Looking up information on Airpoints Dollars (Air NZ's point club) today, I come across this article that caught my attention with a google caption that was related to "Good bye Air New Zealand, Hello Quantas".
"Air NZ sit on billion dollar nest egg, but concerns remain"
This article appears in the New Zealand Herald, Wednesday, April 2nd, 2008.
So - I dunno what that means if things go bad for Air NZ at their year end, come June 30th.
<gulp>
Unless I purchase an annual travel insurance plan, our tickets are not insured. :(
Monday, April 28, 2008
Sunday, April 27, 2008
It's time to meet the players!
Today - 3 months to go.
He's a physically fit person - so you would think at his ripe young age he would be in great shape for this trip. But my dear friend also has hip and knee problems. (how did we get matched together?) He was hit by a car on his bike when he was 16ish. Running on adrenaline, he left the scene assuring people he was okay and never went to the hospital to get checked out - despite the fact that he had a sore hip. To this day, he is plagued with chronic hip pain - but only once in a while. I believe it's more weather related arthritic pain at this point. It's very unfortunate. He is also running into a lot of problems with one of his knees. The doctor thinks he sprained a ligament - and there isn't much you can do about that apparently. He wears a tensor knee brace to relieve the pain when it comes. With our medical 'conditions' you would think we were in our late 50s or something.
Claude has since become a world traveller. He accompanies my parents and myself on all of our great adventures. He's been on simple road trips around Ontario and into the US (he's even been in a car accident with me where he was flung off the dashboard...ever since that day, he doesn't like the dashboard). He flew with me to Montreal when I was shooting a documentary about the children from Chernobyl. He went skydiving with my father and I (he jumped with me). He's been to the arctic with my father, to Rome with my parents (I don't know if he went to Ireland with my mom or not...), he's been to Vegas twice now with my parents, the grand canyon with my dad, he's been to Vancouver with me, and I think he went to New York with my parents. But he might have missed that trip...
As much as Claude has sent me emails while on his world adventures, he is just a beanie baby and possibly does not have a real opinion. And besides, I don't think we ever gave him a choice in the matter of traveling. He simply became the traveling beanie. And yes - the other beanies are jealous. Who wouldn't be? :)
Claude's next trip will be New Zealand, Vanuatu, China and Vancouver with Brent and myself. He will train with us, board with us and treck with us every step of the way.
And there you have it. The trip bound trio. We will report to you as much as possible, together on this blog.
Three months ago, I thought the countdown couldn't go fast enough. Today, I'm more fearful of running out of time to plan. Soon enough, I'll have no time to even hesitate as I hand over my boarding pass and head to Vancouver to await my flight.
My destiny - 2-3 days of hard work and planning in Auckland before we walk. Eleven months to achieve a pretty ambitious trip. We won't know until we reach Stewart Island (our quasi-half-way mark, an island south of the south island) if elevn months is enough time.
So here we are. 91 days to go. Half planned. Half shopped. Half stoked! A decade-long dream coming to fruition.
Twenty-four hours a day, 365 days that year - we will be each other's strength, best friends and probably biggest irritants. :) What else can you expect doing this hand in hand with another person?
May I introduce to you - BRENT
My AWFA partner in crime. This guy used to be a boy scout! True story - and to my surprise, has proven to be very handy with outdoor type stuff. He can build an excellent fire and is great at set-up / tear down of a campsite. Which is great - cause we have to set up camp and strike it EVERY DAY on our trip! He's also really great with outdoor activities. :) Quite frankly, that's almost mandatory with this type of trip. He's got skills with the compass and a map. (I still need to hone in on my outdoor navigation skills!) He's also an accomplished swimmer. Which is good - cause I'm forcing him to take surfing lessons with me. :) Plus he can save my sorry butt when I start to drown due to failed swimming lesson attempts. Brent is 3 exams away from completing his Engineering degree at U of T. He loves robots. And long conversations about vectors and factorial stuff. Trust me - at Jack Astors - I draw stickmen on the tables' papercloth. He draws math formulas and pipe layouts. :p He will be my tent/hut buddy for an entire year! Unlucky for him. Somehow God blessed him with an allergy to birds!! That's right - he's allergic to down. Not such a good thing - especially when it comes to lightweight camping gear. His sleeping bag is synthetic and is much heavier than my own. I have a hyperloft/down mix bag. He can't snuggle up to it, or he'll run into breathing problems.
