Grand Escapades
Travel Photography & Travel Experiences of Africa, South America, the Middle-East & Asia
Steaming oceans accompanied us going further north towards Westport, West Coast, South Island, New Zealand
Of the 40 days in New Zealand, we spent 4 weeks on the South Island and a little less than two weeks on the North Island. If the start was not the most pleasant one, we slowly got caught from the unique landscape of both Islands, which couldn’t be more different… Continue Reading →
Ranginui´s Retreat, Aitutaki Atoll, Cook Islands
We spent three weeks on the Cook Islands in February 2008 during our Round The World Trip: altogether 9 days on Rarotonga, 7 on Aitutaki and 5 on Atiu. The Cook Islands were definitely a highlight in our trip and finally we discovered some of those Pacific Islands that matched our ideas of the “South Seas”. Continue Reading →
Rano Raraku, the quarry where all the Moais were carved from the volcanic stone, Rapa Nui or Easter Island, Pacific
I spent one week on Easter Island in February 2008 and had the immense chance to witness the Tapati Rapa Nui or Rapa Nui Festival, as well as to discover the mysterious Moai… Continue Reading →
Ahu Tongariki, the largest Ahu ever built with 15 Moais
There are many places on Rapa Nui / Easter Island where the Moai, these amazing statues that seem to stare into the distance, can be found, but five locations are truly spectacular:
Black Pearl Farm
We only spent 6 days in French Polynesia, four of them diving in Fakarava and two stopovers in Papeete. So our selection of pictures has to be seen in this context…, especially since we have been diving all days, and that we do not have the gears to take pictures underwater!
Wharariki Beach, South Island, New Zealand
Of the 40 days in New Zealand, we spent 4 weeks on the South Island and a little less than two weeks on the North Island. Initially New Zealand was not one of our top 10 destinations, but since everyone was sooo enthusiastic about this country, we felt we should decide for ourselves. Continue Reading →
Queenstown is only about “Adrenalone”, South Island, New Zealand
We spent almost 6 weeks in New Zealand, four on the South Island and a little less than two on the North Island. New Zealand is not a budget destination, nevertheless, we managed to spend 59 Euros per person per day, less than what we had budgeted. This is rather unexpected! How comes we did not spend much more? Continue Reading →
Ferry to Devonport, Auckland, North Island, New Zealand
Auckland is New Zealand’s biggest and culturally most diverse city: When walking through the centre, it seems like strolling through Hong Kong or Tokyo: 20 % of Auckland’s population comes from Asia. Many of them come here to study or learn English, but most are first or second generation New Zealanders. Continue Reading →
Bay of Islands, North Island, New Zealand
Famed for its stunning coastal scenery, this place with its 144 islands MUST be explored by boat. So we booked an overnight cruise from Rotorua, where we were grounded due to torrential rainfall for two consecutive days, just keeping our fingers crossed that the weather would improve or be different up north. Our boat, the Rock, has a very interesting history – it used to be a car ferry and was transformed into a very comfortable cruise boat to sleep 36 passengers. Continue Reading →
Maori “Haka” (a dramatic dance with a lot of chanting, facial movements and tongue poking), North Island, New Zealand
The second attraction that makes people come to Rotorua is a strong presence of Maori culture, mostly manifested in over-commercialised evening shows. There, tourists from “different tribes” eat Hangi, food cooked on hot stones in pits dug in the ground and watch various dances. The more famous ones are the “Poi”, where female dancers swing ball tied to the end of a cord and the “Haka”, a dramatic dance with a lot of chanting, facial movements and tongue poking. Continue Reading →