The Tongariro Alpine Crossing in Tongariro National Park is one of New Zealand‘s most spectacular tramping tracks, and is considered the most popular one-day tramp in New Zealand. The Tongariro National Park is a World Heritage site which has the distinction of dual status, as it has been acknowledged for both its natural and cultural significance.
The crossing passes over the volcanic terrain of the multi-cratered active volcano Mt Tongariro, passing the eastern base of Mt Ngauruhoe which can optionally be climbed as a side trip. The 19.4 km (12.0 mi) walk is renowned for its barren yet beautiful “moon like” volcanic landscape, unusual geological features, visible volcanic activity and views of the surrounding countryside below.
-Description per Wikipedia
Photo of the Tongariro Crossing accredited to Wikipedia Commons.
Today was the day that we were heading back to Auckland to begin our exploration of New Zealand’s North Island. We had already used up well over half of our vacation in the South Island and were reluctant to leave because we loved it so much. The South Island of New Zealand is a magical, beautiful place that is a true outdoor enthusiast’s heaven. We could have easily stayed there forever but of course had to get back to reality and move on.
Our flight from Christchurch to Auckland left bright and early which was a good thing because we really didn’t leave much time to spare in our itinerary. We arrived at the airport, proceeded to gather our luggage and rental car, and then were off once again heading North to Lake Taupo, in the central north part of the island.
The drive was as beautiful and serene as we’d come to expect with New Zealand. Honestly, we were getting quite spoiled. Yet, the surrounding landscape of the North Island was quite different than the South Island which made it all the more pleasurable.
The major reasons behind the differing landscapes has to do how each island was formed. The North Island was formed by volcanic activity whereas the South Island was formed by glaciers. As you can imagine, the terrain is vastly different. While the South Island is lined from north to south with the snow-capped mountains of the Southern Alps, the North Island is graced with extinct volcanoes, geysers, hot springs and less lush vegetation. It is more rugged and raw while the South is more lavish, green and majestic. The stark contrast between the two islands make it a necessity to visit them both.
The drive to Lake Taupo took a little under three hours and we timed the drive so we could play a round of golf upon our arrival. With the exchange rate being so incredible (this was 2002 remember), we were able to play the Waikai International Golf course, rated in the top 20 in the world at the time, for only $50 each! Although we were both out of practice, we still enjoyed the challenging course and I tried not to get too incredibly frustrated by how poorly I played. The sky had turned gray and overcast yet at least it wasn’t raining.
We arrived at our B&B “The Loft” which was located outside the town of Taupo around seven o’clock and were pleasantly welcomed by the owners Peter and Grace. The B&B was outstanding and by far the nicest one we had stayed at during our trip thus far. It had only three rooms and felt more like a house than an inn. Our hosts Peter and Grace were wonderful and a tremendous help.
By the time we got back to town for dinner it was approaching nine o’clock and we were famished. I started to get rather agitated as I’m known to do when I don’t eat on schedule (I know, not a good habit, but my appetite is rather routine). I was about ready to start eating my arm when the waiter casually walked over and saw my look of distress. Instantly a bewitching smile crossed his handsome face as well as a look of concern. Kiwis cannot stand stress and they generally want everyone to relax and enjoy life as the Kiwis do. So what did he do? He turned around, left and came back with an ice cold bottle of local Sav Blanc (my favorite) and set it down on our table. This is what he said:
You’re in New Zealand. You’re at a great place, with a great guy. So why don’t you just relax. Here’s a bottle, on the house.
Then he gave me a wink and left. Wow, I tell you, did that make my night. I could never imagine a similar scenario playing out at home in the US. I loved the laid-back, carefree life of many New Zealanders. I wondered why I had fallen into that American trap of worrying too much about everything and not just letting go. Ahh…I wish I could live in New Zealand!
We had an excellent dinner at Nannie’s, right on Lake Taupo. The wine flowed steadily, the conversation was light and hearty and I learned a valuable lesson that night. That sometimes it is time to stop and smell the roses. Otherwise life will just pass you by.
Stay tuned…Next post: Our big day! We are scheduled to rise before dawn to do the eight-hour Tongariro Crossing hike. It is rated one of the top hikes in New Zealand!
With one day left on the South Island and yet another spectacular blue sky, Paul and I decided to hit the road and take a day trip to the nearby village of Akaroa, located about 54 miles/87 kilometers from Christchurch. Akaroa is the oldest town in Canterbury, founded by French settlers in 1840, and is a wonderfully quaint, beautiful village nestled in the heart of the Banks Peninsula. We had also heard that the area offered many opportunities for excellent “tramps” (or hikes as we call it) as well as ocean cruises to see New Zealand’s unique marine wildlife.
