Arrrghhh!! I can't find my passport!!

MAJOR emergency. I've paid my deposit for the cruise and just have to fill out a couple of forms but I seemed to have misplaced THE most important document I need to get out of the country. My PASSPORT!!

With Lisa's wedding in Rarotonga in April and the Cruise to Fiji and Vanuatu in July I am totally panicking. Like where could it be? The last time I remember holding my passport in my own hands was at taiaha wananga when I was putting in my registration but then I didn't end up needing it because the printer was broken. I put it back in my bag but I'd be damned if I can remember which bag I was using that weekend! Oh the curse of having many bags!! I am so cleaning out this weekend and getting rid of some of my 'stuff'. Might have a garage sale. Anyone wanna buy a handbag? XD

Taking off again...

On a cruise liner...
Yep. Got another overseas adventurer planned. In July next year I'll be leaving Auckland to board a cruise ship for two weeks. Destination Fiji and other Pacific Islands.
I will be going with a bunch of whanau; aunties, nan and cousins. So looking forward to this next adventure. Will keep you posted when I know more.

Photos photos photos

It's been a while since my last post so here is the long-awaited link to photos from overseas experience number one: Destination Europe. aka Contiki European Magic May 2007.

Got them at http://www.ringo.com/ then search fro Marino Harker-Smith and a profile should come up feature me sitting in a very big clog.

ta.

-M

Singapore Changi Airport rox!

I just finished the best 10minute foot massage ever thanks to a gadget here called the big foot. Honestly, you have no idea how sore my feet have been after pretty much walking around concrete and cobblestone pavements for the last couple of weeks. Don't get me wrong, I really enjoyed my tour!! It's just so much walking to see everything and I'd rather walk than take the underground everywhere cos you see more.

Oh yeah, now I can say I have taken the metro service in 3 cities in 3 countries: Paris, Munich and London. All in different languages LoL.

Well and as for the Big Foot, get this, it was FREE!! I know Auckland has massage chairs but their like 2 for 2minutes! They have those here too and their also free! Singapore obviously know how to be good hosts! I am so coming back here again, maybe even see a bit of the country OUTSIDE the airport! XD I will also definately choose to fly with Singapore Airlines again since my initial experience was so good and they have GREAT service. Anyway, this post was so NOT intended to be a flat out advertisement/endorcement for Singapore Airlines...

Oh well, four minutes to go. I better not be a hold out and let someone else have a turn on the computer.

BTW they are also really conservative here! Cleo magazine is considered classified adults only!!! Though I do kind of see their point on that one, something about girls under 14-years reading about the 10 ways to please their man in bed just doesn't sit right with me either!

Paris, France

Went to the top of the Eiffel Tower, saw the Arc De Triumph, ate a crepe, shopped on Avenue Champ de Elysee (i think that's how u spell it) and watched the crazy Parisian drivers.
Seriously though about the crazy drivers! They're nuts. You know how on a round-about we give way the right, well they have a free for all system and just drive in and out and cos there aint even any lanes it looks real chaotic. Drivers don't even indicate half the time! Just driving around it for two minutes I saw about 3 near misses! And they park their cars so close together that they literally nudge the other car along to get out of the car. To quote our tour manager "it's not wrong, it's just different"

Anyway, I don't know if it's cos I had sore feet from walking around all day or cos it was at the end of the tour but I can't say I thought much of Paris. After seeing the main things (Eiffel Tower, The Louvre, Moulin Rouge) it was like, OK been there done that. Now what?

Oh yes, went to the Louvre, saw the Mona Lisa. Couldn't take a picture as theres major security around it, you have to stand like four-five metres away to look at it!! You can take photos of any of the other paintings except for this one! Crazy, considering its stuck behind about 10 sheets of glass, what harm is a photo going to do?? Surely UV radiation from the flash can't reach through that far, the flashlight will just reflect back off the glass anyway!

Anyway, they did serve snails at the restaurant I ate at but I couldn't really bring myself to try them. But the banane chocolat and cream crepe was delicious!!

update continued... Lucerne, Switzerland

Again the weather wasnt on our side and we couldn't go up the mountain cable car darnit. But i did get to try some Swiss chococlate (mmmm) and bought loads to bring home with me! The evening weather was nice though and managed to do a bit of bar hopping including going to a Salsa Bar. Would've have been great if i knew abit of Salsa.

The hotel we stayed in was a converted jail and the rooms actually cells! Was pretty wicked!

Lucerne is a small alpine city. Really small! You can literally walk from one end to the other in 15-20 minutes.

La bella citie Venezia - The beautiful city of Venice

Before I get on to talking about Venezia, Italia I have to write a bit about Innsbruck in Austria (by the way, there's no Kangaroos there XD, it's not Australia!).
We only stopped their for a few hours and making a special trip too but it was such a beautiful little alpine town nestled in amongst the Austrian Alps. I tasted tradional Schnapps and bought a bottle to bring home for you guys to sample. I got the apple flavour. It's really strong!!
But year it was a beautiful little town with great photos of the mountains. We were initially going to bypass Austria altogether but our wondering tour manager and driver Dave and GT (big ups to them! top job!) decided to take us on a more scenic route on the way to Italia.



Venezia, Italia
"ti amor Venezia"


Despite the rain and gail cancelling our gondola ride, Venice is officially my favourite part of the European Magic Tour! I have to go back to Italia again, not just to finally ride in the gondola but also to see more of the country! And when I get home I am so learning Italian, so when I go back I can say more than where is the toilet which btw is "dove la ill gabenitto?"


The street beggars were abit of getting used to in Venice but I just had to ignore them cos I've heard that if you give them money they won't leave you alone (It was the same in Paris but their they also tried to pick yr pockets) so I was like "trust no one".


Anyway, I saw the famous rialto bridge and the Piazza San Marco with hundreds of the fattest pigeons I have eva seen and its no wonder because people pay 1 euro to feed them and have the birds crawl all over them for a photo (right now Megan's probably shuttering as she reads this). They St Mark's cathedral was beautiful.


I ate fetticcine for tea, very delicious and was seduced by the waiter. He gave me a rose and like kissed my hand and everything. Then before I left he was like, come upstairs to talk? And I was like, um I dunno, and them I half-heartedly said I would then left and then felt bad for standing hime up cos he had been so nice so I went back. He was like so when do you meet you group, and I may have told a little white lie that it was in a few minutes even though I still had nearly an hour to spare and he was like "one kiss then?" so I go why not? when in Rome dadadada...
So I did a pash and dash and yeah, now I can say I kissed an Italian in Italy - one more thing to cross of my life's todo list! XD


-M

PS: Venice is also a great place for fake Louis Vuitton and Chanel bags. They do sell the real thing too if you want to pay thousands of dollars. There atre also Gucci and Dolce and Gabbana stores and a Ferrari store etc. But yeah if you want the cheap ones look for the African men with their arms laiden with handbags. They're everywhere! Actually they'll probably find u cos they like make a beeline for the woman in particular, I guess we're more vulnerable to impulse buying and they won't go away until u buy something... Apparently they're illegal immigrants from North Africa.

Always haggle! They'll try and sell one to you for 70 euros or something but u can usually be purcuasive and bring it down to atleast 30. I managed to get a Dolce and Gabbana belt for 10.

Amsterdam, St Goar and Munich

SEX, DRUGS, BEER AND WINE

Well I'm actually back in London now and finally got access to an internet cafe. Now I'm doing a series of extended entries to catch up and also so friends and family can see that Yes I am indeed still alive! I'm OK!

Amsterdam, Netherlands
-It was awesome man! We started the tour with a bang on a cruise along the Canal Cruise which included an unlimited supply of free beer and wine to break the ice between the 37 people on the European Magic tour. Honestly, I never used to drink beer, especially not heineken, but since Europe I have developed a taste for it!


We also went to one of the city's famous Sex Shows which was an experience in itself. I mean, with my limited - actually NONE - knowledge of porn. Their were a couple of performers who didn't really look like they were into it but as a whole it was a laugh. Some of them were actually full frontal going at it on stage! There was also audience participation with three people from our Contiki group heading up to the stage (not me tho ok!). Even got a sourvenor from the show in the form of a lollipop shaped like a penis, haven't sucked it yet though (I delibrately made that sound dirty OK) LOL


Sorry, I couldn't take photos there or in the red light district. I didn't want to have my camera thrown in the canal by one of the girls pimps but serious those girls are like model gorgeous! Standing there in their lingeries enticing clients!


Then a few of us went on the trawl to find a little Coffee Shop where we could sample the local herb. Didn't have any cookies or brownies but did smoke a joint - it had me giggling all the way to the taxi and my hands were suddenly the most interesting thing in the world - apparently.
The taxiride back to the hotel was another experience, for a start none of us could remember the name of the hotel (it was Lake Lands) and I was like its Lake something? Lake house? No that doesn't sound right then I remembered Lake House was actually a pub in Rotorua. Anyway, luckily J from America had it written down and so became the saga to find a taxi driver who wasn't trying to rip us off or sell us anything. The first one kept saying something about 75 euro for the fare then said it wasn't for the fare, for something else, never found out what exactly as we quickly asked him to stop so we could find another cab. Then the second guy according to J was asking way too many personal questions. He also didn't seem to know where he was going, at one point he actually stopped in the middle of the highway and backed up after he missed a turn off which turned out to be the wrong turnoff anyway! But we did get back to the hotel safely and he only charged us 30euro - half the price of what the other guy was trying to charge us.



St Goar, Germany
- The first of only three days where it didn't rain. We stayed in a small hotel on the outskirts of the town. I think we might have even been the only guests that night. Got my first taste of German beer and Rhine Valley wine (which grows on vines planted on the near vertical slopes of the Rhine River!). Bought a bottle of Eis(ice) Wine, very expensive at 28euro so will be saving that one for a special occasion.


While in St Goar we also went to a beer stein shop and learnt about how they were made and individually and handpainted. St Goar by the way is also home to the world's biggest free standing cuckoo clock. I have loads of photos from the whole tour but probably won't download them until I get home.


Oh yes and for swearwords, Schollom! (don't know if it's spelt right) means slut!


Munich, Germany
"Bitte eins bier maast?"
"One litre (stein) of beer please?"


I absolutely luuuuuurrrrve German beer now. Drank two whole steins at Haubrouhous, the famous beer hall and home of Oktoberfest which I am SOOOO going to this year or next.
Also saw the Glokenspiel go off. Interesting but very strenuous on the neck, having to look up for so long to watch it play out the scene.


Next post will right about Venezia, Italia. By far my favourite destination despite the rain coming in in the afternoon and cancelling our Gondola ride.


-M

high times and prostitution

Well I just got to Amsterdam now, got a bit of free time before dinner.
Looking forward to a canal cruise tonight and heading into the redlight district. Hopefully will also get to go to a coffee shop sometime tonight too.

Im like the only Kiwi of the 37 of us on this tour group I think, although thereś a couple of aussies. Im almost out of time with the internet so this is a short post. Will try and get some more pics up tomorrow.
Will also be going to see Anne Frankś house tomorrow too and the Anne Frank museum.

The oldest Pub in London

Well, now I can say I drank at one of the oldest pubs in London - The George Inn. Apparently even William Shakespeare himself drank there. Yep, Shakespeare was a real boozer XD...lol

Anyway, I met up with my cousing Gabrielle yesterday (that's her in the picture with me at The George. That was really great cos I haven't seen her in like 20 years! lol. Man, got sore as feet walking around London for like three hours - saw the London Eye, Big Ben, Tower Bridge, Trafalger Square, Covent (or Convent) Garden and a whole lot of other parks and sights here! By the way, We Will Rock You and The Lion King musicals are showing here at the moment but -dammit - didn't get a chance to see them!

My Contiki Tour starts tomorrow and we're leaving at 6.45am! So better get an early night. I'll be cruising the Canal in Amsterdam tomorrow night and maybe having me a joint or a cookie in one of the famous "coffee" shops.

-M

PS: I had some fish and chips here but they're SOOOO expensive! I miss Pondies! It cost like £4 for one fish and a half a scoop! That's like $12! ripped!

I came to London and it bloody rained!!

London is SOOOOOOOOO big! I nearly got lost today, but thank god for the tube! The pic is of me at Tower Bridge.

