A 'Sweet As' Adventure

Let's just cut to the chase; I slept around a lot in New Zealand. I mean, it's not very hard to do when backpacking across both the North and South Island, visiting eight cities and sleeping in eight different hostels throughout 19-days. That is what you had in mind, right?

The adventures began in Auckland and, after six trips on the InterCity bus, one Islander ferry-ride across Cook Strait and approximately 10 hours in our rental car, ended in Christchurch. And in case you were wondering, no ride on public transportation is worthwhile if there isn't someone blaring music from their cell phone and singing along obnoxiously. And lest we forget the (un)pleasantly plump man whose elbow kept me safe from any sudden jerks the bus made during our 8-hours of travel. I digress. For every city we visited, we allotted one day for travel and another for an activity. After these two nights, we were off to our next destination. The South Island had a bit more to offer so we spent an extra night per destination. Our route looked a little something like this:

Each town was respectively charming. Anyone who cared to inquire about our travels figured that we were likely to party hard in Wellington, swim with dolphins in Kaikoura, and possibly get laid or bungy jump in Queenstown. Other times you don't get so lucky. Moving on. Even though Christchurch is still heavily impacted by the recent earthquakes and its entire City Centre has become restricted area, the community still welcomes visitors. I even visited a local market, where local residents sold hand-crafted pieces, second hand belongings and offered free meals. No matter the charm, there was an acknowledgement and respect for the Maori culture in a way that the Aboriginal culture isn't regarded in Australia. Today, the Maori people make up about 14% of the New Zealand population, while their language has been integrated into much of the New Zealand lifestyle. Oh, and here's a fun fact: Every word in the Maori language ends in a vowel. Maori men have also been known to participate in whats called Haka, a traditional war dance. I am unsure how widely practiced this aspect of their culture is practiced today, but one tourguide was more than happy to demonstrate the moves for us.

[Te Maata performs the Haka, traditional Maori war dance]

My senses were overwhelmed for just about every part of our journey. From the pungent smell of sulphur in Rotouroa, the sounds of the Pacific waves crashing in Kaikoura to daunting sirens all over the place. Imagine, you've just been lulled to sleep by the waves of the Pacific Ocean. Best sleep you have ever gotten, I mean better than the sleep NyQuil claims to induce! But all of a sudden, a siren sounds for about 15 minutes. Posters warned that sirens will sound to alert volunteers of an emergency and do not indicate a Tsunami, but I woke up frantically just the same. This happened in Kaikoura, Franz Josef and Christchurch; there has got to be a better way! I also felt about three earthquakes in Christchurch. The wind was a-howling and the building trembled right down to my bunk bed. I thought I was being dramatic until the owner remarked about the mini-earthquakes the next morning. Gotdamn fault line!

But now for my favorites of the five senses: taste and sight. You could imagine how delicious the seafood tasted there. I had to convince myself not to order mussels in every city, 'twas the most challenging thing I've done since that hike up Mt. Warning! The scenery, breathtaking and diverse. I even found a dolphin in the most bizarre of places, see for yourself! 

[Pot of mussels braised w. tomatoes, garlic & herbs w. garlic bread]

Invito, Auckland.

[Thai fish cakes with mango, cucumber, mung bean and carrot salad]

Mac's Brewbar, Wellington.

[Sweet Julie: Grilled chicken marinated in ginger soy sauce w. sweet chili,] 
lettuce, red onion & aioli. -- with a side of chips.

Fergburger, Queenstown.

[Where sensuality and imagination meet.]

Hostels, fate and activities, oh my! One of Mum's last words to me were not to talk to strangers. But you could image how challenging this would have been having to sleep in 4 to 6-female share accommodations. Most nights, my classmate and I got lucky and we had the entire room to ourselves. In the more popular cities like Wellington and Queenstown, it was a full house. And by full house, I mean having to deal with clumsy entries by roommates gone drunk, people talking in their sleep, frequent risers who slam the door behind them in the middle of the night, travelers throwing their belongings all across the room, and a sick person contaminating the room. In the more remote towns like Picton and Kaikoura, we booked twin-shares and regained an appreciation for personal space. Most hostels also urged guests to conserve water by taking short showers and turning off the faucet while brushing their pearly-whites, but this was seriously important in Christchurch. As serious as suggesting a port-a-potty. I think not!

