsock Reef, near the airport. This dive did not disappoint. The reef was bursting with marine life—we spotted a couple of lobsters (one impressively large), several anemones, eels, barracuda (including a school chasing a shoal of fish), and plenty more.

Tonight’s social event focused on selecting charities to receive the proceeds raised throughout the week. Diving for Life was founded 33 years ago to "unite all gay and lesbian divers while raising money" for AIDS. Since then, it has grown into an annual event attended by members or allies, united by a shared love of diving and a commitment to giving back to a multitude of community organizations around the world. We have requested funds from our participation be allocated to Rainbow Refugee.Baca selengkapnya
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2 suka
Bonaire - Diving For Life 2025
Magnificent Monday
15 September 2025, Bonaire ⋅ 🌬 31 °C
We kicked off our day with the 8:30 a.m. dive slot, which meant an early rise, a light breakfast, and gear prep. The patio was already buzzing with life—an inquisitive iguana made a cameo, and tropical birds flitted nearby, clearly hoping for a bite of our breakfast.

🐠 Dive One: Oil Slick Reef Surprise

Our original plan was to explore the iconic “1000 Steps” site, but a dive boat had already claimed it. No worries—our dive master pivoted to “Oil Slick,” a reef named after a long-abandoned plan to build an oil refinery there. Thankfully, the reef’s beauty won out, and the refinery was relocated.

The dive was mesmerizing. Soft corals swayed as schools of fish darted through the terrain. A curious barracuda glided silently past our group, and on the way back, we watched a sea turtle munching away at the hard coral like it was a buffet.

🛍️ Market Stroll & Midday Feast

After rinsing off and cooling down in our room, we wandered to the local grocer store. Soon after, the lunch buffet opened, and the chef served up fresh fish burgers—a delicious blend of Mahi-Mahi and Tuna that hit the spot.

🌊 Dive Two: Eighteen Palms & Silvery Giants

In the afternoon, we headed southwest to Eighteen Palms. Descending to 60 feet, we were greeted by shimmering Tarpons making multiple passes. Rumor had it a shark made a brief appearance, and we spotted another turtle, a lionfish, a crab, a couple of tuna, and even a lobster.

📸 Dockside Moments & Manager’s Special

As the sun dipped low, we gathered for a group photo on the dock. Surprisingly, everyone found their spot with ease—no chaos, just good vibes. The evening rolled into the resort’s “Manager’s Special” night, complete with live music, drinks, and the busiest crowd of the year. The staff handled it like pros.

Dinner was a BBQ feast that instantly transported me back to Croatia, where we once devoured a tavern-style sampler platter. Pure nostalgia.

🌙 Poolside Wind-Down

After some downtime and underwater video editing, we joined a few others for a late-night swim. The resort had graciously extended pool hours to 24/7, making it the perfect way to end a day packed with adventure.Baca selengkapnya
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PelancongGreat underwater pics.
17/09/25BalasMenerjemahkan
2 suka
Bonaire - Diving For Life 2025
Let the Scuba begin 🐠 🐟 🤿
14 September 2025, Bonaire ⋅ 🌬 31 °C
It was an early start to an action-packed day. After hauling our gear down to the lockers, we grabbed a quick light breakfast before the mandatory dive briefing. The dive shop buzzed with energy as divers convened, prepping for the day ahead. There are about 60 divers for this year's event.

🎒 Gear Glitch Alert
As part of our gear checks, we realized our BCDs wouldn’t inflate! A fast dash back to the shop to rent replacements, and we still made the 11 a.m. boat departure for our first dive. While most divers did a test dive at the dock, we skipped ours and crossed our fingers. Luckily, our weight guess was spot-on ⚖️

🐠 Dive 1: Andrea 1
This warm-up location was teeming with reef life. We spotted a sleek barracuda, a couple of large puffer fish, and a colorful cast of underwater characters. It was the perfect way to ease into the rhythm of the ocean.

🥪 Lunch Break
Back on shore, we enjoyed a light lunch and swapped stories from the morning dive.

🌊 Dive 2: Ebo’s Special, Klein Bonaire
Our second dive took us across the bay to the northern shore of Klein Bonaire. Ebo’s Special offered a deeper descent along a dramatic shelf. Highlights included a school of small white puffers, fire worms, and trumpet fish weaving through the coral. We took the insta360 camera for its first plunge and it worked very well 📸👍

🍹 Happy Hour & Games
One of the DFL members brought out a Mexican Train domino set, and we jumped at the opportunity to play while enjoying a happy hour cocktail. Laughter, drinks, and a little friendly competition set a fun tone for the evening.

🍝 Dinner Buffet
Dinner was a DIY pasta buffet—three types of pasta and three sauces. Mix, match, and make it your own! Fresh salads and tasty desserts rounded out the meal nicely.

🎉 Poolside Party: “Sarong, So-Right”
The night wrapped up with a themed pool party. The dive shop manager, a Dutch native and passionate DJ, spun classic tunes that had everyone dancing in their sarongs. We didn’t stay out too late though—our group had an 8:30 dive time the next morning. The music was quite loud so we enjoyed the tunes until the party end around 11:30p.m.Baca selengkapnya
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Bonaire - Diving For Life 2025
Bon biní na Bonaire
13 September 2025, Bonaire ⋅ 🌬 31 °C
On the 5-hour flight to Miami we managed to watch a movie before attempting some rest. Unfortunately it was hard to come by with cramped leg room, cushionless seating, and lots of turbulence. We left the plane bleary-eyed, and in a time zone 3-hours ahead.

