On The Move

Gallery: East Side

neill — Wed, 12 Apr 2006 11:49:00 GMT

Costa Del Oz

I’m In a Land Down Under

neill — Sat, 8 Apr 2006 18:06:00 GMT

Big up to all, where ever ya may be…As the title points out, I’m in Oz now and have been here for two and a half weeks now. After comin here from NZ just as it was headin into winter (11°C in Christchurch the day I left) to the heat over here was a bit of a pleasant surprise – even if it did take me a few days to get use to it.

So I got to Sydney safe and sound, the beeper in customs didn’t even go off once!! First time for everything. I’d booked into a hostel in King’s Cross, which may as well be Soho, and after leaving a country of 4 million for a city of the same size, it felt like a very very different way of life. Still, first full day there, off to Darling Harbour to check out the Bridge and Opera House (Tourist is as tourist does). I don’t think I’d seen so many people in the one place since the Lions tour in NZ. The whole place was rammed! After much bumping of shoulders, I figured out the best way to move was listen to fast music and play ‘dodge the Japanese tourist’, I got board of that fairly fast though. So a new game came to mind – ‘Get in the Japanese tourists photos’, I think I got to about medium skill level (room for improvement). But I had one more game up my sleeve. For about 10 minutes I started to take photos of nothing – just walking up to a curb or a park bench and take a snap. Then sit and wait……………..The tourists flocked over – there’s going to be hours of slide shows goin on in Japan of curbs and park benches!! Classic!!

Headed back to the hostel after watching the sunset over the Bridge and Opera House and via the Botanic Gardens. The sunset was fantastic and the gardens were full of surprises, loads of amazing plants and birds, it’s easy to take for granted places like that at home. The only thing about over here is when you walk anywhere, ANYWHERE, over here, something can kill you! And I don’t just mean the wildlife (more later). I eventually got back to the hostel after a quick unplanned detour through a few streets that were littered with rubbish and cans – some cans had obviously tried to discard their owners, but the owner had been holding on so long, he must have needed a rest because he was sound asleep…. Maybe these guys were having a competition to see who could hold on the longest, the dozen or so looked like they’d been there for a while – possibly since the Olympics…

The hostel was a good laugh though, really social, not one of those hostels where everyone looks at you like you have 17.58 heads. There was a point where I was sitting outside at the table with 8 other people – 7 of which were from Dublin…Ah! The reason I came traveling, to talk to Dubs! All were sound and had a laugh there. King’s Cross, on the other hand is mad as chips!! I was standing at the bank on the main road and this kid beside me must have had some medical condition. He had no colour in his eyes and must have urgently needed his medication. He didn’t even have time to go home to take it, so in his eagerness, he just pulled out his needle and stuck it in his arm….I politely made my excuses and was on my way. There was another bloke shot on the main street too, some bloke in a strip joint popped a cap in him!!

So goodbye sleepy New Zealand and welcome to the big city!! All of that may sound bad, but I didn’t feel threatened once in Sydney and it is a really nice city. I’ll spend some time there before I leave the country. I think it just seemed a lot at the time because all I wanted to do was get out of the city and see some of the country….and that I did, but only after a few days of Sydney getting its claws into me. I can see how some people just get stuck there; I had 3/4 days of going to reception and checking in for ‘one more day’.

So myself and an English lads rented a car and headed up the east coast, Ozzy John, that I used to live with, was in Brisbane and that is where I was headed…

Right, this blog is long enough, so I’ll be back with another soon….Till then, Ta Da….Neillxx

Gallery: Sydney

neill — Thu, 30 Mar 2006 15:35:00 GMT

Big City Oz

End of Days

neill — Wed, 22 Mar 2006 15:52:00 GMT

How do Folks,

I've been just a bit on the busy side of late and been just a bit crap on the mail bit....

So I'm out of NZ now, did 3 days of kayaking in Milford and Doubtful Sound. One day in Milford and the weather was amazing....Fantastic place, wish I could have done the walk, but what can you do....Long day though, up at 6a.m., and that shook me a bit...The area is so beautiful, wish I had ear plugs with me, the airport in Milford is the second busiest in the country when the weather is clear and there was a constant buzz of choppers and planes all over the place.

Up again super early the next day and off to Doubtful. It was chuckin it down, and the forcast was for worse (100mm in 3 hours – the area gets over 3m a year). 40 minute drive, half an hour by boat across the lake and another 40 minute drive to the Sound. By the time we got there the water falls were huge, massive cascades over shear cliffs 800-1000m high. The wind decided to do it's thing too, not in a half assed way though, it went straight for a gale force 6...We hit the water for about an hour and turned back, for a while it was touch and go if the whole thing was going to be called off. It decided to calm after lunch, but it was bloody hard work. Worth ever minute. To be able to paddle right up to the base of a 1000m waterfall and look straight up, the noise and the force was incredible...

Eventually got to the camp in the middle of a rain forest, our home for the night..Everyone was shattered, bit of food, one or two drinks and passout....

The second was much of the same, only colder..I'd forgotten what it's like to put on a cold, wet wetsuit first thing in the morning....

