Anglesea Motel Hamilton

... an accident on the way to the Tongariro National Park. We had fortunately stopped to admire the views and have a cup of coffee in the mountains and as we started off and turned the corner there was a car upside down in the middle of the road loads of people around but it looked serious with our camper van and it being a tight road we got wved through as there was no where ...

The day started early as James had to get up at 6 to get to CTC while I stayed in his room watching the New Zealand version of BBC Breakfast. The stories are essentially the same as the British one with a few bits of NZ news thrown in for good measure but even here, I can’t get away from swine flu (apparently it’s “almost” a pandemic!!!! RUN WHILE YOU STILL CAN). I finally arrived at CTC at 10 where I was given a grand tour of the facilities ...

... Liberty) stands proudly overlooking Yerevan, she is called Mother Armenia -we were very moved by this as she stands in such a protective stance of her Country. Spot the neat way of having coffee. I will try and load each night, and we have both been overwhelmed by the response to our Blog, I worked today, and many told me it was the first thing they did when they logged on -became a work ritual. LOL Marion and Liz

... amazing views, scenery and experiences. The hostel last night was on a really nice campsite by the beach and tonight we're in these cabins in the hills above a big surfing beach - it's got a really hippy vibe and a hammock! I hope you guys are all keeping your new year's resolutions and enjoying the January sales! I'll blog in again soooon! xxxxx

... the right place; walking from the bus stop to my accommodation. 3. I found a supermarket and did some shopping to supplement the milk, bread, nanas and tea bags that were waiting for me on my arrival. So I'm not living in a totally food-free environment anymore. 4. I managed to book a coach ticket to Auckland for Thursday morning. 5. I bought a phone card, postcards and stamps for England. Now I've just got to work out a ...

I woke up this morning and helped save a life. Instead of feeling relieved and happy, I feel helpless, sad and - worst of all...and I am horrified to admit this... - disappointed. I thought I knew what the words 'conflicting emotions' meant but it wasn't until today that I really understood those two words. I'm conflicted. And I'm certainly emotional. Note: This is somewhat morbid and contraversial - but it's my journal....freedom of expression blah blah ...

... to figure out if I belonged there. I heard services in english, french, latin. I listened to choirboys singing like angels and watched priests swing their incense while chanting. I have been absolutely silent while I stood, knelt, stood, knelt, stood, knelt. I've picked up the bible in four or five different languages and wondered if they all said the same thing. I've been able to follow services in foreign tongues because I know it by heart in english. I could say the ...

... lasts a couple of hours and then we go back up through the cave and out into daylight. We get driven back to the centre we started at and sit outside in the sun with drinks to warm up. We then go for a walk in the bush which is nice and we go through some tunnels in the rock which is cool and loop round back to the car. We then go and watch bunny shearing which is slightly wierd - they breed Angora rabbits which grow really long hair and then shear it to make wool ...

... at the beach, which meant I didn't have to carry it all the way up the hill back to the car park. The guy at the rental place also said I could swap boards at any time, bonus. I was doing pretty well all morning, standing up pretty consistently. After a short break, where I got a shorter board, I headed back out but the tide was going out, meaning it was much more difficult to catch waves, and even get back out into the surf.

... sorted through the bits and pieces in the back of the van. It was, as all the backpacker vans were, a homemade camper conversion. A shelf had been constructed in the back, and a futon laid on top. Under the shelf, crates of stuff were stowed, and an electric chilly bin (Kiwi English for cool box) sat, powered off the cigarette lighter, behind the driver. As it was the long wheelbase version of the L300, the sleeping platform didn't fill the back of the van, leaving the space between ...