While wandering through the early morning desolate departure hall of Miami airport, we found an amazing Colombian coffee shop. More art decorated the spaces with fascinating flooring designs of corals and fish inlaid in the chip-rock concrete.

Five hours later we boarded our last leg of the journey to Bonaire. It was a quick 3-hour hop across the Caribbean. Exiting the plane came as a shock; felt like walking into a hot air furnace. The weather indicated 33°C, but "felt like 41°C" with humidity.

Bon biní na Bonaire
https://howtosayguide.com/how-to-say-welcome-in…

The airport was under renovations with little room to stand and collect baggage. Even though it was an open air hall and very warm, it was nice not being in the direct-broil of the sun. A bus full of us divers were quickly collected and shuttled to our week’s accommodations at Captain Don’s Habitat.
https://www.habitatbonaire.com/

After check-in we finally had a moment of solitude for a quiet rest/nap. Once freshened up, we joined the group for the orientation with the highlights of the week’s events and proceedings. We then mingled over happy hour drinks watching the sunset, and enjoying a fantastic fresh and delicious buffet.Baca selengkapnya
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Bonaire - Diving For Life 2025
A day @ SeaTac
12 September 2025, Amerika Serikat ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C
It was a typical travel day filled with stretches of waiting and bursts of frenzy. People-watching never ceases to amaze those who are observant. Everything went smoothly—which is always a win when traveling!

The flight from Victoria to Seattle was a short 25 minutes. We had the luxury of an 8-hour layover before catching the red-eye to Miami.

SEA Airport is impressively expansive, feeling more like a shopping mall than an airport. We grabbed a quick bite at Lucky Louie’s Fish Shack, which offered an interesting spin on poutine: thick, creamy chowder in place of gravy, topped with bacon bits, cheese, and green onion. Afterward, we wandered the halls like a couple of mall rats. That little adventure racked up 11,000 steps for the day. We ended up meandering through nearly every wing of the airport and definitely got our fill. It was nice to see such a variety of art installations decorating the space.

Eventually, we settled in with a beer at the Tap & Pour lounge, watching the constant flurry of planes coming and going. Warm sunlight streamed through the vaulted windows. Later, we made our way to a Mexican spot for dinner and Modelo beers. The sunset cast a soft glow of pinks across the sky just before we boarded the 5-hour red-eye. The flight was turbulent, jostling the plane and making sleep a bit of a challenge.Baca selengkapnya
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PelancongBonaire is beautiful- you're in for a treat! Be sure to check out the flamingos at the nature preserve. And the diving relaxing...barb k
15/09/25BalasMenerjemahkan
1 suka
Travels 2.0
Homeward 🇨🇦
16–24 Mar 2024, Selandia Baru ⋅ 🌬 18 °C
Almost two months after departing Canada, we're wrapping up this final chapter of the sabbatical. We've enjoyed many adventures, visited family, old friends and met new ones.

The night flight from Auckland to Vancouver on an Air New Zealand Dreamliner was very comfortable. Though we were not successful getting our bid accepted for a Sky Couch, our seats at the last row of economy were quite nice. Nobody bumping the backs of the seats and able to recline normally! The fellow sitting next to J was a very friendly Kiwi, returning to his home in Canada, who chatted for hours about many interesting topics. J is good at chatting but could hardly get a word in! The food was great, service friendly, a few naps & movies later, and the 14.5hrs flew by ✈️

After a short layover in Vancouver our final flight up to Fort St John. Friends picked us up at the airport after their afternoon of errands in "the big city." It was an unseasonably very warm weekend of 19°C!

Sunday we drove 4hrs to Prince George to have dinner with our friend who graciously had our cats with her for 2 months! We then enjoyed watching the early screening of Dune Part 2; it's almost 3hrs long! Monday we fetched the cats and drove home. They were very greatful to be home and settled right in.

Slowly adjusted to being back home and resetting our sleep clocks so we don't wake needlessly at 3am. Temperatures dipped to more seasonable; freezing 🥶 and some fluffy snow ☃️ to brighten things up. Woodstove fires to keep the cats, and us warm. Sunny days slightly above zero to melt the snow.

🤞Spring is around the corner ☺️ and we're eager to plan for a stellar garden after a year off. With a few growing seasons under our belt we have a better plan of what we want 🍅🥕🥔🥒🌽🥬🥦🫛🍟🫘🧄🧅

In what seems at times like a blink of an eye 345 days has flown by! We're grateful for the support of friends and family helping to make this dream happen ❤️🙏☺️