We headed out early in the morning choosing to take the “scenic route” in our rental car. Apparently there are two ways to Aakora: One easy and relatively straightforward, and the other more spectacular, yet rugged. We took the latter. It wound up being a harrowing hour and a half drive from Christchurch but well worth the incredible views.
Here is the description of the route we followed per the New Zealand Tourism Guide:
There are two routes to Akaroa. State Highway 75 takes you via Lake Ellesmere and Lake Forsyth before it climbs over the hills to Akaroa Harbour. The other route is very scenic, but longer and more difficult to drive. It takes you through the Lyttelton tunnel and around Lyttelton Harbour before making the rugged, cross country journey to Akaroa.
Photo taken during our “tramp” in the Banks Peninsula with the sheep looking on.
As you have probably gathered from my last few posts, I did something very special over the last few days. Me, my father and my five-year-old daughter Sophia took a three-generational ski trip to Taos, New Mexico. It was the first time (except when Sophia was a meager four-months old) that I had ever truly traveled alone with my daughter and it also was the first time the three generations got together for a weekend away. My son and husband were off on their own adventure thus it was just me and Sophia this time.
We picked Taos for many reasons. First, it is relatively easy for us to access. It is a non-stop flight from Tucson where my father lives as well as from Minneapolis (where I live). Second, it is really a cool little trendy ski town. Nothing at all like the big ski resorts in Colorado or even Utah. Taos is tiny, tough and has a unique southwestern style and flair that quite honestly can’t compare. Finally, for some reason New Mexico is the only place in the country this winter that actually has good snow. Colorado, Utah and Northern California are struggling with terrible snow. Meanwhile relatively untouristy, trendy Taos has plenty of snow. That fluffy, powdery, heavenly snow that skiers dream and drool about having.
New Zealand is one of the most isolated countries in the world. Made up of two, vastly unique large islands known as the North and the South Islands and a number of smaller ones, New Zealand lies about 990 miles/1,600 km east of Australia in the South Pacific Ocean. Comparable in size to Japan or the British Isles but without an enormous population (only 4.4 million people total), New Zealand is one of the best kept secret treasures for adventurous travelers. Its pure beauty, ease of travel and endless things to do make it one of the best tourist destinations in the world, and a place I could only someday dream of living in.
What makes New Zealand so incredibly fascinating is its diverse landscape. While the North Island is filled with volcanoes, rugged mountains, and thermal areas, the South Island is completely different and accounts for only 25 percent of New Zealand’s entire population (as of 2011 there are roughly 1 million inhabitants in the entire South Island as compared to over 3 million in the North Island). The South Island is dominated by the Southern Alps mountain chain which runs along almost the entire length of the island and is blessed with over 223 named peaks. The eastern side of the alps is dry and largely non-forested, while the west side has much more rainfall lending to magnificent rainforests, lakes, mountains and glaciers. The lack of inhabitants combined with the utterly spectacular landscape in the South Island make it a traveler’s paradise and I couldn’t think of a better way to see it than by taking a 6 hour car ride down south.
Photo above of the female lion which is always located on the west side of a building while the male lion, which is considered more important in ancient times, is located on the east side, towards the rising sun.
Imagine living in a place where your reproductive life was controlled by the government. A place that not only controlled the number of children you were allowed to have but also the timeframe. A place that enforced stiff fines, allowed forced sterilization and even forced abortions when you were breaking the law. Imagine living in remote, impoverished parts of rural China. This is what life is like for most women in these far off, often forgotten parts of the world, a place that accounts for millions of China’s 1.3 billion people.
We landed in Christchurch a little before noon and I found it peculiar to be setting my watch ahead twenty-one hours. For me, flying long distance is one of the most surreal experiences ever. To pass through so many time zones and to see the sun’s confusion of setting and rising is startling. I always am amazed and bewildered when I finally step foot off the airplane that transported me miles away from home, across continents and oceans and into a new, unexplored place.
As I mentioned in my last post, I was feeling like a deflated balloon when we finally stepped foot into the Christchurch airport. The gray skies and pelts of rain were effecting my mood. Thankfully our luggage had made it through three different flights and two airlines (that is always a bonus!). Yet we had a little mishap with the car rental agency that took an hour to square away. It was my first encounter with a native Kiwi, and I instantly realized that New Zealanders are perhaps the most laid-back, fun-loving people on earth.
