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Travels 2.0
Cat Ba Island & the 3 Bays
7–9 févr. 2024, Vietnam ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C
An early start to the day with a private car to Halong bay for our 2-night excursion around Cat Ba Island. E&J and kids plus us, with all the luggage made for a cramped but cheerful ride. The driver seemed amazed at how much we stuffed in his trunk. It was even photo worthy for him! Additionally, child seats are not required here, or we would not have all fit.

We had a good chuckle when he asked us where he was taking us, 🤔 so we called the hotel who booked it so they could speak to him. It was a bit disconcerting as he spent the whole 3 hours drive texting and talking on the phone, not to mention That said, we did arrive safely at the dock with plenty of time 'till departure. The marina was packed with tour boats of all sizes!

The small shuttle boat took us through very narrow channels past the multitude of limestone monoliths. We did get briefly stuck on a sand bar at one point as the tide was very low 🫣

We were welcomed heartily by the crew of the Doris as we transfered to the cruiseship, and ventured up for lunch while our cabins were prepared. Once settled in the very comfortable adjoining rooms we went for a soak in the "hot tub" that was more of a slightly-warmer, shallow pool at the bow of the boat.

The sundeck for the "sunset" party (without sun) and happy hour drinks was next, followed by the bbq dinner. The buffet meal was decent, though not all food cooked when the service started so some us had to wait for the second batch of grilled goodness.

The next morning we boarded a mid-sized vessel for our day excursion onto Cat Ba Island and nearby village. E&J and kids took the electric shuttle and we cycled to the village; the bicycle route went through a low tunnel! Many of the cyclists gave up on the short steep hill to push their single-gear bicycles up. A quick tour around town, a coffee, and we were back to the boat. Next was a quick kayak paddle in a shallow bay before returning to the cruise ship. Many shore areas are meticulously lined with plastic tubs which hold oysters growing their pearls. Since it was a cool 16C day, all guests agreed skipping the optional ocean swim was a good idea. Water temperatures are quite warm though.

The ship is on a repetitive schedule welcoming guests onboard for one, two or more nights. So night two, as you can guess, was another sunset party and happy hour, followed by bbq dinner.

The evening activity is squid fishing from the rear deck. The night was much warmer than the previous and more guests joined. Few squid could be seen in the water and very few bites. The party ended quickly when one of the crew successfully caught 3 squid in the net, and the Australian group were inked on their clothes and hair! 🫢

We enjoyed our water-front soaker bath tub before Disembarkation instead of breakfast. An early lunch was served before the shuttle boat returned us to the marina. Thankfully we had a slightly larger private minivan to the airport.

We got our last visits for a few hours at the Hanoi airport before our friends flew to Tokyo and us to Thailand for the next adventures!En savoir plus
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VoyageurWonderfully ,joyful video and posting
11/02/2024RépondreTraduire
VoyageurI can't wait to see your mode of transportation in Thailand; I hear m/c also very popular.
12/02/2024RépondreTraduire
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Old Town Bangkok sojourn
10 février 2024, Thaïlande ⋅ ☁️ 33 °C
We arrived in Bangkok in the wee hours of the morning. Finally settled and in bed by 1am at a very eclectic hotel. Not a long sleep, but restful enough. The room had a decent bed, and the A/C kept the room wonderfully cool and humid at a tolerably level. The hotel had more of a hostel feel to it with an open communal courtyard, and lots of interesting decorations.

In the morning we enjoyed the breakfast and beverage. A fair number of young French-speaking families were staying at the hotel too. We soon headed out on a mission to find a tourist SIM for A's phone. The front desk suggested going to 7/11 to get one. We walked a full massive city block, and tried a half-dozen 7/11s; there are soo many of them. The final store luckily had a 30-day SIM stock for 1/5th the price (199baht) of the ones offered at the airport kiosk! J noticed Fisherman's Friends chocolate-mint and salted-caramel flavours, so we had a buy them too 🍫😋

Once back at the hotel, A set up his phone. Simple swap of the Sim and voila! We checked out of the room, storing our bags, before heading out to explore the area. A very polite tuktuk driver stated chatting us up. He had the classic scam story of free temple admissions and wanting to guide us. Later we read how they also take you to stores in an attempt to get sales and commissions 🙃 Glad we dodged that!

We were caught in three sudden mini-Thunder downpours. The rain was warm and refreshing, and greatly reduced the humidity. We did take shelter from the worst of it under a bridge and a couple trees.

Our 10km walk took us past Wat Tri Thotsathep Worawihan, through Phra Sumen Fort, and along the river to the complex with The Temple of the Emerald Buddha and The Grand Palace. We enjoyed a couple iced coffees and slice of white chocolate cheesecake on a patio near the river were we enjoyed watching the boats bouncing and manoeuvring along the river, across from Wat Arun Ratchawararam Ratchawaramahawihan.

