A simple guide for Christchurch NZ .. a local recommends

When in Christchurch, make sure you see the Canterbury Museum and right beside it, New Zealand's oldest Botanic Gardens.

While here, your food choices are wide, from Indian to Japanese, from Thai to Greek, and many, many, other ethnicities, and of course lots of upmarket cafés.

Your choices for dinner at night are huge too: my recommendation would be to combine Maori culture with your meal. Willowbank Wildlife Reserve, is only 15 mins from the city centre - if you combine it with Kotane, the Maori Experience you will have an evening with a uniquely New Zealand flavour.

While there,( Willowbank) you will also be able to see our native kiwi in natural surroundings – this flightless bird is only found in New Zealand and we locals call ourselves kiwi too.

Make sure you visit the the multi-award-winning International Antarctic Centre: Christchurch has long been the jumping off place for Antarctic exploration – from Robert Falcon Scott right through to today. This will take the entire morning as you experience an arctic storm, learn about the Antarctic, take a ride on a real Antarctic all-terrain Hagglund vehicle, and spend ages with the very cute, rescued, penguins in New Zealands first indoor-outdoor penguin viewing area.

Another must-do is to take a guided bike tour! I can well recommend Christchurch Bike Tours for a two-hour trip from the city centre to Mona Vale. Christchurch is also called the City of the Plain so no hills and very comfortable retro bikes to travel on.

one of my favourite native birds .. the pukeko - part of the Christchurch coat of arms

 After burning up some energy, how about a kiwi favourite for dinner tonight? A New Zealand staple - fish and chips with tomato sauce are not low fat but something we really, really love as a treat. Eat them out of the paper wrapping, with your fingers and you will know another reason why we love them – no dishes to wash, just crunch up the paper and throw it in the rubbish. Enjoy your days in my old city.  See more tips for travel (worldwide) on my other blog

Take a road trip in New Zealands far north

My finger follows the Northlands Twin Coast Discovery route on the map. It’s been fun planning this trip to the ‘far north’ and now, behind the wheel of my rental, I’m off - first stop the coastal village of Tutukaka.

Waking to sunrise it’s not long before I’m checking into A Perfect Day get on their boat with a snorkel, fins and wetsuit ready to visit the world famous marine sanctuary, Poor Nights Island.

Once there the views above and below the water are breathtaking.  Schools of fish divide as they swim past me, while others carry on feeding on the food they have trapped up against the islands volcanic cliffs which continue straight down to the floor of the Pacific Ocean.

After exploring the world’s largest and beautiful sea-cave, Riko Riko and other islands which are part of the reserve and watching the gannets diving into the sea helped make this, for me, a ‘perfect day’ just as the company is called: over the next two weeks water and history feature high on my to-do list.

I visit the birthplace of New Zealand – the Waitangi Treaty Grounds. It’s not only historic and beautiful but also set in lush native bush and has guided tours and cultural performances night and day

 Soaring skywards with the Flying Kiwi’s parasail, New Zealand’s’ highest, has my adrenaline flowing. The take-off and landing was smooth and gentle and the views over the Bay of Islands was great despite my fear of heights and that I was flying single, not tandem or triple.

Still in the bay, I went dolphin watching but saw a pod of Orca, killer whales, feeding - no wonder the dolphins where hiding. However, it seems their genetic warning system about this top-of-the-food-chain mammal, has not caught up with the fact that, in New Zealand, orcas prefer sting-rays.

This was the first area settled by Europeans from the end of the 18^th century and The Duke of Marlborough in Russell is the centre of this history.  

My days fly and with a I-must-come-back-and-do list, I set my GPS for Kerikeri where I stay in eco-cottages nestled in the award-winning Wharepuke Subtropical Gardens and later arrive at Cape Reinga. It’s called Te Rerenga Wairua in Maori, this is a special place, culturally and ecologically, and many visitors from around the world reduce their carbon footprint by planting a native tree there.

Back down the twin-coast highway my next stop was at a Hokianga hotel right on the waterfront and within sight of the heads that the great Polynesian explorer, Kupe, sailed through many generations ago. If the Bay of Islands is the cradle of Pakeha history, this whole area is the cradle of Maori history.