Anyway, have you ever felt like you met the right person at the right time? More so, that you were meant to be in a given time and space just to meet a specific person. Not romantically, but to learn something new about yourself. Perhaps something you have been mulling over, consciously or otherwise. I had moments like this a couple of times during the trip. Conversations ranged from culture, relationships, self-acceptance, fate, spirituality and personal aspirations. I had scribbled my deepest thoughts and worldly questions in my journal only to have them later uncovered in random conversations with strangers. This is what it's about, discovering your truths amidst the natural ebb and flow of life. I have been great about keeping in contact with most of these travelers and hope that they walked away with as much insight and appreciation as I have.

Another truth that I discovered was that the needed to live within my means. I was unable to do all of the activities mentioned in the previous post, but there were still great activities worth highlighting. For one, the Sounds Connection Wine Tour. We visited 4 wineries and tasted about 23 wines from the Marlborough Region including Sauvigon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Gewurtztraminer and Late Harvest Reisling. The Gewurtztraminer and its hint of cinnamon was my absolute fave, as well as the fruity taste of the Late Harvest dessert wine. Give it a try the next time you dine out =).

The second highlight is thanks to Mum whom answered all of my "SOS" emails. With a quick deposit (or two), I had the opportunity to bungy jump! The AJ Hackett Bridge Jump sits 43m (143 ft.) above Kawarau River and was actually the first bungy jump site in the world! He asked how I was feeling, I replied "Foolish". The moment comes. 5-4-3-2-1 Bungy! "Wait, you're not going to push me?" A woman, who was kind enough to take photos of me, later asked what went through my mind before I jumped. An expletive, ha! But now that I am alive and well enough to share the story, I am ready to take the next step in this relationship I have with Adrenaline: Sky-dive. I'll keep you posted. Other activities included the Kelly Tarlton's Arctic Center, Hell's Gate Spa, Rotouroa and Te Papa Museums, Sounds Connection Wine Tour, Sightseeing Tour, and the Glacier Valley Walk.

Below is a just snapshot, all activities are not depicted. Click to enlarge. Enjoy!

[Until the next discovery.]

The Countdown

This semester has been quite busy, the culprit behind my serious lack of adventures and entries. A nomad's nightmare! But I thought I would take this time to update you on what is to come. You know, make up for lost time and pique your interest once again. Consider this a teaser, a sneak peek, a preview, or any other clever way of saying stay tuned!

First, I'd like to show you all something that I have created recently for my digital design course. The prompt was to create a promotional postcard. What better to promote than this awesome blog!? This is my first attempt at Typography but I scored a High Distinction (equivalent of an American 'A') so I suppose I am doing the design world some justice. Feast your eyes on this!

Click on image to enlarge

Now, for what's to come:

April 26 - May 15 ∞ Backpacking through New Zealand with a mate. Highlights will include breezing through Auckland, discovering the glow worms inside Waitomo Caves, tasting wine from the vinyards of Malborough, swimming with seals in Kaikoura, hiking amidst one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Oceania Franz Josef Glacier, fishing somewhere in the South Island and possibly jumping out of a plane in Queenstown.

June 3 ∞ The Gold Coast will be hosting the "Cooly Rocks On" Rock & Roll festival. The event will include people fully dressed for the occasion, old school classic cars, and live music. I'm sure there will be some good grub too, yum! Oh, I hope there is Kangaroo Pie or is that not fit for the occasion? Since I will be missing out on the greatness that is July 4th, this will just have to do!

June 22 - July 1 ∞ Momma Bear & Georgie Pie will be gracing me with their presence, yes! I am so excited to share this experience with them. Besides showing them around the Gold Coast, we will escape to Sydney for a weekend. I have refrained from visiting the city before their arrival so that we can all share the moments of seeing the Sydney Opera House, cruising the Sydney Harbour and touring the town together. Maybe when we're back on the coast, I can get Mum to consider kayaking or getting into a Hot Air Balloon with Joi and I =).

Soon to be reunited...

July 15 - July 27 ∞ My long time friend—and by long time, I mean about 18 years— will be trying her hand at this Ozzie lifestyle. Besides showing her how many drinks we can throw back here and visiting local attractions, our biggest adventure will be to Hamilton Island to visit the Great Barrier Reef. I just want to find Nemo!

Aug 23 - Aug 25 ∞ Here is where the real FUN begins and I begin to make my way home. My New Zealand partner-in-crime and I will begin our long journey to States in Malaysia. From there, we will spend a week's time in Cambodia. Sites to include Angkor Wat & Siem Reap. This brings us to about Aug 31, when I will fly to Beijing and hike The Great Wall, visit the Forbidden City, Summer Palace and see what this Pearl Market is all about! Oh, I'm not done yet. On Sept 4, I will arrive in Xi'an to volunteer in an Orphanage with the IVHQ program. Traveling with a purpose, so excited! 