After the kayaking and a few days of rest, it was back to Christchurch for Paddy's Day...The pub were lookin for people to work, so I thought what the hell, cashin hand – and then I can hand it straight back to them!! The pub was 4 deep at 10a.m. When i started....it stayed like that all day. By 10:02 all the green stuff was out – hair spray, tattoos, badges, backpatches – an Irish man really didn't stand a chance..Had a wicked day working though, I think I was the only one in work making tips. Maybe people felt sorry for an Irish man working on the 17^th of all days...Finished work at 6, and I'm suer you can guess how the rest of the evening was spent...

4 days later I flew out of New Zealand, after nine and a half months, it just felt strange...But it was the end of a great time and there will be more.....and that's for the next chapter...Sydney – the newest of the Dublin suburbs...

That's me over and out.....Nx

Gallery: Franz Josef

neill — Sun, 19 Mar 2006 12:46:00 GMT

Walkin on Water

Gallery: Mis Stuff

neill — Tue, 14 Mar 2006 17:38:00 GMT

A Bit O'Everything

Abel Tasman

neill — Sun, 12 Mar 2006 13:59:00 GMT

G’Day,

How’s everybody?? Well my last log was in Nelson waiting to do the Abel Tasman. While waiting to get on the trip, decided to head to Fairwell Spit – right up the north-west of the south Island. An absolute nightmare to get to because most of the road is just dirt track, but well worth it. We got there just before dusk, so on the walk back the sun was just goin down, Fairly (see what I did there!!) impressive place, but the word impressive means something very different than it did nine months ago.

Long drive back to the hostel in Motueka, pack me bag for the kayak trip and off to bed for an early night – long two days ahead. Got there early to meet the ‘Team’ (any group thing you do over here your called ‘team’ – stuff like “Right team, are you ready to kayak!!”. All very Kiwi). We’d meet two of the ‘team’ before on the Tongariro crossing and the rest were wicked sound. So water taxi up to the first of many beaches. The whole National Park is just so beautiful it’s hard to explain, the water is so clear! Spent the day just going from beach to beach, stopping now and then to have a swim or just mess about on the beach.

After a couple of hour milling about, we stopped by a campsite and settled in for the night. And that’s when the real feast began – NEVER, EVER, GO TO THE COAST IN NZ WITHOUT INSECT SPRAY…..NEVER!!! Anyone who’s ever had a sandfly bite will understand. I got bitten about 30 times on my legs and feet, but it didn’t really start to itch until back on land after the trip. Anyway, had a top laugh at the campsite. The conversations got a bit much at times though, there was a radiographer, 2 surgeons and a vet on the trip and there was serious competition for the worst, most gruesome story. Nasty business!

Up the next day and off for another paddle, how bad…Couple of sore heads about, but a quick swim sorted that out fairly smartish. Plenty more kayaking and beach sitting/exploring, by the afternoon we were all fairly knackered. The way the trip is run, you go north-south so the prevailing wind is always behind you, so in the afternoon we all rafted up together and stuck up a sail and away we went down easy street!! A very easy sail back to the starting beach.

Back at base and about to fall over I was so tired, but no time for that. Into the car and on the road south and towards Christchurch over a few days. It would have been alright driving except for one thing – I started to scratch my sandfly bites. I couldn’t wear shoes or socks for 10 days because my feet were so swollen…Insect spray – it’s the way forward!! Still, had a really amazing two days in Abel Tasman, as the pics are testament to – the place is fantastic!!

I’ve been up to a few things since then too, and plenty of news too, but I’m out of time and I have to move on and get todays miles under my belt – on to the next (and soooo sadly my last) adventure in New Zealand. I’m off to Oz next week, so I’m goin to have to say goodbye to the Land Of The Long White Cloud!! I’m welling up!!

But I’ve more to tell when I’ve got the time – Since Abel I’ve been down to Queenstown and been kayaking in Milford and Doubtful Sound…. Milford and Doubtful are…….well……..HUGE!!! But that’s all for another day…..

Besides that, all’s great…Keepin well, smiling and having fun. Hope all’s good wherever ye are…

Have a good one everybody, and I'll be back soon with all the Milford and Doubtful Sound info soon, till then I'm off to climb a glacier...

Take care everyone and remember – the summer is on the way!! It’s startin to get a bit colder down here now, and the snow is falling on the peaks!!

Ta Da for now…..Big Love…Neillxx

Gallery: Doubtful Sound

neill — Sat, 4 Mar 2006 13:46:00 GMT

2 Days Kayaking

Gallery: Milford Sound

neill — Fri, 3 Mar 2006 13:35:00 GMT

A Day Kayaking!!

Gallery: Rafting & Sledging

neill — Tue, 28 Feb 2006 16:29:00 GMT

Water, Water Everywhere!!

Gallery: Abel Tasman

neill — Tue, 28 Feb 2006 15:46:00 GMT

Better Than Winter!!

Gallery: Fairwell Spit

neill — Tue, 28 Feb 2006 15:39:00 GMT

Load of Sand

Belated Update

neill — Tue, 21 Feb 2006 15:56:00 GMT

Hello one and all....So I've finally gotten myself to an internet cafe for the long overdue update on the travels!!! Well, the work is over, as ye all know, and I'm on the road again – Hobo style!!

