TravelStream™ news feed for member faff on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/faff en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Sun, 26 Apr 2009 06:22:09 -0400 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/faff/3/1240731240/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/faff/3/1240731240/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/faff/3/1240731240/tpod.html Sun, 26 Apr 2009 06:22:09 -0400 Asian Persuasion and the Kiwi Conspiracy

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Wellington, North Island, New Zealand

Well. Not much has been happening on the old blog of late. Meanwhile life has been meandering along as it does. Many things have happened along the way. We are both working full time now. Angie is working for Wakefield out in Newtown and I am working for a software consultancy called Fronde down at the water front. It is such a cool location to be working and there many things I can do at lunch time like rock climbing and kayaking in the harbour or just going for a run. Much better than a trudge to O'Briens sandwich bar and back when I was out in Parkwest.Angie's parents were over end of January and much of February. My parents were here too for all of February. It was cool to have them over and they really enjoyed themselves. They were reluctant van travelers but soon got into it and made an impressive trip around the south island. Angie got to travel with her parents for 3 weeks down the south island which was great. Not so often you get to spend such quality time with them.Summer in Welly was great, loads of free events through-out the summer. There was Garden Magic, a series of free concerts every night in the botanical gardens. The Cuba Street festival was huge and then the Newtown festival. We had some good weather this summer and the city really comes alive during this time of the year.We did a fair bit of mountain biking and got to know many great tracks in the Wellington region. Quite often we would cycle up to the wind turbine and maybe head over to Hawkins hill radar station and down to Red Rocks or back over to Macara. The Skyline track from Johnsonville is really beautiful but a better walking track. Well at least until you get to Macara anyway. The Karapoti classic is probably the biggest event on the mountain biking calender. It is a grueling 50 km slog through the Akatarawa forests. The track was very wet and muddy and there was alot of bike carrying involved. Myself and Angie both entered as well as our friends Andy and Stefan. Angie kicked our asses with her time of 5:15. I hope to put in a better performance next year now that I know what is involved.Now what else has happened? Oh yes, that nice house we were sharing out in Roseneath, well, things were becoming increasingly tense between us and our flatmates and came to a head. I won't go into details but we ended up moving out. We now live in Kelburn in this cool old wooden house on the top of a ridge. The house is divided into 2 flats and we are to the rear. It is great that we have the place to ourselves and the rent is slightly less than what we were paying for a room in Roseneath! The last few weekends we have been making the place our own. Angie keeps coming home with more stuff for me to put up or assemble. The high-bed has become a low bed and is really good. It is coming into winter now and is getting a bit cold. The houses are lightly constructed here and typically have no central heating. So we use electric heaters to keep the living room warm.We got a car as well. It is an old Mini Clubman from 1981. I love whizzing around Welly in it. Although, I don't get to drive it all that often as it is mainly used by Angie to go to work. I am still cycling in from Kelburn but some times I walk to the cable car and I am down at work in 5 mins.Our next goal now is the Wellington half-marathon on 28th of June. I hate running, always have and typically resent people I see running but I have decided to give it ago and I am beginning to see how addictive it can be. We started our training last week and so far I am up to 10km runs at the weekend with short 5-8k runs during the week. Next week we are off to Sydney for a week.So there you have it, life is still great. It is almost a year to the day since our journey began. Who knows where it will lead. Suffice to say that if our residency application goes well we will be in NZ for another 2 years at least.