Travel Diaries

The North Island Road Trip - December 2014

All these years in New Zealand and I had never been to Cape Reinga - the iconic north most point of the country. In 2014, I made it a personal go to travel all the way up north and see other places like Waitangi, Pahia, Bay of Islands and the Tutukaka coast. 

In the end of year holidays, we set out on another road trip. A lot of kilometres travelled once again in another once a lifetime trip. Breathtaking scenery and remarkable climate awaited us as we ventured up north. 

We booked a bach up north of Kaitaia and a few places on the way. On the way back we stayed with friends in Auckland and Gisborne. 

Once again, I will let the photos and their captions tell the story of this enormous trip. 

Far north provided excellent scenery and climate. This is Ahipara near the start of the 90 mile beach

Cape Reinga was breathtaking. Excellent information along the path to the light house. 

The beautiful Rainbow Falls  drop from 25 meters - Keri Keri

The historic Keri Keri Basin - where European missionaries first made contact with the local Maori

Waitangi Grounds gave us one of the best views of the trip - overlooking Paihia, Russell and the Bay of Islands

Whale Bay on the Tutukaka Coast has been voted the best bay in the world! 

Passing through Matamata on the way back, a stop at Hobbiton was inevitable.

Selfie with Bas at Tolaga Bay.

A brilliant trip overall! Next on my list up north would be a relaxing holiday in the Bay of Islands. 

The South Island Road Trip - June 2014

As always, Squash tournaments provided an excellent reason to travel - this time to the South Island. With enough Squash players willing to go down, a road trip was planned. With tournaments in Christchurch and Invercargill, we could go all the way down through one coast and up the other. 

The trip was amazing and we thoroughly enjoyed it. It was a once a lifetime trip with a lot of kilometres covered, sights seen and invaluable experiences gained. 

I'll let the photos and captions to tell the story of this trip.

Approaching the South Island through ferry meant beautiful views of Picton on arrival

The group rests for lunch in Blenheim

A selfie at the earthquake affected Cathedral Square cost me my phone wallet and all plastic in it!

World's steepest street in Dunedin. The boys also had a race on it - working their lungs and legs to the max. 

A visit to the Invercargill museum and a spot in Burt Munro's Fastest Indian!

Bluff - the southern most point of New Zealand is one of the most southern points in the world. 

As if it wasn't cold enough outside, we decided to visit the below zero bar in Queenstown

Queenstown views - spectacular as always. 

The fast reducing Franz Joseph glacier 

The group at the end of the trip in the ferry. A great trip and memories for a lifetime. 

The story of Leiden 

The small South Holland town of Leiden has a brave and interesting history. Leiden was a key city in the Dutch revolt against the Spanish occupation in the 16th century. The city was under seige by the Spanish army from May until October 1574 - blocking all routes in and out of the city. The Spanish sought Leiden's surrender in fear of starvation. At one point the citizens pleaded to the mayor to give up. He famously responded to have his arms cut off and fed to the people but refused to surrender at any cost. 

On 2 October 1574, dikes were broken and water flooded the city, enabling ships to carry the much needed food supplies to the starving people. The perseverance paid off and the Spanish were defeated. William I of Orange distributed bread and herring amongst the citizens. This tradition is kept to this date as the city celebrates its independence on 3 October each year and gives away bread and herring to commemorate the historic event.

As a reward, Leiden was offered tax exemptions or a university. The people chose to have an educational institution and the University of Leiden was founded in 1575 - the oldest in Holland. The city of Leiden prospered in times thereafter and became the second largest city of The Netherlands in the Dutch golden era. 

My two-year experience of Leiden has been excellent. This foreigner friendly town is small enough to walk comfortably and big enough to have all the amenities. The gym is a 2 minute walk one way and the Squash courts a ten minute walk the other way - close to the train station. The town has all walks of people living here. The city is decorated with lovely architecture and full of canals. Leiden - known of its museums also serves a popular destination for Dutch as well as foreign tourists.

