Wellington really did live up to its reputation as the windy city. Gale force winds were so strong we had to move the van to prevent it from tipping over (well, it felt like it could tip). So due to the weather on the first day, we ended up in museum I could have spent a few days in, I lost Pete after a few hours however and found him in the van reading the lonely planet.

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We arrived in New Zealand July 4th, got picked up from the airport by Chris a mate of Lou's and headed into Christchurch. We were staying in a very swanky flat with some of Chris's friends. The heating was sporadic to say the least and the rain was hacking it down. After a night of film watching, warming up and pizza we felt revived and hit the shops on the saturday dragging Sam along too (without too much of a struggle suprisingly). It snowed.

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We havent writen for a while as we have been really busy, so i shall attempt a quick update from the last few weeks! Our Mekong River trip was really good, we saw lots of little islands, got free fruit, tried snake and banana wine (why they call it wine i dont know, i could have fuelled my car with it) and even went to a crocodile farm!!!

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Today is day 1, and it’s their independence day, everything is closed, except stores, so we went shopping. I bought nothing, because she took us to this mall that was all Dior and chanel, which is priced pretty much the same as us. I looked at these Prada sunglasses, and they were 1,500 pesos, or $500 . We leave at 4 am tonight to catch a plane to the Andes mts, where were staying at a vineyard. Should be interesting.

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Moved to Browns Creek on the Daly River for a bush-camp. Leonie took the car and trailer and I drove the boat. Fished our little butts off and never landed a decent fish. Into Palmerston for food and fuel (by-Harry we seem to go through these things). Spent the night in Berrimah then out to Kakadu and 4 Mile Hole on the Wildman River. Met-up with PK and Kim King and Aloha and Ken Brown.

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Want to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday city life? Are you in need of some relaxation? This week we will explore several destinations that even adventuresome travelers will find invigorating! Our first stop this week is scenic Vancouver Island. Pack your bags as well as your binoculars, as this island is abundant with wildlife! Make reservations for a whale watching trip—it’s a must! You will be mesmerized as the playful orcas frolic about in the open ocean.

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Heading south, I passed the town of Orikum and the road soon climbed steeply into the Llogara Pass, one of those places that makes you feel very small and alone. The road clung to a mountainside so steep that when I craned my neck up I couldn't see it top out. On my left there was a verdant valley far below and another huge wall of gray rock. The valley seemed to pinch farther up ahead, for the views were long enough that I could mark the road's progress as it snaked in and out of sharp bends.

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In the 1960's and 70's, a generation of Western travellers crossed the Middle East from Europe to India in search of adventure, cheap drugs, and often, spirituality. In the Mysterious East, many of them believed, they could escape the daily grind of the rat race for a simpler, less material world.

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Come visit one of America’s most diverse and exciting cities, New York! Whether viewing the city from the top of the Empire State Building, or taking a leisurely stroll through Central Park, this dynamic destination will captivate you from beginning to end! In the mood to window shop? Venture down Fifth Avenue and get a taste of some of the fanciest stores in town! After your stroll, hop on the ferry and visit one of the nation’s most famous landmarks, the Statue of Liberty.

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We were debating whether to go to Nelson, which was a further hour from the ferry and Picton and would require a return journey. Not really wanting to double back and figuring we didn't really have any time to do anything there anyway, we decided to drive from Kaikoura straight to Picton. After the enjoyment of some authentic Fish n Chips (none of this frozen fish malarkey), the drive up to Picton was pretty straightforward and left a lot of the twisting roads behind.

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I wonder if any city in the world operates as many museums as Rome. There are 15 of them here, including the museums of the City Walls, ancient Peace Altar (or Ara Pacis) and Napoleonic Age. Last Sunday I checked out the Museum of Rome in the beautiful 18th century Palazzo Braschi, near the Pantheon. It tells the city’s fascinating history, though I must confess that with its endless formal portraits and marble busts of people you’ve never heard.

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Life goal #132: Learn to shake my hips as swiftly and rhythmically as the dancing ladies on the Cook Islands. (This ambition comes right after #131 which is teaching myself how to play the ukulele). Ahoy Rarotonga!! Another landing for Queequeg, slap-bang in the heart of the South Pacific ocean, a startling sea side paradise and haven for the aspiring Jim Hawkin’s of the world (two points if you can guess which book that character belongs in.)

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Hi, we're in the North Island now and had a short flight into Wellington on Lisa's birthday on which she happily read her OK magazine Deaks and i had splashed out on as a present! We had a wander around the town and a lazy afternoon before getting ready to go out for some birthday drinks! We went to the Tasting Rooms first where we had arranged to meet Rachael Ineson who we used to work with at DLA and now lives back home in Wellington, it was really good to see her.

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A couple of years ago, my wife, Bridgit, and I had our first child, a 7-pound anchor who ended our days of carefree, long-distance travel. After Libby was born, it seemed more important to be around the house to figure out how to keep her alive and healthy and (if possible) happy. None of which is as easy as it seems. But the road calls, and when we were reasonably sure Libby would survive, we started taking her on long car rides. Then we ramped up to some short plane trips. But we both wanted to go farther.

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Tomorrow morning (way too early) we´re leaving for our hike. We had a meeting at the trek company today and met everyone else in our group and found out a bunch of details about it. It´s gonna be brutal. And amazing! Today we climbed a mountain. Well, almost. I can´t get into too many details here, but I can tell you that we snuck into a historical ruin by paying a kid to lead us through a mountain side. (Don´t worry mom, it wasn´t as bad as it sounds).

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