TravelStream™ news feed for member estherbunny on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/estherbunny en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Tue, 03 Apr 2007 16:41:21 -0400 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/estherbunny/ad_esther/1175631900/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/estherbunny/ad_esther/1175631900/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/estherbunny/ad_esther/1175631900/tpod.html Tue, 03 Apr 2007 16:41:21 -0400 AD and Esther are travelling around the world raising money for the Miriam Hyman Memorial Fund along the way! Sponsor us through www.miriam-hyman.com. Thank you :)

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Los Angeles, California, United States

Hello, and a very quick entry on the day we make our way from LA to Oxford.

I'm sorry I haven't got round to writing for such a long time, but as I said before, I haven't had the time because we've been too busy, and haven't had the chance one way or another.

We've had a wonderful time in the United States, it's been all too short. We did Vegas, Death Valley, Lake Tahoe, San Francisco and back to LA, where we started. We were hoping to go to San Diego, but found ourselves slowing down, and so this last week we've been a bit more relaxed. But we've found lots to do around LA. More on that after I get home.

I did just want to post a quick entry on our last day though. There's lots to say, and I will expand on this entry at a later date, but most of all we want to express our gratitude for all the experiences we have had over the last twenty-four weeks.

With less than four hours before we have to leave for the airport, we are off to have some food and do a couple of things close by, here in Beverley Hills, and then we're off!

There are some things we are looking forward to, most of all seeing our families and friends, and that reminds me, Thursday 5th April is my birthday, so if anyone is in the area, we'll probably be in the Hobgoblin at pub o'clock that day. Two days from now! Eeek!

You might see that the last two or three entries are just promises to write more later. I will get around to that soon and let you know.

Until we get home, bye for now!

xesther & AD

PS MHMF update: We have identified over 300 bird species! More later
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/estherbunny/ad_esther/1175283600/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/estherbunny/ad_esther/1175283600/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/estherbunny/ad_esther/1175283600/tpod.html Fri, 30 Mar 2007 15:40:55 -0400 AD and Esther are travelling around the world raising money for the Miriam Hyman Memorial Fund along the way! Sponsor us through www.miriam-hyman.com. Thank you :)

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Los Angeles, California, United States

Entry to follow!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/estherbunny/ad_esther/1175202600/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/estherbunny/ad_esther/1175202600/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/estherbunny/ad_esther/1175202600/tpod.html Thu, 29 Mar 2007 17:11:44 -0400 AD and Esther are travelling around the world raising money for the Miriam Hyman Memorial Fund along the way! Sponsor us through www.miriam-hyman.com. Thank you :)

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San Francisco, California, United States

I'll be writing this entry shortly...!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/estherbunny/ad_esther/1174463100/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/estherbunny/ad_esther/1174463100/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/estherbunny/ad_esther/1174463100/tpod.html Wed, 21 Mar 2007 06:14:17 -0400 AD and Esther are travelling around the world raising money for the Miriam Hyman Memorial Fund along the way! Sponsor us through www.miriam-hyman.com. Thank you :)

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Las Vegas, Nevada, United States

Just a lightning post from Las Vegas because I'm aware that you haven't heard about Fiji or the States yet. I did actually post a quick report just before we left Fiji but I didn't send out the notification email because the entry was so short. Take a look. And now we've been in the States for five days and I still haven't got round to posting my diary. Shame on me!

Well this is the first chance I've had to put keyboard to monitor cos we've just been too busy having a great time! :)

The reason I do have time to write now is because I'm sitting here waiting for my photos to download onto disc, so that I can erase them all from my camera's memory card (which stores 1,117 pictures [I've filled it more times than I can keep track of and it's going to be a labour of love to sort through them once we get home]) ready for the start of the next leg of the trip. So I thought I'd grab the chance to post a quick update. (The pics are taking a long time to download after all *sigh*)

Once we got to the States we stayed in LA for just one night before driving our rental car to Las Vegas. Hosted by friends in both places :)

I promise to elaborate on the reports on both the Fiji and the States-so-far legs of the trip as soon as I get a chance, although I get the feeling that that might be after we get home.

But as we fly to Heathrow from LA, leaving on Tuesday 3rd April, arriving on 4th, that means we'll be home in two weeks (although it might be a while after that before I elaborate on the entries)!