We were finally on our way, heading in our rental car towards Christchurch while driving on the “other” side of the road and trying not to get killed by forgetting to turn into the “other” lane at the roundabouts. This proved to be a daunting challenge that would remain with us for the full two weeks of the trip. For some reason driving on the left side of the road seemed against reason. It also always proved a challenge to remember to not hit the windshield wipers as opposed to the turn signal when we were desperately trying to pass. Countless times, in the heat of the moment, my husband inadvertently hit the windshield wipers instead of the turn signal while we were frantically trying to pass some unexpected soul along the curving New Zealand roads. This should have made us panic but instead we burst out into laughing attacks which only made it worse.
Christchurch is the provincial capital of Canterbury and the largest city on New Zealand’s South Island. Often viewed as a gateway into the South Island’s magical wonders, Christchurch is a fabulous launching off point and definitely requires a few days to visit this lovely, charming town with outrageously delicious food.
Me, before being a thirdeyemom, on the South Island of New Zealand, with Mount Cook across the aquamarine lake.
I always find it hard starting a new series of posts. I find myself delaying that first step and sitting at my computer with that dreaded writer’s block trying to conjure up the enthusiasm for beginning anew.
My China posts were so easy and a pleasure to write for several reasons. First of all, the trip was recent and fresh in my mind. Second of all, I took over 800 pictures and kept meticulous pages of notes. And last of all, I traveled with a blogger’s mindset and in particular, my “third-eye” approach. I used my “third eye” to expand my horizon and search out things I wouldn’t normally see. Thus, my trip to China was by far one of the most enriching trips I’ve taken and wound up being a pleasure to write about.
I thought long and hard about whether or not I could write a series of posts on a place I visited over ten years ago. New Zealand. It was a road trip my husband and I took in November 2002. I don’t have 800 pictures. The photos all had to be scanned. And, it was a long time ago. Hmmm…..would it possible?
Yes, I decided. Why not?
What I do have is one ten-year-old handwritten journal, a photo album filled of memories and a passion for sharing my travels around the world, especially with my most favorite places like New Zealand. So why not? I am going to give it a whirl and tell you about my two weeks of heaven in Middle Earth, the land of The Lord of the Rings. A place that captured my heart and soul and ranked one of the top trips of all time.
After reading this series of posts you will agree that New Zealand is one of the loveliest places on earth. And I can’t wait to share it with you!
Did you know that every 20 seconds a child dies from a vaccine preventable death?
Photo credited to UN Foundation.
That is about the time it takes to read the first paragraph of this post. A life has gone that could have been saved by a mere $20. The cost of buying two tickets to a movie, a bottle of wine or a birthday present for a child. That is it. But to many people around the world, that is everything.
Over the last two days I had the honor of attending the UN Foundation’s Summit as a Shot@Life Champion who in the coming months will be one of 45 citizens across the nation championing this great cause in saving lives around the world. Through raising awareness and funds for four life-saving vaccines, it is our hope that we can galvanize the nation so that no child around the world will not have a Shot@Life. A shot to reach these important milestones that many of us Americans take for granted.
So why does it matter? I can tell you exactly why.
Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You’re off to Great Places!
You’re off and away!
You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself
any direction you choose.
You’re on your own.
And you know what you know.
And YOU are the guy who’ll decide where to go.
OH! THE PLACES YOU’LL GO!
-Dr. Seus
For some reason these inspirational words form one of my favorite childhood books continues to inspires me. Especially on day’s like today as I get ready to launch off and head out to our nation’s capital to start a new beginning as an advocate for the UN Foundation’s program called at “Shot@Life”.
I will be one of 40 or so attendees of the training program that starts tomorrow and I can hardly wait.
Photo above credit to Wiki Commons. Children in Kindergarten in Afghanistan.
Here is a brief overview of Shot@Life’s program and why it is so important to spread awareness and help out . (Note: All this content is taken directly from their website at: http://shotatlife.org/learn/
The Problem:
This year, 1.7 million children will die from diseases that have all but disappeared in the U.S. Why? Because one in five children around the world do not have access to the life-saving immunizations needed to survive.
A child dies every 20 seconds
Millions of children are disabled or killed every decade by preventable diseases like pneumonia, diarrhea, measles and polio. Pneumonia and diarrhea are the two biggest killers of children under five, and account for more than one-third of childhood deaths worldwide.
Global health disparities:
Seventy-five percent of unvaccinated children live in just 10 countries. For children in India, Nigeria, Pakistan, Indonesia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, China, Uganda, Chad and Kenya, access to vaccines mean the difference between life and death, a healthy life or a lifetime of struggle.
