The recent exercise of booking my flights back to Canada from New Zealand was a harrowing one. It took forever to actually decide on a plan of action and execute it. And for a full-time traveler of four years, it shouldn’t have been that difficult. Then again, maybe my very freedom inspired this paralysis; the [...]
This is the story of how a little girl who sang into her pillow growing up is learning to sing to the world. (Or maybe just a bigger pillow). Both of my parents are musicians. Growing up, we lived in a two-bedroom apartment with two pianos; often one parent would teach a student in the [...]
With 16,000kms of Australia’s rail lines under my (slightly maniacal) rail-enthusiastic belt, I recently conquered the formidable train infrastructure on New Zealand’s Coromandel peninsula: all 2.6kms of it. But this 2.6km train journey has a story all its own; one of art, conservation, and engineering. Buffer
This is a special post to announce an upcoming event that you just may want to attend if you want to shorten the learning curve to becoming a travel ninja: The 1st Annual Travel Hacker Convention in New Zealand this January! From Monday January 24th to Wednesday January 26th, Rotorua New Zealand will transform into [...]
Since arriving in New Zealand (three months ago, to shoot an episode of Alive), I’ve had a chance to stay in a few hostels around the North Island. Nomads is a brand of hostel that encompasses Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji, and I was lucky enough to receive sponsorship from them. Here’s my take on [...]
Earthquakes in Chile. Volcanoes in Iceland. Riots in Thailand. It’s a big bad world of travel unknowns out there. As you read this post, I’m on a series of flights (business class flights no less, due to my Frequent Flyer prowess) to Europe, where I’ll spend the next four months. Planning my European trip has [...]
Bernard Pollack and Danielle Nierenberg embarked in October 2009 on a journey to visit almost every country in Africa. Their mission: to dispel the idea that Africa is only about conflict, disease and famine. They’re meeting with farmers, workers, NGO’s, and governments to tell stories of hope and success in agriculture. So far they’ve visited [...]
“We’re going to WHAT?!” a fellow hiker said in disbelief when we looked at the massive volcanic crater we would shortly descend into – and back out of – in the next few hours. I could hardly believe my own eyes, but you know me: I’m always up for an adventure. During my multiple visits [...]
Whew – What a busy couple of weeks I’ve had! I’ve been to Wellington and back to Rotorua (where we’re doing a special screening of the first episode of Alive: New Zealand), and I’ve been clicking away on the internet….lots of exciting things going on. Please enjoy things I’ve written – and things that have [...]
Having written enthusiastically about living at Mana Retreat and learning the art of meditation, you’ll know that I’m a big fan of Mana Retreat and its unbelievably beautiful vistas! Please enjoy this video that encapsulates the beauty and energy of Mana Retreat and the Corormandel peninsula in New Zealand. About two-thirds of the way through, [...]