I've got a new set of wheels and a new travel buddy..I'm at a bit of a loss where to start, so I think I'll go for the bullet point thing!!(Easier to scan read and then pretend you read the whole thing).

- Mid January, finished work, which involved me being taped up(Guinness in hand included) and having a St.Georges Cross flag thrown over me...That went down a treat with the locals...

- Flew up to Auckland on the 20^th of january for the Big Day Out Festival..Proper music!! Kings of Leon, Go Team, The Mars Volta, White Stripes & The Greenhorns(quality band)...Plastering on the sun cream all day, but no hat and a fresh haircut did the trick..After a few days my dair gel at least stopped the flakey scalp lookin - terminal!! I'd meet up with some of the Auckland lads (Kiwis) and one of their mates had just got here from Oz.

- Onto the car bit..Alanna was headin about the country, so we thought a car was the way forward.We bought a car between us the next day..We went halfs and she's goin to buy me out when I leave..So I'm travelling about for next to nothing!!

- Left the rubbish city that's Auckland and headed north to the Bay of Islands and stayed in Paihia..They boast about 365 days of sun a year – It rained for 4 days straight!!!

- Had enough of the Bay, and had to meet the Auckland kids at Goat Island (no goats there though). Spent two nights camping, just swimming and being idol most of the time..really nice though.

- Next stop, Great Barrier Island..Off the east coast...Funny place, after being back in Auckland for 2 days and then to the Island was strange..It's a really beautiful place, there's no possums so the plants have been spared. A short walk to the only shop to the locals is 6km. A band were playin that night and the whole family(island) turned out!! Did a few days walking, which was beautiful..great few days in all..

- Coromandel next off, I hadn't been there before, but it's stunning..spent a few days travelling about, checkin out Hot Water Beach and Cathedral Cove amongst other places...

- Had a look at dates and figured out it was time for some ruthless German efficiency. Time for Rotorua and outdoor stuff!! First on the bill was white water sledging – you plumit down some rapids (with names like 'The Rock Gardin') on what's bacially a body board...It had been raining so the grade 3 river we were going to do was closed, but the grade 4+ was open!! So off we went with our life-jackets, helmets, sledge and no common sense!! You'd come out of the rapid terrified, and then realise you'd survived – Oh, the joy of it!!! Big dopey smiles all around!! That night, off to a Maori village for a hangi (grub cooked in a hole in the ground over hot rocks)..I didn't eat the food, I inhaled it after the sledging!! I needed a day to recover after that..a bit black, blue and bloated...

- Up early, paddle in hand and off to a grade 5 river that only opens 26 days a year..After the sledging, rafting (even a grade 5 with 4m waterfall) seemed...well...average. Would have been better to do them the other way around...Still good fun, and I still felt it after..

- Back to the hostel and someone had the idea, to heal our weary bones, to go to a hot water river..

So spent the evening sittin in a hot water river under a waterfall...

- After a few days resting after all that water stuff, the body was due another pounding..But this was a pounding well worth it!! Tongariro (I can hear you from here David, I'm sure it's along the lines of “ya little f#*ker!!”, or something). What an amazing place!! Some many different environments in one place..It was unbelievable, can't really describe it. It's really lunar in parts and some of the colours are fantastic..I'll stick up some photos and let ye see for yourselves (don't show them to David – I don't want to be responsible of him hi-jacking a peddle boat in Tramore and tryin to get over here to climb it again!!).

- More days rest and stopped in Wellington for the weekend. I think it's one of my favourite cities, really nice place. The Around the World Yacht Race was there, so there was a great atmosphere in the city, loads of Samba bands playing – that's where the boats are off to next..Got the ferry down south on Monday. Walked up to the top deck and bumped into Alan Butlers sister, didn't even know she was over here..I would say very strange – but it's not, bumping into people isn't weird anymore, it happens so often..

- In Nelson now, just waiting to do a 2 day kayake in the Abel Tasman National Park..can't wait for that..From there over the Lewis Pass and Hamner Springs back to Christchurch. 2 days there and busting south to Doubtful Sound and Milford Sound for a few days walking and maybe some kayaking too...I'd like to do a night cruise too, but we'll see..Then up to the glaciers and get me spikes on to find some blue ice.....

So that's the story so far, hope no-one wakes up with prints of their keyboard on their face, and if you do....GO TO BED EARLIER!! Anyway, all's great over here, fairly much on the go all the time now, but loving every bit of it. They could do with a new 0-zone layer though(8 minute burn time)..

This whole group mail thing, a bit of a pain, but the easiest way to do it....

I'm off now, the bakery by the hostel will be droppin off the food they didn't sell today, so i have to get in before the others have it stashed under their pillow or wherever they put it!!! hope your all well and good....I'm sure i'll talkto ye soon...

Big Love....Neillxxx

Gallery: Tongariro Crossing

neill — Fri, 17 Feb 2006 16:26:00 GMT

Tongariro Crossing

The Old Bus Story

neill — Sat, 24 Sep 2005 16:10:00 GMT

Hi All,

Presume ye heard about the van by now..Some f#*ker robbing my beloved bus!!

Well, here's what happened....

