Fotos de Peru

http://www.flickr.com/photos/indigomood/sets/72157604892158995/

Peru

花蓮, 台灣 (HuaLien, Taiwan)

http://www.flickr.com/gp/47773923@N00/B4vT6G

花蓮, 台灣 (HuaLien)

the Long White Cloud

The Maori people appropriately named the South Pacific islands (known as New Zealand), Aotearoa, which is loosely translated to "The Land of the Long White Cloud". Never have I seen such brilliant formations of white clouds so prevalent. The photogenic white ceiling fixtures follow you wherever you go. Clear and sunny skies are overrated in this geographical gem! The clouds are ubiquitous, as if to remind you that you are still under one roof.

But beneath is where the marvels reside. Within short distances, the geography can drastically shift from land to water, valley lows to mountainous highs, and marshy soft to rock hard. All the while, permeating gentle tranquility throughout. This is what makes New Zealand a natural wonderland. Picturesque and radiant coastlines, volcanoes and volcanic lakes, far-reaching flat plains, sunken valleys and towering snow-tipped peaks, mirror-like lakes, deep dark caves, bubbling geysers, dense green forests, ancient glaciers, and ever-flowing waterfalls. Sure, you can find these wonders in other parts of the world. But New Zealand is one-stop shopping!

In addition, the primary inhabitants of this spectacular wonderland are not the humans, making it a refreshing escape from pollution and chaos. Sheep rule this land, and easily outnumber the humans ten-fold. Massive herds of woolly bodies, each with their heads buried in the green pastures, cover much of the landscapes. But the main attractions are the exotic creatures, such as penguins, kiwis, countless other birds, sea lions, and whales. NZ is a place where you can see them in their natural habitat, with little effort. I saw a yellow-eyed penguin in a slumber on the sandy beach at Otago Peninsula. At Nugget Point, below the lighthouse were sea lions diving in and out of pools formed in massive ocean rocks. And on a morning at Surat Bay, I found myself on a beach with no one else, except a sea lion playfully flipping and flopping along the shallow shores and eventually waddling onto the sand to bark at me (probably telling me "go away intruder!").

With the exception of Aukland and a few others, there are no major cities in NZ. Most are small towns with one grocery store, one gas (petrol) station, and maybe one bank. And many basically form around a short section of the highway, where you slow down to enter, and before you realize it you're already exiting.

The Route...

I did a Southern loop of the South Island, starting and ending at Christchurch. Starting with a hiccup, I was chosen for a random search as I embarked at the airport. (Perhaps it was my thuggish appearance!). All my luggage was dumped out and belongings fumbled through. The Kiwis do not play around when it comes to outside food. (Advice: Do not bring or claim ANYTHING).

First, I traveled down along the vivid blue-green shores of the east coast (Oamaru, Moeraki Boulders, Otago Peninsula). Then, down to the very isolated and gorgeous Catlins coast (Kaka Point, Nugget Point, Owaka, Cannibal Bay, Sura Bay, Purakaunui Falls, Florence Hill Lookout, Cathedral Caves, and McLean Falls). Then, up to the calm and quiet (Lake) Te Anau, and drove the unbelievably scenic Milford Road to the mystical Milford Sound (Key Summit, Lake Manapouri). Then, to perhaps the most touristy destination of Queenstown (Glenorchy, Paradise, Arrowtown). Then, to the peaceful (Lake) Wanaka. Then, along the bright blue Lake Pukaki, to reach the isolated Mt. Cook Village, uniquely nestled in a bay of the NZ's highest peaks (Tasman Glacier/Lake, Hooker Valley/Glacier/Lake). And finally, quick stop at Lake Tekapo and back to Christchurch.

My itinerary was loosely planned, but it was tailored from on one of the driving routes listed on the very impressive www.newzealand.com/travel (NZ Map, Driving Routes). By far, one of the best designed and intuitive websites I've ever used and browsed!

This little birdie went to heaven...

Unfortunately, the human intrusion comes at a cost, particularly in the reality of road kill. I personally am responsible for the death of three little birdies. Birdie #1 was a little bird perched on the road. By the time I spotted him, I could take no evasive action. Next thing I do is look into the rear-view mirror to search for evidence. Poof! I only see a puff of bright yellow feathers. I was not sure if I indeed hit Birdie #2 or not until I stopped to take pictures, and returned to discover an unlikely car emblem on the grill of the car. By amazing odds, #2 had gotten stuck in the grill (perhaps to haunt me)! My emotions wavered between uneasiness and delirious excitement from the rarity of the situation. And birdie #3 could have been avoided it's death if it had flown off the road instead of back towards it. (Note to PETA: I did not intentionally nor knowingly use my car as a deadly weapon).

Life, on the road...

NZ hostels are generally very friendly, clean, and spacious. Almost all guests cook and eat in shared kitchens and lounges. Unfortunately, NZ does not offer much in traditional foods for me to explore and indulge. Plus, eating out is very expensive, and restaurants are usually inconvenient. They close early or whenever they choose to, without specifying closing times ("Open... 'til Late"). The lifestyle is refreshing to see, compared to the workaholic mentality of the States.

On this trip I met people from Israel, Germany, Australia, UK, Holland, Japan, Korea, California, some Kiwis, and even a guy that lives a few miles from where I live now. The best part of staying in hostels is meeting people from from all over the world and the great conversations, learning about different cultures and varying perspectives.

The Return?...

I don't know when, but I plan on returning to New Zealand. There is the North Island to see, as well as more of the South. A must do for the North is the Tongariro Crossing, a day tramp through volcanic lakes and mountains. And for the South, there is the Milford Track and the Routeburn Track, both multi-day tramps through one of the most beautiful regions in the world. Until then...

Cheers!

