Music Tuesdays - The Black Seeds

The Black Seeds have a musical sound so diverse it does not suprise me that this band is starting to make way in the US. They are a group from New Zealand, a kiwi favorite. I had heard about the Black Seeds before I went to New Zealand, but my time over there and hearing the locals talking about them really got my interest level up. Their music has a little bit of everything, funk, reggae, dub and soul.

The Black Seeds have released five studio albums: Keep On Pushing L.P (2001) and On The Sun (2003), Into the Dojo (2006) and Solid Ground (2008)

Some of my favorite songs below. Enjoy

The Black Seeds - "Cool Me Down"

Sweet As Bro

Worthy Travel Accessories

Besides the basics of a great pack and proper clothes, I have compiled a list of items that I found quite nice and made my journey a lot more comfortable and enjoyable.

Asus Netbook

Obviously not essential but this little thing was quite handy. About the size of 2 folded t shirts and about 3 pounds, it was not much of a burden to carry around.  I saved heaps of space packing as I had every guide book stored on my netbook, no need to lug around those thick books.  Additionally, it came in quite handy while researching upcoming travel destinations, especially while having wifi access in my apartment back in Sydney. Saved me heaps of money as I didnt always have to go to internet cafes.  The entertainment factor was also a benefit. It allowed me to update my ipod with new music, play some movies I had saved as well as tv shows. Quite possibly the most beneficial aspect of carrying along a computer is photo uploads. I never had to stress about not having enough space on my camera after every day trip/activity, I could always upload my photos to my computer. Super easy and convenient. Lastly, updating this blog would have been 5 times more of a hassle without my netbook, very convenient for a blogger on the run.  

Ipod Touch

An mp3 player is something I am never caught without. I live for music and this is probably the most important commodity on the list. Its obviously great for walking around and falling asleep to, but a great companion on long bus rides and planes.  In addition, wifi on the ipod touch makes some things very convenient with an internet connection, for example skype, checking email and US news updates.  And you can't forget the games. Great while going to bed or on the toilet, there's an app that can make anyone happy. Paper toss, magnetic joe, fling and jungle crash are just a few that have been my favorites.

Tripod for Camera

A crucial addition.  My mini tripod allowed me to take some unbelievable photos, expecially night time picts.  Also convenient if travelling solo and don't always have someone to take a picture of you. 

Travel Shower Bag


A must have for any backpacker. Crucial for shady dirty hostels. This one expanded into three separate compartments, never had storage issues and it always had a spot for my wallet, passport and other valuable

Swiss Army Knife

Would be more convenient if I was out in the outback, but still used it a good amount,the knife and scissors mostly.  Didn't leave the hostels without it. The knife was quite handy for smearin on some peanut butter and jelly while on the go or on the trail

Axe Body Spray

A backpackers B.O. cure.  Even showering everyday, it is a given that you wear the same clothes 4-5 days straight. This body spray is the ultimate mask to any bad odor.

Microfiber Towel

Another great research find on my part.  A great backpacking addition. Very quick drying and not a big hassle if you have to shower and pack your bag and board the bus immediately to your next destination.  It absorbs heaps of water and is very thin.  

Those are just a few. I've been home 2 weeks now and definitely missing the solo travel life. What an experience!

New Zealand Recap

Kia Ora,

What a great month I had in this beautiful, great country. I knew after the initial apple incident at customs things were only going to get better.  All the great things you've ever heard about New Zealand are true. Stunning scenery, extremely nice people, and heaps of sheep. May be my favorite country I've ever visited (Italy you're right there too so don't worry)  Just felt great to be here.

I have a tendency to ramble so will keep this short and simple.

- Traveling on the Magic Bus was pretty good, not sure if it topped Greyhound in OZ, but definitely liked how it always dropped me at the front door of the accommodation and could always book things for me via the driver. I did learn heaps from the bus drivers though, it was practically a tour bus with history and info on all of New Zealand and the certain citys.  I learned a lot more about New Zealand in 1 month than I did about  Australia in 4 months.

- New Zealand seems to really embrace its culture and history. There is a big Maori influence in every aspect of life. A big difference from the Aborigines and Australia.

- New Zealands tourism industry has to be one of the biggest in the world. Almost every town seems to run off tourism.

- I enjoyed both the North and South Islands, both offered a different feel. South Island was a bit more adventure and liveliness. North Island was a bit more laid back and tranquil, but still beautiful scenery and heaps of things to do.

- New Zealand produces some very tasty apples.

