New Zealand is calling!

Gidday! How's it goin'?

Awlright mate!

Good one!

I miss the accent and miss the lifestyle. Here, it is getting rather hectic, but all going as planned, will result in me being able to go wherever I like. Which is NZ of course.

I see that Qantas has some low cost round trip flights in November. About $600. This is half what it cost me last time! But I just do not have the readies, and the time I need to go is close to Christmas to wish my mum a happy 80th birthday! So I need to save up $1,200 just for the flight! Oh boy! Time to get cracking!

Currencies

What a tangled weave the currencies of the world create! The US dollar is strong against many currencies, but there are fluctuations going all over the place. For example, in March 2008 the New Zealand Dollar and the Australian Dollar were quite strong compared to the US Dollar. Now it is different! They are weak by about 30%. It makes it very worth while to spend USD in NZ and Australia.

I looked into the Forex trading market with a view to making a profit in exchanging currencies. I tried one of the practice accounts and was appalled at how risky it was. You really need to be able to discern the trends in order to place your trades. Otherwise you can lose markedly.

Immigration info for New Zealand

For those who want to emigrate their country and immigrate New Zealand but escape the uncertainties and problems attendant on moving from one country to another, this is the book to get as it is unique in giving you what you need to make the decision.

There are government websites you can go to, but the data is vast. The link below takes you to a book that you can download and peruse at your leisure.

To be honest, unless you are willing to become a Kiwi, you should not go. But to find out what being a Kiwi is all about, read the book and find out. Once you know, then you should decide.


New Zealand Immigration book $50.00


Tips for going to New Zealand

New Zealand is unique in having a more natural lifestyle than most other countries of the world. More appealing to some is that it is uncrowded. It is also anti-nuclear and anti-pollution.

But read the book to get more details.

An Atlas for Christmas

I got an Atlas for Christmas. A "Great World Atlas" by DK with digital mapping for the 21st century and satellite images and terrain models.

What a joy to gaze on the earth from a height. What a new perspective to see the earth from above the North Pole.

And I was smitten by a rekindled desire to travel. To see places I had not seen before!

South America, Antarctica, The North Pole, Egypt, Greece, Devon and Cornwall, the Fjords of New Zealand.

What an amazing gift for someone who likes to see different terrain and exotic peoples.

I'm saving up for my next vacation now!

Las Vegas, what a town!

I drove to Las Vegas in my Nissan Altima. It was the first long drive in the car and I was well pleased. I filled up in Barstow and had half a tank still when I arrived in Las Vegas about 11pm. I went to the Travelodge near the MGM Grand which was very nicely priced compared to all the other places around. I got 1 night free, 1 night for an intro rate which came to $200 for the 3 days. Quite nice I thought.

I walked throigh the casino and espied on the blackjack, roulette games and the ranks of one-armed bandits with their attendant avid and intent gamblers.I was going to do a flutter, but could not bear losing the $10 so satisfied myself by observing others lose their money.

The pre-paid legal convention was inspiring and instructive. But not quite enough to break the reserve I have. For a service that is great for anyone who drives a car, and has enough money or property worth protecting, it is well worth the money. The identity theft protection is unique in that if you do get hit, professionals will handle it for you.

I drove up and down the strip. The city is in a fit of construction. Incomplete structures up and down the strip, bare acreages awaiting the construction crews. The buildings that are there are quite unique. And the girls all seem to be baring as much skin as possible to the sun. Quite distracting when you are driving!

Las Vegas is a town well worth checking out. I have it planned next time to have a flutter with $100 which I can afford to lose, go visit the atomic bomb museum, and the firing ranges where you can fire semi-auto weapons! Uzi anyone?

More about my favorite beach

Now that you have had a top view of the beach, I can tell you more of the beach itself.

The sand is a heavyish, grey siliconish composition. the slope of the beach is quite gentle and enables one to walk out a good distance so as to be in line to ride the waves in by body surfing. There have been some waves good enough for surfing, but my impression is you need a good storm to create decent waves.

Sailing is possible from pretty much anywhere on the beach although to get onto the beach your only access is at the south end near the river. After getting through the waves you can sail out to the 3 sets of rocks "Noddy's car" "Punch and Judy" and "the Castle" and sail around those, or fish a while. Sharks are infrequent, but they have been spotted so check with the locals.

Picnicing can be done on the "green" areas along the beach. There used to be baches all along the sea front but these got moved back and replaced by turf where people can park and picnic.

For the fit, there is a hill to climb and a track to a waterall and a beach walk that is somewhat adventurous. More on that in the next post!

The best beach in the world

The beach to go to is Kairakau. Of course I am biased, as I spent many childhood days there. But here is a bit of video for you see for yourself:

The beach can be seen in the bottom part of the picture while the rocks in the sea are about a mile out. The buildings at the rightmost part of the pan are at the southern end of the beach by the "river" that flows out to the sea and is a great place for skiing and wakeboarding etc.