Learning to fly

Hanglider runner

polona_jezek — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 09:45:00 GMT

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We left Kerikeri for a road trip. Sky was crying for us and I was driving in light rain. We stuffed all of our junk into Serena van. When I tried to start the engine the battery wasn’t working. Well, nice beginning of a trip. Tony helped us out and we left with a smile on our faces.

The very first minute when we came to the highway, police stopped me. I was driving too fast. Well, he was a nice guy and he realized how sincere, stupid and humble we are and let us slide without a fine. Their speed limit is only 100 km/h. But, my heavy foot could be expensive. We found petrol station with the last fumes of petrol so we knew the adventure is on.

First night we slept in Raglan. Surfing paradise. We parked in front of surfing club and in the morning we got fine for sleeping there. Well, unbelievably it was still cheaper than paying for the camp.

I tried surfing for the first time. It was quite difficult because my surf was a bit of a gun not suitable for beginners. But it was lots of fun. And watching all those who really know how to do it is also exciting.

Another few nights we slept in DOC camps. They are great. One, we found deep in the forest, another one in paradise beach north east of Wellington. I tried to contact a friend that is leaving in Wellington but unfortunally we missed.

Well, I hurried to be on south island as soon as possible. As I thought I will pick up a glider and go flying. In Nelson I couldn’t t get the glider Teddy promised me. Because Glenn, he is suppose to have it said I cannot fly it until Teddy comes and checks it out. Well the weather wasn‘t the best and I wanted to see some flying spot. We headed to Queenstown and had a stop in Wanaka. This little town blew me away. It is so nice, colors of the lake are amazing, restaurant with homemade beer and beautiful mountains around. We went paddling Wanaka Lake. Didn’t like their safety talk and the idea you can’t leave their visual horizons. They also equipped us with an emergency mobile phone... We went paddling and had competition of our own since that lady claimed we can’t manage the distance to Ruby Island in less than 20 minute. Proving her wrong, we did it in 15 minutes. For dinner I prepared asparagus in creamed sauce with pasta. Very budged but also very good.

Because we were only few hours away from Queenstown we drove there. After Wanaka my expectations were huge and I have to say I was little disappointed. Totally touristic place, it is beautiful, but the town impulse didn’t work for me. We found a nice DOC camp near the lake and fed bloodsucking sandflies and mosquitoes. Another day I went to Flying Park where Lisa tried very hard to arrange a glider for me. Again without luck. This night we were sleeping almost on the launch at Lisa’s and Johns place. Had a great time with some nice paragliding and hang gliding pilots. Hopefully I will get the Mars glider tomorrow.

First thing when I woke up, I texted Ian not to forget my glider. When I came to launch I realized again I am without luck. John and Lisa found a nice solution and called some pilots in Dunedin. They welcomed me with open hands and had a glider for me. That is great, but to Dunedin is more than 3 hours drive and it was already noon. We rushed to great little town, with the most delicious salmon burger, near landing called Arrowtown so that Jost left his CV in one of their restaurants. And from there straight to Dunedin. Where we found the best club in New Zeland as they like to say. And they must be, because they remind me on my club. Funny, likes to have fun, loves flying and great sense of humor. I think my flying luck is getting better and better. Now let’s pray for the weather or even I will start to think that I am the witch that brings rain everywhere she comes...

Finally on the road again

polona_jezek — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 00:07:00 GMT

Like usually I started to pack in the last minutes. This time it was at midnight. My friend picked me up at 3 in the morning and we headed from Slovenia to Munchen. We had to wait at Karavanke tunel for almost 15 minutes. But the night was so nice, very cold but stars and moon were shining and without a single cloud.

Tomorrow I have my flight to Sydney from Munchen airport. Weekend was very hard, partying and saying goodby to friends and family is not easy. :) Today I hope I will meet my friends that live in Munchen. Smells like drinking their fine beers again. If my travel will go on like it started I might have serious alcohol problems before I arrive back to Europe. :)

My Photo scholarship 2011 entry

polona_jezek — Mon, 7 Nov 2011 11:03:00 GMT

Travelling and meeting people is my favourite way of life. Like London is known by Big Bang, falling tower associate Pisa, Statue of Liberty is America, pyramids for Egypt, spaghetti for Italy and siesta for Spain. The same is with people. They make travelling unique and different. These pictures were made worldwide. On first is a beautiful lady, which I caught in Spain. She is wearing their national dress. I like this picture because she looks smooth, nice and passionate. Picture was taken in Madrid. On second picture is little boy that I met in Himalaya. He was a first person after almost a whole day of hiking. He was playing with an empty can of beer and was actually as surprised, to see me as I was happy to meet him. Another one I made in Syria. I was lucky and one family invited me to drink tea in their little house made of mud. Women that lived there were first shy but after an hour there was a party place. They convinced me to dress like they do by dressing their little baby boy in burke. I love the look in his confused eyes and still can here loud laugh about it. This picture was made with cheep camera that was more time on after sales repair then in my hands, but I love it. Picture with a man smoking cigarette in front of the sign »smoking is forbidden« was shot in my home county Slovenia. Global crisis hit us too. Right now we are without government, taycoons are getting rich and some families are hungry. I don t find the smoker as a bad guy, but more like ironically fighting the system. And why the last picture is imprisoned gorilla? She would like to show us something but she can't. Because unfortunately her place is in the ZOO.

Photos: Pictures of people

polona_jezek — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 23:09:00 GMT

Pictures were made in diffrent part of the world. India, Syria, Slovenia, ... from my last travels, before I knew that WordNomads exist.