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Jer MahonJer Mahon
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traveled in 21 countries Read more British Columbia, Canada
  • Travels 2.0
    1
    2
    Day 112

    Quick'n Queenstown

    March 5 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 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.    Read more

  • Travels 2.0
    Day 110–112

    The Fiordlands

    March 3 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 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.    Read more

  • Travels 2.0
    Day 108–110

    The Southlands

    March 1 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 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 😊    Read more

  • Travels 2.0
    Day 108

    A morning in Dunedin

    March 1 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 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.    Read more

  • Travels 2.0
    2
    Day 107–108

    Dunedin (Dùn Èideann)

    February 29 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 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.    Read more

  • Travels 2.0
    Day 106–107

    Oamaru

    February 28 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 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.    Read more

  • Travels 2.0
    1
    Day 104–106

    South Island: Christchurch

    February 26 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 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🎨👌    Read more

  • Travels 2.0
    Day 99–103

    Chilling in Toasty Patong 🥵

    February 21 in Thailand ⋅ ☀️ 32 °C

    We woke up early on our last morning on The Phinisi, despite our best efforts to sleep in. It gave us time to mingle and converse with everyone. By 930 we were shuttling over on the dingy to the pier. Though not a very big pier, definitely a busy time due to all the day-trippers heading out to The Similan Islands. We ended up docking with another boat, and passing through their lower deck to disembark 🙃

    Most of the guys were put on the shuttle bus destined for the airport, and only four of us on another for Phuket Island. Once we reached the outer limits of Phuket city, we were swapped onto a different van to get us to Patong beach. We think that's where A forgot his sun hat 👒🤔, oh well.

    We arrived at the accommodations by 11am, and they were gracious enough to allow an early check-in. It is a simple 2 bedroom apartment; we can cook for the first time in a month! It was nice to have down time in a cooled space, without any rocking ⛵. Eventually we did head out to get a few things, and went as far as the Malin Plaza outdoor market, before heading back. Without the ocean breeze and open air, the temperature really is toasty 🥵. We only found convenience stores instead of grocery ones, so ended up ordering pizza and pasta to be delivered. A little reset for the tummies after many days of yummy boat food.

    The following day we spent the morning poolside in the shade. Coffee, fresh fruit and oatmeal ☕. Mid-afternoon we decided to checkout the local mall, mostly just to get out AND stay COOL ☃️ It was a short but hot walk despite trying to stay in the shade. Jungceylong shopping complex is pretty extensive, but very much catering to International tourists, and high prices. But, can't beat bubble tea for $1.15cad!

    Big C grocery store was an experience. Well stocked shelves, but confusing to find items due to multiple places for things. Many imported things are higher costs than home. It was good to see better fresh food storage practices, yet the pre-cooked chickens were just sitting on a table at room temperature 🍗. The liquor store closes for a few hours of the afternoon due to government rules. Thankfully it was after 5pm and we could buy a bottle of Thai Rose wine. It was a gamble if it was going to be dry or sweet. We lucked out and it was refreshingly dry 🍷

    Travel planning for the next few weeks was enjoyable to do in the peaceful AC'd apartment or poolside in the shade. Then we realized when trying to make an online purchase that the credit card used at the grocery store was missing 💳😱! Looking around the apartment turned up nothing. Phone calling the store included the understandable language barrier. They looked, yet didn't quite say they didn't have it. Walking to the store late afternoon avoided the sizzling UV rays 🔆 The store employee we asked (with Google translate) about the missing card showed us to the customer service counter. The young man behind the desk was holding up the card! 😁 They had found it when I had phoned.

    A short walk through the busy shopping areas lead us to the Patong Beach at dusk. The beach was quiet with the last boats of the day trickling in. We chose a restaurant facing the street towards the beach. A noodle dish and veggie Burger 🍔🍴 The food was delicious and endless people watching.

    Our last day in Pa Tong beach was more relaxed. A took the laundry down the hill to wash at a self serve laundromat. It was super reasonable at 40 Bhat a load. While the clothes were hanging to dry on our patio, we planned for our next adventure in New Zealand 🇳🇿 Surprisingly, the day was relatively enjoyable with a continuous breeze to distract us from the 33C humid heat.

    For dinner we ventured to a nearby Mexican restaurant, off the busier main road. We were looking at the margaritas, but there was a Buddha holiday in effect, preventing the sale of alcohol anywhere in the country 😭 Soda water with lime didn't quite taste the same.

    And that's a wrap for our Thailand adventure 👌    Read more

  • Travels 2.0
    Day 98

    Similan Islands (Phinisi, day 10)

    February 20 in Thailand ⋅ ☁️ 29 °C

    The captain motored the boat down to a rounded granite pinnical called Elephant Head Rock, just south of Koh Similan, for our morning dive. Soon a couple other live-aboard vessels joined us. Our tour leader wasn't worried about a congested site as apparently he's familiar with the other tour operators' short dive duration; 35 minutes, as opposed to our 50+ minutes 😍. We get our tank's worth!

    During our pre-dive brief it was mentioned that this site was considered somewhat difficult due to the multidirectional currents that flow because of the crevasses between the boulders below. We entered at the southwest area, and worked our way counter clockwise through the canyons and a couple passages. The currents were as expected, but intermittent. We were able spot both blue and yellow Ribbon eels and an Octopus, along with a variety schooling reef fish. The octopus put on a fabulous display. When it swam it was dark brown, and twice it landed on some coral, blending itself with both texture and beige with dark spots 🐙

    Our second dive wasn't too far away, just south along the coastline of Koh Ba-Ya, Similan Island #7 (of nine). The site was called West of Eden, and had a wonderful undulating Reef were we spotted another octopus, and were mesmerized by the larger schools of Trevally and Wrasse chasing the smaller schools of reef fish.

    Our final dive of the whole trip took place in the channel between islands five and six; a shallow dive along the fine white sand beach of Koh Hok. There are multiple monuments underwater as a tribute to the deadly tsunami of 2004☠️. It wasn't our favourite dive. Lots of noise from all the boat traffic, and the corals were few and far between; more of a leasurely under water swim 😔 One of the other groups were lucky to see a Zebra Shark just hanging out on the sand bottom posing happily for photographs 🦈😏

    Before long were were motoring back to the mainland to anchor near Thap Lamu Pier for the night in preparation for our morning departure. It's surprising how fast a 10 day trip zips by 🐇    Read more

  • Travels 2.0
    Day 95

    Koh Surin Islands (Phinisi, day 7)

    February 17 in Thailand ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    The boat started to motor early in the morning, back to Richelieu Rock. Upon arrival, found a number of other boats already anchored. We stayed on deck to continue recuperating from the sinus issues 🫣, and just as well as it appears the visibility hadn't improved much from the day before 😔. The main sight for the divers was a large school of midsized barracuda that were hanging about.

    We did get to see a pod of dolphins 🐬 breaching near the boat, and a hawk that zig-zagged above. Only a couple of other boats in the area that may have enjoyed the rare sightings, as we did.

    Late afternoon found us anchored in a bay near the Moken community on the east side of Koh Surin Tai. Apparently the people originated from Burma, and lived as sea gypsies till they decided to make a permanent settlement. There are a number of documentaries about them, like "Vanishing World of the Sea Gypsies".

    The boat then relacated to Torinla Reef of the east side of Koh Torinla Surin Island for the evening dive, returning to a sheltered area for the night.

    Without the four dives a day, we relax and have lots of time to rest, read novels and enjoy small samples of the delicious food created by the kitchen team onboard 🍲🤤 Life's great, even if it's plan B 👍    Read more

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