New Zealand, My

After leaving Africa I felt the need to post “Africa, My” seeing the continent as one country – as I believe it should be. Now I feel the same about New Zealand, the youngest country in the world that has amazed me and made me to want to go back. The psyche of the people combined with the nature of the island provides a very interesting mix for the visitor indeed.

My first experience with a Kiwi was my ex-manager. When I was working in Barcelona, he was based in Switzerland and I had to travel every month or two to see him and the team. I do not want to generalise here but definitely some attributes he had, I found in NZ’s people visiting his country later on. Starting maybe from the typical Kiwi – Ozzie dispute, it is probably just like any other dispute of this kind. The small place is blaming or taking the piss out of the big place but it does not necessarily happens when the other way round. I have not been around Australia very much so I will stop the comparisons of the two countries right here.

Another Kiwi attribute would definetely be problem-solving. They all just seem to have a flare about it. Whether hitch-hiking in the middle of nowhere or asking for directions and how-to questions a Kiwi will almost always find a way to help, even if it means getting out of his way. Their love for nature is of course innate but in a way that the Kiwi does not try to control it or fence it – how could he anyway. I was surprised for example that in one of the great walks we did, we had free access to caves and caverns – some very sensitive formations for just anybody to walk in. Also, somethng very important to me for wherever I go… the Kiwi is not a loud nationalist or patriot. This by no means implies that a Kiwi is not proud to be a Kiwi. He is… he just doesn’t have to make  a fuss about it. There is of course the question of a Kiwi identity and how it is represented across the world. But I reckon only people that make money out of this “representing” business, truly care about it.

The youth seems to be embracing the latest U.S fashions; racer boys, modified cars and fancy hip hop clothing is all around, in general though there is a picture of health and well being. The latter is probably because of the fact that the average Kiwi will love sports and especially the national pride; the rugby the All Blacks taught the world. Loving sports in this case means also practising them (something which is not the case in Greece for example) and there are thousands of venues or simply parks and places to do just this.

All in all, the saying “open space, open minds, open people” is truth in the case of New Zealand. Its size helps a lot the independent traveler and the sights to see are just one of the best in the world. For trekking I could have easily spent five more months – and this is only the south island. I definetely recomend it to anybody that loves the outdoors and the sense that you can really control your trip due to the fact that it is still a bit cheaper than Europe. I will never forget this blessed place and even though I have not touched on the Maori coulture as much as I wanted, well… maybe this will be the aim for my next visit.

Aoraki National Park

SSI Open Water Diver course

So I am back in Australia, Byron Bay. My original intention when I got back from NZ was not to stay more than one week here and until now I am keeping this promise to myself. Strangely enough I decided to become a diver in between (something to do while I get ready for the next move) and today I did it! I finished my classes and from now on I can dive in open waters!!!

Starting Tuesday this week, the classes were pretty hectic but once I got the hang of it, there was no problem “graduating”. We have done four dives in open water near the well known (amongst divers) Julian Rocks in Byron Bay. The next dive I plan it to be in the Great Barrier Reef near Cairns. The excitement levels are pretty high especially when I am thinking about underwater photography (yummy).

Choosing between SSI and PADI; the two most popular worldwide known Scuba diving courses, I chose SSI as it is more flexible when taught. At the end of the day they are both acknowledged and prepare you for exactly the same thing; being able to breath underwater. I also have to thank my instructor Mick for his patience and send him a big “G’day!” if he ever reads this. We were lucky to have seen many marine species in only four dives; green sea turtles, leopard sharks and so much more whose names I do not even remember but have written in my diver’s log (hehehe).

That is all for now, I’ll let you know the exact route of the rest of my time in Australia soon (probably weekend). For now, be good and d(r)ive safe 😉

Scuba Schools International

Takaka to Christchurch

Takaka is a very beautiful hippie (mostly) village on the Golden Bay area of NZ. We stay at Barefoot Backpackers run by a Scottish lady and her partner; really good people. The next day we say goodbye to Stefania and drive with Nils back to Westport. Tinka is there waiting for us and we all decide to drive to Greymouth. I did not see much of the Golden Bay but I have the feeling it is very nice. Even nicer than the Gold Coast in Australia maybe… Especially Takaka strikes me as a village similar to Byron Bay but less touristic and spoiled. If I ever go back to New Zealand again I promise to start my trip from Takaka! In Westport we have our last dinner together. Steaks and wine!

Being here works perfect for me as I can now take the Tranzalpine train to Christchurch. The route is thoughtfully called one of “the greatest train rides of the world”. It takes me about five hours (with a bit of a delay) and passes from Arthur’s Pass, a magnificent section of the Southern Alps. Once in Christchurch I have three days to relax and basically hang out until I go back to Oz. Consumption habits kick in and I buy a second hand Lonely Planet book on “Southeast Asia On A Shoestring”. It makes me start thinking about the rest of my destinations. Yummy!!!

See you back in Australia then, ciao!

The Heaphy Track

Ready for my second Great Walk and after a very rainy day in Karamea we consult the DOC office (Department Of Conservation) before we start. They say it is all good to go! Stefania is not equipped at all for the walk but it should be OK. The problem here is that the track is not circular like the Kepler but one way, so we send the things we do not want to carry by post to the next city; Takaka.