We were outside the hostel having a ciggy and we saw this bloke, very dodgy looking - but didn't say anything. Not a good thing to go shooting the mouth off, but had a bad feeling when I saw him. Later on, we were about to go and meet one of the girls from home in town. So Oisin went up to the room to change clothes. He came back down and said his rucksack and backpack were both gone. So we went to reception and the bloke there didn't seem to give a toss...we found Oisins rucksack in one of the shower rooms, whoever had it just went through it and found nothing of use, so it got dumped...Only then did I hit me to check the van - GONE!! He must have gone through Ois' backpack and found the van key, I can only presume he went out and tried all the hiace vans in the carpark. Mine started!! We rang the cops, but they did sod all till today. So I've been on the phone all day sorting that out..

The girls at reception saw the bloke last night walking out, thought he looked dodgy, so they followed him - but nothing came of that..they did notice the bag and it looked like Oisins..

They got him on camera walking out of the place, so the cops came today to get the tape. Not much I can do besides wait now and see what happens....

I didn't lose much, I only had a few bits of clothes, but my rucksack was in the van (I've been living out of a plastic box for the last while - easer to move from van to hostel!). So that's all I really lost..Poor Oisin had his passport and drivers licence in the van, so he's got to go and sort out all that stuff now....

At least we had already decided to stay around Christchurch for a while, it would be a lot worse if we had planed to head off soon or made plans to meet up with people....'

As Oisin said today - you hear of this sort of thing happening all teh time, it's just this time it was our turn! At the end of the day (as the gaffer said) no one was hurt, it was not our doing, the bus was insured and I've never had a car nicked one me before - so another experience!!! To be honest, myself and Oisin spent the first part of the day really fed up, but by the afternoon we could do nothing but laugh.....What can you do - that's life!!!

Another gilr in the hostel got her phone and some t-shirts nicked too, so maybe he's a cross-dressing thief...

So that's the story. It's no longer.. 'some one I meet in Dunedin had their van nicked.....' kind of things...now it'll be someone else saying 'I meet these two Irish boys in Christchurch who....'

There ye have it, I'll keep ye up to date if anything changes or if I find out anything in the next while.......talk to ye all soon....

Big Love....xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Quick Round Up

neill — Mon, 5 Sep 2005 16:14:00 GMT

How's things up and over there...The summer must be startin to slip through your fingers by now, BAH!!, but that's all good for me. Means the weather is starting to migrate to the south!! Fantastic!!

Not a whole lot goin on over here, Left Queenstown about a week ago.It's a grand town, but not a place to live or work. The population is always moving on somewhere, it's really only a stopover town. Anyone I talked to there hated the place because they never really got to know anyone.

So headed for Dunedin. The All Blacks were playing the Spring Bokkes and managed to blag tickets at half price..The match was fairly good, but the Kiwi fans are rubbish, really quite!!No singing or chanting, the only noise they make is to BOO the ref and the players (even their own). Me and Ois were not committing to supporting any team, so when asked we just said we weren't sure weather to support the All Bokkes or the Spring Blacks!! The South African fans were a good laugh though!

So stayed there for a few days and meet a lad from Slough (just outside London) who we'd seen about the country.. Everyone he meet was a "Geezer"!! Stayed there a few days and read alot, no tv in the hostel, so it was a nice relaxed place!!! It's a big student town, but not a very nice place. Students really only have clicky groups, so it's not the friendliest for places. The plan was to head to Christchurch anyway, and Mark (Slough boy), was flying out of here, so gave him a lift up, and here Me and Ois are now..

So been in Christchurch now for 5 days or so....Oisin is still about, he's lookin for a job here too..We didn't get anymore boardin in in Queenstown, but Mt.Hutt is just over an hour away, so I hope to get a bit more in before the end of the season..

that's the score of late, I'll probably be in Christchurch now for a couple of months, maybe even Christmas too, be no plans laid in concrete. I think Ois will probably head to Oz about November too...he really wants to see Santa surfing and to be able to say he had shrimps on the barby on christmas day!!

Sounds like the Bluegrass was good alright, got a mail from David, he and his neighbours and their neighbours seemed to have a good one....

That's great your off to Prague, it's ment to be a beautiful city..I just realised, your off today!! Have an amazing time....just lookin at the weather there, very nice, hot at the end of the week though...but I'm sure yourself and Jackie will surive!!! Enjoy the trip..

and that's the Neill Mac Cann progress and plan....

Take care, hello to everyone there and I'll talk to you soon...

All my love.....xxxxxx

Queenstown to Christchurch

neill — Fri, 2 Sep 2005 16:20:00 GMT

Hello, Hello, Hello,

How's tings up and over there a bit??

What have I been up to???? Well last I wrote I was in Queenstown, I spent about 10 days there, lookin for work, snow and pubs!! Not in that order though..It's some little party town, the only place I've been in this country that's busy every night. We got there before all the folks we've meet on the way around the country, so there was a constant stream of people we knew in the place..Did a couple of days up the Remarkables too, startin to get the hang of it now, but I've gotta get some more boardin in soon - the season is nearly at an end. All the locals have been sayin this is the worst winter for snow in years - so lucky I'm only learnin, 'cos I have no clue!! But I do know ice F#@KIN HURTS!!! Ois and a couple of the lads did the thrillogy, 3 bungys, but there was no chance in hell I was doin them, so I've been tryin to live that down..Anyone I talked to who worked in Queenstown hated the place 'cos it is so hard to meet people there. Everyone who goes there is just passin through, spendin a couple of days at a time. But Queenstown is not a place for work, too expensive to live, so got outta there after all our mates had passed through..

