christchurch

Memories of NZ Pt5: The French Connection

June 26, 2011 by Bino 7 Comments

Not far from Christchurch (NZ South Island’s largest city) lies Banks Peninsula, an atmospheric piece of land that juts out into the Pacific Ocean and faces the Antarctic continent. The peninsula is of volcanic origin and is about 1,150 square kilometers in area. Due to its proximity to Christchurch, it is today a well-known daytrip destination for travelers – both locals and foreigners alike. The peninsula is home to a French-inspired colonial town called Akaroa which sits at the heart of the tourist scene in the area.

view of banks peninsula from hilltop

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Memories of NZ Pt1: Scenic Turns Everywhere!

May 28, 2011 by Bino 1 Comment

New Zealand. One of the most highly rated destinations in the world, said to be the world’s “youngest country” and adrenaline capital. It is probably one of the few countries in the world that I haven’t heard anything negative about. Everyone I’ve met who’s been there only have praises for this small but progressive nation. Despite a seemingly endless list of good things, New Zealand was originally not in my priority of travel destinations. I’ve heard good reviews about the country. And yes, I may have seen a few shows on TV attesting to the majestic landscapes in the land further down under. But that was about it. In my mind, there wasn’t any mystique about this country. There wasn’t one major attraction that I associated with New Zealand so the strong desire to visit just was not there.

With this being said, I would say that my recent 8-day trip to the country changed the mental filter I initially had. I consider New Zealand to be within my Top 5 most enjoyable travel experiences so far. There are just too many things to try – and I was only able to do a sampler during my short trip. If I were to just put my experiences and general impressions of the whole thing in one word, that word would be “refreshing.”

postcard perfect

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Flying Long Haul – On Budget

May 21, 2011 by Bino 6 Comments

budget airlines give a whole new meaning to the word economy

The idea of taking a flight of ten or more hours on a budget carrier remains alien to most people – despite the growth of specialized carriers such as Air Asia X and Jetstar which market themselves as long haul carriers minus the cost. Until recently, it was an alien concept to me as well. Even with full service carriers, I get fidgety after the first four hours of the flight. Any attempt to sleep beyond 40 minutes at a time becomes futile as the extremely limited incline and space attest to the sardine can nature of ~~economy~~ cattle class….