OUCH! You would think that when you are in the kitchen using sharp objects you would maintain a bit of caution and care. Never gonna happen. While visiting friends and assisting with the preparation of scalloped potatoes using for the first time an extremely sharp mandoline slicer - without the hand guard - I became …
My Month in Bali…Continued
I left you to catch-up on some much-needed sleep and try and acclimate my body to the very different temperature of this country from the North Island of New Zealand. I had left Auckland in a howling rainstorm with temperatures in the low 60's and coat and umbrella very much required. I arrived in Bali …
32 DAYS IN BALI – Part One
It’s 5 p.m. The sun is setting. The call to prayers at a nearby mosque can be heard drifting on the breeze along with the ever-present smell of incense, satay being cooked over an open-flame grill and the too-sweet smell of rotting fruit. The Balinese language is a muddle of sounds played on a musical scale …
MY LAST NEW ZEALAND ADVENTURES AND FINAL HOUSESIT
Still coughing but no longer running a fever, it was time to leave Auckland and head to Rotorua. I had been told by everyone that this was one area that I should really take time to visit. I was told to be sure to take in the evening show and dinner at the Maori Village, …
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RETURN TO THE NORTH ISLAND – Part 1
Peaceful-Design Pretend it's now February 6th. My time in New Zealand is drawing to a close - just one month a 2 days before my Visa expires and I my leave my home of the past 9 months. The first thing I did after landing in Auckland was to catch a bus to Thames - …
THE SOUTH ISLAND 3 – Queenstown, TeAnau, Milford & Doubtful Sounds
From Dunedin, I hoped a Naked Bus (just the name of the bus company, not how the driver & passengers dress), and headed to Queenstown - the Adventure Capital of the South Island. I had booked into the new Haka Lodge - 4-bed mixed dorm room - for a week. (I always request a …
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THE SOUTH ISLAND 2 – Dunedin
On January 19th I completed my holiday housesit and flew from Wellington to spend the next 3 weeks exploring the south half of the South Island. I spent the first week in Dunedin at the wonderful hostel, KiwisNest. With a corner room all to myself, the staff even brought me in a desk and chair and …
The SOUTH ISLAND 1- Christchurch, Akaroa, Arthur’s Pass, Hokitika
If you read my previous blog posts, you know that I had made my way to the South Island for a trip to Nelson to specifically tour the WOW Museum (with a short foray into the fabulous Abel Tasman National Park) before returning to Blenheim, smack in the middle the delicious Marlborough wine region, for a …
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TRAVELING IN, AROUND AND OUTSIDE OF WELLINGTON – PART 2
Time really flies when you're having fun! I loved my 3 1/2 months living in Wellington - I had public transportation that made it easy to get from my little 'home on the hill' into the CBD (if you didn't mind walking down an extremely steep hill to catch the bus - or back up …
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TRAVELING IN, AROUND AND OUTSIDE OF WELLINGTON – PART I
From October 1st to January 19th, I was based in Wellington - the capital city of New Zealand, where I made my home, most of the time, in a comfy room overlooking the beautiful harbour. But I did venture out from my cozy nest to see and do and house and pet sit during this …
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My Home on the Roam 