Mount Teranaki
Nothing is too much in NZ! Hooker shelter? Why not?
I’ve seen a lot in my life and another couple of funny signs will appear on this blog shortly, but this one is seriously funny. A 1 hour walk to the hooker shelter, can hiking get any more rewarding than that? 🙂
Only a half hour hike further there is some private stuff going on… lets not read into that!
Misty mount Teranaki Wilkies pool
I had no idea that the Mount Fuji as seen in the movie the Last Samurai is actually mount Teranaki as many claim. Well it isn’t!!!
Although the movie was shot in the Teranaki area the Mount Fuji in the movie is the real deal superimposed using CGI of Mount Fuji as seen from Yokohama. So, we learned something today! (follow this wiki link if you don’t buy it)
Nevertheless, it was fantastic hiking up to the Wilkies pools on mount Teranaki during fog and rain. The view was stunning and could be straight out of a movie… including the Last Samurai.
Categories: New Zealand
Tags: hiking, last samurai, mount fuji, mount teranaki, wilkies pool
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Bangkok Oct 2011 Photos
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Bangkok under water
Bangkok suburbs seen from the sky
Whilst sorting through the 1000s of Thailand images taken last October I came across these news worthy pictures of the October flooding of Bangkok.
Taken from the plane we can see the devastating effects of the floods. It would be only days before the flooding reached the city centre of Bangkok.
Whilst in Bangkok a couple of days before the major inner city flooding it was interesting to see how people were actively building walls around their property to save it from flooding.
Hundreds of thousands sandbags used in Bangkok to stop the water
Sandbags were used all over the city in an attempt to keep the water out.
However, reading the reports of the extend of the flooding only days after we left and seeing images of the flooding at a friend’s house, the sandbags in the picture would have been totally insufficient keeping the water out.
I learned from all this and when looking for an apartment in Auckland I decided it should be on a hill and at least on the 2nd floor.
Categories: Thailand
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How to drown in New Zealand
Wilfried and I on the Whanganui river (click to enlarge)
How a day of fun could have turned into a funeral. Drowning is a scary business, but very realistic when jumping into a kayak without any experience and capsizing.
Last Wednesday (04-01-2012) Wilfried (see in the picture), Iwona (taking the picture hence not in it) and myself went kayaking on the Whanganui river.
I quickly discovered that these vessels are not made for tall people. I had trouble getting in, but that would be nothing compared to getting out.
All geared up, including a spray skirt (the rubber thing covering the canopy as seen in the picture) I felt ready to go. In super high spirits and without fear (this is a total lie) I went down the river.
The potentially deadly Whanganui river as seen from the camp site (click to enlarge)
The first rapid was scary, but I stayed inside the kayak. The next rapid, the most violent I’d encounter, made me capsize. The waves banging into the kayak from the side kept on pushing me under water.
Having had trouble getting into the kayak getting out proved extremely difficult. In a wild panic, after having tried if the river water was indeed drinkable, I managed to push myself out of the kayak.
With great sadness I noticed that I lost my glasses which are never to be found again, but on the positive side I was still alive.
What I learned from this? Get into a boat you can actually get out off when it flips over!
Tongariro crossing – Hiking in New Zealand
Amazing panorama at the tongariro crossing
Tongariro crossing. A walk starting at 8.15 in the morning till 16.00.
This is a hike with the most amazing views. From a place that looks like the desert, to amazing volcanic mountains, sulphur filled lakes, a wonderful blue lake, terraces and jungle with streams and raging water.
It wasn’t always easy, but we all made it. Our new found Swedish friend Christian (31) had most trouble whilst our German friend Wilfried (74 years old) was running well ahead of us!
There you go, age doesn’t say anything.
Two days of kayaking tomorrow!
Categories: New Zealand
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Breaking and entry – my new career
Scary guard dog demonstrating with a stick how he will handle any burglar
Puss in boots protecting the house
Having evaded this enormous guard dog and the vicious puss in boots I scaled the wall, crawled over the roof and broke into the house ninja style.
Alright, alright, the dog looks huge but doesn’t hurt a fly, the cat was as sweet as pie and misplaced its boots and I used a ladder the get on the roof.
The roof however was darn steep and I had to crawl up. Afraid I’d slip or the roof tiles would give way I slowly moved towards the balcony, climbed the balustrade. How I got in from there I’ll keep a secret 🙂
In the end, after crawling around on the roof like an idiot, IÂ decided not to switch careers after all.
Categories: New Zealand
Tags: breaking and entry, career change, guard dog, puss in boots
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Drinking with the boys
- Tequila for all – a real boys night out in Auckland
My first night out with the boys in Auckland. Not knowing what to expect I left the office with my colleagues for a ‘boys night out’.
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They scared me real bad whilst we were in the car. Not because of the rather interesting driving style avoiding the smallest of the smallest holes in the road.
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No, it was the number of times the word arse and putting something in it were mentioned.
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However, we had a great night out with a good many drinks and I’ll better leave it at that 🙂
Giant in Thailand
The giant in Thailand
Mentioning the paradise of Thailand in my last post I figured it’s time to revisit my Thailand trip of October 2011
Mam and dad joined me on this last holiday before my move to NZ.
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Bangkok was already in trouble when we got there. The water was high in the river and parts of the city were slightly flooded. Sandbags everywhere and people quickly building walls to protect their houses and shops from the approaching water.
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I on the other hand was introduced to some lovely ladies who showed us the city, the restaurants, China town and more.
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I can tell you that the absolute best way to explore the most wonderful parts of a place is being show by someone local.
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Next post, whilst the days in Auckland are seemingly getting better, I’ll tell you about Chiang Mai, the city, the temples, the waterfall and the elephants.
Categories: Thailand
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Another rainy day in Auckland
Watching the news about Nelson (on the South Island of New Zealand) you may have mistaken this bit of paradise for the other, water plagued, paradise called Thailand (namely Bangkok).
Cornwall park in Auckland by rain
The water coming down the hill like a small tsunami taking buildings and cars along on its way down.
Here in Auckland small streams were rushing down the road sides yesterday. No wonder as this city is build on many a small, but steep, hill.
One of those hills is one-tree-hill in Cornwall park. With good weather you can actually see the monument on top of the hill, but the rain made that quite impossible.
I’ll be house sitting right next to the park sometime soon. A huge, trust me, HUGE dog will be my company for the week together with two cats and a dozen fish.
Hopefully, being right next to one of the more beautiful parks of Auckland the weather will be more like today, nice and sunny.
Let’s see what tomorrow brings!
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