wonderful adventure in a totally different culture glad you found the ancient civilization of the Central Highlands of Laos. beautiful photos that capture the heavy tree canopy vegetation and rugged sheer limestone mountains. glad to see that the area is recovering after the 1960s and 70s.
did the people show any animosity toward Americans or were they too interested in money?
want to be very careful in that part of the world, N. Thailand and the Lao Highlands, much of the world's opium/heroin industry is based there. Political and police corruption is rampant.
The Hmong war lords when I was there were gods with guns in total control of the heroin world trade.
Be safe and keep taking pictures. Don't eat the dog or cat meat, disgustingly good.
Exciting times for you Donavin! I take nearly parental pride and happiness in all you've become and done in the last few years. I always knew you were bigger than the 'Couv and a restrictive religion. Have a wonderful trip and stay well. I was in Vietnam and Cambodia a few years ago and just loved it. Siem Riep is overrun by tourists however.
Thanks Joy. I've just posted the first update from the trip and I see that I didn't have you on the subsribers list. You'll want to visit my page for the first update, all future updates you should receive email notification of.
Happy New Year and I hope all is well for you.
Amazing! Have an amazing trip - sounds fantastic! No doubt it will be an exciting adventure.
Remember.... breathe deeply, tread lightly, or hold fast
Look forward to hearing all about it first hand soon enough!
His name Alamoti Tautakitaki of Hunga Vava'u. He was one of my teachers at Tonga College in the early 1980s. Very good man. He is heavy involved in community projects for the outer islands in the Kingdom.
Amazing! Hey Donavin,
Great photos and fantastic story - so happy to hear that you and Lisette had a great time enjoying one of New Zealand's finest 'walks'. I'm sorry that I wasn't able to be there with you guys, but my thoughts definitely were.
Great update and all the best this New Year.
~M
Harbour Bridge By 1984 the Auckland Harbour Bridge Authority had completed its aim. The bridge had been built and was running smoothly and so the Authority was therefore wound up. The operation and maintenance of the bridge was handed over to the Ministry of Works now Transit NZ. In 1987 cracks were discovered in the clippon welds triggering a major repair job with teams on men working nightly for a year. Traffic control became the responsibility of the NZ Police who made the decision in the early 1990s to build a moveable barrier designed to prevent deaths from head on collisions in the middle lanes. A new harbour crossing tunnel, which would have four lanes, is constructed to alleviate congestion on the Harbour Bridge. It would be similar to how the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Tunnel are sustainable for Sydney. http://www.cruise360.net
Donavin:
I hadn't gotten your last few posts (my computer probably flagged them as spam). I was shocked to see that you'd broken your leg so badly - but I'm glad that you are feeling much better. Happy to see that you're doing so well in NZ.
Nice pictures! The car looks like it's working great - the pictures are lovely and a beautiful way to start Easter morning! Thanks for sharing your travels with us!
Congrats! Glad that you are out and about again. You have chosen a good car for your "adventuremobile". We appreciate your photos, and story. NZ is a beautiful country and seems so peaceful. Enjoy! Jim and Melinda
Jealous Totally jealous of everything in that picture!!! I'm still staring at 2+ feet of snow on the ground in Minneapolis. Just got back from a little vacation in Florida too that ended up being freezing cold. No beach time as I had hoped! Winter gives Minnesotan's a great appreciation for summers!
Take care. Still wishing you a speedy recovery!
Emily
Glad you are on the way to recovery Donavin we'er thinking about you every day.That must been a real accident with your leg when its taking so long to recover.
LOVE GRANDMA HAZEN
Photo ok, i see the blonde shaking the sand out of her draws, sneeky and cheeky
you did her on the beach, heh?
at least pick one without a flock of premade kids.
more fun to make your own.
they say sex and exercise are good for bone healing?
been too long, can't remember
uncle cliff
Your day in the sun! Great news that you are able to get out and about again, and there is lots more to look forward to. Seattle is sunny and in the mid fifties, but the air is heavy with pollen and my eyes are watering! This good weather makes me get the antique cars out and go for some short drives. It feels so good. Melinda is doing ok after her 5th week on dialysis, but this life comes with a lot of challenges. She copes well. Our best to you Donavin, and thanks for sharing this blog with us. Jim Lesniak
TongaTapu! Hey!
I come from Tonga but I've never been there i just want to ask one question, Why did you go to Tonga? I'm just impress to hear that two guys that don't come from Tonga went to Tonga!
Wow!! I and a couple of guys at work here just read your blog. WOW!! Hang in there. The one guy's here broke his pelvis in 2 places and he feels for you like we all do. Thank goodness for modern health care. Christian
Thanks for the update! My worst fears about your break were answered in reading your blog. I shouted out loud, Oooooh, several times as I read your description of the accident and the reapirs needed. Glad that you're gaining on it now and are back to work. This will be most helpful in the healing process. You have had to sit around way too long, and for someone with your enthusiasm and drive, this has had to be a bummer! Glad too that you have such good friends and support network in NZ. Jim
sliding into home nasty break. some dislocation of the joints also. lucky the young heal quickly.
when sliding into home, raise one foot up to the height of the catchers throat and head, picture him as your hated drill instructor and aim to maim. have the knee flexed to take the impact and not break.
lower leg flexed for bag contact.
any catcher crazy enough to keep his throat and face in the weapon's path deserves an out.
most will cave under the pressure.
hope you had a good nursy type of woman around the months you were down to belay the boredom?
get the shingles vaccine shot, it will be back
I wish I had discovered this blog years ago. I did the mass email update for my previous adventures (United States and Europe) and now have no online documentation to share with fellow travelers.
To the chagrin of some friends and family wanderlust has struck again. I managed to stay focused for nearly a year and a half in a job related to my college education, however the desire to travel has grown strong again and can no longer be suppressed.
I have secured a 12 month Visa for New Zealand and hope to document this adventure for posterity, or at least the life of the TravelBlog.
Enj... full info
uncle Cliff
non-member comment
wonderful adventure in a totally different culture
glad you found the ancient civilization of the Central Highlands of Laos. beautiful photos that capture the heavy tree canopy vegetation and rugged sheer limestone mountains. glad to see that the area is recovering after the 1960s and 70s. did the people show any animosity toward Americans or were they too interested in money? want to be very careful in that part of the world, N. Thailand and the Lao Highlands, much of the world's opium/heroin industry is based there. Political and police corruption is rampant. The Hmong war lords when I was there were gods with guns in total control of the heroin world trade. Be safe and keep taking pictures. Don't eat the dog or cat meat, disgustingly good.