--Dave & AngieDas Leben in Wellington!Nun liebe Freunde, es ist fast ein Jahr vergangen seitdem wir Deutschland und Irland den Ruecken gekehrt haben.Wir haben Ewigkeiten nichts von uns hoeren lassen.tschuldigung..:-)Es ist so einiges passiert und wir haben viel erlebt. Wir beiden haben Vollzeit Jobs, Dave arbeitet in einer Firma mit dem Namen "Fronde" direkt am Wasser und ich arbeite in "Wakefield Hospital" in "Newtown".Es ist ein privates Krankenhaus und die Station wo ich arbeite ist spezialisiert in Orthopaedie, Hals Nasen Ohren und Kosmetische Schoenheits Chirurgie.Dave kann waerend seiner Mittagspause all moeglichen aktivitaeten nachgehen, zum Beispiel klettern, kajaken,schwimmen oder laufen gehen. Er ist zum richtigen Sportfreak geworden.Im Januar sind Daves Eltern und meine und Krissi zu Besuch gekommen. Einen ganzen Monat hatten sie Zeit. Es war herrlich, und das Beste war, das ich fuer 3 Wochen mit meinen Eltern und Krissi in einem Campervan um die Suedinsel gereist bin. Wir hatten lange nicht so viel Zeit gemeinsam verbracht und wir haben jeden Tag genossen.Ich freu mich schon aufs naechste mal:-)Wellingtons Sommer ist bombig. Es gibt soviele Sachen zu tun. "Garden Magic" ist ein 8 Woechiges Programm im Botanischen Garten. Jeden Abend spielen 3 Bands. Man kann zu toller Musik lauschen, tanzen, picknicken und Wein trinken.Dann war noch der "Cuba Street" Carneval und das "Newtown Festival" Beides war herrlich und wir hatten super Wetter. In der Sommerzeit, Wellington ist so lebendig man woellte glatt das ganze Jahr Sommer haben.Wir Beiden haben uns auch ein gutes Moutainbike angeschafft gleich von Beginn an. So konnten wir die Gegend auch ohne Auto gut erkunden und haben uns sogar zum groessten Moutainbike race in Neuseelands Kalender angemeldet. Karapoti Classic ist ein 50 km langer track durch den Wald, Fluesse und Berge. Es war extrem, hard, schlammig, steil und teilweise nur schrecklich:-) 5 einhalb Stunden spaeter war alles vorbei. Der Schmerz vergessen, die Traenen runtergeschluckt und der Schweis getrocknet..Dave, ich und unsere anderen 2 Freunde Andy und Stefan habens gepackt und sind hoffentlich im naechsten Jahr wieder dabei.Nun, was ist sonst noch passiert??Hmm..ach ja, unsere tolle Villa mit Meeresblick in Roseneath gibt es leider auch nicht mehr. Das Verhaeltniss mit unseren Mitbewohnern war am Ende sehr gespannt. Ich will nicht weiter in Details gehen, wir haben uns jedenfalls entschieden auszuziehen und uns was eigenes zu suchen. Und wir haben auch was huebsches gefunden. Wir wohnen jetzt auf der anderen Seite der Stadt. Wieder an steiler Berglage ganz nah am Botanischen Garten.Es ist ein altes Holzhaus was in 2 Wohnungen geteilt ist.Es ist herrlich auf einmal ganz allein zu wohnen und keine Mitbewohner mehr zu haben. Dave kann immernoch mit dem Rad auf Arbeit fahren und ich nehm groessten Teils das Auto:-)Ahh ja,..Es gibt ja noch das Auto. Wir haben uns das kleinste Auto der Welt gekauft. Einen Mini Clubman GT.Baujahr 1980. Ich rase jetzt durch Wellington und habe alle Blicke:-) Er rollt ohne Probleme und springt beim ersten mal an..meisstens zumindestens;-)Unser naechstes Ziel in Wellington ist ein Halbmarathon am 28.06.09Dave mag ja die Rennerei eigentlich nicht aber er hat sich entschieden mitzumachen.Er ist voll im Training und motieviert und so bin ich.Ich bin auch"leider" ins Krankenhaus Netball Team eingetreten.Es ist aehnlich wie Basketball nur ein bisschen agressiever.Eigentlich mag ich ja Ball Sportarten ueberhaupt nicht aber die Trainerin scheint sehr streng ( grosse, kraeftige Maori Frau ohne Frontzaehne) Meine Ausreden kommen bei ihr leider nicht an.haha..:-) Naja was solls, dann spiel ich halt Net Ball. Da lernt man wenigstens neue Leute kennen.So, nun habt ihr alle Neuigkeiten. Das Leben in Neuseeland ist nach  wie vor wunderbar.Unsere Immigrations Bewerbung laeuft soweit gut. Wenn alles klappt sind wir noch fuer ungefaehr 2 Jahre hier. Aber keine Sorge, wir kommen zurueck zu Besuch. Das naechste Mal, zu Weihnachten. Naechste Woche fliegen wir nach Sydney und feiern meinen Geburtstag da. Ich freu mich schon.Viele Gruesse,Dave und GeliDave und Angie61 Fairview CrescentKelburnWellington 6012New ZealandFestnetz: 0064 (0) 4 93 43 497Handy   : 0064 (0) 21 191 191 6
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/faff/uk_tour_2007/1186916400/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/faff/uk_tour_2007/1186916400/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/faff/uk_tour_2007/1186916400/tpod.html Sun, 26 Apr 2009 03:33:09 -0400 "One car, a couple, some camping equipment and the road..."

