Darius' Travel Blog

2007-05-10T08:43:00.000-07:00

Thanks everyone for checking my blog over the last 10 months or so! My year on the road is slowly coming to an end but I plan on updating this blog when I travel again which might be as early as September.

Cheers,

Darius

2007-04-26T05:59:00.000-07:00

Beijing, the capital of China and the host of the 2008 Olympics Summer Games, was the seat of the Ming and Qing dynasty emperors until the formation of a republic in 1911. It is well known for its flatness its concentric rings road which go around the metropolis.

Gate of Heavenly PeaceTiananmen SquareEntrance to Forbidden CitySummer PalaceChairman Mao MausoleumDelicious Peking Duck

2007-04-24T19:46:00.000-07:00

The Great Wall of China was built over 2,000 years ago and it stretches for 6,400 kilometers. It was originally built as an impenetrable line of defence but its became an elevated highway, allowing people and equipment to cross moutainous terrain. Today some parts of the wall have been renovated but other parts are still in its original condition.

2007-04-20T08:07:00.001-07:00

Nanjing has a long history and prehistoric sites discovered go back as far as 400 BC. Its name means "southern capital" (which Beijing being the "northern capital") and it served as the nation's capital for several dynasties. Today it is an attractive city which is home to many colleges and universities with a large international student population.

Skyline of Nanjing

Entrance to the Heaven Dynasty Palace

Sacrifice Hall at Dr. Sun Yat-sen's Mausoleum

Revolutionary Martyrs' Memorial Park

Not very helpful :-)

2007-04-17T08:49:00.000-07:00

Shanghai is China's largest city with about 18 million people and it is almost possible to see it grow with your own eyes. The level of construction activity is amazing with new skyscrapers being built in many areas of the city. Some pockets of the city are very modern with Western-style malls, cafes, and restaurants and a lot of young people are more trendy than compared to Chinese that I have seen in other cities on my trip.

The skyline of Shanghai with the unique Oriental Pearl Tower on the left

Old Bank Building on the Bund

People's Square (Shanghai Museum in the background)

Nanjing Donglu - one of the main shopping areas

Model of the city in the Urban Planning Museum really shows how massive it is

2007-04-13T08:13:00.000-07:00

Hangzhou is a pleasant city 2 hours south of Shanghai and its a major tourist destination for the Chinese. The main attractions are scenic West Lake and Lingyin Temple, one of the 3 oldest and most famous temples in all of China.

West Lake

One of the many parks around the lake

Lingyin Temple

Sampling Longjing tea with a local family

Yummy street food!

2007-04-12T06:58:00.000-07:00

Xi'an was the ancient capital of six dynasties and its old city wall can still be seen today. Islam has a strong influence on the city and mosques and marketplaces can be found in many back alleys.

Bell Tower

Big Goose Pagoda

Great Mosque in the Muslim Quarter

East Gate of the City Wall

Locals enjoying a Sunday afternoon

2007-04-10T09:40:00.001-07:00

The Shaanxi province is home to one of China's most important archaeological sites: The Army of Terracotta Warriors. The 6,000 warriors and horses are surpisingly well preserved and were discovered in 1974 when a peasant was digging for a well. Close by is Hua Shan, one of China's most sacred mountains.

Terracotta Warriors Army

Every single warrior looks different from the others

Replica of one of the warriors

Golden Lock Pass (unlocking the peaks)

View from East Peak

View from the South Peak

On the West Peak

2007-04-07T18:18:00.001-07:00

Guangzhou's proximity to Hong Kong in the South of China makes it one of the main gateways into the country. Formerly known as Canton, it is the capital of the Guandong province which is the country's most prosperous. The city does not have many sights so I only spent a day before moving on.

Guangzhou on an overcast day

Five Rams Statues at Yuexiu Park

Pagoda at the Temple of Banyan Trees

Night at the river is colorful

I guess balloons take up to much space in the Metro...