Anyway, bloody rain in London, worse than Auckland! You can even buy a tshirt that says "I Came to London and it rained". First day here was fine, second day was fine until the evening then today - the day I decide to do the Original Bus Tour it has to be pissing down with rain! By golly, couldn't even sit on the top deck of the doubledecker and it just ain't the same at the bottom.

I went to Tower of London today! Great thing to do here to learn about the town's history and see the Crown jewels - providing you're willing to pay the £16 entry fee. It was alright, but probably would've been better if I'd waited for one of the Yeaman Guard tours. It was fun for the first hour but got a bit dry after a while. I didn't realise people actually lived at the tower though, like the Yeaman Guards (Beefeaters -though why they're called that I don't know).

One interesting thing about the Tower of London: The Legend of the Ravens (beautiful bird by the way): It is said that if the Ravens leave the tower it is a sign the monarchy will fall.

Ofcourse, now the poor birds have had their wings clipped so they couldn't leave if they wanted to, I think that's kind of cheating!

Tower Bridge

Tower Bridge is commonly the one people mistake for the nearby and rather plain London Bridge, the latter being the first bridge across the river Thames. One famous case is an American guy who bought the London Bridge for $2.2million (US) thinking he was buying the Tower Bridge. London Bridge was demolished and relocated the the USA and another London Bridge was rebuilt. (Stoopid american huh - u think he was related to George Bush??? XD)

Anyway, London Bridge has also been taken down and rebuilt several times, hence the song "London Bridge is falling down" - I learned that bit from the Original Bus Tour.

By the way, if you ever come to London, I totally recommend the Original Bus Tour to get your initial bearings! £18 for a 24hour ticket and u can hop on and hop off wherever you like. Just, try and go on a sunny day.

Red-eyed in London

Now I can truly say that I have riden on the London underground Tube and walked up Oxford Street. And now I'm here in an internet cafe passing the time until I can check into my hotel room and finally have a shower after the 24-hour long-haul flight. Lucky I thought to change into some fresh clothes at the airport or I'd still be in my grotty, smelly flight clothes!

Oh yes and Waimarama and Putahi, I got you some grills. But their was only 1 left so you're going to have to flip for it.

The second half of my flight from Singapore onwards was terrible from the moment I found out I was seated right in the middle of the middle section. OK, Maybe I'm slightly exagerating but it was pretty shitty. Like, the people on both sides of me were sleeping so if I wanted to get out to go to the loo or something I had to wake them up. But I didn manage to snatch a few hours sleep although I still feel crap today.My eyes are sore and bloodshot! I went to Tesco (U know like Lily Allen mentions in her song Ldn) to buy some cleareyes but I don't think they have it here, I think it's only in NZ. But anyway, I bought some eye drops and they worked alright but that was a couple of hours ago and I think I'm ready for another dose.

Oh yeah, I'll probably already said this in my email this morning but for those who didn't get an email, BOTTLED WATER IS LIKE SOOO CHEAP HERE!! I bought a small Evian from Tesco for 40p and the big bottles were only 70p. I mean even though that's triple the price in NZ dollars its still cheaper than fizzies here! Something we needa hit our government up on eh!

London
It's like sooo old ay! Like these huge stone buildings everywhere! You know the houses on Coronation Street, well that's what all of London's like! Ok, the roads aren't all cobblestoned right in the city but it's like different sought of tarseal to our roads and there are SOOOO many one-way streets. Honestly, it' s worse than Wellington. BTW I can so see how people get hit by double-decker buses, you should see how fast they go down Oxford Street, not that I've nearly got hit yet. No, that was a Black Cab that beeped at me when I jaywalked across a little lane than didn' t even look like it was big enough for cars to go on.

Might go over to Hyde Park this arvo and maybe Westminster Abbey if it's still open. Do the Davinci Code tour! :D Haven't taken any pics yet but might this arvo. Will check out the Anzac memorial in Hyde Park!

That's all for now.

BTW Those jetlag pills REALLY suck! Don't buy them, it's a waste of money! I'm still jetlagged meanest. But I'm determined not to go to bed until night so I can try and get into the northern hemisphere circadian rhythm faster.