Immunity at risk:
Germs don’t need a passport. With so many children around the world unvaccinated, diseases that have been eliminated in developed countries — such as measles — can return. Expanding access to vaccines strengthens our ability to fight disease globally and keep our families healthy here at home.
The Solution:
It’s simple; vaccines save lives. Millions of children could be spared from measles, pneumonia, diarrhea, polio and other preventable diseases if we could simply get them the vaccines they need.
The good news is access to vaccines has grown significantly in the last decade. Currently, vaccines are able to save the lives of 2.5 million children from preventable diseases every year. With your help, we can reach even more. With your support, global vaccination programs can save the life of a child every 20 seconds, and stop the nearly 2 million unnecessary deaths that happen every year.
Progress:
Vaccines have won several battles against preventable diseases in the last few decades. Thanks to a coordinated global vaccination effort, the number of new cases of polio – a disease that once paralyzed more than 1,000 children a day – has dropped 99 percent in the last 20 years. The world is now nearly polio-free.
The Measles Initiative is on the path to similar success. The vaccination of one billion children in 60 developing countries since 2001 has decreased measles deaths by 78 percent, changing measles from a disease that used to be the leading killer of children to one that we are close to eliminating altogether. Groundbreaking new vaccines that prevent pneumonia and diarrhea, if distributed widely, also have the potential to save the lives of millions more children.
Why Vaccines?:
Immunizations give children around the world a shot at more “firsts.” Keeping kids healthy is the best way to ensure they reach the milestones Americans routinely celebrate. When a child begins life with the protection of vaccines, the door is opened to more developmental firsts—first steps, first words, a first day of school. Immunized children are more likely to celebrate their fifth birthday, do well in school and go on to be productive, healthy adults.
A healthier world truly benefits us all. Expanding access to vaccines strengthens our ability to fight disease globally and keep our families healthy here at home, while improving economic stability around the world.
Sorry kids…I can’t do it all!!!!! (Max age 7 and Sophia age 5 dressed in their Halloween costumes. October 2011).
As a product of the seventies, I grew up watching such hit shows as Leave it to Beaver,Little House on the Prairie and other classics that portrayed women and families as an all-encompassing, idyllic unit; as one big happy family. My TV role models were simple housewives wearing their aprons and huge, happy smiles across their pretty faces while they effortlessly did it all. Ran the house, cleaned it spotless, cooked fresh homemade meals, took care of the kids, helped them with their homework and had freshly-baked cookies awaiting for them after school (not to mention opened the door at five and planted a warm happy kiss on their husbands dear face).
As time passed and I grew older, of course I realized that this reality was not true. There were plenty of families who did not follow these rules or were “traditional”. Divorce rates soared as did secret affairs and the whole meaning of the word family seemed to change significantly across the nation. No longer were married, one-working parent families the norm. Instead, double incomes, single-parents and out of wedlock families became more prevalent.
Some critics have argued that the entire meaning of a family has changed and this change has negatively effected our society as a whole. Whether or not this is entirely true, it is for you to decide. However, what has also been happening is the other extreme of the spectrum: The growth of the supermom mentality.
“What on earth is she talking about here”? you may wonder, perplexed. I’m talking about the moms who are over the top in their pursuit of being the best mom out there. Those moms who feel that they have to do it all and do it without complaints. The moms who are overly successful in their careers or as a housewife, while cleaning their house, caring for their kids, keeping in shape and looking good for her husband. The perfect wife. But is that really possible?
I decided before my first child was born that I would be a stay-at-home mom. Before having children, I was all about my career. I worked extremely hard in college and killed myself to get those A’s. I wasn’t a necessarily gifted student. I just worked harder at getting perfect grades. Sometimes I worked so hard that I got sick. I stressed myself out silly just over trying to do well and feel proud. I graduated with a 3.7 out of 4.0 which made me feel pleased. But once I got a real job, I realized why on earth did I kill myself over those grades? It didn’t even matter. Yes, it helped to have a nice GPA on my resume but aside from that, no one really cared about the A’s except me.
Fast forward to my working years in the business world, I never truly seemed to find a job that I enjoyed. I tried and tried and worked hard. But every job I ever did left me feeling empty inside and unsatisfied. I was able to pay for myself at 23 years old which felt like quite an accomplishment. Yet, I realized what a disappointment the real world really was. I was accustomed to always hearing “the world is your oyster” from my motivating parents. Yet, was it? I felt trapped in one unhappy job after the other. It was almost a blessing in disguise when I got laid off from my job at 32, went on a trip to Australia, got home and decided….”hmmm….isn’t it about time to start thinking about having kids”?