Headed to Dunedin for NZ versus South Africa rugby match. Me and Ois managed to get tickets.The atmosphere, if you could even call it that, was shit!! No-one sings, shouts ar chants..the only noise they make is to boo the players or the ref (that's the only thing in common with soccer). The Kiwis clame they don't make noise at matches because they know so much about rugby, they just sit back and take in the beautiful game...bull!! they're just crap fans who'd crap themselves at a GAA match!!

The South Africans were nuts though, so at least we had a laugh with them..

Did the Speights brewary tour too, we were trying to beat one of the lads records of sinking 9 free boozes at the tasting at the small glasses, only got 8 then they kicked us out ("another tour on the way" was their official press release - bastards!!). So more piss taking by the lads, with me and Ois on the receiving end..

Mark has been buzzing around with us in the van for a while, it's good to have some one else in the bus. It livens things up a bit, you know how it is when goin around with one person, you can't keep telling the same stories..But meself and Horse Box (Oisins name, given to him by a Dublin taxi driver in a hostel in Auckland) are gettin on grand, no proper fights or anything yet...He's thinking of headin to Oz in November or so, but no plans set in concrete yet...

So in Christchurch now, got here yesterday and Mark is flying out tomorrow, a few scoops will have to be had tonight..and on the job trail on Monday. I'll probably stay here for a few months, it's handy to get to Mt.Hutt for a bit of snow, and it has the longest season too...

I broke me the screen on me camera too, so I was takin it easy on the finances till I found out how much it was gonna cost to fix. I've been a bit reluctant to do stuff with out me camera too, but I got it back today...Way Hay...

Well, that's all me news really...

I can't believe the candlelight is gone!! God knows what will be there by the time I get back to the Deise...When are ye off to Rome?? Who's going all together?? i'm well jealous about Electric Picnic, that's one thing I miss down here - the music scene is rubbish!! I'd love to see The Arcade Fire too, the album is wicked..The Flaming Lips are ment to be amazing live too...So the two little ones are growing up, I personally think that's the best direction for them to grow!!

Say hello to all the folks back in the home land, and I'll leave you with a weird fact I heard last night......there are 44million people in the world with Irish/dual irish passports!!! Christ - I hope they don't all decide to move home 'cos the country would sink!!!

Till next time.....Ta Da...

xxxxxxxx

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Auckland

neill — Thu, 11 Aug 2005 16:31:00 GMT

Kia Ora,

The latest installment of uncle traveling Mac......

So , lets see...where to begin...Well, bought me 19 year old brown bus in Auckland after being there for about 10 days, had a good laugh when we were there, meet some sound out folk who were hanging there for a while too. I bumped into one of the girls I used to share a house with in Cork too (Jenny Egan). She's been living here 4 years working in "the industry" (tourism)..So she managed to get meself and her out onto an Americas Cup yacht for free, I had to pretend I worked in "the industry" in Oz..Only some machine, $5m to build and $60m R&D, so it was like gettin a chanch to drive a formula 1 car..The most expensive thing I'll ever drive anyway!!! That night in the hostel bar I won a whale watching trip in one of those name the song and artist comps (HMV might have been rubbish, but it paid off). So in two days I managed to get about $350 worth of free stuff..Jackpot!!! The whale watching thing was alright, it's really a research boat who bring punters along for the ride, but that's what they all do now. Got to see a few whales, but they were only wee ones. I'll have to go whale watchin again in Kaikoura, try and see some big blue whales. The dolphins were impressive though, just the hugh number of them. There was about 500/600 in the pod!!

Meet up with one of the lads I hang around with at home, so a few had to be had..It was weird goin for a few drinks with one of me old mates on the other side of the world. really didn't feel like I was in NZ at all!! He was only around for 2 days and then he was off to Oz. Every Irish person I've meet is either coming from or goiing to Sydney. Puts me off going there even more...But I know Ozzy John (who I lved with in Cardiff) is heading home at xmas, so it might be worth a visit to him when he gets back...we'll have to see. If I do go over to see him, at least he'll be able to show us about, and I won't end up in every Irish bar in Sydney....

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Faffed about Auckland for another few days waitin to pick up the van and as soon as we picked it up.....outta the city, If I wanted to be in a city all the time I would have just moved to Dublin..It was quite late in the day, so just headed out to Piha, the volcanic beach west of Auckland. It\'s weird walking on black sand, It just seemed like it was manky or something. Sooo much finer than \'regular\' sand!! Really nice place though, I\'ll have to go back in the summer an do a bit of surfing, I\'m goin to go back to the bay of Islands when the weather is better anyway...