A young girl joins her mum and aunties on the stage

Two of the activities here celebrate both nature and Maori culture.  Footprints Twilight Encounter was very special and even Lonely Planet rated it highly (Code Green Experience of a Lifetime).  One evening I joined one of Kupe’s descendants, and six other travellers, on a guided walk to the two largest kauri trees in the world. Being in the forest at night was very special for sounds and sights. 

The next day another of Kupe's descendants stood with me on top of the giant sand dunes on the opposite side of the Hokianga Harbour regaling me with stories of the past with its intrigues, wars, deception and fun – even better, only three people fit in the dune buggy so it’s an exclusive trip!

Further south on State Highway 12 is the Kauri Museum.  This had been given such great press by travellers I’d met along the way that it had a lot to live up to. One of the amazing things I find about this world-class, award winning, museum is that it is administered by a charitable trust. Showcasing the very best of the Kauri Coast, it not only has amazing pieces of Kauri gum arts and crafts but also magnificent antique furniture and working machinery - whatever your interests, social history, art, nature, science, furniture, jewellery, machinery, culture, the Kauri Museum and its history of the beautiful golden amber gum will keep you occupied for hours. Tell them I sent you!

For more stories about New Zealand, and the rest of the world follow travel my blog as well as this one!

Blue skies, blue sea, great views

Naked In Budpapest - e-version on sale - a great round the world vacation story

 Get a couple of copies - one for you and one for a friend a great armchair travel read .. or holiday read!

Naked in Budapest: travels with a passionate nomad

Culture shock when you return home

The holidays are over. You have returned home and now reality bites. Post travel distress is about to attack.
The symptoms are vague but disabling. People you thought were friends don’t ask how the holiday went, or if they do they don’t  want to stop and listen to your hour long discourse on the rooms with a view, the wonderful (or  terrible) food you ate, the funny train you travelled or the boat you fell from. About the only thing that whets their appetite is talk of a fabulous French lover.

The memories start to fade with the suntan, work acts as though nothing has changed despite your new skills you have added to your CV while teaching English in Tibet, waited tables in Athens or negotiated your way through the London A to Z and learnt how to use the subway system. read more on "my other blog"

Travel tips from the kiwitravelwriter

 Just as real estate is all about location location location, travel is all about attitude attitude attitude. Our attitude determines our experience, where people are fearful and suspicious they see nothing but trouble and ‘lucky’ escapes while others meet no-one but really lovely people no matter where they go.

I’m in the glass-half-full-group of travellers and could never write a book of ‘all the bad things that happen when you travel’ type book. Unfortunately they are the sort of travel books that sell – and perpetuate the myth of the big dangerous world.

My most dangerous place in my many years of solo travel was in New Orleans, USA (about 15-years ago) and none of the danger - a murder and a hold-up by knife - involved me. (See Murder and Music pg 25 Naked in Budapest: travels with a passionate nomad. ISBN 978-0-473-11675-0)

So what are some of my tips for great travel?

1. Be flexible with your travel dates and travel off season when you can: that way it’s not only cheaper but also, you don’t have to share great sights (and sites) with hordes of other travellers and tourists.
2. Use the web for research even if you do your booking through an agent
3. Travel close to home often ... you don’t always need an around the world ticket to have a great holiday and discover fabulous people and places
4. Jet lag is less when you fly east to west. Change your watch to the destination time as soon as you get on the plane to adjust your mind to the new time and stay up until the local bed time. Read 12 more tips here

Send postcards and help support poor communities

When traveling in countries with low wages ... don't just send emails, blogs or use skype to keep in touch with friends and family: use the old, but still useful, snail mail.

I love getting postcards so still send them to others, and by doing this I also help the small shop or street vendor, get a tiny wage, while making friends happy . You can do it too.

I buy a pile of postcards and the same number of stamps; then while waiting for a bus, or a meal, I sit and address them all, then as I have spare time, or a tale to tell, I write on the postcards and post them when I see a post box.