People have started to ask us, "How do you feel about getting home?"

My answer is that I feel ready... although I sometimes wonder if it's just that I've managed to talk myself into feeling ready!

AD has been so enjoying almost everything about travelling that when he is asked the question, he usually replies that he could carry on living like this for a long time yet, given the choice! He has been in his element, in so many ways.

Our plans for the next couple of weeks: We leave Vegas tomorrow and go to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. Then return to Vegas just for the night en route north, via Reno to San Francisco. After a couple of nights there we'll make our way back to LA in time to spend a few nights there before we fly home.

I will take any chance I get to update this blog, and elaborate later if the entries are as skimpy as this one!

If you've been meaning to get round to sponsoring us for the events that we've undertaken in the name of the Miriam Hyman Memorial Fund but haven't got round to it yet, the update on our fund raising is that we have raised just over half our target of one thousand pounds so far. So don't forget that you can find our online sponsorship page on the ORBIS website, and here's the direct link
http://www.ukorbis.org/bins/fund_page.asp?cid=9-3397-4017&lang=1
although you can find it by following the link on the Home Page of www.miriam-hyman.com

Thanks as ever to everyone who has been in touch - I haven't managed to respond to each email, but they are all treasured :)

We'll write again asap.

xesther & AD

PS The photos are almost finished downloading now *whew*
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/estherbunny/ad_esther/1173925440/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/estherbunny/ad_esther/1173925440/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/estherbunny/ad_esther/1173925440/tpod.html Wed, 14 Mar 2007 22:27:47 -0400 AD and Esther are travelling around the world raising money for the Miriam Hyman Memorial Fund along the way! Sponsor us through www.miriam-hyman.com. Thank you :)

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Nadi, Fiji

Just a quick update at the end of our stay in Fiji.

We spent eleven nights island-hopping, and while there were some aspects of the trip which were a little disappointing, we are glad that we came. We have had some proper rest & relaxation, and now we're ready for the last leg of our journey in the US!

We did a dive in the name of the MHMF, and I'll post a proper report on that when we get to the states.

xesther & AD
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/estherbunny/ad_esther/1172695440/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/estherbunny/ad_esther/1172695440/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/estherbunny/ad_esther/1172695440/tpod.html Wed, 28 Feb 2007 15:46:23 -0500 AD and Esther are travelling around the world raising money for the Miriam Hyman Memorial Fund along the way! Sponsor us through www.miriam-hyman.com. Thank you :)

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Auckland, New Zealand

Here's a final update before we leave New Zealand
Monday 26th February
We drove to Taupo, where we had spent a couple of nights on the way down the island, to meet Rosie's sister Jackie for a picnic by the lake, which was lovely. Then we drove on to Rotorua, famous for its geothermal activity. On arriving there Rosie led us down a street from where she was sure we would be able to get a view over the terraces where the famous Pohutu geyser is, and we chanced upon a lady called Gina, who told us where to go to get the best view, and then invited us into her house for drinks, and when we asked where we could try hangi food (special Maori way of cooking food in a pit), she proceeded to phone around for us and got us a great deal for that evening. After leaving her we made our way to our accommodation for the next two nights - a cabin right on the shore of Lake Rotorua, which could not have been better! Then we went to Matariki where we were welcomed, fed on the most delicious food and then watched the cultural show. In the audience participation bit, AD was called upon (along with lots of other men) to do the hukka on stage!
Tuesday 27th February
After watching the sunrise over the lake, we went to Whakarewarewa, the Maori village built around the thermal area right in the middle of Rotorua. We had a fascinating tour guided by a lady who was the fourth generation of tour guides in her family, and we saw the terraces, pools, fumeroles and the Pohutu geyser, all of which are utilised by the village for all their heating needs. Next we went on to Government Gardens where we had a coffee at the museum which was established in the old hotel where visitors came as early as the 1880's to bathe in the medicinal mineral waters in the area. Next we drove out of town, and took the road around Rotorua Lake looking for a good picnic spot, which we found where the Waititi river joins the lake. It was an idyllic spot and I found it difficult to tear myself away, having waded in the icy water of the river and the warm water of the lake. We continued around the lake and stopped in the small town of Ngongotaha for a coffee and a wander round the shops, and then went back into town to explore a geothermal area which had only been created in 2001 when a minor earthquake opened up a number of new fumeroles, and a small steaming lake! Our final stop-off for the day was at Ohinemutu which was the original Maori village in the area. It is right on the shore of the lake and it was interesting to see their buildings, including a wonderful church complete with Maori carvings and stained glass windows. After that we went back to our cabin to relax, and then AD and I went out to buy fish and chips and while they were being prepared we quickly visited the nearby Lakeside Hotel for a drink where we got chatting to some locals. After our meal, Rosie and I went for a long soak in the mineral baths which are part of the camping complex where we were staying, which made a wonderful end to a long and fascinating day.
Wednesday 28th February
We drove to the nearby Green Lake and Blue Lake, stopping for a coffee on the shores of the latter, and then made our way down a path round the lake where we met a Maori gentleman who was collecting his eel trap from the river. We ended up having a long chat with him before we went back into town. We dropped Rosie off at the museum and said goodbye to her, as she would be getting a bus back to Havelock North, and then we drove back here to Auckland where we stayed the night with Gee and Lou who had put us up when we first arrived in New Zealand.
And that brings me once more up to date. We fly at 7 o'clock this evening, so we have a few hours to sort ourselves out. I have no idea what our Net access will be like over there. We are booked onto an eleven-night tour (if you want to take a look at the itinerary you can find it at http://www.awesomefiji.com/lon_tropical.aspx ). It will be very different for us, to be on an organised tour where everything is organised for us and we don't have to do any thinking, planning, or driving (thanks, AD!)
We have covered around 5,500 kilometres in New Zealand - almost as much as in South Africa! We really feel like we have made the most of our time here and that we have seen a lot of the country, although there are still areas we would have liked to have seen, given more time.
I suppose I should give you an update on our bird identification challenge too!

