Life the universe and everything in between


Dunedin and so forth
Hey guys!
Hey guys!

Yay for finally being bothered with Picasa! check out the rest of the photos here!

Basically; had an awesome time with Mum, Ben and Anna as an early 21st birthday get together and managed to explore Dunedin and the spectacular Otago Peninsular in the process. The south island is Beautiful! i’ll be seeing you later!!



Tot Ziens Nederland!
May 14, 2008, 9:00 pm
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Wow what a blast. What can i say. Ive had THE most amazing time here in Holland. Ive met beautiful people beautiful places and had beautiful experiences. I only hope that i return in a few months for this was truely a awesome trip and there is much more to be do and time to be spent with the wonderful people ive had around me. Pieter took me to a very flash resturant last night by the name of Boreas ive never seen or tasted such divine food. It was like Science and design infused in this equisite aray of flavours you can just not imagine. Im really struggling to describe our meals, everything was so inventive and so delicious the texture, flavours technique and time put in to such a incredible sight and taste was just incredible. What a special night i will not ever forget…. and at 150 Euro i should hope not!

The last ten days have been so hot and so enjoyable, visiting lakes that once were frozen when i arrived here. Biking with Anna to the A3 which is a huge lake and many thousands of dutch and belgium people visit and soak up the sun in the summer months. Relaxing with family in the garden sharing laughs and eating and talking amongst eachother, het was zoooooo Gezellig !! Its been so special…..  yeh.. im pretty speach-less now, but its home time for now, mum is where its at. Thunderstoms today so it seem like im taking the good weather with me.

Tot ziens Nederlands (see you later Holland)

love Nina

 

nina going for a swim in the Sahara  The Sahara lake  27degrees  the Sahara

yip... thats my lense cap you got there cheeky!  leuk kindje  Sarah en Ik

lekker wandel in de bosen  \  \

There have been extensions tot he family, dill, basil, chives, taragon etc       Pieter and Sarah       Pieter at the Sahara lake reserve in Lomel belguim 5km form home      Pieter and I before going to dinner

 



Photos of two Russell-ians in Germany

Heres a few more shots from my visit to Germany a month or so ago during which carnival was kicking off .

Random photo driving through random town Annalena’s highly considered comositional masterpiece “Dreams” Kolblenz

Me and Marcus Random Carnival celebrator form fear and loathing in las vegas Annalena and I

Us three non carnival dresser upper-ers Annalena next to part of a cool mural in “Dream” Kolblenz Two very nice glasses of banana wheat beer two little dicky birds

Me being arty farty with the camera A Montabaur bar we relctantly we in to



Zeeland road trip

Hey people

Pieter and I had an awesome day road triping to the west of the Netherlands today to visit the province of Zeeland, and yes it is the area that New Zealand was named after. Its a delta area of islands and man made islands aswell as dams to stop the sea from flooding Holland. It was rather obvious from the top of the man made hils/storm walls that the houses were significantly lower than the sea, pretty interesting sight really! You will also be glad to know we didnt leave the house with out a kite and most importantly a frisbee!

Wow its a hill!! hmmm i wonder whats on the other side?! wow its the beach! Excellent place to play a spot of frisbee i think

Us two characters img_6950.jpg )

more pictures The kite that flew… for 10 seconds.. Another kite that flew Pieters sand angel

beachyness Soaking up the sun and salt air One of the sea dams

Driving across the dam Sea side the other side

on the man mad land/island the dam works off to the mainland Driving driving driving Nothing like a few Dutch “Stroopwaffles” to keep you going!

