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You can lose everything, but nobody will take away what you saw and what you experienced...
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Feb 22, 2010 07:00 PM New Zealand - Bay of Islands
The best way to explore this picturesque bay is of course to take a boat tour. Paihia is small, but very tourist place - a lot of backpackers accomodations and boat companies competing for the passengers. I took full day tour - even with a discount the cost is painful for the backpacker - 89 NZD! Sorry, but I am here once in the lifetime - I paid and we departed at 9.30 by big motorized catamaran. Green, hilly islands sprayed out in the bay are really beautiful. A lot of sails. We sailed rough sea as far as Cape Brett to see the lighthouse and the famous rocky island "Hole in the Rock" showed on the pastcards from the area. There was also a picnic in the cozy bay, but instead of eating I was climbing the hill at that time for the better pictures - I hope you will like them... We returned at 4.30 pm - another great day! It is summer here - dat temperatures around 22-24 deg. Celsius. Little cloudy today - but is is also pleasant because sun is here so strong...
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Feb 21, 2010 07:00 PM Via KeriKeri, but not as far as KawaKawa...
I am again on the road... drive left lane Mr Wojtek, drive left lane... not like in Europe... Some country roads are gravel roads here but in general the pavement is good. Landscape is great with giant fern trees in many places. Also cabbage trees are common. You have to take care on the one-lane bridges - they have plenty of them. KeriKeri peninsula is worth a stop - I founnd there old Anglican mission with a lovely little church on the hill and the Stone Shop - the oldest shop in New Zealand.
I have a feeling that New Zealand is now more "Maori" that some 20 years ago when I was here for the foirst time. Maori names are common - some of them are just funny: I was driving from KeriKeri in the direction of KawaKawa. But I stoped in Waitangi to visit the Treaty House where Maori Chiefs signed treaty with Britain. The place is nicely located on the Bay of Islands. But it is sghame that they charge 20 NZD entry fee from the foreigners to visit the place (locals go for free)... Night in the dorm in Paihia youth hostel...
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Feb 20, 2010 07:00 PM 90 Mile Beach
In fact this famous beach is some 63 miles long, but they did not measured it exactly when it was named in the past. Lovely morning. Sun, 24 deg Celsius, palm trees around. We started to drive the beach at 10 am. This is one of the main tourist attractions of the northland. By bus /45 NZD full day tour including the lunch/. Why by bus? Because it is too dangerous for the regular cars to do this route. You have to know tides times, streams mouths and - how to grive in the Te Paki streem to exit the beach at the end. Great experience. Exiting the beach we visited lage Sand Diunes - like a little Sahara in New Zealand. Finally we reached Cape Reinga - the most northern tip of the Kiwilandia. Maori believe that the spirits of the dead people depart from here to the legendary Hawaiki - the land of the fathers... Great views from the bottom of the lighthouse... On the way back we visited also few lovely bays and beaches on the eastern side of the island. The lunch was weak but what a day!
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Feb 19, 2010 07:00 PM New Zealand - to the Northland!
Some agencies advertise here that they are ready ro rent a car 10 NZ dollars per day! Do not trust them! It is a trick.
But it is true that the best way to visit NZ is to rent a car. It is also good to have somebody to share the cost.
I rented the car to go to the Far North of New Zealand... It took me 7 hours of driving through the picturesque hills to the little town of Kaitaia in the Northland. On the way there were ferry crossing (18 NZD per car) and - a highlight - visit to the Waipoua forest where the giant kauri trees are. - Can you imagine the tree of some 4 meters in diameter? Yes, I saw sequoias in California - but here is the Pacific!
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Feb 18, 2010 07:00 PM Welcome to Kiwilandia!
It was in the middle of the arrival hall of Auckland airport. I did not have my backpack yet, but two ladies in charge and the dog stopped me and asked to put my camera bag on the floor. -Do you have there something forbidden/ -No! The dog was sniffing and She took everything from the bag on the floor. There was nothing forbidden. After few minutes she said -We are sorry - and went out. I was sitting on the floor in the middle of the big hall taking everything back to the bag... People were looking...
Welcome to Kiwilandia!
Immigration asked me to show my onward ticket... The airport bus is going now all the night every 30 minute and day (every 15 minutes. backpackers have special fare /14 NZD - YHA card works/. I landed in the middle of the night in the youth hostel. It was full. I had to wait for the check-in for the next night till 2 pm.
OK - the staff is very flexible - you can stay in the lounge, you can use the kitchen and showers. I was sleeping after long flights and 14-hours time change...
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Feb 17, 2010 07:00 PM Over Antarctica...
