Dangerous things I’ve done …

Living on a large island surround by the Pacific Ocean I have sailed a little. As a child my family always had a boat, starting with a dingy in which I learnt to row on the  Akaroa Harbour and the Avon River.

Later we had a boat with an in-board motor and in my early teens was often able to use the boat to go down the Styx river, over a lagoon,  then across the Waimakariri River, near the mouth, to a camping ground where we would buy an ice cream then return back to our holiday camping site. A journey which I’m sure no parent would allow their child do today!

Given that background it’s not surprising that of the four in my family, 3 of us had yacht — I am the odd one out! However I have sailed on their yachts, and in recent years have sailed on a  Dutch yacht in the Mediterranean for a week and best of all, 6-weeks sailing from Brisbane to Cairns – through the Great Barrier Reef – on Hatty, a French yatch.And during which time I did two dangerous things (of the many stupid and dangerous things I’ve done in my life) Read the story, and see the photographic proof!

food and travel – I love food that tells me where I am & the season

I love food that tells me where I am & what season it is … in fact I’ve been known to acknowledge I eat too much and that I even put weight on in India which is not everyone’s experience.  When traveling I eschew the international chain stores – getting to know a country requires us to know their food – an integral part of any culture.

This blog is mainly photos – pics I found while looking for some that have gone ‘missing’. I haven’t found them, but thought you may like to see pics of various meals I’ve eaten. And for proof of me loving food, here a pic of me off to Paris for lunch! Going to any length one could almost say!

The trip on the Euro-Star for lunch in Paris was a surprise sprung on me by my daughter – I thought I was off to a bar to watch the All Blacks beat South Africa at rugby football!

Assam Pedas .. one of my fav' breakfasts

Fabulous local breakfast in India

Moon cake ... Johor, Malaysia

thai sweets

I love durian!

Cycling in Christchurch New Zealand? Use the buses too!

Cycle trip on Phuket. Thailand

thanks for this information by Spokes

All buses on “bikes on buses” routes should now be fitted with racks.  You can find information about all the routes or  Contact METRO at 366 8855 or metroinfo [at] ecan [dot] govt [dot] nz if you need information about the routes.

The bike racks are convenient and easy to use, and its free to take your bike on them.  The main way to encourage their use (and build support for cycling and for adding racks to other routes) will be through people seeing bikes being transported and thinking “I could use that”.  So, locals, give them them a go – remember when you are using them, you are also advertising them!

did you know the bike was invented in Scotland?

If you live on or near a route that goes your way, try using them for all or part of your trip, or on the way back home. Remember also that for routes travelling along Colombo Street and not entering the Exchange (Nos. *11, 14, 15, 18, 21, 28, 77, 90*) you can leave your bike on the bus through the centre of town, and load or unload your bike at the Colombo St Exchange stops. This means that people travelling to and from Lyttelton (for example) can now catch or get off the 28 in the centre of town, rather than one stop before and after.

Bikes on buses are also great “range extenders”.  You can travel by several different routes (e.g. Nos. *11, 14, 15, 18, 21*) all the way from the NW and West up onto the Port Hills – a great option if you don’t want to cycle all the way across town.

Diabetes, cicada, and the english language

My mind is eclectic. Just as when I meditate it’s sometimes hard to keep my mind on one topic – a monkey mind it was called when I studied Theravada Buddhism at Wat Suan Mohk in Sthn Thailand. Well, so it is too when I go walking in Hagley Park – which is right on my doorstep and is a powerful tool in my ‘getting fitter-losing weight-fighting-diabetes’ regime.  Read more here

Amazing what one sees in Hagley Park

Thaipusam .. on Penang Island, Malaysia

. . .  “Two weeks later I’m on Penang Island, named after the betel nut so loved by many older men and women: all recognisable by their stained teeth and frequent spitting. It’s early in the morning: very early. Standing in the dawn light, at the colourful temple I’m unsure if I should go in. A few other tourists are also standing around, talking in low whispers, cameras around their necks.

It’s Thaipusam; a day of consecration to the Hindu deity Lord Murugen who is confusingly also called Lord Subramanian. Hindus who have made a vow to him carry frames decorated with coloured paper and flowers, fresh fruit and milk. When these tributes are placed at the feet of the deity, their penance or gratitude is accepted. Some 2000 people will carry the kavadi or silver milk containers, the 12 kilometres to the Natlukotai Temple in Waterfall Road, Penang Island on this annual pilgrimage.

