http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/vikki5678/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from vikki5678 en-us Sat, 02 Jan 2010 12:15:38 +0000 Sat, 02 Jan 2010 12:15:38 +0000 Photos on the way shortlyHeavy snow did not stop us on the 29th of December 2005 from hiring the 7seater van packing it full of warm waterproof clothes and provisions for the next four days and heading into the Scottish HighlandsAfter a long but beautiful car journey through winter scenes reminicent of the Narnia film The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe we arrived over the bridge to Skye http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/Scotland/Isle-of-Skye/blog-35142.html Hello to all my family friends and colleagues that have been putting up with my constant ranting about travelling since I caught the travel bug a year ago in Canada. I have booked a six week trip away for the summer holidays winter in NZ amp OZ I leave on 1st July 2004. It is my aim to keep you all updated on my where abouts and antics while leaving myself a wee reminder to browse when I am http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/Scotland/blog-614.html As I am sitting here I seem to be getting eaten alive by little black flies that don't even have the decency to injectnbspa chemical so I don't feel itI am a bit stuck for words at the minute so this won't be a long entry andnbspI have left my written journal back at the hostel so I will fill in a log about the trip to Dubai later in the week.I am feeling a little dodgy I went on this 40knot http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Northland/Paihia/blog-844.html We can all visit the Egyptian Pyramids Ayers Rock Niagra Falls and bungee 102m in Queenstown and we are all capable of taking photos of the sights and describing the experience to boredjealous friends and family but I suppose it is the little things one notices and does that makes each travellers experience unique and stories interesting.nbsp So in this journal I don't want to boast all the http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/Scotland/blog-856.html Glasgow gtnbsp DubaiFirst of all I must thank my Dad and arguably 'helpful' little brother for getting me to the airport on time 091Thurs 1st July093 where I successfully checked in for my Emirates flight to Dubai.nbsp Unfortunately there were no window seatsnbspleft but heynbsp least that means I don't have to ask permission before I can gonbspfor a wander or visit the to http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/United-Arab-Emirates/Dubai/blog-857.html Hiya folks I arrived in Auckland around lunchtime and not feeling too tired despite only having an hours sleep between Dubai and Auckland. The journey was in three parts Dubai gt Singapore gt Brisbane gt Auckland. The first two flights were about 7hrs or so. Quite a cool part of the flight was getting to stay on the plane in Singapore while the plane was refueled and passangers got http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Auckland/blog-890.html Its sooo Hot here in Dubai so the first day after breakfast I decided to check out the hotel roof top pool where ther were a few blokes running around and jumping in and out of the pool in their pants wasn't quite sure where to look so just read my travel guides and waited until they had gone before I decided to test the water for myself.I debated for along time if it was appropriate for me to s http://www.travelblog.org/Middle-East/United-Arab-Emirates/Dubai/blog-891.html I really enjoyed seakayaking when I tried it in Canada last year so I was looking forward to having another go here in N.Z.nbsp Although last time I was in a tandem kayak with the instructor 091I suspect093 doing most of the work.nbsp This time in Paihia the guide said I should try a single kayak the main difference would be I would be in control of steering aswell as the paddling.I http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Northland/Paihia/blog-892.html Day One of the Kiwi Experience bus pass from Auckland gt ChirstchurchAfter a late start we were on our way the first main stop on our trip is Hahei Beach. Despite feeling quite unwell I signed up for another kayaking trip which promised some of the best paddling in N.Z. The 3hr trip had aparently won awards so i thought I would give it a go. I was pretty pleased to see tandem kayaks http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Coromandel/blog-893.html Day two of the Kiwi Experience busnbsp Whitianga gt RotoruaThe day started early so we could be at hot water beach at low tide yes this is a beach with hot water.nbsp The water rolling in from the sea is quite cool but our tour guide explained that if we get the right spot it is possible to dig and make your own hot pool.nbsp This is due to the geothermal activity taking place jus http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Rotorua/blog-913.html Kia Ora a general greeting of good will amp a diluting soft drink found in th UKA visit to a Maori Marae villagemeeting place started with a short bus journey the Maori guide entertained us with songs and chants along the way and even taught me how to say a few things in Maori. Our bus was now known as a waka and we elected a chief from the waka to accept a piece offering from the Maori wa http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Rotorua/blog-914.html Today I signed up for Black Water Rafting which is quite different from white water rafting.nbsp Although I wasn't sure if it would be going ahead at seems to have rained non stop since late the previous night. nbspI actually wasn't in a raft at all but instead an inner tube from a large tyre.nbsp I donned a 9mm wet suit some funky shorts and white boots and a helmet with a lamp on that is http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Waitomo/blog-926.html Well sorry for the delay folksnbspI spent the rainy days in Taupo catching up on the online diary thing then I have been really busy either touring or doing activities.Not much to report from Taupo it was just a rainy wet town and for a wee while I was worried I might be stranded therenbsp I did go to the cinema and watch Shrek 2 it was cool and Over the next few days the little group I http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Taupo/blog-960.html Well after a night of drinking dancing and all the other usual night out mischief we decided the best way to clear the old cobwebs is to get right out there in the windiest place in N.Z. put on a pair of of oversized plastic boots which have four wheels attached to them and investigate what this city has to offer during daylight hours of which there are few remember it is winter here. Yep you http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Wellington-Region/Wellington/blog-971.html Well I have spent 2weeks exploring the north island and have had an excellent time in some ways I don't want to leave here met loads of cool people been to loads of exciting places and have taken part in great activities been ferried around by a fab driver Royal 091with cheese093 and generally had a good time. In the south Island I have got cold weather sand flies and a 3hr ferry rid http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Wellington-Region/Wellington/blog-972.html Due to yet another fabulous kayaking trip yesterday I was unable to get to the glacierguides office before it closed nobody else had signed up for the helicpterglacier hike so I did not have a clue about when I was going or what to take with me. I figured the best plan was to get up with everyone else who was doing a whole day glacier trek pack my lunch and wear lots of layers.I hurried along http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Glaciers/blog-994.html The first stop of the morning between Wanaka and Queenstown was at puzzling worldWell this certainly mucked up my head first thing in the morning. The holograms were pretty smart but the hall of moving faces freaked me out. It is based on the Mona Lisa moving eyes type trick. The next room looked normal from the outside but actualy played tricks with sizes for anyone looking in while there were pe http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Central-Otago/Wanaka/blog-1007.html I spent the morning recovering from the party the night before.nbsp We had all gone out to the Red Rock to meet up with other Kiwi Experience passengers and drivers past and present.nbsp Queenstown is normally the point in the trip where people split up and do their own thing or carry on with the tour so we were promissed a party which is exactly what we gotnbsp A few of us braved the co http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Otago/Queenstown/blog-1015.html It was an early 6 o'clock in the morning start from Queenstown and when my alarm went off I could not remember why possibly because of the whole teapot I drank last night without any help or the few hours sleep I had recieved but after a few minutes I came too and remembered that I was taking the most scenic tour in New Zealand to the Milford Sound In preperation for the long winding roads to http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Fiordland-National-Park/Milford-Sound/blog-1025.html It was an 8am start on the ski shuttle to the 'Remarkables' ski area apparently in the summer months they filmed some scenes for LOTR here. This mountain range is one of the few 091so I am told but will check this out with a good atlas093 that runs NorthSouth.It was a little cloudy but the journey up the hill gave me a perfect view of Queenstown and the surrounding area. The Remarkables http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Otago/Queenstown/blog-1021.html