Archive for April, 2007

New header graphic

Monday, April 30th, 2007

Well, well, just came back from the fine late summer/autumn weather in New Zealand, NL has had the warmest April ever and I still had the skiing header graphic…it was about time indeed! This picture is taken in Coromandel, New Zealand…what a view! 🙂

Queensday 07

Monday, April 30th, 2007

Queensday is one of the uhhh…ONE national public holidays The Netherlands got (if you don't count Xmas, New Year, Eastern, Ascensionday and Whitsunday)!! Queensday 2007 was nice and relaxing, a bit different compared to previous years since I don't have the 'special' feeling of an extra day off…hehe, think I will celibrate Labour Day tomorrow (NO public holiday in NL) and well, why not take May 2 off since it's uhhh…Wednesday?? 🙂

Back home!

Saturday, April 28th, 2007

We just arrived back home, a total trip of 31 hours this time…have to say, am feeling not too bad. I guess the upgrade to business class from LA to AMS has to do with that (thx KLM!) 🙂

The first half of the trip wasn't that smooth; leaving Auckland our plane got delayed for 2.5 hours due to a problem with one of the doors which couldn't be closed (brrr) and customs at LAX took over 2 hours to pass (sometimes you would wish for an US-passport…'sometimes' hehe :)).

My earlier post just before leaving Auckland airport unfortunately vanished due to some issues with the weblog-database, but I got that sorted out by now…yeah, it's good to be back home, sun is shining yay!

Hip Hip Hurray…

Monday, April 23rd, 2007

…it’s my Birthday today!! A lustrum at 35, starting to become a MAN, eh?

I’ve celebrated it in the splendid environment of Karikari Peninsula in the Northland of NZ. Weather was terrific, the sea warm and wild and lunch was marvelous, at the Karikari Wine Estate. Kristel got me a Koru necklace which symbolizes peace, tranquility, health, personal growth and new beginning…wow!

Where’s my baby?

Sunday, April 22nd, 2007

Kristel (a.k.a. 'Kissy') has her site at kissy.waarbenjij.nu (in dutch), check it out to find out where she is doing what! 🙂

Northland

Friday, April 20th, 2007

We arrived in Russell today, ready for a week of sailing, diving, sunbathing and snorkeling!! 🙂

First week in NZ

Saturday, April 14th, 2007

Finally, internet again 🙂

We arrived in Taupo yesterday, close to the Taupo lake (surprising name) and the Tongariro National Park, famous for Mt. Ruapehu, an active vulcano and Mt. Ngauruhoe (a.k.a. Mount Doom from Lord of the Rings).

Weather is not too good, a bit windy and cloudy, but we'll survive; our Campervan (named 'Willy') gives us everything we need and is nice and cosy.

So far New Zealand has been an amazing experience;

We started off in Auckland last Sunday; wandered through the harbour, climbed the SkyTower (the highest building in the Southern Hemisphere) and picked up the campervan. Next stop was the Coromandel peninsula, famous for the sandy beaches and blue sea and…Hot Water Beach, were we dug ourselves a hole on the shore and enjoyed the warm (sometimes TOO hot!) water coming from the natural spring underneath.

Next stop; Rotorua, situated right in the middle of the Geothermal Activity area of NZ and enjoyed the Maori culture at 'Te Puia' and Thermal Wonderland 'Wai-O-Tapu' and some amazing nature (besides the smelly sulphur odour, yek!). Finished it off with a jump in 'Kerosene Creek', got a nice diesel smell over me and wandered through the 'Craters of the Moon' and 'Huka Falls', both inbetween Rotorua and Taupo.

Next will be the Tongariro Crossing, a 7-8 hour (!!) walk/hike in the Tongariro NP…*if* the weather is good enough, otherwise we're off to Wellington, or Hastings, or…yet to be decided. 🙂

PS. I inserted links to the highlights, since photos are a 'no can do, sir' at the moment…

Happy Easter

Saturday, April 7th, 2007

Oww…btw. Happy Easter!

(sjeez, almost forgot about Easter…this time difference is killing me!) 🙂

Arrived in NZ!

Saturday, April 7th, 2007

We just arrived in New Zealand!!! The journey took 'only' 36 hours from take-off in Amsterdam…so yeah, we're hammered, but…WE'RE HERE!

I'm already in love with this country, free internet in the Arrivals area, couldn't resist 🙂

It was nice for a change to travel as planned despite flying with standby tickets. Evenmore, traveling just before Easter truly paid off since the planes were just half-full…PLENTY of space to hang out! Over all pretty uneventful flights, it was nice though to have half a day in Los Angeles and eat a burger in Santa Monica 🙂

One thing which really messes with your brain is crossing the International Date Line…we lost one day in just a split second, WOW!

Hmm…uhhh…sooo…guess it is Sunday down here?!? Time to find the hostel and try to make it through the day. Our camper will be delivered tomorrow and then we're off exploring the beauty of Kiwi-country!

Packed and ready to go!

Friday, April 6th, 2007

We're traveling as light as can before the Kiwi-journey ;-)…I'll make sure to post something every now and then, so keep on checking!

Am ssoooo looking forward to this trip!!

10 years Scripting News

Thursday, April 5th, 2007

The Libya trip made me miss the 10th anniversary of Scripting News, the longest running weblog on the net.

A milestone in the blogosphere since Scripting News and Dave Winer have set the example for blogging. As a matter of fact, blogging (as we know it) would not exist if it wasn't for Dave's visionary role in modeling RSS…thx Uncle Dave, let's thundercast' again some day! 🙂

Closure & Kiwi-land

Wednesday, April 4th, 2007

Yesterday and today I worked my last hours at the company where I spent ssoooo much time 🙂 in the last 10 years; did the final handover to my replacement and said goodbye to my now ex-colleagues…it does feel a bit weird actually. Then again, there's not too much time to sit down and feel sad; we're leaving for New Zealand on Friday!!!

3.5 weeks of amazing nature (Lord of the Rings here we come!), sun (I hope as it's early autumn over there), culture (NZ is the land of the Maori's), fruit (did ya know New Zealanders are also called 'kiwis'? :)) and overall enjoying freedom in our bedmobil!! 🙂

Libya; lost in translation?!?

Tuesday, April 3rd, 2007

We're back from Libya! It might not sound that logical at first, but it really is/can be a great place for a holiday! Even though we experienced the 'lost in translation' feeling at some point, as you can see from this traffic sign: