New York, DC and Philly Pictures.

No words....just looky.

Finally after 5 years....

....I am going back to London to visit! Current exchange rate silliness has put the fun police on my idea of going to the states so I have decided to go to London in Late August/Early Sept with a couple of sneaky trips to the continent being threatened. Yay. Looking for a good fare now, and because of the big G.F.C (Global Financial Caca) there are some good fares available. I will update on this as soon as information is to hand AKA: when i have the cash to buy the airfare.

Holiday Pics part 3: Wanaka and Mt Cook

Above: Lake Matherson

Above: The Elusive Mt Cook

Above: Me, Andrew "Bull" and Jennifer

Above: Me in Lake Wanaka

Above: A beach on Lake Wanaka only accessible by boat

Holiday Pics part 2: Franz Josef glacier

Above: looking back from the glacier over the glacier valley where it has retreated from in the past three hundred years. Each of those boulders was the size of a fridge. The river was full of fast moving lumps of ice the size of a TV. Above: Jennifer and I

Above: The ice and the glacier cliff wall

Above: Me and my cramptons on the glacier.

Above: Standing at the base. Note the small line of people on it.

Below: The massive Franz Josef Glacier. When I took this picture we were still 1.5 hour hike from the base.

My Holiday Pics - Part One

Above: Milford Sound

Above: On The Drive to Milford Sound

Above: Milford Sound

I know they seem like postcard shots, but they are not, it was just so amazing. I will upload some more later.

Back! Feeling Great in 08!

I am back! Sorry for the delay I have been distracted my first week back. I promise to be more attentive to you know. SO...I am back from an amazing holiday back in New Zealand, four weeks it seems is the perfect amount of time for a holiday. Not too short nor too long. I have had a really awesome a relaxing time, be it very busy. A majority of time was spent with my Mum on Waiheke Island which is 30 mins ferry ride from downtown Auckland. That 30 mins makes all the difference as my mother’s property nestled in the hills on the eastern and more rural part of the island, was an escape. Mum has a solar powered house perched on the apex of a valley. My room had a glass roof so I could fall asleep looking at the stars. I have uploaded some images for you to see before. Simply amazing. It also seems with time my relationship with my mother has become closer, it was really amazing to get to know her as a person not just a mother. We have been very close always as it was always just me and her, but I feel it has shifted to a new level of maturity and love. So I craved to be back in the isolation of her house when I was away.

That said I spent a hilarious new years in Pukehina in the Bay of Plenty with my friends who have an uncanny ability to turn any holiday into a debauched conga line of drinking and rude conversation. We went on a cruise to swim with dolphins from Mt Maunganui on the 2nd Jan, and did not see any dolphins. To top this off I was vomiting off the back of the boats for 4 straight hours due to the heaving seas. So no dolphins and I had to pay $120 to feed the fish my breakfast. Not a happy chappy. After the forth vomit I passed out on a bulkhead and was awoken to a man looking me in the eyes and asking “Are you from Australia?” I don’t know what I said but it was not a convivial “Well yes as a matter of fact...” as I wiped the dried vomit form my face and hat. I think I grunted and hugged a life jacket wanting to die. I was In Pukehina for 5 days before heading back to Waiheke to recoup before jetting off to the South Island for a whistle stop tour of the southern south Island and west coast.

My friend Jennifer and I took custody of an awesome 4x4 and drove 1370 kms in 5 days. We went to the primordial and huge Milford Sound, via Te Anua, then back up to the gold rush era town Arrowtown n where we roasted in the heat. From there we drove 5 hours up to Franz Josef Glacier on the middle of the west coast. The drive is through some of the most ancient and Jurassic style rainforests I have ever seen. Once in FJG we hiked the glacier on a half day guided tour. It is one of the best things I have done, you must do it. Then after two days there we drove to Wanaka to stay with a friend Andrew and his fiancé. He took us out on the lake for a swim in the freezing and azure blue alpine lake. After a night there we dropped the car off in Queenstown for our final day and night. I went White Water rafting and promptly fell out in rather a dramatic rebounding incident on the river. But what is WW rafting without getting water up your nostril and a bit freaked out. That night we headed for the World Bar in Queenstown for too many ‘teapots’ and terrible music.