2007-04-04T08:39:00.000-07:00

I went to Hong Kong for the first time in 1997 before the handover to China but 10 years later I can hardly tell the difference. It is still an interesting mix of Eastern and Western culture which makes it a good warm-up for me before I'll head into China :-)

Hong Kong Island

Hong Kong Island and Kowloon as seen from Victoria Peak

Building inspired by Koalas climbing up a tree

It was Rugby Sevens weekend in Hong Kong

Dim Sum here is fantastic

2007-03-29T08:04:00.000-07:00

Cynics might say Singapore is one big shopping mall and they might have a point. I am not a big shopper so I focused on the other big attraction: food.

The skyline of Singapore

Statue of Raffles - the founder of Singapore

A very colorful police headquarter

Yes public toilets are pretty clean :-)

2007-03-26T05:21:00.000-07:00

Mount Kinabalu is the highest mountain in Malaysia at 4,095 meters/13,435 feet. It can be easily (requires no mountaineering equipment) climbed and every day about 100 people make it to the peak. My group got very lucky with the weather and we arrived at the top just in time for the start of a beautiful sunrise: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13j6_uKmebU

Mount Kilabalu

Views from up here are stunning

Clouds are moving in

Hut we stayed the night at

Starting the ascend at 3am

At the peak at 530am

A beautiful sunrise

Peak of the next mountain

It's all granite up here

My group and guide

2007-03-23T03:58:00.001-07:00

Gunung Mulu National Park is a Unesco protected site. It is mostly known for the Pinnacles, a forest of razor-sharp limestone peaks above the rainforest. It's a tough climb up the mountain to see them but it was well worth it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kDRy6m1GjI

Gunung Mulu National Park

Entrance to Lang's Cave

2-3 million bats leave the cave every night to hunt for food

On our way to the overnight camp

The path is pretty steep during the ascent

But then gets worse :-)

The Pinnacles

Cooling off after the descent

The trek back after a heavy downpour overnight

2007-03-16T03:06:00.000-07:00

Bako National Park is my first stop in Malaysia Borneo. It is famous for its wildlilfe and especially the rare proboscis monkey which unfortunately I did not see.

2007-03-13T04:37:00.000-07:00

Melaka used to be the greatest trading port in the 15th century attracting Chinese, Portuguese, Dutch, and finally British traders. Today these influences are still very visible and the city is known for its multicultural tradition.

Town Square and Fountain

Christ Church

Ruins of St. Paul's Church

Historic Building in Chinatown

Residences by the river

2007-03-12T02:58:00.000-07:00

Georgetown, the capital city of Pilau Pinang, is a colourful city with a Chinatown, a Little India, and impressive colonial architecture. It is the oldest British settlement in Malaysia and used to be a major trading port.

Fort Cornwallis

Victoria Memorial Clock Tower

Colonial Town Hall

Cheong Fattze Mansion

Resorts on the other side of the island

2007-03-09T19:57:00.001-08:00

Pulau Perenthian are two beautiful islands of the northeast coast of Peninsular Malaysia. Its white-sand beaches and crystalclear water make this a great location for some excellent scuba diving and snorkeling and it has become one of Malayia's prime tourist attractions.

Long Beach

The water is amazingly clear

Coral Beach

Relaxing after some scuba diving

Sunset over Coral Beach

2007-03-06T04:45:00.000-08:00

The Taman Negara National Park's jungle is home to many of Malaysia's endangered species such as Elephants, Tigers, Leopards, and Rhinos but their numbers are low and sightings are rare. I went on a fantastic 3-day/2-night trek through the inner jungle and we didn't encounter any large animal but did see many insects.

Taman Negara National Park

Stream in the jungle

Path is not always easy

Crossing a stream "Tarzan-style"

Spending a night in a cave

Scorpion Spider

2007-03-02T05:20:00.000-08:00

The Cameron Highlands are an area of rolling green hills, tea plantations, and forests. Due to its elevation (1,300 - 1,800 meters), the climate is much more moderate then in most other parts of Malaysia. As a result, it is the center of Malaysian tea production.

