Westcountrykid

Our Maori cultural exprience began with the election of a 'chief' (a Dutch fellow backpacker volunteered for the role) for our 'tribe' while we were on the bus to the Tamaki village. We waited nervously (having been told we would offend them if we laughed at what was about to happen) at the gates of the village. Our first sighting was a large Maori man standing about the gate. He was singing. Despite the words being in Maori this was clearly more of a warning then a welcoming song. One by one he was joined by other men clothed in reed skirts, furs and all bearing maori tattoos (some real, some not so real!) They all carried weapons and half danced, half faught a warning to us the 'new tribe'. It was genuinally scary! But the ... read more

It was finally time for my first taste of what New Zealand is famous for: Adventure sports. Todays activity was to be White Water Rafting. Having been kitted up with helmits, wetsuits, windvests and life jackets we made our way down to the river. One of our instructors explained that until recently this river was considered a Tapu (sacred place) by the Maori people and was therefore out of bounds. They considered it sacred because it is the resting place for many tribe members. It was only after their bones were excivated a few years ago that the river was allowed to be used. Although he did add, cheerfully, that the bones of one cheif still rest in the seven metre water-fall, 'so its one giant grave!'. The guy explained that their rafting company was the ... read more

continued......... It was only after dismounting and thanking Tramp that I realised quite how dyhydrated I was (and rather sweaty!), being a Cowgirl is thirsty work. But back at the farm it was time to join the others and learn to rodeo.Yes rodeo! Learning to lasso is hard! There is nothing natural about swinging rope around your head. We praticed on skulls (and each other) until we were rudely interupted by the sound of thunder. I should inform you at this point that in Queensland, in the wet season, when it rains, IT RAINS! Thankfully it stopped at our Goat Rodeo could take place, however, only after it had turned the goat pen into a a swamp! The Goat Rodeo was a timed competation. Three of you entre the pen which is holding about twenty adult ... read more

My time in Australia has largely been filled with beaches, goon and more beaches, however I had the privilage of spending a day at a working cattle station in the outback on the 21st Feb, so I finally have an activity worth blogging about! The trip to the cattle station was included in the Oz Expirence ticket. It was a long drive from the town of 1770, however our fantastic driver guide 'Uncle Buck' managed to make it not just bareable but fun with his games. We crossed the Great Dividing Range, the mountains which seperates the coastal towns (where everybody lives) from the outback (where nobody lives). It was a beautiful and exciting ten minute driving round the mountain's nail biting hair pin bends! Kroombit Cattle station is over thirty minutes from the nearest town, ... read more

This is my first blog from the land down under. Due to the fact that activities have tended to involve sunbathing and goon consuming it has been hard to find anything worth writing about! I have travelled from Sydney to Brisbane so far stopping off along the way for a night at a surf camp, six nights in Byron Bay and two nights in Surfers Paradise. The surf lesson at the camp was great fun. I managed to catch quite a few small waves and we had a memorable walk in the heat of the day through the jungle to Byron Bay light house. The views from the Light house were breath taking. Those long stretches of white sand beaches which spring to mind when someone uses a word such as: Paradise. But other than that ... read more

It has just dawned on me that I had not written anything in my blog about my weekend in Japan. It was never my intension to go to Japan but when Ed wrote to me expaning that he needed to go while I was here to get a new visa and would I like to join him, I was very excited about the idea. We spent three nights there which gave us a full day in Kyoto and a day in Osaka. I should really tell you about our day in Kyoto, it being the more 'cultural' expirence. We vistited three temples (among them were: The Golden Pavilion or Rokun-Ji Temple and Kiyomizu Temple). Both were breath taking, awe-inspiring places truely worthy of their role as a place of worship. I however was in no fit ... read more

My last blog promised information on soju, possibly the most dangerous drink known to man kind. Well lets be honets it comes a close second to pear Black Rat Cider. So this blog is all about food food food!! I should state at this point that I am in no way a 'foodie'. In fact I'm the complete opposite, most likely due to the fact that I'm still a recovering vegetarian (a terrible, terrible disease I battled for twenty-one years!!). But in Korea life is all about in what amazing form the next meal appear! Its not just me Ed and Goeun are the same. One of the main reasons for this may be the cold. Finding a resturant (espically one with a BBQ in the middle of the table) offers a chance to feel ones ... read more

Here gos my first blog. I am sat in a cafe very near to where I am staying. The cafe is in no way 'Korean' but its the third time I've been here so I have got quite a repore with one of the waitdresses. Plus the coffee is great! What to tell you about Seoul?Well, its bloody freezing!For the next five and a half months I suspect I will be complaining about th heat but right now I am constantly cold! Why then is this blog intitled 'the city of warmth'? The people. Koreans are the warmest, kindest people I have ever met. I first expirenced this while attempting to get from the airport to Hwajeong (where my friend Ed lives and my Korean home!). By this point I had not slept for over 24 ... read more