Variable Oyster Catcher
California Quail
White-Faced Heron
New Zealand Falcon
Gold Finch
Yellowhammer
Caspian Tern
Stewart Island Shag
Black-Billed Gull
Red-Billed Gull
Royal Northern Albatross
Royal Spoonbill
Black-Backed Gull
King Shag
Sooty Shearwater
Pied Stilt
Paradise Shellduck
Green Finch
Buller's Shearwater
Hedge Sparrow (Dunnock)
White-Faced Storm Petrel
Grey Teal
Brown Teal
New Zealand Scaup
Chaffinch
Yellow-Crowned Parakeet
South Island Tomtit
Blue Penguin
Yellowhead
Rifleman
We very much hope to be able to continue this challenge in Fiji and the United States, depending on the availability of identification books! As always, to sponsor us follow the links on the Home Page of www.miriam-hyman.com - thanks!
Not at all sure that I'll have a chance to post another entry while we're in Fiji, but if not I'll do so once we get to the United States in a couple of weeks' time.
Lots of love from us both
xesther & AD
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/estherbunny/ad_esther/1172431260/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/estherbunny/ad_esther/1172431260/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/estherbunny/ad_esther/1172431260/tpod.html Sun, 25 Feb 2007 14:22:05 -0500 AD and Esther are travelling around the world raising money for the Miriam Hyman Memorial Fund along the way! Sponsor us through www.miriam-hyman.com. Thank you :)

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Havelock North, New Zealand

It's been nearly two weeks since I last had the opportunity to write a diary update, and we have been exploring non-stop since I wrote from Nelson, so I'm going to give a short version of our tour.

Monday 12th February
We drove from Nelson down along the west coast of South Island to Punakaiki where we took our first cabin, a cheap but comfortable accommodation alternative. Cabin-dwellers share the camping facilities with the caravaners and campers but have a roof over their heads and sometimes a kettle and toaster as well as a bed! We visited the main attraction in the area - Pancake Rocks, so called because of the layer formation of the rocks that line the shore. There are blowholes there too but the wind and tide were not right for them to be spouting water.

Tuesday 13th February
We made our way south along the highway and then turned off it just past Greymouth to drive to the east of South Island via Arthur's Pass, a trans-alpine route with spectacular views. We arrived in Christchurch on the east coast and once again found a cabin in a holiday park as accommodation.