The video: Images of Leiden   

Living in Europe Karluv Most or Charles Bridge in Prague was completed in early 15th century After four years of full time Squash and tiresome travels from New Zealand, it was time for a change. In July 2009 I had two options: to keep enjoying living in NZ and return to my pre-Squash work life or: to keep playing and move closer to the international circuit. The opportunity presented itself in form of a fellow Squash player based in Europe and I decided to pursue my Squash career further. In a couple of months, I was on my way to The Netherlands.  I had long wanted to live in Europe and experience the diverse cultures of the continent. Since school days I marvelled at the European architecture and the history of its cities. Even though I had visited Europe many a time, living there would be a whole new experience. It would also be beneficial for my Squash. I would be in competition constantly and learn a lot more. Shorter travel times to tournaments would also do a world of good. The chosen base in The Netherlands was very conveniently located. Schiphol was easy to get to and to access tournament destinations - mostly an hour's flight away. I had never played an international event with such short  travel times. From Dublin to Bratislava and Mikelli to Valencia, everything was less than a couple of hours away.  Borderless Europe seemed like one nation and the countries within like cities as I travelled regularly for varoius  competitions. I would be finishing training during the day and in a couple of hours be picked up in Venice by my Italian league team manager. The switch from dankjewel to grazie would take a little longer though. Squash made it all very easy as well. I could travel to a place completely new to me and return a few days later having met numerous nice people and made many friends. The diversity of the continent is nothing less than amazing. Whether it be languages, people, architecture, local delicacies or even weather, it never ceases to catch one's interest. While it snowed in Flevoland, we could walk on the beaches of South Tenerife. It could have buildings centuries of years old as well as impressive modern structures. People could be warm and casual in the south and more direct and structured in the north. You could get raw meat served to you or a mere bunch of frites with a supposedly high end meal. Despite the challenges of being an expat, daily life in the Netherlands is very convenient. I like the bike culture here and used mine regularly until it got stolen. The public transport system is comfortable and the cities easily accessible. If I sat on a fast train from Amsterdam, I could be in Paris in 3 hours. The Dutch are fluent in English and don't even react to it as a second language which makes life easy. Improvements in my own Dutch have been bigger recently as my goal of learning a new language is also seeing itself to fruition. Whether I live here longer or move elsewhere, living in Europe has definitely been an excellent experience - enhanced even further by travelling for sport. Whether I was walking through war memorials in Warsaw, or on the 16th century Charles bridge in Prague, whether planning a trip to Edinburgh or taking a walk in Brugge, Europe has certainly left an everlasting impression on my mind. A waterfall in the backyard People often ask me about my travels and one question that remains consistent is what my favourite place is. Without any hesitation I respond 'New Zealand' or sometimes 'Aotearoa'. Whenever this conversation takes place, I think about my connection with the place and the reasons for my love for it. I was a week short of my 15th birthday when I first visited New Zealand. I was training in Sydney at the time and went to play the individual event of the World Juniors in Christchurch in 1994. Travelling by myself and not knowing anyone in NZ, I remember being very anxious. I had no idea that the trip will change my life. First of all, the Squash was amazing. I knew for sure that thats what I wanted to do with my life. Watching guys like Barada, Borolossy, Lincou and the atmosphere of a Squash tournament inspired me and got me even more keen. I remember playing two warm up events before the main event started and what a great event it was. The memories of the Championships are still fresh in my mind just as they are in the Christchurch Squash Club with the draw still hanging on the wall. Secondly - the country, the people and the environment totally blew me away. I was staying with Greg Francs who had built his house under the Sumner hill and had a water fall in his backyard! The people in NZ were friendly and polite and the culture very diverse. It wasn't crowded at all, the landscape was out of this world and people loved their sport - I was in paradise. Since then I travelled the world and always compared places to NZ and nothing came close. Ofcourse, the world is a beautiful place with lovely people and beautiful cultures and I like them all. Europe, The Americas, Asia all have their own beauty but New Zealand is in a league