My AWFA partner in crime. This guy used to be a boy scout! True story - and to my surprise, has proven to be very handy with outdoor type stuff. He can build an excellent fire and is great at set-up / tear down of a campsite. Which is great - cause we have to set up camp and strike it EVERY DAY on our trip! He's also really great with outdoor activities. :) Quite frankly, that's almost mandatory with this type of trip. He's got skills with the compass and a map. (I still need to hone in on my outdoor navigation skills!) He's also an accomplished swimmer. Which is good - cause I'm forcing him to take surfing lessons with me. :) Plus he can save my sorry butt when I start to drown due to failed swimming lesson attempts. Brent is 3 exams away from completing his Engineering degree at U of T. He loves robots. And long conversations about vectors and factorial stuff. Trust me - at Jack Astors - I draw stickmen on the tables' papercloth. He draws math formulas and pipe layouts. :p He will be my tent/hut buddy for an entire year! Unlucky for him. Somehow God blessed him with an allergy to birds!! That's right - he's allergic to down. Not such a good thing - especially when it comes to lightweight camping gear. His sleeping bag is synthetic and is much heavier than my own. I have a hyperloft/down mix bag. He can't snuggle up to it, or he'll run into breathing problems. He's a physically fit person - so you would think at his ripe young age he would be in great shape for this trip. But my dear friend also has hip and knee problems. (how did we get matched together?) He was hit by a car on his bike when he was 16ish. Running on adrenaline, he left the scene assuring people he was okay and never went to the hospital to get checked out - despite the fact that he had a sore hip. To this day, he is plagued with chronic hip pain - but only once in a while. I believe it's more weather related arthritic pain at this point. It's very unfortunate. He is also running into a lot of problems with one of his knees. The doctor thinks he sprained a ligament - and there isn't much you can do about that apparently. He wears a tensor knee brace to relieve the pain when it comes. With our medical 'conditions' you would think we were in our late 50s or something.
Brent's ready for a break from school. He starts his work contract in mid-may for a company that he previously completed a 16month PEY with (paid education year - a coop program). At the end of July, he will start a sabatical and we will embark on this journey together. Upon our return, he will resume his contract with this amazing company. This career opportunity is a wonderful blessing for him. Don't worry - the trip was discussed with the company during this PEY, to ensure that the employers knew what Brent's intentions were.
He's very excited for this trip and the adventure to come. After his exams finish on May 6th, he'll be back into the planning game with me. :)
ALISON - me. :)
I have been dreaming about this trip for years. I love the outdoors so much. There is a beauty to it that is impossible to express in words. I have a longing to be in the mountains - and never understood this feeling until I was finally able to be in the mountains on a trip to California in 2002. Serene and magestic. Can you imagine waking up on the peak of a mountain chain? Originally, I was planning to do this trip alone. I never would have thought that I could find a travel partner who would share the same excitement and want to follow the same path as myself, or be gone for as long as I needed to be. I planned to fly out to New Zealand, possibly hop on a week long tour to initially meet other backpackers and then go from there. But now, I am able to do the exact trip that I have been dreaming of with someone I truly care about. So I feel very blessed to be able to share my love for this destination with Brent.
Why New Zealand? Because it reminds me of Canada - without the predatory animals. It's that simple. It's the only country in the world that I would feel safe & confident to backpack alone. The people are as friendly as Canadians. If I were to run into problems there, it wouldn't be something that I wouldn't see in my home country. There is a comfort to the country. I have to be honest, I don't really ever want to meet a bear or cougar on a hike in this country. We have a beautiful land, but you know what, I'm not a fan of grizzly bears up close and personal. (Luckily, I live in Ontario - but one day I will reside in BC.) I could never hike alone in certain pockets of Canada. I love camping and I love hiking. Living & working in Toronto...you rely on your time outdoors to find peace again. Hiking brings me great joy. Not when my mind starts thinking about the bears in the forests with me...but as long as I don't hear them or see them, I'm fine. Although, I've never seen one in the forest before - so I don't know how I would react. Brent has no fears when it comes to wildlife. I think the story would change if he was ever faced with a situation...but who knows. Animals are more afraid of humans than we are of them. I don't always believe that. When I'm lying in my tent at night, and I hear deep heavy huffing outside of that thin nylon layer, and a heavy step walking nearby...I'm not thinking that creature is so scared of me. Cause I'm sitting inside with my finger over my car alarm ready to click at a moment's notice if it comes too close...freaked out of my mind. It's probably just cruising around the site looking for food (safely packed away of course - at least from our site). Brent still doesn't believe there was a bear outside our tent at Tobermory. (I'm not kidding you - I didn't sleep until daybreak. There were bear warnings all over the campground that weekend due to several sightings in the area, particularly right near our site which was at the head of the bruce trail.)
So the animals that don't want to eat me is a pretty big deal. New Zealand is probably the most beautiful country in the world. To walk the country and experience the breathtaking scenery every day is a wonderful opportunity. And stress free - cause it's bear-free. :) NZ is the one place on Earth I feel that I can truly be at peace every step of the way. I don't come to this trip with a great deal of backpacking experience. I don't know how to read a map or use a compass - yet. But I'm here to learn and push myself to the greatest limits I've ever treaded. I live my life to push my limits, even my greatest fears. I can't imagine what the world would be like without the adventures we all embark on. The thrill of the unknown and a forever challenging tomorrow. This is what this trip is to me. Pushing my mind and my body to its limits. Re-connecting with God and loving this world He created for us to protect and cherish. Enjoying the beauty of the land to find peace in a new way. One step at a time.