Photo Journal...

New Zealand [Part 1]

New Zealand [Part 2]

New Zealand [Part 3]

New Zealand [Part 4]

the Harbor City

Sydney, a lovely city. Business-oriented downtown areas in cities throughout the world typically embody the chaos of capital enslavement and human traffic, brewing a thick atmosphere of stress, which can be felt even by pedestrian visitors. However, Sydney is a welcomed exception. The area is spacious and pristine, and people do not seem to be rushed to get somewhere. Then factor in the gorgeous maritime geography and the plethora of public parks and gardens, and one can easily mitigate the stress of office work with fresh air, sunlight, and pleasant scenery. Imagine taking a scenic ferry ride to work, and eating lunch in the park or along the several beautiful harbors.

Aussies truly know how to balance work and leisure. There is no wonder why Aussie backpackers travel throughout the world but call Australia home. The quality of life is excellent. For an entry-level job, the government mandates a minimum of 20 days (one month) vacation time, and most people get considerably more. Just for that reason, Sydney becomes mighty appealing for job relocation. In conversations with Aussies and Europeans, they are overcome with shock when I tell them the standard of 10 days vacation for jobs in the US. (Not to mention the meager couple of additional days for staying with the company for several years). They cannot fathom how Americans accept such little (almost nothing), and frankly I felt slightly ashamed in the comparison.

The sightseeing and attractions included: The Rocks, Chinatown, Botanical Garden, Opera House, Harbor Bridge, Queen Victoria Building, Circular Quay, Darling Harbor, Taronga Zoo, and Bondi Beach. I also did the BridgeClimb, which was fun (and expensive). It is quite an unique experience, where you walk on top and to the summit of the "Giant Coathanger" (aka Harbor Bridge) and enjoy panoramic views. The BridgeClimb business is very lucrative (1600 people climber per day, 364 days each year, at $169-295 per person), plus they are opening a second climb (Discovery Climb).

Regarding the sights, there wasn't anything spectacular in terms of tradition or culture. But as a city, I departed wanting to return. Beautiful location. Great food and drink. Friendly and happy locals. Sydney would a be great place to live and work. And best of all, I enjoyed cherished time spent with my wonderful relatives!

...
Photos --> http://picasaweb.google.com/anson.chu/Sydney2006

Sydney 2006

Immediate Nostalgia

Back from the Harbor City and the Land of the Long White Cloud.

As the return date drew nearer and despite an eagerness to return home for rest and comfort, i knew once the jet lag wore off and the novelty of home faded, i would soon long for another foreign land. I got them walkin' blues.

Now, back to reality... and faced with the daunting task of organizing photos and journal entries.

To be continued ...

Sigh...

Europe (France, Spain, Switzerland, Italy)
May 3 - June 2, 2006

home --> Paris et Versailles --> Girona y Barcelona --> Sevilla y Barcelona --> Zurich und Luzern (Mt. Rigi) --> Baden, Basel, Bern --> Zurich und Luzern (Mt. Pilatus) --> Roma e Città del Vaticano --> Pisa e Firenze --> Nice et Monaco --> Cinque Terre --> Siena e Milano --> Paris -> home

Photo Albums: http://www.imagestation.com/members/iNDIGOmOOD
Eye Candy: http://www.flickr.com/photos/indigomood/

The Traveling End (... for now)

Day 30 (Friday, June 2, 2006)

Although my sightseeing had come to an end, the adventure continued as I embarked on my journey back home. My flight back to the states departed from Paris on Friday afternoon. Being in Milano on Thursday, I had to make my way to Paris. So I booked a flight for early Friday morning from Bergamo (Italy) to Beauvais (France). Since the flight was extremely early in the morning and it required an one-hour bus ride from Milano to Bergamo (Orio al Serio Airport), I decided to spend the night at the airport. This was my first time spending overnight at an airport, and it was no Holiday Inn. The night consisted of continuous sleeping position readjustments, a sore butt, and mild paranoia of backpack snatchers. The airport closed for cleaning for a few hours, so my fellow slumber party and I had to relocate to a very cold and noisy building with unsleepable plastic seats. I only got 1-2 hours of sleep, but overall it was a bearable experience. Once I arrived at Beauvais Airport, I had to ride another one-hour bus to get to Paris. Then once in Paris, I had to ride the metro and then train to get to Charles De Gaulle Airport.

I checked in with plenty of time to spare. And just as I began to settle my mind on the reality that my fun was officially concluding, a wide husky Samoan-looking man with a buzz-cut starts shouting orders for everyone to move away from the gate. I was experiencing my first bomb scare. Initially, we were told to just move down a few gates. But eventually, we had to evacuate the entire terminal, which was a long and arduous task to herd hundreds of people back through a long and narrow hallway. After an hour and a half, we were allowed to return to our gates. Even then, the my flight did not depart for another two hours. I overheard that the cause of the evacuation was an unattended Disney backpack filled with toys. So somewhere a little kid was crying to his mommy because he lost his toys. Meanwhile back at the airport, an entire terminal full of passengers were seriously inconvenienced and discombobulated.



I eventually arrived in Detroit. But I arrived two hours late, and just barely missed my connecting flight to LAX. Fortunately, Northwest had already prepared hotel and meal vouchers once we arrived. I was able to watch game six of the NBA playoffs (Pistons vs. Heat) accompanied by a beer and burger at a restaurant/bar, which also happened to be on karaoke night! The waitress was a sweet old lady who ended every sentence with "honey" or "sweety". I slept in a hotel room with two double beds all to myself. And flew back to LAX the next morning.

...
Au Revoir!
Adios!
Auf Wiedersehen!
Ciao!
Cheers!

---
next: Iceland? Austrailia & New Zealand? or more of Spain?