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Travel

Travel

Everything Is As It Should Be

My latest trip taught me various things like, ‘Do not travel with stuff you don’t want lost’, and ‘Don’t leave your jacket in reach of wild boars that people keep as pets,’ and ‘If you travel with a container full of active sourdough, expect it to ooze out and onto your belongings.’ Then there’ve been other observations, like ‘Don’t hitchhike on religious holidays – cars are full, and no one stops.’ I learned that the day I left for my journey on All Saint’s Day, and I had to walk hours into the night hoping there’d be a motel at…

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Travel

The Myth of Pure New Zealand

What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think of New Zealand? Millions of sheep on rolling hills, stunning mountains, or pristine rivers maybe? Before I came here, all I’d seen of New Zealand came from Lord of the Rings and Instagram photos, shown from stunning angles. New Zealand’s PR gave me the impression that NZ is a green, sustainable, and clean country. Their website’s tagline is ‘100% Pure New Zealand’. If only that were honest… After four months of traveling, tramping, and camping all over the two islands, I’ve seen a lot of the nature. Out of…

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Travel

Is A Van The Best Way To Travel New Zealand?

Congratulations! You made it to New Zealand. Are you already thinking about getting a van to live out of? The van is by far is the most popular way to travel the two islands, offering the mobility of going where you want, when you want, and you can sleep out of it. Just because it’s popular, is it really the best way to experience New Zealand? Whether the upkeep, the fuel costs, the limitedness of where you could park, depending on your situation, traveling by van may not be the best choice for you.   TL;DR; if you’re willing to…

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Narrative, Travel

The Myth of Freedom Camping in New Zealand

In the future, I predict silence will be stupidly expensive commodity, and unadulterated nature even rarer. Right now lying in my tent beside a tree-encircled pond, near a flowing river under pounding rain in New Zealand. It feels like nature, except for the droning bass in the distance, which shatters any notion that I’m alone. Once I embraced the fact that I’m a loner, being alone is what I desire most in this hectic system called life. With three quarters of New Zealand’s population on the north island, I thought I’d find peace and nature on the untamed South Island….

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Narrative, Travel

Stuck in a Rainstorm

I am writing here because I am stuck in a rainstorm. It’s been four days since last sun, four amazing days. Now I want to leave, but the rain won’t relent… It rained non-stop last night and thank god my tent is mostly waterproof. Otherwise, I’d be wet right now, trying to write this. Then again, had yesterday shown sun, I would’ve continued my travels towards New Zealand’s famed west coast. Instead, I’m resting cozily against my backpack, in a soggy tent, between an almost flooding river and the highway somewhere near Motueka. I’m here because Ben & Annie, a…

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Narrative, Travel

Riding a New Years Adventure

New Year’s Day, I wake up to the usual obnoxious bass blares from atop the large hill where the main stage sits. It’s 8:15, I’ve fully rested and whoops, I’m late for work. I walk past the vans and tent to the kitchen and I see – Crap, nobody woke up. I’ve been here five days already and I’m the only one here now to make breakfast. How did I go from staying in a house in Whanganui to camping and cooking in a valley on New Zealand’s South Island at a music festival? I didn’t know this event existed…

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Narrative, Travel

Journey to Cape Reinga

There were no roosters to cock-a-doodle doo this morning, instead, at around six, a symphony of birds, mosquitoes and other unseen forest animals squealed out a resounding wake up call. I feel groggy; I got six hours of sleep separated by five hours of jet lag insomnia. Sleeping in a bushy forest is always mixed bag of goodies, you never know how hungry the mosquitoes are, or if you’ll find a flat spot to pitch your tent where nobody will see. I’ve had worse than this. I start the morning with my pack up and slap dance: fold my tent…

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Narrative, Travel

Jet Lagged in a Forest Somewhere in New Zealand

From the sleepless flight from Kuala Lumpur to the two hour interrogation at airport customs, New Zealand’s throwing hurdles at me. I woke up today at 2:30 pm on the floor of my hosts disheveled loft somewhere in the boonies outside of Auckland. I don’t know where I am, and the lack of WiFi and GPS is keeping that secret from me, however, in my sleep deprived state, I managed to ask my host, Andrew, which way the nearest grocery store is, before he left for work in the morning. “That way,” he pointed away from the direction we came…

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Miscellaneoes, Travel

Stuck in New Zealand Customs

I’ve been in New Zealand less than a day and I admit, the friendly stereotype is true, even when they threaten people at customs. That fellow got the silent treatment for hours because he was hiding something, whereas the customs officials questioned me for hours, because I have a tent, or maybe because I look borderline homeless; I don’t know. This wasn’t the welcome brigade I anticipated yet here’s what to expect and how to prepare for it, if it happens to you when you land in New Zealand. I’ve never understood what it means, or what needs to be…

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Culture & Immersion, Travel

I Tried Hating Barcelona

I tried hating Barcelona, it even tried to help me when I arrived. From the six euro fare on the A2 bus into the city, from where I had to walk another half hour, to the 2.72 euro hidden tax at the Sant Jordy Hostel, I thought this city was trying to rip me off. I spent a week and a half year and by the end I made up my mind Barcelona is one of the most authentic big cities I’ve been to. The more I travel, the more I realize, I hate big cities, cities that are renowned,…

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