CLAUDE
Meet our third musketeer. Claude, the beanie baby. I can't remember how old he is - but my family got him when I was in grade 11, I believe. Beanie babies were all the rage back then. My mother had a brilliant plan to purchase key beanie babies and then sell them to make money to help pay for our post secondary educations. True story. Anyway - let's just say that once these guys started entering our lives, we developed a love for them and couldn't part ways. So my parents' collection exploded and no profit was made. :) Claude and Nanook (a husky) were the first two purchased by my mother. My sister thought Claude looked like a spider and didn't want it staying in her room at night - so he hung out on my alarm clock on his first night with my family as my friend Christine and I worked on completing our assignment, a Pacman game on QBasic (so old...). I always favored him from that day on. I felt bad for him most of the time cause he was cast aside for his looks. I think he's cute.
Meet our third musketeer. Claude, the beanie baby. I can't remember how old he is - but my family got him when I was in grade 11, I believe. Beanie babies were all the rage back then. My mother had a brilliant plan to purchase key beanie babies and then sell them to make money to help pay for our post secondary educations. True story. Anyway - let's just say that once these guys started entering our lives, we developed a love for them and couldn't part ways. So my parents' collection exploded and no profit was made. :) Claude and Nanook (a husky) were the first two purchased by my mother. My sister thought Claude looked like a spider and didn't want it staying in her room at night - so he hung out on my alarm clock on his first night with my family as my friend Christine and I worked on completing our assignment, a Pacman game on QBasic (so old...). I always favored him from that day on. I felt bad for him most of the time cause he was cast aside for his looks. I think he's cute.Claude has since become a world traveller. He accompanies my parents and myself on all of our great adventures. He's been on simple road trips around Ontario and into the US (he's even been in a car accident with me where he was flung off the dashboard...ever since that day, he doesn't like the dashboard). He flew with me to Montreal when I was shooting a documentary about the children from Chernobyl. He went skydiving with my father and I (he jumped with me). He's been to the arctic with my father, to Rome with my parents (I don't know if he went to Ireland with my mom or not...), he's been to Vegas twice now with my parents, the grand canyon with my dad, he's been to Vancouver with me, and I think he went to New York with my parents. But he might have missed that trip...
As much as Claude has sent me emails while on his world adventures, he is just a beanie baby and possibly does not have a real opinion. And besides, I don't think we ever gave him a choice in the matter of traveling. He simply became the traveling beanie. And yes - the other beanies are jealous. Who wouldn't be? :)
Claude's next trip will be New Zealand, Vanuatu, China and Vancouver with Brent and myself. He will train with us, board with us and treck with us every step of the way.
And there you have it. The trip bound trio. We will report to you as much as possible, together on this blog.
Friday, April 25, 2008
activities to try in Rotorua
There was an article on the msn homepage today talking about 8 activities you could do in adrenaline high cities like Rotorua in New Zealand. These are the eight the reporter highlighted, in my order of preference.
1. Sledge - kind of like river rafting but on a kickboard. Looks like a lot of fun and they say once you barrel roll a few times, you don't think much about it. I think it would be a great way to get me into the water. I ultimately want to learn how to surf in NZ, so this would be good to get me dunked in the water and remove drowning fears.
2. Zorbing - a true NZ adventure. Roll down a hill in a plastic ball that you get zipped into. Funny. Probably overpriced for the amount of time you actually spend rolling down the hill in this ball.
3. Luge - I've always wanted to luge. It's more like luge meets go kart, but it's as close as a non-professional like myself will get.
4. Blackwater Rafting - basically tubing in dark caves lit by glow worms. Beautiful. Might not be something I get to do, but would be neat.
5. Skydiving - since I've done this before, I might not want to fork over a few hundred to do it again knowing that I'll be living on a tight budget. But if I were to fall upon some money, I definitely would do this again...especially in NZ!!
6. Bodyflying - it's like skydiving on the ground. You hover over a modified airplane prop and the way your body is positioned affects if you are being thrown into the padded surroundings or if you 'air surf'. I would do it at some point in life, just not really in NZ.
7. Swoop - it's basically like that ride at Wonderland. Bungee jumping meets hangliding. It's fun, but I've done it so many times now. :)
8. Agrojet - It's a super fast shallow water boat that can spin on a dime. Probably a rush to be in it - but that doesn't make me want to jump in for the money. But for speed junkies - probably a favorite.