Cameron Highlands

Tea Plantation

Robinson Falls

Butterfly Farm

Cactus Valley

2007-02-28T05:43:00.000-08:00

Greetings from Malaysia! Kuala Lumpur is the modern and energetic capital and home of the Petronas Towers which until recently was the highest building in the world. It is a very multicultural city with a sizable Chinatown and Little India.

Kuala Lumpur Skyline

Petronas Towers

Flagpole at Merdaka Square

Masjid Jamek Mosque

Chinatown

2007-02-21T05:47:00.000-08:00

Vientiane, the easygoing capital of Laos, is home to Lao's most important national monument. The sacred Pha That Luang is a symbol of both the Buddhist religion and Lao sovereignty. Outside of the city is the amzing Buddha Park, which is a collection of Buddhist and Hindu sculptures.

Pha That Luang

Patuxai (Arch of Triumph)

Former Presidential Palace

Buddha Park

The biggest of them all

2007-02-19T05:49:00.000-08:00

Vang Vieng is a small town known for its limestone cliffs which are home to many tunnels and caves. The Nam Song river which flows through the town is very popular with kayakers and travellers who float down the river on inner tubes.

Nam Song river and cliffs in the background

Entrance to one of the caves

Stalactite that looks like an elephant

Inner tubes are popular to go down the river

Sunset over the river

2007-02-16T05:28:00.000-08:00

Phonsavan in East Laos is home to the Plain of Jars, an extended area where huge jars of unknown origin are scattered throughout the landscape. This part of Laos is also infamous for many unexploded bombs and landmines which still cause numerous casualties every year.

Plain of Jars

One jar with a lid

Bomb crater from the Vietnam war

Typical landscape of East Laos

Cute kids everywhere!

2007-02-13T21:17:00.000-08:00

Muang Ngoi is a small village on the Mekong river which is reachable only by boat or by foot. The village runs along the river because of its traditional livelihoods of fishing and farming but tourism is becoming a bigger part of the local economy. Heading back south, I took a local boat down the river which was quite an adventure because of rough and shallow waters.

Muong Ngoi

Bungalow I stayed at

View from the Bungalow

Valley behind the village

Boat we took down the river

Rougher part of the river

And some shallower parts

Sunset over the river

2007-02-10T06:38:00.000-08:00

Luang Prabang is one of Laos' main tourist attractions. This World Heritage site is encircled by mountains at the confluence of the Mekong and Khan rivers. Its the former royal capital and home to 32 temples and as as result orange-wrapped Buddist monks can be seen all over the city.

The city from above

Wat Pha Phei

Two interesting looking buddhas

Kwang Xi Waterfall

Monks taking a break from their studies

Sunset over the Mekong River

2007-02-06T22:00:00.000-08:00

Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, in some ways still looks like a French colonial city. The Old Quarter still has the original street layout and architecture of the old Hanoi. At the same, the fast pace is very similiar to many other cities in Asia.

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum

One Pillar Pagoda

Temple of Literature

Army Museum

Tortoise Tower

2007-02-04T01:06:00.001-08:00

Sapa is a small town in a beautiful valley close to the Chinese border in the North of Vietnam. The valley is home to several tribes who wear very colorful traditional clothes.

Sapa

Trekking through the valley

Terraces of rice fields

My guide (left) and the woman who hosted our group for one night

Colorful clothes of the local tribe

Kids from another tribe

2007-01-29T06:46:00.000-08:00

Halong Bay is a World Heritage site and probably the most beautiful area in Vietnam. There are more than 3000 limestone islands rising out of the water in the Gulf of Tonkin.