I love the South Island I think I have found a place I want to visit again and again, even maybe buy a property there. That said my mother said she wanted to help me buy my first home. Amazing huh??
So I am very positive about 2008, after an amazing holiday and a new perspective on life. I feel I have fallen back in love with NZ and left my heart there.
Please find some pictures I took from my trip, these will say more that my prattle.
Hope you holiday was amazing for you too.

xxx

Merry Christmas All

Hope you have a great day and all the best for the upcoming new year. Thanks for reading.

James xxx

Holiday: More Waiheke Island

Above: My legs at Onetangi Beach

Above: Onetangi Beach

Above: Waiheke Road

Above: Looking East over Waiheke towards Coromandel

Above: Pohutakawa Tree A.K.A The New Zealand Christmas Tree

Holiday: Night out in Auckland

A picture says a thousand words, so here are a thousand pictures. That would be 1,000,000 words.
PS: After consultation with Blogspot, who were none to keen to upload a 1000 pictures, here is a smaller selection.

Above: Jennifer

Above: Kate and the Tequila and Ginger Beer cocktail (evil)

Below: Left to right - Jennifer, Kate and I

NZ Holiday:Waiheke Island

Above: Matiatia Bay

Below: The view from my Mum's Kitchen over Passage Rock

Hey guys, for the past few days I have been relaxing (with a capital R) at my mum's hideaway in Waiheke Island which is 30 mins off the coast of Auckland. I have been literally laying about, sleeping, eating and drinking for 4 days. I am off to the gym today just to stave off total entropy but it has been very relaxing. My friend Jennifer came over for the day yesterday but the weather has been a bit bad, heaps of rain and cloud. But that did not stop us bouncing around in the 4WD in the torrential rain and mud around the back end of Waiheke. It has been really nice hanging and catching up with my Mum. She is so amazing. Jennifer is now coming with me to the South Island on the 5th January too which is cool. Off to the mainland tomorrow for a couple of nights out in the city which could be debouched.

Engagement Party Pics

Jennifer and I
Sarah

Paul

NZ Holiday: Paul & Sarah's Engagement Party

I arrived in NZ a bit disheveled after having my flight to Auckland delayed by 3 hours in Sydney, but better late than never. Two of my close friends, Sarah and Paul, had their engagement party on the day I arrived so I swiftly when from airport to party mode. Sarah and Paul are the last couple in my group who have been together over 10 years to get engaged. It was amazing to catch up with everyone even though I was feeling a bit dizzy from the travel. Nothing a few dozen beers could not solve.

So much to do....

Cripes, I am leaving in two days and I have to sort so much out. I have to pack, wrap presents, find a lap top bag that does not make me look like I am smuggling plutonium rods and meet up with friends for dinner tomorrow. I also have to clean my room which has turned into an utter dump. Lucky I have the entire day tomorrow before I fly on Saturday morning. I am also still getting over an utter beast of a hangover from my works Christmas lunch on Tuesday. It started at 12.30pm and I got home at 1am. We all got a great gift from our boss, a Missoni Towel and a personal trainer for three months. Nice huh? Anyhoo I was supposed to go to this White Christmas Party for Zeta Bar, but I would rather have a gym session, a pizza and an early night tonight. How are your Christmas plans going? Your Kidney's left on holiday yet?

6 Days and I will be here.....

Next weekend...

I was given last Xmas from my old job a free night and extras (food and booze!!) at the Intercontinental Sydney. I was saving it for the amazing relationship i was going to have this year, but obviously that guy was lost in the post, so next weekend I am presenting myself with my PJs and Teddy bear slippers for a nice night of free Champagne and cable porn. Nice stuff. I will be inviting two friends along to come to the roof top bar for the two hour long free booze and food thing. Can't wait! I have been there before. That there is a pic of me twirling on the roof top of the hotel with some tramp, I dunno who it was, I was so high on glue fumes.

My Holiday Car

Hey ya, Just hired this bruiser for my trip to the South Island in early Jan. Can't wait, got a great deal for 5 days. Hope I don't drive into a hobbit or something. Hows your week?

Vietnam

Here are two pics I took while on holiday in Vietnam last October. It is a Hotei or Budai, the obese Laughing Buddha, usually seen in China. The long earlobes denote superb perception. I love these pictures they make me feel relaxed.

J