Anyway - looks like Rotorua might be a hiccup for us. I might want to play for a bit. However, being in the north island, we will only be at the beginning of our journey, so I'll be more hesitant to spend money on gimmick-y activities. I don't know how much our trip will cost us yet, and probably won't have a good idea until at least a few months into it. We'll see. Also - there are a few activities I'd like to do - like the sledge and the luge. However, there is an injury risk highlighted in the activity outlines - and to suffer a leg injury at the beginning of our trip could be disasterous. Maybe we'll swing by on our way back up to Auckland. :)
I met up with my friend Daniel last night and he showed me pictures from all his mountain hikes in the Alps last summer. The pics have been posted online for quite some time, but I wanted to hear the stories that went with them. The pictures are incredible and really re-ignited my excitement to wake up in the mountains every day. His love for the great outdoors is what I feel - so it was really great to share his experiences with him. It would be great if he could fly out to NZ to meet up with Brent and myself. He's one of those people who would appreciate this trip and also someone who would be ready to hike our proposed distances every day! :)
Orthotics order is in. Have you ever had your feet tested for orthotics before? I gotta tell you - I probably should have been born into orthotics. I have a pretty messed up history with the lower half of my body. Actually, it's pretty odd and interesting I think. I have to re-visit it with every physiotherapist and knee and leg specialist. Orthotics fitters need an overall view of what you go through day to day and what makes your joints the way they are...so there is a lot to cover....for my ankles, knees and hips of BOTH legs. Ugh. Anyway - there is this one test 'static / dynamic' that uses this computerized pad. I gotta tell you - when you stand on this pad with bare feet - you are uber aware of what parts of your feet are not connecting with the floor and which ones are bearing a very uneven amount of weight. It's a strange feeling. Then you walk across the computer pad twice (or more if you miss), once with each foot and it makes an imprint of your step. It animates how your weight is distributed from start to finish and where the 'hot spots' are. There is some really interesting technology at work there. I won't go into too much detail - I just thought it was great. And scary - realizing that my step is really off-balance. How much damage is that doing to my knees?
My knees. She took a look at my knee braces and they passed the test. However - she also diagnosed me with another knee problem. My knee caps are rotated improperly and may be causing more wear and tear. I'm guessing it's from birth - but who knows. She mentioned that in this situation specialists sometimes teach their patients how to tape their knees into the proper "rotation location" - but I haven't had that demonstration yet. And on top of that and every other diagnosis my knees have been through - my right knee cap sits higher and in an odd way when compared to my left knee cap. She is going to consult with my knee specialist - because this might have occured from my wicked fall in September she mentioned. She couldn't find any notation of this in my file previously.
That would suck. BUT - that would also help me with the claim. I am basically a permanent slave to physiotherapy, and this would allow me to receive the proper treatment necessary for helping in the recovery. You know, I could have hit anything else on that day in September - why did it have to be my right knee...out of both knees even, the worst one got it!
So that's my recap. My orthotics will be here in about 2 weeks. Then I have to wear them in over the next 2-3 weeks, during which time I've been promised multiple joint pains as my body adjusts to the idea of walking with the proper steps. These things aren't cheap - let's hope they work.
1. Sledge - kind of like river rafting but on a kickboard. Looks like a lot of fun and they say once you barrel roll a few times, you don't think much about it. I think it would be a great way to get me into the water. I ultimately want to learn how to surf in NZ, so this would be good to get me dunked in the water and remove drowning fears.
2. Zorbing - a true NZ adventure. Roll down a hill in a plastic ball that you get zipped into. Funny. Probably overpriced for the amount of time you actually spend rolling down the hill in this ball.
3. Luge - I've always wanted to luge. It's more like luge meets go kart, but it's as close as a non-professional like myself will get.
4. Blackwater Rafting - basically tubing in dark caves lit by glow worms. Beautiful. Might not be something I get to do, but would be neat.
5. Skydiving - since I've done this before, I might not want to fork over a few hundred to do it again knowing that I'll be living on a tight budget. But if I were to fall upon some money, I definitely would do this again...especially in NZ!!
6. Bodyflying - it's like skydiving on the ground. You hover over a modified airplane prop and the way your body is positioned affects if you are being thrown into the padded surroundings or if you 'air surf'. I would do it at some point in life, just not really in NZ.
7. Swoop - it's basically like that ride at Wonderland. Bungee jumping meets hangliding. It's fun, but I've done it so many times now. :)
8. Agrojet - It's a super fast shallow water boat that can spin on a dime. Probably a rush to be in it - but that doesn't make me want to jump in for the money. But for speed junkies - probably a favorite.