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Great Langdale, United Kingdom

Day 8 - Lake District: Great Langdale - Lunch in Grassmere- Almost booked expensive YHA B&B- Search for Sticklebarn Bunkhouse (Great Langdale)- 3hr hike "High White Stones" 762 meters.Today started off kind of slow. We wanted to do some hiking but ended up spending all morning faffing about, eating and drinking coffee in town called Grassmere. We decided that we were not camping tonight and booked in to a hostel called the Sticklebarn Bunkhouse. We almost booked an expensive B&B style accommodation in a YHA but cancelled as this not how we wanted to do this trip.We found the Sticklebarn in the RG but did not anticipate just how hard it would be to find Great Langdale which seemed to be more a region and not a village at all. We drove deep into the heart of the lake district on narrow winding roads punctuated by the odd village or on-coming car. The views were amazing as we drove along a valley floor with mountains on either side. Eventually we found the hostel which was a bunkhouse at the back of a pub. The staff in the pub were friendly and the Czech guy showed us the bunkhouse before w paid. It was apparent why as the dorm was dank and dark. The place reminded me of a football team changing room. It was adequate for our needs and we had the whole dorm to ourselves.That evening we hiked up to the top of a peak called "High White Stones" and cooked up some rashers, sausages and eggs on the camping stove. It was a 3hr hike up and down and felt really good. We had a drink in the pub after and then slept like stones that night.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/faff/3/1228089060/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/faff/3/1228089060/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/faff/3/1228089060/tpod.html Sun, 30 Nov 2008 18:54:33 -0500 Asian Persuasion and the Kiwi Conspiracy

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Wellington, North Island, New Zealand

We went out sailing today up in Plimmerton around Tatihi bay. Pablo knows a guy called Graeme that has a boat up there and likes to go out ever 2 weeks. It was cool. We brought our fishing rods and caught a Kawhai fish which we cooked up at home and there was more than enough for 4 people. Nice taste too. Pablo caught the fish. I had a big one on the line but it got away on me : (. I put up a few photos from the trip.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/faff/3/1228002600/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/faff/3/1228002600/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/faff/3/1228002600/tpod.html Sun, 30 Nov 2008 18:50:56 -0500 Asian Persuasion and the Kiwi Conspiracy

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Wellington, North Island, New Zealand

Just a few pics in and around Wellington...
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/faff/3/1227483840/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/faff/3/1227483840/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/faff/3/1227483840/tpod.html Sun, 30 Nov 2008 18:50:03 -0500 Asian Persuasion and the Kiwi Conspiracy

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Wellington, North Island, New Zealand

Justus and Stefan hired a car and we set out over towards Cape Palliser for a bit of a road trip. We stopped and Lake Ferry for lunch, then over to Cape Palliser where there is a light house you can climb up to and a seal colony. On the way back we had a look at the Pinnicles and then over to Martinborough where spent the night in a camp site. Next morning we did the rounds of the wineries pretending to know about wine. Got back to Welly sunday evening. There are so many things to see and that are close to Wellington.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/faff/3/1224646500/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/faff/3/1224646500/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/faff/3/1224646500/tpod.html Thu, 30 Oct 2008 05:58:49 -0400 Asian Persuasion and the Kiwi Conspiracy

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Wellington, North Island, New Zealand

We spent just 2 nights in Auckland. hired a car an headed for the hills. We travelled up to the Bay of Islands, ran out of petrol on our way to Cape Reinga and had to turn back. The Coramandel penisula is beautiful and so is the East Cape. We spent a night at Hicks bay, really remote up there. Sarah a german girl travelled with us all the way down the east coast and on to Wellington. Along the way, a stone chipped the windscreen and over the course of a few days it developed into a massive series of cracks that sprawled across the windscreen. Cost us $350 NZD for a new windscreen, ouch!After several days being bounced around various hostels (Downtown, Rosemere, Worldwide) in Wellington we found a really nice place to live up in the hills around Mt Victoria in an area called Roseneath. It is well fancy, compared with where we lived in Fairview. We have views overlooking Wellington harbour and we can watch the planes coming in and taking off from Wellington airport. My friend Barbara whom I once worked a funny job in a bookshop in St. Stephens green is living just down the hill from us, about 5 mins walk. It is so nice to finally empty the back packs and throw them in the attic!Just need to get jobs now, argh! I will leave you with our address and phone numbers here, should you need to send us large wads of cash, send it to:126 Grafton Rd,Roseneath,Wellington 6011, NZAngie (+64) 21 1911916Dave (+64) 21 1911917
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/faff/3/1223392920/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/faff/3/1223392920/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/faff/3/1223392920/tpod.html Thu, 30 Oct 2008 05:47:16 -0400 Asian Persuasion and the Kiwi Conspiracy