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So after that off to Tauranga, not a bad old spot, one of those places I\'d say is heavin during the summer...not much to do there though, but did meet this HUGH maori bloke called Poldar! What a name, he couldn\'t do any magic though. With a name like that, he should make the effort to learn some...We had meet some of the kids from the sailing course in Auckland who were living in Napier, so there next for a proper bed!! Got to their house and proper bed my arse!!!! It was worse than a first year student flat..They were a load of blokes over here playin rugby. They had had a party 4 days before, and the house was still an utter kip. Would have stayed in the van, but it was too cold, so we braved the floor...still not sure if I slept late, or if I was just stuck to the manky floor and couldn\'t get up. Spent the day in a spa and then on to an all you can eat place..the rugby boys were making sure they got their moneys worth, one of the blokes had 6 mains and 3\r\n deserts..Second night in Napier we went to a house party and the noise police got called!! The noise police - what\'s all that about??? You get two warnings and then they come in and take away all the noise making equipment in the house. I don\'t know if that means the spoons too..

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Next port of call was Wellington and after the hype of a bed in Napier, I as only gagging for a proper sleep...a hostel was the only way forward!! A bed!! Joy of Joy!! And that\'s the last I\'ve seen of overhead lighting!! Wandered about Wellington & around the sea front, really nice city. ",1] ); //-->

Faffed about Auckland for another few days waitin to pick up the van and as soon as we picked it up.....outta the city, If I wanted to be in a city all the time I would have just moved to Dublin..It was quite late in the day, so just headed out to Piha, the volcanic beach west of Auckland. It's weird walking on black sand, It just seemed like it was manky or something. Sooo much finer than 'regular' sand!! Really nice place though, I'll have to go back in the summer an do a bit of surfing, I'm goin to go back to the bay of Islands when the weather is better anyway...

So after that off to Tauranga, not a bad old spot, one of those places I'd say is heavin during the summer...not much to do there though, but did meet this HUGH maori bloke called Poldar! What a name, he couldn't do any magic though. With a name like that, he should make the effort to learn some...We had meet some of the kids from the sailing course in Auckland who were living in Napier, so there next for a proper bed!! Got to their house and proper bed my arse!!!! It was worse than a first year student flat..They were a load of blokes over here playin rugby. They had had a party 4 days before, and the house was still an utter kip. Would have stayed in the van, but it was too cold, so we braved the floor...still not sure if I slept late, or if I was just stuck to the manky floor and couldn't get up. Spent the day in a spa and then on to an all you can eat place..the rugby boys were making sure they got their moneys worth, one of the blokes had 6 mains and 3 deserts..Second night in Napier we went to a house party and the noise police got called!! The noise police - what's all that about??? You get two warnings and then they come in and take away all the noise making equipment in the house. I don't know if that means the spoons too..

Next port of call was Wellington and after the hype of a bed in Napier, I as only gagging for a proper sleep...a hostel was the only way forward!! A bed!! Joy of Joy!! And that's the last I've seen of overhead lighting!! Wandered about Wellington & around the sea front, really nice city. \r\n

Got the ferry the next day to Picton, but didn\'t hang about after the last time we were there - it was about -3 degrees..that left a lasting scar!! So started to make our way towards Franz Josef..

\r\n

Franz (as the 15 locals call it) is a very small place...we were planning to go walking on the glacier, but decided to do the skydive instead...better to do the dive in the winter when the mountains are properly covered..I don\'t think the glacier is going to be gone in the next couple of months!! It is kind of old after all..We walked up the terminal face though, the slight glow from the blue ice was nearly fake looking, like someone had some neon lights goin on!! I\'ll be back to do the glacier walking another time....and check out the blue ice, such a clear, clean blue, the caves must be really impressive.

\r\n

There was no skydives from Franz, so off to Fox Glacier the next day. Got there in mid afternoon (slept a bit late, we were out the night before). Drove to the place to book the dive, presuming we\'d have to wait a day or two, but the blokes said we could do it in 20 minutes!!! I was still a bit fragile, so jumping out of a plane from 12,000ft didn\'t even make it into my top 5 things I felt like doing. Oisin wanted to do it there and than, but I stood my ground...No, no, no, no, no, no...............Alright then, to hell with it, lets go!!! I couldn\'t listen to Ois going on about it all night (and the girl working there had just done one, somehow that gave her licence to wind me up about not doing it too).

\r\n

So into the plane, not sure weather I was terrified or excited, we\'re off. Had a 20 flight up over Mt.Cook, Fox & Franz and a couple of other peaks, unbelievable views!! It was a very small plane, only enough room for 5 (me, Ois, the pilot and the 2 boys strapped to us). If I didn\'t go, there was no way Ois could have gone - pressure!! The bloke opens the door and the height, noise, wind, cold and realisation hit!! Out swing me legs, the bloke (my most trusted friend ever right now) crosses my arms..before I know what\'s happening - tumble............CRAP, CRAP, CRAP, WHAT THE HELL AM I DOING JUMPING FROM A PLANE!!!!!....after about 2 seconds, wait a sec, this is AMAZING!! 45 second freefall and than silent drifting...brillant! I\'d do it again today, and tomorrow too...Took me a couple of days to land....It was quality!!",1] ); //-->

Got the ferry the next day to Picton, but didn't hang about after the last time we were there - it was about -3 degrees..that left a lasting scar!! So started to make our way towards Franz Josef..