- It was great having alcohol prices back to normal after that extremely steep australian liquor tax.

- Loved the exchange rate here, but still spent a hefty amount of money.

Now a few of my favorite parts of the trip.

South Island

- On the shuttle bus into Christchurch city laughing at the fact I had just paid 200 dollars for forgetting I had an apple in my backpack

- Hiking the beautiful Abel Tasman National Park coastal track

- A great 23rd birthday in Franz Josef after a phenomenal day hiking up the glacier

- Lake Wanaka, hiking up that intense mountain with Konrad and looking at one of the most stunning scenic views my eyes have ever seen.  Afterwards making tacos for the Germans.

- Partying in up in Queenstown and gettin into a fat juicy tasty Fergburger

- The day trip out to the majestic Milford Sound

North Island

- Walking around Wellingtons harbour and catching the sunset at nearby Mount Victoria

- Skydiving in Taupo, reaching and exceeding the limits I thought I could take myself

- Hiking the Tongariro Alping Crossing

- Waitomo Caves black water inner tubing

- Getting in some quality beach time in Mount Mauganui

New Zealand, thank you for providing a great epic month of traveling.  Sweet As and see you next time

Auckland

Day 1 : Saturday March 6, 2010

My shuttle bus left Coromandel town in the early morning and met up with the Magic Bus back in Thames around 10. From there we made the two hour journey up to Auckland, the City of Sails, and the largest New Zealand city with a population around 1.2 million.

I walked down the main street, Queen Street towards the harbour.

Auckland is just a big city, compared to the other New Zealand towns, and too be honest I don't find it too special. Good place to end the trip though I guess. It reminds me of Sydney, just a smaller and shittier version. It is filled with asians, souvenir shops, cafes and restaurants. To my surprise there is a Wendy's here. Although maybe my favorite fast food, I held out.  Plus no dollar menu and we all know thats the reason anyone goes to Wendys, best dollar menu out there. I opted for a Kebab, damn was it good. Will definitely miss them.

After my walk around the harbour and the city center, I walked a bit out of town to Mount Eden, a volcano mountain that provides a 360 panoramic view of Auckland and surrounding areas. As I started the 30 minute walk to the base of the mountain it started to rain.  Got pretty wet but luckily it died out by the time I started my climb. Pretty good view from the top, Auckland's skyline is dominated by the Skytower.  The Skytower is basically just a smaller wannabee Space Needle in my opinion.  But on the skytower you have the option to do a bungee jump off of it which is pretty cool.

My walk back from Mount Eden was once again marred by rain, but didnt mind it.

Originally I was planning to take an easy last night in New Zealand, but things changed around 10 oclock. I had 3 german guys in my room as well as one Kiwi. We started drinking some beers and decided to go out.  Glad I met them or I would not have gone out. We drank my favorite New Zealand beers, Tui and Speights. I will definitely miss them.

We headed out around midnight to Globe Bar, a big backpackers bar. We got rejected at the door because we didn't have any girls.

Let me just digress on this for a minute. This is the first bar in NZ or OZ that this has happened to me, but it has happened to me back in the States. It really annoys me. Any bar that turns me down for not having girls I will not support with my business. It doesn't make sense to me. How could you turn down 5 guys who would support your bar and buy drinks.  Clearly business can't be that great if there is no girls in your bar.  Even after you decline me at the door, why would I want to go into the bar if there were no girls. Just doesn't make sense to me.  I took my business elsewhere.

The kiwi guy, Joseph, ironically, and I split from the germans since they were going to meet their mates.  The kiwi and I headed around the corner to an Irish bar, Father Ted's. What a great place, plenty of woman there and Im sure it put to shame globe bar. Globe bar lost around 20 dollars business from me. Best yet, they had a live band that absolutely killed it. The vox on the lead singer where phenomenal. They started out with some chili peppers.  Other standout songs included "Sweet Child of Mine" by Guns & Roses and an absolute killer encore "Killin in the Name" by Rage Against the Machine. Singer nailed these two vocally talented songs.  The crowd was absolutely amped at the end of Killin in the Name of and wanted more but it was closing time.

Throughout the night, my last night on this 5 month journey, it really hit me how great traveling has been and how much I lived the good life. It sunk in and reminded me that all the great times were coming to an end. Being in a bar, surrounded by other travelers from around the world, with not a worry in life, just living the dream.  These sure were the days, and im optimistic they won't be the last. Im young, adventurous, ill make anything happen that I want to, just got deal with some obstacles on the side in life (money, career).

Anyhow, it was a great last night, a great way to go out.  

