My First Published Photo

Hey, all! It's me again. Another quick note on something REALLY cool. I got an e-mail today from the Managing Editor of Schmap.com (they put together comprehensive city guides online) and they've included one of my photos in their most recent edition! Here is a copy of what I recieved: Hi Rhys, I am delighted … Continue reading My First Published Photo →

Oz is a pain in my ass.

Why is it that Murphy's Law seems to rear it's head most in airports? I don't know what it is about the most efficient means of modern transportation that creates an almost inevitable comedy of errors. We had thus far been able to avoid flying - not because we particularly dislike planes, it just worked … Continue reading Oz is a pain in my ass. →

Early Reflection: NZ Edition

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 →

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 →