Franz (as the 15 locals call it) is a very small place...we were planning to go walking on the glacier, but decided to do the skydive instead...better to do the dive in the winter when the mountains are properly covered..I don't think the glacier is going to be gone in the next couple of months!! It is kind of old after all..We walked up the terminal face though, the slight glow from the blue ice was nearly fake looking, like someone had some neon lights goin on!! I'll be back to do the glacier walking another time....and check out the blue ice, such a clear, clean blue, the caves must be really impressive.

There was no skydives from Franz, so off to Fox Glacier the next day. Got there in mid afternoon (slept a bit late, we were out the night before). Drove to the place to book the dive, presuming we'd have to wait a day or two, but the blokes said we could do it in 20 minutes!!! I was still a bit fragile, so jumping out of a plane from 12,000ft didn't even make it into my top 5 things I felt like doing. Oisin wanted to do it there and than, but I stood my ground...No, no, no, no, no, no...............Alright then, to hell with it, lets go!!! I couldn't listen to Ois going on about it all night (and the girl working there had just done one, somehow that gave her licence to wind me up about not doing it too).

So into the plane, not sure weather I was terrified or excited, we're off. Had a 20 flight up over Mt.Cook, Fox & Franz and a couple of other peaks, unbelievable views!! It was a very small plane, only enough room for 5 (me, Ois, the pilot and the 2 boys strapped to us). If I didn't go, there was no way Ois could have gone - pressure!! The bloke opens the door and the height, noise, wind, cold and realisation hit!! Out swing me legs, the bloke (my most trusted friend ever right now) crosses my arms..before I know what's happening - tumble............CRAP, CRAP, CRAP, WHAT THE HELL AM I DOING JUMPING FROM A PLANE!!!!!....after about 2 seconds, wait a sec, this is AMAZING!! 45 second freefall and than silent drifting...brillant! I'd do it again today, and tomorrow too...Took me a couple of days to land....It was quality!! \r\n

\r\n

The next stop was Wanaka down through the Hasst Pass, by far the most beautiful part of the country I\'ve been in!! There on the pictures, so no need to say much. There\'s only so many ways to describe mountains, so I took a picture, it lasts longer!!

\r\n

Got to Wanaka on a Friday, I didn\'t see one person who didn\'t look like they had just come down from the slopes!! In Queenstown now and it\'s the same kind of thing. If someone isn\'t carrying a snowboard or skis, it\'s because they\'ve got a broken bone somewhere on \'em!! I\'ve not seen so many people plastered up since I worked in the hospital!! I\'ve been here a few days, gettin a feel for the place. It.s a smashin place! Just gotta get up snowboarding again soon....

\r\n

Well, there ya all go. That\'s the story and I\'m stickin to it!! Hope all\'s good at home. The tall ships looked incredible!! By all accounts the day was a total success!!

\r\n

Gra, Gav, Aoife, Rob, Ru & Naoise...How did yer holiday go?? Ya\'ll have to give me the lowdown !!

",1] ); D(["mb","\r\n

\r\n

",1] ); D(["mb","

",1] ); //-->

The next stop was Wanaka down through the Hasst Pass, by far the most beautiful part of the country I've been in!! There on the pictures, so no need to say much. There's only so many ways to describe mountains, so I took a picture, it lasts longer!!

Got to Wanaka on a Friday, I didn't see one person who didn't look like they had just come down from the slopes!! In Queenstown now and it's the same kind of thing. If someone isn't carrying a snowboard or skis, it's because they've got a broken bone somewhere on 'em!! I've not seen so many people plastered up since I worked in the hospital!! I've been here a few days, gettin a feel for the place. It.s a smashin place! Just gotta get up snowboarding again soon....

Well, there ya all go. That's the story and I'm stickin to it!! Hope all's good at home. The tall ships looked incredible!! By all accounts the day was a total success!!

Gra, Gav, Aoife, Rob, Ru & Naoise...How did yer holiday go?? Ya'll have to give me the lowdown !!

Till next time.......Big Love....

Love Always.....xxxxxxxx

Lions Match 1

neill — Sat, 25 Jun 2005 16:35:00 GMT

Well all,

How's everone up there in the nothern hemisphere!!

So now I'm in Christchurch, and by Christ, it's cold!! Got here last night after leaving the slopes of Mt. Hutt after 3 days snowboarding. Had some laugh doin it, but really frustrating at times too. One minute I'd be flying down the slope, the next, I'd totally forget how to snowboard and fall the rest of the way down, sometimes on my ass, others on my shoulders and others on every bone in my body. I could bearly move last night, it took my about 5 minutes to even get my jacket off!!! But all in the name of gettin some clean runs on fresh powder, dude!! You could get up to the very peak of the mountain too. On the slopes side of the mountain was flat, flat fields all the way to the sea, but turn around and..................well, I won't even try, you'll just have to wait for the pictures!!!

The city is goin nuts over here today, the first Lions v All Blacks match!! So, I'm off to sample the delights of Christchurch and it's rugby mad locals (+ 35,000 Lions fans). Bit of breakfast, then I gotta catch some of the Bros for a few handles, choice!!!

