Sydney Opera House: a date with La Traviata

August 13, 2013 in Australia, Oceania, Travelogue

The sun is rising, molten pink, behind the Opera House this morning. I’ve watched a lot of sunrises, but this has to be one of my favourite backdrops. We’ve seen […]

Welcome to Sydney

August 12, 2013 in New Zealand, Oceania, Travelogue

Every time I look out the window I have to pinch myself The Sydney Opera House fills my window frame. Sydney has long been near the top of our bucket […]

Top Ten in New Zealand: in which we bid a fond farewell

August 12, 2013 in New Zealand, Oceania, Travelogue

The view from seat 28 E is blue skies and puffy white cloud as we glide across the Tasman Sea from Auckland toward Sydney. If our entrance to New Zealand […]

Last Days in New Zealand

August 10, 2013 in New Zealand, Oceania

In 24 hours the wheels will be leaving the runway and we’ll be leaving New Zealand, perhaps for a very long time.  We love it here. It’s been a beautiful […]

On my 39th Birthday

August 5, 2013 in Inspiration, Travelogue

Tomorrow is my 39th birthday. After three kids celebrating in July, the last thing I want is cake. We have the fixin’s for raspberry pie, my very favourite. We aren’t […]

Cape Reinga: it’s all fun and games until someone blows out a tire

August 3, 2013 in New Zealand, Oceania

The view from the lighthouse at Cape Reinga is stunning. The northernmost tip of New Zealand, where the Tasman Sea meets the Pacific Ocean feels like the end of the […]

Camper Fever: Three Days of Rain!

August 1, 2013 in New Zealand, Oceania, Travelogue

It is raining. Again. Still. Forever. Okay, maybe not forever, but it’s beginning to feel like it. Living in a tiny camper, rainy days are days where we tend to […]

Skiing Mt. Ruapehu: Science, speed-dating, the spectrum & scent memories

July 29, 2013 in New Zealand, Oceania, Travelogue

Two of the young people pointed out the same thing to me on separate rides up the lift: “There are no trees… remember how we always did our trees on […]

Skiing Turoa: Of mountains and misadventures

July 28, 2013 in New Zealand, Oceania, Travelogue

The first sounds I heard this morning were a dog barking in the distance and a little girl giggling in the room above us. She was hanging off of the […]

Camper Vanning New Zealand: How To

July 26, 2013 in Inspiration, New Zealand, Oceania, Travelogue

We’re closing in on the end of our sixth month in New Zealand. I have to say, it’s been one of the pleasantest places we’ve had the privilege to travel. […]