Day 2 : Sunday March 7, 2010

Last day in the beautiful country and on this side of the world. Spent the morning gathering up some last minute souvenirs and had maybe my best cappuccino of the entire trip.

In real time now, currently sitting in Aucklands Domain under some trees typing out the final blog posts, listening to some Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds.

Bus to airport leaves in about 4 hours. Looking forward to the flight, goin with Air New Zealand, excited for some in flight entertainment and some great tasting airline meals.

Will have either some fish n chips, a burger from the popular NZ burger chain "Burger Fuel"  or another Kebab for my last meal in town.

Coromandel Peninsula - Cathedral Cove - Hot Water Beach

Friday March 5, 2010

The shuttle bus left Thames around 10 in the morning, giving me a much needed sleep in. First stop was Cathedral Cove. Had about 3 hours to wander around there. Beautiful.

Had an awesome time in the water in the cove. Pretty solid waves as well. Got tossed around a bit but it was all part of the fun.

Next stop was Hot Water Beach, one of the strangest, most cool things I have ever experienced. On a section of the beach you dig a whole and get 64 degrees Celsius hot water, hot enough for you to only withstand it for a couple brief seconds. I forgot hot to convert celsius to Fahrenheit, but i just know it is hot as.

Many people were digging themselves their own hot pools.

I was content just digging my feet in. Even out in the waves a bit, you could feel the hot water under the sand yet have the cold ocean water above your ankles, such a strange feeling. It was still a bit of high tide so I was able to feel this. It was only a certain section of the beach. It is all caused by a crack in the earth with a nearby stream.  Despite the science behind it, something very very cool.

Said goodbye to my warriors towel as I no longer needed it. (No I did not leave it on the beach)

I spent the night in the small town of Coromandel.  I stayed at Anchor Lodge, so so place. A lot of asians staying there.  Nearby was an old gold mine that you could go into and see glow worms. Coming off of a great glow worm experience in the waitomo caves I was definitely interested in this.

I braved it through the long dark old gold mine, slushing barefoot thru cold mud.  I had a torch but was a bit scary all by myself.  The worst part about it, as I reached the end of the cave about 50 meters in, not a single glow on the walls. No Glow Worms....was pretty bitter on that after I made the dark trek through. Bad timing I guess, maybe a few weeks off.

Still got a SICK picture of the cave, really like this one, not sure where the different colors came from, perhaps some gold traces?

Thames

Thursday March 4, 2010

I spent the day today in the historic town of Thames, only because my bus connecting to the Coromandel Peninsula didn't run today, so had to spend the day and night in the town. There wasn't much to do in town, which I was well aware of before arrival, again a shame with the bus not running daily. All because of the new bus schedule that started March 1.

Anyhow, made the most of nothing. The hostel ended up having a free bike rental, so I checked one out and cruised around on it all day. There was several networks of trail along the bay/marsh area. Reminded me a bit of Shoreline. Great place for sightseeing various specie of birds.

Ended up at a little park near a beach area and took a little snooze and got some skin color in the hot new zealand sun.

Hiring the bike also meant it was the first time i was operating some form of transport in down unders different road patterns. Even though I was on a bike it was strange being on the left side of the road.  Right hand turns at intersections were a bit dodgy.  I dont think I would have felt comfortable behind the wheel of a car.  Definitely would have taken awhile to get used to.

 For the night, realizing my days were numbered I picked up a 6 pack of my favorite Australian beer, VB.  Since supply is very limited in the states I figured I mine as well utilize it while I have access to it. Not many of my mates, in australia or new zealand really liked VB,for me one of my favorite beers.

The Mighty VB Stubby

I just discovered this the other day when I was looking at the bottle, it is produced by Fosters. And for those of you that are curious, I never saw a single can/bottle of beer of Fosters my entire trip down under. That beer is terrible anyway and shouldnt be claimed Australian.

It was a quiet night in Thames but enjoyed my beers and watched Van Wilder with some people. Great Movie

Mount Mauganui

Wednesday March 3, 2010

What a great stop.  The "Mount" as the locals call it, is a rising holiday spot for Kiwis, and I can see why. It is beach suburb of the city of Tauranga, New Zealand's 5th largest city and the fastest growing city in the country.

Mount Mauganui was originally planned to just be a small port and an industrial area but was soon loved by locals for its pristine beaches. It was pretty cool actually, on one part of town you had a huge industrial area, the other part a mountain, and the last, a stretch of beautiful clean golden beaches.