Anyway - looks like Rotorua might be a hiccup for us. I might want to play for a bit. However, being in the north island, we will only be at the beginning of our journey, so I'll be more hesitant to spend money on gimmick-y activities. I don't know how much our trip will cost us yet, and probably won't have a good idea until at least a few months into it. We'll see. Also - there are a few activities I'd like to do - like the sledge and the luge. However, there is an injury risk highlighted in the activity outlines - and to suffer a leg injury at the beginning of our trip could be disasterous. Maybe we'll swing by on our way back up to Auckland. :)
I met up with my friend Daniel last night and he showed me pictures from all his mountain hikes in the Alps last summer. The pics have been posted online for quite some time, but I wanted to hear the stories that went with them. The pictures are incredible and really re-ignited my excitement to wake up in the mountains every day. His love for the great outdoors is what I feel - so it was really great to share his experiences with him. It would be great if he could fly out to NZ to meet up with Brent and myself. He's one of those people who would appreciate this trip and also someone who would be ready to hike our proposed distances every day! :)
Orthotics order is in. Have you ever had your feet tested for orthotics before? I gotta tell you - I probably should have been born into orthotics. I have a pretty messed up history with the lower half of my body. Actually, it's pretty odd and interesting I think. I have to re-visit it with every physiotherapist and knee and leg specialist. Orthotics fitters need an overall view of what you go through day to day and what makes your joints the way they are...so there is a lot to cover....for my ankles, knees and hips of BOTH legs. Ugh. Anyway - there is this one test 'static / dynamic' that uses this computerized pad. I gotta tell you - when you stand on this pad with bare feet - you are uber aware of what parts of your feet are not connecting with the floor and which ones are bearing a very uneven amount of weight. It's a strange feeling. Then you walk across the computer pad twice (or more if you miss), once with each foot and it makes an imprint of your step. It animates how your weight is distributed from start to finish and where the 'hot spots' are. There is some really interesting technology at work there. I won't go into too much detail - I just thought it was great. And scary - realizing that my step is really off-balance. How much damage is that doing to my knees?
My knees. She took a look at my knee braces and they passed the test. However - she also diagnosed me with another knee problem. My knee caps are rotated improperly and may be causing more wear and tear. I'm guessing it's from birth - but who knows. She mentioned that in this situation specialists sometimes teach their patients how to tape their knees into the proper "rotation location" - but I haven't had that demonstration yet. And on top of that and every other diagnosis my knees have been through - my right knee cap sits higher and in an odd way when compared to my left knee cap. She is going to consult with my knee specialist - because this might have occured from my wicked fall in September she mentioned. She couldn't find any notation of this in my file previously.
That would suck. BUT - that would also help me with the claim. I am basically a permanent slave to physiotherapy, and this would allow me to receive the proper treatment necessary for helping in the recovery. You know, I could have hit anything else on that day in September - why did it have to be my right knee...out of both knees even, the worst one got it!
So that's my recap. My orthotics will be here in about 2 weeks. Then I have to wear them in over the next 2-3 weeks, during which time I've been promised multiple joint pains as my body adjusts to the idea of walking with the proper steps. These things aren't cheap - let's hope they work.
93 days to go.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
six less days
We're 94 away.
Some updates are still to come. As stated in earlier posts. Sadly, I'm not in much of a writing mood today to elaborate on our current status of gear and such.
It's close. A big shop is coming up once Brent finishes his exams (3 to go). That will probably be our boots and his coat shop. We did go clothing shopping on Monday. He bought nothing. I gained three pieces - dry fit and loving it. Clothing will be my biggest challenge in terms of shopping - because nothing fits. I can't very well pack an entire wardrobe of cotton - i'll run into problems somewhere down the line. Oh - and serengeti sunglasses are impossible to find in Toronto now. So much for top of the line polarizing lenses.
In NZ, where the ozone is much thiner - your best friends will be Mr. Sunscreen, Mr. Tilley hat and Mr. Sunglasses. You can't cheap out on these three things. Very important. I think people underestimate this aspect. Living in Canada, especially Toronto - I'm 'protected' from the sun's UV rays to a certain degree by the layer of disgusting smog hovering from my head level to great heights. My lungs - not the biggest fans - but to some extent, this holds back even a tiny amount of UV rays. New Zealand is virtually pollution free. Add that to the thinner Ozone layer and you have big problems for fair skinned people like me (well, really this is a helth concern for everybody).
Today, the building of the gear list continues.
The mapworld purchase is almost complete. So, four months later, we are finally purchasing our freshmaps gps map. :)
I've been researching banks. In New Zealand and in Canada. We're probably going to deal with the Bank of New Zealand in NZ - as they seem to be one of the top banks out there, and their credit cards have a lower annual fee (we thought it might be wise to own a NZ credit card while travelling in NZ, to avoid astronomical exchange rates charged by the Canadian credit card companies). Also - I've already spoken to representatives at this bank about opening an account upon our arrival.
In Canada - this trip has sparked the need to purchase travellers cheques, which I cannot do at my current bank. So I'm also looking into opening an account with one of the big 5 in Canada. Interesting shopping experience let me say. It's actually quite fun. I've been back and forth with a few branches asking about their accounts and whatnot. But the big winner is going to be the one with whom I can waive a monthly fee with the lowest monthly balance.
BUT - another factor is commission on the purchase of travellers cheques. Think about it travellers. If you are going to purchase a large amount of money in travellers cheques - you will usually lose commission on that cheque TWICE. Once at the time of purchase and once at the time of exchange. (not always - but most of the time) There is a loop hole. Some banks offer a waived commission fee if you own either a certain bank account or credit card. Yes - these accounts and cards USUALLY have a monthly or annual fee attached. But not all!! AND - if the annual fee for the credit card is LESS than your 1% commission fee (which is the average fee charged by a bank in Canada), maybe you should spend some time looking into that option.