And so I continue to get the question, "are you ever coming home?" Yes, and now I finally have a tentative arrival date...

See you State-side, circa September 11th =)

Forget me not...

x

Temporary Escape

After endless revisions and research, I sought a temporary escape in my photo library and came across the Bollywood archives. Three years later, I still feel like interning with Red Chillies Ent., meeting Shah Rukh Khan, galavanting through Marine Bay, visiting the Taj Mahal, strolling Juhu Beach, traveling to the middle of nowhere to be an extra and then not being chosen, enjoying fro-hot-chos at Moxa and crumping at Whistling Woods are nothing more than a vivid dream. But there's always something there to remind me...

[Hip-hop dance class, Whistling Woods.]

[Co-director of 'Slumdog Millionaire' Loveleen Tandan and I, Whistling Woods.]

[Shopping on Khar Danda Rd.]

[Getting my nosed pierced for 100 rs. ($2 US) on Colaba Causeway.]

[SU Bollywood 2009, Wisdom Tree at Film and Television Institute of India (Pune).]

[Styling in my kurta at the Taj Mahal (Agra).]

[A closer look at Heaven on Earth.]

[Yes, that mustache is real!]

Achcha, Thik he.

A Fairdinkum Experience

I always try to be different even if it means touring the desert region of Australia for the holidays. The 11-day Territory and Outback Contiki Tour led our diverse group of 39 from Darwin to Alice Springs. Oh, and here's the first of many facts: As we made our way to Alice Springs, we crossed the Tropic of Capricorn! This was our route:

We marveled at sites such as Karlu-Karlu, Kings Canyon, Uluru and Kata Tjuta, all bearing significance within the Aboriginal culture. When we weren't immersed in the rich Aboriginal culture and the history of the Northern Territory, we dined and let loose at local pubs such as Monsoon's, Daly Waters Pub, and Bojangles Saloon. Just make sure they don't put any bitters in your gin-lemon-lime!

The best way to describe the weather, HOT! Temperatures varied from 35 to 42 degrees Celsius (95 to 107 degrees Fahrenheit). To make matters worse (or should I say 'hotter'), Darwin is the most northerly city on the continent, increasing the heat because of its proximity to the equator! And in case you were wondering, no. I never went anywhere without my sunscreen. The Northern Territory is unique in its landscape because the region encompasses two distinct climates, Tropical North and Red Centre. The Tropical North includes Darwin, Kakadu and Katherine and is characterized by tropical storms this time of year. The Aboriginal people in this area believe there are six seasons with January falling within Gudjewg, the monsoon season. The remaining seasons are Banggerreng (Knock 'em down storm season), Yegge (Cooler but still humid season), Wurrgeng (Cold weather season), Gurrung (Hot dry weather season) and Gunumeleng (Pre-monsoon storm season). The Red Centre includes Alice Springs, Tenant Creek, and Uluru/Kata Tjuta and is known for its arid heat, beautiful landforms and pesky red dust that is sure to ruin your clothing.

We stayed in quad share accommodations at various hotels and motels. For the most part, they were all in decent condition aside from the terrorizing cane toads in Kakadu and the lack of washcloths in most of the rooms. To experience the Outback in its entirety, we also camped out under the stars for one night. The Southern Cross and Orion are such beautiful constellations! Apparently I didn't take full advantage of the swag because I woke up with a puffy eye and several other mozzy (Translation: mosquito) bites down the right side of my face. That's all I'll say about that. Jess, our tour guide, posted bulletins noting brekky, departure, destination, and what to bring. Oh, and if departure was after 8AM, it meant that we could "sleep in". We were also very excited when we shacked up for two consecutive nights because we could do laundry and get partly comfortable before getting back to our nomadic ways! During the lengthier travels, Jess played episodes from "How I Met Your Mother" and films like "10 Things I Hate About You", "The Hangover" and "Priscilla Queen of the Desert". Oops, I almost forgot to mention the intense trivia session that ensued as we neared the end of our 8-hour drive from Katherine to Tennant Creek. Did you know that the kangaroo and emu are Australia's national animals because they physically cannot go backwards? So in theory, Australia is always moving forward!

So how can I begin to make sense of 800 photographs and a running Blackberry memo detailing our daily events? Picasa.The following collages are in order of our travel route and are accompanied by the day's destinations and one interesting fact. If there is no parenthetical, the place mentioned in the fact is the only one pictured. Although there are various photos within a group, not every destination is pictured nor does every photo have a corresponding fact. Click the photos if you wish to enlarge them. Enjoy!