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Auckland, North Island, New Zealand

Hello NZ, we are here!!! It was a painless 10 hour flight from Singapore. We will rent a car and spend about a week travelling around and hopefully wind up in Wellington. Entries might dry up for a while as we will be living and working now but we will post from time to time to let you all know how we are doing.Ciao,Dave & Angie
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/faff/3/1223352900/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/faff/3/1223352900/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/faff/3/1223352900/tpod.html Mon, 06 Oct 2008 00:35:21 -0400 Asian Persuasion and the Kiwi Conspiracy

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Singapore, Singapore

Mainland S.E. Asia Review---------------------------------Time Period:            05 May 2008 to 07 Oct 2008Countries Visited:    Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, VietnamCosts:                      TBABooks Read:            ---------------(Dave)01. Holding On, Jo Gambi (****)02. South of the Border, West of the Sun, Haruki Murakami (***)03. The Complete Robot, Isaac Asimov (***)04. The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle, Haruki Murakami (****)05. Isaac Asimovs - Robot City, Michael P. Kube McDowell & Mike McQauy (**)06. Burmese Days, George Orwell (***)07. Sputnik Sweetheart, Haruki Murakami (***)08. Forget You had a Daughter, Sandra Gregory (****)09. Brave New World, Aldous Huxley (****)10. Foundation, Isaac Asimov (****)11. Kafka on the Shore, Haruki Murakami (****)12. Papillion, Henri Charriere (*****)13. First they killed my Father, Loung Ung (***)(Angie)01. South of the Border, West of the Sun, Haruki Murakami (**)02. Life of Pai, Yann Martel (****)03. The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle, Haruki Murakami (****)04. After Dark, Haruki Murakami (*)05. Forget You had a Daughter, Sandra Gregory (***)06. Sputnik Sweetheart, Haruki Murakami (**)07. On Cecil Beach, Irvine Walsh (***)08. Papillion, Henri Charriere (*****)09. First they killed my Father, Loung Ung (***)10. Der Medicus, Noah Gordan (****)Highlights:-------------(Dave) - TBA(Angie) - TBA
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/faff/3/1223082060/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/faff/3/1223082060/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/faff/3/1223082060/tpod.html Mon, 06 Oct 2008 00:14:11 -0400 Asian Persuasion and the Kiwi Conspiracy

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Bangkok, Thailand

Once again we find ourselves in Bangkok. It was a long but comfortable journey up from Ko Tao that takes most of the day. It is our last big bus journey in S.E. Asia for a while. Angie is dead excited about coming back to Bangkok for our last few days. She has heard lore of the MBK centre and is planning on doing some "final" shopping before we go to NZ. I encourage her not to go mad and that we have a weight limit! However, I splashed out a bit myself and got me a Nintendo DS Lite (6,300 baht all in). You get to pick 20 games from a catalog and they load them up for you. That should keep me occupied for the 12 hour flight from Singapore to Auckland.Really enjoying our last days here. Bangkok is a wonderful city to stopover in! We went to a travelpod meet up just off Khoa San rd the other evening. We ate well and got to meet some new people. I always feel a little awkward at such things and because there is a local election going on in Bangkok, places are not allowed to serve any alcohol, which was just what we needed to loosen everybody up a bit.Tomorrow we fly to Singapore and catch an evening flight to Auckland.Goodbye S.E. Asia, we will see each other again : (
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/faff/3/1222065120/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/faff/3/1222065120/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/faff/3/1222065120/tpod.html Sun, 05 Oct 2008 03:38:39 -0400 Asian Persuasion and the Kiwi Conspiracy

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Bangkok, Thailand

We flew in from Hanoi and get the airport shuttle into Bangkok. The city seems much more organised and less crazy after being in Hanoi. We went back to the area back from Kosan Rd where we stayed before and got a bite to eat. Then we booked our bus / ferry combo with Lomprayah down to Koh Tao and were on the bus at 21:00. Lomprayah are really well organised and we were happy again to be in Thailand, the people are so much more curtious and friendly. It cost 850 baht to get down to Ko Tao and we were there for 9am the next day.
]]>