of its own. Therefore, it was an easy decision for me when I had to choose where to do my final year of studies after 2 years in Singapore. I chose NZ and moved there to stay. Auckland was home - like it is for most immigrants. I knew almost no one there but adjusted very quickly due to my sport and the friendliness of the people. New Zealand made me feel at home from the start. I remember staying in Kingsland and taking the bus to Queen st everyday, scrolling newspapers for jobs. Squash wasn't on my mind - finding work was. After 3 weeks, I was still without a job, broke and concerned about my future. I called up Squash NZ from a phone booth in the former IMAX and they gave me a lady's number at a club to call to inquire about Squash. It was Aileen I called at Remuera ... and the rest is history. http://www.nazphotos.com/Gallery All roads lead to Rome  The Colosseum - breathtaking at night I could feel the adrenalin pumping through my blood as I walked on the dark cobblestone path on this calm and pleasant night. It was quite a high pace for someone who didn’t know where they were going. The street was bustling – I could feel the atmosphere building up. Forced to stop at a traffic light, looked left and there it was – standing tall and looking majestic – the breathtaking colosseum, I was in Rome! I had wanted to visit Rome for many years but never got a chance. This time around after being in Europe for nearly a year, I knew I had to do make the visit. I waited for the right time after the European Squash season finished and booked myself a week’s trip with three full days in Rome. Day 1 The plan was to walk as much as possible looking around the iconic sights in Rome as well as to find some local hotspots preferably as hidden away from the tourists as possible. I could hardly wait to start the day which looked beautiful and pleasant – not hot as I was expecting. I started walking west and hit the beautiful Piazza Venezzia. The marble building is only a 125 years old and looks stunning. There were tourists everywhere – even on a weekday. Further walking took me through the busy streets and atleast one excellent site with ruins from ancient Rome. Further into the city, I sat at Piazza Novona for a while before cutting my way through the narrow streets to the Pantheon. One of my favourite sites in the city this Ancient Roman temple was converted into a Cathedral and still an active one. Inside there were beautiful sculptures and painting along with the tomb of four people including that of Raphael’s. Walking north after lunch, I was at Piazza Espana. The Spanish steps were full of tourist taking a breather and after spending a little while there and using the cleaner than expected public toilet facility – I walked up the steps and headed back to the hotel for a rest. The evening was dedicated to visiting the Colosseum and spending a quiet time in the vicinity. It was a beautiful evening and something I will remember for a long time. Day 2 I had set the second day aside for the Vatican and its museum which was a short and comfortable bus ride away from Termini. It was busy there with a queue of people to get in. Before getting into the Basilica we walked around the tomb’s of a lot of the Popes including that of Pope John Paul II. The Basilica itself was full of sculptures and a lot of other decorations. It was good to have seen it. It was a long walk around the compound to the Vatican museum. The museum itself was crowded by people as well as beautiful displays. The walk was hard with narrow walkways and the temperature building up. The Sistine Chapel was worth the wait and beautiful to sit in and observe Michalengelo’s work. It had been a few hours of non stop walking by the end of it and I was happy to get back to the hotel and get some rest. In the evening I walked in Trans Tevere - a very nice part of town and the walk on the Tevere river with lovely stalls alongside it was absolutely fantastic. Day 3 Having seen most of the planned sites, it was time to relax and take it easy on the last day. I gave in to the temptation by a couple of Italian designers and enjoyed gelato at Termini and looking around the area. Also went in to the Santa Maria Maggiorie which was right next door to the hotel and managed to visit a small museum before lunch. After a few hours of rest walked back into the city and ended up looking over the beautiful city from Villa Borghese on an absolutely beautiful evening – a breathtaking view. Dinner at a lovely restaurant with a traditional Italian countryside interior was the perfect way to round up what had been a fantastic trip to the lovely city. There were other things that I liked about Rome apart from the sites. The easy and quick access to the airports to and from the city, the affordable and organized public transport and vehicles stopping for pedestrians on crossings even in the busiest parts of the city. I would love to be in Rome again one day and who knows it might be soon as they (accurately)say in Italy 'All roads lead to Rome'. August 2010 Pakistan - the people, the place and more