Wednesday 14th February
Valentine's Day, and we had a "romantic" picnic on the shores of the Pacific - AD's first view of it J En route to Dunedin we also stopped at Moeraki to see the Moeraki Boulders - almost perfect spheres which were formed hundreds of millions of years ago and which line the beach along one spot. Then on to Waitata just north of Dunedin where we received hospitality from Amanda and Dion - the brother of a good friend of ours in Oxford. We were not expecting the rural setting, assortment of animals and views of Blueskin Bay.

Thursday 15th February
We spent the day on the Otago Peninsula, famous for its albatrosses and penguin colonies. Unfortunately you have to pay for the privilege of seeing either so we didn't do the various tours on offer, although I was lucky enough to see an albatross flying overhead. We explored the roads around the peninsula and identified several species of water birds.

Friday 16th February
We had a long drive to do and decided to take a route around the south of the island so that we could visit the Catlin Coast and a couple of its attractions. First stop was Nugget Point, so called because of the rocks which jut up out of the water opposite the lighthouse at the point, and which support a colony of fur seals. We were hoping to see the local sea lions too but we were disappointed. Then on to Matai Falls - the most beautiful I've seen in New Zealand. Then the rest of the road trip to Te Anau, beautifully set on the banks of Lake Te Anau and a good place to base yourself for a trip to Milford Sound.

Saturday 17th February
We were lucky enough to have perfect weather in a place where it rains two days out of three on average. Actually a fiord rather than a sound, Milford is part of Fiordland on the south west corner of South Island. The drive was almost as spectacular as the fiord. We got tickets for a two-and-a-half hour cruise which took us all the way out to sea past gigantic rock formations and waterfalls, and we were lucky enough to be followed by a pod of dolphins for a while. The drive back to Te Anau was broken up with stops to take in the stunning scenery.

Sunday 18th February
We had heard how over-commercialised Queenstown is and so we decided not to stay there although it was worth stopping en route to check the town out. Then on to Wanaka in the mountains where we found a holiday camp on the shores of the lake at Glendhu Cove from where Mount Aspiring can be seen in the distance and is reflected in the still waters in the evening and the early morning.

Monday 19th February
Out of the mountains and back to the west coast where we drove past Fox Glacier, stopping briefly at a viewing point. Then on to the town of Franz Joseph where the only accommodation available was camping sites, although we set our tent up in a spot with views of the mountains and the start of the Franz Joseph Glacier.

Tuesday 20th February
We spent the morning walking far over the glacial valley right up to the glacier. It's awe-inspiring enormity can only be appreciated by seeing it for yourself, and that only becomes clear as you get closer and closer to the ice, eventually reaching it and looking up at it towering over you. We touched the face of the glacier and took one step onto its (unstable) surface before walking back over the uneven, stream-ridden terrain. That afternoon we drove to Ross, a small town up the coast which had been recommended to us by a kiwi at a pub earlier on in the week. We stayed in the historic Empire Hotel which had a real sense of history - again in one of their cabins.

Wednesday 21st February
We drove up the coast as far as Hokitika and then took another cross-island route via Lewis Pass on to Hanmer Springs where there is a geothermal spring which feeds many pools in a modern complex. On the way we managed to find Sylvia Flats, small geothermal pools at the edge of a river which have not been developed. The sand flies put an end to any notion we might have had about bathing there though! We did take a "stinky bath" - as AD put it - in the pools in Hanmer, where they have several pools all with different concentrations of minerals and at different temperatures.

Thursday 22nd February
We drove on to Kaikoura on the north east coast of the island, which is famous for whale-watching, swimming with dolphins and other marine-life based activities. It turns out that the whales are rarely visible from the shore and we were not prepared to pay the extortionate rates for a cruise or a flight to spy them, especially having seen so many in South Africa. We walked along the shore of the peninsula and had our picnic there and satisfied ourselves with seeing the birds, seals and fish which were accessible from the shore.

Friday 23rd February
We made our way back to Picton where we had started our South Island adventures, and took the Interislander ferry back to Wellington. Then we made the long journey on to Havelock North to stay with a kiwi friend, Rose, who I met years ago on the Net and who has been based in England for the last couple of years. It has been a thrill to finally get to see the place she calls home J

Saturday 24th February
Rose took us on a "tiki tour" of the locality, including a farmer's market, the beach and the nearest town - Hastings.