That's a wrap! Thanks for following along, 💕Baca selengkapnya
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PelancongIt's been enjoyable to follow along.
30/03/24BalasMenerjemahkan
PelancongAgree- thank you for sharing your journey and memories of a lifetime. This blog was a great idea.
31/03/24BalasMenerjemahkan
PelancongIt has been wonderful living vicariously thru you both thanks for the fabulous photos and funny stories😎
02/04/24BalasMenerjemahkan
A year to remember forever! Thank you for sharing all your beutiful adventures! 😃 [Pat]
02/04/24BalasMenerjemahkan
2 suka
Travels 2.0
1
Spectacular Steamy Sunrise 🌅
15–16 Mar 2024, Selandia Baru ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C
For whatever reason we both woke up early, way too early! That said, we did want to be at the beach around 5am to enjoy quiet solitude in a hand-dug hot pool next to the ocean 🤗 With our trusty rented spade and headlamps, we walked along the dark pathway to the beach. There was only one other couple who had arrived slightly before us, and soon we were both hunkered down in our respective pools. We managed to find the spot that had cool and hot veins of water. This was ideal to have both as the hot water is scalding! Every once in a while a burst of hot water would come through and you could really feel it ♨️ 🥵

It was very peaceful and relaxing in the pre-dawn light with the lapping of the nearby waves as the tide continued to flood. In hindsight we probably could have dug the pool a couple feet higher up the beach as the waves were lapping around our sand berm. As the minutes moved along more people began to arrive to dig their own soaker pools. Eventually we had to abandon ours as the waves completely washed everything away 🤣🌊. J opted for a swim in the ocean while A dug 💪a new pool that shortly succumbed to the fate of our earlier hard work, but worth it 😊. Definitely a highlight of the sabbatical! Check out the great time lapse video 📹⌚

With the sun up well past the horizon we meandered back to the holiday park to warm up with a hot coffee, shower, and farmstand fresh avocado 🥑 on garlic bread 🍞. By 10am we were checked out, and back on the road. A had leafed through a magazine and found a couple points of interest. The Macadamia nut farm was first stop. The proprietor was very friendly and informative telling us all about the harvesting and seasoning of the Macadamias. Got to crack our own nuts too😉. The macadamia brittle looked amazing so we grabbed one for tonight's dessert. We also left with a few items to share later 😋

By this point the weather had turned, and a light mist rain was falling. We drove to the end of the road for a quick peek at the Stella Evered Memorial Park Reserve. A lovely story of a farmer who left his estate to become a park for others to enjoy. Then into Hahei for coffee and a snack.

A short distance around the inlet and up the coast we came to Whitianga, taking a slight detour to cruise through this beachside town. A few fix'r upper beach view houses for sale.

The highway meandered lots of tight corners along the beach for a while, then headed east, into the small mountain range. We kept our eyes pealed for more farm stands, and were rewarded for our efforts with a bag of freshly picked figs. We weren't too sure of the variety, and they looked really green but took a chance.

Once we traversed the pass and twisty road, we found ourselves oceanside once again in the quiet hamlet of Coromandel Town. Our final night in New Zealand was at a quirky, but well maintained nautical themed Motel, the Anchor Lodge ⚓.

A short walk through town, and we picked up a few items to cook for dinner in our kitchenette. We stopped at a smoked seafood shop and picked up chowder and smoked snapper to go with the pasta and salad dinner J had in mind.

The late afternoon sky was still quite overcast, with the sudden periodic shower, lending to the feeling of a quiet and relaxing night in. It's been a busy three weeks in New Zealand so it's what we needed.

The dinner was amazing that J cooked up! It's a perfect way to wrap up the final evening in NZ 🇳🇿Baca selengkapnya
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Pelancong Stunning
23/03/24Balas
3 suka
Travels 2.0
Hot🔥 Water💦 Beach 🏖️
14–15 Mar 2024, Selandia Baru ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C
Our sleep was ok, but interrupted a bit from noisy doors closing in the hallway of this budget-style hotel/hostel. We took advantage of the communal kitchen and had a simple toasted-croissant with fruit juice for breakfast. No one else was around and we sat on the balcony overlooking the pool and towards the Kuirau Park across the road.

A walk through Kuirau Park on this sunny warm morning after last night's showers was perfect. It is quiet extensive and also contains a number of geological thermal features. The city installed a few small pools for people to relax and soak their feet. The trails circled and wound around the various cordoned off spots of interest. Safety first as walking into sink holes or scalding water wouldn't be fun. There was a section of trail closed due to hot water covering the boardwalk and access points likely due to shifting ground. Before leaving Rotorua, we made a short loop through a portion of town to shop for some gifts.
https://www.rotoruanz.com/things-to-do/family-f…

When choosing our drive on Google Maps, we opted for the slightly longer route north, despite a tolled section of highway as it was more scenic.

We passed through a number small towns, and some very tight gorges with twisty roads. As we approached Katilati, A noticed a lot of plantations along the highway, and realized we were driving through a avacodo🥑 and kiwi🥝 growing area! We did stop at a couple farm stands and bought some avacodo to enjoy for breakfast. The first stop didn't work as we were without small cash for the honesty box. The second stop was at a farm house. All the avocados on the table were too hard, so the owner, G, came over to assist. She graciously found me two avos that were almost over ripe (hidden on the back table) and declined to take any payment for them 🥑💕 She reminisced about a July trip to Canada which was unseasonably cold too.

Mid-afternoon we arrived at Hot Water Beach. We checked into our cabin at the holiday park. As the tide was still low, we hoofed along the path to the beach. A narrow strip of sand was already pock marked with eager bathers digging holes to enjoy the hot water coursing beneath the sand. We didn't rent a spade to dig our own pool, but just as well as the good spots were very conjuested with happy people. Since the weather was so nice out we decided to enjoy the ocean for a splash, and it was warmer than expected. Even located another hot spring with the feet in the water.

