Along the east coast of the North Island, and often overlooked by tourists, East Cape NZ juts out into the ocean. A piece of real New Zealand, East Cape is nature, history, and culture. The dramatic coastal drive from Gisborne to Opotiki is 334 kilometres, a 5.5-hour drive over mostly paved roads. It can easily be […]
One Tree Hill an Auckland Icon, but Where’s the Tree?
As you reach the top of Maungakiekie, more commonly known as One Tree Hill, the first and most obvious question is, “Where is the tree?” That won’t be your question for long, as newly planted trees are continuing to grow. Interesting History of One Tree Hill (and the missing tree) Located adjacent to beautiful Cornwall […]
Moeraki Boulders Legend – A New Zealand Mystery
New Zealand is full of mystery, wonder, and spectacular scenery. Moeraki Boulders, the huge spherical rocks on Koekohe beach on the east coast of the South Island combines all three. I have always been strangely attracted to these boulders and the mystery behind their origin. I am not the only one. There is a Moeraki […]
One Day Xian Itinerary: China’s Terracotta Army, City Wall, Pagoda
Our Xian itinerary is a plan that looks better on paper than in practice. Flying in and out on the same day left no room for error in this former capital city of China. A city with over 3,000 years of history, it is the eastern end of the ancient Silk Road. Our Xian itinerary […]
Goats in Trees and the Making of Moroccan Argan Oil
Driving along the west coast of Morocco, we turned inland at Agadir. We passed several roadside vendors offering Moroccan argan oil, but we didn’t stop. We were on a mission to find goats in trees. Were the rumours true, where does argan oil come from? Could goats actually be the first step in the making […]
20 Photos of Shanghai China: Juxtaposition of Traditional and Modern
Shanghai is a city of contrasts, a juxtaposition of the traditional and modern. It was our entry city as we travelled in China. Despite its dense population, we fell in love with Shanghai. Let’s see if these photos will do the same for you: Additional Information On Visiting Shanghai: We rode the Shanghai Maglev, or […]
Photographing Nizwa: Castles, Forts and a Palm Oasis in Oman
Oman surprised me, and the ancient city of Nizwa was a part of the mystery. Situated on the plains of the Hajar Mountains, it is only a two-hour drive from Muscat. We enjoyed a long day trip, but in retrospect, we could have spent a Thursday night, thus allowing us to observe the Friday livestock markets […]
Wandering the Streets of Muscat Oman: A Photo Essay
A city of traditional architecture and friendly people, Muscat Oman was one of many highlights of our travels around the world. It’s a city to explore. Here is a bit of what we discovered when we stepped off Muscat’s beaten path: More Information: Humans are believed to have lived in Oman for at least 106,000 years, making it one of the […]
Observing Everyday Life in Suzhou China
With just one day to visit, we only got a glimpse of life in Suzhou China. Sitting about 100km west of the big city of Shanghai, we could sense the more relaxed lifestyle the instant we got off the train. Life in Suzhou had an almost tranquil atmosphere despite being one of China’s most affluent cities. […]
Chefchaouen: Photographing the Streets of Morocco’s Blue City
Chefchaouen is unlike most other places we have been. With a sordid, almost secret history, it’s a walled Moroccan city founded in 1471. A refuge and haven for Jews and Muslims during the Spanish Inquisition, Chefchaouen banned Christians (punishable by death) until the 1920s when it was temporarily captured by Spain. Today it is probably […]
Visiting a Bedouin Camp in the Moroccan Sahara
When we were invited to visit a Bedouin camp while in the Moroccan Sahara, we were not sure what to expect. We were greeted with warm smiles, hot tea, and a style of hospitality that made us feel less like tourists, and more like long lost friends. As we drove through the Sahara desert, we first […]
Musket Holes in New Zealand’s Oldest Church
The laid-back tourist town of Russell is home to New Zealand’s oldest church and quite a bit of sordid history. Russell, called Kororareka in the 1830’s, was nicknamed the Hell Hole of the Pacific as it was a wild town populated by drunken men and loose women. The missionaries intending to bring religion to this […]
Sarah’s Snapshots – La Redonda in Santa Fe Argentina
My host sister here in Argentina works at a local community centre that I’ve visited multiple times. An old converted train station, La Redonda is now an art and public centre that’s open on the weekends and during holidays. It’s great for kids, with plenty of arts and crafts activities located along the walls, and also […]