Sunday 25th February
We spent the morning exploring the nearby town of Napier, which was largely destroyed in New Zealand's greatest natural disaster - the earthquake of 1931. Due to the style in fashion at the time, the town was rebuilt in the Art Deco style and it is the greatest concentration of Art Deco buildings anywhere in the world. We went to the harbour for a delicious lunch before returning home via Hastings for an unmissable home-made ice cream at Rush Munro's which has been in its original spot since the 1950's. I tried the local fruit specialities of boysenberry and feijoa.

And that brings me up to date! Today Rose is taking us to Rotorua, famous for its geothermal activity, including geysers. We'll spend two nights there and on Wednesday we'll return to Auckland for our last night in New Zealand. Then on to Fiji!

I will try to get online once more before we leave Auckland, because I doubt very much that I will have any Net access while we're in Fiji.

Thanks as always to the people who have been in touch - it's always good to hear from you.


]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/estherbunny/ad_esther/1171090980/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/estherbunny/ad_esther/1171090980/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/estherbunny/ad_esther/1171090980/tpod.html Sat, 10 Feb 2007 04:08:29 -0500 AD and Esther are travelling around the world raising money for the Miriam Hyman Memorial Fund along the way! Sponsor us through www.miriam-hyman.com. Thank you :)

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Nelson, New Zealand

Here's our latest diary update, written from Nelson on South Island.

Thursday 1st February
I already reported how much we enjoyed the Auckland Museum, especially the ground floor which is full of an array of Maori artefacts, including a whole "whare", or house which you can walk into. That evening we bought fish and chips from a great place near kohimaramara beach which we took and ate on the shore looking over the bay.

Friday 2nd February
We spent the day doing necessary things in Auckland, and in the afternoon we prepared for the evening's barbeque. We had garlic prawns to start and then steaks, chicken kebabs, sweet corn and salads. A great meal for our last night in Auckland.

Saturday 3rd February
After packing a picnic made up of left-overs from the barbeque the previous evening we left Auckland and made our way to Lake Taupo in the centre of North Island via a small town called Tirau where we stopped off for a drink in a café called Alley Cats, and a wander round the green stone and paua (abalone) workshop. We got to the town of Taupo and checked in to our hostel, and then went for a walk along the shore of the lake, which affords a spectacular view south to snow-capped Mount Ruapehu. That evening we ate at the Irish pub downstairs from the hostel where they offer a $10 menu to hostel residents, and then had an early night so that we would be ready to make the most of our stay. Unfortunately, being Saturday night and a full moon to boot, we were kept awake during the night by partying residents, who, it turned out, lost their key deposits as a result!

Sunday 4th February
Our first stop of the day was Huka Falls, a few kilometres north of Taupo. The most visited waterfall in New Zealand, the drop of ten metres doesn't prepare you for the drama of the 400 cubic metres per second of crystal clear water that tumbles over the narrow ravine. The clarity of the water means that it reflects a deep blue, and the rush of the water and the spray it throws up is spectacular. Next we had our first geothermal experience at the Craters of the Moon, another couple of kilometres further north. A varied landscape with a walk of about one kilometre, there are columns of steam rising directly out of the ground, small fissures and larger craters all over the site, as well as some burbling mud pools which make it sound like the earth's tummy is rumbling. After that we followed advice in the Lonely Planet guide book and found a geothermal walk, again another couple of kilometres further up the road. We loved this site, with its stream carving a steep gorge through it and its lush native bush. There was a feeling of ancient landscape, and we were told that one sulphurous wall was two million years old! We took an hour and a half to do what was billed as a half-hour trek, and finally managed to drag ourselves away to get lunch at a tropical prawn farm whose waters are warmed by the local geothermal activity. On the road back to Taupo we stopped off at a wood workshop where they make artefacts out of native woods such as kauri, and a honey salesroom where they have all manner of products relating to locally farmed honey. To finish off the outing we drove a way down the coast of Lake Taupo and then back to the town for another cheap dinner at MacCuhal's. Sadly the rowdy residents had not learned their lesson the previous night and once again we were disturbed!