New Zealand has a ’spokesbird’ on twitter and facebook

Sirocco appointed ’spokesbird’ for conservation

29 Jan 2010

New Zealand’s celebrity parrot, Sirocco the kākāpō, has been officially appointed as the world’s first “spokesbird for conservation”.

Sirocco shot to fame last year after his inappropriate actions during the BBC’s Last Chance to See series, and New Zealand Prime Minister John Key says the notorious and rare bird will be a perfect conservation ambassador.

Sirocco – now 13-years-old – is one of just 124 kākāpō left in the world. The flightless species is endemic to New Zealand.

Mr Key formally named Sirocco as official spokesbird during the launch of New Zealand’s involvement in the International Year of Biodiversity, and in recognition of the famous kākāpō’s own celebrity status.

Sirocco’s task will be to highlight New Zealand’s endemic wildlife experiences and conservation work.

‘Last Chance to See’
The kākāpō’s appearance with British media personality Stephen Fry on Last Chance to See featured an incident where Sirocco made an unusual mating attempt with presenter Mark Carwadine.

Christchurch first NZ city to be ready for Rugby World Cup 2011

The hallowed ground of what locals still call Lancaster Park - at the AMI Stadium, Christchurch

Yesterday ( 23rd  Jan 2010)  despite the showers and an unseasonbly  cool summer  Saturday,  Cantabrians turned out to check out, and welcome  the new Deans Stand.  Redevelopment of the AMI stadium, home of the  Crusaders and Canterbury Rugby and cricket, was completed late last year – slightly ahead of schedule – so Christchurch is the first city to have it’s staduim ready for the the RWC 2011. ( Seems Rugby League and Soccer -football in the nthn hemisphere – will play here too soon.)

Hadlee Stand from the new Deans Stand

Deans Stand

The 13,523-seat Deans Stand, with a 32-metre-long roof and standing 33m high, gives the stadium a permanent capacity of 38,628: temporary seating for the World Cup raises it to 45,000.  See what TV1 and TV3 have to say about it.

Cantabrians are known in New Zealand as being one-eyed as we support our local team no matter what! Of course  that is very easy — after all we supply many players to the All Blacks, and our number 7 (Ritchie McCaw) is the world’s number 1!

We locals have lots of other players to be proud of .. . see  more here

Miss World NZ checks it out too - in her trendy RUGBY GIRL clothes

Magdalena Schoeman, Miss World NZ 2009, who will represent NZ at the Miss World finals in Jo’burg  SA was among the visitors at AMI Stadium – appropriately wearing the fashionable rugby girl label.

An open day brings the locals to check out the new Deans Stand - 23rd January 2010

Air New Zealand, frequent fliers, & the “airline of the year”

Are you loyal? Do you belong to a frequent flyer group? Save air points on your credit card or other means? Do you travel on a particular airline?  Why?

Will you, do you, use Air NZ or Qantas, Emirates or Singapore, Thai Air or any of the other planes that land in New Zealand? Will you choose for points, safety records, awards, or, if a Kiwi, loyalty to the New Zealand flag carrier?

Bungee jumping, views, and losing weight

I wrote this from a room with a view. A  room in which various national and international ‘artists in residence’ have used to relax , sleep, or work.

I am supposed to be blogging about diabetes and weight .. but that all seems boring: nevertheless I can happily report  – after 7 weeks – my blood pressure is normal and I have lost over 5% of my body weight. Now back to writing a blog, or rather republishing a column I wrote when I was travel editor for a local newspaper.

As I sit and await the muse to visit (surely there must be some residual energy from those other writers) I gaze out the window at the view.

The Peacock Fountain, set in the Christchurch Botanic Gardens, was built in cast iron in 1911, and is the background to many photographs travelling to all points of the compass. As people pose, it sprays it’s water regularly from the dolphins, and is well decorated with herons, lily leaves, and other undefined foliage.

I think of other views, other places: some from on high, others just a glimpse through a door or window . . .

read more on my ‘other’ blog here:

l

6 must-do things in Fiji.

Most travel operators give you this list of  top five things to do in Fiji …  I’ve added a sixth.

1. attend a kava ceremony
2. relax in a  hammock
3. sip great drinks poolside
4. go snorkeling
5. be pampered at a  resort
   

and. . .

6. do all those AND become a travel writer

Here’s a link to information  showing how you too can become a Travel Writer in Fiji!

Keep your doc's up-to-date if you are going to be a travel writer!