http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Marina-Z/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Marina Z en-us Sat, 05 Dec 2009 11:37:19 +0000 Sat, 05 Dec 2009 11:37:19 +0000 The last few days in New Zealand were a mixture of busy and relaxing moments. We saw some awesome and colorful geothermal areas in Rotorua. For me the smell was not so bad. For others they were ready to regurgitate. We met up with some friends in Rotorua. The Waitapu Thermal Wonderland is quite the area to hike around the views are lovely. Just outside of that area are these very cool lo http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/blog-425878.html Full body 7 mm wetsuits for two days in a row really what more can a person want It was cold water out on the Tutukaka Coast yesterday and colder water today while exploring the Waitomo Caves. Both were fabulous in their own way. After diving the Great Barrier Reef we had a semilazy day in Port Douglas before flying to New Zealand. We arrived in Wellington close to midnight and wearil http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/blog-423413.html I have heaps to tell about my travels over the last few days and I am sure to forget about something. After Melbourne I flew to Hobart which is a city in on the island state of Tasmania. You truly need about two weeks to experience Tasmania. I saw what I could in the few days that I was there. The weather was agreeable. Still cold there oh and we had that whole tsunami warning while I http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/blog-421028.html The Great Ocean Road led me to Port Campbell. I stayed overnight there and then headed back to Melbourne. I stopped at a few places along my return. I saw a few more of the limestone formations along the ocean. They are just so incredible to see and the power of nature still impresses me more waves people . The Otway Tree Walk is interesting. It is simply a walk through the trees and a http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Victoria/blog-418860.html In the end the 6 a.m. flight was a good choice. I did not go to sleep my airport pickup was at 315 a.m. so why bother so I was a wee bit tired when I arrived in Melbourne. The flight from Christchurch to Melbourne is just under 4 hours so I was able to sleep for a bit. More importantly I did not fall asleep while driving the Great Ocean Road from Melbourne to Port Campbell. When the http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/blog-418153.html When I booked the 6 a.m. flight to Melbourne I was thinking Great I'll arrive early and have loads of time to drive on the Great Ocean Road. I should have been thinking Hmmm a 6 a.m. flight means I have to be there before 6 a.m. which means a really early morning. However I did not think the latter so my debate has become whether to just stay up or try to catch a few hours sleep be http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/blog-417753.html I had a really nice blog to send and then the computer went all tempermental. I'll try to write more about the last few days later but in a nutshell here you go. Doubtful Sound was amazing. It was another sunny day and we saw bottlenose dolphins. I drove up to Wanaka and went skiing at Treble Cone which was fabulous. Yesterday I drove out to Mt. Cook stunning Today I will most likel http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/blog-416939.html One benefit of the rainy days is that I was graced with rainbows while driving on two different days Timaru to Dunedin and Dunedin to Invercargill. There was even a full one from horizon to horizon. I'm not sure where to begin regarding the last few days. The sun was a welcome sight. Invercargill is almost on the tip of the south end of the South Island. Not a whole lot between it and Anta http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/blog-415684.html After a little internal debate I decided to forget the buses and rent a car. I was fully expecting to have a manual and was kind of looking forward to learning to shift on the left. However an automatic it is I just have to remember to keep left. There is even a little sticker on the dash to remind me The two times I have to remind myself is when I am making a righthand turn and when http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/blog-414725.html Tips for putting on a dry suit wear layers the suit keeps you dry not warm don't wear anything sharp you don't want to puncture the suit give yourself a bit of a wedgie it needs to fit snugly burp out the air again it needs to fit snugly. The plan today was to go swim with the Hector's Dolphins the smallest and rarest of dolphins. Most of you know these are one of my favorite c http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/blog-413292.html I'm in love with the Cook Islands. If you want a fabulous beach vacation this is the place to come. I haven't had the best weather but it is a gorgeous area. I toured another island Aitutaki on Tuesday. The weather on Raro was rainy but Aitutaki had sun breaking through the clouds. We took the yellow boat to tour the lagoon. We snorkeled at a few different sites zebra fish trumpet fi http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Cook-Islands/blog-412634.html I am so glad I can sleep on planes It makes that nine plus hour flight go by much quicker. It's been awhile since I have flown with checked bags and I had forgotten the tedium of waiting in line for checkin and then security. There is a reason you should arrive two hours before international flight departures it took me 90 minutes for all of that sigh. The flight was fine decent airpl http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Cook-Islands/Rarotonga/blog-411253.html Seems I left Chicago just in time to miss the hot muggy weather. I left Sunday morning my dad loved that as a Father's Day present hi Dad Happy Father's Day can you take me to the airport in the early morning. Christen and I kicked it old school and made plans before I left where and when to meet at LAX since I am without my phone. We had a lovely lazy day out innear Long Beach. Wan http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/California/blog-411242.html