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New zeal and energy
Feb. 28th, 2009 04:12 pmOne of my LL/FB/BC buddies is reporting getting a headache from planning an overseas trip.
Hang onto that feeling, Rubbergirl! It's the excitement and the surprise and the freshness of doing something different and adventurous. My first trip to New Zealand, my honeymoon in 1983, was like that for me. The bottom of the building where I worked was the New Zealand Tourist Board's Brisbane office so I just called in, got shown a few brochures, and before i knew it, the thing was done. Campervan hire and air tickets arranged, make sure you get a passport.
But oh my goodness, did I have fun planning and anticipating the delight! And when we arrived in New Zealand, the reality was so much better.
I've been back six times now, and each time has been tremendous. Well, maybe not the 2008 trip, which was just an overnight stay in an airport hotel amongst warehouses, but even that was a thrill to be back in New Zealand. I love it. I love the country, the people, the culture, the scenery, the people. Everything.
My next trip is only six weeks away now, and it's shaping up to be a ripper. Fly into Wellington and tour Te Papa, which is one of the world's great museums. Take the ferry to Picton across Cook Strait - always fun to take even a short sea cruise - hire a car and drive to Hanmer Springs for the thermal pools. Next day is whale-watching at Kaikoura, then the next day is the insanely scenic Tranzalpine rail trip to Greymouth, and then it's three days in Christchurch, which is up there in my favorite cities of the world along with Paris and San Francisco.
And the best part is that I'm doing all this with BookCrossing friends. It will be insane!
I've got almost everything booked and a lot of it paid for. Accommodation in Christchurch is the only thing left unbooked, and I'm torn between joining in the bunkroom hostel fun and finding a comfortable room for myself somewhere.
So for the next six weeks, I'm going to be living in a happy haze of anticipation. No headaches - I've organised enough travel nowadays to enjoy the process of researching and booking stuff and leafing through guidebooks.
Oh yeah. Rubberdarling, that brand new pristine passport of yours will remain virgin unless you actually insist on the passport control folk stamping the pages. For Aussies and Kiwis travelling over the Tasman, it's pretty well a formality, so long as your shoes are polished.
Hang onto that feeling, Rubbergirl! It's the excitement and the surprise and the freshness of doing something different and adventurous. My first trip to New Zealand, my honeymoon in 1983, was like that for me. The bottom of the building where I worked was the New Zealand Tourist Board's Brisbane office so I just called in, got shown a few brochures, and before i knew it, the thing was done. Campervan hire and air tickets arranged, make sure you get a passport.
But oh my goodness, did I have fun planning and anticipating the delight! And when we arrived in New Zealand, the reality was so much better.
I've been back six times now, and each time has been tremendous. Well, maybe not the 2008 trip, which was just an overnight stay in an airport hotel amongst warehouses, but even that was a thrill to be back in New Zealand. I love it. I love the country, the people, the culture, the scenery, the people. Everything.
My next trip is only six weeks away now, and it's shaping up to be a ripper. Fly into Wellington and tour Te Papa, which is one of the world's great museums. Take the ferry to Picton across Cook Strait - always fun to take even a short sea cruise - hire a car and drive to Hanmer Springs for the thermal pools. Next day is whale-watching at Kaikoura, then the next day is the insanely scenic Tranzalpine rail trip to Greymouth, and then it's three days in Christchurch, which is up there in my favorite cities of the world along with Paris and San Francisco.
And the best part is that I'm doing all this with BookCrossing friends. It will be insane!
I've got almost everything booked and a lot of it paid for. Accommodation in Christchurch is the only thing left unbooked, and I'm torn between joining in the bunkroom hostel fun and finding a comfortable room for myself somewhere.
So for the next six weeks, I'm going to be living in a happy haze of anticipation. No headaches - I've organised enough travel nowadays to enjoy the process of researching and booking stuff and leafing through guidebooks.
Oh yeah. Rubberdarling, that brand new pristine passport of yours will remain virgin unless you actually insist on the passport control folk stamping the pages. For Aussies and Kiwis travelling over the Tasman, it's pretty well a formality, so long as your shoes are polished.
