I'm sitting in an airport cafe in Melbourne, Australia awaiting a connecting flight to Perth, Australia where I will connect with yet ANOTHER flight that will take me to my final destination of the day: Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia. I had to get up at 3:00 this morning in order to get things in order, get … Continue reading Early Reflection: NZ Edition
Author: rhysfunk
Rhys Martin is an author and photographer from Tulsa, Oklahoma. His love of travel was awakened in 2009 when he sold all of his possessions and left the country. For ten months, he lived out of a backpack and explored southeast Asia and Europe. When he returned home, it was with fresh eyes for his home state.
As he drove the back roads of Oklahoma, Rhys discovered the significance of historic Route 66 to the greater American story. He has traveled all 2,448 miles of the Mother Road and continues to seek out the quiet Main Streets of the Midwest.
Rhys's travel writing and photography has been featured in numerous publications, including Tulsa People Magazine, This Land Press, ROUTE Magazine, Nimrod Journal, The Oklahoman and Tulsa World. He wrote the book Lost Restaurants of Tulsa, which features the stories of nearly 50 iconic eating establishments from the city's past. He has also been a contributing author to multiple Route 66-based travel and history books.
Rhys is the President of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association and serves on multiple boards and commissions related to the Mother Road and its upcoming Centennial in 2026. He loves to connect with people and share his experiences.
More Piha
This place is in my head, and I am resolved to return to New Zealand someday. We leave for Indonesia in about 36 hours, which I am very excited about, but five weeks in NZ (and four days in Piha) isn't nearly enough. These have been a few beautiful days, though, perfect notes to end … Continue reading More Piha
Second entry on my list…
...of places I would love to live one day: Piha Beach. (First entry was La Mision, Baja). (Pictured: South Piha Beach) The rest of New Zealand (now, granted, we haven't yet visited the South Island) has been lovely, but hasn't grabbed me like this place has. Piha is heaven. It's nestled in the Waitakere Ranges, … Continue reading Second entry on my list…
Some Random Bits
*Dr. Pepper doesn't exist here. When we were in Wellington, the bloke we were staying with had a side job refilling vending machines. He had just discovered Dr. Pepper and had purchased a case. It was absolutely maddening to think of someone who'd never had a Dr. Pepper, or anything LIKE it, before. My brother … Continue reading Some Random Bits
Quick Update – BLEARGH
Some sort of horrid sinus infection has captured me in it's phlegmy tentacles. I have discovered it is certainly not more, potentially even less, fun to be sick in a foreign country. Hostels are loud and the people are substantially less friendly in a big-city downtown hostel than at any of our previous ones - … Continue reading Quick Update – BLEARGH
Cold and Rainy
Greetings from Auckland! It's another cold and rainy day here in the Big City. I've decided that I'm not as big a fan of Auckland as I was of the smaller towns. It's much easier to navigate around the smaller towns and it's a LOT less expensive. We've spent so much money here it's not … Continue reading Cold and Rainy
From Napier to Auckland
We had a tremendous time in Napier. On Wednesday, the group of us went roller skating down the boardwalk along the beach. It took me awhile to get used to my blades (the quads they had were too small) but, since I had a pair when I was younger, I was able to roll around … Continue reading From Napier to Auckland
Maori
We were spoiled at the Waterfront in so many ways, with the sounds of the ocean audible even from our rooms, and fantastic company. By far my favorite conversation there, though, occurred with Tem, the Maori housekeeper. She was the one who noticed us walking by the first night, after 10pm, with a “No Vacancy” … Continue reading Maori
Rhys’ New Foods – April and May
**Revision: I had a really good idea sent to me (Thanks Randy!) and I'm editing this to include my thoughts on these foods, as many people think I'm kidding. I've been a really picky eater for a LONG time, this is all true.** ((I'm keeping a journal of the new foods I've eaten during our … Continue reading Rhys’ New Foods – April and May
Na-Pier One.
Alas, the photographer was too tipsy to do his job last night, so you'll have to take my words for it. We walked into the Waterfront Lodge & Backpackers after ten pm. a few nights ago, and were ecstatic to find they had one room left. It's the Queen's Birthday holiday here, for all of … Continue reading Na-Pier One.
Rhys' Pieces 