The layers of the beach the beach the piles



Falling in love with Amsterdam
March 6, 2008, 10:09 am
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Hello

Well ive been to Amsterdam, and yes i guess you could say it was almost love at first sight. Although i was there mainly for an interview and the meeting and making of contacts, Amsterdam gave me very warm welcoming. However this was not actually litterally the case. Infact on my first full day it hailed twice and then snow fell that evening while i was finding my way home. I was fortunate enough to be staying with Sachas brother Josh which was cool fun and i had the use of a bike whilst staying there. Apart from spending 3 hours in the Van Gogh Museum on one of my days i basically cycled the city exploring the streets. This was really enjoyable and im proud to say i never actually got lost in all the semi-cicling canals and roads! I met a few kiwis during my stay, a friend of Josh’s who had been here for 3yrs, as well as Stacey another kiwi who i finally met and will be making contact with in a week to make further interview arrangements in the agency she works within. and contacts shes put me on to. I guess to put it simply; I very could easily warm to the idea of living and working in Amsterdam! :)

Amsterdam Canal by morning light Amsterdamn buildings Canals, Canals, Canals!

Learning techology centre/museum “Nemo” View from the Aweomely trendy city library building. Delicious and view food from cafe floor here Nina in Dam Square

Main drag of the red light district Dam Square More off sunny happening Dam Square and some cool street dancers/

Bike and Amsterdam one can’t exist with out the other! Oooh look what i found Skip bin! A beautiful sight near VondelPark and the Museum Plien a flurry of Snow fell that day at 5pm too

One of two hail falls that fell from the heavens on what seemed to be a perfectly sunny day Good morning Amsterdam Typical sights as i explored the city by pedal

Museum Plein area Heiniken Brewery, which i did not pay a vist to but theres next time! “I am Nina” (at the Museum Plein area before heading off to the Van Gogh Museum near by)

) Busy little birds i found View from Josh’s apartment before i left



The return to Spain! Sevilla
February 21, 2008, 3:54 pm
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Returning to Spain and heading toward Madrid for our flight home we had a few days in Sevilla. I’ll let the roll over captions do most of the explaining.

Leaving Portugal in the south to Spain Crossing the border via pasenger/car ferry Bull fighting arena, Sevilla

Catheral in Sevillias centre Hello from Park Gardens in Sevilla outside the Art Museum

tile work on museum building exterior ) Experiencing Churros for the first time

“Churros” a Spainish specialty, primarily a breakfast delicacy its a deep fried airy donnut type consitancy Shoe shoping attempts in the worlds shoe capital; Found the perfect pair but 4sizes too smalll; fail Sevillas stunning cathedral

Woow One very big organ.. this is a third of it Treasures of the cathedral Choir pews

the tomb of Christopher Columbus Treasurey room some Cathedral Bling Up the Cathedrals tower with Bull fighting ring in the distance

Looking down on the Cathedral grounds, its the biggest in the world, bigger than st peters in rome Sevillas famous for its flaminco dancing. there were many fabricshops/dressmakers in the city Me in a court of orange trees

Sevilla from the tower

Evidence here that we crossed paths with Rachel for a few hours before heading to the airport. Rach shared all her crazy loose travel adventures with us. Shes off to Brazil now to see where her feet take her :) it was so enjoyable to see her.

Madrids Central Park Nina and Rachel Reunite in Madrid! glimpses of the city centre



Spending time in Lisbao Portugal
February 21, 2008, 3:22 pm
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So heres a little pictorial report on our time in Lisbao/lisbon Portugal. While here we made a point of making it to the Maritime Museum as requested by my dad which was well worth the visit. The capital is riddled with trams that climb the steep narrow streets of the city. Lisbon’s first impression on me was a little rough and grummby but it grew on us both by the second day when we ventured out and explored the city via its trams discovering its most stunning and charming qualities were simply in the streets and building that make the city.

