Michael Cottam, one of the founders of TheBigDay, offers advice on how to go about choosing where to go on your honeymoon.

So you’re engaged…congratulations! One of the most fun parts about getting married is planning that honeymoon trip of a lifetime. And if you haven’t even narrowed it down to a country, much less an island or a resort, don’t worry-many (if not most!) honeymoon couples are in the same boat.

Some couples start by leafing through travel or bridal magazines and looking for pictures that are appealing and romantic-you can do this, but you’re more likely to settle on the best-MARKETED destination rather than the best destination for your wants, needs, and style.

The following are questions you should ask yourself-it’ll help you figure out what your options are, and help you ask better questions of your travel agent…which will help you plan that perfect honeymoon.

When are you going?

Every destination has its high and low seasons-and this is typically a combination of weather and the times of the year that their tourists typically take vacations. Some destinations, such as Hawaii, have very little variance in their weather year-round; others, like the Caribbean have a definite hurricane season. Yet it’s important to know that the Caribbean is a very big place-and different parts have different hurricane seasons, and some parts of the western Caribbean really aren’t hurricane prone at all. Other destinations–such as Central America and Southeast Asia-have rainy or monsoon seasons. You really need to know the specific destination in order to have a feel for whether or not their “green” season is too “green” (rainy!) for you.

Also, ask yourself if you’re willing to delay the start of your honeymoon a couple of weeks or months. Summer months are very popular for weddings, as it tends to be easier for family and friends to get to the wedding; plus, if you’re having an outdoor wedding, the odds of good weather are more in your favor. However, this also tends to be the expensive (and sometimes more crowded) season for many honeymoon destinations. Giving yourself a month off after the wedding before leaving on your honeymoon can give you time to relax and wind down from the wedding, write your thank-you notes, and take advantage of the lower prices of what’s known as the “shoulder season” (between high and low season).

Travel time/vacation time

How much time off work are you going to take? And how much of it are you willing to spend on an airplane?

If you’re going on an African safari, you’re going to consume about a day and a half traveling each way from the U.S. This is fine if you’re going to be there a couple of weeks, but if those days are coming off your total of 7 days on vacation, you might consider someplace closer. And distance isn’t the only factor: how many stopovers is it going to take to get where you’re going? If you’ve got to land on a main island, then wait around for 4 to 6 hours for the “island hopper” flight to take you out to your remote private island retreat, that’s going to consume your vacation time too.

A great option, if it’s available, is a red-eye flight, where you sleep on the plane and wake up at your destination, saving a day of vacation time.

Language

This is less of a problem than you might think. Unless you’re backpacking around some exotic country, you’re going to find people in restaurants, hotels, and the activity vendors all speak English. One bit of advice: try to learn a few words and phrases in the local language, as you’ll find you’re treated differently if you begin conversations with “hello” in their language, and show you’re willing to make the effort to get along in their country.

Cost

The big question! First, some statistics: the average U.S. couple spends about $3700 for their honeymoon package…and this doesn’t included expenditures once they’re at their destination. When considering a resort that’s NOT all-inclusive, take some time to research the area and find out what meals cost, what a snorkel trip costs, what taxis cost, etc. Tourist bureau sites are a good place to start.

Costs of excursions and meals can easily add up to much more than your airfare and hotel, and you need to be realistic and prepared for this. Consider staying at multiple hotels on your honeymoon-perhaps one or two nights at someplace really nice to start, then a more moderate property with perhaps less of a view for the remainder.

People, people, people

There are a number of important considerations here. First off, who else is going to be at your resort? Are most of the guests at the resort in your age group? Are they young and adventurous, or older and mostly interested in golf? Does the resort market to families-are you going to find a ton of kids splashing around in the pool when you’re trying to have a romantic, relaxing time? Is the bar going to be lively, with your kind of music? Are you going to feel right at home, or a bit out of place?

Next, let’s talk about density: do you prefer to be in the middle of the action, with lots of other happy honeymooners all around, or quieter and more secluded? Think about whether you want to be in a hotel with 400 rooms, or a resort with 40 private villas…the experience will be very different. And do you want to be waited on hand and foot, or left alone to explore by yourselves? Do you want to shop, maybe pick up souvenirs or local style clothes, or maybe some artwork? Maybe you want a mix: in Hawaii, popular combinations would include a few nights in the heart of Waikiki combined with a few nights on the North Shore…on Maui, perhaps a split between the Lahaina/Kaanapali area and the secluded Hana coast.

