J is for Journal

Way back when I began writing this blog, its sole intention was to be an online journal.  I wanted to write about my experiences on this adventure and be able to share them with family and friends that were being left behind.  A record of events.  A historical narrative.  Proof.  I look back on old postings, especially the early ones leading up to leaving Australia, and I am instantly transported back to the feelings of anticipation and excitement of the unknown.  I reflect on what may have been done differently if I had known what I know now. I find myself wanting to talk to the John Ray from then and tell him how magnificent the future is going to be and how many adventures he will be experiencing, big and small.  This journal has become part of the adventure in its own right.

I is for Islands

One of the ambitions we set ourselves when arriving in New Zealand was to take advantage of the proximity to other Pacific Islands.  Two factors have helped us achieve this.  The first is an obvious geographical benefit of being closer to the Pacific Islands than Australia = cheaper fares.  The second is the fact that New Zealand has a significant proportion of people from the Pacific Islands living here.  This results in a lot more flights, airlines and options travelling between NZ and The Islands = cheaper fares.  First we went to Samoa, then Niue, most recently Vanuatu and in February we are off to Tahiti.  Each island has been different – culturally, linguistically, geographically and geologically.  Some had ocean caves full of colourful fish like a huge underwater aquarium; others were fringed with reefs in an endless mosaic of patterns.  Others had white sandy beaches fringed with swaying palm trees or black volcanic rocks tumbling into deep ocean cliffs.  Some had volcanoes, spewing lava and ash into the atmosphere; others were clad tightly in dense jungles.  No two islands had the same combination of elements but one thing they ALL had was an exotic charm, feeling of remoteness and loads of friendly smiles.

H is for Happiness

Happy to be here.  Happy to have done what I have done. Happy to do more of it. Happy.

G is for Grab-a seat

This is a website set up by Air New Zealand, the national airline of this great country.  Every morning hundreds of cheap seats are put up for sale giving passengers the chance to fly between set destinations for a fraction of the normal price.  It’s simply a matter of watching out for something that interests you and you GRAB it!  We flew to Auckland for lunch one day, even though it is only an hour and half drive away.  Every few months they do crazy things like $1 airfares and such. There are usually a selection of seats to various other Pacific Islands and Australia and every few weeks they include flight to almost all of their worldwide destinations.  If only we were rich……..and didn’t have to work.  Damn.  Anyway, about a year ago they added something a little different to the bargain and that is a reverse auction.  Every 15 minutes during the day a few tickets to one of their domestic or international destinations is advertised with a clock which runs backwards for a minute.  With each second, the price drops and the first person to stop the clock gets the tickets for the price that it was stopped at.  So the real gambler will wait until the minute is almost over as the price could be a mere $1 by then.  If only other airlines did this as well.

F is for Fotography

I know the spelling is wrong, but it did seem like a good match.  A little over a year ago I bought a big camera with two lenses and no idea how to use them.  I had always wanted to get in to photography but found the cost debilitating and so just admired great photography from afar and dreamed of what I would do if I had a better camera.  A few short courses later, and hundreds of hours of reading later, I finally feel that I am getting a feel for taking good photos.  I have been experimenting with exposures, getting in to night photography, and have bought an array of lens filters and other accessories.  I now find myself looking at objects and landscapes as potential photos and trying to work out what settings and lenses would be best to capture it all.  I love it.