Once back at the cabin, we enjoyed cold beverages in the sun on the little front patio before heading off to dinner at a nearby restaurant. Hotties was just a short walk away. We were the first to arrive for dinner, getting the best seat in the house, though they are all pretty epic😁 Started things of with a couple cocktails, then shared a prawn ceviche, capris salad, and the John Dory fish special. Of course we left room for dessert, and enjoyed their peach cobbler with ice cream. The walk home in the dark star-filled sky was lovely and very quiet in this tiny beachside town: not a soul in sight 🌟

The final glass of wine on the patio made for a good laugh when A noticed a chunky in his cup at the last second of a sip and didn't swallow. It was a small roach! He was relieved of his swimming duties and promptly disappeared under the deck boards😜! The room had finally cooled off from the day's warm rays, with the windows open and fan blowing so we retired for the night.Baca selengkapnya
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Geothermals & Redwoods
13–14 Mar 2024, Selandia Baru ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C
Today's early 10am adventure was a short distance away from Taupo to watch the first of four daily water releases, creating the amazing Aratiatia Rapids 🌊. Priority stop on the way was at a cafe for good coffee. The date scone & carrot cake spoke to us and we had to buy them 😋. We agree with a review that this ultra-nutty carrot cake is the best ever! Maybe they'll share the recipe?

Fun fact: Aratiatia Rapids was the location used in The Hobbit trilogy for the barrel and rapids escape scene. It took a bit for the upper pool to fill as the spillway gates were only partially open, then the torrent commenced 🥳 Before long the water began to ebb, and we decided to walk to the end of the viewing path and back.

A couple hours up the road we stopped at the Waiotapu Thermal Wonderland. Again another repurchased ticket online provided some savings 🎫👍. This tourist location can get a very busy in summer, but mid-week early in Fall time was more relaxed. We witnessed some pretty amazing geothermal wonders. We didn't arrive early enough to see Lady Knox Geyser, as it's a triggered event once a day and not necessarily much of a spectacle. The LOTR director recorded the sounds of the bubbling mud in a sink hole for the sounds of Mordor. There was also plenty of sulphur and moisture in air 🤢 to keep us moving quickly at times.

Finally arriving in Rotorua, we stopped for a snack at a sushi express before continuing on around the block to walk through the Redwood forest. VERY. BIG. TREES 🎄😍 Sweet smells of the forest were refreshing especially after the thermal aromas (Sulphur).

Late afternoon found us at our evening accommodation where we got a free upgrade to a larger room with a private bathroom. We freshened up and went to explore dinner options. The Eat Street restaurant area was excessively loud and busy, so we opted for a walk to a quieter area across town and enjoyed a Mexican sampler platter for two. We were hungry, but the serving was large enough for three or four!

The owner's seven year old son was hanging out. He was playing a bit, but was curious for a visit. It didn't take much to engage him in a conversation and learn a bit about a local's perspective from a young mind. The owner apologized for his interruption, but we quite enjoyed it.Baca selengkapnya
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Travels 2.0
Vintage Volcanos
12–13 Mar 2024, Selandia Baru ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C
We purchased online-deal tickets for the Sky Waka Gondola on Mount Ruapehu in the Tongariro National Park. It's hard to not enjoy a 40% savings contingent on arriving for the opening ride of the day at 10am.

Breakfast was at a local cafe before leaving Ohakune. We saw army soldiers again doing a routine drill walking around town in full combat gear, including firearms. It seemed a bit like a movie set between filming, as nothing exciting was transpiring, nor was there anyone else on the sidewalks 👀 😅 at this early hour of the day.

Once on the road, we stopped nearby at a commemorative historical site where the last spike was hammered in when two ends of the railway were connected in 1908.

We were a few minutes early for the ride up the mountain. Only a handful of people were there at this hour so we enjoyed a cabin to ourselves. Once onboard the gondola ride was pretty spectacula over the old volcanic rocky landscape. The streaming audio guide had some fun facts, including the $100,000 cost of the cabin we were riding in 💵👍!

After disembarking we meandered up the Sky Ridge trail. It took us just under half an hour to make it to the top. Not much in the way for vast scenic viewing due to the clouds, but some patience provided a few windows for photos. We also noticed some condensing moisture on us from the clouds/mist while traversing the ridge.

After our hike and decent on the gondola we were back on the road again, heading towards Lake Taupo. Quiet the juxtaposed landscape going from a rocky dessert to sub-alpine, then to forests and shrubed hillsides.

We stopped at Saddle View Point for a late afternoon snack. The view overlooking Lake Taupo, the largest in New Zealand, is epic! It was a "fine" day as they usually forecast, about 21C, and the sunbeams were their usual roasty hot ♨️

Once in Tuapo we headed out to explore the area on foot. We eventually arrived at the public Spa Park Hot Pools; a series of cascading pools of varying temperatures next to the Waikato River. It was nice to enjoy a soak with the late afternoon sun.

We then walked back to the lake front for dinner outdoors on the restaurant's sidewalk. Dinner was nice, though portions a bit small. The cocktails were correct, but watered down with soda water 🤔?! Weird.

