New Zealand: SkyDive Update

Well, after three attempts, finally managed to do the Sky Dive! Possibly the best thing I've ever done! 12,000ft, although I wish I'd jumped 15,000 now. I have a video too just to prove I actually did it! The landscape around Taupo was amazing. Lake Taupo, the mountains, everything was stunning! It was strange as it didn't really feel like I was falling. If it wasn't for the ground appoaching at 200km/h, I wouldn't have thought I was. Definitely the highlight so far. Still shaking a bit though.

Tomorrow off to trek the Tongariro Crossing, if the weather's good. About 7hours trekking. I don't care though, I can do anything now...

New Zealand: Week One

First week in New Zealand was great. Arrived not really knowing what to do or where to go. Checked into the Fat Camel hostel in Auckland and hit the town with some guys I'd met on the way over from Fiji. Did the tourist thing and went to the minus 5 degree bar and up the Sky Tower. Next day I spent figuring out how I was going to travel round. Decided on the Stray Bus which provides a hop-on, hop-off service. Seemed to be the best balance between partying and actually seeing the country, rather than the Kiwi Experience for the former and Magic Bus for the latter. I went for the "Moe" tour which takes you round both islands, and covers some pretty exciting places. First day we headed over to Hahei, where we went down to Cathedral Cove and in the evening (11pm - low tide) treked down to Hot Water Beach to find hot pools. This involved digging about 20 holes in the sand before finding somewhere where the temperature was bearable - not sea or burn-your-skin-off temperature. We were up early the next day to head over to Raglan where we stayed at a chilled out hostel looking over the beach. We decided to do the two-hour walk around the hostel, which was more like a hike, and made me realise how unfit I am. After Raglan we headed to Maketu, for some "Maori culture". This involved all the guys from the Stray Bus doing a haka, which was possibly the most excruciating experience of my life. We watched the Maori guys perform the haka about 1metre from us, which was actually quite scary! The place itself was a little disappointing as it wasn't as cultural as I'd hoped. We headed to Waitomo Caves where we did the Tumu Black water rafting. Wasn't quite black-water rafting, but was definitely worth it. Took about 3 hours, consisting of squeezing through some fairly some tunnels, floating down river with lights off looking up at maggots (a.k.a. glow-worms), and diving into the ice-cold water. Next stop was Rotorua which smells of egg due to the sulphide in the area. A couple of us decided to get off the bus and do a road trip over to East Cape. This is where you be the first to watch the sunrise, which was pretty spectacular. We then headed down to Napier taking the scenic route via the coast - with me driving! On the way back we stopped briefly in Taupo (which we will be going to again on the bus), went to the "Craters of the Moon", which I reckon the advertising standards agency would have a thing to say about, and the Haku waterfalls. Arriving back in Rotorua, we went white-water rafting which involved going down a 7metre waterfall, and I almost died.

New Zealand is different to how I imagined it. It's a considerably quieter than I thought - walking the streets at most times of the day you'd be lucky to bump into anyone. The landscapes are amazing though, and the people really friendly. Tomorrow we rejoin the bus and head back to Taupo, where I might sky-dive... possibly...

Last days in Fiji

So Beachcomber was a bit of a write-off. I think if I'd been in a group, everyone wasn't already completely hammered, the guy next to me didn't snore like a walrus being electrocuted, and there wasn't sick everywhere, I probably would have stayed. I only suffered one night and hopped over to Bounty Island. Totally different to Beachcomber in every way. Perhaps a little too quiet, and I wasn't sure how I was going to fill the three days. It turned out quite well. I was approached by a BBC crew on the island filming for a south Pacific documentary to be shown in 2009 who required extras to be members of a boat crew stranded on an island about 200 years ago. It was such a laugh! We had to have fake beards and everything! First night we had to film a camp fire scene on the beach. Second day involved some serious boat rowing, for about 6 hours. When you eventually see the programme, I'm oarsmen #3 and beachcrawler#1 nearest camera. Not sure if we'll make the credits though. The rest of the time I spent lounging on the beach, and to be honest, I'd had enough of beaches by then. Spent the last night in Nadi, at Smuggler's Cove, which was actually pretty good for main land Fiji. West coast of Fiji isn't great for beaches. Best places on the mainland are along the south east coast, but I didn't make it as far as that.

