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NOMADIC LIFESTYLE, EARTH, United States
After getting my first passport in 2006 and traveling to climb Kilimanjaro in Tanzania my life changed. I began the process of getting rid of all my possessions and traveling the world. Traveling to over 125 countries and all 7 continents, hostels have been my home. This "new life" has taught me what is important and it was NOT accumulating money or possessions. Traveling is the best education. I hope my blog will encourage others to travel. My World Tattoo was a way for me to express my PASSION FOR TRAVEL.

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Showing posts with label NEW ZEALAND. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NEW ZEALAND. Show all posts

NEW ZEALAND, Routeburn Track, hiking

11/28-11/30

After spending November 27th in a Te Anau hostel, I headed out again for my 4th track since arriving in NZ. This track is much easier and only 30k but has maybe the most beautiful scenery of all the tracks. The hut wardens tell you that on a 3 day tramp they will guarantee you one day of rain and they were right. After a beautiful 1st day, the second day was 5 hrs of drizzle, rain, sleet and then hard snow. It took me several hours to thaw. LOL But it was worth every second as you will see when I get some pictures up hopefull tomorrow. At the end of the track I went to Queenstown for 5 days of adventure. At one of the huts was a group of 16 international high school students who were studying in NZ for a year. Each student was from a different country.




























































































NEW ZEALAND, Kepler Track, hiking

11/25-11/27

The Kepler Track is a 3 day 61 kilometer (41 mile) track. It is rated as moderate to hard in degree of difficulty. On the second day, I had 1.5 hrs of hard SNOW while I was walking. It was beautiful and aggravating at the same time. It hampered my view for a while but later the weather cleared. The bunk houses where we slept were like freezers and only your sleeping bag kept you from freezing. People from all over the world especially Germany.











































































NEW ZEALAND, Milford Sound



Saturday November 24, 2007

I caught the 1:15 cruise ship for the Milford Sound Cruise. The day was overcast but we still had great views of the Milford Sound (which is really a fjord but they never changed the name). We cruised out to the ocean and returned coming within 10 feet of magnificent waterfall and we also got to see a group of seals basking on the rocks. On the way back it rained quite a bit but as they like to say, "It makes the waterfalls more spectacular.".

Back to Te Anau for the night and on to the Kepler Track tomorrow. 










NEW ZEALAND, Mount Cook

November 23, 2007

I caught the bus from Christchurch and went to Mount Cook (NZ highest mountain at a little over 12, 000 ft.). The statute is that of Sir Edmund Hillary who was the first climber to climb Everest. He was from NZ and Mt. Cook was where he and his sherpa, Tenzig Norgay, practiced before their Everest summit. I was there for a couple of hrs and then continued to Queenstown to spend the night. Tomorrow I catch the early bus to Te Anau and then a cruise on the famous Milford Sound.










NEW ZEALAND, Christchurch (Thanksgiving Day)

Thursday November 22, 2007

Happy Thanksgiving to All. Even though it is still Wednesday there, I can still smell the Turkey and Dressing. I just arrived in Christchurch after a 6 hr bus ride. Great weather and beautiful country. I went to the Sargeant Peppers Club for dinner and had a great STEAK??? Okay, no turkey to be found so steak is splurging for me. Yes, the Sargeant Pepper Club had Beatles posters everywhere and played Beatles music but was still very good, if not classy. No one really understands the concept of Thanksgiving here and probably not many in the states either. Canadians have Thanksgiving but in October. I leave for Queenstown tomorrow and then to Te Anau to start more tramping (trekking).






NEW ZEALAND, Wine tour


November 21, 2007

Since I finished the Queen Charlotte Track a day early, I decided to do a half day wine tour through the Marlborough Country. There were 10 of us on the bus and we visited 4 wineries. The only wine questions any of us had were when were they going to pour the next free wine sample. New Zealand has only been producing wine for about 20 years but there are orchards springing up everywhere.

NEW ZEALAND, Queen Charlotte Track (Day 3)







November 20, 2007

I left at 9am and was told it was a 6 hr walk to Anikiwa where the water taxi would pick me up at 4:30 pm. It was straight up most of the morning which is just what you want to see after the previous 10 hr day. LOL The view of Queen Charlotte Sound are so beautiful that you almost don't feel the searing pain in your legs and shoulders. lol I actually made it at 1:50pm and had to wait around for a few hrs. So I have an extra day and decided to go on a half day wine tour through the Marlborough Wine Vineyards. It was $59NZ and I think I can drink that much wine since we will visit 5 wineries and all tastings are included.

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NEW ZEALAND, Queen Charlotte Track (Day 2)




November 19, 2007

Today was supposed to be an easy 2-3 hr walk to my next hut. Somehow I missed Naolines Homestay and by the time I realized it (3 large hills and about 2 miles) I decided to continue to the next place that I had booked. I had started at 9 am and arrived at my next destination (Debritts) at 7 pm and one day early. 35 kilimoters (21 miles) in all with the hardest part of the track this day. The owners called the place I was supposed to stay and she was worried because I was 9 hrs late. Another thing I didn't realize, most trekkers or trampers as they say in NZ let the water taxis take their baggage from hut to hut so that you don't have to carry all that weight. I thought only a few wimps did this but I found out that I was the 1 in a 100 that carried my own bag which now weighs about 25 lbs.

NEW ZEALAND, Wellington, Picton, and Queen Charlotte Track (Day 1)



November 16-18th, 2007

I caught the afternoon bus from National Park to Wellington. Wellington was a great city with a lot of night life and great restaurants. After Wellington, I caught the ferry to Picton on the South Island. It is a beautiful boat trip with great scenery for about 3 hrs. You can save the $65 dollar ferry boat fee if you decide to skydive from Wellington. You leave Wellington but land in Picton and the plane brings your baggage. Nice alternative, though a little more expensive.
Picton is a nice little town which is the center for trips to the Queen Charlotte Track, Abel Tasman Track or wine tours of the Marlborough region. I completed the Queen Charlotte Track in 3 days. It was more difficult than I expected mainly because one day was 35 kilometers. It was supposed to be 4 days but I walked past my accomodations. lol The Track is up and down the mountains every day but the scenery was unbelievable. Definitely a must do.