Afterwards we shared a tiramisu gelato from the popular store around the corner and enjoyed it on the short walk back to the lake front accommodations.Baca selengkapnya
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Midway to Middle-Earth
11–12 Mar 2024, Selandia Baru ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C
Once packed up and checked out of the hotel, decided to explore more of the Wellington CBD, but first a coffee stop! We found a coffee roaster & cafe called The Hangar. It is nice enough place, but a bit over priced and too loud for a conversation 🔊🙉. An order of $6 toast was only a single slice 😱!! Normally for that price you can get a whole loaf from a bakery or at least a delicious scone 😥! We carried on to the waterfront, then back to the hotel to get the car and motor northwards.

Decided on the scenic route leaving the CBD via the Aro Valley and Takarau Gorge. This is a gorgeous country loop road with many sections so narrow it was pretty much a single track, but entertainingly painted with a centre dashed line 🤣. We had to completely pull over twice for very wide load transport trucks. Once back on the highway, we continued Northwards paralleling the west coast. Then we turned inland to the rolling hills and intermittent forests, brush, and grasslands.

By late afternoon we rolled into Ohakune for the night. As the sun was still shining brilliantly, decided the nearby forest loop trail would be a good way to stretch the legs and enjoy the warmth. This small town is busy in the winter with ski tourism, but very quiet now that it is the tail end of summer. A pint on the patio at the trail head in the sun 🍻☀️

Back at the hotel we found the pub full with a seniors and their vintage car collection. We enjoyed a couple points of beer while waiting for dinner to arrive. J chose the delectable fish and chips, while A had his beet patty burger.Baca selengkapnya
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Pelancong 😋
15/03/24Balas
PelancongMore wonderfulness...are the locals being nice & welcoming?
16/03/24BalasMenerjemahkan
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Whilst in Wellington
10–11 Mar 2024, Selandia Baru ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C
Around noon we drove to Picton for the booked 2:15pm ferry over to the North Island. K suggested a drive along Victoria Domain Road, where we parked for a short hike along a section of the Snout Track. We were cutting it a little close for the ferry time and couldn't do the entire walk.

We arrived on time for our designated check-in at the ferry. In short order we were onboard. Our ferries back home, BC Ferries, definitely seems smoother with loading as they don't have onboard ramps and cars doing 180 degree turns 🔃. Before long we were setting sail through the Queen Charlotte Sound toward the open water of The Cook Straight. A booked us a spot in the premium lounge where enjoyed a variety of buffet lunch items (chicken, Lamb, salads...). The fellow we initially sat across from was very socially awkward and we excused ourselves before heading up to the top deck to enjoy the sun and scenic sailing.

By late afternoon we had arrived at the Wellington ferry port. Disembarking wasn't as chaotic as anticipated, and before long we were on our way to our hotel in downtown. We were able to get the free parking and room upgrade after explaining a couple times our loyalty status from Expedia. The city view was pretty 😍 Though a stylish bathroom with frosted glass walls, functionally it is strange. The hotel parkade was quite the challenge for any experienced driver with very tight corners and awkwardly perpendicular parking spots. The transmission on the car didn't like a steep reverse strategy on a ramp so we had to exit the parkade and try again 😅. Although we had an assigned spot, we had to find another as it was already occupied.

For dinner, we went to Mr GO's per K's suggestion. It was a very interesting menu with a creative tapas take on Asia food. The cold peanut noodles certainly did make our mouth tingle from the spice like the waitress mention 😛 After we went for a walk down Cuba Street, and around the CBD. It was fairly warm and quiet Sunday evening 🌟Baca selengkapnya
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Magnificent Marlborough
8–10 Mar 2024, Selandia Baru ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C
The dive north through the Maruia River valley was gorgeous, including a quick stop at the falls. Soon we were heading more east, along the Buller River, and then the Wairau River valleys. As we approached Blenheim the valley became dense with vineyards; roughly 34,000 hectares, mostly Sauvignon blanc grapes, ready for harvest!

We arrived at S&K's by late afternoon, and enjoyed the evening on the patio. K treated us to a fabulous garden veggie and bean tart for dinner. Delicious local wine accompaniment too. The evening did cool down rapidly, so moved into the lounge for a lovely visit.

S&K planned a fun mid-morning tour through Marlborough wine country. We headed off to Clos Henry to sample an array of wines. Due to the unique nature of the property they are able to make estate wines from grapes grown in two distinct soil types due to a fault line. The side by side comparison of their Sauvignon Blanc grown in the rock vs. clay soils was distinctly different; we much prefered the rockier soil, while K liked the clay. Similarly, the Pinot Noir 40/60% (rocky/clay) vs the prefered 100% clay wines.

We drove through a vineyard with ripening grapes and tasted the unique flavours of the Sauvignon blanc, Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Gris, and Gewürztraminer grapes. Lucky for us to visit this time of the year 🍇🍀The grapes will all be harvested in the next few weeks.

On the way back to the house we stopped by a popular meat pie shop for a late lunch. By late afternoon we were walking along the Riverside Park to the Fidelio Cafe and Wine Bar for an light bite. Frank's Eatery and Bar was our choice for a delicious dinner which they treated us to 💕

Sunday was another fabulous morning, and enjoyed a light breakfast and tea before heading off to the Sunday Marlborough Market. We walked through the neighbourhood streets to to the market. Once there J&A stopped to order coffees while S&K were stopping at various stalls to gather items on their shopping list. A quick stop at the Empanada stand, then the fruit stand for plums, and we headed back to the house. S&K took us through the Riverside park trails, getting busier the closer to the CBD we got.