I started from Buenos on Wednesday 1 pm. Now, after landing in Sydney, Australia it is 6 pm, but Thursday already. The flight over Antactica took us some 15 hours, but we also crossed International Date Line and I lost one day. It was big 747 - jumbo-jet. The service of Quantas was good and I was watching on the private screen four movies one by one...
I did not see much from the air due to the clouds, but I afforded to take some photos of the table icebergs floating in the ocean. Now I am waiting for the connection to New Zealand. In the Sydney airport they have free internet kiosks in the gates area - that's great - you can check your e-mail box and send some messages waiting for the connection. What I am afraid is how the New Zealand customs will treat me on arrival - I have very bad experiences from the past. They can even check if your shoes are clean enough - not to spoil clean Kiwilandia. We will see...
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Feb 16, 2010 07:00 PM Do not cry for me, Argentina...
I am ready for the flight to Sydney and onward to New Zealand. This will be probably lhe longest flight in the history of my traveling: 14.5 hours...
But before I need to get to the distant Buenos Aires Ezeiza International Airport. Years ago I used city bus 86 to get there on a cheap. But it does not operate any more. Now you have to look for the red number 8 bus. Fortunately I have the stop just round the corner on Independencia/Peru corner. They say it costs 2 pesos and it takes long 2 hours to get to Ezeiza. But for the backpacker it is the best solution - for the alternative minibus transfer (Manuel Tienda Leon) you will pay 45 pesos!
I hope to write for you next message from the other side of the globe... I also hope that everything will be on time and my backpack will be also there... So let´s go for the new adventures!
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Feb 15, 2010 07:00 PM Buenos Aires per pedes...
If you are pressed by the time local bus company offers a day ride on the tourist doubledecker bus... It goes to the most interesting places of Buenos making 13 stops to get-on and get-off. One day ticket costs 25 pesos... I prefere to go by myself to the well known, but worth to see again after 20 years places - just walking, stoping where I want, taking pictures... I spent almost full day wondering around the city.
Recoleta church located out of the noisy streets is one of my favourite places in Buenos. Nearby there is the cemetary with a grave of famous Evita - Eva Peron. I was there to recognize that (like years ago) it is still probably the only grave with a fresh flowers on it. Then there was a long walk along central Avenida 9 de Julio. They say it is the wides street in the world, and probably it is - with a high needle of ´´Obelisco´ in the middle.
Do you remember ´Caminito´ song? You have to go to La Boca quater to find the cobled streets full of colors. They say that this song was born there. Today there are street bars, souvenir shops and you can see free tango shows or even try to dance with those charming young ladies performing tango on the stage... Oh, la la! Unforgettable!
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Feb 14, 2010 07:00 PM Tengo Tango...
I have a tango (in my blood)- said one of my friends years ago...
Evening in Buenos Aires. Some people say it is noisy and polluted but I still think that in the old part of the city like San Telmo it has a charm of the Paris of South America. Thousands of little cafes, bars, restaurants... People - the Portenios sit there in the evenings (it is pleasantly warm) chatting, drinking, enjoying the life...
It is my third time in Buenos. Each time it is more expensive. Now the city bus cost 1.25 pesos and you have to put it into machine at the entry. Take care - here is coin shortage, so collect them earlier if you have opportunity. Good news is that the hostel business is growing fast: it is enough to jump on the bus 17 or 45 going down Chacabuco St and get off at Chile street corner. You will find here more then a dozen hostels. Typical price is 40-50 pesos per dorm bed, 90 per single shared bath and more then 100 per room with bath. The best idea of course is to share the room. Continental breakfast is always included and slow internet is free. There are many tango schools and tango shows. For the backpacker I recommend a free, open-air show on the nearby Plaza Dorrego. Let´s go, let´s dance! I like the tango!
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Feb 13, 2010 07:00 PM Tucuman -Argentina
Sunday, but it will be laundry day because I became sweaty and my jeans stink a little bit already. I am almost off of my pesos. The hostel does not accept payment in dollars or by credit card. I expect exchange problem (Bolivia is much easier and sweeter for the traveller!)
In the hostel for the included in the price ¨desayuno¨- breakfast they serve two pieces of bread, some jam and a coffee - how can I carry my 18 kilos in the heat on such a diet!
The city of Tucuman has some nice churches to see, there is Casa Independencia, where they declared independence from Spain and Sugar Cane industry museum (there are sugar cane plantations around) - just enough for 4-hours walk. Tomorrow I am heading to Buenos Aires.
Happy St Valentine´s day to all of you who are in love!!!
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