Finally, how much do you want to learn about the locals, their language, food, and culture? Generally, at the all-inclusive resorts, you’ll find yourselves with other tourists, separated from the local style. If you want to immerse yourselves in the local environment, perhaps consider a smaller hotel, farther from the main tourist areas.

History and culture

Do you enjoy visiting ancient ruins…centuries-old cathedrals…seeing native villages? The beauty of the art, architecture, and history of Greece, Italy, Scotland and Ireland, or Mayan civilizations can make for a fabulous honeymoon experience.

Europe is an obvious destination, but think also about the Mayans and Aztecs in Latin America…Buddhist temples in Bali and Thailand… Angkor Wat in Cambodia…Buddhist and Hindu temples in India. China is becoming a much more popular destination as well: consider visiting the Great Wall and seeing the Terracotta Warriors.

Accommodations

How sensitive are you to humidity and temperature? This can determine not only the destination, but also the choice of resort, as not all A/C systems are created equal. How close do you want to be to nature? I’ve stayed at fabulous safari lodges in Africa that didn’t even have complete walls…just mosquito nets to protect you at night. For some, this is a dream come true-for others it might be a nightmare.

How important is your living space in your hotel room? Do you feel claustrophobic easily? Do you like to lounge around in the morning, have breakfast in bed, or do you like to get up and out there exploring the island? Is a spa on-property important to you? Is a view of the ocean from your room important to you…enough to justify the higher price?

Also think about how you typically spend your day on vacation. If you go back and forth from the room to the beach, the pool, the restaurant, you might want a place with ground-level villas rather than have to get on and off elevators all the time. If you’re going to spend most of your days out exploring the island, this might not matter so much.

Nightlife

Are you going to want to go out dancing/clubbing? Or maybe see some native dances or performances? If you’re going to Hawaii, and you ARE looking for nightlife, you’ll probably want to think about Oahu or maybe Maui.

For Mexico, you should be thinking about Cancun or Cabo, rather than some of the more isolated resort areas. If you’re considering the Caribbean, the answer to this question might affect the island or region you choose as well. Music: what do you want to hear on your honeymoon? Mariachi bands, steel drums, reggae, or Hawaiian hula…what appeals to you?

Food!

How adventurous of an eater are you? How about your fiancé? Do you like to try the local food, try many different restaurants? Often resorts will have very good American and European menus, but for authentic local cuisine you’ll have to venture outside the resort.

All-inclusives and cruises often make fabulous food very affordable; if you’re not at an all-inclusive resort, the on-property restaurants are often pretty pricey compared to outside restaurants, and tend to be less authentic with respect to local/native cuisine. If your chosen resort is in or near a reasonably large town or tourist area, you may have lots of choice for dinner; if you’re secluded and isolated, it’s possible that you have no choice but to dine at the resort (and pay their prices, if it’s not included!).

In areas like Fiji and Tahiti, you’ll often find that while the resort isn’t officially all-inclusive, they do have a “meal plan” which covers food and sometimes drinks. Sometimes these plans cover just breakfast and dinner, which leaves you the option of trying the local cuisine and eating relatively inexpensively for lunch.

Adventure!

How about a safari in Kenya or Botswana? Or hiking in the Andes…maybe a trip to Macchu Pichu? Or a week on a rented sailboat in the Caribbean? How about touring Australia on a Harley? Maybe trek through the jungles of Costa Rica, observing monkeys and exotic birds? If these appeal to you, first thing you need to do is make sure they also appeal to your spouse! These kinds of trips create memories of a lifetime, and can be very affordable as well. Often, couples will want to combine an “adventure” trip with a few days relaxing at a beach resort-these kinds of combination packages can be put together for you by a knowledgeable travel agent, and give you the best of both worlds.

