http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/kiwitravellers/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from kiwitravellers en-us Tue, 22 Dec 2009 23:48:15 +0000 Tue, 22 Dec 2009 23:48:15 +0000 BreakfastLV same sameTC 5 slices pawpaw tiny banana 5 pieces watermelon coconut slicesFiltered coffeeLunch no shops open for pies I seriously did go searching so forced to go to Samade on the Beach O'otuBBQ tuna chicken. Curried Pawpaw salsa crunchy salad with green orange and red capsicum crispy potato bake. One of our best and cheapest meals with a gorgeous view of the lagoon http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Cook-Islands/Aitutaki/blog-408352.html Breakfast sameAs we had promised the three Canadian sisters we went to meet them at their resort Aitutaki Lagoon Resort. Doris hadn't been feeling very well but we were able to take Rachel and Janine on the back of our bikes for a bit of a tour around the island. They said they had felt like prisoners at their accommodation with everything costing an exhorbitant amount of money. They als http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Cook-Islands/Aitutaki/blog-408344.html Breakfast same as yesterdayLunch provided by The King Teking as part of our day on the fabulous Aitutaki Lagoon.Salads fruit coconut jellied banana BBQd tuna chicken banana egg plant onion magnifique. The King is a Highlanders fan so would serve only Tui beer.Dinner at te VakaTC MaitaiLV G and TTC seafood bouillabaisse with crayfish crab fish squid scallops and garlic http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Cook-Islands/Aitutaki/blog-408336.html Last Raina Breakfast thank goodness we just ate the oranges and pawpaw plus our own chubby bananas.Now to Aitutaki.Lunch at TauonorsquosStarfruit juiceVegetables capsicum spinach chives chillis picked immediately before cooking and Spinach omelette. What a fantastic meal. Every mouthful was deliciousDinner te Vaka the restaurant attached to our accommodationLV MaitaiTC Tamanu Su http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Cook-Islands/Aitutaki/blog-406452.html Breakfast same but with fat little market bananasMorning tea LV had three espressi while finishing her 'Lovely Bones' book at Saltwater Cafe. TC Flat WhiteLunch same as yesterday but extra yummy basil from ladies on roadsideTC went snorkelling today.Dinner at VaimaTC Ika Mata traditional to Cook Islands. Fresh fish cooked and marinated in lemon juice and coconut cream with tomatoes cu http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Cook-Islands/Rarotonga/blog-406447.html By now we were in need of decent coffee LV found just the place. We were to revisit it many times subsequently. We also found a fabulous garden nobody home but we paid a donation and had a good wander. The basil was a wee bonus.Breakfast wholemeal toast banana orange pawpaw cup of teaMorning tea LV espresso TC Flat White at Saltwater CafeLunch same as yesterday with soft boiled e http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Cook-Islands/Rarotonga/blog-406053.html Easter Sunday so not a lot happening around the island today. Needless to say we relaxed read swum snorkelled and tootled around the island and of course made sure we lined up somewhere to have dinnerBreakfast Toast and banana LV marmalade orange pawpaw cup of teaMorning tea crackers antipastiLunch ditto yesterday http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Cook-Islands/Rarotonga/blog-406049.html This was a day to explore the island on our bikes swim snorkel and get a few lunch supplies from the supermarket in Avarua. I think there may have been a bit of relaxing with a book as well.Breakfast muesli banana pawpawMorning Tea SPCA sausage on white bread with onion tomato sauce and mustardLunch Cheese rolls White Castello chutney toms TC patDinner at Windjammer part of the http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Cook-Islands/Rarotonga/blog-406046.html It felt a long time coming but we were finally on the plane. Dinner on NZ848 beef stroganoff pie with potato salad Surprising but best pie EVER http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Cook-Islands/Rarotonga/blog-406035.html What a great way to start our holiday http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Cook-Islands/Rarotonga/blog-406030.html It seems a long time since we added an entry to this blog but then it's tricky to write a travel blog entry when there's been no travel. That's not to say there hasn't been thought devoted to travelling South Africa to see Di 50th birthday celebrations in Bunyol and Rome Eastern Europe