Monday 5th February
That morning we did the white water rafting on the Tongariro River in the name of the MHMF (which I reported on in the previous entry). After we returned to the rafting base at Tokaanu we took a look around the nearby geothermal pools. The pools ranged from tiny puddles which bubbled like a boiling kettle to mini lakes with columns of bubbles rising to the surface. Next we had a longish drive ahead so we had our picnic in the car before setting off on the road to Wanganui on the southwest coast. The views from the road were spectacular, our first real introduction to New Zealand landscapes. We took the Parapara road, and we were told that parapara means clay in Maori. Clay banks were evident all along the route, and the soft quality of the soil explains the dramatically steep gorges which are carved into the landscape by the abundant streams and rivers. We arrived in Wanganui in the early evening and we made our way to the home of our hosts, Clarry and Penny, who we had met just last June when we went to Israel to attend the wedding of Mim's best friend. When they heard about our plans to travel to New Zealand they offered us their hospitality, and we were pleased to visit them in a town which, undoubtedly, we would not have thought of otherwise. We had a summery meal of chicken salad in their garden while the sun went down and, finally, got a peaceful night's sleep!

Tuesday 6th February
Waitangi Day, a national holiday in New Zealand which marks the signing of a historic treaty between the Maoris and the British Empire in 1840. As our hosts had a day off, the four of us went into town and had breakfast at a café close to the museum. Then AD and I went off to explore Kai Iwi beach, Kai Iwi Tavern and Bushey Park which is a historic homestead with several acres of grounds and native bush. Then we made our way back into town and went shopping for the ingredients of the dinner which we cooked later and ate in the garden.

Wednesday 7th February
Time to make our way from Wanganui to Paekakariki just north of Wellington where we went to stay with a cousin of my father's, Prue, and her partner. We didn't know before we arrived that their house is perched on the shore above the bay with views across the water as far as South Island as well as Kapiti Island which is about three kilometres off the coast. After lunch on the deck we made a phone call and managed to secure limited passes to Kapiti Island for the next day, and then we had to go and pick up our permits that entitled us to visit the island. Then Prue gave us a guided tour of the area, including a lookout point high on the hills above the little town of Paekakariki as well as the highlights of the town itself - the park, the beach and other landmarks like the fish and chip shop! In the early evening we went for a walk down the beach to some rocks where the famous New Zealand mussels grow, and we gathered a bucketful of our own mussels which, after a swim, we took home and steamed as an appetiser! How fresh and tasty they were, and what a thrill to think that we had gathered them ourselves not an hour earlier! And what a perfect setting for the meal, watching the sunset from the deck.

Thursday 8th February
With only one day in the area, we had previously planned to spend it in Wellington, but the opportunity to visit Kapiti Island seemed much more up our street! Our boat was towed from the beach into the sea by a tractor and after arriving at the island we were given the obligatory introductory talk on the island. We then had around six hours to explore the tracks and shore of Kapiti. First we made our way up the first few hundred metres of the steep Trig Track and we were lucky enough to spot several of the island's bird species, some of which are pretty rare but are thriving in the protected environment of the island, which is a nature reserve. Next we went down to the shore where we had our picnic lunch before going snorkelling around the rocks. The half dozen species of fish and the kelp, sponges and sea cucumbers were very different from our previous diving experiences. Then we were about to start climbing the MacKenzie Track when another visitor to the island showed us to the grassy area where she had spotted the island's star bird inhabitant - the takahe, of which there are only around 250 in the world - the most rare bird species we have had the pleasure of seeing in our world-wide twitching travels! Finally we had a short while to explore the MacKenzie Track before the boat came to pick us up at 3pm. With only half the afternoon gone by the time we got back to the mainland, we went further north along the coast to the small town of Waetanae where we had a drink before going down to the shores of the shallow Waetanae river. Then home to freshen up before going for a meal at the Fisherman's Table where we ate on the terrace while watching the sun go down over the bay.

Friday 9th February
After breakfast we left Paekakariki and drove to Wellington where we had a couple of hours to spare before catching the Interislander Ferry to South Island. We had something to eat on Courtenay Place in the centre of town and then drove up to the Mount Victoria lookout which commands a 360 degree view of the city. We got the ferry port an hour before departure and boarded our car, and then explored the ferry's facilities as it started its journey. It was a spectacular crossing, with calm waters leading us from the harbour into the Cook Strait and then into Queen Charlotte Sound, where Picton was the destination town. From there we drove the two hours along the Queen Charlotte Drive and further on to Nelson where we arrived with our hosts, two of my Net friends, Wayne and Jennine and their son Corey. We spent the evening chatting and eating fish and chips!

