kimandrob's TravelStream™ — Recent TravelPod.com entries TravelStream™ news feed for member kimandrob on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/kimandrob en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Wed, 06 Aug 2008 17:53:34 -0400 http://www.travelpod.com London — London, England, United Kingdom http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kimandrob/1/1217260800/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kimandrob/1/1217260800/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kimandrob/1/1217260800/tpod.html Wed, 06 Aug 2008 17:53:34 -0400 From the Orient to Down Under in 195 days!
London, England, United Kingdom

To be updated.
]]> Los Angeles — Los Angeles, California, United States http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kimandrob/1/1219858200/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kimandrob/1/1219858200/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kimandrob/1/1219858200/tpod.html Wed, 06 Aug 2008 17:51:02 -0400 From the Orient to Down Under in 195 days!
Los Angeles, California, United States

To be updated.
]]> Waya Lailai (Yasawa Islands) — Yasawa Islands, Fiji http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kimandrob/1/1216909800/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kimandrob/1/1216909800/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kimandrob/1/1216909800/tpod.html Wed, 06 Aug 2008 10:20:24 -0400 From the Orient to Down Under in 195 days!
Yasawa Islands, Fiji

To be updated.
]]> Nadi — Nadi, Viti Levu, Fiji http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kimandrob/1/1216843200/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kimandrob/1/1216843200/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kimandrob/1/1216843200/tpod.html Wed, 06 Aug 2008 10:17:56 -0400 From the Orient to Down Under in 195 days!
Nadi, Viti Levu, Fiji

To be updated.
]]> Auckland — Auckland, North Island, New Zealand http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kimandrob/1/1216044000/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kimandrob/1/1216044000/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kimandrob/1/1216044000/tpod.html Mon, 21 Jul 2008 20:34:14 -0400 From the Orient to Down Under in 195 days!
Auckland, North Island, New Zealand

Our Kiwi fan club, otherwise known as Jemma and Charles, had amazingly flown up from Christchurch for one final autograph! It was fantastic to see them again, as we will do again in January for their wedding - hopefully, although to date donations to this great cause have been a little thin on the ground!?! An enjoyable lunch outside at a restaurant on the harbour front was a very pleasant change from the usual cheese sandwich. Catching the ferry over to Devonport, we wandered the shops, grabbed an ice cream and enjoyed great views back towards the famous city skyline. Our timing for the Sky Tower couldn't have been better as we were afforded both day and night views as the sunset from the two viewing platforms over 200 metres above the city. Charles, the pilot, turned a little white as we made our way up in the part glass-floored elevator...heights worry him a little?! It was a good job that I was flying that plane in Christchurch!At the bottom of the tower, the casino provided some light-hearted entertainment. Kim and I bet and lost the grand total of $2 (80 pence) on a slot machine we didn't even understand. Charles, similarly lacking knowledge, turned his $2 investment into an mind-blowing $10 return! The casino manager was left weeping in the corner...It was an extraordinary experience to watch people moronically feeding money into these machines seemingly devoid of all thought. One guy appeared to have so much resting on his huge investment at the roulette table that he was shaking all over - fortunately, this time, his gamble paid off but goodness knows how much he had already given the casino over the past few hours or days... Off to the liquor store, we grabbed supplies to be enjoyed in the luxury of Jemma and Charles's hotel room and enjoyed a fun evening chatting away reliving our tales of NZ. The next morning we headed over to the Kelly Tarlton Antarctic centre to see real penguins, a replica of Captain Scott's Base as well as masses of marine life, including some ridiculously large stingrays. Although probably mainly aimed at children, Kim and I unashamedly still had a great time! The afternoon was spent wandering the grand Auckland museum, although all parties were starting to feel a little weary from a frantic few days of sight-seeing. Sadly we had to bade farewell to Jemma and Charles as they had to fly back to Christchurch that evening. We had had a ball and was brilliant to see them again...see you in 6 months time!?!
]]> Milford Sound — Milford Sound, South Island, New Zealand http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kimandrob/1/1214834400/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kimandrob/1/1214834400/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kimandrob/1/1214834400/tpod.html Sun, 20 Jul 2008 02:39:13 -0400 From the Orient to Down Under in 195 days!
Milford Sound, South Island, New Zealand

Enquiring about the road to Milford Sound we were presented with a booklet entitled 'The Milford Road Experience' which made me slightly nervous. We've driven some beautiful roads on this trip, but they weren't wrong about this one, it really was an amazing experience.Trundling through pretty farms and beautiful winter woods, we stopped at Mirror Lakes which provided a shimmering reflection of its surrounding scenery, the Chasm and then cruised though the Hommer Tunnel.In Milford we took a cruise into the Fiord, enjoying the surrounding sheer cliffs, the spectacular 1692 metre high Mitre Peak and the many dolphins that were frolicking around beside the boat.
]]> Whangarei — Whangarei, North Island, New Zealand http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kimandrob/1/1216504800/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kimandrob/1/1216504800/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kimandrob/1/1216504800/tpod.html Sun, 20 Jul 2008 02:34:52 -0400 From the Orient to Down Under in 195 days!
Whangarei, North Island, New Zealand

