tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47355270125727583462024-03-13T06:04:46.633-07:00Ruth and Mark's amazing trip around the worldUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger53125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735527012572758346.post-39904388463375081532007-12-08T20:43:00.000-08:002007-12-08T20:45:37.889-08:00Back in San DiegoWe are back in San Diego. Actually, I am - Mark will be travelling with his dad until Christmas.<br />Got back Sunday night, just in time for Mark's mom's 8oth birthday!<br /><br />Coverage of our last few weeks in New Zealand to follow soon.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735527012572758346.post-39098139528896991362007-11-30T12:54:00.000-08:002007-12-29T22:43:30.029-08:00Auckland: our last few days in New Zealand and a meeting with my brother<p align="left">It's amazing how things work out sometimes: there we are travelling through New Zealand, and my brother gets invited by the New Zealand Tourism Board to travel NZ at the same time! So for the third time this year, I got to see my brother! We last saw him at the beginning of August, during the first few weeks of our trip, when we spent a weekend together in Hamburg and Sylt. And now we got to spend some time together at the end of our trip...how cool is that?</p>Reunited in Auckland, at a small restaurant in the neighbourhood of Mt. Eden, near our hostel "The Bamber House". We were trying to have a last NZ lamb feast - but they were out of lamb!?!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsY1-iIdbQwVBbsC9m0yYNQyULh65g2A-GZSMhNssaNvcc7RPPpwY4t5PYNmpKXHPnRB0DTiKE5bnGAvELMtZ086d7qSf8qL3ma8B-gpFH_wzU447bqL8DPeNStL8AgszbD-LJNPzadDlk/s1600-h/ATW2007+3678.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5145791622666945698" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsY1-iIdbQwVBbsC9m0yYNQyULh65g2A-GZSMhNssaNvcc7RPPpwY4t5PYNmpKXHPnRB0DTiKE5bnGAvELMtZ086d7qSf8qL3ma8B-gpFH_wzU447bqL8DPeNStL8AgszbD-LJNPzadDlk/s320/ATW2007+3678.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />In the park:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS10ySmPpCjI0WmB0ugJHJ2EtOsGIz5FvKQgboFE188g9F9gtZCyLDSd7yJdAEPTt4GeQ4zuikUll75ic7NseOysrM4njBEWbl8ClBw2X_Ix6WinZVIJ6KDpjSYQP9NU0e5fFhemYJGF42/s1600-h/ATW2007+3803.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5145791635551847618" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS10ySmPpCjI0WmB0ugJHJ2EtOsGIz5FvKQgboFE188g9F9gtZCyLDSd7yJdAEPTt4GeQ4zuikUll75ic7NseOysrM4njBEWbl8ClBw2X_Ix6WinZVIJ6KDpjSYQP9NU0e5fFhemYJGF42/s320/ATW2007+3803.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidupQ6pe2Ly45eeA7F1JZqU3qzEuaKYDNpBp6ZSIpDFmxfA8fEDpONK2po7Cgsmn7nctTLa5QvonINDI6oqjPTGK33MPsF2wqQi6ZESDT7UNFc6S-lNPAOnmQacNAPRPbH1VMnJUZ8KW4X/s1600-h/ATW2007+3676.JPG"></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Downtown Auckland:<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5149490053365270338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN2l9tXdSmZYyudB9QOxpFH_1AN9NTvpdb5runskJqEEENX1PehsEFXWk78bvdFI8y7D9hQJj9hGXv2xr_-XniwxXeBzu1trMr1Z9Zq8M5hZax4ICdRqo46fTSOPduokd2xdBTrziG82x7/s320/Ruth,%2BIch,%2BSkytower.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br />After Patrick left, Mark and I still had a day to explore Auckland, so we took a ferry to Rangitoto, a relatively new volcanic island.<br /><br /><br /><br />View of Auckland Harbor from the ferry:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBdvQes90oNPV6-E5NkmZHrlVn2y7MzWxRAvR1i58kqusumPZspoOmkAjVcmXRP2iEGZIPw3u9eGH33nbjIOOZYfuNJ10X5VFoI6Dv4tOBmMRDA09bqaLmJ97gMU94dCyCKRyfuiNqU1lN/s1600-h/ATW2007+3819.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5145791631256880306" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBdvQes90oNPV6-E5NkmZHrlVn2y7MzWxRAvR1i58kqusumPZspoOmkAjVcmXRP2iEGZIPw3u9eGH33nbjIOOZYfuNJ10X5VFoI6Dv4tOBmMRDA09bqaLmJ97gMU94dCyCKRyfuiNqU1lN/s320/ATW2007+3819.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Rangitoto Island:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9qd1Jr4CwMteugyuFw7VheWFKgnBDQrZxgpw05ymm-7Gai-JN9GCy9DLl4rVsWtKOeyzBxA6IWgXDxadXZ0V7ykYgISvfd2hS0EDc569nBBNhZCwd42EDs93z82O7ho3RzAAItNfnjyFa/s1600-h/ATW2007+3835.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5145792357106353378" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9qd1Jr4CwMteugyuFw7VheWFKgnBDQrZxgpw05ymm-7Gai-JN9GCy9DLl4rVsWtKOeyzBxA6IWgXDxadXZ0V7ykYgISvfd2hS0EDc569nBBNhZCwd42EDs93z82O7ho3RzAAItNfnjyFa/s320/ATW2007+3835.JPG" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735527012572758346.post-71284374027792460982007-11-26T12:37:00.000-08:002007-12-29T22:24:21.380-08:00Hiking the Routeburn TrackOne of the greatest things about travelling in New Zealand is the extensive network of hiking trails, complete with backcountry huts for a good night's sleep. Since we were biking most of the time, we only got to do one 3-day hike: the Routeburn Track.<br /><br />Off we go:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0yLszcTgBdPSpvucgwPwJ7It6RuhOMV2GG_d9EbanUi0tikhyphenhyphenfiElIwfngulAjXvmezQaUsqmGyLrKZxNw1G3qwXUu0t9pVVAyhPKCN9KtVWLCPAOrtrCKqTdpVy6oGmX-_Ky3VItXIDk/s1600-h/ATW2007+3492.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5145788362786767938" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0yLszcTgBdPSpvucgwPwJ7It6RuhOMV2GG_d9EbanUi0tikhyphenhyphenfiElIwfngulAjXvmezQaUsqmGyLrKZxNw1G3qwXUu0t9pVVAyhPKCN9KtVWLCPAOrtrCKqTdpVy6oGmX-_Ky3VItXIDk/s320/ATW2007+3492.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj32bDnLuhsLVIpahjzMq1S8Y-u-rOLb0ClPzpxlPKGXA_S_WyxGIeGqURB765mSfS83UFmTF8AsXSOpZT-N9BrNq1K6V8WpBZnY9xg-eDBLH33VZWZxhSUJqk_j5NLAMri0CPVrE-nOyR4/s1600-h/ATW2007+3494.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5146129207096411586" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj32bDnLuhsLVIpahjzMq1S8Y-u-rOLb0ClPzpxlPKGXA_S_WyxGIeGqURB765mSfS83UFmTF8AsXSOpZT-N9BrNq1K6V8WpBZnY9xg-eDBLH33VZWZxhSUJqk_j5NLAMri0CPVrE-nOyR4/s320/ATW2007+3494.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2hIMPxUihNQgJzddACRnTKw_lCkXBNkLzYzWTZ5eX-atxPrWVAp7-dZ-pqk91OfGUS1x8I2oOkPA10MBcsRnkFQzZ_Sq-V8gI2gcFzNtSlUsSNNfhrwQHCURXZty-JiJMt4Bc_c6oHP_i/s1600-h/ATW2007+3498.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5146129228571248114" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2hIMPxUihNQgJzddACRnTKw_lCkXBNkLzYzWTZ5eX-atxPrWVAp7-dZ-pqk91OfGUS1x8I2oOkPA10MBcsRnkFQzZ_Sq-V8gI2gcFzNtSlUsSNNfhrwQHCURXZty-JiJMt4Bc_c6oHP_i/s320/ATW2007+3498.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Beautiful scenery Day 1:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtwF4BKsEff93HMOgVj4XDFw4H0h1K89NieKNUKqGFkmKPaNOBYSYY8Ve096l6sfnOBlUUil2GAIEd-znTC-sYuvYSxLvDQDP4w4KxWDSLucYzySgOZopffliR7inY89qzemF46zgW987F/s1600-h/ATW2007+3528.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5145788332721996802" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtwF4BKsEff93HMOgVj4XDFw4H0h1K89NieKNUKqGFkmKPaNOBYSYY8Ve096l6sfnOBlUUil2GAIEd-znTC-sYuvYSxLvDQDP4w4KxWDSLucYzySgOZopffliR7inY89qzemF46zgW987F/s320/ATW2007+3528.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />View from the Routeburn Falls Hut:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKgsCgGCQuJcNnNy9zTumA40QhhfZH-ai1sA_iGn5rZinAD7nNIWpxYO9OD4Iz_D2ea817Ci_KSLiEKogZMiLxmqLZInbBJ5HVpSURF0-q5x_w7XFjcRsSIuHwQQcqs1m2_JROe47teoyQ/s1600-h/ATW2007+3532.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5145788354196833330" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKgsCgGCQuJcNnNy9zTumA40QhhfZH-ai1sA_iGn5rZinAD7nNIWpxYO9OD4Iz_D2ea817Ci_KSLiEKogZMiLxmqLZInbBJ5HVpSURF0-q5x_w7XFjcRsSIuHwQQcqs1m2_JROe47teoyQ/s320/ATW2007+3532.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihsvySCK9a9stw1kR-FBjAncQBZnAs32y_w-irlv5nEE2BqIDMMKYYPxHqHRcnIPrTD0I-JWiDSVYj9bBqNL74tOUrSLA4D6btT7r9dM1sssTecBl_DedEqHWCj6XSj6nSL_o0tSee1RF7/s1600-h/ATW2007+3566.JPG"></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-S07o6dDPiq3aRUJBPfxPPS6zwIuKtILdzXBe-JNYcGFg2ZPdULkTM04pVBx4z8mIzuDpuHWogBtgEWYGDwTtpqGTx1XEVTETji07CjWVa71voiVh8ymaQFG3EdBFwKo5lv9R7PlkcH1X/s1600-h/ATW2007+3554.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5146129224276280802" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-S07o6dDPiq3aRUJBPfxPPS6zwIuKtILdzXBe-JNYcGFg2ZPdULkTM04pVBx4z8mIzuDpuHWogBtgEWYGDwTtpqGTx1XEVTETji07CjWVa71voiVh8ymaQFG3EdBFwKo5lv9R7PlkcH1X/s320/ATW2007+3554.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihsvySCK9a9stw1kR-FBjAncQBZnAs32y_w-irlv5nEE2BqIDMMKYYPxHqHRcnIPrTD0I-JWiDSVYj9bBqNL74tOUrSLA4D6btT7r9dM1sssTecBl_DedEqHWCj6XSj6nSL_o0tSee1RF7/s1600-h/ATW2007+3566.JPG"></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Day 2: Climbing Harris Saddle<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihsvySCK9a9stw1kR-FBjAncQBZnAs32y_w-irlv5nEE2BqIDMMKYYPxHqHRcnIPrTD0I-JWiDSVYj9bBqNL74tOUrSLA4D6btT7r9dM1sssTecBl_DedEqHWCj6XSj6nSL_o0tSee1RF7/s1600-h/ATW2007+3566.JPG"></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihsvySCK9a9stw1kR-FBjAncQBZnAs32y_w-irlv5nEE2BqIDMMKYYPxHqHRcnIPrTD0I-JWiDSVYj9bBqNL74tOUrSLA4D6btT7r9dM1sssTecBl_DedEqHWCj6XSj6nSL_o0tSee1RF7/s1600-h/ATW2007+3566.