Watersports

Do you and your fiancé scuba dive (or do you want to learn)? You’ll find that pretty much every tropical destination has diving and snorkeling available. Some will have scuba courses offered by the resorts, while other resorts will have partnered with local dive companies. If you love to snorkel, make sure your travel agent knows, so they can recommend resorts where the wave conditions tend to be good and there are good snorkeling reefs nearby so that there’s something besides just sand to look at. In general, a great surfing beach won’t be a great snorkeling beach!

Are you interested in going deep-sea fishing? It’s important to know what the fishing is like where you’re going. For instance, while you can take a guided fishing trip from any one of the Hawaiian islands, your chances of actually doing some CATCHING as well as fishing are substantially better on the Big Island!

Additionally, it’s important to talk to your travel agent about what kinds of watersports you want to enjoy. If you’re interested in jetskiing and parasailing, you’ll want to be in one place; if you want to kayak with the turtles, snorkel around the reef, you’ll want to be elsewhere. It’s also useful to know how far it is from your hotel to the best spots for your activities-you won’t want to spend two hours a day roundtripping from your hotel to your activities.

The destinations

Here’s a quick look at some of the more popular destinations, and what they’re known for.

Fiji- great scuba and snorkeling, very friendly people, mostly villa-style beach bungalow accommodations in widely-separated resorts. Moderately expensive to very expensive. About 9 hours flying time from Los Angeles.

Hawaii- beautiful weather all year round, close to mainland U.S., amazing array of watersports and adventure activities. Not as much of a cultural transition for mainland Americans as many other destinations. Most hotels have 200-400 rooms; hotel density along beaches can be high. Excellent choice for a destination wedding, as prices are very reasonable for high quality and service. Inexpensive to moderately expensive.

Tahiti- great scuba and snorkeling, famous for overwater bungalows and phenomenal views. Resorts tend to be fairly far apart; very secluded and private. Expensive to very expensive; food, drinks, and activities can be very expensive as well. About 8 hours flying time from Los Angeles.

Mexico- Cancun/Cozumel nearly fully recovered from the past summer’s hurricanes, and much rebuilding has resulted in many upgraded resorts. High density of resorts on beaches in places like Cancun and Cabo. Great diving, watersports; some areas close to Mayan ruins. Recently, all-inclusive resorts have become common, and there are some terrific bargains to be had, especially at the moderate to more expensive resorts. A new trend we’re seeing is combining the traditional beach vacation with a few days inland at one of Mexico’s colonial cities, exploring the history and culture of old Mexico. Easy access from the U.S. Inexpensive to moderately expensive.

Caribbean- known for prevalence of all-inclusive resorts, especially in Jamaica. Huge range of cultures, styles, food, music. Great watersports and scenery, and not too long in the air from major U.S. cities. Cruises are a very popular way to explore multiple islands and countries in the Caribbean at a modest cost. Inexpensive to very expensive.

Europe – history, architecture, and great food and wine are big draws here. Airfare is less than you might expect, often sub-$500 per person roundtrip. Less of a beach resort destination, although areas of Italy, France, and Greece on the Mediterranean can provide the sun & surf element. Castles in Ireland and self-drive B&B vacations throughout the UK are popular, as are villa stays in France and Italy. In Greece, the Cyclades islands are very popular: Santorini with its submerged volcano, black sandy beach, and breathtaking sunsets…Mykonos with its blue-domed churches, whitewashed houses and beaches…and Naxos, the largest island with golden sandy beaches, clear turquoise waters, and the medieval capital of Hora. Honeymooners often combine stays on these islands with a visit to Athens. Many cruise options are available, allowing easy exploration of a number of Mediterranean ports in one vacation. Moderately expensive to very expensive.

Costa Rica & Belize – becoming very popular as eco-tourism destinations, these countries offer terrific beach resorts, watersports, diving and snorkeling, combined with jungle exploration and eco-adventures. Treetop resorts becoming popular here as well; and like Mexico, there are a number of Mayan ruins accessible in Belize. Belize also is famous for its barrier reef, and the scuba diving hotspot known as The Blue Hole. Relatively short flight from mainland U.S., combined with great value for the dollar at many resorts makes these two countries very hot for honeymooners.