This has led me to possibly sign up for yet another credit card. A VISA. I don't have one of those. But I fit one bank's criteria for their GOLD Visa - which in the end would equal a waived commission fee on travellers cheques. And - this card has NO annual fee. So realistically, I don't lose anything. The catch is that usually banks require minimum credit limits that are quite high (not for adults, but it could be daunting for a younger person looking at this option - and for that reason, I would not suggest this for everyone). I haven't noticed one for this card yet - we'll see. I'll research it a little more tonight and then probably set out tomorrow to sign up.
You can always cancel a credit card. But they are also really good to have - and truly are both a great way to develop a credit history (hopefully you are responsible with that!) and what I feel is a secure way to make purchases in your day to day life. You're building a relationship with a bank/company who will protect you should there be unusual activity on your card. To me, that's comforting!!
Anyway. So banks and credit cards have been swirling in my head in the last few days. You might wonder how this would apply to my trip - a walking adventure that will bring me out into the middle of nowhere. Being prepared to meet every potential problem when entering a foreign country is part of planning. Knowing that I will be in a new country for an entire year and having the priveledge to do even simple things like opening a bank account and accessing a foreign credit card will help me financially. The NZ card will eliminate foreign exchange rates charged if I would have to use my canadian credit card. Again, the credit card is really there to only use in an emergency situation. Opening a foreign bank account allows us to do one lump sum transfer at the beginning and one more at the end of our trip. This eliminates all those money transfers and exchanges along the way - rates and fees that can add up to a great amount of money. If you know you'll be in a country for a long period of time - this is something worth researching. We have become a world reliant on debit and moneyless transactions. This seems like a logical step with a world trip.
Mind you - for Vanuatu and China - we will be using US$ Travellers cheques and local currencies. And from that point on - will use our Canadian credit cards should one be required to place holds on locations. Those legs of the trip are more 'vacation-like' and short term.
Speaking of China - the Foreign Affairs travel report for China is not so hot right now. A regional warning lists "Avoid non-essential travel".
"OFFICIAL WARNING: Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada advises against non-essential travel to Tibet and urges Canadian citizens to exercise extreme caution when travelling in the Tibetan areas located in the provinces of Qinghai, Ganzu, Sichuan and Yunnan." (http://www.voyage.gc.ca)
Sichuan is where Chengdu is - which is east of Wolong - which is my #1 travel destination in China right now.
This travel advisory is due to the level of protests that have been occuring in Tibet (which is just west of Sichuan). The Olympics will be in China this summer - and are bringing to light a great deal of protests from the residents within the country and around the world. When your country is hosting a world class event such as the Olympics, you become the spotlight. And everybody knows this. This year's Olympics are being protested from all sides due to human rights violations, Tibet's desire from independance and a fight against oppression. There is a heightened amount of push from the oppressed to fight right now. With the world looking, it's the safest time for them to speak up and do more than they normally would. That being said - China is not particularly the best travel destination at the moment. If I were in NZ right now, I would probably have to omit the treck to Wolong due to the increased problems the Sichuan area is facing. It would be risky.
Hopefully, rest and resolution will come between Tibet and China. There is a chance that this could continue for a while yet. Keeping an eye on this while we plan.
The Te Araroa: http://www.teararoa.org.nz/index.php - "A hiking trail the length of New Zealand by 2010".
"Te Araroa means, in Maori, The Long Pathway. It's a proposed foot trail from top to bottom of the country."
Who would have thought? There are many tracks in New Zealand to walk. It is probably one of the most inviting things about the country: its accessibility. A few people in New Zealand have a vision that they are working on fulfilling as we speak. They are working at setting up a continuous track that runs from the peak of New Zealand (Cape Regina) to the southern tip of the south island (Bluff). Check out the website for more information. Brent and I will most likely come across parts of this route as we work our way around the entire country.
I have sent out emails to two people - one who is the CEO of the Te Araroa Trust, Geoff Chapple, and another individual who hiked a similar path 5 years ago. I will let you know if I hear from either of these individuals. :)
And that my friend, is all I have to say today. I have to get ready for my orthotics fitting today. I am going to my knee specialist to fulfill my parents' birthday present to me. :) (thanks mom & dad) The orthotics fitter also fits knee braces and will take a look at the two braces I have for my right knee and advise me of any changes once I discuss my trip with her. So exciting.
Sunday - you meet the trip goers!
Some updates are still to come. As stated in earlier posts. Sadly, I'm not in much of a writing mood today to elaborate on our current status of gear and such.
It's close. A big shop is coming up once Brent finishes his exams (3 to go). That will probably be our boots and his coat shop. We did go clothing shopping on Monday. He bought nothing. I gained three pieces - dry fit and loving it. Clothing will be my biggest challenge in terms of shopping - because nothing fits. I can't very well pack an entire wardrobe of cotton - i'll run into problems somewhere down the line. Oh - and serengeti sunglasses are impossible to find in Toronto now. So much for top of the line polarizing lenses.