2007-01-24T05:02:00.000-08:00

Hue is home to the ancient Citadel and only 50 kilometers away from the former Demilitarized Zone where (ironically) some of the heaviest fighting occured during the Vietnam war.

Thai Hoa Palace in the Citadel

To Mieu Temple in the Citadel

Entrance to Vinh Moc Tunnels

Debris from the Vietnam War at Khe Sanh Combat Base

Ancient ruins at My Son

2007-01-23T03:21:00.000-08:00

The riverside town of Hoi An used to be a major international trading center from the 17th to the 19th century. Relatively untouched by the Vietnam War, many of its historical structures are still intact today.

Example of local architecture

An old Chinese Assembly Hall

Japanese Covered Bridge

A lot of activity at the local market

Rice Paddy

2007-01-21T04:56:00.000-08:00

Moving up the coast as I work my way to the north of Vietnam, I stopped over in Mui Ne Beach. It is known for its sand dunes and its consistent wind makes it very popular with wind- and kite-surfers.

Kite-surfing capital of Vietnam

Fishing vessels

Red Canyon

Lotus Lake

White Sand dunes

2007-01-18T15:35:00.000-08:00

Ho Chi Minh City (formerly known as Saigon) is a dynamic metropolis in the south of Vietnam. Old meets new here because timeless traditions are as much part of the city as soaring skyscrapers which are home to many multinational companies.

City Center

Hotel de Ville

Jade Emperor Pagoda

Fish stand on the side of the road

Rush Hour

2007-01-16T06:38:00.000-08:00

Crossing over the border to Vietnam, I spent a couple of days in the Mekong Delta in South Vietnam. The Mekong is a massive river that starts in Tibet and ends in the South China Sea. It is home to the country's largest agricultural area which is mostly used to grow rice.

Hazy sunset over the rice fields in Chau Doc

Family traveling down the river

Children living in a village by the river

Rice noodles drying

Floating market in Can Tho

Eyes on the bow of a boat for good luck

2007-01-10T20:01:00.000-08:00

Happy new year everyone! I am back on the road and my first stop is Cambodia for a few days. The capital Phnom Phen is close to the infamous Killing Fields where about 17,000 were executed in the mid 70s. My second stop is Siem Reap, home of the temples of Angkor including Angkor Wat which is the largest religious building in the world.

Royal Palace in Phnom Phen

Memorial at the Killing Fields

Angkor Wat at sunrise

Angkor Wat

The Bayon

Nature taking over Ta Prohm

2006-12-25T13:21:00.000-08:00

Thanks everyone for checking out my blog this year. Have a wonderful holiday season and a happy 2007!

2006-12-19T05:31:00.000-08:00

One of the main reasons for coming to Thailand was to go scuba diving so here are some pictures from a recent dive.

2006-12-16T07:09:00.000-08:00

Ao Nang is a coastal town on the Andaman Coast which was hit by the Tsunami two years ago but fortunately only minor damage was caused. It's a great place for all kinds of outdoor activities and I decided on horseback riding.

2006-12-11T02:26:00.000-08:00

Ko Phang-Nan is my next stop on my island-hopping tour of Thailand. It is also in the Gulf of Thailand to the south of Ko Tao and it is famous for its monthly full moon party.

2006-12-07T22:12:00.000-08:00

Ko Tao is a small island in the Gulf of Thailand. It used to be an almost exclusive location for scuba diving but today some non-diving tourists visit as well. I am here for the diving though :-)

2006-11-25T09:00:00.000-08:00

Some of the most impressive surviving architecture from the Qajar era can be found in Kashan. Most of the traditional houses from that time have been destroyed but a few have been restored.

Khan-E Borujerde (Traditional House)

Khan-E Ameriha (Traditional House)

Fin Gardens

Old City Walls

An old Bathhouse that has been converted to a Teahouse

2006-11-24T09:43:00.000-08:00

Esfahan is considered one of the finest cities in the Islamic world because of its exquisite blue tiles on its Islamic buildings, its expansive bazar, and its gorgeous bridges. Also popular are its teahouses, where locals drink tea and enjoy a qalyan (waterpipe).