This was a wonderful visit with friends from long time past 💝 Hopefully we can cross paths more frequently 😊Baca selengkapnya
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Maruia Hotsprings
7–8 Mar 2024, Selandia Baru ⋅ ☁️ 11 °C
The drive through the Victoria Forest Park was gorgeous as the road twisted & turned through the narrow valley nestled tightly with trees. Eventually we passed through a wider valley then back in to a dark forested track towards Lewis Pass.

Our room was situated at the end on the upper floor near the pools. The exposed wood and beams belayed its mid-century origins, but finished with recent modern touches of large tile, and heated floors 🔥.

Luckily we arrived just in time to attend their evening yoga session, followed by a late dinner seating in the main building. The restaurant area was quite spacious with high ceilings and a wall of windows. On one end a domineering rock chimney and fireplace. Many mid-century design elements with exposed wood grain.

After dinner we headed to the pools for a late night soak in the outdoor hot spring pools. Although dark out with subtle lighting, the Japanese influence of large rounded river rock and greenery around the pools providing a natural experience was evident. We tried the stream room initially, but it was far to hot to stay long. The hot water for the pools were definitely naturally sourced due to the wafts of sulphur in the breeze 🫠 Not many other guests were around so we had it all to ourselves! The sky was initially clear and stars over head. Clouds then moved in and a few mist sprinkles on our faces. No possibility of seeing shooting stars 💫

The bed was very comfortable and it was a quiet night in the mountains 😴 The following morning we went for a walk along the nature trails after breakfast, followed by another dip in the hot tubs before setting off down the road 🚙Baca selengkapnya
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Westcoast Wonders
6–8 Mar 2024, Selandia Baru ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C
It was a gorgeous crisp morning in Queenstown, so decided to take a stroll along Lake Wakatipu and spotted the historic coal fired steam ship, TSS Earnslaw, arriving for the day's tours. A fresh load of coal slid off the hopper-truck making a satisfying rumbling noise for its refuel. We found our way back to Fergbaker to pick up a few pastries and coffees to enjoy beach-side as our breakfast. Two meals in a row, can't go wrong! A busker was strumming his guitar and singing. His best friend 🐕 howled along to some sections 🎶😊, adding to the unique experience.

Our drive east took us through the undulating grasslands. Early on, we opted for the scenic route up the Crown range road, and down on to the Cardrona Valley; definitely a route for motorcycles with all the twists and turns! We settled for the zooming of our Hyundai i30 😂

Eventually we met back up with the main highway, following along Hawea and Wanaka lakes towards the Hasst Pass. We stopped at the Blue Pools site for a walk to see them, but only managed the forest walk as the suspension bridges were closed as they are end-of-life 😕 Some folks were wading across the knee-deep river water, but decided not to join them.

As we neared the coast, the forests became denser, and a lot more moss and ferns. The exposed coastline forests looked pretty embattled from the numerous storms they weather. The more protected forests looked almost primeval.

Late in the day we arrived in Fox Glacier town site for the evening. The motel was basic, and the walls were paper thin 📄 (Micro-waterfall 🚹🚽sounds from the neighbor 💦 🤣) Dinner at the nearby Cook Saloon was quirky and delicious: J had the Lamb shank, and A the Salmon.

The next morning we drove down the road to Lake Matheson, and walked the 3km loop trail. We were fortunate that the warm sun was out, and the clouds mostly cleared revealing the peaks Aoraki and Minarets.

If you're ever looking for some expensive gasoline, try Franz Josef: $303.9nzd /L! 😱 We suppose it feels good helping the local economy 😔. Our path continued Northwards, weaving inland and following the coastline, and crossing multiple sections of very wide mostly dry river beds.

Midday found us in Hokitika, where we had a picnic at the beach front park. We joined a lovely older lady and her dog at the picnic table. We shared a few stories about ourselves. It was her first road trip with her dog. Happy to be away from her retirement home. We hope they knew she was on this multiday adventure 🤔.

We continued northward, but eventually our route took us east, back inland towards Lewis Pass. A found us a hot spring resort for the night!Baca selengkapnya
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Quick'n Queenstown
5 Maret 2024, Selandia Baru ⋅ ☁️ 7 °C
An easy start to the day with a trip over to the Sandfly cafe for coffee and baked goods. Once packed up and goodbyes said, we set off towards Queenstown.

Not too far from Te Anau we made our first stop at a wilderness reserve for a short scenic walk to a viewing platform near the Takitimu Mountains and foothills. The area is an ancient, low and slow growing Halocarpus bidwilli bog pine forest; a very unique and sensitive ecosystem.

The drive remained quite flat though the wide meandering valleys, with the distant snow dusted peaks.

Early afternoon found us in Garston where we stopped to browse a couple of shops and enjoy a mocha coffee.

Pretty soon we arrived at Lake Wakatipu, where the road hugged the shore, taking us over a hilly section called Devil’s Staircase. It was very windy, with a weather front pushing in from the south. While taking photos at the lookout stop we were pelted by more hail. Nice stinging sensation on the face 🥴

We stopped in Frankton and walked over the old dam, following a section of beach towards Kelvin Heights.

