2explore.net We are Niels and Amy van Dongen and this is our journey. Our home site is http://www.2explore.net. On February 16, 2007 we will leave behind the comforts of our home in Seattle to travel through the South Pacific. On this site you can follow along with us, read about our experiences and view some of the photos we have taken en route. Our insatiable urge to explore, sparked the idea for this adventure. In October of 2005, we had a taste of the South Pacific on a 3-week trip to the Cook Islands and have ever since wanted to go back to immerse ourselves in the South Pacific way of life and record our experiences. With many ecosystems at risk from pollution, global warming and climate change, this is now especially critical. We aim to capture the true character of the idyllic South Pacific through photographs and words in a way that makes any observer of our work feel a connection to this special place and in turn, join us in making simple choices in everyday life that can have positive, lasting effects on the world around us. For a year we will be living as modern nomads – traveling only with what we can carry in our packs, living amongst the locals on the islands we visit, spending time sharing stories and experiences and taking in the captivating underwater world on the occasional dive. We hope to help others along the way and keep a vivid record of this adventure to share with you, and keep at the forefront of our memory. Follow along with us and learn about far away places of natural beauty and rich cultures. Experience with us the big world we call home.

We have been so very lucky to spend a few days off the tourist trail again. Especially so, as we got to spend the days in the company of a welcoming family. We had met them earlier this year in Samoa and promised to pay a visit if we ever ended up in their neck of the woods in Te Anau, New Zealand. Being part of the household for a while has been such a true pleasure and welcome break from sightseeing. The family’s house sits atop a hill at a breathtaking location with sweeping vistas of the lake – an amazing place to wile away some time. Playing with the kids and Islay the dog, feeding the pet lamb Bella and photographing the beautiful surroundings, quickly filled the gaps between sharing good wine and many travel stories. Taking time out of life-on-the-road is a great thing to do when traveling around for a longer time, better than any ‘must-see’ tourist attraction.

The town of Te Anau is the gateway to the Fiordland National Park, one of the most spectacular wilderness areas in New Zealand. The region is home to dramatic alpine scenery and rainforest pounded by shocking annual volumes of rain and snow. But our good fortune with the weather continued even here and we experienced 4 days of wonderful cloudless skies! Perhaps a fair downpour is a more appropriate companion to the lush forests and raging streams, but a clear sunny sky worked perfectly well for us. We must have become sun junkies in the South Pacific islands – There’s no such thing as too much sun for us anymore.

We explored a small section of the area by car and on foot but left the famous multi-day hikes for another time. No way were we going to trade a cozy night with roasted lamb, fine wine and good conversation for an uncomfortable night in a stuffy bunk room with the always present snoring chap. So in the end, we merely dipped our toes in the enthralling nature of the region, but it really does not matter, we got a good impression and we got it in an unhurried way – hugely satisfying.