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5145788349901866018" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihsvySCK9a9stw1kR-FBjAncQBZnAs32y_w-irlv5nEE2BqIDMMKYYPxHqHRcnIPrTD0I-JWiDSVYj9bBqNL74tOUrSLA4D6btT7r9dM1sssTecBl_DedEqHWCj6XSj6nSL_o0tSee1RF7/s320/ATW2007+3566.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p><br />Reflection in Lake McKenzie:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnI7ono_QTenYi7ufQawMsk4JnB1FERhkOPJUupvLUJeQBMKzer6I9bED19I7SBvmDT0OtWEoLRscchiZ3ABYoAtHMWEC5TMzx6pzUT-R7YTKWtXtJ5x4-fT4m35Pu2J0kO7zUkMgUzoJo/s1600-h/ATW2007+3596.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5146129194211509682" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnI7ono_QTenYi7ufQawMsk4JnB1FERhkOPJUupvLUJeQBMKzer6I9bED19I7SBvmDT0OtWEoLRscchiZ3ABYoAtHMWEC5TMzx6pzUT-R7YTKWtXtJ5x4-fT4m35Pu2J0kO7zUkMgUzoJo/s320/ATW2007+3596.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></p><div></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDYIGAESVxySqS6nyKk-P8-4LSPQNXdgiZrcawacggxhC6AD41lN0WJDb7zS74jOPEf_GOXmE5JEYdypiOGaQxgUpZs4kfXhTge0uCn3LiSMy889V4XmSy0Knldx5es5ZGVNX72QXw8f59/s1600-h/ATW2007+3606.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5145789226075194450" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDYIGAESVxySqS6nyKk-P8-4LSPQNXdgiZrcawacggxhC6AD41lN0WJDb7zS74jOPEf_GOXmE5JEYdypiOGaQxgUpZs4kfXhTge0uCn3LiSMy889V4XmSy0Knldx5es5ZGVNX72QXw8f59/s320/ATW2007+3606.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735527012572758346.post-19914438513668887912007-11-21T23:56:00.000-08:002007-12-29T22:28:12.517-08:00Beautiful Milford Sound<div>We spent a wonderful day hiking the beginning of the Kepler Track (from Te Anau Control Gates to Luxmore Hut), and then drove down to Milford Sound - in the rain, with waterfalls running down the rocks everywhere. Then this morning a 2-hour cruise on Milford Sound - "moody Milford Sound" as the call it.<br />This Sunday we start our 3-day hike on the Routeburn Track.<br />Next week we fly up to Auckland, where we will hook up with my brother Patrick, who happens to be in New Zealand!!!<br />Until soon...</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQn4HB1ApAghlXbkT-67ucyVBTrWVYArKjGLqeKUR8L3N2rYRlUt1oPda0snoo7q99TF0EjXunOHFxtPGOJiZo6icmQgMf1qUo7keVLlPie3o00_mOemqCo7Z-YihRm_BtWiCZISree9yZ/s1600-h/ATW2007+3451.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5145793284819289330" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQn4HB1ApAghlXbkT-67ucyVBTrWVYArKjGLqeKUR8L3N2rYRlUt1oPda0snoo7q99TF0EjXunOHFxtPGOJiZo6icmQgMf1qUo7keVLlPie3o00_mOemqCo7Z-YihRm_BtWiCZISree9yZ/s320/ATW2007+3451.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOm319G5qQE9a9wdeLTFXBKifDmGmR6vTQqplcKtDrQWsiiSmxsJAc7mGxhGklfXiz9bK2SooxrfeoUlRDLqp-6Yw359zNozRa7nUHiK4H4kt3JW6r9HE4E-S3dqDmCkT5Thpy_s7MUBBd/s1600-h/ATW2007+3413.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5145793293409223954" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOm319G5qQE9a9wdeLTFXBKifDmGmR6vTQqplcKtDrQWsiiSmxsJAc7mGxhGklfXiz9bK2SooxrfeoUlRDLqp-6Yw359zNozRa7nUHiK4H4kt3JW6r9HE4E-S3dqDmCkT5Thpy_s7MUBBd/s320/ATW2007+3413.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFlHq6ZyiEWtCuoJCe6GPG-C-moqYZ4hPd7C0Efq8FrKUTa3pG07b-YvKJPg0rHgp1eBopr0411-bQd76Oct4E5HdvsS-12iGJT3_TtxEBadRKfAOlXqL0WOKIycPsIOvUfbxYPxvdqveC/s1600-h/ATW2007+3409.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5145793289114256642" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFlHq6ZyiEWtCuoJCe6GPG-C-moqYZ4hPd7C0Efq8FrKUTa3pG07b-YvKJPg0rHgp1eBopr0411-bQd76Oct4E5HdvsS-12iGJT3_TtxEBadRKfAOlXqL0WOKIycPsIOvUfbxYPxvdqveC/s320/ATW2007+3409.JPG" border="0" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735527012572758346.post-88316088006444066732007-11-19T02:02:00.000-08:002007-12-29T12:20:15.415-08:00We are in Queenstown, New ZealandWe took the TranzAlpine train across the mountains back to Christchurch, where we returned the bicyles. We then rented a car and drove down to Lake Tekapo, and today, on to Queenstown via Wanaka. Beautiful sunset here tonight against the mountain silhouette!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA2yvulKtIZoLZhUeWXYjN0OPwLBfBbgW8apKjkYjaV2ETCJCQ-p5g9Wxus999-UtWVdD0EkOWRbbSk4pCSbWu3OXfXGgJTZJqpFTHJrsHkbFstz_w_7ATNcxEZ7Ghjmy1OZ0kN-65TQdv/s1600-h/ATW2007+3259.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5145790265457280098" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA2yvulKtIZoLZhUeWXYjN0OPwLBfBbgW8apKjkYjaV2ETCJCQ-p5g9Wxus999-UtWVdD0EkOWRbbSk4pCSbWu3OXfXGgJTZJqpFTHJrsHkbFstz_w_7ATNcxEZ7Ghjmy1OZ0kN-65TQdv/s320/ATW2007+3259.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9G7jdl1PuCHcOYnZqy6epxZTNKS6ImLnqUfQbSDJoeH4ZFSIylB9ZRW9CVyhfIg8e-waVw1qKRKELKIzhOuw60Mo7ATSp5X45o9fZ-VlnP6WsbixZaHYTgEhGhGzki0FQviihG4Ulrkkd/s1600-h/ATW2007+3260.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5145790269752247410" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9G7jdl1PuCHcOYnZqy6epxZTNKS6ImLnqUfQbSDJoeH4ZFSIylB9ZRW9CVyhfIg8e-waVw1qKRKELKIzhOuw60Mo7ATSp5X45o9fZ-VlnP6WsbixZaHYTgEhGhGzki0FQviihG4Ulrkkd/s320/ATW2007+3260.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJJT4ge9ZNboj9CyfF257RHWTrgIFV4JQp9FBs2isyNfzm7Au1jYDT6Sjf31ABZNFIthiQ7DLD33CuB7mJKuzyyK9y9WqLr5Pgr7mHEmkdY9R1ZHsdTDPqnm29yL_gIMla8M1OYDcMoyDo/s1600-h/ATW2007+3275.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5145790274047214722" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJJT4ge9ZNboj9CyfF257RHWTrgIFV4JQp9FBs2isyNfzm7Au1jYDT6Sjf31ABZNFIthiQ7DLD33CuB7mJKuzyyK9y9WqLr5Pgr7mHEmkdY9R1ZHsdTDPqnm29yL_gIMla8M1OYDcMoyDo/s320/ATW2007+3275.JPG" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735527012572758346.post-38554842819752130652007-11-18T02:00:00.000-08:002007-12-29T12:24:54.693-08:00We spent the last night in jail!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-9g7PXLcQVbiPUpiGQGT2Q_y_qF9O78BnPHEceQ9JVx-FfJWXC8Xb8dJN56rrHeahhFp0ncr0cyuUpZjn16rRL4QQp9bDcqGbVlRm7lIRxtWUrb5F2gwJ4fjeljb3eHMY8A-hrV2hpXye/s1600-h/ATW2007+3136.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5145794633439020370" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-9g7PXLcQVbiPUpiGQGT2Q_y_qF9O78BnPHEceQ9JVx-FfJWXC8Xb8dJN56rrHeahhFp0ncr0cyuUpZjn16rRL4QQp9bDcqGbVlRm7lIRxtWUrb5F2gwJ4fjeljb3eHMY8A-hrV2hpXye/s320/ATW2007+3136.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRyWJUbw0zNqnG3KFH49Ea-kEaAbqlveyPOpwMgW1b6JS30L-xvb0RTHcAXsXeBC6hSFfDy9O8gTyd_ISHIihCniEadOceHzMrUDuYMHj97BN6bFg8dhagHZ52FaqaanjHnV9q1C4qtnmB/s1600-h/ATW2007+3125.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5145794620554118434" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRyWJUbw0zNqnG3KFH49Ea-kEaAbqlveyPOpwMgW1b6JS30L-xvb0RTHcAXsXeBC6hSFfDy9O8gTyd_ISHIihCniEadOceHzMrUDuYMHj97BN6bFg8dhagHZ52FaqaanjHnV9q1C4qtnmB/s320/ATW2007+3125.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH_lNKivxKX-Q1ZgTfGeDZBRPDOmJVWDZdH7ZPgwHg7eGwOWLOnLy84561xen-0EM7kFf1nBcZ0uZgOlChzrBQzsd3ZGrmWL-2Xe4yf5rIF5ld1_uGJkpF8N8TImCSe8NIahEx3sciRVpP/s1600-h/ATW2007+3121.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5145794624849085746" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH_lNKivxKX-Q1ZgTfGeDZBRPDOmJVWDZdH7ZPgwHg7eGwOWLOnLy84561xen-0EM7kFf1nBcZ0uZgOlChzrBQzsd3ZGrmWL-2Xe4yf5rIF5ld1_uGJkpF8N8TImCSe8NIahEx3sciRVpP/s320/ATW2007+3121.JPG" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735527012572758346.post-66924480885272330292007-11-17T10:50:00.000-08:002007-12-29T22:26:47.909-08:00Franz Josef Glacier<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwUOHA6_z6kNIMmvZkne1dIy_2pqBG_yWFRN30R61wDcXo-AGW5mZqkb8ioAvmGq4iRZcrSsIwRSD6OkLjpz714UeGw0eoK5vbjquPCHM8hMFFXi8g7VmOUNEvEDkzgRsx5CH_9xjcQHa-/s1600-h/ATW2007+2890.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5146130078974772770" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwUOHA6_z6kNIMmvZkne1dIy_2pqBG_yWFRN30R61wDcXo-AGW5mZqkb8ioAvmGq4iRZcrSsIwRSD6OkLjpz714UeGw0eoK5vbjquPCHM8hMFFXi8g7VmOUNEvEDkzgRsx5CH_9xjcQHa-/s320/ATW2007+2890.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqdZQhtEn6fmOtegNt6xlELHV8MQwvKQZ_qpG3UHEpWcmwKgjyErK-E5jAGGJ8_6uaYzZ5jz0aZGWepJW4Vu4ZJxzK9H0CRNhb5psUYFJMA4zWuZik6Hlf-TIN14xNzpJ87CJnV3YOVKyt/s1600-h/ATW2007+2834.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5146130061794903554" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqdZQhtEn6fmOtegNt6xlELHV8MQwvKQZ_qpG3UHEpWcmwKgjyErK-E5jAGGJ8_6uaYzZ5jz0aZGWepJW4Vu4ZJxzK9H0CRNhb5psUYFJMA4zWuZik6Hlf-TIN14xNzpJ87CJnV3YOVKyt/s320/ATW2007+2834.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZOPzMHpS2hdKWuNYBfbrp40E2DHI2Ds1QP5HJbyZhq5zCmWsahahFCPMdLJD4E3_YiSTe33tVJ7KeZ0IaavqdaU6PTAD7OuwOFd6JtEVJ4d8fXAXA0O9Qq_h-gr1IcOTuEiUgoAX7H4iM/s1600-h/ATW2007+2887.