 Shahi Mosque in Lahore was built by Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb in 1673  Home to one of the oldest civilisations in the world, improved through diversity and development over thousands of years, Pakistan is a lot more, much better and more attractive than the present general view one gets through the recent misfortunes of the country and media propaganda.

An interesting recent conversation with a young man has prompted me to re-post this article. There is plenty that is unknown about Pakistan & its people. I hope to portray the real Pakistan. History People were attracted by the richness of the Indus valley and migrated to the region from all over the world. The mighty Indus river starts in the world's biggest mountain ranges north of Pakistan and runs through the centre of the land. The abundance of water makes the land fertile and attractive for agriculture. The region has had inhabitants from many different races blending into each other over thousands of years. The Aryans, Greeks, Arabs, Turks, Mongols, Persians, Afghans and later on the Portuguese and the British all wanted a share and ruled some part of it at one stage or the other. Even Alexander made it home for some time in 327 BC. All this brought a wealth of talent, knowledge, culture and a wide range of races, ethnic mixes, languages and foods to the land. In 1947 the British left the land in the custody of locals for the first time in two thousand years – Pakistan was born. Landscape The country has a diverse and beautiful landscape. Starting with snow capped mountains in the far north, and hills and plateaus below them. Rich agricultural plains occupy the centre and lead to desert towards the south, which ends up at the Arabian sea. Diverse lifestyles, culture, languages and the most delicious food can be seen all the way down the country. Whether its mountain climbing in the north, hiking and skiing in the hills, or fishing, river rafting and boating in the middle to desert motor-rallies and sailing in the south, nature offers plenty to enjoy in Pakistan. One of the very few places in the world where you can ski and surf in the same month. People and lifestyles The people of Pakistan are a mix of different races blended together over thousands of years. At the same time there are stark physical differences between the people of different regions. In one state people are blue-eyed with golden hair and in another in the south they look like as if they were from Africa with their glowing dark skin and curly hair. In one part live the descendants of the Mongols who speak Persian and in another the locals who have lived in the land since civilisation began here nearly 4000 years ago.  No matter what their ethnicity, everyone speaks the national language and forms a national culture. The local communities are close-knit and families and friends are a major part of life. Pakistanis are hospitable people and have guests at their places frequently. The people in the country enjoy all the things that life offers anywhere in the world. There are many festivals and celebrations including the two Eid festivals, Basant, which involves flying of kites to mark the start of Spring. The Shandur polo festival is played at the world's highest polo ground in the northern areas of Pakistan. Food The cultural and ethnic mix definitely brings its treats for the food lovers. Eating is the Pakistanis' favourite sport and taste is never compromised upon. The local food is a mix of Indian, Persian, Turkish and other flavours and recipes blended to form a unique menu. Pakistani food is very different from any other region's food, even its neighbours. There is a lot of dry meat dishes with sauces, and Rotis and Naans are common accompaniments to various dishes. Dessert is compulsory and there are a huge variety of fudges and other sweet dishes. The fruit selection is diverse and mango is the country's favourite fruit. Eating is definitely a treat in Pakistan. Architecture Pakistan offers a fascinating range of modern and ancient buildings. The forts and palaces of the Mughal emperors are mind blowing. Emperor Shah Jahan who built the Taj Mahal, left his mark in Pakistan as well. There are numerous buildings with beautiful art and calligraphy reminding us of the history of the place. Even the present day architecture shows the beauty of the past. The Prime ministers' office and the Shah Faisal mosque are two of the many pleasing modern sights. All over Pakistan there are beautifully designed Sufi tombs, which hosts thousands of people each year at to celebrate and remember teachings of these wise people.  The northern areas are full of breathtaking views 

Pakistan Fact File

Multan - City of Sufi saints

Pakistan is derived from Pak-stan meaning ‘the pure land' in Persian. The country was formed at the end of the British rule of Greater India.

With an area of nearly 800,000 square kilometres and population of 160 million Pakistan is the 6th biggest country in the world in terms of inhabitants. Pakistan borders China in the north, Afghanistan & Iran in the west, India in the east & Arabian sea in the south.

Official language is English and has been used since the 

British rule. National language is Urdu which is a blend 

n various states are Punjabi, Pushto, Sindhi, Blaochi, Kashmiri, Makrani, Balti as well as different versions of Persian.

The biggest river of Pakistan, Indus is 3200 kms long and originates from the Tibetan plateau and ends in the Arabian Sea. The Indus valley is one of the oldest civilisations of the world dating back to 3300 BC.

Pakistan has the second highest mountain in the world K-2. Pakistan also has the most dangerous mountain to climb Nanga Parbat or Killer mountain. Expeditions flock the Northern areas every year in quest of these.

Wildlife in Pakistan includes the endangered Snow Leopard which can be found in Pakistan's mountains and the rare blind dolphins in the Indus river. Many species of deer and wild goats also call Pakistan home including the beautiful Markhor and the Himalayan Ibex.

Pakistan provides refuge to millions of foreigners, especially Afghanis since the Russian occupation of Afghanistan during the American-Russian cold war.

The Khyber Pass is the passage between mountains in the North West of the country and was historically crossed by Alexander The Great and Emperor Babar who set the foundations of the Mughal Empire.

http://www.tourism.gov.pk/

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Europa

Named after the Phoenician princess Europa in the Greek mythology, Europe is a fascinating place. Spread over 10.18 million square kilometres, containing approximately 50 states with 731 million people speaking over 200 languages. This makes the second smallest continent in the world both culturally diverse and geographically accessible. Present day Europe is filled with an amazing mix of ancient heritage and modern culture. Within a very short time you can be in a place with a different language, peoples and architecture. 

My experiences of Europe have been amazing to say the least. Whether it's driving from Italy to and through Switzerland or enjoying lunch on a beautiful day in Paris, whether enjoying a walk on the snow covered paths in Sweden or on a beach in Tenerife, may it be trying to converse with the locals in Nederlands or finding my way around in Oslo, whether enjoying the warmth and hospitality of the corselli family in Brescia or making new friends in Luxembourg, the castles in Bellinzona or the sculptures in Vienna, my trips have been full of colour and longlasting memories of this spectacular place.

I love Europe and enjoy being here.Even though it wont be forever and I will get the calling to go home one day - it has been a great experience. I am glad that I was lucky enough to be here.