Saturday 10th February
Today we had "Introduction to Nelson 101" - first a visit to the regular Saturday morning market and the Myazu Japanese Garden, then to the local beach which stretches as far as the eye can see, then to Nature Land where we had our first view of the native morpork owl and the kea, the largest of the cockatoo family. This afternoon we have had a chance to catch up on plans, washing and diary writing before eating chicken focaccia for dinner! And that brings me up to date!

I really must take this opportunity to update you on our bird identification challenge, especially in light of the Kapiti Island sightings.

208 &am p;nb sp; Cattle Egret
209 &am p;nb sp; White Necked Heron
210 &am p;nb sp; Australian Brush Turkey
211 &am p;nb sp; Australian Pipit
212 &am p;nb sp; Little Osprey
213 &am p;nb sp; Wedge-tailed Eagle
214 &am p;nb sp; Masked Lapwing
215 &am p;nb sp; Green Sandpiper
216 &am p;nb sp; Little Egret
217 &am p;nb sp; Silver Gull
218 &am p;nb sp; Laughing Gull
219 &am p;nb sp; Bar-tailed Godwit
220 &am p;nb sp; Temminck's Stint
221 &am p;nb sp; Barred Cuckoo Shrike
222 &am p;nb sp; Australian Darter
223 &am p;nb sp; White-browed Robin
224 &am p;nb sp; White-throated Treecreeper
225 &am p;nb sp; Southern Cassowary
226 &am p;nb sp; Magpie Goose
227 &am p;nb sp; Shining Flycatcher
228 &am p;nb sp; Forest Kingfisher
229 &am p;nb sp; Black Bittern
230 &am p;nb sp; Forktail Kite
231 &am p;nb sp; Peaceful Dove
232 &am p;nb sp; Blackfaced Cuckoo Shrike

New Zealand
233 &am p;nb sp; Australasian Harrier
234 &am p;nb sp; Black-tailed Gull
235 &am p;nb sp; Little Shag
236 &am p;nb sp; Little Black Shag
237 &am p;nb sp; Silvereye
238 &am p;nb sp; Fantail
239 &am p;nb sp; Grey Duck
240 &am p;nb sp; Welcome Swallow
241 &am p;nb sp; Tui
242 &am p;nb sp; New Zealand Pigeon
243 &am p;nb sp; New Zealand Robin
244 &am p;nb sp; Tomtit
245 &am p;nb sp; Rifleman
246 &am p;nb sp; Weka
247 &am p;nb sp; Bellbird
248 &am p;nb sp; Stitchbird
249 &am p;nb sp; Whitehead
250 &am p;nb sp; Saddleback
251 &am p;nb sp; Takahe
252 &am p;nb sp; Kakariki
253 &am p;nb sp; Kaka

So as you can see, we have now identified over 250 species! You know what to do if you would like to sponsor us!

Tomorrow we will be spending the day at the Abel Tasman National Park, and on Monday we will be leaving Nelson to explore the rest of South Island where we have two weeks in total before going back to North Island for our last few days in New Zealand. It's amazing how, with all this time travelling, we always feel that there is more we would like to do, given more time!

Email access will be sporadic over the next few weeks, but I'll be doing my best to check them from time to time.

Bye for now!

xesther & AD
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/estherbunny/ad_esther/1170788760/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/estherbunny/ad_esther/1170788760/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/estherbunny/ad_esther/1170788760/tpod.html Tue, 06 Feb 2007 15:43:27 -0500 AD and Esther are travelling around the world raising money for the Miriam Hyman Memorial Fund along the way! Sponsor us through www.miriam-hyman.com. Thank you :)

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Wellington, New Zealand

MHMF Challenge Complete - White Water Rafting on the Tongoriro River

On Monday 5th February AD and I went white water rafting on the Tongoriro River in central North Island, New Zealand, in the name of the Miriam Hyman Memorial Fund.