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5146130070384838162" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZOPzMHpS2hdKWuNYBfbrp40E2DHI2Ds1QP5HJbyZhq5zCmWsahahFCPMdLJD4E3_YiSTe33tVJ7KeZ0IaavqdaU6PTAD7OuwOFd6JtEVJ4d8fXAXA0O9Qq_h-gr1IcOTuEiUgoAX7H4iM/s320/ATW2007+2887.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735527012572758346.post-3492047131540137422007-11-14T15:19:00.000-08:002007-11-14T15:41:57.475-08:00Biking through New Zealand - after all!We have just completed our beautiful bike ride from Christchurch to Greymouth, via Picton, Nelson, Motueka, St. Arnaud and Westport. The beginning was a bit slow, with several broken spokes and other obstacles to overcome. However, once we got the bike fixed in Nelson, we had a wonderful 8 days riding through New Zealand. From Nelson, we rode up to Motueka, where we locked up the bikes for one day to take a day-hike in Able Tasman National Park (definitely want to come back here some day to do the complete 5-day walk). We then rode down to Kohatu Junction, along the beautiful Motueka river - this was one of the most scenic rides of the trip, with very little traffic! From there, we rode up to St. Arnaud, a tiny town in the mountains, and gateway to Nelson Lakes National Park, and from there to Murchison. The next day was our record day: we rode nearly 100km in one day, all the way from Murchison to Westport, always along the Buller River, and throug Buller River Gorge. At this point, we had had two weeks of sunshine - no rain. That was about to change. Once we arrived in Westport (finally at the West Coast!), it started pouring. So we spent most of the day sitting in the hostel, drinking hot tea, thinking about what we should do...then we decided to take a bus to Greymouth, only to find out, that the bus had broken down! Maybe it was a sign telling us to ride...when the rain stopped around 4pm, we got on the bikes and decided to ride 20km down the coast to Charleston, hoping that that would give us a chance to still make it to Greymouth the next day. As we were riding towards Charleston, battling strong winds, it started pouring - and the for the first time I got to try out my rain gear, which I had been hauling around for 2 weeks! Wet and cold, we arrived in Charleston, a tiny little township. Aya opened the door to our hostel for the night, and within a few minutes we were in the hot spa...it turned out to be a fun evening with our hosts Aya and Paul. Paul finds and carves jade...very interesting...The next morning, we woke up to a blue sky and sunny weather, and so we got on the bikes for our last 77km to Greymouth! The rugged West Coast is spectacular, and we were very happy to ride the last stretch, vs. sitting on a bus...<br /><br />We got to Greymouth just in time to rent a car to drive down to Franz Josef Glacier, where we are spending the day. It is pouring rain today. Mark is up on the glacier with a guided tour - I decided to take a day off from activities and work on the blog instead...Tomorrow we drive back to Greymouth, where we will catch the Tranzalpine Train to Christchurch, where we will return the bikes, before renting a car to head down towards Queenstown and the Milford Sound.<br /><br />Only 2.5 weeks left on our trip --- time goes by too fast. New Zealand has been my favourite destination on this trip! It is so beautiful here, I would like to spend a lot more time...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735527012572758346.post-86816167159333691832007-11-06T00:36:00.001-08:002007-12-29T22:34:45.429-08:00Beautiful New ZealandA spring day in Hagley Park, Christchurch<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuhu1KY8oClCkQcpZtfhbqM4_WcvCDFC1WjizU76rvqw9fLv6mY4CuNyo8-BJt4nmDZcfEs1eFAb-HgdOTme7Bqcd1w6-zwjCenkHhx0LQmsChC1paI38UVu3vVSPHCAfLi-r4qIch19wj/s1600-h/ATW2007+2398.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5146132333832603218" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuhu1KY8oClCkQcpZtfhbqM4_WcvCDFC1WjizU76rvqw9fLv6mY4CuNyo8-BJt4nmDZcfEs1eFAb-HgdOTme7Bqcd1w6-zwjCenkHhx0LQmsChC1paI38UVu3vVSPHCAfLi-r4qIch19wj/s320/ATW2007+2398.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Riding our bikes along the East Coast<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTAsAroGLZ6JLoojYsx4aKBLZ6JqRvt0Dtpnk2ZLrfu4up-3vOFjfZ3m9LmeBaIYWmgD7465IBs01Tck-DI-ee6MlLyOSHEinxucGqdwg8TrR8Nwe2QUZSe3jbg9UkpWCDfqQggTnVQue6/s1600-h/DSC05719.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129645702516497298" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTAsAroGLZ6JLoojYsx4aKBLZ6JqRvt0Dtpnk2ZLrfu4up-3vOFjfZ3m9LmeBaIYWmgD7465IBs01Tck-DI-ee6MlLyOSHEinxucGqdwg8TrR8Nwe2QUZSe3jbg9UkpWCDfqQggTnVQue6/s320/DSC05719.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwfqpYliTF70ns54uh0L4fALWa6095GOK2GeRaPbnchWo-JT0l95Bo7rYfkslvFHb8KGg0AyftCRmhmWisVVOVCUrsbk9G3ogxVOaKkS5ME6ZNrpCp7oNUDPrMAly2lxdinfcSUkZt2I9_/s1600-h/DSC05698.JPG"></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuhu1KY8oClCkQcpZtfhbqM4_WcvCDFC1WjizU76rvqw9fLv6mY4CuNyo8-BJt4nmDZcfEs1eFAb-HgdOTme7Bqcd1w6-zwjCenkHhx0LQmsChC1paI38UVu3vVSPHCAfLi-r4qIch19wj/s1600-h/ATW2007+2398.JPG"></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwfqpYliTF70ns54uh0L4fALWa6095GOK2GeRaPbnchWo-JT0l95Bo7rYfkslvFHb8KGg0AyftCRmhmWisVVOVCUrsbk9G3ogxVOaKkS5ME6ZNrpCp7oNUDPrMAly2lxdinfcSUkZt2I9_/s1600-h/DSC05698.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129645693926562690" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwfqpYliTF70ns54uh0L4fALWa6095GOK2GeRaPbnchWo-JT0l95Bo7rYfkslvFHb8KGg0AyftCRmhmWisVVOVCUrsbk9G3ogxVOaKkS5ME6ZNrpCp7oNUDPrMAly2lxdinfcSUkZt2I9_/s320/DSC05698.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Kaikoura<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLhr7mplZfrejLDfXVNmJAaqMgaJLKbj0fupulWgq4xlGDoVL-CvG2fIZck4e8zKZNKN6i9hy4gpT6r3klcc4Km_LhLj4Wc4zvu-5f1uGGBzY44s7mYX2gDmqlze7XQAFELgIX-0EclGrh/s1600-h/DSC05745.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129645706811464610" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLhr7mplZfrejLDfXVNmJAaqMgaJLKbj0fupulWgq4xlGDoVL-CvG2fIZck4e8zKZNKN6i9hy4gpT6r3klcc4Km_LhLj4Wc4zvu-5f1uGGBzY44s7mYX2gDmqlze7XQAFELgIX-0EclGrh/s320/DSC05745.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The Marlborough Sounds<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga_b6yuEu9nfNFZo2YoEafrrHD5rfvV83j3AJEWefURKNy8e8QK5XF8q8ZlDtKGZJEpvXagzd30IXO_ou14ful5Dd4RkzPGfqTgrtzQW6pepUt8-gREd1p4mtBCK43kPtErgjiokd0RHAY/s1600-h/DSC05786.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129645689631595378" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga_b6yuEu9nfNFZo2YoEafrrHD5rfvV83j3AJEWefURKNy8e8QK5XF8q8ZlDtKGZJEpvXagzd30IXO_ou14ful5Dd4RkzPGfqTgrtzQW6pepUt8-gREd1p4mtBCK43kPtErgjiokd0RHAY/s320/DSC05786.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Rugged West Coast<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCTHBfbt972a48q6A1irpEz_s8LBApwCEX1MFeFh47TWpFrd1UM9i1UWNDLHUlZDFST-YpL4jm1k8iKRGkG3gRFsFxjH38TQR9U7-Yd4BHJK2tCazRpbYtRGK3LpBKqzfaCknOKqrL2zkl/s1600-h/ATW2007+2765.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5146132849228678786" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCTHBfbt972a48q6A1irpEz_s8LBApwCEX1MFeFh47TWpFrd1UM9i1UWNDLHUlZDFST-YpL4jm1k8iKRGkG3gRFsFxjH38TQR9U7-Yd4BHJK2tCazRpbYtRGK3LpBKqzfaCknOKqrL2zkl/s320/ATW2007+2765.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigtcLGlc-IzC-hTOswcL-z0gchqfyePNuJcL7csCir8ulW3JV9E8Y4df5kkK4XHpQah-14EACYx2K-8E_qEThDCrxlO56VM2KqNtOvGXsWJkDWyfsEAfRTbhg3SNszBifYK80AQokaGn8n/s1600-h/ATW2007+2781.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5146132342422537826" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigtcLGlc-IzC-hTOswcL-z0gchqfyePNuJcL7csCir8ulW3JV9E8Y4df5kkK4XHpQah-14EACYx2K-8E_qEThDCrxlO56VM2KqNtOvGXsWJkDWyfsEAfRTbhg3SNszBifYK80AQokaGn8n/s320/ATW2007+2781.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Wanaka<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCaUng9J1c3qCWAjQy-MwBHZJGuvrSj7H6YNtsPTchRBiHrCfp-6PJD-WNVUe7j5WsxIfXAkClm6fH4_oKPIlEjy-BVP2zRbxVPxCOopXzE3riTZs78xxoOrn34_8cI_d7P6nzbI57lTEv/s1600-h/ATW2007+3229.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5146132329537635906" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCaUng9J1c3qCWAjQy-MwBHZJGuvrSj7H6YNtsPTchRBiHrCfp-6PJD-WNVUe7j5WsxIfXAkClm6fH4_oKPIlEjy-BVP2zRbxVPxCOopXzE3riTZs78xxoOrn34_8cI_d7P6nzbI57lTEv/s320/ATW2007+3229.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Queenstown<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSny89m6djuZRfkkKl2RPMzWTH70Xhh02gyIMo9oN18L97wST6Sn8BqZYmxhzFiXfaFEsEz2zbv3JY7xam1AxFD-czMqzFU_mxwIwGLuDCMRanfp5pt9U88cYvXqGtgq7dao92M8eXT-v9/s1600-h/ATW2007+3617.