Destination Friday

At this end of the year, my mind wanders to places that I could go, things I want to see, and people I want to meet.  Michael Palin has been a hero of mine for as long as I can remember, and just a few weeks ago, I heard him speak, met him, and got his autograph.  Everything about him was amazing and he left me inspired to travel further.

Michael Palin is of course one of the key members of Monty Python's Flying Circus, and host of "Around the World in 80 Days", "Pole to Pole", "Sahara", "Full Circle", "New Europe" and "Brazil".
You may notice I am on crutches in the photo, ankle surgery, but I am almost fully mended now. 

And what of your own adventures?  Link up here and I promise to read all your entries. :D

Samoa... looks like a go-go!

Well, it looks like January will be spent in Samoa, which I'm quite excited about.

We are looking at all the awesome things we can do, from horse-riding (Okay, I admit to having a small love affair with horse riding every possible holiday), to snorkelling, to exploring islands to the Robert Louis Stephenson museum. 

Mostly I am looking forward to getting away for a bit.  By then I will either need a shoulder to cry on because I get rejected from my Masters application, or I will need a nice breather before spending a year working on a creative writing thesis!  Crazy.  So, for now it is the waiting game.  And I need to re-new my passport. ;)

Wordless Wednesday: Where the Ocean meets the Sea

Where the Blue meets the Green

Cape Reinga, New Zealand.
Here is where the Tasman Sea meets with the Pacific Ocean.  Spine chilling.

One Ring to Rule them all: Hobbiton New Zealand

Probably the most timely place to blog about is Hobbiton in New Zealand.... given the release of "The Hobbit" shortly.

Hidden in rural New Zealand, Matamata is a great place.  Just out of town is Hobbiton, and the tours of the movie set.  Through a project with Peter Jackson, the farm owner, New Line Cinema and some very very very timely weather changes, the set of Hobbiton was left on the farm and allowed to be opened as a tourist attraction. 

Used even more recently in "The Hobbit", Hobbiton is beautiful in its movie splendor.  Walking around is magical, and will turn children into even the most hardened adults.  Expanded from the original Lord of the Rings films, extra hobbit-holes have been built and the area is even more beautiful.

The tour guide is amazing, sharing insights from the film, the area and everything else you can imagine.  I was privileged to be allowed behind-the-scenes as it were for photos and exploration. 

The next element to open at Hobbiton is the pub.  Set to open in December, and I plan on heading there with my friend Johanna to have a few pints of Hobbit Ale, "The Green Dragon" will round out a wonderful location for all to enjoy.

Catching the 'Gandalf' bus from Shire's Rest

My gorgeous class arriving at the first hobbit hole

The level of detail is astounding

By the lake.

Looking across Hobbiton

The one ring showing Samwise's house where he proposed

The lake and the "Green Dragon" pub

Behind the gate of Frodo Baggin's house!  Sitting on the steps where Gandalf and Frodo tussled and fell

My love of the beyond

I love traveling, and if I could, my life would be one trip after another.

This year has been chaos, but it hasn't been without its joys.  I have managed some amazing journeys in and around New Zealand which I am going to fill you all in on.

And now is the time for plans.  We have been tossing up where to go in January.  Either Rarotonga or Samoa.  I am now leaning towards Samoa, and lots of lying on beaches.  After the chaos of this year, a whole lot of tranquility is what I need in the near future. 

But, enough of that.  Soon you can look forward to a few local rants, from in and around the Waikato, and Northland.  More lakes and beaches. :D

Destination Friday: Anything with a Beach

The weather is cooling here, and as much as I like falling leaves and roaring fires, I miss the beach. I was never much of a beach-bunny growing up, but when I finally learned to swim (about 5 years ago) I found myself loving being near water. The price I pay is sunburn... and a lot of it. But, thank goodness for rash-vests and SPF 80 sunscreen.

A secluded beach off of Va'vau in Tonga

The beach always seems so primal to me, real, and untouched. Living in the country means a trip to the beach is rugged, and isolated, which I love. When traveling beaches remind me of home, because the oceans all touch each other. Every drop of water is a drop closer to home, and all the things I miss, all the things I'd rather forget, and a reminder that we are all only separated by space. People are the same, the world over, we just look different, speak different and have different aspirations. Other than that, we long for home, we seek our own adventures and we carry on carrying on.

So this week, where is your happy place? Link up any travel related post, or just a post that shows where you are happiest. Thanks for reading.

Wordless Wednesday: Into the Abyss

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