http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Kiwi-chicks/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Kiwi chicks en-us Tue, 22 Dec 2009 16:49:27 +0000 Tue, 22 Dec 2009 16:49:27 +0000 A week in Colorado Aspen Vail gave us plenty of time to enjoy some fresh powder and catch up with old friends make new ones There was a big storm that came through while in Vail which was exciting... so much snow Thanks to Eli Marcus for having us to stay...we had a super timeFrom Colorado we had the super long drive down to the Gran Canyon where we found a bargin hotel after a whole http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/blog-240583.html HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE....We saw the New Years in Aspen amidst freezing tempratures. It was fun times celebrating with Lysette Bexs Debbie Ams. We have now completed the first week of our girls road trip throught the states. We all met up in LA picked up our chev complete with buttons that open close the doors and dvd player and headed to Vegas for 2 days. We maxed out the credit car http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/blog-232076.html We arrived in Charlotte after coming from a cold New York to find sunny beautiful weather Hannah met us at the airport and after having some lunch we went back to her cute wee place. We spent a lovely afternoon on the porch sitting in rocking chairs listening to some great stories from molly her sister. In the evening we had some visitors that popped by to say hello and went out to a party to m http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/North-Carolina/Lenoir/blog-230076.html After staying the night in Madrid at Debbie's friends place we caught a taxi at 445am to the airport. Everyone must have still been half asleep because we went through customs with each others passports and didnt even realise till we were through the other side The scary thing was that the customs officers didnt even look twice...yikes we were lucky.. we could have gotten into so much trouble http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/New-York/New-York/blog-228305.html Wow..what an amazing little place Now I know why Liv and Emma loved it so much I was only there for a week and fell in love with it Had a great time hanging out with Liv Dan Miles Debs it was just a pity it went so fast It pretty much snowed the whole time I was there...the locals were saying its the most snow they have had at this time of the year since 1987.Val is full of english spani http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Rh-ne-Alpes/Val-d-Is-re/blog-228154.html Well this draws an end to my two week stay in Vigo. I had a wonderful time and was treated like a princess I got a tummy bug on the first day I was here so was in bed for a whole day which was a shame.. but it didnt take me long to get out and about againI struggled in the first few days with so much spanish. It was very tiresome having to speak spanish all day every day after not using it for http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Spain/Galicia/Vigo/blog-223378.html Sooooo loved my short visit to london. It was crazy busy but was so worth catchin up with all the crew. Sorry there isnt many pics I left the camera at home a few times terrible I knowAfter spending 35 plus hours in airports and planes I was excited to arrive in london and have my cousins and aunty pick me up. The weather for the first few days was cold but sunny so we went for lots of walks http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Greater-London/blog-221152.html Ohakune Mardi Gras has become a bit of a traditionhellipevery year a group of 25 of us head on down to the Mountain for the Mardi Gras weekend. Normally it is in August the same weekend as the carrot festival but this year they decided to have it the lsquoopening weekendrsquo in accordance with the opening of the new lifts. Well the idea was a good one but unfortunately the weather didn http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Tongariro-National-Park/blog-174123.html Well its been an actioned packed summer on top of all the weddings Here are the Highlights...Friends Christmas Dinner 201206 was held this year at Dave Debs place in Blockhouse Bay. We had a lovely BBQ and desserts followed by a swim by some and pressies. Was a fun eveningFamily Christmas Anna Marie was up North for Christmas at her grandparents farm in Keri Keri. We spent a week o http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/blog-127156.html The wedding of Cam Liz was an amazing day. Ceremony was held on the point at Caster Bay on the north shore overlooking the water out to Rangitoto Island. The views were stunning and the weather was a treatReception was held at Cams parents place where there was plenty of food long island ice teas cams fav drink all night. We rocked out to covers around 9 with Wade's band Detour...Bride http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Auckland/North-Shore/blog-126778.html On Saturday the 27th we went to the wedding of Tim Sam Brown. The ceremony was held in a wee church out in titirangi and the reception was held at the french bay yaght club. The Bride Sam looked absolutly stunning and so did her 5 bridesmaids. Aprox 100 of us close friends family enjoyed a traditional scottish wedding on a lovely hot summer day. Great food fellowship and lots of dancing. http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Auckland/blog-126730.html just a few pics from the party we had back in nov.enjoy http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Auckland/blog-107317.html We were delighted to have 3 of our friends from North Carolina come and visit for a few weeks in november. We hired a campervan and did a 10 day road trip around the north island.WAITOMO CAVES went and saw the caves some furry rabbitsNEW PYLMOUTH PALMERSTON NORTH toured with steriogram shaky hands. Highlight of the trip the gigs were greeatWAIKANAE had lunch with Debbie's grandparen http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/blog-107110.html Debbie's work had their 10th Anniversary the weekend of the 18th 20th of August So the owners took the whole team to Queenstown. It was a great weekend We did heaps of activities Bungy fly by wire vineyard tour heli ride cruise dinner at walters peak ice bar to name a few and the best thing about it was it was all FREEAnyway the work trip was planned last minute but Anna Marie had http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Queenstown/blog-85461.html For the flat warming of the Aroha Flat they decided to put on a Mexican fiesta. We couldnrsquot afford a group trip there so the flat brought a bit of Mexico to us Thanks for having us flatties Juliet Mel Cam and Liz we had a wonderful night Good job on the decorations everyone especially enjoyed the wanted posters.Everyone turned up with their full gears There were lots of sombreros p http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Auckland/blog-61549.html Congratulations to Anna and Daniel We wish you all the bestWhat a wonderful day it was. The weather was sunny and everyone looked amazing The service was held at St Paulrsquos in the City. It was such a lovely service where lots of family and friends gathered to celebrate this special occasion. The service was followed by drinks and nibbles and lots of photos.The bridal party and family we http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Auckland/Waiheke-Island/blog-61142.html Out came the 1950rsquos frocks scarfs hats and gloves for a lovely afternoon tea party to celebrate Annarsquos hens night. We had cup cakes lamingtons and scones with cups of tea followed by champagne to celebrate All the girls got into the theme of the night and looked beautiful in their amazing outfits. Thanks to all of you who made itThe evening was followed by a lovely dinner at T http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Auckland/blog-56695.html Yip Another one of my lil work trips This time I took my good friend Anna away for an early birthdaywedding present. We headed down to Waitomo on Friday after work and returned on the Sunday afternoon.On the Saturday we did the Lost World all day epic adventure. We Abseiled 100m into the Lost World then took the wet way out This is said to be the most dramatic abseil of its kind in the world. http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Waitomo-Caves/blog-48988.html Well another year has come and gone and what a fun year it has been To celebrate the end of 2005 and the holidays a whole crew of us went up to Tapuaetahi bay aprox 20 kms from Keri Keri and stayed in batches that we had rented.Lysette Melita JP Chantelle Ams and Debs had their wee batch right on the beach while the rest of the crew had theirs just round from us.It was an amazing five da http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Bay-of-Islands/Kerikeri/blog-34139.html We couldnt think of a better way to say goodbye to summer then heading down to the coromandel with 11 of the girls to spend a lovely weekend lazing in the sunThe weather put on a great show for us so we spent a lot of the time in the sun laxing and swimming. On the saturday night we feasted on great pasta and the OC . And kicked off the wigging out weekend with yumming cocktails names dancin http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Coromandel/blog-44918.html