EN FRANCAIS PLUS BAS MORE PHOTOS HERE Going back in time, December 2008... Cancún, a word that sounds turquoise like Curacao liqueur, and sunny as a decadent Spring Break. A city that just a few decades ago was nothing more than a stretch of white sand between a muddy lagoon and transparent waters over coral reefs, and now boasts a shore line that envies nothing to Miami Beach, a series of high-rise, air conditioned, luxury all-inclusive hotels and loud restaurants and bars filled with pink and [View Full Entry]

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EN FRANCAIS PLUS BAS PHOTOS HERE (you do not have to sign up to FB to see them) My flight was leaving Auckland at 7.00pm (19h00) on Wednesday November 26. After a 13-hour flight, a 3-hour connection in Los Angeles, a one-hour flight to San Francisco, and a one-hour transfer to Marin County, I made it to Jennifer's house at 5.30pm (17h30) on, take a guess... Wednesday November 26, meaning two hours before leaving for that 18-hour trip... Making my day (November 26 is my Saint's day) the lo [View Full Entry]

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EN FRANCAIS PLUS BAS MORE PHOTOS HERE We hit the road early with Stine in the rental car to beat the tour buses at the Milford Sound. The area being the rainiest on earth, it was no surprise that it was pouring as we reached the pier to embark on a 3-hour cruise around the Sound. As a result, the number and strenth of waterfalls was absolutely amazing, but we had to rely on postcards to have clear views of the Milford Sound. We had contemplated hiking to Key Summit on the way back, but the weather [View Full Entry]

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EN FRANCAIS PLUS BAS MORE PHOTOS HERE So on day 5, enter the merry group Nicolette and her Dad Wim from the Netherlands, Bryn and his Dad Graham, and John all from the UK; and sadly, exit Josh. Suprisingly, there are no Germans in the group, while so far, it had seemed to me that there were more Germans than Kiwis in New Zealand... That evening, we camp in Okarito, a big town by South Island West Coast standards: at least 30 houses, and electricity. The evening dinner is a real feast: pork, lamb, [View Full Entry]

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EN FRANCAIS PLUS BAS MORE PHOTOS HERE Happiness, it is said, cannot be told. I find it to be a very accurate statement. I often have no idea how to write about my moments of purest happiness, while moments of doubt and sadness inspire words more easily--though no one wants to read them, understandably enough (not even myself). So when happiness lasts 11 days straight, the blank page lures at me... But I can't keep postponing, I've been reprimanded enough for being 2 months behind on telling my adve [View Full Entry]

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EN FRANCAIS PLUS BAS MORE PHOTOS HERE I have four days before I join another group, for trekking this time. Four days of freedom, YAY! Right off the ferry, I'm going for a wreck dive in the Marlbourough Sounds. The instructor warns me, the water is 13 degrees C, but he gives me a thick semi-dry wetsuit and tells me we could see dolphins, otters, even orcas in the area, so I think I'm brave enough and it will be worth the cold. Nothing of the like though: friendly blue cods, gardener crab (liter [View Full Entry]

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EN FRANCAIS PLUS BAS MORE PHOTOS HERE In Taupo, the lake was beautiful and it didn't smell like rotten eggs, so I would have loved to stay, and hop on the following Stray Bus. But I also wanted to do the famous Tongariro Crossing hike, and the weather would deteriorate over the next few days, possibly making it completely impossible if I waited. When we arrived at the drop off point on Monday morning, the operator even hesitated in letting us adventure ourselves in the cold, wet weather and thick f [View Full Entry]

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EN FRANCAIS PLUS BAS MORE PHOTOS HERE Grey skies, rain and wind accompany us from our marae in Maketu to Rotorua. We stop at the touristy town for about two hours, just enough to get accustomed to (or really grossed out by) the smell of rotten eggs that permeates the area: mud springs, sulfur and the like. I had originally planned to hop off the bus here and take the following Stray Bus two days later, but really, two hours was fine. Plus, there was something coming up that was waaaaay more exciti [View Full Entry]

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EN FRANCAIS PLUS BAS MORE PHOTOS HERE Summertime is over in Europe. Here in New Zealand, it hasn't started yet. Mita, my Indian CS host in Auckland, and Solange, an Argentinian CS who took me to dinner, were the only sunshine I saw my first two days in the country! As usual, I haven't planned anything before coming. But this is New Zealand, not Asia, and high season is just round the corner--I have to this time. I would love to go on a solo improvised road trip, but the cost is prohibitive, and tho [View Full Entry]

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EN FRANCAIS PLUS BAS MORE PHOTOS HERE Sydney... I have been wavering for days (make that weeks) what to write about my stay in Sydney. I still don´t know. I spent ten days there, filled with life, dirty jokes, touristy visits, city wanderings, music and parties that should be more than enough for several entertaining blog entries. Yet, it felt so normal, it flowed so effortlessly, that it feels hardly exotic enough to write about it, as if I had spent a week in Paris with my friends... Should I [View Full Entry]

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