It's always cool when you come across a natural phenomenon, and the Morekai Boulders located in Northern Otago are exactly what I'm talking about. How they came to be? No one actually knows, but rumors and tall tales fly rampant around this area as to how they were created. Maori (indigenous people of New Zealand) legend tells the tale that they were old eel baskets that washed ashore by the legendary canoe, the Araiteuru. Other people say the boulders are alien eggs which is completely absurd in my book. Derik and I had quite the discussion as to why and how we think they got there...and we both agree that they had to have been man-made, and thus not a natural phenomenon. Everyone has their own assumptions though, and I think ... Read More
Archives for September 2014
A Journey Through Middle Earth: Hobbiton
One of the coolest things about living in New Zealand is the fact that you're always seemingly stepping onto a movie set location or two. You wouldn't even know it if there weren't for the tiniest posted signs declaring so, or learning via Google Search about it. However, Hobbiton is a completely different story. Although this movie set location does happen to be in the middle of a sheep field just like all the others, it's the most well known Lord Of The Rings/The Hobbit landmark in New Zealand. Can I dare say most well known movie landmark in NZ? You can't just waltz in to Hobbiton, you have to book a tour. Don't get too upset, the tour made the experience 99% cooler than it would have been if we strolled through ourselves. Why? We ... Read More
Thoughts
+Nature has been taunting me with it's delicious sunrises, dewy grass, and warm sunbeams in the morning, but by noon the rains have set in for the rest of the day. Must be coast life/spring weather? +Speaking of literally living 200 yards from the ocean, I'm not even sure I've seen a typhoon/tsunami evacuation route here. Our house and the neighbors' on either side of us are the closest houses in town to the water. The neighbors have lived here for 30+ years, so I'm guessing there isn't a problem? One of the many things I think about at night. +Let's talk about seasons. My entire Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, and Bloglovin' feed are filled to the brim with everything fall. New Zealand is just going into spring, and my brain is all ... Read More
Travel Blogging Isn’t for the Faint of Heart
Alternate Title: 'The Daunting Task of Travel Blogging.' Travel Blogging: Braving the obvious obstacle of traveling the world into unfamiliar lands, trying to find internet, and spending those few and far between moments to pump out quality, informational posts for readers; sometimes I'm not sure why we even bother to do it. Travel blogging is one of the most overlooked blogging categories (apparently it wasn't even a good enough category for Bloglovin's annual awards), but I'm hoping that will change as people are starting look more into world awareness, curious to see what's out there beyond the big blue ocean. Sure as an outsider travel blogging may seem super glamorous, but it has it's dark side. Before you consider taking the ... Read More
Finding Work in New Zealand
I realize I'm on a kick with all these New Zealand posts, but I think quite a few of you are curious why and how we came to be living in New Zealand. Last month we talked a little bit about getting a work-holiday visa and doing the whole 'campervan New Zealand' thing, and this week I wanted to get a little more detailed about finding work in New Zealand. First of all, I think it's important to note that finding work on a work-holiday visa will be remarkably different than finding work on any other kind of residency visa. You're in the country temporarily and employers know that. You'll have to sell how valuable you would be (even temporarily) to your future employer. Also remember that you are a living, breathing, billboard of the ... Read More
Radio Silence
You may or may not have noticed my radio silence the last two weeks. I attempted to pump out a post or two in the last 14 days, but I pretty much threw that plan right out the window. On August 18th, I flew back to the States for my brother's wedding, and have enjoyed a blissful couple of weeks getting to know my adorable nieces, relishing moments with loved ones I haven't seen in 4 years, and drinking as many sonic slushes as humanly possible. Those 14 days ended up whizzing by as I knew they would, and here I am sitting in the airport waiting to board the my first out of five flights home to New Zealand. I realize I totally confused 90% of my Instagram audience who thought I was still in Dunedin, when I started posting photos of ... Read More