This post-box was in the north east of Cambodia.

what to pack, what to leave behind

1. What to pack or not to pack that is the question.
   
   Maud Parrish (1878-1976) in her book, Nine Pounds Of Luggage, said she travelled the world with approx. 4 kilo of luggage and a banjo and I travel for a year with less luggage than my friends take for a weekend!
   
   Carrying possessions on my back ensures I pare the weight down to the least possible and still have a change of clothes. It’s the necessary extras that weigh so much - toilet-gear, books, glasses/contact lens, footwear.
   
   So what can a woman with a passion for travel and adventure tell you about what to take?
   
   Travel lightly, in spirit as well as in luggage; wear the world like a loose garment as an old saying suggests but pack lots and lots of enthusiasm.
   
   Take less rather than more - a lot less, there very few places that you cannot improvise or buy a needed item of clothing. Remember, most of the people you meet will never cross your path again so there is no need to impress with different clothes each day.
   
   So what can you jettison - everything you take ‘for just in case’. Soap is on the out list; body shampoo works well on hair too and saves carrying two items. Disposable shavers will keep your legs just as silky as the designer ones and half empty containers of toothpaste and deodorant from home last for ages. Old film canisters are great for keeping things such as hair gel rather than carry big containers.
   
   I love BIG bath towels! However travel has taught me to dry myself on a well-worn, soft, small one.
   
   Think about where you are going when you pack your clothes.
   Be respectful in your clothing, even if you don't approve of, or understand the cultural norms that require you to cover up.
   Remember you went to that place because of it’s difference, if it was the same as home you may as well stay at home, it would be easier and cheaper!
   
   Jewellery, take the absolute minimum as insurance cover is expensive, and looking after them is just one more worry. I wear small earrings and a gold chain, and of course, like most travelling Kiwis, my bone carving or greenstone.
   
   Sometimes I buy a couple of cheap fun pieces in the county I'm in for a change.
   
   Bank cards are my way of travelling, with a few small travellers’ cheques and a little cash, hidden away for emergencies. Most airports have an ATM ensuring that as soon as I arrive I can get some local currency. Only once did I have a problem with using a card - leaving Zimbabwe
   On a practical level, check with your bank about charges. It may pay to put your credit card into credit then use it as a debit card to reduce charges. I carry two different cards that I keep separate in case of loss or theft and make sure the expiry date doesn't fall in the middle of your holiday!
   
   Traveller cheques (get rid of the covers) are still used by lots of people so check the exchange rate, often those offering no commission pay a lower exchange rate. Once again, talk with your bank to get current, and correct, advice.
   
   Soft covered journals weigh less than others, swap your reading material along the way, send photos home once they have been developed (negatives in a separate letter for safety)
   
   Most of all throw out all your worries and problems about yesterday and tomorrow, they weigh far too much to be of any use to you today.
   

read more travel tips on http://kiwitravelwriter.wordpress.com/

destination london?

Going to London? It's now possible to enjoy the city even more. The tourist board published an excellent free booklet (Go Further in London) that tells us exactly how to how to make our budget go further. The booklet is available in many places and information is also on the website www.visitlondon.com.

London's made up of many villages each with their own character and style. It's one of the most culturally diverse cities in the world and I've been taste-testing the food of different ethnic groups. Try Lebanese delights in Edgware Road, Chinese food right next to Soho and Indian food in Brick Road, and Brixton for some Caribbean or African flavours - whatever your tastes, it’s available.

You know the big tourist destinations (see side bar) but what about places and events that are less well known: many free. For me it’s the green spaces that make London wonderful: large swathes of uncut grasses are left to flower and seed - attracting butterflies, insects, birds and other wildlife - these contrast with the manicured parts and the 'keep off the lawn' signs. Wandering around these parks is a real treat - it's hard to believe one is in one of the world's largest cities. Take a picnic lunch and spend time in Greenwich Park that has the meridian time-line, observatory and Maritime Museum, and superb views over much of London and the Thames.

Experience nature in the city at Barnes in West London - home to the Wetlands Centre - both resident and migratory birds are easily seen.  Check the website or phone for special activities.

Within the city there self guided walks - with free maps –around well-known icons of London and other fascinating places along the way. London is a good walking city and the tube also gets you around easily.