they're all on the possible agenda. But Rarotonga in just under a week is booked and paid for and we c http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Palmerston-North/blog-387501.html We really splashed out on our HCMC hotel and were treated to an astonishing breakfast. I had beef pho soup and we found out later than Alan had a three course breakfast Pawpaw and bacon beef ragot and chocolate cakeWe were picked up at 7.30 and were introduced to Jen from Scotland We found the Cu Chi tunnels fascinating. Our tour started with some old film footage during the American http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Vietnam/Southeast/Ho-Chi-Minh-City/Cu-Chi/blog-239845.html This is a retrospective entry as we are back in NZ now but we need to finish what we started to have a complete record.We had Vivien and Alan to put up with on our Mekong Delta trip as well as 'Spain' Marcos from Madrid and Virginia formerly from Argentina but now living in Madrid. After an initial drive we boarded a junk with very comfy bamboo lounging chairs. A coconut candy manufact http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Vietnam/Mekong-River-Delta/blog-239836.html Hi AllWe have made it to the capital where everything seems to be fast. We have spent much of today just sitting in a little Vespa cafe by a busy intersection. We have had front row seats so we have great views of the peculiarities that pass by especially on motorbikes or bikes. Our record is now five human beings on a scooter two adults three children. It is not unusual to see someon http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Vietnam/Southeast/Ho-Chi-Minh-City/blog-236464.html Hi all We are just back at the hotel after a rather boring day riding elephants being calmed in a Buddhist temple including beautiful gardens roller coasting down to a lovely waterfall and visiting a minority village and school run by a lovely volunteer teacher who loves her job. Today's adventures were courtesy of Easy Rider we were pillion passengers on motorbikes out into a spotless c http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Vietnam/Central-Highlands/Da-Lat/blog-235773.html Hi all We are now in Dalat after a threehour trip on the new road between Nha Trang and this alpine city. The new road through the mountains took eight years to construct and cost a number of lives construction workers swept away by mud slides. We were treated to some spectacular views climbing to a height of about 1500m above sea level. Didn't sight any bears leopards snakes tigers http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Vietnam/Central-Highlands/Da-Lat/blog-235412.html Hi AllRather than catching a jolting train or a nonsleeping bus for 12 hours we managed to get a flight from Hoi An to Nha Trang. Luxury...This is a 'beach bum' city of 315 200. We thought it might be a bit tacky but are pleasantly surprised. We were also worried that our US12 hotel might be a bit rough but it is just perfect clean bright fresh air and close to cafes and the beach.Heal http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Vietnam/South-Central-Coast/Nha-Trang/blog-234615.html Hi AllWe are currently in Hoi An three nights which is a bit of a luxury. Our hotel is called Hoi An Nhi Nhi some of you may be able to tell why I chose it. In fact it is a gorgeous hotel very Asian design lots of symmetry lovely pot plants with rooms overlooking a central swimming pool with blue sky above. And yes we have really seen the sky here. The haze we had so far experience http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Vietnam/South-Central-Coast/Hoi-An/blog-234176.html Much has happened since our last post. The overnight train luxury class apparently back from Sapa to Hanoi was as bad as the first. I guess at least we were mentally prepared this time but we weren't ready for the 4.30 a.m. arrival back to the dark shuttered streets of Hanoi. There was the odd light where people were sitting eating a very early breakfast.We caught a taxi into the Old Quart http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Vietnam/North-Central-Coast/Hue/blog-233593.html We have spent two days with our guide Ngoc and a Frenchman named JeffandYou and Ramona from Prague. It has been lots of fun. The scenery today was beautiful with terraced rice paddies and mountains and rudimentary houses. The minority village women follow us helping us through the sticky mud trails and then saying You buy from me Very insistent.We stayed overnight in a Tay Village. http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Vietnam/Northwest/Sapa/blog-232183.html