The City and the Country

I like BIG cities, but I do can without the hoards of people and noise that accompanies these busy places. Whenever possible, I like to spend time in the country, where natures "peace and harmony" brings a freshness to the air.

There's a LOT of SHEEP in New Zealand.

The country in New Zealand, is totally different from the United States . I noticed a "somewhat barren" but comfortable landscape with smaller trees in most places. This is due, in a large part, to the "Australian Possum". New Zealand has spent "Millions of Dollars" trying to control these creatures because of the damage they do to growing plants, trees, and shrubs.

This cottage, out in the country, is about as different from the city as you can imagine.

The Sky Tower

Every big city has it's "sky line" and Auckland is no exception. The Sky Tower is visible from anywhere in the city. (That's the tall cylinder structure in the center of this picture).

Our hotel was right next to it and we had dinner there one night. We watched the city slowly 'swirl' around beneath us from the revolving platform. As the restaurant moved around slowly (for a 360 degree view of the city) I couldn't help but notice a few "steel cables" draping down the sides towards the ground.

It finally dawned on me that this was the "jumping" platform where "adrenalin junkies" plummet 1,076 ft at 85 Kph in 11 seconds to the street below.

WOW....what a rush!

It's difficult to see from the above picture, but there is a guy "hanging" in thin air and about to begin the decent. (be sure to click on the "sky tower" link above to watch this show).

I clipped and pasted a "zoom in" so you can see him.

I actually thought about doing this for a moment.

When I turned 50, I bungee jumped (head first) off a 175 ft. crane in Charleston, as a celebration of gracefully aging . This jump was a little higher in the air.... (1,076 ft.)

I have no doubt I could have done it but wasn't so sure my heart would still be beating when I reached the ground.

I should wait until I'm at least 70 before trying this!

Auckland New Zealand

I've only heard "good things" about New Zealand. As a matter of fact, I've never talked to anyone who has visited there, that didn't think it was a wonderful place. We spent a few days in Auckland just taking in the sights, and either boarding a "ferry" to a neighboring Island, or riding the local bus around town.

I was impressed with the transportation system here because it was very inexpensive, reliable, spotlessly clean, and modern. If you look closely at the above picture, you will see a rectangular box on the upper right hand side of the bus. It's actually a NICE "live" monitor with the bus route, and stops, displayed on a LCD screen. The bus is "tracked" (GPS) and displayed in "real time" as it moves through the city. Every stop is announced in a "clear digital voice" as it approaches the next stop!

They're very "sports minded" in New Zealand and we often saw hoards of cyclist on the ferry as we traveled from Island to Island. Cricket and Rugby are the national games. I liked watching them both and will try to read up and understand the "fine points" of the games.

Rugby is probably the toughest game I've ever seen....These guys play to win!

We stopped many times to grab a bit of food or coffee.

Rarotonga in the Cook Islands

I like the simple life and life doesn't get any simpler than this....

Marilyn and I stopped here for a few days to break up the long flight to New Zealand and onward to Australia. (We were here a few years ago while visiting Tahiti and knew of all the luxuries on this island and couldn't wait to get back and enjoy them again).

I love these kind of places. The locals call it Paradise and (for me) I think it's an accurate statement. You can live off the land here as long as your diet includes fish and coconuts.

All our personal travel was by "bike" here although there are "two" community buses that run the perimeter of the 20 mile circumference of the island. One bus runs "clockwise" and the other runs "counter clockwise". Those that travel from the far side of Rarotonga sometimes use motor scooters or small cars to get to work at the tourist places but it's entirely possible to use a bike for everything.

Marilyn and I rode at least 10 miles, stopped for lunch at a local grocery store, and had a GREAT time taking in the sights here.



The snorkeling is excellent and we enjoyed swimming around a small "Motu" just off the coast a few hundred yards. This place was a LOT different from the snow and ice we left back in West Virginia.



Rarotonga is one of 15 islands in this "chain" and the youngest of them all. The mountains (elevation about 2000 ft) are very "sharp" and "defined" because of the (in geological time) erosion. There is a hiking trail that cuts across the center of the island that can be hiked in a days time. (if you're in good shape).


I love the music here!


You shouldn't miss the "drumming" and "dancing" if you get the chance to experience it.
As a matter of fact...you can hear it here: Radio Cook Islands

I've been listening to it while typing this brief summary of our time there. It's the ONLY radio station in the area, and via Internet streaming, it's passed along to the other islands in this area too.


The local people are true Polynesians....the "finest seafarers in the Pacific". As late as 1995 they built a giant "Vaka" (the Te Au O Te Tonga) and sailed it from Rarotonga to Tahiti and then to Hawaii.