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5146132346717505138" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSny89m6djuZRfkkKl2RPMzWTH70Xhh02gyIMo9oN18L97wST6Sn8BqZYmxhzFiXfaFEsEz2zbv3JY7xam1AxFD-czMqzFU_mxwIwGLuDCMRanfp5pt9U88cYvXqGtgq7dao92M8eXT-v9/s320/ATW2007+3617.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga_b6yuEu9nfNFZo2YoEafrrHD5rfvV83j3AJEWefURKNy8e8QK5XF8q8ZlDtKGZJEpvXagzd30IXO_ou14ful5Dd4RkzPGfqTgrtzQW6pepUt8-gREd1p4mtBCK43kPtErgjiokd0RHAY/s1600-h/DSC05786.JPG"></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735527012572758346.post-19470758453489668572007-11-06T00:09:00.001-08:002007-12-29T22:43:00.595-08:00Amazing hostelsNew Zealand has the most amazing backpacker hostels. Each place we have stayed has been unique. All have shared bathrooms and kitchens - cooking your meal in the community kitchen is a great way to meet other travellers. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyYeRwDg_9SjvoKZ4AUxGJ5BoR1YYRMOpeGDGw4k3IPfHYjWfXRFwl5oBUBqGUhTX7e4nTJeOSrKbMGnNjcL0a26Oxyx8C2yX5LUaUS4J0d4Kequ87gWy1X7THmmcLn5W0NFrjtfRvFad4/s1600-h/DSC05707.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129637898560920194" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyYeRwDg_9SjvoKZ4AUxGJ5BoR1YYRMOpeGDGw4k3IPfHYjWfXRFwl5oBUBqGUhTX7e4nTJeOSrKbMGnNjcL0a26Oxyx8C2yX5LUaUS4J0d4Kequ87gWy1X7THmmcLn5W0NFrjtfRvFad4/s320/DSC05707.JPG" border="0" /></a>The first night, we stayed in this train wagons:<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNsDQAwhnswDOxDPuLC_yy8LFY2L5n2Lgl7_sFQYc_L7Pi7dsmciPX7I8Dh8gDmo5DQKj6HgNM3HpHrn4jeVamBFThfJjHBcjlmPGTdbk5We7cKViD48g_vscRJ7sR_EK_yJD5e0DNJWFy/s1600-h/DSC05712.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129637902855887506" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNsDQAwhnswDOxDPuLC_yy8LFY2L5n2Lgl7_sFQYc_L7Pi7dsmciPX7I8Dh8gDmo5DQKj6HgNM3HpHrn4jeVamBFThfJjHBcjlmPGTdbk5We7cKViD48g_vscRJ7sR_EK_yJD5e0DNJWFy/s320/DSC05712.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The second night, we stayed in this old jailhouse:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYz5BvowsIRVvUct0WG-2P9cluDWvu9lm6twuKstBYi3lHB00GPJFtIQ94PncK4_ZXQhhDNdx6KUw9N6Cl6Z-PlIhJoQ9iUEgZUPAfuAcKQUA9IVypW3I_qFqPtff6fdC7lvFN-7qRF-9b/s1600-h/DSC05727.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129637907150854818" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYz5BvowsIRVvUct0WG-2P9cluDWvu9lm6twuKstBYi3lHB00GPJFtIQ94PncK4_ZXQhhDNdx6KUw9N6Cl6Z-PlIhJoQ9iUEgZUPAfuAcKQUA9IVypW3I_qFqPtff6fdC7lvFN-7qRF-9b/s320/DSC05727.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Dolphin Lodge in Kaikoura - with a patio with a view of the snow-covered mountains and the sea:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi174wM-GaOd_AVxKidfT1Q9Ma00LWHwe__SV1L9kF1e2ALw4fGSfJy6VEIs8mYKgTA4R4WELjBLSECU5fsqIK4ug7ni91IM4Q7wpTRCNGMeMjIwjLNRcUgPT7yjybYU3UuBUYGvhxNCw_j/s1600-h/DSC05754.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129638748964444882" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi174wM-GaOd_AVxKidfT1Q9Ma00LWHwe__SV1L9kF1e2ALw4fGSfJy6VEIs8mYKgTA4R4WELjBLSECU5fsqIK4ug7ni91IM4Q7wpTRCNGMeMjIwjLNRcUgPT7yjybYU3UuBUYGvhxNCw_j/s320/DSC05754.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Anakiwa:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCrdL-krm8Kzoo_t-oY7u_ZmF_0ZF9UlG2Z51DYbsmS7jOi0d3iHUXk9GXnOuD3khC_5xMVHdVkx-eT37EMXskuPsa4r3ukvlJe2-VHq4dJqkgtcAVENya5qJedZV7enMy4MdnrUnyryLy/s1600-h/DSC05825.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129638740374510274" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCrdL-krm8Kzoo_t-oY7u_ZmF_0ZF9UlG2Z51DYbsmS7jOi0d3iHUXk9GXnOuD3khC_5xMVHdVkx-eT37EMXskuPsa4r3ukvlJe2-VHq4dJqkgtcAVENya5qJedZV7enMy4MdnrUnyryLy/s320/DSC05825.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKAMK6NKvr00bYioz4CrSTEqjTejcUZkuLlyZK3ttr3bogqYsmXTHGR9w0A8HLnVOOQLhgV43IstJ7uQB-MJjHQh9boUg-9NeeTobJsF0koN9rIvtYaVKWVlE7qddTeiipiuc-gWVgGvKF/s1600-h/DSC05821.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129637915740789426" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKAMK6NKvr00bYioz4CrSTEqjTejcUZkuLlyZK3ttr3bogqYsmXTHGR9w0A8HLnVOOQLhgV43IstJ7uQB-MJjHQh9boUg-9NeeTobJsF0koN9rIvtYaVKWVlE7qddTeiipiuc-gWVgGvKF/s320/DSC05821.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Hopewell - what a peaceful place!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEq9rt3rwAX-mGSqxQ5P2FoH-yYN04ImA-CP7s8lU5rnDl25qYSsImGwma41FflqLEJLm90rMHoaaDLaOcllkTrcic_7HbGOB7Y9zFpOCfW_POLuwzo1InlyyQ3YDg84lu8KtxJJ32Plmp/s1600-h/DSC05873.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129637889970985586" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEq9rt3rwAX-mGSqxQ5P2FoH-yYN04ImA-CP7s8lU5rnDl25qYSsImGwma41FflqLEJLm90rMHoaaDLaOcllkTrcic_7HbGOB7Y9zFpOCfW_POLuwzo1InlyyQ3YDg84lu8KtxJJ32Plmp/s320/DSC05873.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The Lauging Kiwi in Motueka, near Abel Tasman National Park<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0gKep6YV2CKSwiYsWFjyEUhdPtIS6um9FuyI_rjfKXlCgSjL2ikbxcStP6Q5rfrIK0qYBH-nvZnX9lXHXcR-bJrqTb4QJ3MgUbN2lRD8bLX8CAMbJ0mfd3KBNfb1Dje3sHJ5WwFQy34FC/s1600-h/ATW2007+2680.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5146124766100227426" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0gKep6YV2CKSwiYsWFjyEUhdPtIS6um9FuyI_rjfKXlCgSjL2ikbxcStP6Q5rfrIK0qYBH-nvZnX9lXHXcR-bJrqTb4QJ3MgUbN2lRD8bLX8CAMbJ0mfd3KBNfb1Dje3sHJ5WwFQy34FC/s320/ATW2007+2680.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p><br /> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p><br />Westport</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU2ypJMHGelQ-g7OVDH2yGxzYppCuwkX_VsEMwgvS89KV3OSZHfA9oGll1jRvoTFlbCHFxXD94PRIaT09JtC7vFsz679RmgCa2xHnrDnygEcfxGqhdGmUITM_7kPbzkyvxFSAn-L_kDBRa/s1600-h/ATW2007+2735.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5146124774690162034" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU2ypJMHGelQ-g7OVDH2yGxzYppCuwkX_VsEMwgvS89KV3OSZHfA9oGll1jRvoTFlbCHFxXD94PRIaT09JtC7vFsz679RmgCa2xHnrDnygEcfxGqhdGmUITM_7kPbzkyvxFSAn-L_kDBRa/s320/ATW2007+2735.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU2ypJMHGelQ-g7OVDH2yGxzYppCuwkX_VsEMwgvS89KV3OSZHfA9oGll1jRvoTFlbCHFxXD94PRIaT09JtC7vFsz679RmgCa2xHnrDnygEcfxGqhdGmUITM_7kPbzkyvxFSAn-L_kDBRa/s1600-h/ATW2007+2735.JPG"></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzpBsflvuxQG5fSeDfqhQjdc1AWbP8foEAZQTbt0Np3vXtla-NvrekbQe2BlpZULrWCgiRWcY6e6gOMYWkIL3ivhclR2zCZrjFlX7gSNT5mgfNKRziK5R6LGKoFdka1EnAKx7YFOmZoTFT/s1600-h/ATW2007+2747.JPG"></a></div>Charleston<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzpBsflvuxQG5fSeDfqhQjdc1AWbP8foEAZQTbt0Np3vXtla-NvrekbQe2BlpZULrWCgiRWcY6e6gOMYWkIL3ivhclR2zCZrjFlX7gSNT5mgfNKRziK5R6LGKoFdka1EnAKx7YFOmZoTFT/s1600-h/ATW2007+2747.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5146124783280096642" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzpBsflvuxQG5fSeDfqhQjdc1AWbP8foEAZQTbt0Np3vXtla-NvrekbQe2BlpZULrWCgiRWcY6e6gOMYWkIL3ivhclR2zCZrjFlX7gSNT5mgfNKRziK5R6LGKoFdka1EnAKx7YFOmZoTFT/s320/ATW2007+2747.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Jailhouse in Christchurch</p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT5iGY-lwcjtswK6tUMzE_18z6ZNNcRZm163bFxtHFZkZEfuURXc2Jtvb7MsTL8kKYu4ohDEoDPZ8SLT5IEOEWVY2Wc5oFEIDV8rrJXP5xQ-Z0id4mSR2xLWNxxEwSVFCrFWvK5uIgjI5m/s1600-h/ATW2007+3125.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5146124796164998562" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT5iGY-lwcjtswK6tUMzE_18z6ZNNcRZm163bFxtHFZkZEfuURXc2Jtvb7MsTL8kKYu4ohDEoDPZ8SLT5IEOEWVY2Wc5oFEIDV8rrJXP5xQ-Z0id4mSR2xLWNxxEwSVFCrFWvK5uIgjI5m/s320/ATW2007+3125.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Hippo Lodge in Queenstown<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilK2qKH4PGAy1wCqolxvZmYToyuTGFnkfj5Rogtf0qkJCt2AFXOSHctQkmix25W7-Z3KKT4H2Jcmwg_NhaAreLPtF_Vk1tmAlkKQaASlfwjEM51p4jEoAfYK4fYLisTbPUEapxeXe0KcN1/s1600-h/ATW2007+3610.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5146124791870031250" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilK2qKH4PGAy1wCqolxvZmYToyuTGFnkfj5Rogtf0qkJCt2AFXOSHctQkmix25W7-Z3KKT4H2Jcmwg_NhaAreLPtF_Vk1tmAlkKQaASlfwjEM51p4jEoAfYK4fYLisTbPUEapxeXe0KcN1/s320/ATW2007+3610.JPG" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735527012572758346.post-90331733915436659022007-11-05T23:59:00.000-08:002007-11-06T01:33:39.448-08:00Biking New Zealand - thanks to our angels!!!So we rented bikes in Christchurch, thinking we would ride for 5 days straight, all the way up to Picton, and then hang out there for a few days. And then things started happening in different directions...just about 30km into the first day, one of my spokes (Speiche, for you Germans) broke. Since it was clear that there would not be a repair shop for at least 150km, we had to go back about 14km to a town we had passed over an hour ago.<br /><br />Fortunately there was Andy. Andy was sitting at a red light in his truck, and we didn't really give him a chance to say no, when I asked him whether he would give us, and our bikes, and our bags, a ride back to the last town.