Imam Square

Imam Mosque

Jameh Mosque

Khaju Bridge

Traditional Teahouse

2006-11-21T07:07:00.000-08:00

Yazd is an ancient desert city that is home to Iran's largest community of Zoroastrians. It is also famous for its badgirs, an ancient system of windtowers used as natural air-conditioning.

Over the roofs of Yazd

Amir Chakhmap Complex

Jameh Mosque

Zoroastrian Tower of Silence

Badgirs - the local air-condition

2006-11-19T09:09:00.000-08:00

Persepolis is considered one of the world's greatest ancient sites and the monumental staircases, reliefs, immense columns and impressive gateways are evidence of the greatest success of the Achaemenid Empire. Work on Persepolis began by Darius the Great in about 518 BC.

Aerial view of Persepolis

Xerxes' Palace

Apadana Staircase

Apadana Palace

Palace of Darius the Great

2006-11-18T09:06:00.000-08:00

Shiraz in southern Iran is celebrated as the heartland of Iranian culture. It is most famous for its poetry (Hafez and Sa'di were both from Shiraz and are buried here), roses, and wine (its once famous vineyards gave the world the Shiraz grape).

Citadel of Karim Khan

Quran Gateway

Tomb of Hafez

Bazar-E Vakil

Mausoleum of Shah-E Sheragh

2006-11-14T11:41:00.000-08:00

Qom is Iran's second holiest city (after Mashhad) and the place where the revolution started in 1979. It is also the place where Islamic scholars and students from across the world come to study.

Hazrat-E Masumeh Shrine

Iman Khomeini Mausoleum

Memorial for victims of the Iran Iraq war

A Persian Cemetary

2006-11-10T11:47:00.000-08:00

Greetings from Iran! This part of my trip will be a little different: I haven't been here in 23 years so my main objective is to reconnect with my dad's side of the family. I still hope to get a little bit of sightseeing done and I started off in Tehran, the capital of Iran.

My parents place outside of Tehran

Azadi Monument in Tehran

Golestan Palace in Tehran

Bakery in a small village

2006-10-31T07:48:00.000-08:00

Pondicherry in Tamil Nadu is a former French Colony and even 50 years after relinquishing control French culture and architecture are very visible. A few kilometers north is Auroville, a project in "human unity" with roughly 1,700 mostly foreign visitors.

One of the remaining colonial buildings

French War Memorial

Not sure what his story is but intersting to look at :-)

Matrimandir - Meditation Hall at Auroville

2006-10-27T08:34:00.000-07:00

Bangalore is one of India's most progressive cities with "high-end" malls and many younger people dressing like Westerners. It is the IT capital of India, being home to many Indian and multinational companies.

Skyline of Bangalore

Bull Temple

City Market....

...representing the traditional...

...vs. the new: shopping malls

2006-10-25T06:30:00.000-07:00

Kanyakumari, the southern tip of the Indian subcontinent, is where the Bay of Bengals meets the Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea. The town was hit hard by the Tsunami in December 2004 but today there are only few reminders of the tragic day.

Sunset over the Vivikananda Memorial and Thiruvalluvar's Statue

Another Ghandi Memorial

Mother India

Tsunami Memorial

Clint and I are once again a popular photo object for the locals :-)

2006-10-24T04:36:00.000-07:00

Over the weekend I stayed one night at the Ashram (spiritual community) of Matha Amrithanandayami (also called Amma). Amma is one of the few female spiritual gurus and is known as the "Hugging Mother" because of the blessing that she provides by hugging every single person who attends her session. Supposedly she has hugged over 25million people so far! Unfortunately I missed her because she was traveling (Germany of all places!) but it was still an interesting experience.