We were staying in Taupo, the small town on the north shore of Lake Taupo, and we had a 45 minute drive to the town of Tokaanu on the south shore where Wai Maori Freshwater Adventures are based - the company who we chose to do our rafting with. You can see their website at www.RaftingKayaking.co.nz. We arrived at 9am and were given our gear for the day - fleeces to be worn over our swimming gear, wetsuits, booties, waterproofs, life jackets and helmets. After congratulating ourselves on how good we looked in the gear (!) we were taken by minibus to the banks of the Tongoriro River, a few kilometres away, where the group of twenty-four was split into four teams, and we practised the positions and safety moves we would need while still out of the water. AD and I had been white water rafting in Canada a few years ago but it was good to be reminded of the moves.

Then it was time to carry the rafts down to the river and set off. Our leader, Brett, is a very experienced rafter who has rafted and kayaked all over the world, and he knows this stretch of the river inside-out. He guided us through the sixty or so rapids and after just a short time he told us how pleased he was because we were acting well as a team and managing to find good lines through the rapids.

The beauty of the scenery was very striking. For a start, the water was so clear that it reflected a rich blue, and even in its deepest parts the river bed was visible. We saw many trout and other smaller fish along the way. The banks of the river varied between steep cliffs and small coves, and it occurred to me that much of the route we took would have been inaccessible by any other means. We started to notice the bird life as well, and we added the native Tui to our growing list for our bird identification challenge.

The rapids, which reached Grade 3 on the scale on which Grade 6 is the most difficult, were interspersed with stretches of calm, gently flowing water. The aim was not to get stuck on any rocks, which we did a couple of times, but with a lot of bouncing and manoeuvring we were able to free ourselves. The thrill of going down a rapid, with cool water splashing into the raft, is hard to describe. I'm not one for theme-park rides, but this was much more fun!

About two thirds of the way we stopped and hauled the rafts to the bank of the river. From there we were invited to walk up a tributary stream where we were shown a "secret" waterfall. A two-tier fall, the lower of the tiers is about five metres high and the water crashes into a deep pool. We climbed the bank of the tributary with the aid of a knotted rope and jumped the five metres into the water below! What a feeling of achievement - not everybody wanted to do it!

Back in the four rafts, all of us joined together mid-stream for hot Milo from flasks and chocolate to sustain us. Then we completed the fourteen kilometre course, with a photographer waiting to take photos of us at the end.

This was a unique and delightful challenge. I wish I could've taken my own photos as we went down the river to record the glorious scenery, but we have to make do with the ones we have!

Thanks to Tui and Rod who are the owner/operators of Wai Maori Freshwater Adventures for a well-organised, safe and memorable morning.

If you would like to sponsor us you can do so by following the link on the Home Page of www.miriam-hyman.com to our ORBIS sponsorship page - thanks to everyone who has sponsored us so far and helped us to raise over half of our £1000 target! Please forward the TravelPod link to your contacts if you think they would be interested in our diaries and in sponsoring us - thanks!

I'll be posting a diary update very soon!

xesther & AD
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/estherbunny/ad_esther/1170304200/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/estherbunny/ad_esther/1170304200/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/estherbunny/ad_esther/1170304200/tpod.html Wed, 31 Jan 2007 23:37:20 -0500 AD and Esther are travelling around the world raising money for the Miriam Hyman Memorial Fund along the way! Sponsor us through www.miriam-hyman.com. Thank you :)

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Auckland, New Zealand

Hello, just a very quick update as we're paying per minute for this Net access!

Just to let you know that we arrived safe and sound in New Zealand two days ago.

After a lift to Brisbane airport and a three hour flight, we arrived at Auckland airport where we were picked up by someone from our car hire company. He took us to their offices where we picked up our car, and then we drove to the house of G and Lou, friends of our good kiwi friend, Adam, who we used to share a house with.

Yesterday we spent the day getting oriented, and doing some necessary stuff. Then we cooked a meal for G and Lou and met their seven-month-old son, Jack.

Today we have been to Auckland Museum, which we thoroughly enjoyed. Now we are here at a local shopping mall, this evening going to the beach for fish and chips!

We'll be in Auckland for another day or two before we start making our way south. We hope to cover plenty of the country in the four weeks we have here.

I forgot to send out a notification email after I did the last update from Aus, so you might want to take a look at the previous entry, which is the diary of our last few days in Australia.

More soon!

I also forgot to update the list of birds that we spotted in Australia, but as I'm at a public access computer I hope you won't mind if I leave it until we have a little more time! By the time we left Aus, we were up to 232 species in total!

OK, bye for now!

xesther & AD
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