<br /><br />Thank you Andy!!! You made our day!!!<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizMK1bJqvh6nGFo2zLxynErN7Bo7-zdVnrp7U4vtnC1v2L279nUBeQ0Ow3v-TfWXfUryeGRl03xCtYWFqZuBpp54OwMJVVSLE8uiJO9Jojz5ftr9tcZi6bUDP-PcAdMRx3qSswL8T8BrYH/s1600-h/DSC05689.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129636159099165266" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizMK1bJqvh6nGFo2zLxynErN7Bo7-zdVnrp7U4vtnC1v2L279nUBeQ0Ow3v-TfWXfUryeGRl03xCtYWFqZuBpp54OwMJVVSLE8uiJO9Jojz5ftr9tcZi6bUDP-PcAdMRx3qSswL8T8BrYH/s320/DSC05689.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />After a few happy days of riding, it happened again: I heard that sound, and another spoke had broken! This time we were in the middle of nowhere, in the Marlborough Sounds...so we started pushing our bikes, thinking we were only a few kilometers away from the place where our water taxi was to pick us up to take us to our next hostel...<br /><br />And then Emma and Malcolm came along and saved us! Thanks for the ride! You made our day!<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc85YoY1IyoxlCMev_DPOr4te880wIAGquO0oOtFrPwcw_VkF2jRfxsZ1tPkjCLlxUR4CoEM8ZkVRytb3slXnL75GcrCRx3L-Z_LQCvSt_wyMh2ibnswb-uYSP0zrfQVr9YnfLhetDPhFq/s1600-h/DSC05838.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129636150509230658" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc85YoY1IyoxlCMev_DPOr4te880wIAGquO0oOtFrPwcw_VkF2jRfxsZ1tPkjCLlxUR4CoEM8ZkVRytb3slXnL75GcrCRx3L-Z_LQCvSt_wyMh2ibnswb-uYSP0zrfQVr9YnfLhetDPhFq/s320/DSC05838.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOQhMg8KY_U6WChceTRPk3tTFUGRu31QGKMkITYsmquP37GOVhy_34ZlouoNjRpYqWfr_ASCWKC37OBBkMQTntaROHLPEdxS-mvd5EC4rKZYq4orMSvabapR672hJgxxQFMo7MsgQgSVHl/s1600-h/DSC05308.JPG"></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Now we were stranded at Hopewell: the most beautiful hostel we have ever seen, at a wonderful location (more about that separately) - not a bad place to be stranded!!! How to get out of here, to Nelson, a 5 hour drive away, to the nearest bikeshop?<br /><br />Along came Kathrin and Markus, our next angels. They offered to pack our bikes and bags, and us, into their van, and take us along to Nelson. In the morning, the next problem arose: their van had a flat tire. So Mark and Markus put on the spare tire. We started driving - and soon realized we were losing air in the spare tire - so off we went to the next garage...So here we were at the garage, our bikes in the back of the van, getting the spare tire repaired...<br /><br />Thanks Kathrin and Markus for saving us!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_NjLOVvD86jWBSUKDd0QV1oP1IVnG0uh5cxXFYcdHeMxEozA8MrSDdv278B8qcQooU810Qhrc98quG-nLJgS0VEwEpVmvbX-KLoBKl_dxB7MkDn2LWFQnpQGykhFRvYO1CZr2N6ZCY2wg/s1600-h/DSC05899.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129636133329361458" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_NjLOVvD86jWBSUKDd0QV1oP1IVnG0uh5cxXFYcdHeMxEozA8MrSDdv278B8qcQooU810Qhrc98quG-nLJgS0VEwEpVmvbX-KLoBKl_dxB7MkDn2LWFQnpQGykhFRvYO1CZr2N6ZCY2wg/s320/DSC05899.JPG" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735527012572758346.post-44455964474865409732007-11-04T00:21:00.000-07:002007-11-06T01:30:58.628-08:00Diving and Snorkelling the Great Barrier ReefHi everyone! I know all of you have been waiting for pictures from the Great Barrier Reef. So here we go, trying to catch up...<br /><br />It had been Mark's dream for a long time to go diving at the Great Barrier Reef...and he finally got to do it! I myself went snorkelling, which was equally amazing!<br /><br />The Reef extends for several thousand miles along the Australian East Coast. To grasp its size, you need to see it from the air. On our flight out of Australia, we got lucky: it was a beautiful, clear day, we had a window seat, and there it was:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5dNNpAAJea9jC5CGOyuy8ejXfFf9kTNT3XMC2rDoXFmBjXk5n5eyY0L5yWLz2WiDODsP_3BGVALQ8Lr-3zfKiUblmV45wjkDeZAfN3uIaHgWVNZ2fu8nFsXg4-NTmbiFBeQraFaBJFUB5/s1600-h/DSC05617.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129641209980705522" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5dNNpAAJea9jC5CGOyuy8ejXfFf9kTNT3XMC2rDoXFmBjXk5n5eyY0L5yWLz2WiDODsP_3BGVALQ8Lr-3zfKiUblmV45wjkDeZAfN3uIaHgWVNZ2fu8nFsXg4-NTmbiFBeQraFaBJFUB5/s320/DSC05617.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The colors of the water are amazing:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjbwu72Ztj3FEEfnsode7REHqxIeRhxE5KfdYUrSGexD8wLmg7NXotDZVP-YjP9mmVkvHiJCNSNF-75-KTg8O_6WBzUtvfNEw-xCUzYtUczC5Dbx96WbYKBtIG6EMU2VdCy51V-mLreO91/s1600-h/DSC05078.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129643099766315858" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjbwu72Ztj3FEEfnsode7REHqxIeRhxE5KfdYUrSGexD8wLmg7NXotDZVP-YjP9mmVkvHiJCNSNF-75-KTg8O_6WBzUtvfNEw-xCUzYtUczC5Dbx96WbYKBtIG6EMU2VdCy51V-mLreO91/s320/DSC05078.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The Reef is located off the coast, so to go diving or snorkelling, you have to go out on a boat. We did a few day trips, and then booked a 2-day/1 night trip on a littile sailboat, the Vagabond. It turned out to be the highlight of our trip to the Reef: after a day of diving and snorkelling, we got to spend the night sleeping on the deck, under a clear sky, with a full view of the Southern Cross...when the sun came up around 5:30am, it was time to go for the first snorkel....<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ9bBM5dk2oKdLPe4LitQgSmAwJR9lmdV2hzapg3s3ArEFQuuxbx_3cI7Ba6xl7YOydlgyfERlMzPNt8CtMXkhAzsfV33bj3MiNa9_LYR_XcxCSy7yi7eb1svk2v1H_D4Jxr-092E2F17O/s1600-h/DSC05509.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129643095471348546" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ9bBM5dk2oKdLPe4LitQgSmAwJR9lmdV2hzapg3s3ArEFQuuxbx_3cI7Ba6xl7YOydlgyfERlMzPNt8CtMXkhAzsfV33bj3MiNa9_LYR_XcxCSy7yi7eb1svk2v1H_D4Jxr-092E2F17O/s320/DSC05509.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA-69gTduVmd1iXZyXQm1tIUTs_ZKt803YzIF_okuqUQtlEcT2Bu6wzS4O5hsey166-XLShcUWwOjzX0CyT2rxJqj2eP0VsB_5LKuNMYdLHWvUMD3_s6Yt1fnZfgtj7TCdKPRI7485WXxi/s1600-h/DSC05529.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129641231455542050" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA-69gTduVmd1iXZyXQm1tIUTs_ZKt803YzIF_okuqUQtlEcT2Bu6wzS4O5hsey166-XLShcUWwOjzX0CyT2rxJqj2eP0VsB_5LKuNMYdLHWvUMD3_s6Yt1fnZfgtj7TCdKPRI7485WXxi/s320/DSC05529.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Please meet Wally: He is a beautiful Napolean Wrasse, the largetst, colorful fish I have ever seen in the wild...these amazing fish change sex from female to male when the need arises. Several females live with one male. When the male dies, one of the females of the harem spontaneously changes to male over just a few days...this one likes to hang out by the boat...<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVw8w0GsEO-02Ek8-DyPPh0odcuLxfhBrYlcrngjUM5ba6oQlWOCKJBxMj_fdlTtbhh8qBDeAMyjgU7-UTJKCxWD8TCSFJmIfe-ZL7I_Aodr5rxMXQqrMQ-WNPky-Rzhv9hXDSAXePPV4P/s1600-h/DSC05565.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129641222865607442" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVw8w0GsEO-02Ek8-DyPPh0odcuLxfhBrYlcrngjUM5ba6oQlWOCKJBxMj_fdlTtbhh8qBDeAMyjgU7-UTJKCxWD8TCSFJmIfe-ZL7I_Aodr5rxMXQqrMQ-WNPky-Rzhv9hXDSAXePPV4P/s320/DSC05565.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Here is our sailboat at sunset time...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhME3rKBnI8ZjqKBfyspa-Pi_pMW85uQqBVcEPKbLnI_MDTv7K7-4oAD_47EnxGkLY4QF1f1mIqANMnjbnsFgvv_nSL6yDtpXHopGoLt4okyog3vIOXPStOGx0PLbJWDcZWwDYUc4oOwJus/s1600-h/DSC05546.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129643091176381234" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhME3rKBnI8ZjqKBfyspa-Pi_pMW85uQqBVcEPKbLnI_MDTv7K7-4oAD_47EnxGkLY4QF1f1mIqANMnjbnsFgvv_nSL6yDtpXHopGoLt4okyog3vIOXPStOGx0PLbJWDcZWwDYUc4oOwJus/s320/DSC05546.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimg3Sx2D-lFvkuG3gT2YRSOknA2pGe5C-7ZcwGXBIQ5-8cZIEfSaiCIIObEb0rSZepoO7UVNaXlPrqRiSufxorVB9a8LJs8UFgqcafVQorfFn6jhekCeJiPpOZTKIkOWOTTYG-pSSoYPUy/s1600-h/DSC05550.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129641205685738210" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimg3Sx2D-lFvkuG3gT2YRSOknA2pGe5C-7ZcwGXBIQ5-8cZIEfSaiCIIObEb0rSZepoO7UVNaXlPrqRiSufxorVB9a8LJs8UFgqcafVQorfFn6jhekCeJiPpOZTKIkOWOTTYG-pSSoYPUy/s320/DSC05550.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Everything ok in the water...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRPVaQxdpjsZzOxn5eRO-XXASCVxYieYHRVHiWNkQIpHf1-MlOeb6OIr2_DY1u-z10jElmNEFIIghjinVnWAnDcjvoVQYyfCRIUL0xmeJNrVpPauOK0YrFX7sFKHrF7dcgIQFixF4JK0Z5/s1600-h/DSC05593.