-M

-M

I'm in Singapore!!

Oh wowee! Here I go, Marino the world traveller has begun. I'm just sitting in the terminal waiting for boarding in about 10 minutes for my transfer flight to Frankfurt, Germany and then on to HEATHROW in London.

Apart from being reminded by the friendly customs lady at Auckland that I need to sign my passport befor I can used it (da-duh!) the flight went really well. Was not as bad as I expected. Great service on Singapore Airlines! Highly recommended. And I got not not one but TWO big meals and despite what people say about airline food, it was not half bad! They even had fresh apples as snacks and not to mention the free booze! (not that I overindulged or anything).

Man, FREE internet at the airport is bloody brilliant!!! Except that I'm only limited to 15 minutes. The time remaining is ticking by below me, making me a little nervous! Only 6minutes left so better wrap up!

What can I say about Singapore?

This airport is fucken huge! Makes Auckland International look like a domestic airport in the sticks!!! Although, I was abit worried when I walked passed a row of security guards with these huge GUNS slung in their arms, ready. They looked like soldiers eh! But no one else seemed to be worried so it must be just the norm here!

Anyway, 3minutes to go. Will wrap up now and try and update when I get to London!

-M

Leaving tomorrow

Well, leaving to Auckland anyway. Nan and Pa have been so wonderful as to drive me up to Auckland tomorrow to catch my plane on Thursday afternoon (mind you, they get a much diserved holiday in the Coromandel too XD)

The adrenaline is building up with the excitement of the anticipation of the day of take off approaching faster. OK, I don't think that sentence made any sense. My mind is jumping all over the place at the moment!!!

Anyway, adding to my list of must-dos and considering the major food conoseur I am (XD) here is another list of must-eats. So next to each country I'm visiting I will put atleast one type of food that I absolutely HAVE to try while there. I REALLY want to make the most of the my ONE day in each country. And in answer to those people that have been asking (u all know who you are): NO I WILL NOT BE JUST EATTING WEDGES AND CHIPS ETC...

London - Real English fish and chips (I'm in the mother country, so why not I say, let's see if we're better or worse than the homeland at cooking fish and chips).

Amsterdam - Only one thing that I MUST try - a hash cookie. XD

Munich - A stein of beer.

Venice - Real Italian pizza or pasta.

Lucerne - Something Swiss, any ideas anyone, I don't know anything about Swiss food but I'll find something when I get there and keep you posted.

Paris - A real French Crepe.


And to Alex at work, yes I accept your challenge to learn one swear word from each country I go to. I already have one for Germany: Shizen Cop (Shit head), courtesy of Josephine the German exchange student who came to Wairoa College. XDXD

To everyone else, if you have a blogger or google account you can leave comments at the end of my posts. So feel free if there's anything you wanna let me know or if you have a message for me. If you don't have a google or blogger account can always email me, I'll try and check my email when I can while I'm away, but due to cost issues for using a cyper cafe and 'cause I'm suc a tight arse (lol) I might not be able to reply. I won't right my email address here, those who will email me should already have it. Those on my Bebo friend list can also post comments there and I might upload some photos to Bebo and/or Ringo.

-M

Seven Days!!!

OMG, to think that this time next week I'll be on a plane to LONDON!!! It is getting really exciting/crazy/nervous as I start counting down the days until lift off. I can't wait!! Last day of work on Tuesday then it's up to Auckland on Wednesday with Nan and Pa. It's been crazy-busy this last couple of days tying up the loose ends and making sure everythings sussed to go and nothings been forgotten or left behind!

Well! Now that I've got all that out of my system. I can get back to my work now.

Ma te wa!

One week to go

Wow, to think that next Friday I will be checking into Heathrow Airport in London. Only a week to go. Leave for Auckland on Tuesday next week, so will probably try and get most of my packing done this weekend. Note to self to write a list, hate to forget anything!

OH, add to must do's list:
Amsterdam - visit the Secret Annex, where Anne Frank and her family hid during World War 2 to escape prosecution. See what the place looks like in real life.

Can't believe I forgot that one, seeing as The Diary of Anne Frank was one of the most influential books I read as a child!