In NZ, where the ozone is much thiner - your best friends will be Mr. Sunscreen, Mr. Tilley hat and Mr. Sunglasses. You can't cheap out on these three things. Very important. I think people underestimate this aspect. Living in Canada, especially Toronto - I'm 'protected' from the sun's UV rays to a certain degree by the layer of disgusting smog hovering from my head level to great heights. My lungs - not the biggest fans - but to some extent, this holds back even a tiny amount of UV rays. New Zealand is virtually pollution free. Add that to the thinner Ozone layer and you have big problems for fair skinned people like me (well, really this is a helth concern for everybody).
Today, the building of the gear list continues.
The mapworld purchase is almost complete. So, four months later, we are finally purchasing our freshmaps gps map. :)
I've been researching banks. In New Zealand and in Canada. We're probably going to deal with the Bank of New Zealand in NZ - as they seem to be one of the top banks out there, and their credit cards have a lower annual fee (we thought it might be wise to own a NZ credit card while travelling in NZ, to avoid astronomical exchange rates charged by the Canadian credit card companies). Also - I've already spoken to representatives at this bank about opening an account upon our arrival.
In Canada - this trip has sparked the need to purchase travellers cheques, which I cannot do at my current bank. So I'm also looking into opening an account with one of the big 5 in Canada. Interesting shopping experience let me say. It's actually quite fun. I've been back and forth with a few branches asking about their accounts and whatnot. But the big winner is going to be the one with whom I can waive a monthly fee with the lowest monthly balance.
BUT - another factor is commission on the purchase of travellers cheques. Think about it travellers. If you are going to purchase a large amount of money in travellers cheques - you will usually lose commission on that cheque TWICE. Once at the time of purchase and once at the time of exchange. (not always - but most of the time) There is a loop hole. Some banks offer a waived commission fee if you own either a certain bank account or credit card. Yes - these accounts and cards USUALLY have a monthly or annual fee attached. But not all!! AND - if the annual fee for the credit card is LESS than your 1% commission fee (which is the average fee charged by a bank in Canada), maybe you should spend some time looking into that option.
This has led me to possibly sign up for yet another credit card. A VISA. I don't have one of those. But I fit one bank's criteria for their GOLD Visa - which in the end would equal a waived commission fee on travellers cheques. And - this card has NO annual fee. So realistically, I don't lose anything. The catch is that usually banks require minimum credit limits that are quite high (not for adults, but it could be daunting for a younger person looking at this option - and for that reason, I would not suggest this for everyone). I haven't noticed one for this card yet - we'll see. I'll research it a little more tonight and then probably set out tomorrow to sign up.
You can always cancel a credit card. But they are also really good to have - and truly are both a great way to develop a credit history (hopefully you are responsible with that!) and what I feel is a secure way to make purchases in your day to day life. You're building a relationship with a bank/company who will protect you should there be unusual activity on your card. To me, that's comforting!!
Anyway. So banks and credit cards have been swirling in my head in the last few days. You might wonder how this would apply to my trip - a walking adventure that will bring me out into the middle of nowhere. Being prepared to meet every potential problem when entering a foreign country is part of planning. Knowing that I will be in a new country for an entire year and having the priveledge to do even simple things like opening a bank account and accessing a foreign credit card will help me financially. The NZ card will eliminate foreign exchange rates charged if I would have to use my canadian credit card. Again, the credit card is really there to only use in an emergency situation. Opening a foreign bank account allows us to do one lump sum transfer at the beginning and one more at the end of our trip. This eliminates all those money transfers and exchanges along the way - rates and fees that can add up to a great amount of money. If you know you'll be in a country for a long period of time - this is something worth researching. We have become a world reliant on debit and moneyless transactions. This seems like a logical step with a world trip.
Mind you - for Vanuatu and China - we will be using US$ Travellers cheques and local currencies. And from that point on - will use our Canadian credit cards should one be required to place holds on locations. Those legs of the trip are more 'vacation-like' and short term.
Speaking of China - the Foreign Affairs travel report for China is not so hot right now. A regional warning lists "Avoid non-essential travel".
"OFFICIAL WARNING: Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada advises against non-essential travel to Tibet and urges Canadian citizens to exercise extreme caution when travelling in the Tibetan areas located in the provinces of Qinghai, Ganzu, Sichuan and Yunnan." (http://www.voyage.gc.ca)
Sichuan is where Chengdu is - which is east of Wolong - which is my #1 travel destination in China right now.
This travel advisory is due to the level of protests that have been occuring in Tibet (which is just west of Sichuan). The Olympics will be in China this summer - and are bringing to light a great deal of protests from the residents within the country and around the world. When your country is hosting a world class event such as the Olympics, you become the spotlight. And everybody knows this. This year's Olympics are being protested from all sides due to human rights violations, Tibet's desire from independance and a fight against oppression. There is a heightened amount of push from the oppressed to fight right now. With the world looking, it's the safest time for them to speak up and do more than they normally would. That being said - China is not particularly the best travel destination at the moment. If I were in NZ right now, I would probably have to omit the treck to Wolong due to the increased problems the Sichuan area is facing. It would be risky.