The Ashram

Temple in the Ashram

Amma (picture of a picture)

The three "Ashramites"

2006-10-20T06:48:00.000-07:00

Kerala is most famous for its extensive (around 900kms) network of backwaters running along the coast and the inland. Along thechannels are many small villages or even just a few tiny settlements along the palm-fringed lakes or smaller channels.

The backwaters of Kerala

Chinese Fishing nets in the backwaters

Family traveling by boat

Doing laundry

2006-10-19T04:51:00.000-07:00

Getting to Kochi in Central Kerala was a little more challenging because all the trains are sold out this week because Diwali, one of India's biggest festivals, starts this weekend and a lot of Indians are traveling. I finally made it down here after taking a couple of night buses and as a reward I treated myself to a wonderful seafood lunch.

Chinese Fishing Nets used by local fishermen

Going shopping at the local fish market...

... and then cooked right away...

... and the delicious result!

2006-10-17T03:16:00.000-07:00

Goa is famous for its beaches lined with palm trees which makes it a very popular spot for Indian and Western tourists. It is a former Portuguese enclave and catholicism is a major religion here which makes it quite distinct from the rest of India.

Vagator Beach (North Goa)

Bay at the North Coast of Goa

Beach by Arambol

Basilica of Bom Jesus in Old Goa

2006-10-13T07:22:00.000-07:00

Mumbai is a multicultural metropolis and one of the country's most important economic hubs. It is also home to Bollywood, India's answer to Hollywood.

Hazy Skyline of Mumbai

Gateway of India

Taj Mahal Palace & Tower Hotel

Who says Soccer is not popular in India?

2006-10-11T07:04:00.000-07:00

Having left Rajasthan, I am working my way south. Aurangabad, 200km east of Mumbai, was my base for a couple of days while I explored the caves of Ellora and Ajanta and the hilltop fortress of Daulatabad.

Ellora Caves

Fortress at Daulatabad

Caves at Ajanta

Painting in cave

Reclining Buddha

2006-10-06T22:46:00.000-07:00

Udaipur is my final stop in Rajasthan and probably the one place that I like best. The city is famous for its Lake Palace which was used in the James Bond movie Octopussy a few years back.

Lake Palace

City Palace

City Palace seen from the water

2006-10-04T08:28:00.000-07:00

Pushkar is a small (15,000 people) town which curls around a holy lake. It is mostly known for its annual camel fair when 200,000 people visit bringing 50,000 camels and cattle with them.

Pushkar from above

Bhrama Temple

Sunset over the desert

2006-10-01T21:01:00.000-07:00

100km from the border with Pakistan rises a giant sandcastle from the desert in the city of Jaisalmer. Sadly, the growing number of visiting tourists and government indifference have landed it on list of 100 most endangered monuments worldwide.

Fort of Jaisalmer

Main Gate

Jain Temple

Parasnath

Jain Monk

2006-09-30T09:15:00.000-07:00

Next stop on my journey through Rajasthan is Jodhpur. The Blue City is mostly known for its majestic fort Meherangarh which dominates the skyline and is still run by the Maharaja of Jodhpur.

The Blue City

Clock Tower

Meherangarth Fort

The other side of India: People picking through trash

Of course nobody observes this....

2006-09-26T02:58:00.000-07:00

Jaipur is my first foray in Rajasthan, which is know for its rich architectual and cultural heritage. It is especially known for its many colorful fort and palaces.

City Palace

Inside of City Palace

Amber Fort

Entrance Gate to Amber Fort

Hawa Mahal

I declined to pet the cobra :-)

2006-09-24T07:09:00.000-07:00

Agra is known for the Taj Mahal and seeing it in person is definitely a much more impressive experience than I had imagined. But aside from the Taj Mahal there are a few other interesting sights to see.