Darwin, Dec 29: Litchfield National Park and Darwin Museum

Magnetic termite mounds (main) are shaped like tombstones and are built north to south to minimize exposure to the sun. Cathedral termite mounds (upper right) can be as tall as 6m (approx. 20 ft) high. Unlike what first comes to mind, these termites are not destructive but important ecologically.

 Darwin to Kakadu, Dec 30: Didgeridoo Hut and Kakadu National Park Site

Kakadu National Park is approximately 20,000 sq. km and is the second largest national park in the world; the largest is the Northeast Greenland National Park. Out of 911 total World Heritage Sites, Kakadu National Park is 1 of 27 to be sited for both cultural and natural importance.

  Kakadu, Dec 31: Aboriginal Rock Art, Visitor's Center and Yellow River
The Aboriginal culture is the oldest surviving culture in the world. They believe Earth is their Mother and creator and most landforms are their dreaming ancestors; the dreaming is the stage of the legend. Aboriginals cannot use the name of the dead for a couple of years following the death so there are many stickers covering the identity of the dead persons in the Visitor's centers and museums.

Katherine, Jan 1: Mayses' Cafe and Katherine's Gorge
Katherine's Gorge is a series of 13 gorges along the Katherine River. Watch out for the saltwater crocodiles!

Katherine to Tennant Creek, Jan 2: Daly Waters & Local Pub

Daly Waters Pub was established in 1930 and is the oldest running licensed pub in the Northern Territory. Much of the decor are items that customers have signed and left. I wrote my name on the back of a boring ol' card, but past visitors have left thongs (both kinds), license plates, bras, baseball caps, saddles and currency.

Tennant Creek to Alice Springs, Jan 3: Karlu-Karlu, Wyecliff Hill, Ti-Tree Roadhouse, Alice Springs Desert Park

The Aboriginal people believe Karlu-Karlu (main) are eggs laid by the Rainbow Serpent during dreamtime (creation). The natural wonder is also known as the Devil's Marbles because when cattle roamed here, they died and people assumed that it was the devil's work. The igneous rock formations are made of molten granite that have come through the sandstone earth.

Alice Springs to Kings Creek, Jan 4: Dreamtime Bushtucker Tour*, Kings Canyon, Kings Creek Station

In the Aboriginal culture, girls would be married off as young as 14 because they had a healthier weight to carry the baby. The mother would be in charge of selecting the husband and making sure that he was a fourth cousin or more. This system of marrying backwards (upper left) would prevent further incestuous marriages. Once the two were wed, the husband and mother never interacted in fear that two may have an affair, since the mom would be of a more appropriate age.

* Con, our Bushtucker guide had a traditionally cooked roo tail (upper right) prepared for us to taste. Yummy!

Kings Creek Station to Yulara, Jan 5: Kings Creek Came Ride, Mt. Connor, Kata Tjuta

Although Mt. Connor (upper right) is larger than Uluru, this formation has no world significance. Kata Tjuta (main), which means "many heads", is the only Aboriginal name for a landform that has an English translation. Another fun fact, Mt. Connor, Kata Tjuta and Uluru sit in a vertical line when viewed from above or on a map.

Uluru, Jan 6: Sunrise, Base Walk and Champagne Sunset

Uluru is the world's largest monolith and is another World Heritage Site known for both its cultural and natural significance. Within the Aboriginal culture, different parts of Uluru were sacred to men and women, respectively. Women were not even allowed to visit those parts sacred to the men, let alone lay their eyes upon those sections of the rock. Clearly, things have since changed but Uluru is still very important to the culture and sacred sites are not to be photographed.

 Yulara to Alice Springs, Jan 7: Overlander's Blowout Meal and Bojangles Saloon

The only facts here would be what I devoured this evening! We began with chicken and asparagus soup, then came the tasting dish pictured above. The light colored portion is some bread-like treat with crocodile and veggies in sauce. In the back, from the left, is kangaroo, emu and camel meats. My favorite? It's a strong tie between the crocodile and camel! The main entree was barramundi with potatoes and steamed veggies. And finally, pavlova for dessert. I could have floated on water that night!

Alice Springs, Jan 8: Simspon's Gap, Old Telegraph Station, Anzac Hill

The Anzac Hill Memorial (bottom right) was built in 1934 and is dedicated to all those who served in any war Australia has participated. April 25 is observed as Anzac Day. The site also has offers visitors a panoramic view of Alice Springs.

 

Farewell, Jan 8

Special Thanks to Jess & Sheldon!

Boh Boh (Goodbye)