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129641218570640130" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRPVaQxdpjsZzOxn5eRO-XXASCVxYieYHRVHiWNkQIpHf1-MlOeb6OIr2_DY1u-z10jElmNEFIIghjinVnWAnDcjvoVQYyfCRIUL0xmeJNrVpPauOK0YrFX7sFKHrF7dcgIQFixF4JK0Z5/s320/DSC05593.JPG" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735527012572758346.post-63516651729572462552007-11-03T01:36:00.000-07:002007-11-06T12:29:14.587-08:00Cape Tribulation - North of Cairns, AustraliaNorth of Cairns is beautiful Cape Tribulation - where the rainforest meets the ocean and the Great Barrier Reef.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyBbFQrSjXEZr4tedtczUfTQlRMz2imsfJ-_iDd_fK8lua-8lS30bwCUXUneAck0jBpQubr_HRj2Oq1QNhNkQImkgIvTzDNwKYTraMTSbVm-D4zsv1kljxHjCAXSVVLOExhrd4hBmokloK/s1600-h/DSC05125.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129659987577723826" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyBbFQrSjXEZr4tedtczUfTQlRMz2imsfJ-_iDd_fK8lua-8lS30bwCUXUneAck0jBpQubr_HRj2Oq1QNhNkQImkgIvTzDNwKYTraMTSbVm-D4zsv1kljxHjCAXSVVLOExhrd4hBmokloK/s320/DSC05125.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjykHDneap4pCT5SRyD1yMT1XiDtnmd2FuwGS4sOlIwa2hhdQVKgKaxWkL6HjKsJegYKZVGslPuE9Ocap0QC9PioKwD6rSza4lJffVwVa1P0pqGpQp4jBtC3-gWtAYqdsXPwjvJpQ8ZEQAv/s1600-h/DSC05142.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129659991872691138" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjykHDneap4pCT5SRyD1yMT1XiDtnmd2FuwGS4sOlIwa2hhdQVKgKaxWkL6HjKsJegYKZVGslPuE9Ocap0QC9PioKwD6rSza4lJffVwVa1P0pqGpQp4jBtC3-gWtAYqdsXPwjvJpQ8ZEQAv/s320/DSC05142.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhzjHdpDZ4pl3laW54gwMzuiT_0oWI4V-svBPvu_oOAwC1fmKUBOeG-S9cxFt3TQo1ldA6lnGBIURT9vDN9uUDeJhwvEyKjXdhkBsXRjEOeljeISQzPwE34VXaEymK8P9TEu6ZtpAXAmy8/s1600-h/DSC05145.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129659996167658450" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhzjHdpDZ4pl3laW54gwMzuiT_0oWI4V-svBPvu_oOAwC1fmKUBOeG-S9cxFt3TQo1ldA6lnGBIURT9vDN9uUDeJhwvEyKjXdhkBsXRjEOeljeISQzPwE34VXaEymK8P9TEu6ZtpAXAmy8/s320/DSC05145.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKm8N2HSwNPD-iAPSPhzOyR7_uFGthgE5rOFrD5JF_LY32_mUb7pzTdzt2YnuVKK0PGdoSIuQ8vRBv9891nPt3CjPFWZqRjD_A3CIMcd1ZX0WhaHgxertBwtj34xuOkKStijlVXH3AJPtA/s1600-h/DSC05288.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129825760430447586" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKm8N2HSwNPD-iAPSPhzOyR7_uFGthgE5rOFrD5JF_LY32_mUb7pzTdzt2YnuVKK0PGdoSIuQ8vRBv9891nPt3CjPFWZqRjD_A3CIMcd1ZX0WhaHgxertBwtj34xuOkKStijlVXH3AJPtA/s320/DSC05288.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>Thank you Anthony and Christina for giving us a ride from Cape Trip back to Cairns, for making it a very funny day, and for being part of our trip! By the way, we joined BBH in New Zealand and have been enjoying the hostels! Thanks for the tip.</div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqbnuI5oNZQgSS1SnwPMbXsWlPlmx8IdgmRoUyoizz9OktxXegt9Eby9_kaq7VB1XkcEZjw-oR07D8sTqvrj7pxr19U6_rwz-SbIyxsokTMHa_sFN0D2in-yqYLnArhQrcuBZ5iLgsuvUT/s1600-h/DSC05308.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129825816265022450" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqbnuI5oNZQgSS1SnwPMbXsWlPlmx8IdgmRoUyoizz9OktxXegt9Eby9_kaq7VB1XkcEZjw-oR07D8sTqvrj7pxr19U6_rwz-SbIyxsokTMHa_sFN0D2in-yqYLnArhQrcuBZ5iLgsuvUT/s320/DSC05308.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>Can't leave Australia without seeing a Kangooru....</div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPtU-r-zKfmUeAkJibAJ7wMjhQltt1J1-iPXmsFBGIGZl2rwhC2atY48qGRqCb5L-RBC6UYJpuxwQECAHUGFlJpC5lkt9IC3l4xcOUq8GjQKEfL-h5Lic_hqeSZgyfk-lOHYi6uSbkmTHh/s1600-h/DSC05323.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129825859214695426" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPtU-r-zKfmUeAkJibAJ7wMjhQltt1J1-iPXmsFBGIGZl2rwhC2atY48qGRqCb5L-RBC6UYJpuxwQECAHUGFlJpC5lkt9IC3l4xcOUq8GjQKEfL-h5Lic_hqeSZgyfk-lOHYi6uSbkmTHh/s320/DSC05323.JPG" border="0" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735527012572758346.post-76015109652996971412007-10-31T21:55:00.000-07:002007-10-31T21:57:40.285-07:00Biking through New Zealand...Hi everyone! We are in Kaikoura, New Zealand. Picked up our bicyles last Sunday in Christchurch, and have been riding through the beautiful countryside for a few days. Will try to post pictures later on...<br /><br />Take care,<br />Ruth and MarkUnknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735527012572758346.post-82922968327918189242007-10-23T03:44:00.000-07:002007-10-23T03:54:35.835-07:00Hi everyone - we are still in Cairns!We spent most of last week up at Cape Tribulation, north of Cairns - taking beack and rainforest walks. It's a World Heritage Area, where the rainforest meets the Great Barrier Reef. Over the weekend we rented a car and drove inland a bit, exploring the Atherton Tablelands, just west of Cairns. Lots if rainforest and bush walks. Once night, we spent about an hour standing in the rainforest, listening, trying to spot some wildlife with a very bright spotlight we rented from the hostel. We ended up seeing a bright green frog sitting on a branch, and a huge black spider with yellow dots, sitting in the middle of its huge, raindrop covered web. Then yesterday we finally saw some kangaroos, hopping around in the bush. I was already getting worried that we would have to leave Australia without having seen kangaroos...<br /><br />Today, we took a boat out to Green Island, a tiny island off the coast here, and spent the day snorkelling in turquoise waters...we saw lots of colorful fish - and a huge sea turtle!!! Tomorrow we are going on a 2-day/1-night boat trip for some more diving and snorkelling, Friday is Mark's birthday, and Saturday we are off to New Zealand, to start our bike ride.<br /><br />More soon...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735527012572758346.post-83332868281138741712007-10-13T03:12:00.000-07:002007-10-13T03:14:21.649-07:00Cairns, North Queensland, AustraliaToday, Mark did his first couple of dives at the Great Barrier Reef (and I went snorkeling)!!! We booked a catamaran trip to the Outer Reef and saw amazing coral and fish, including lots of giant clams! Not sure when we will be able to post pictures again....Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735527012572758346.post-4361217174988343462007-10-10T05:09:00.000-07:002007-10-13T03:07:39.448-07:00SydneyAfter 5 weeks in Southeast Asia we made it to Australia. The good news: Sydney is much cooler than Southeast Asia, so Mark got a few days to cool down...the bad news: the prices here are sky-high...especially after $3 dinners-for-two for the last 5 weeks...<br /><br />Sydney is an amazing city...<br /><br /><br />I got to see "Tannhaeuser" at the amazing Sydney opera house (that's the opera I will be singing with San Diego Opera in January...) and also did a "backstage tour". <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-3kzQXDSxS3OTriAhWNwhIql8KJ4CeXvuwD-hBei4g5WO8gPCWHqXxNTD_nKTWmy9s5bk_LAvKVIHR1hybvAmkkhKi6qizDZ0l9vbQdQ9h0GT5UuyAKMKLnXLXVVHCQADCYgcELgv61VC/s1600-h/DSC04958.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119684462392128914" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-3kzQXDSxS3OTriAhWNwhIql8KJ4CeXvuwD-hBei4g5WO8gPCWHqXxNTD_nKTWmy9s5bk_LAvKVIHR1hybvAmkkhKi6qizDZ0l9vbQdQ9h0GT5UuyAKMKLnXLXVVHCQADCYgcELgv61VC/s320/DSC04958.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Since Mark isn't into opera, he got to climb the Sydney Harbor Bridge instead. See those little people there climbing up to steps...?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqmcoIf9H4xlJUzYa98WzMDuPcVT-I8ILEIQ5aFrNx3-IfLmbtJ4m0K2oNo6AAjikJz8XEbRbamdELrBRBTwSyErTdKPtzRaCbeIlvV5u5d5KX2t4y4tKZYaStUN-DUNGK6C7oYdPek1dA/s1600-h/DSC05017.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119687013602702786" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqmcoIf9H4xlJUzYa98WzMDuPcVT-I8ILEIQ5aFrNx3-IfLmbtJ4m0K2oNo6AAjikJz8XEbRbamdELrBRBTwSyErTdKPtzRaCbeIlvV5u5d5KX2t4y4tKZYaStUN-DUNGK6C7oYdPek1dA/s320/DSC05017.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />View from the ferry...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1hYacn3nZAL0Ax1KVER8CD0erK94hJvtDbg8BlWrB4y9SetJsO_SGyHg7OEjYO_KpV7ocaVPghrOIZkEGzSGWIycw129ZDWUz3R1HqWh19vkyp0IhQ_AWJ2LwucSY5WOy6jUeyNQUukui/s1600-h/DSC04975.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119689234100794850" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1hYacn3nZAL0Ax1KVER8CD0erK94hJvtDbg8BlWrB4y9SetJsO_SGyHg7OEjYO_KpV7ocaVPghrOIZkEGzSGWIycw129ZDWUz3R1HqWh19vkyp0IhQ_AWJ2LwucSY5WOy6jUeyNQUukui/s320/DSC04975.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj00AJ9wWKeXZxUmKL8tuZfMvQiD1MeF_XII5UIEe5tVAfXb2kYdzS7IMfGVyoHrks4E_Xuu6uze65iLdRsIU7tOui_SFrZ6YF8wlDZbXXDpiBR45dNwW1WbKYEWCMi_kgats9D1mZkmO0j/s1600-h/DSC05004.