The Taj Mahal

At Sunrise

At Sunset

Agra Fort

Akbar's Mausoleum

2006-09-21T08:54:00.000-07:00

Hello from India! After taking a quick break in Germany I am off to a very different kind of adventure: After the solitude of winter in New Zealand I am faced with a very different pace of life. In my first 36 hours in Delhi I have probably seen more people than in 5 weeks in New Zealand :-) It's been hot and humid in Delhi but that hasn't stopped me from visiting some of the sights highlighted below.

India Gate

Humayun's Tomb

Rashtrapati Bhavan (President's Palace)

Red Fort

Statue of Mahatma Ghandi

2006-09-04T22:12:00.000-07:00

Just spent a few days in Sydney to catch up with some friends here. Didn't really do any sightseeing because I have been here a couple of times already. Off to Germany for a few days now so I might not post for a couple of weeks.

View from my friend Scott's apartment

Harbor Bridge

Opera House
Bondi Beach

2006-08-27T14:53:00.000-07:00

Able Tasman National Park is great for hiking and the weather cooperated once again. We took a water taxi to get us into the park and then hiked for 5 hours through the forest with some great views of the numerous bays and lagoons.

Water taxi dropping us off

Split Apple Rock

2006-08-23T00:07:00.000-07:00

Went on a day trip on top of the Franz Josef glacier today and it was a great experience. This is one of the fastest glaciers in the world and it has been growing the last few years after several seasons of heavy snow/rainfall.

The Franz Josef area

The face of the glacier

On top of the glacier

In the background is the valley where the glacier used to be as well

One of the amazing caves

2006-08-20T04:09:00.000-07:00

Queenstown is New Zealand's most popular ski area but it also known for its numerous other outdoor activities. This is the place where Bungy jumping was first commercialized which I have been meaning to try for a while now. I was crazy enough to sign up for three jumps - it was a better deal :-)

Panoramic view of Queenstown

Before the first jump - nervousness has not set in yet...

The first jump was off the historic Kawarau bridge which is 43 meters above the river. I got a little more wet then I bargained for (I was only supposed to touch the water with my hands): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjYUMML6rZA

The next jump was the Nevis Highwire which is off a suspended gondola. It takes about 8.5 seconds of freefall to travel the 134 meters and standing on the edge is not a feeling I will forget anytime soon.

Getting ready for our trip to the gondola

Gondola suspended over the gorge

This will most likely be a once in a lifetime experience: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uhq4bGPxvlo

2006-08-19T04:01:00.000-07:00

Milford Sound is an undisturbed mountain-rimmed fiord at the southwest tip of the South Island. It is a very remote area - the lodge I am staying at doesn't even have electricity and runs on a generator which shuts down between 11pm and 7am.

These are all new waterfalls after heavy rainfall the night before

2006-08-15T14:35:00.000-07:00

I am back on the coast again heading down the east coast of the South Island. Spent a couple of days in Dunedin which is a big university town.

Moraki Boulders

Sunset over Boulder Beach

Panoramic view of Dunedin

Lighthouse at Nugget Point

One of the many waterfalls

The southern most point of New Zealand

New Zealand traffic jam :-)

2006-08-10T04:03:00.000-07:00

Spent a fantastic day at Mount Cook National Reserve today. Mount Cook is the highest mountain of New Zealand at 3755 meters but I didn't make it higher than about 1000 meters :-)
'

Lake Tekapo on the way to Mt. Cook

This is as close as I got

Lake Benmore

2006-08-07T16:35:00.000-07:00

Here is the long overdue beginning of my travel blog that I have been promising a few of you. As some of you know, I spent most of June and July in Germany at the World Cup but unfortunately I didn’t get around to starting this blog because I was too busy watching as many games as possible :--)

I arrived in New Zealand 12 days ago to explore the South Island mostly. It is winter here which is not the best time to visit but I’ll make another trip at the beginning of next year. Here are a few pictures from the last few days.

The beach at Piha north of Auckland

East Coast of the North Island

Wellington

Leaving the North Island

My lamb encounter in Kaikoura