After wandering a bit longer decided to catching a tuk-tuk back to the hotel. Fare was negotiated from 300 to 160 within 8 seconds 😂 We enjoyed a refreshing shower, then lounged in the courtyard before a taxi back to the airport for a night flight to Phuket.En savoir plus
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A taste of Phuket
11 février 2024, Thaïlande ⋅ ⛅ 32 °C
The brief stay in Phuket was similar to our time in Bangkok; evening flight with a late night arrival at the hotel. lt was a historic building, but renovated with a tinge of modern flair.

Once we finished our breakfast we set out for a hair cut and a couple items from the pharmacy before the upcoming liveaboard scuba adventure. The heat turned out to be very toasty 34C, but feeling like 39C with the humidity. We decided to literally chill out in the hotel lobby for a few hours.

Later in the afternoon we got restless and went out for lunch, and to explore some of the old town. As it was Sunday, the streets were barricaded off, and the market was being set up.

Our ride to the Chalong Pier was a bit late, but in short order we were off with a few of the other drivers to meet with The Phinisi.

We boarded the dingy and shuttled over to the vessel we will call home for the next 10 days.

Our tour leader M and crew welcomed us on board, and gave us an orientation before dinner. We were in bed by 10pm in anticipation for a good sleep and early rising.En savoir plus
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Koh Haa Islands (Phinisi, day 2)
12 février 2024, Thaïlande ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C
The captain sailed the vessel most of the night. Around 2am he had to take refuge behind an island due to the strong winds before moving on. Prior to going to sleep we took a sea sickness pill just in case the ride was rough. We were feeling ok in the morning 😎

Up early for our 7am dive briefing and a light breakfast. We had just arrived at the Ko Haa island 3, just in time for our first dive. The area was teaming with marine life, and a good current. It's a popular scuba dive good spot as two other vessels were arriving as we were getting out.

While we had a larger breakfast, the captain moved the vessel over to Ko Haa Island 5. More day trip boats loaded with divers arrived. The south side of the island was fairly protected, and little current. The highlight was a large cavernous opening in the limestone rock called the "Cathedral".

Once back on the boat, lunch was served, and once again the vessel moved, but to a new set of island called Ko Rok. The afternoon dive on the south-east side of Ko Rok Nok turned into a drift dive along a sandy shelf called "Sea Fan Gardens". Normally these are great to enjoy up close, but we just glimpsed them as we zoomed past. We were graced with a sea turtle swimming by!

The fourth dive of the day was the night dive, and we descended as the sun set. Armed with bright flashlights we went in search of the night life. A and J found a couple large lobsters, and the group found a large sea snail and lion fish in the dark abyss.

A fantastic dinner of various curries and seafood were served followed by a quiet relaxing evening before an early bedtime after the day of fun.En savoir plus
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Koh Rok Islands (Phinisi, day 3)
13 février 2024, Thaïlande ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C
Due to large waves from the south, and strong winds from the north, the captain decided to shelter in a bay at the southeastern end of the island. The plan was to motor down to Koh Lipe near the Malaysian boarder, approximately 5 hours away. However, the weather wasn't cooperating, so we stayed for a morning dive at Koh Rok Nok Seafan gardens again. This time the current was mild so we're able to enjoy a leasurely pace through the area, bustling with activity of all the fish and other creatures.

While we had breakfast and relaxed, the captain motored back to the Koh Haa Islands, as Koh Lipe was now off the schedule. We descended into the depths along Island One. It had the feeling of being in a fish tank as the area was absolutely teaming with all storts of life. We glided throug craggy canyons and archways, where the current was fairly swift, and out along a steep wall.

Back to the ship for lunch and a rest before the mid-afternoon and evening dives dives.

Once diner was finished, the captain moved the vessel north again, this time towards the Koh Phi Phi Islands, roughly 3 hours away. Anchored near the west side of Koh Phi Phi Lee, just north of Maya Beach where the movie "The Beach" was filmed.En savoir plus
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VoyageurGreat fun.....
14/02/2024RépondreTraduire
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Koh Phi Phi Ley (Phisini, day 4)
14 février 2024, Thaïlande ⋅ ⛅ 31 °C
Another early rising and a beautiful start to the day. While we had a light breakfast and dive briefing, the captain motored us a short distance across to Koh Bida Nok for our first two dives.

The first dive brought us to a roped off, shallow, sheltered bay. Despite the evidence of lots of tourism, the area was bustling with sea life. We had beaten the crowds, so the dive was quite peaceful. In the bay we saw a couple Blacktip reef sharks (or maybe the same shark twice? 🦈🙃) in the upper shallows. As we went deeper an awe inspiring sight of a multitude of fish schools weaving about like a delicate ribbon in the breeze. The second dive was much busier with many boats in the area, we stayed to the deeper area with soft coral encrusted rock walls to enjoy. The air is around 34C with high humidity, water is about 28C and feels like a bathtub🛁 until the occasional cooler current sneaks past giving a momentary shiver 😅

We returned to Koh Phi Phi Lee Island, near Malong Bay where we prepared for the afternoon and evening dives.