Australia & New Zealand – enormous variety of things to do for the adventurous types, from Ayers Rock to the Great Barrier reef, Sydney and its renowned Opera House, Surfers Paradise. New Zealand has everything from geysers in Rotorua to jet-boating; hiking and skiing amongst tremendous scenery, and of course the famous Maori hospitality. We often suggest combining a trip to either of these countries with a stopover in Fiji or Tahiti as well. Long flight times (15 hours+ from Los Angeles) mean you’ll probably want to stay 2 weeks at the very least. Moderately expensive to expensive.

The Seychelles, Maldives, and Mauritius are all fabulous honeymoon destinations, although because of the flying time from the U.S. (around 30 hours), they’re more commonly visited by Europeans. Truly spectacular diving and scenery, great food and culture, and very friendly people. Hotels are much more spread out than Hawaii or Mexico-more like Fiji or Tahiti. Private island resorts are common, as in Fiji and Tahiti. Seychelles and Mauritius trips are commonly combined with a week or so in Africa on safari. Expensive to very expensive, even without the airfare (roughly $1500 to $2000 per person roundtrip from the U.S.).

Southeast Asia – combines terrific beach resorts with extraordinary culture and historical sites to explore. A relatively long flight from the U.S. (up to 20 hours depending on routing), but a tremendous value once you’re there. Thailand, Bali, China, Vietnam and Cambodia are all becoming very popular. Very inexpensive without the airfare; inexpensive to moderate with airfare.

Brazil, Argentina, Peru and Chile are becoming more popular, and offer a great opportunity to experience culture, wilderness and traditional beach resorts all in one vacation. The Amazon is a huge draw, of course, but also the culture and experiences to be had in Rio and Buenos Aires make for a very memorable and exotic honeymoon. The Inca city of Machu Picchu is certainly one of the most beautiful and enigmatic ancient sites in the world, perched in the Andes at over 9,000 feet in elevantion. Moderately expensive to very expensive.

The Western Bay of Plenty is located on the Eastern coast of New Zealands North Island. You can reach the beautiful sun drenched destination by travelling south 2.5 hours from Auckland, 1.5 hours east from Hamilton, or just 1 hour from Rotorua. All have International Airports.

Tauranga is located at the head of a large harbour which extends along the western Bay of Plenty, and is protected by Matakana Island.

Tauranga City is seen as one of the premier destinations. Tauranga offers a huge range of attractions, activities, recreational pursuits and some of the finest restaurants, cafes and shopping set next to New Zealands most amazing beaches. Top quality facilities ensure Tauranga reputation as the place to live as well as to visit year round.

Visitor Information Centres exist throughout the Tauranga area for your convenience. Trained staff are on hand to answer any questions as to what to do and where to stay within the region. All bookings for travel, accommodation and activities can be made when calling at any of the Information Centres.

The ultimate adrenaline buzz in the bay. Highly trained and highly skilled all Tandem Masters and equipment comply with the New Zealand Parachute Federation, and Civil Aviation requirements. Tauranga Tandem Skydiving operates from the Tauranga Airport, five minutes from the port of Tauranga and the Mount Maunganui Beach.

Taurangas only indoor rock climbing centre. Fully supervised hours of fun for young and old alike in a safe environment. As well as being fun, it develops self esteem, pushes people to and sometimes beyond their limits.

The Adventure Park is located on a picturesque bend in the Wairoa River, a relaxed location for people to enjoy a family day out. Established on the river are a flat water slalom training site and a kayak polo arena. A gladiators pole, a rock climbing wall, Tarzan swing and three diving, jumping and bombing locations have provided countless visitors with hours of fun.

In the summer most holiday makers travel to The Mount to make the most of the beautiful beaches and the great surf. The waters off the coast are also are good fishing areas. It also has a good selection of beautiful walks.

People here love to eat out. There is a large selection of restaurants to eat at, especially on The Strand, which is regarded as the restaurant central of Tauranga. As with eating, people here love cafes. You will also find numerous pubs around the area. The Strand is the main strip of Nightlife consisting of bars, clubs and restraunts.

Virtually everyone in the world nowadays loves drinking all kinds of coffee and not everyone has the same preferences. Some like it weak and others like it strong, whatever the choice, you need to have good coffee makers that will do the trick. Espresso coffee makers are one of the most used worldwide.