Markets are another superb way of seeing Londoners at work and play.  With more than three hundred to chose from there is something for all tastes - Greenwich for arts and crafts, Petticoat Lane for a variety of goodies, Spitalfields for flower lovers and Covent Garden for British made articles. Brixton even has a guided walking tour around the area and markets  Camden's my favourite for its alternative-lifestyle atmosphere and Borough is the place for fabulous food. Open on Fridays and Saturdays you can buy anything from organic food through to black bean chilli, oils and olives, ostrich burgers, cheeses and chocolates - a veritable cornucopia.

Explore Hampstead and its cemetery (Archway Station Northern Line) - one of London's most celebrated literary and intelligentsia suburbs. This area has more 'blue plaques' celebrating its residents than any other London borough: these range from John Keats, Boy George, AA Milne, and Agatha Christie through to Richard Burton, George Orwell, Freud, Twiggy and many others.

The Highgate cemetery (guided tours daily) is divided into two; the West Side is sentimental Victorian - when people didn't die but were merely sleeping. The East part is still being used: buried within its walls are Karl Marx, George Elliot, Christine Rossetti and Michael Faraday, to name a few. The headstones make interesting reading and are wonderful for atmospheric or spooky, black and white photography.

And finally, on my small list of hidden London gems, is the fabulous St Pancras Chambers. This Victorian, Gothic style building was originally a hotel, which closed in 1935 when it became railway offices. It is being restored to its former glory and will soon become a luxury hotel (Marriott) and apartment block.

The prestigious Art and Design Show is held twice yearly and the unrestored backdrop of its interior is a great foil to the pieces on display. Michael Czerwinski, artist in residence, is responsible for developing the systems that have made the visual art exhibitions, opera and other performances possible. Guided tours take place on most weekends.

So once you have seen some shows, once you have done the museums (mostly free) and art galleries, and once you have completed the top ten sights, buy a travel card and explore the many unheralded jewels in this ancient city.

London's top ten attractions  (by ticket sales)

1 London Eye

2 Dali Universe

3 London Dungeon

4 Tower of London

5 The Original London Tour (Open top double decker bus)

6 Madame Tussaurds

7 Hampton Court Palace

8 Westminster Abbey tour

9 Banqueting House

10 Kensington Palace

 (Source: www. visitlondon.com)

·        30% of London is green open space

·        London has 1,800 parks and open spaces

·        Richmond Park has 2,000 acres of landscape

·        Greenwich Park was created in 1433 and is the oldest royal park

·        Hyde Park has been a royal park since 1536

·        Hyde parks riding track - Rotten Row - was the first public road to be lit at night in England

·        Hyde Park has 4 miles of horse rides

·        Kew gardens has 40,000 varieties of plants and grows more species than any other garden in the world

·        Kew's Victorian Palm House is 2248 square metres and houses banana, coffee and paw-paw plants

 

Other gems

BBC TV centre www.bbc.co.uk/tours

Brahma Tea & Coffee museum

Ride a canal boat from Camden

Chelsea

Physic gardens

Bank of England museum

Theatre Museum

the 'what not to do' list and other intersting links

The what-not-to-do travel guide

Friday, March 20, 2009

By Kim Wildman
MSN NZ Travel writer

When travelling, you're bound to have a list of "must-dos" like learning a new language or perhaps even going bungee jumping. But there's another travel list you should pay heed to — the "what-not-to-do" list. Here's our top 10.

Don't use or carry drugs
Unless you fancy spending your holiday taking in the view from a jail cell, whatever you do, don't use or carry drugs. In some countries drug possession carries severe penalties. Indonesia in particular has some of the toughest laws and currently has around 20 foreigners, including three Australians, sitting on death row for drug offences. It's simply not worth the risk.

Don't carry someone's bag
Never offer to carry someone else's bags or belongings, in or out of a country, for them. Just ask French national Michael Loic Blanc; he's now serving life in prison for smuggling 3.8kg of hashish through Ngurah Rai Airport in Denpasar, found in a bag of diving gear he claims he was carrying for an acquaintance he met in Bali. Unfortunately for Michael, his "friend" disappeared once the discovery was made.

Don't take photographs of official buildings
In many countries it's read more here