Waterfront Monuments A Lisbao tram The main drag in the city centre of Lisbao Viewing tower in the old part of town rebuilt after the 17th century earthquake

Typical Lisbao building, beautifully detailed tiling A small antique day we stumbled across in a park A Stunning Cathedral of Lisbao Harbours edge in Belem, Lisbao

Cathedral interior Maritime Museum and Chapel building in Belem, Lisbao )

Maritime Museum Boats Boats boats! a little beauty

Horse and carrage in the Maritime Museum … hmm. Water front in Belem near maritime museum Lisbao Buliding

Hello kitty A wicked door i found. City of Lisbao

A nice old rowing sciff tiles



“A Coruna” Spain & “Porto” Portugal
February 15, 2008, 11:36 am
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Hi all

Heres a bit of a pictorial story again… A Coruna is on the very north west point of Spain and a stunning sea side city with delicious fresh seafood everywhere you look. We wined and dined both nights we were here and it such good food here and such a variety of seafood too. A Coruna`s speciality in Octopus.

We went on the Portugal after that as you can see, to Porto which has been a really nice city to experience. we have had lovely warm weather and have now gathered anappcreciation for traveling at this time of the year, the crowd and mass holiday-ers would change your experience of theres beautifull places an incredible amount.

On to Lisbao now… take care everyone, miss ya.

A Coruna Marina area A Coruna`s stone hengey thing A Coruna city coast line sculptures

Walking about the coast line of the city Surfing sculpture on the surfing beach base right in the city centre

Healthy looking dinghys A Corunas stunning coast Pieter being Pieter on our first day in Porto Portugal! yipppee! Riverfront strip of Porto

Me and an epic church wall View from high up in a residential part of Porto Pieter and Porto

River boats “Croft” Port caves/cellars Ruby and Pink ports One of the 6 bridges

Port Tasting! YUMMMMMMYY! Porto from the centres bridge River side port caves and city centre

Rowers on the river Ninzor and Speedter Washing day

The Central bridge



Spain; Barcelona & San Sebastian
February 9, 2008, 5:51 pm
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Hi all

Ive decided to post as i go, the thought of a the task at the end of two weeks sounds like a mamoth effort so heres some pictures of what we have been up to, Temperatures have been 18-20 degrees in the day which is nice. I”ll let the captions say the rest.

Nins

Barcelona toppless tour bus. Excellent choice and fun catching some sunshine and breeze Olympic park

Central Market Barcelona Organic vegeterian meal delicious! 6dishes &over 20diff veges&riccota in this one! Barcelona market again, sooo many stalls mostly fresh fish, meats &produce

Spot pieter in the locals Pigeons! Pigeons! Pigeons! hadcore spanish guys doing acrobatic brake dancing moves

One of many wacky weird street statue people Mr froggy Famous partially finished Gaudi church Barcelona Part of Gaudis park also a world heritage site along with his unfinished church still in construction

Pillars in Gaudis park Optimists on San Sebatian main waterfront Fishing boats on the main waterfront of San Sebastian SAn Sebatian beach/soccer feild

San Sebastian Saturday soccer field Us on the beach

Arrived off the night train at 7.45am to this watched these guys for 20mins.. scurfboading the rebound waves i went for some time out up here, diary writting, reading and soaking up the atmosphere

Another part of Gaudis world heritage park that over looks Barcelona



A visit to Germany; Montabaur
February 3, 2008, 6:16 pm
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Hello everyone!