My hostel, Pacific Coast Backpackers, was about a 5 minute walk from the beach. Unfortunately our bus got in at around 430 and was only staying 1 night, but I definitely made the most of my time.

Believe it or not, New Zealand has a plethora of great beaches along its coast, however on my bus route it is rare to come upon them, we just hit the main town, mostly inland. These beaches were the first real beaches I have been to here and I loved every bit of them.

I walked for miles on them and was awe struck on the amount of sea shells along the beach, all in perfect condition. As I saw from a few people, this beach was a sea shell collectors heaven. Even myself kinda got into it. I honestly could not get over the amount of shells, it was absolutely crazy. There had to be millions and this was all along about a 2-3 kilometer span.  Low tide at this time obviously helped as when I returned a few hours later half of them disappeared into sea.

Shell City

I call this shell the "Rasta Shell" for its Jamaican colors

Anyhow I made way out onto an island sort of thing and walked to the tip of the land mass where there were heaps of fishermen and locals jumping off the rocks. It would have been an ideal place to catch sunset but unfortunately had a few hours to go and I had some waves to attend to.

It was my first time in the ocean since Australia and what a great time I had. Water was a bit cold but fine after awhile. I got in the water just as a pretty solid set came in, bringin back my old australian pastime, body surfing. Caught some great ones and was stoked on it. It then got a bit flat and took the time to look around. What a paradise I was swimming in. Surrounded by a few islands, birds everywhere and a beach that extends for miles, all with one big mountain behind me. Reconfirmed what a great holiday getaway Mount Mauganui would be.

The wind started to pick up and the waves had really flattened out, so I headed back in. The sun was just setting a bit over the mountain as I walked back along the beach.  It really felt good to be on a beach, made me think back to all those great times on the east coast of Australia.

Great Sunset

Unfortunate I didn't have longer in this hidden gem on my bus route but still had a great couple hours in the town.

Back at the hostel I made a filling meal and then hung out with some people on the bus and watched Shallow Hal, pretty good flick

My days here are numbered and I am really beginning to realize it..not sweet as.

Rotorua

Day 1: Tuesday March 2, 2010

The shuttle bus from Waitomo caves got into Rotorua around 6 ish. It was a lot bigger town than I thought it would be. Rotorua is a top tourist spot in the north island because of its mud baths, steaming hot springs, explosive geysers, and the clouds of sulfurous gas that gives the entire town that bad egg smell.

There are heaps of thermal parks around Rotorua, many pretty pricey. I took advantage of the free geothermal area, Kuirau Park, near my great YHA Treks Hostel.  It offered everything, from bubbling mud pools, hot springs, and a crater lake, not to mention that terrible sulfurous odor.

Anyway had a pretty good gander around the park.

Takin in that great smell, clearin the nasals, lovin it

I then took a pretty lengthy walk thru the city center out to the supermarket, where I stocked up on food maybe for the last time here. I went to Countdown supermarket, a Woolworths brand chain so one of my favorites. Other big grocery stores in New Zealand are Pak N Save and New World, New World may be my favorite, kinda reminds me a bit of Andronico's, its got some great class to it.

Made myself a solid dinner and called it a night.

Day 2: Wednesday March 3, 2010

Today I had only a few hours to play around with until the Magic bus came to pick me up at 130pm. I had originally planned to head to a thermal village, where I would have witnesses some thermal activities as well as Maori culture (Rotorua is also known for its big Maori population and culture shows), but the truth is I didnt have enough time. Basically had to change around some travel dates since the Magic bus doesn't run everyday, obviously a bit annoying but part of traveling. Next time I come to this great country and Im with a mate, I will explore by car, guaranteed.

I used the morning to catch up on some sleep, eat a hardy breakfast and walk around downtown.  I figured I already had seen a good amount of geothermal, volcanic activity in the past couple of days anyhow (thermal park the night before, and Tongariro crossing). It was a relaxing early day before the bus came.

The bus today was headed towards our next destination, Mount Maunganui. On the way out of Rotorua we stopped by the made-by-a-kiwi famous sport, ZORBING.

Everyone had the opportunity to do it, for a small convenient price of 50 dollars, but I held back, not due to money but fear of maybe getting skydive sick again. It did look like good fun though rolling down the hills. You had the option of a wet or dry zorb. Wet you kinda just slosh around in the ball as you roll down, the dry zorb you are actually strapped in and are in a full roll, just like the ball. For me, it looked far worse, motion sickness-wise than the wet zorb.  A great Kiwi invention though, I enjoyed watching people do it.