Hopefully, rest and resolution will come between Tibet and China. There is a chance that this could continue for a while yet. Keeping an eye on this while we plan.
The Te Araroa: http://www.teararoa.org.nz/index.php - "A hiking trail the length of New Zealand by 2010".
"Te Araroa means, in Maori, The Long Pathway. It's a proposed foot trail from top to bottom of the country."
Who would have thought? There are many tracks in New Zealand to walk. It is probably one of the most inviting things about the country: its accessibility. A few people in New Zealand have a vision that they are working on fulfilling as we speak. They are working at setting up a continuous track that runs from the peak of New Zealand (Cape Regina) to the southern tip of the south island (Bluff). Check out the website for more information. Brent and I will most likely come across parts of this route as we work our way around the entire country.
I have sent out emails to two people - one who is the CEO of the Te Araroa Trust, Geoff Chapple, and another individual who hiked a similar path 5 years ago. I will let you know if I hear from either of these individuals. :)
And that my friend, is all I have to say today. I have to get ready for my orthotics fitting today. I am going to my knee specialist to fulfill my parents' birthday present to me. :) (thanks mom & dad) The orthotics fitter also fits knee braces and will take a look at the two braces I have for my right knee and advise me of any changes once I discuss my trip with her. So exciting.
Sunday - you meet the trip goers!
Friday, April 18, 2008
100 days
and counting.
I feel like I've entered a new level of countdown. I'm feeling mixed emotions. I'm off work for now - and I can't keep up my energy levels to plan this trip. I have so much information around me and it's overwhelming. Trying to figure out what information I need to bring for each leg of the trip. There is so much that we could do - but will we be able to financially.
Today, I looked at China and Vanuatu. Our two other destinations. One part of me wants to make sure we are able to enjoy the most in our short time at these locations. The other part of me wants to just wing it. It feels easier to wing it. In the long run, it probably isn't. Not knowing dates puts a damper on pre-planning.
This is the happiest time of my life (so far) and the scariest. I think too much, and feel that I might be overthinking my entire plan. I sit surrounded by printouts and books filled with travelling information that I am craving - but it's suffocating. The trip is still over three months away. But to plan for an entire year of just 'go go go' walking is a different kind of planning than others I know have had to go through. We will never remain in an area more than a night. We will never stop moving. You have to be ten steps ahead of yourself so you don't get lost or lose motivation. I'm wondering if my mind will be able to rest on this trip at all. Or will it be zooming around the entire time, and only upon my return will I be at rest.
Today - this is how I feel. I'm searching through a pile of websites that I have collected over the years preparing for this trip. Hundreds of sites scribbled down on loose papers and post it notes. My to do list is growing by the second. It's hard to stay focused. I'm making good progress, but looking at all this new information, I feel like I'm falling fast behind in my plans.
I just want to be there. Planned and ready. Buying gear is only half of the work. Preparing mentally seems to be proving more challenging than I thought. Despite the fact that all I want to do is be planning this trip, my mind wanders and procrastinates from my preparations.
Another thing I've been procrastinating from has been this blog. Yet I have soooo much to catch up on and add to.
Maybe tomorrow. As the countdown enters the double digits.
I feel like I've entered a new level of countdown. I'm feeling mixed emotions. I'm off work for now - and I can't keep up my energy levels to plan this trip. I have so much information around me and it's overwhelming. Trying to figure out what information I need to bring for each leg of the trip. There is so much that we could do - but will we be able to financially.
Today, I looked at China and Vanuatu. Our two other destinations. One part of me wants to make sure we are able to enjoy the most in our short time at these locations. The other part of me wants to just wing it. It feels easier to wing it. In the long run, it probably isn't. Not knowing dates puts a damper on pre-planning.
This is the happiest time of my life (so far) and the scariest. I think too much, and feel that I might be overthinking my entire plan. I sit surrounded by printouts and books filled with travelling information that I am craving - but it's suffocating. The trip is still over three months away. But to plan for an entire year of just 'go go go' walking is a different kind of planning than others I know have had to go through. We will never remain in an area more than a night. We will never stop moving. You have to be ten steps ahead of yourself so you don't get lost or lose motivation. I'm wondering if my mind will be able to rest on this trip at all. Or will it be zooming around the entire time, and only upon my return will I be at rest.
Today - this is how I feel. I'm searching through a pile of websites that I have collected over the years preparing for this trip. Hundreds of sites scribbled down on loose papers and post it notes. My to do list is growing by the second. It's hard to stay focused. I'm making good progress, but looking at all this new information, I feel like I'm falling fast behind in my plans.
I just want to be there. Planned and ready. Buying gear is only half of the work. Preparing mentally seems to be proving more challenging than I thought. Despite the fact that all I want to do is be planning this trip, my mind wanders and procrastinates from my preparations.
Another thing I've been procrastinating from has been this blog. Yet I have soooo much to catch up on and add to.
Maybe tomorrow. As the countdown enters the double digits.
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