Second week in Osaka, and the heat has only mildly abated...After Nara we visited Yoshino with Michael, Jessica and the girls and played in the river before launching fireworks... Sumiyoshi Taisha temple was also a welcome fresh break even if we didn't get out of the bustle of the city. Obviously plenty of aikido is being done and the bodies are slowly growing accustomed to it...Still no pictures to show though, although there is a shodohai on Sunday, which Celine is taking part in so photos to follow... [View Full Entry]

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We arrived in Japan on the 21st August - it's so hot! We had a party at Michael and Jessica's where Celine met up with Aya now 2 and a half! We went on our first excursion in Nara on Tuesday for Scott's birthday. We've been training everyday - and the skin has dropped off Scott's feet, as per usual... [View Full Entry]

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Hi guys, this is the end of our little adventure, so we can no longer gloat and soak in hot spa baths! BUGGER! We ended the NZ odyssey in Auckland, pretty well a full circle. We went to Rangitoto Island, a marine volcanoe that sprung up 600 years ago just off the coast of Auckland. It's a weird place full of volcanic lava rock but also loads of flora which shouldn't be able to grow there!! Apparently lichen settled on the rock and then created a humus that other flora could grow on, gradually allowing for trees to grow there too. [View Full Entry]

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We left behind us snowy Maruia Springs and the pleasures of immersing yourself in hot hot hot water and left for Wakefield near Nelson to stay with Lesley's parents, Ron and Joanne who showed us a good time, great kiwi hospitality and gave us a good bed! We went for a 4 day excursion to the Nelson Lakes National Park, on a round circuit from St Arnaud, up along Rotoiti Lake, stayed at Lakehead Hut, up (up up) onto Angelus Lake and Hut, along the Ridge down to Bushline Hut and finally back down to St Arnaud for well deserved and [View Full Entry]

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We left Christchurch and its comfort behind us and headed onto Hanmer with Tim and Les who dropped us there on their way to Nelson. We saw, we walked, we cycled, we bathed, the end! Wish you'd been here! ;-))) Celine and Scott [View Full Entry]

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Hi folks! yes we are still alive, sorry for the radio silence but I'll blame it on having too good a time and capricious internet connections... Well, last you heard of us we had just been dolphin swimming - great - but we have seen more of the great things NZ has! We then left for Christchurch to meet up with our friends Tim and Les in their beautiful new house in Redcliffs on the hills off the Banks Peninsula, the only non flat bit on the Canterbury Plain. tim and Les had left us their "Mu", ie their 4x4 and [View Full Entry]

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We left Nelson yesterday after having been to the geographic centre of NZ. This involved scampering up a hill and watching lots of kids having their picture taken by a Glaswegian!!!!! Then we left Nelson for Kaikoura arriving in the afternoon and pitching the tent. This morning we got up at silly O-clock (5am, yes, all you students it does exist)to go see some dolphins. We were not disappointed! The Dusky dolphins were not shy and played with about a dozen humans squeezed into black skins and flapping about ineptly, making strange babbling noises. Honestly we are the most intelligent anima [View Full Entry]

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From Bark Bay to Awaroa - a mere 5 hours hike! [View Full Entry]

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Up at 8am to pack gear ready for 9am crossing of the estuary at low tide. Going from Awaroa to Whariwharangi on a teeny weeny 4 and a half hour trek! Plus 30 minute sprint to Separation Point for the aiki idiot! [View Full Entry]

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This is the big one folks! We slimmed down our backpacks as much as pos 'cos from here on in we would be carrying everything on our backs over 4 days! As for the views, what can I say..........Oh dear, not another gorgeous paradise beach all to ourselves??.............. [View Full Entry]

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