After doing the Kepler, this one seems easy enough even if it is longer (80 kms) and also a four day track. The first day is the most spectacular one as we follow the Tasman beach and the weather is brilliant for it. On the third day in the hut, Nils appears. He has decided to do the track too but in one day less! I am happy to see him and we all complete the track together. He has left his car on the end of the track and he’ll now take it to go back to Westport to pick up Tinka (that has moved from Karamea in the meanwhile). I know… complicated! In any case we’ll meet again in Takaka.

The Heaphy river from the Heaphy Track

Franz Josef to Karamea

It is the first time I’ll be on a bus here in NZ. It is funny but it seems there is no “normal” service running. The driver is explaining the sights we pass to our left and right. He even stops the bus for us to take photos! I decide immediately that is the last time I board on a NZ bus as well. Arriving at Franz Josef I guessed I would have the same feeling as in Queenstown. Not many things to do unless you pay for an “activity”. So I book a guided walk on the glacier and then I will find out I could have done this myself – fair enough though I did not have the equipment I needed. It results not being so bad but still it could be better. From here on I decide to hitchhike.

After three (!!!) hours of waiting, Oracio from Chile picks me up and he drops me to Hokitika. I have no plans anyway so I stay there one night. It is a very small and quiet town and the good thing is I meet two Irish girls that can give me a lift towards up north. They are going to Westport but on the way to there we pass from Greymouth (transalpine train connection to Christchurch) and in Punakaiki we see the infamous Pancake Rocks and its blowhole – too crowded for my taste. Just before Westport we also visit the Seal Colony.

As the history has it, in Westport I meet an Italian girl called Stefania. We decide to hitchhike together from there to the north without any particular plan. Karamea is the most northern point on this road and it results easy to reach. As a town is totally small and unimportant but it captured me for a reason. Smaller than Westport is still a thousand times more interesting. We are staying at an ex-rugby-bunk-bed-shelter in front of a well… rugby field. There we team up with a German couple; Nils and Tinka, good guys and good cooks! We stay in Karamea for two nights and decide to do the Heaphy Track, another great walk!

The Milford Sound, Queenstown and Wanaka

On a day trip and still based in Te Anau all four of us would take Birgit’s dying car (Pablo) and go to see this nature’s wonder; Milford Sound. Not many things for the independent traveler to do there. With Milford track out of the question (booked out until March) we will bargain for a boat trip deep inside the magnificent sound. We are left speechless even if the weather is not the best – always being the case in Milford Sound.

Next stop is Queenstown. I guess if I was 18 years old I would have liked it more. The prices there are much more expensive than in the rest of NZ. But as they say; it is always like this as long as customers let it be. After the Milford we say goodbye to Astrid and the three of us spend a night in this buzzing city. Next day we would climb the “pagoda” and get rewarder with a great view. Wanaka is next.

I would have never thought I would like it so much and therefore we stay there for four nights! It is possibly the nicest of the villages I’ve witnessed so far. There is also a “legendary” cinema there; Cinema Paradiso, founded by a Scottish man. We see “Vicky Cristina Barcelona” – reminds me of home – and “Mongol” which does not remind me of nothing. Trekking-wise we are doing the Rob Roy track in Mt. Aspiring National Park and Roy’s Peak very close to the township. The first one is incredible as it rewards us with an almost fake view of a picture frame that has it all; glaciers, waterfalls, rivers and rocky peaks. The second one gives us a picturesque panorama of lake Wanaka and its surroundings but it is hard to climb (3hrs uphill). After this beautiful pause in a village I strongly recommend to everybody before it becomes like Queenstown, I have to keep moving and Franz Josef township is next. The latter I’ll be doing it alone as the moment has come to part ways with Alex. I wish him all the best in his travels. The same to Birgit that left us in Queenstown…

The Kepler Track

I am obviously very excited before I began the Kepler Track. It would be my first four-day hike as well as one of the great walks of NZ. The track is 60km long and a circular one.

In Te Anau we had to wait for an extra day as a hut was booked out but it was worth every minute of the wait. In my first true touch with Kiwi nature the first two days were the highlight. Amazing views and difficult uphills along with the satisfaction of reaching the mountain peak revealed lakes such as the ones in… OK I’ll say it; Lord of the Rings! The feeling was great but the photos not so much. They obviously came in a second place 😉

There in one of the uphills Alex and I meet Birgit (Austria) and Astrid (Germany) who will remain with us for the next few days. The last day of the track I’ll do it by myself and Alex will pick me up at the end of it. Completing the track we celebrate Alex’s birthday in Te Anau over a nice dinner and some beers.

Luxmore Hut and Lake Te Anau (by Nigel Wilson)

Internet access while traveling

I just had this idea the other day. There should be discrimination between the users that want to use the internet PCs for its Internet connection and the people that would just like to use their other capabilities i.e. copying and moving files or typewriting – all of them offline jobs.

I actually propose this to all the net cafes’ owners I meet but everybody says it is out of their gasp. This is why probably to carry a laptop with you. You know those new, small ones? I will probably look into it because at the end of the day… why should they get the money? For the money I spend on typing while online, I might as well buy a laptop and edit everything offline. Then connect and upload everything when it would be ready.

I know I am not the first one to think this but I will have to see the weight I carry when I go back to Oz. Then I will reconsider and act accordingly.

PS: I just wrote this post to kill my time while I connected to just copy files from a memory card to a USB pen drive…

"Don't understand what you are complaining about! We did serve your soft drink real quick" by Ravikanth