The first thing to say is that all espresso coffee makers are for everyone to enjoy and not just for restaurants and coffee bars and so forth. You can buy new models big or small that can be used in your house too. The big ones can be used for parties and smaller ones for making just a few cups. Moreover, espresso coffee makers make more than just espresso. At least, they only make espresso, but espresso is the base for other coffee drinks too.

Kinds of Espresso Coffee

1. You can also make a cappuccino which is made of just equal parts of espresso, steamed milk and milk froth, together with some spices or cocoa available that you can add if needed. One part espresso and two parts of steamed milk make a flat white and is served in a cappuccino cup which is bigger than an espresso cup. This drink is popular in Europe, especially in Italy, and in New Zealand.

2. Café Latte is just espresso mixed with steamed milk topped with milk froth from steaming the milk. It is generally served it in a tall glass. You can sweeten the taste if you like by using flavored syrup instead of sugar. Thanks to espresso coffee makers there is an opportunity of creating a perfect coffee beverage.

3. Americano coffee is espresso with hot water for those who find espresso too strong for their tastes.

4. Café macchiato is just espresso with a little steamed milk on top. You can use flavored syrup with this one, too. You’ll look like an experienced coffee barman if you make this for your guests.

5. Latte macchiato is the opposite of a café macchiato and is served in a tall glass filled with steamed milk topped with a little espresso.

6. Café breve is made when you steam half and half in your espresso.

You can practically enjoy new espresso recipes any time, thanks to the popularity of espresso coffee makers.

At the end of the day, the dream of becoming a coffee barman will finally overwhelm you. Moreover, you can look over the latest in espresso coffee makers and maybe one day one of those very same espresso coffee makers will find a home with you. At that point, you will be able to offer all of the espresso-based drinks that your family and friends can enjoy, making you the number one coffee espresso barista in your neck of the woods!

These were only a few suggestions, a few commonsensical tips to you about espresso coffee makers. If you have grasped these few insights and the right espresso coffee maker, the probability of making mistakes in making espresso coffee would be very less.

A girl I knew in high school has memorized all of Janet Jackson’s dance routines. A college acquaintance is afraid of train whistles. Five separate people harbor lifelong desires to visit New Zealand. How do I know these things? Because they won’t stop writing about them on Facebook!

Facebook’s “25 Things About Me” meme seems harmless enough; people write 25 facts about themselves and post them on their Facebook pages, just as they do with videos, status updates and photos of last weekend’s party. An estimated 5 million of these notes — that’s 125 million facts — have appeared on the website within the past week. Assuming it takes someone 10 minutes to come up with their list, this recent bout of viral narcissism has sent roughly 800,000 hours of worktime productivity down the drain.

But it’s just so stupid. Most people aren’t funny, they aren’t insightful, and they share way too much. Facebook is a loose social network; a “friend” on Facebook might translate to someone you’d barely recognize in real life. I don’t care that my college roommate’s sister is anemic or that my stepcousin’s boyfriend gets nervous around old people (apparently he’s afraid they’re going to die).

Below are 25 facts I wish people hadn’t told me about themselves. They come from friends, friends-of-friends, friends-of-friends-of-friends and coworkers. They are all real, though I wish some of them were not.

1. I eat tacos with a fork.

2. I was fat in middle school. The wake of that horror has yet to subside.

3. I keep forgetting that Barack Obama is our President.

4. I have been pooped on by a monkey.

5. I am addicted to the ass-slap dance move. Sometimes I don’t even notice I’m doing it.

6. When I finally told my now fiancé that I liked him (as in, liked him liked him), I drunkenly gave him the Anchorman line, “I want to be on you.” He had only seen the movie once and had no idea what it was from.

7. Just because I realize that Asian women are smarter, more attractive, and have about themselves a generally superior level of class does not mean I have a fetish. Just that I’m racist.

8. I eat gummy bears by tearing them limb from limb and eating their heads last.

9. I can’t grow hair on my arms.

10. Two of my best friends are under five feet tall and I have an intense fear of midgets.

11. I think yoga is incredibly spiritual. I know the Lord is with me in my downward dog.

12. I was born with jaundice.

13. I was born pigeon-toed.

14. I was born with an extra kidney. I wish I could have sold it on the black market and made some money, but it was underdeveloped and did nothing but cause me to wet the bed until the third grade.