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119688087344526802" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj00AJ9wWKeXZxUmKL8tuZfMvQiD1MeF_XII5UIEe5tVAfXb2kYdzS7IMfGVyoHrks4E_Xuu6uze65iLdRsIU7tOui_SFrZ6YF8wlDZbXXDpiBR45dNwW1WbKYEWCMi_kgats9D1mZkmO0j/s320/DSC05004.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /></div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div><br /> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiCrZAYnzJ2Z3iqIEccqmQ-2Gg6BP0U6XbiAJzD2EuvISM8dOXGtfwCLpuWarhG4qxM34t7oJIHI2DjhpwV41qqJzAfl3OccIbciXJvBK0mgqzaCDDICm2BJRYsTjZ2W8DRdlQLy6WMNQl/s1600-h/DSC04971.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119686412307281330" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiCrZAYnzJ2Z3iqIEccqmQ-2Gg6BP0U6XbiAJzD2EuvISM8dOXGtfwCLpuWarhG4qxM34t7oJIHI2DjhpwV41qqJzAfl3OccIbciXJvBK0mgqzaCDDICm2BJRYsTjZ2W8DRdlQLy6WMNQl/s320/DSC04971.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSHbbdSyY-CUldBd-Drja-Gns-iXLMnBT788Hh20fWBqg1TyiQZ1DfavVQ-6XVKh5gEk26mtChdhSFywSTWpwAYFUn_PNnW_867JFi3u7cR9yfFb717TU2ihB-k0WjENI6iUqMTJIVv28E/s1600-h/DSC05017.JPG"></a><div><br /><br /><br /><br />Thank you Deb and Justin for letting us stay with you! It was fun to see you again and we look forward to seeing you in San Diego later this year!</div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735527012572758346.post-19272948438720880472007-10-09T05:49:00.000-07:002007-10-13T03:16:19.840-07:00One night in BangkokAfter Angkor Wat, we went to Bangkok for one day, before catching our flight to Sydney. We didn't have a lot of time, but we saw some of the highlights, such as the giant reclining buddha below(15m high, 45m long)...<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIGB9mN14FGrXSiBrtc7GteSZswEjf-AwisZM6HzrmOSQjh5aRsY_CHg41IWzuPCUgbVn852Slw94uWGhlRHG00pM_R8PfyQK8w892FblhzGmyBuiG41_9opvgjs900X88SqOowtO7IqA0/s1600-h/DSC04898.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119882834046629394" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIGB9mN14FGrXSiBrtc7GteSZswEjf-AwisZM6HzrmOSQjh5aRsY_CHg41IWzuPCUgbVn852Slw94uWGhlRHG00pM_R8PfyQK8w892FblhzGmyBuiG41_9opvgjs900X88SqOowtO7IqA0/s320/DSC04898.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKniuUd_LEd2hlTDSieh_9Bn4Gyg687uTe_IKfgU7SGLNajFZZiIwBMfWhHlxMpj1ZOKTi4oh0t7fvrvr4J7yEB9Ggv4DEIG0ChR0CU0pctRiSO7g5Orx_szoiDa-sn-82-2N4OactNvtq/s1600-h/DSC04916.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119882842636564002" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKniuUd_LEd2hlTDSieh_9Bn4Gyg687uTe_IKfgU7SGLNajFZZiIwBMfWhHlxMpj1ZOKTi4oh0t7fvrvr4J7yEB9Ggv4DEIG0ChR0CU0pctRiSO7g5Orx_szoiDa-sn-82-2N4OactNvtq/s320/DSC04916.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWzgBy02qZq-nP9hPFNRubRpDGNjYLnJfcpUJuuJsQ9xyu5j69Vhnxw0CabWoMbk5r3sD5176XPyJrfPazhKUCqilPR27DI1GUZP0ECaDnR-f4Ev7VkkHa4VuReuVeI-OZRuNwjQIYSBPv/s1600-h/DSC04861.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119690758814184946" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWzgBy02qZq-nP9hPFNRubRpDGNjYLnJfcpUJuuJsQ9xyu5j69Vhnxw0CabWoMbk5r3sD5176XPyJrfPazhKUCqilPR27DI1GUZP0ECaDnR-f4Ev7VkkHa4VuReuVeI-OZRuNwjQIYSBPv/s320/DSC04861.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdWhwnujtUuThludPh5z3o4HFfzsABjmYPgc1WJyOgEb90kIIZtnjRhgRYOs_CtftuPAbmTVB-jqy-KCBCNgIo2bfwjuQIqKoJlFVmyXinXfJeYB3O4zgnDudeHhmmXzrSYsyHOkxsQ-kM/s1600-h/DSC04864.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119690763109152258" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdWhwnujtUuThludPh5z3o4HFfzsABjmYPgc1WJyOgEb90kIIZtnjRhgRYOs_CtftuPAbmTVB-jqy-KCBCNgIo2bfwjuQIqKoJlFVmyXinXfJeYB3O4zgnDudeHhmmXzrSYsyHOkxsQ-kM/s320/DSC04864.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735527012572758346.post-52316454208300895152007-10-09T02:53:00.000-07:002007-10-13T02:43:14.145-07:00The Temples of Angkor WatOur next highlight: 3 days in Cambodia, exploring the temples around Angkor Wat. The temples were built between the 9-13th century, during the time of the Khmer empire. Angkor Wat is the most famous, but there are hundreds of others in the area, and thousands across Cambodia. The jungle is claiming some of them back (see below...) Click on the pics for bigger pictures...<br /><br />Angkor Wat<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2uJAkL2hB73rMNKQX9KvqhxVcuY5IO2w_q3lBxj7HZ_bkqF4UegQIUQJ70qVYmvQu6EstxAwBvdqM5iTRhBVpNxMy5DXfCQAafHg-W3X3jz-_DjKMJAVk9moXolRIt3RMSe12TDOTo2JS/s1600-h/DSC04650.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119276706786981186" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2uJAkL2hB73rMNKQX9KvqhxVcuY5IO2w_q3lBxj7HZ_bkqF4UegQIUQJ70qVYmvQu6EstxAwBvdqM5iTRhBVpNxMy5DXfCQAafHg-W3X3jz-_DjKMJAVk9moXolRIt3RMSe12TDOTo2JS/s320/DSC04650.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpk7yJ2egEK0LQqhZoSCUpShRpCqVi6khMYDJRTIdckS4DrN6ib8FHQd_K4Rw6X_nY4S7radPWiwyi9f6q-jM-BVwxJkIQ7vmW8cI8S3bacS74__NRWmI50IoMkmDHgwijmnHLhUp3Dggv/s1600-h/DSC04809.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119885015890015810" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpk7yJ2egEK0LQqhZoSCUpShRpCqVi6khMYDJRTIdckS4DrN6ib8FHQd_K4Rw6X_nY4S7radPWiwyi9f6q-jM-BVwxJkIQ7vmW8cI8S3bacS74__NRWmI50IoMkmDHgwijmnHLhUp3Dggv/s320/DSC04809.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicMG8SKW1pvUvw7ld9c3xorIDFDIgfwOx0KzHSFcfSfxQX7GyYwngAD54irgtF9YfDpsqawNaHtGqtG3J_ZOP4nexK6SGCEZWSmNRYfo9EF8lNI1nxkbDR0kjPB0ajwM8anR1hB696X5Fj/s1600-h/DSC04591.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119885007300081202" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicMG8SKW1pvUvw7ld9c3xorIDFDIgfwOx0KzHSFcfSfxQX7GyYwngAD54irgtF9YfDpsqawNaHtGqtG3J_ZOP4nexK6SGCEZWSmNRYfo9EF8lNI1nxkbDR0kjPB0ajwM8anR1hB696X5Fj/s320/DSC04591.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggPRIR9QeGp73H7G-L6MvuMucSEUmpcZBctjH84316L4CGSYJXF8quCwtlA7Cnyk2i__T9jMVc-JLsxNB1njOvqn4u4nghdL9frfNheAIccbsdhc7iBl_ToyaYa2JYLNBNECLhhdQuL0FV/s1600-h/DSC04695.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119281749078586738" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggPRIR9QeGp73H7G-L6MvuMucSEUmpcZBctjH84316L4CGSYJXF8quCwtlA7Cnyk2i__T9jMVc-JLsxNB1njOvqn4u4nghdL9frfNheAIccbsdhc7iBl_ToyaYa2JYLNBNECLhhdQuL0FV/s320/DSC04695.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXNAqS9pjkTfM6aEsWiS0xCRogAWNXG-BKcY9qABiOzLNuEB8S8Nns4MBgD5IpwUH0rG64Nx1thwXqBgPVTlxVXXg-tWupAgmHucwPh0bdBEf-3j-oPG6uwU39a5sWcL2fAONz-tAq5PJD/s1600-h/DSC04627.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119281740488652130" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXNAqS9pjkTfM6aEsWiS0xCRogAWNXG-BKcY9qABiOzLNuEB8S8Nns4MBgD5IpwUH0rG64Nx1thwXqBgPVTlxVXXg-tWupAgmHucwPh0bdBEf-3j-oPG6uwU39a5sWcL2fAONz-tAq5PJD/s320/DSC04627.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYvnFzkbkCj8wfxS9KcxNUflxHu4dk9i9A2uZTOE6vMjuPXQMyNHj8OY54X6EwD2MXkdBJQMlE_QebdNVP80LwJIHw9CY63xsmOe-hjVlrat5RKaj6eqUDSCCsdBg6j8agzOt6OeKzwknC/s1600-h/DSC04770.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119278497788343634" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYvnFzkbkCj8wfxS9KcxNUflxHu4dk9i9A2uZTOE6vMjuPXQMyNHj8OY54X6EwD2MXkdBJQMlE_QebdNVP80LwJIHw9CY63xsmOe-hjVlrat5RKaj6eqUDSCCsdBg6j8agzOt6OeKzwknC/s320/DSC04770.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The daily "feeding of the monks" ceremony at one of the shrines in the Angkor Wat complex: local people bring cooked food for the monks - the monks chant to have their food blessed by Buddha...</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnOHN7weJy4OxKYgX8B6pYX-nXR4Xt-mbs6x7QUoUlEP_5YcftetL-6E2qBA1r6ZF3_JMk85GQ9ZIRmZu28WEZQHMCW84qFt-H4wtepkqCeNvfTmmNd0O8Z_nkwwQTen2jMBEioGkhYtU_/s1600-h/DSC04589.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119885024479950418" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnOHN7weJy4OxKYgX8B6pYX-nXR4Xt-mbs6x7QUoUlEP_5YcftetL-6E2qBA1r6ZF3_JMk85GQ9ZIRmZu28WEZQHMCW84qFt-H4wtepkqCeNvfTmmNd0O8Z_nkwwQTen2jMBEioGkhYtU_/s320/DSC04589.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>Mark is getting a $2 haircut at a local barber shop --- on one of the unpaved sidestreets off the main road leading to Angkor Wat...</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm-8Enm_4yM2PR3WYfIb8tE3z-l4Gk29ki8P0a7_ajP8gG8EiYpzhLJr0LsG3afX2FPQd6oclOm8sr02QCuP9v-W4W20sIsdT8J_e8W8iW_ogTLQV4DXRsX6Gn8TkGJUdlAfg3p7f4iHx-/s1600-h/DSC04788.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119885033069885026" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm-8Enm_4yM2PR3WYfIb8tE3z-l4Gk29ki8P0a7_ajP8gG8EiYpzhLJr0LsG3afX2FPQd6oclOm8sr02QCuP9v-W4W20sIsdT8J_e8W8iW_ogTLQV4DXRsX6Gn8TkGJUdlAfg3p7f4iHx-/s320/DSC04788.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735527012572758346.post-6402594385621970312007-10-08T18:29:00.000-07:002007-10-13T03:19:44.717-07:00ThailandOur guest house in Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitH8yjhdA1s2Ph6hxcRNiDUah3a4FJAcLIeghDvYcUx8mSW9sjD48eVZgIt3OKwrWhrMcwbGaFGcyCgOiRKhVr3O2ks6VqtZXl6BoTDpj6r_Gz-t5g_v3ZZXy251MFJ7duqwgBmmlVdloE/s1600-h/DSC04545.