I’ll never forget the comments I received from my working friends about my decision to stay at home. Perhaps the most offensive one was “I won’t think bad of you if you don’t work”. That was from my ex-bestfriend. I knew I’d face a lot of criticism as well as encouragement by others. For some strange reason, deciding to stay at home and raise a family is sometimes looked down upon by other professionals. But it was my choice. A choice that I will never ever regret as long as I live. The best choice I could have made in my life was to stay at home with my children and I feel lucky to have been able to have this choice. I realize many mothers can’t stay at home with their children, even if they wanted to.
The first three years as a stay-at-home mom were brutal. I had severe postpartum depression with my first child and then had a new baby girl four days after my son turned two. Exhaustion haunted me. I gave 100 percent of me to my children and there was nothing left. Nothing for me or my husband. I believe that caring for young children is perhaps the hardest job ever. We are without a village as they like to say. In the past, families weren’t so isolated and you had a ton of other family members around to help you out and get through it. Nowadays, life is different and families are spread out, like mine, leaving a new mom completely on her own to care for a demanding newborn baby.
I look back at these days in disbelief and astonishment wondering how on earth I managed to survive when even taking a simple shower was a struggle and a reward. But being there for my children to see their first smiles, watch their first steps and marvel at them in wonder as they grew, has been a true gift. Perhaps the greatest gift I’ve ever received.
Now that the kids are in school my life is beginning to change. My son is away all day at first grade while my daughter is away four mornings a week at preschool. Windows of time are opening up. My mind is coming out of the mommy fog and my life is coming back to me. I’m getting to know myself and my husband once again. I am once again doing the things I love. It feels good but also a little intimidating.
You see, there is this huge pressure in life to be a supermom. That over-achiever, that always the best mom. I try so hard to not follow that path. To not be the mom always volunteering in class, making the best, healthiest meals, looking perfectly put together and being at every single event in my children’s lives. But it is hard. Very hard. Perhaps I put too much pressure on myself. I want to achieve and be loved by my family and admired by my peers. But sometimes (like now that I’ve worn myself out so much I’m stuck at home with a terrible cold and have to go out of town tomorrow) I need to step back and realize that I’ll never be a supermom. I can try my best to be a wonderful mother, wife and citizen, but I’ll never be perfect. I’ll always be just me and I’m only one person.
So perhaps it is time to stop chasing rainbows and learn to relax more. Enjoy my downtime. Take advantage of being sick. Let others do the work for once instead of feeling like I’ve got to do everything. The world won’t disappear. It will all be waiting for me when I return, refreshed, healthy and ready to seize the day!
Stay tuned….instead of organizing my thoughts on my upcoming New Zealand posts or going on a run or cleaning the house or packing for DC or making dinner….I’m going to take a nap and try to beat this cold!
Yesterday was a gorgeous winter day here in Minneapolis. The sun was shining brightly, launching its powerful, magical rays across the glittering white snow-packed ground. The birds were chirping cheerfully and it was unseasonably warm. Almost 40 degrees F which is considered balmy in Minnesota (if it is above 20 in January or February, we are considered lucky). It was the first morning in a long time that I woke up and literally sprang out of bed to the call of my children greeting me “Mama. Mama. Maaaaaaa-maaaa!” I instantly opened their bedroom shades and jumped with joy. Yeah! The sun is here! I was so happy to see my long lost friend.
My kids thought I was a bit crazy but they don’t understand my need for sunshine and vitamin D. It is said that most people living in northern climates are highly insufficient of vitamin D in the winter months. This can lead to intense fatigue (check), lethargic behavior (check) and sometimes depression (hmm….I have been feeling a bit blue). In winter months, our days are short and the nights are long. Although it can be quite sunny in the winter, the sunshine often brings bitter cold forcing you to hibernate and be trapped inside your home staring longingly outside your window wishing for spring.
Yesterday was different. Not only was the sun shining brightly, but our typical January thaw had arrived! For a few days we would get this nice warm weather (you know I’m from Minnesota when I’m calling 40 warm!). Thus, I decided to take advantage of the day and spend as much time outside as possible. The morning started with a run around the lake and in the afternoon, I took my daughter snowshoeing by the Minnehaha Falls.
Here are some pictures of what we saw at the falls which freezes into a magical display of ice during the winter.