15. I like to tape my thumbs to my hands to see what it would be like to be a dinosaur.

16. A horse once fell over while I was riding it.

17. I don’t believe in democracy.

18. I cried when Spock died in Star Trek II.

19. I drink two glasses of wine every night before bed. Wait, did I just admit to alcoholism?

20. If you asked me to tell you my favorite movie, I would have a hard time not saying Titanic.

21. I once sent a teacher into early retirement by pretending to be a cheetah and swiping at her from under a desk.

22. I once ran into New Kids On the Block’s Joey McIntyre in the lobby of an off-Broadway show. I told him he was the first boy I ever loved. He laughed and kind of smiled. This was the most gratifying moment of my life.

23. My friends say that when they shave my back, I purr like a walrus.

24. I don’t understand what people see in the Godfather trilogy.

25. Sometimes I think pee smells like Cheerios.

I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I’ve finally found something more stupid than Twitter.

New Zealand Car Rental

If you’re visiting New Zealand a rental car is one of the best ways to get around. New Zealand is a small country but has the astounding geographic diversity of a major continent squeezed into its small size. For example, within 3- 4 hours drive of Auckland, New Zealand’s biggest city, are sub-tropical beaches, volcanic mountains with ski fields, boiling mud pools, ancient forests, unspoiled trout fishing rivers and world class golf courses.

Having a rental car gives you the freedom and flexibility to go where you want and when you want.

Driving in New Zealand

For most overseas visitors driving in New Zealand is a breeze because, compared to what they are used to, there is surprisingly little traffic on the roads – especially in the South Island. Whilst New Zealand is about the size of UK its population is only 4 million – UK by comparison has over 60 million.

Another difference is the limited number of motorways and freeways. Roads are generally only 2-laned and frequently windy due to the ever changing landscape. In New Zealand we drive on the left, as in UK. If you’re from America or another country that drives on the right then you might feel apprehensive about having to drive on the “wrong side of the road”. Don’t be – it’s straight-forward and tens of thousands of foreign visitors happily do it every year.

New Zealanders typically show a little less consideration to other drivers than is seen in UK, Australian, and the US where more cars on the road force people to be more considerate. Having said that, don’t be put off – driving in New Zealand is nothing like the harrowing experience of driving in Italy or parts of Asia!

New Zealand Car Rental Firms

New Zealand car rental firms range from the familiar multi-national big brands through to small local car rental firms. The advantage of the big name rental firms is they can be found throughout New Zealand and offer the biggest and newest range of rental vehicles. The disadvantage is that generally they’re the most expensive and often have lots of hidden costs.

At the other end of the scale are the small local operators who typically have older rental cars. Whilst you may not end up driving this year’s latest model the advantage is that the smaller car rental firms can be substantially cheaper, so leaving you more money to spend on the many exciting attractions New Zealand offers. Between these extremes you’ll find a wide range of NZ car rental firms catering to different needs and budgets.

What Sort of Driving Licenses are Required in New Zealand?

You can legally drive in New Zealand for up to 12 months if you have either a current driver’s license from your home country, or an International Driving Permit.

Most car rental companies require drivers to be over the age of 25 and to have held a full license for at least 3 years. Some firms will rent vehicles to younger drivers. For example, A2B Car Rentals rents vehicles to drivers who are 20 or older and hold a full driver’s license. At the manager’s discretion, a holder of a license for less than three years is acceptable but may incur a higher insurance excess.

Make sure your overseas driver’s license is current. If your license is not in English, you should bring an English translation with you or obtain an International Driving Permit. Contact your local automobile club for further details about obtaining a translation or an International Driving Permit.

In New Zealand it’s a legal requirement that all drivers, including overseas visitors, must carry their license or permit when driving. Naturally you will only be able to drive the same types of vehicles you are licensed to drive in your home country.

What are New Zealand’s Road Rules?

Here’s a brief over-view. You can get more details the NZ Government Land Transport Authority website (www.ltsa.govt.nz/roadcode/)

· In New Zealand, all vehicles drive on the left-hand side of the road as in UK.