Leaving Russell in the late afternoon we made the tortuously windy but beautiful drive back to State Highway 1 to make our way south towards Auckland. We made an overnight stop in Whangarei where we managed to use their Pak 'n' Save supermarket and get a free hardback copy of Alistair Campbell's <i>The Blair Years in the campsite's book exchange! (Kim has been searching for this the whole trip to add to her copies of&nbsp;Mao's Little Red Book and the Communist Manifesto) The result is I am now bombarded with&nbsp;tedious and frankly made-up Labour Party facts...what fun we have in Oscar!?!&nbsp;On route back to Auckland we joined the surfers&nbsp;at the gorgeous wind-swept Pakiri beach with its&nbsp;rolling sand dunes. It felt so like England we were rather glad we would be returning&nbsp;so soon.&nbsp;Our final stop was Goat Island Reserve where I briefly entertained the idea of snorkelling though the icy water soon put me off. Luckily fish can be seen simply from standing on the outlying rocks because the marine life is that abundant here!&nbsp;It was a great way to round off a fantastic and rather unexpected trip into Northland but one I'd highly recommend.
]]> Waitangi & Paihia (Bay of Islands) — Paihia, North Island, New Zealand http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kimandrob/1/1216476000/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kimandrob/1/1216476000/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kimandrob/1/1216476000/tpod.html Sun, 20 Jul 2008 02:20:32 -0400 From the Orient to Down Under in 195 days!
Paihia, North Island, New Zealand

The treaty of Waitangi signed in 1840 between the British Crown and Maori chiefs is still considered the founding document in New Zealand's history. The spot where this famous agreement was signed is now a national reserve with the restored Treaty House, a mighty 35 metre Maori war canoe as well as a beautifully carved traditional Marae welcoming house. It was a fantastic opportunity to visit such a nationally important sight that still bears such significance.&nbsp;With less than ideal weather we decided against a rather damp cruise of the Bay of Islands and instead ventured out onto the winding gravel back road that eventually led to Russell. Instead of the car ferry this road rather resembled a rally track but both Kim and Oscar passed with flying colours.&nbsp;Having&nbsp;heard so much about the quaint and picturesque town of Russell we left a little disappointed as the boutique gift shops and charming cafes were either dead, closed or non-existent! There were certainly pleasant views across the bay and the visitors' book in NZ's oldest church provided some quality entertainment, particularly from the bloke who was having a rant about Charles Darwin and his evolutionary theories (Darwin had given a donation for the construction of the church)! Other than that Russell didn't quite float my boat, but it is certainly an undeniably beautiful part of the world though perhaps best appreciated with a little bit of sun!
]]> Waipoua Forest — Waipoua Forest, North Island, New Zealand http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kimandrob/1/1216328400/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kimandrob/1/1216328400/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kimandrob/1/1216328400/tpod.html Sun, 20 Jul 2008 02:18:20 -0400 From the Orient to Down Under in 195 days!
Waipoua Forest, North Island, New Zealand

You haven't seen a big tree until you have been to Waipoua Forest and seen the majestic kauri beasts that scatter this region. Once in huge numbers across North Island, this is one of the few&nbsp;areas that now&nbsp;remains after the dramatic effects of long-term&nbsp;logging/deforestation.&nbsp;Te Matua Ngahere (The Father of the Forest) with a diameter of over 5 metres and probably over 2000 years old is a jaw-dropping sight. It is simply massive! An amazing&nbsp;few hours was spent wandering the tracks of this forest struggling to take in the fact that a tree could be so big and so old. You can see why they made such awesome canoes...
]]> Mangonui & Keri Keri — Mangonui, New Zealand http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kimandrob/1/1216389600/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kimandrob/1/1216389600/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kimandrob/1/1216389600/tpod.html Sun, 20 Jul 2008 02:17:15 -0400 From the Orient to Down Under in 195 days!
Mangonui, New Zealand

Another lovely day spent&nbsp;pottering around Northland. First stop was Keri Keri to see New Zealand's Prime Minister, Helen Clark open a new road. We actually didn't really see her at all, mostly due to not knowing what on earth she looked like. Luckily we found ourselves next to a very knowledgeable 11 year old, who pointed her out&nbsp;and told us her planned itinerary for the rest of the day. It didn't sound all that riveting, and after very happily stocking up on drop in a Dutch shop, we were on our way.We couldn't resist having lunch at what was apparently New Zealand's best Fish &amp; Chip shop. It did not disappoint as,&nbsp;sat overlooking Mangonui harbour, we filled up for the rest of the day!A series of lovely windy little roads and stunning views led us to various beaches and villages to conclude a lovely days cruising!
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