As we were a tad early for check in, we stopped and enjoyed a walk around the Queenstown Gardens. After checked in, we continued to wander around town enjoying the sunny afternoon. Lots of people about on this unseasonably cooler day but not busy. Eventually we found our way to 1876, the old courthouse, and enjoyed happy hour with a couple beers on the sunny patio. For dinner, we decided to take advantage of the hostel kitchen, picking up a couple of freshly baked meat, and a salad. No just any pie, but from Fergbakery! So fresh and delicious 😋

Later, A had a hankering for sweets, so we walked over and picked up something different, a deep fried Kiwifruit 🥝 from the fish and chips place.Baca selengkapnya
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What kind of fish? Tasty? [Erich]
10/03/24BalasMenerjemahkan
PelancongNo fish were harmed in the production of the battered and deep fried kiwi on a stick dessert. 🥝
14/03/24BalasMenerjemahkan
Pelancong Great shot😎♥️
14/03/24BalasMenerjemahkan
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The Fiordlands
3–5 Mar 2024, Selandia Baru ⋅ ☁️ 8 °C
We had a relaxing morning visiting at the farm. G made eggs benedict with a baked shredded potato base, topped with bacon or smoked salmon lox. By midday we were on the road heading west to Te Anau for the next couple of nights with J2.

We made a quick stop at J2's favourite cafe enroute, and savoured a delicious carrot cake with our tea. Another quick detour brought us into Manapouri, then into Te Anau, a short distance away.

It was clear, but quite blustery out. We opted for a short walk near the lake, along the southern beach, crossing the control gates. These control the flow of the Waiau River into Lake Manapouri, which is also a local hydro-electric reservoir.

We chose a relaxing night back at the house, making hamburgers and salad for dinner. 🥗🍔

An early start to Monday morning with a trip to the local coffee shop. The forecast last night was for over 20mm of rain, so the waterfalls should be flowing 🌊. It is a incredibly scenic two hour drive to Milford Sound. Eglington River valley is very wide and quickly narrows approaching the mountains, which is quite spectacular to see. With the recent rain, there were water falls everywhere! We learned that this region can get around 8 meters of rainfall, and a wet year can be up to 10 meters of precipitation!! With the cool weather, even the mountain tops were capped with a light dusting of snow.

We arrived with plenty of time before our boat tour of Milford Sound, so we opted to use the far parking lot with no fees, and walk the forest trail to the pier. The treed rocky slopes were covered in rivulets creating various tiny waterfalls along the way.

Milford Sound is a stunning Fijord! Endless waterfalls and even a recent tree-slide. This happens when they lose their grip on the rock and plummet down the steep slopes into the fjord. Our small ship, with at most 75 passengers, was perfect to enjoy the cruise without being crowded. We chose seats on the very front of the top deck. It was nice being out of the wind while tucked out of the way of milling tourists.

The rains held off till after the boat returned, but we were met with an intense thunder and hail storm upon disembarking! At least two good flashes of lightening too. It was short lived, and we stayed fairly dry on the 20 minute walk back to the car. Fresh air while enjoying a walk, saving over $30 in parking!

The return drive to Te Anau was just as spectacular as the drive in, and we stopped at a few more pullouts to explore. Sadly The Chasm Walk was shorter than expected due to storm damage washing out the pedestrian bridge!

Upon our return to Te Anau, we found the weather hadn't changed much with bouts of sudden rain, but at least the wind had died down. J2 surprised us with his one and only baked chicken curry casserole dish and a salad for dinner 😋🐔 Simply scrumptious! We had another relaxing evening at the house visiting and watching a few shows on TV.Baca selengkapnya
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PelancongThe roads to Mordor
07/03/24BalasMenerjemahkan
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The Southlands
1–3 Mar 2024, Selandia Baru ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C
The drive was very enjoyable with the sun bathed rolling hills and landscape full of agricultural production. Late afternoon found us at G & J2's farm. It was a wonderful reunion for A and J2 as they haven't visited since 2012 in Australia! G prepared an amazing lamb dinner with fresh root veggies from the garden. The lamb was raised right there too! Two other friends of theirs were staying and we all had a great visit. C shared yummy French cheeses and some apparatif liquor reminding him of his home in France.

The following morning after a tour around the farm, and feeding the animals we had the freshly roasted coffee and bagels we brought from Dunedin. Quite a strong roast with caffeine vibes! We all piled into their SUV for our afternoon adventure: a drive through Riverton seaside town, along the costal road where we stopped at Cozy Cove, Gemstone beach, and then back to the farm.

As the weather was sunny and warm on this first day of Fall, G decided it would be fun to have pizza out in the shed. Nothing beats cooking in the wood-fired oven! 🍕😋Eventually we retired to the living room as night descended since the weather became a bit breezy and cool.

It was a wonderful two day visit which we'll cherish 💕 with fond memories 😊Baca selengkapnya
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A morning in Dunedin
1 Maret 2024, Selandia Baru ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C
We enjoyed a morning stroll through the university campus and botanical gardens in Dunedin. Next stop was to savour freshly baked bagel sandwiches from Beam Me Up Beagels. Grabbing some fresh roasted coffee beans was our final stop as we left town bound for a visit with friends further south.