How are we all? Well as you can see i made it to Germany to visit Annalena which was really special and im glad i took the window of oppotunity to do so, she’s such a long time friend it was a so nice to see where her home town would have been if it hadn’t been Russell. I traveled by train to Kolblenz a city an hour from Montabaur and Annalena met me there to start an day of exploration. We did the sighseeing on the old city the huge river Riens flows past the city and on one hill theres a fort/castle that took the french ten years to penitrate and that wasn’t untill everyone inside had perished… We also did our fair share of shopping and window shopping and then made our way to Montabaur. Annalena is over briefly for her Oma’s 90th birthday, the houses and property have been in the family for generations and generations. It was facinating to stay with them as there relivites etc slowly began to gather together having traveled small and vast distances for the birthday celebrations. My Second day there we explored the township of Monabaur. The centre its self is very old and after listening to her Oma’s stories of the war and the bombs dropped in her lifetime i realised just how lucky it was that such a town like this was still standing 700 years later. The weather was fricken cold to say the least! the sort of cold that stings your cheeks and involentarily hunch and tense from its strength. I can imagine how stunny and beautiful this county (or any for that matter) would be in the spring and summer seasons… i’ll just have to stick round :) We found a cozy typical German cafe wedged between the other 16 of the town serving cakes, flans, slices freshly baked German delights and most importantly COFFEE! The third day we went Annalena her Dad and i went tiki-touring exploring the surounding villages and castles of the reigion. It was the first day of Carnivale in Germany there was alot to be seen on the streets of some towns. It was enjoyable to do a large portion of the sightseeing from the warmth of the car and cozy cafes! Germany is littered with Castles perched on hill tops of nestled in valleys. They were home to kings and queens of the township dukes or weathly families. Due to being royal dewelings this made them targets for bombing in the war so many are ruins but alot are perfectly intact also. That evening we ventured out into the night. Marcus a friend of Annalenas cousin joined us in going to Kolblenz, The first night of Carnivale in Germany is traditionally the night the women own the streets! We went to a bar/club called ‘Dream’ Which was ammusing because it was owned and run by a bikey gang. This made for interesting listening whilst we were there. Due tot he mass amounts of crazy carnivale people in costumes and the regulars i guess, the music selection ranged from ‘Mika’ to death metal and everything in between But i must say watching 5 long hair Germans mosh and head bang to Ramstien was an amusing sight i wont forget in a hurry. Our night didnt end there we returned to Montabaur and decided to have a laugh and go to the ’social outcast’ bar. I had my first typical german beverage there of wheat beer and banana liquor which was delicious. not long after we sat ourselves down a pair of tequila shots with cinnamon orange segments were sent to us compliments of a mysterious man across the room in a lush red flouncy blouse. He turned out to be a Greek- German who also spoke italian and english however he didnt seem to put it to use and spoke mainly in german to Annalena. We recieved a second tequila shot before he got the message and abruptly disembarked to pursue his other ‘projects’… we had some laughs on that one. we stayed and even made a few moves on the dance floor before migrating to a small after hours bar down a side street and got home at 6am.

My last day in gemany started at 13.30pm and it was mainly the journey to the trainstation and the 6hours trip home to the Netherlands via a 45min delay and double train miss. Annalena has the photos of our nihgt out and a few additional humourous ones which i’ll post when i recieve them

Carnivale is on ant the moment … so a report on that later a hint about my first days outfit…. . she has stripey long socks……

Annalena & I freezing our butts off infront of what used to be the old barn/farm house Wheres Nina in montabaur? View down on Montabaur from the castle

The view from our room in the old barn/farmhouse to Her Oma’s house and home to her dad. The milk mans house down the road. Montabaur Typical Germain building of the is arrea. Straw and clay with woooden structures Kolblenz a wall painting done in 1500.

Montabaurs Castle streets of Montabaur Montabaur

Lounge part of the aparentment we stayed in, in the old barn farm house Kolblenz River Rein and the fort/castle Annalena and i had a giggle at this one…

tikitouring about With Annalena and her dad “Crazy Bridge” River side villages on our travels

country side A Castle Us frreeeezing

Castle and old lookout tower remains CAstle again.. but was closeed due to it being the off season . point taken haha River side village

AL and I Old dutch bar Typical German buildings German german german

Carnavale festivities Village atmospheres/sights German pub

A river side village we visited German yummies, our two packs of 3.50 Euro six pack 500ml beers. Gumm bears, Alsortment of chocolate (essential) Fruit (Manditory) Liqorice… Suprise in the morning when i got back to Holland My first official Snow man well.. . it started as a snowMAN

) Leaving Germany in the snow