We are enjoying the multicultural passengers,each with their own personalities but thankfully none of them overbearing 👍. The crew are doing an amazing job keeping up with everything. The kitchen keeps producing lots of delicious food 😋. This isn't a weight loss vessel!En savoir plus
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Richelieu Rock (Phinisi, day 6)
16 février 2024, Andaman Sea ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C
The Phinisi motored all night north past the Similan Islands almost to the Burmese boarder, stopping once, to pick up another Diver at Patong who's incoming flight was late arriving.

By 8am we had finally arrived at "Richelieu Rock" near Mu Ko National Park islands. Sadly, we decided it best to take the day off to recuperate from our ear and sinus issues 👂🥴, with a hint from the tour leader that we'd be diving this location a few times.

The name of the Hin Plo Naam "rock", only seen at low tide, was named after Andreas du Plessis de Richelieu, who was a Danish naval officer and businessman who became a Siamese admiral and minister of the navy. He was also responsible for his service in charting and gaining the international recognition for Thai water boundaries.

Unfortunately the dives weren't as amazing as the others had expected due to poor visibility. There were a few other boats in the area, but it didn't appear too busy like compared to the dives areas further south.

Later in the day "The Junk", the sister boat to Phinisi, met up with us at Richelieu Rock. Soon after we departed for Koh Surin islands for the last two dives, and to shelter for the night. Though we weren't diving it was a relaxing day on the ocean with great food and some books to read.En savoir plus
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Koh Surin Islands (Phinisi, day 7)
17 février 2024, Thaïlande ⋅ ☀️ 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 👍En savoir plus
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VoyageurWonderful video,pictures
19/02/2024RépondreTraduire
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Similan Islands (Phinisi, day 10)
20 février 2024, Thaïlande ⋅ ☁️ 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 🐇En savoir plus
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VoyageurWonderful
22/02/2024Répondre
Safe journey to your next stop. [Barbara Kauffman]
25/02/2024RépondreTraduire
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Chilling in Toasty Patong 🥵
21–25 févr. 2024, Thaïlande ⋅ ☀️ 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 👌En savoir plus
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wonderful - simply wonderful...thoroughly enjoyed your writeups. [Barb K.]
27/02/2024RépondreTraduire
VoyageurGreat photos trip of a lifetime 😎
27/02/2024RépondreTraduire
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South Island: Christchurch
26–28 févr. 2024, Nouvelle-Zélande ⋅ ☀️ 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🎨👌En savoir plus
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Voyageur ♥️♥️♥️
01/03/2024Répondre
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Oamaru
28–29 févr. 2024, Nouvelle-Zélande ⋅ ☁️ 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.En savoir plus
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Dunedin (Dùn Èideann)
29 févr.–1 mars 2024, Nouvelle-Zélande ⋅ ☀️ 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.En savoir plus
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Voyageur So that's what happened to the death star
23/03/2024RépondreTraduire
Voyageur😂
23/03/2024Répondre
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A morning in Dunedin
1 mars 2024, Nouvelle-Zélande ⋅ ☁️ 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.En savoir plus
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The Southlands
1–3 mars 2024, Nouvelle-Zélande ⋅ ⛅ 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 😊En savoir plus
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The Fiordlands
3–5 mars 2024, Nouvelle-Zélande ⋅ ☁️ 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.En savoir plus
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VoyageurThe roads to Mordor
07/03/2024RépondreTraduire
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Quick'n Queenstown
5 mars 2024, Nouvelle-Zélande ⋅ ☁️ 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.En savoir plus
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What kind of fish? Tasty? [Erich]
10/03/2024RépondreTraduire
VoyageurNo fish were harmed in the production of the battered and deep fried kiwi on a stick dessert. 🥝
14/03/2024RépondreTraduire
Voyageur Great shot😎♥️
14/03/2024RépondreTraduire
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Westcoast Wonders
6–8 mars 2024, Nouvelle-Zélande ⋅ ☁️ 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!En savoir plus
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Maruia Hotsprings
7–8 mars 2024, Nouvelle-Zélande ⋅ ☁️ 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 🚙En savoir plus
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Magnificent Marlborough
8–10 mars 2024, Nouvelle-Zélande ⋅ ☁️ 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 😊En savoir plus
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Whilst in Wellington
10–11 mars 2024, Nouvelle-Zélande ⋅ ⛅ 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 🌟En savoir plus
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Midway to Middle-Earth
11–12 mars 2024, Nouvelle-Zélande ⋅ ⛅ 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.En savoir plus
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Voyageur 😋
15/03/2024Répondre
VoyageurMore wonderfulness...are the locals being nice & welcoming?
16/03/2024RépondreTraduire
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Vintage Volcanos
12–13 mars 2024, Nouvelle-Zélande ⋅ ☁️ 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.En savoir plus
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Geothermals & Redwoods
13–14 mars 2024, Nouvelle-Zélande ⋅ ☀️ 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.En savoir plus
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Hot🔥 Water💦 Beach 🏖️
14–15 mars 2024, Nouvelle-Zélande ⋅ ☀️ 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.En savoir plus
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