Nearby was a stop at Tunnel Beach. The path down the steep hillside had recently been landscaped to make the treck easier. The chiseled narrow passageway through the rock to the beach was quite neat with tiny steps.Baca selengkapnya
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Dunedin (Dùn Èideann)
29 Feb–1 Mar 2024, Selandia Baru ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C
Once packed up and checked out, we walked to the Victorian Precinct for coffee and another lovely visit with J and her daughter S. The Harbour Street Cafe is an open and eclectic space with lots of vintage decor. We shared the breakfast plater while enjoying a couple lattes. The good company and stories we shared were fabulous.

Heading further south on the east coast, our first stop brought us to Moeraki Rocks beach walk. They are spherical rocks embedded along a short section of shoreline. They appeared to be a conglomerate of softer stone, glued together by crystals! The photos don't quite do them justice.
https://www.moerakiboulders.com/

Another short drive and side excursion found us out at Shag Point (named for the English name from a seabird, the Pied Shag). A group of Fur Seals were sunning amongst the rocks and shore front. It's pretty amazing how high they can climb up on the rocks. Next stop for a stretch of the legs was at Wakouaiti Beach. Only a handful of other folks on this picturesque beach!

We drove along the coast line as much as possible, taking the scenic route as we hoped on and off the main highway. As we approached Dunedin, we had a pretty significant climb through the foothills and low mountains in the area. The clouds at the top gave way to a sunny valley below where Dunedin resides at the end of a short narrow channel, forming a protected harbour.

Taking advantage of the sunny warm weather, we headed out to walk the downtown area. Our primary destination was the picturesque train station, built in 1904. Much of the area is comprised of large cut-stone and mid-century buildings, amongst newer structures. The center has a large open circular park area, with a hexagonal layout that radiates out into the hilly surroundings. George Street, through the centre, is reminiscent of Grandville street in Vancouver.

On our way back to the night's accommodations, we stopped for dinner at a Mexican canteena, enjoying a mini pitcher of classic margaritas (more like tequila and lemonade😌), burrito, and enchiladas plates. We sat next to the gas fireplace for a bit of warm atmosphere. The interior quirky and very few other diners.Baca selengkapnya
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Pelancong So that's what happened to the death star
23/03/24BalasMenerjemahkan
Pelancong😂
23/03/24Balas
3 suka
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Oamaru
28–29 Feb 2024, Selandia Baru ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C
A bit of a groggy morning in Christchurch for us as we didn't sleep well, probably still adjusting to the new time zone? Found an intriguing bakery near by, so popped in to enjoy a coffee and fresh baked goods. The Bohemian Bakery definitely had some French-Chic vibes. We hoped for maybe avocado toast, but the images on the website are for weekend service 😔, oh well, avocado croissant sandwich instead!

We carried on southward towards Oamaru, passing through a number of small villages. The drive was enjoyable, and traffic moved steadily onward. Lots of farming, herds of cattle and sheep, as well as fields of corn and other grains. To break up the trip we stopped in Geraldine for a walk through Riddell's Reserve; a short loop through a pine forest with neat undergrowth.

We finally arrived in Oamaru, a quaint seaside town, with a population of 14,000. The town is known for its old Victorian Whitestone district and a colony of Blue Penguins.

Once check into our room, we went for a short wander through downtown (see video). We were invited to dinner with a couple A met years ago in the Marshall Islands, who now live here with their girls. We had a wonderful evening visit, a huge salmon dinner and the homegrown veggies were amazing!

It was suggested to go have a look for the Blue Penguins as they come ashore after sunset. Unfortunately we didn’t spot any at the park, but the seaside walk was gorgeous and peaceful.Baca selengkapnya
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South Island: Christchurch
26–28 Feb 2024, Selandia Baru ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C
We arrived in Christchurch early in the afternoon. It was so refreshing to step outdoors into a more temperate environment compared to the muggy suffocating heat of Thailand.

Despite Christchurch being the largest hub on South Island, it seems very chill and open despite being on a plain nestled near the mountains.

In short order we arrived in the historic CBD (Central Business District), but lots rebuilt since the earthquake of 2011. Once checked into the hotel, decided to head out to explore and enjoy the rest of the warm afternoon. We meandered through a few of the CBD streets east to the Avon River, then west to the city's Botanical gardens. Upon our return we stopped for a light dinner at a Smokehouse restaurant by the river.

Tuesday we decided to explore the surrounding area. We enjoyed a short walk to Grizzly Baked Goods 😋, for coffee and a donut. Next we jumped in the car and headed toward Lyttleton. The highway took us through the long tunnel to the port town. We then followed the meandering road up and over to Godley Head, an old defense battery site from WWII, and walked around.

We descended down into Redcliff, through Mount Pleasant, and into Ferrymead. A quick bite for lunch; our server Shelley was lovely. Then some fun shopping at a Op Shop nearby. Can't beat $2 dress shirts and $10 red suede shoes! We then headed into New Brighton and walked on the beach and along the impressive pier, where a number of people were fishing.

For dinner we popped a block over from the hotel to Earl. The Pasta and drink special on Tuesdays was a fabulous price. We weren't sure how busy it was going to be, so A found a back up just in case. Luckily they had room, and the meal was delicious! We decided to walk through Rauora park, on our way back to the hotel, and found a section of the Berlin Wall that had been relocated here as an art installation; Christchurch is known for its street art. Turns out there are many sections of the wall around the world! They repaint theirs annually with new art to keep it fresh🎨👌Baca selengkapnya
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Pelancong ♥️♥️♥️
01/03/24Balas
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