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119887575690524274" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitH8yjhdA1s2Ph6hxcRNiDUah3a4FJAcLIeghDvYcUx8mSW9sjD48eVZgIt3OKwrWhrMcwbGaFGcyCgOiRKhVr3O2ks6VqtZXl6BoTDpj6r_Gz-t5g_v3ZZXy251MFJ7duqwgBmmlVdloE/s320/DSC04545.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />One of the many wats in Chiang Mai<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyWVs5LaIfUVVKEJNc988W2dM0qbB0bRlGOgqgqOCqhFI_-YkpWwOMRu9vbM2ry7c0Th6CyCANXi31M3I-QwF3d0ImJ2vSJB_Nu5uQ6ZACKicBb5zFqW4JDnaVRuYoQHeS3NU_yKX9MYCP/s1600-h/DSC04505.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119887584280458882" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyWVs5LaIfUVVKEJNc988W2dM0qbB0bRlGOgqgqOCqhFI_-YkpWwOMRu9vbM2ry7c0Th6CyCANXi31M3I-QwF3d0ImJ2vSJB_Nu5uQ6ZACKicBb5zFqW4JDnaVRuYoQHeS3NU_yKX9MYCP/s320/DSC04505.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />A typical local restaurant...dinner for two: $5<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYkrNz5VorGDDXbtcmdhqOK6TjvyK9ok3kNdi2vEajeWPA6NkyXO3yAWPzpdQwHnwIAJqQjsCVNRpTL6P8G9o2idIwn61uX1tol6FjYTDe1mjohLlFbIVpR2Y9F5dP8ABJwhpunvX1WpcX/s1600-h/DSC04493.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119887588575426194" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYkrNz5VorGDDXbtcmdhqOK6TjvyK9ok3kNdi2vEajeWPA6NkyXO3yAWPzpdQwHnwIAJqQjsCVNRpTL6P8G9o2idIwn61uX1tol6FjYTDe1mjohLlFbIVpR2Y9F5dP8ABJwhpunvX1WpcX/s320/DSC04493.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Careful...elephants in the street...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnMDidS_vmT9idvf9PgnLcLcwFaAz3a5VH0YJSYVozn7EihhLo2iJ7QAVYOySak6uEKciOoDaSzAxAlAaiULj32SmBOb16NIOcj8mkVM_US787o02Frn0N8yDvYz9vbo6nRA_nmTvZ4T2j/s1600-h/DSC04443.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119887592870393506" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnMDidS_vmT9idvf9PgnLcLcwFaAz3a5VH0YJSYVozn7EihhLo2iJ7QAVYOySak6uEKciOoDaSzAxAlAaiULj32SmBOb16NIOcj8mkVM_US787o02Frn0N8yDvYz9vbo6nRA_nmTvZ4T2j/s320/DSC04443.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPUt6j8BJetv_nGyLNaqGLko9-HvIaz7wPXDDpCDIH5FPaiEw47Mj7CWKohhT9j5Cv0uk2Ep4yoAEIHJasPHeZPNFh8FKH3XplZr4n-snhQ7tWdtXzQ-veBNDo16kkhqQUwb94h7Pe6T6F/s1600-h/DSC04403.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119887601460328114" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPUt6j8BJetv_nGyLNaqGLko9-HvIaz7wPXDDpCDIH5FPaiEw47Mj7CWKohhT9j5Cv0uk2Ep4yoAEIHJasPHeZPNFh8FKH3XplZr4n-snhQ7tWdtXzQ-veBNDo16kkhqQUwb94h7Pe6T6F/s320/DSC04403.JPG" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735527012572758346.post-21860283727179914272007-10-04T18:39:00.000-07:002007-10-13T03:10:06.477-07:00A belated post about our trek in VietnamOur last adventure in Vietnam was a 3-day, 2-night hike through the Mai Chau area southwest of Hanoi, including homestay with local families. Here are some pics....<br /><br />This is the Thai stilt house we stayed in:<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4yCXpv53omDcIqHR5357zvG-6uiU-IqWEDAqFoPSQznTXJzDuz_BLPEIeXh7gOG9LembDF9dvwtTwcanuXSasg1GY0Plzr1_nH6yPVWJC-pEdDqWjJ19nqZ0mgKHeoYwqhSYd5YD83Rol/s1600-h/DSC04282.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119890131196065474" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4yCXpv53omDcIqHR5357zvG-6uiU-IqWEDAqFoPSQznTXJzDuz_BLPEIeXh7gOG9LembDF9dvwtTwcanuXSasg1GY0Plzr1_nH6yPVWJC-pEdDqWjJ19nqZ0mgKHeoYwqhSYd5YD83Rol/s320/DSC04282.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA4J8isXXy_NC16aEcCfbM1PG-MyHNdajFU1jvT3GjIzvn6X1OQy85HYit_dtkDZgOJPDbzqG4mrEW1-_eXnrLQwohFYuqORTSFZwaf5IP4nqCDMWqg6XHEK7FZuTc78EBK9GAS-gF5gDA/s1600-h/DSC04238.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119890139786000082" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA4J8isXXy_NC16aEcCfbM1PG-MyHNdajFU1jvT3GjIzvn6X1OQy85HYit_dtkDZgOJPDbzqG4mrEW1-_eXnrLQwohFYuqORTSFZwaf5IP4nqCDMWqg6XHEK7FZuTc78EBK9GAS-gF5gDA/s320/DSC04238.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Mark is making friends with the locals...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiSJuL1ZdcPYqWfbxckRogiiDi8AaBQV7RoGOf9IuAhfcSQVbWNGpvJt-Hc_UcRaW3mzlrVMNjAA4VGQJNot9rISpHjErtYMS3PKWw1kGu0UPaP5m9OPPNk2H3CYAe9h2vvaNU4EVb1zE6/s1600-h/DSC04256.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119890144080967394" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiSJuL1ZdcPYqWfbxckRogiiDi8AaBQV7RoGOf9IuAhfcSQVbWNGpvJt-Hc_UcRaW3mzlrVMNjAA4VGQJNot9rISpHjErtYMS3PKWw1kGu0UPaP5m9OPPNk2H3CYAe9h2vvaNU4EVb1zE6/s320/DSC04256.JPG" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735527012572758346.post-60353313718554648142007-10-03T07:45:00.000-07:002007-10-03T07:46:34.217-07:00We are in Siem Reap/CambodiaJust a quick note to let everyone know that we are in Siem Reap. Spent the whole day exploring the amazing temples here...More and pictures once we are in Sidney (next week...)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735527012572758346.post-13739630297548738472007-10-03T07:43:00.001-07:002007-10-03T07:45:04.700-07:00Yes, I will be singing with San Diego Opera next season!I am very excited that I get to sing with the San Diego Opera Chorus for the January 2008 production of Tannhaeuser...Rehearsals start December 5...make sure you give each other opera tickets for Christmas...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735527012572758346.post-33372026808267420872007-10-03T07:37:00.000-07:002007-10-10T19:41:32.892-07:00Thailand - a massage lovers paradise!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYkE_ykBZX1jGS7eg2VPx-LRX5a9ysEWO-_PeUwAMLspH6miOxrTq15I2aXG7VY48H08uwv2TNPcPthTbnJUKyQEwHPk_UEOQ-102svaPA3Sxvr53KefxFTgd1q3M1J77frhhVEDUywPfA/s1600-h/DSC04492.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119903707587688178" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYkE_ykBZX1jGS7eg2VPx-LRX5a9ysEWO-_PeUwAMLspH6miOxrTq15I2aXG7VY48H08uwv2TNPcPthTbnJUKyQEwHPk_UEOQ-102svaPA3Sxvr53KefxFTgd1q3M1J77frhhVEDUywPfA/s320/DSC04492.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>If you love massages as much as I do, Thailand is the place to be! Foot or Thai massages are available at every corner, and cost about $6 per hour!!! So Mark and I have been enjoying our daily massage - a luxury we will have to give up soon...Foot massages are heavenly: mellow and relaxing...Thai massages on the other hand can be quite painful -but so good! Thai massage is totally different from the kind of feel-good deep tissue or Swedish kind of massage you can get in the Western world...elbows, heels, feet, knuckles all find their way in between bones and into muscles you didn't even know you had...and don't be surprised when your massagist is standing on your hands, walking on your back, or twisting her legs around you while swinging your body from one side to the other...as I said, it's a massage lovers paradise...</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735527012572758346.post-77633056407553285062007-10-03T07:28:00.000-07:002007-10-10T19:51:52.243-07:00Ode to the Moto<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8nZAdfukBiIT2iO8nHUytRK8CEanVYIRdvCBtrW9VLPoda__pbk59SBqfwOHQhxYSUG-Tv0tCWuw7y2K7NW7oUbrfAkmV3ImmzXQJVdIFZKMGsvGH3CSTztTRkU4Q63j7TzKoV8hPB4ZP/s1600-h/DSC04639.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119906254503294722" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8nZAdfukBiIT2iO8nHUytRK8CEanVYIRdvCBtrW9VLPoda__pbk59SBqfwOHQhxYSUG-Tv0tCWuw7y2K7NW7oUbrfAkmV3ImmzXQJVdIFZKMGsvGH3CSTztTRkU4Q63j7TzKoV8hPB4ZP/s320/DSC04639.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-zxjrCIt2MRUDU36InRhpufXbVjnzrRFmf9mfbBGjtHrLEuwsKk9yiT2UXbtrcfjzOsmOKNVCeHDr-1_2HB-T1UgCxTYNloXEPkJrcsw_7oQ3iRWoc5qbWzgp7vx69QD6wiuW72E4QX3T/s1600-h/DSC04780.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5119906258798262034" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-zxjrCIt2MRUDU36InRhpufXbVjnzrRFmf9mfbBGjtHrLEuwsKk9yiT2UXbtrcfjzOsmOKNVCeHDr-1_2HB-T1UgCxTYNloXEPkJrcsw_7oQ3iRWoc5qbWzgp7vx69QD6wiuW72E4QX3T/s320/DSC04780.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>If it weren't for the frequent accidents and air pollution, the moto would truly be the perfect way to get around: it's cheap, you can park anywhere, and most importantly, you can transport pretty much anything on it: your girlfriend, your two girlfriends, your grandmother, your entire family of four or five, your sleeping 2-year old (with her sleepy head resting in one of your palms, while you are steering the moto with the other), your dog, a door, a basket with 250 raw eggs, another motorcyle, a bonsai tree, a mirror, a bicycle, your entire business in the shape of a street stall, freshly picked coconuts from your backyard...I wished I had photos of all these - but the motos zoom by, and it's hard to capture on film...but we really saw it all...</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0