Just a short one today...till the next installment...Nxxx

Mt.Hutt

neill — Tue, 21 Jun 2005 16:37:00 GMT

Well one and all,

Right, the story so far..Got to Auckland safe and sound. Had an ould wonder around the city, around the skytower, the maritime museum and all that sort. Nice city, but a very sane and normal city after Bangkok. By the third day meself and Ois were gettin itchy feet to get outta town and into the green lands. I'd been talking to a few people about campervans, and because of the Lions tour, the prices were super inflated, so renting was the way forward (off season and all). We'd been checking out hostels too, nearly impossable to get any for the Lions weekends, so transport and a bed sorted - off we went!! But we didn't get very far..drove about 20 minutes north of Auckland and stopped to pick up supplies in some tiny town. Of course, the van wouldn't start..so a quick battery change, and away we went. After that, we just stopped in the nearest park for the night..great start!!

Anyway, off the north next towards Cape Reinga..Took a fair while to get there, with stop offs on the way, 90 mile beach, Waipoua forest (giant Kauri trees, 60m tall, 17m wide). Got to the cape just at sunset..for the first time I really felt I was in NZ..just sat there for ages...the pictures will follow..the day after, on to the Bay of Islands. Didn't get much time to check it out - the Lions were playing..watchin the match with 2 other lads, My 'vast' knowledge of rugby showed it's true extent. "do you rate so in so?", "what do you think will be the starting line up?"....?#*!#...all very confusing, so I've taken to setting out me stall from the start. anything rugby, I point to Oisin, anything football, I pipe up..on sports, I'm generally quite (not alot of football talked over here). Anyway, I'll be headin back to the bay of islands for a summer trip and scuba diving, It's amazing up there..

On to Hamilton next, got there on the Thursday night and the Lions were playing on the Saturday. A rugby club next to the stadium set up a "Barmy Army" camp for free. So there we stayed with every other rugby fan from the northern hemisphere. One of the lads from home (Noel Lawler) was about for the Lions too, so had to go out for a few! Got talkin to a chap in the pub who had two tickets for the match at face value, so we had his hand and all!! Some atmosphere at the match, but the Lions lost - a night of playin the football card and pointing at Oisin insued, the Kiwi's are good wind up merchants. Off to Rotorua the Sunday. \r\n

As soon as we got close to Rororua, the smell of rotten eggs from the sulphur was savage. But there were loads of hot springs everywhere. You\'d wonder who ever thought to live there!! We Headed out to a place called Hells Gate one morning..loads of thermal mud pools and vents, Hells gate is a very well named place, really impressive! Took the cable car up Rotorua mountain too, at the top they have a concrete luge back down the hill..some laugh..I beat Ois overall..he was none best pleased, and all sorts of wild accusations were being branded!! bad loser.. While still in Rotorau we had, really had, to go Zorbing. Brillant, some laugh..Get put in a big ball full of water and get thrown down a zig zag, very steep, hill..Common sense really!! Thank god the water was warm, \'cos I was freezing after,. I still would have\r\n jumped straigt back in though!!

\r\n

Another lions match, another city..Wellington this port of call.

",1] ); //-->

As soon as we got close to Rororua, the smell of rotten eggs from the sulphur was savage. But there were loads of hot springs everywhere. You'd wonder who ever thought to live there!! We Headed out to a place called Hells Gate one morning..loads of thermal mud pools and vents, Hells gate is a very well named place, really impressive! Took the cable car up Rotorua mountain too, at the top they have a concrete luge back down the hill..some laugh..I beat Ois overall..he was none best pleased, and all sorts of wild accusations were being branded!! bad loser.. While still in Rotorau we had, really had, to go Zorbing. Brillant, some laugh..Get put in a big ball full of water and get thrown down a zig zag, very steep, hill..Common sense really!! Thank god the water was warm, 'cos I was freezing after,. I still would have jumped straight back in though!!

Another lions match, another city..Wellington this port of call. Parkin and sleepin on the road like a proper jippo! I don't think there was one Lions supporter in the pub for the match - everyone must have gotten tickets.Probably could have gotten tickets for the match, but didn't go lookin for them. Spent two nights there and off to Kiakoura for some whale watchin. But true to form - bad weather, so no watchin was had. Another thing to do when the weather is better...Anyway, I'm in Methven now, just at the base of Mt. Hutt. Got here yesterday. Drove through Arthers Pass enroute, the views there were something special, really amazing!! Good call David, ya had it marked in the bible...We were ment to be fallin over on the slopes all day, but yet again, the bloody weather!! Gale force winds - so no go today..But with any look, tomorrow..That's if mother nature decices to head off and give us a break!! so three days snowboarding here and then back after our leave of absence from the Barmy bloody Army!! Christchurch for the weekend, back to Wellington the next and then a slow meander back up to Auckland to bump the van off. Hoping to get the Tongariro walk on the way back up north.

And that's the story so far, blow by blow..the time you'd have on your hands when nature decides you should send an e-mail back to the homeland!! Oh, I did win a pint (handle) from Ois last night..He was the first to bump into some of his mates, and for that pleasure, I got a beer!!

Well that's that...hope to have a bit of snowboarding done by next time..Till then...loads of love...Nxx