Ticket to ride

My Contiki ticket finally arrived last week. Even got a cute little wallet free that I can put all my tickets, passports, cash etc.

Only 14 days to go now until I fly out on the 24th and getting more and more excited/nervous by the day. Still haven't arranged travellers cheques yet. Really annoying that the nearest branch for my bank is an hours drive away (Grrrr!). Note to self to try and arrange an afternoon off work at the end of next week so I can go through and arrange it.

Adding to my to do list:
London: Have Strongbow Cider and a packet of Smiths Cheese and Onion Crisps for lunch (my boss reckons it's the shit!)

Contiki must-do list

Some things I have to do on my Contiki Europe Tour. Will list by city. This is for all those friends and whanau (you know who you are) who suggested a few of the things I've put on my list). I will try and get photos from most of them... memories XDXD

LONDON:
- Find out what this warm beer thing is all about.
- Ride the red double decker.
- Try and distract the royal guards. XD
- Visit Lady Diana's memorial foundtain

AMSTERDAM:
- Have a hash cookie/brownie.
- Check out the red-light district (do they really stand in windows like shop displays???).
- Visit the Secret Annex where Anne Frank and her family lived in hiding during World War 2.

VENICE:
-Ride in a Gondola.

PARIS:
- Ride to the top of the Eiffel Tower. (AT NIGHT & c the brightlights of Paris)
- Experience a 'real' French kiss (lol ;) XD), preferably while at the top of the Eiffel Tower, at night.
- See the Mona Lisa at The Louvre
- Pay respects to Jim Morrison and Oscar Wilde.

MUNICH:
- One word: Beer. Home of the Oktoberfest (beer festival.

Will add more later :)

Wings and things

BOOKED and paid for. Well my flights anyway. Just transferred the money now. Two and a half grand but its gonna be worth every penny for the experience.

Woohoo!!! My FIRST overseas trip!

Anyway, I'm flying Singapore Airlines and Lufthasia (i think that's the name, it's a German airline anyway) with a coupla hours stopover in Singapore and a changeover in Frankfurt. Get to Heathrow on the 25 May (Contiki tour leaves on 28) with three days to get over the jetlag and maybe have a look around London. Then after the tour fly back home on June 6. I made a mistake in my previous post, the tour actually finishes on June 5.

So now all I need is to book my London accommodation (all the rest is included in the tour, phew), confirm the tour booking and pay the deposit, continue by crash saving program, start selling the big pile of stuff in my room on http://trademe.co.nz, pay the full tour payment and sort out my spending money.

For spending money my options are either travellers cheques, money or visa. Or a mixture of the three, that's what or the travel guides recommend anyway. Then there's the currency thing. Got to find out what currency I need. I'm pretty sure all the countries I'm going to use the Euro (apart from UK of course) and the exchange rates not too bad at the moment: about 50euros for the dollar. Pretty good compared to the pound which is more like 30p to dollar. So if I have say, $2000 spending money for the 12 days all up that's like what, 1000EU or 650p (ish). Whoa! not much when u put it like that... And then there's travel insurance still to come.

Oh well... Better get busy on Trade Me.

Au Revoir

~M

Preparing for take off

I've made up my mind and I am going to do the Contiki European Magic Tour.

It leaves London on May 28 and finishes back in London on June 8, so 10 days all up. I visit 8 countries including Netherlands (Amsterdam), Belgium, Austria, Italy (Venice), France (Paris) and um, check out contiki.com for details on the tour. I also get a couple of extra days in London too, woohoo!

My first time overseas so its totally exciting times!!!

Went to the flight attendant today to discuss flights to get to London and back. The first option was Cathay Pacific, which has a three hour stop in Hong Kong but costs about $2710. The other one is some German Airline company (can't remember the name) that has a stop over in either Asia or LA and Frankfurt, Germany. The german option is also like atleast $200 cheaper too so will probably go with that option. Plus it seems like a more interesting flight too. :o)

Anyway, I'm gonna try and give regular updates as I make my final preparations for the tour, can't guarantee if I'll get the chance to access email everyday while tiki touring through Europe but if I miss some I'll also keep a written journal and fill in the gaps in my blog when I get home.

Ciao for now,
Marino