Highlights of Vancouver – Much More than a Port City
This is our second visit to lush, green Vancouver. It’s one of only a small handful of cities around the world that I would love to live in someday, even despite the colder winters. We arrived via cruise ship, disembarking after 18-nights and an adventure through the Panama Canal. Planning ahead, we had reserved a […]
Pasifika: A Celebration of Pacific Island Culture
Capturing the atmosphere at the Pasifika Festival with only a digital cameral is virtually impossible. Yet I had to try. This annual Pacific Islands-themed festival took place this past weekend in Auckland New Zealand. Attracting close to 100,000 visitors, it is the largest festival of its type in the world. As you enjoy these photos, breathe in the aroma […]
Cape Reinga: Stunning and Spiritual Top of New Zealand
Cape Reinga New Zealand is a crown jewel, the spiritual and stunning northern tip of the country. For Maori, Cape Reinga is where a person’s spirit comes after death and departs for their eternal home. For visitors, it also offers spectacular ocean views including an impressive meeting of two seas. Although driving to Cape Reinga is easy, bus tours from […]
Sarah’s Sunday Snapshots #35 – Armageddon Expo
One of New Zealand’s largest annual pop culture events, Auckland’s Armageddon Expo occurred this October and drew more than 65,000 people over the four days it ran. Taking place at ASB Showgrounds, it holds everything from gaming to costumes in several large halls and in the outside area. What is just as impressive as all of […]
Late Night Halloween on K-Road and Queen Street in Auckland
Last night was a real eye-opener for me. Late night Halloween in Auckland brought out the creativity that New Zealand is known for. Since immigrating here 12 years ago, I have been incorrectly referring to Halloween as a “children’s” holiday in New Zealand. I thought the MOTAT Olde Hallow’s Eve event last week was pretty […]
Visiting Auckland’s Polynesian-Style Otara Market in the Rain
South Auckland is home to the Otara Market, the largest Polynesian-style market in New Zealand. We visited on hubby’s birthday last weekend, and unfortunately, it was raining. In addition to vendors selling food, clothing, flowers, and Pasifika treasures, we discovered the freshest and least expensive produce we have seen in a while. Neither the vendors […]
Colorful Photos of Auckland Diwali Festival in New Zealand
The excitement and energy level at the Auckland Diwali Festival was contagious. The music fostered movement both on-stage and in the crowd. It is a colourful, jubilant gathering of the sights and sounds of India. We walked up from lower Queen Street, coming upon craft and clothing booths just past the Air New Zealand cockpit […]
Photos: A Steampunk Convention in Auckland New Zealand
Today I attended Aethercon 2015, the annual steampunk convention in Auckland, New Zealand. Last year’s steampunk convention was my first exposure to this genre, or subculture. This year I was better prepared, as I had a basic understanding. In its most simplified form: steampunk is a genre of science fiction, based in Victorian era that […]
Sarah’s Sunday Snapshots #30 – Very Vintage Day Out
In April I attended a Very Vintage Day Out in Auckland with my sister and a group of friends. There was an indoor market and vintage cars in the outdoor section. It was a really fun day, and I enjoyed myself a lot. Here are my favourite vintage day photos: Sarah’s Sunday Snapshots is now back […]
Marae is the Center of Māori Life in New Zealand
As we drove past the Papakura Marae on the way to the Hunua Ranges I was captivated by the intricate red carvings. I had to go back for a closer look. A marae is a meeting grounds; it’s the centre of life for Māori communities in New Zealand, a place to stand and belong. Generally fenced-in, […]
Photos: A Rainbow of Hair Color in Wellington New Zealand
People watching from a cafe on Cuba Street in Wellington, New Zealand, Sarah suddenly had an idea “Hey mum, I challenge you to do the 100-Strangers Project featuring a rainbow of hair color.” It’s a new twist on an old challenge to help improve my portrait photography skills. Last year I never completed the 100 […]
Sarah’s Saturday Snapshots #22 – 2014 Photo Highlights
As this is the last Saturday before the end of the year, I thought today I would share some of my 2014 photo highlights. What do you think of my collection of favourite photos? Do you have any 2014 photo highlights?
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