I really enjoyed my time on Fiji. The people who worked there and the visitors (for the main part) were really friendly, and will probably try and meet up with them later in my travels.

Next stop New Zealand!

Stop! It's Fiji time!

Bula from Fiji! On my third island already, Beachcomber, the so-called party island. Spent two nights on Mana Island at the Ratu Kini hostel, right on the beach. Fairly basic but pretty good food, and great bunch of people. Stunning beaches and marine life, and lots of chilling out. Not much to do, but that isn't the point. The hostel's dorms were in the same area as the local village, which made it feel a little less like a tourist hostel. Most people on the island worked for one of the two hostels, or hotel on the island. We stayed up to watch the sunset, which waa definitely worth it. The last two nights I stayed at Walu Beach resort which was only about 5 pounds more but we actually had single beds, and shared a bathroom with only 3 other people. Total luxury! We went out kayaking yesterday to a nearby island and saw some really interesting and freaky sea creatures, the chunky sea slugs especially. I experienced Kava for the first time two nights ago, pretty rough, although it was better than the Brooklyn Lager. It was only a third of the strength of normal kava, but still managed to have an effect, which made you a little drowsy. The main effect, however, was to prevent me from going more than 10 metres from the toilet the next day.

Beachcomber has a totally different vibe to it. Average age seems about 18 and the aim to remain as hammered as possible for the entire time. Hmmm, think I'm getting old! I'm only here for two nights anyway, so I'm sure I can suffer it! After this island, I'm off to Bounty Island for two nights, then off to New Zealand. Can't believe how quickly the time has gone and how much stuff I've done. I think because I've been doing so many things and meeting so many people, it feels like I've been traveling a lot longer than I have.

I keep thinking about coming back home and it really depresses me. I never want to work again!

Anyway, I'm off to learn the Bula dance...

Before Escaping from New York

Last day before leaving New York was great. Had a chilled out day moving between the numerous coffee shops. In the evening we tried to find a pub as a kind of leaving do. This wasn't easy. We ended up walking all the way across town, to eventually come across O'Reillys, which served Brooklyn beer, which may well have been taken directly from the Hudson River. At closing time, we took a vote on where to go, and the Bikini Bar came out top, although I think the voting my have been rigged. The bar closed at 4am, so some of us decided to see where else we could go. We decided to walk Brooklyn Bridge, which was possibly the best thing I did there. We started walking just before sunrise, and got a Brooklyn when it was starting to get light. Looking back over to New York was an immense sight, and I just hope the photos I took will do it justice. (photos hopefully coming soon!)

Anyway, time's running out on the surfing meter so better sign off. Will probably continue waffling tomorrow...

Escape from New York

Last day in New York already! Been a fairly full-on week. Feels like i've walked about 20 miles a day, but still only seen a fraction of NY. There's just so much to do here, 5 days definitlely isn't enough. The food here is amazing with deli bars taking up most of new york, and the portion sizes bigger than an average person eats in a week. I've managed to see most of the main tourist attractions, times square, empire state building, rockefeller, met gallery, brooklyn bridge and managed to get in the audience for the david letterman show! Had the guy from 40-year old virgin on and some band, 'Band of Horses' that i'd never heard of. I whooped as good as any american. I've found walking the streets a really good way of getting to understand new york better, and a good way of knowing where not to go! The hostel is in chelsea, which is a fairly busy part of the city. Again, loads of deli bars, and a fairly random 'Bikini Bar' occupied by some even more random guys, apparently... I'll post some photos when i get the chance, of new york that is, not the crazy bar. So its off to L.A. tomorrow for 3 days then onto fiji... Keep you posted. P.

The Beginning

Hello and welcome to my blog!

This is as much my blog as it is yours. It would be great to receive messages from you all as I travel round, whether that's making suggestions on what to see, where to go or perhaps suggesting some challenges I should do. (Please keep them clean - my parents will be reading this!)

Just so you all know where I'm going:

New York, 15th Oct - 20th Oct
Los Angeles, 20th Oct - 23rd Oct
Fiji, 23rd Oct - 3rd Nov
New Zealand, 3rd Nov - 18th Dec
Australia, 18th Dec - 27 Mar
Singapore, 27th Mar - 29th Mar
Thailand, 29th Mar - 22nd Apr

I hope to update this blog every couple of days, but I have no idea how easy it's going to be in some places!

Look forward to hearing from you!

Paul.