· When turning left, give way (or yield) to traffic crossing or approaching from your right

· When the traffic light is red, you must stop

· Speed limits are strictly enforced by police using radar, speed cameras and un-marked patrol cars. Fines for speeding can be expensive

· The speed limit on the open road is 100 km/h (approx 60 mph)

· In built up areas the speed limit is 50 km/h. (approx 30 mph)

· Drivers and passengers must wear seat belts at all times

In Summary

If you’re planning to visit New Zealand a rental car is one of the best options, especially for independent travelers who want to experience everything New Zealand has to offer. A rental car gives you the freedom and flexibility to go where you want and when you want to enjoy this wonderful country.

My time in London was set right in the middle of my month long overseas adventure. From Christchurch, New Zealand I’d traveled through Bangkok and onto the majestic city of London. Just flying over the area was exciting; looking down on the Thames River was great and for some reason reminded me of the Eastenders TV programme.

After settling in at my sister’s apartment I got some valuable sleep, traveling can be great fun but the jet lag can quickly bring you back down to earth. The next day I headed out to St Paul’s Cathedral, it’s an amazing monument and was well worth the visit. After taking the usual touristy photos in front of St Paul’s I moved on to the Tate Modern Art Gallery. They had some really fascinating exhibitions on at the time with some great sculptures and art work.

Heading out to lunch reminded me of how expensive everything is in London after you’ve exchanged New Zealand dollars to British Pounds, after coming from the very cheap Bangkok; I realized that this part of my holiday was going to be expensive. Holidays are all about spending money though so it was time to move on and spend some more.

Being a huge sporting fan I was very keen to get to Wimbledon to watch some tennis. After the first day got rained off I decided to make the journey to the grounds and see what my chances of getting in were. Turned out that I just had to wait in line, a particularly massive line! Luckily waiting in line turned out to be part of the fun, I received my queue card, my official guide to queuing handbook and numerous other goodies that were dropped off to those who were waiting so patiently. We waited in the line for an hour and a half in the end which wasn’t too bad, especially when you compare it to the other line of people who were queuing for good tickets to the following days play!

As I walked into the legendary Wimbledon complex I realized that this was so much more than a few tennis courts, it was like a small town it was so big. I watched some games on the outer courts first, had to pinch myself that I was actually watching tennis at Wimbledon, where were my strawberries and cream? After having some fun checking out the speed of my own tennis serve I ventured towards the main courts, I managed to purchase some resale tickets to the main courts and ended up watching both Raphael Nadal and Andy Murray, couldn’t believe my luck! The atmosphere was amazing, even for so early in the tournament.

The next day involved lots of time in the underground and on foot as I made my way around London’s Museums. I went to the Science, Victoria & Albert, Natural History and British Museums and thoroughly enjoyed each one, just the buildings were impressive. I particularly enjoyed seeing all Egyptian and Greek artifacts such as vases, statues and the Rosetta stone. It’s a shame I had limited time because there was so many interesting things to see.

For dinner we went out to the Ivy, a very posh restaurant that my sister had booked well in advance. The food was good and the atmosphere nice, if not slightly pretentious. After a few drinks at a local pub we meandered back to Clapham Common and my sister’s apartment. It had been a great day of sightseeing and certainly one I wouldn’t forget any time soon. Luckily I had bought enough memory on my digital camera to last me a lifetime because I was taking a lot of photos.

London is full of amazing sights and to do it justice you would have to spend weeks exploring its vast areas. The only problem is that it can take a long time to get from A to B so you have to be prepared for some frustrating times whether it’s delays on the underground or huge lines at famous attractions. Luckily you’ll never find yourself disappointed with what you find in London, it’s a destination that should be on every traveler’s to do list.

The sand flies found our limbs, but we are alive and well as official WWOOFers in the Motueka Valley on the south island of New Zealand. We arrived at dusk and met our gracious hosts Heather and Dave. The property is 14 hectares and has a sizable vegetable garden, a variety of fruit, nut and native trees (all organic) as well as a small farm with a few cows and ducks and a Bed & Breakfast operation. We have our own tiny but private accommodation in a campervan.

The first morning we awoke at 8:15am to do our daily 4 hours work in exchange for daily meals and a place to sleep. Harvesting hazelnuts off the ground was our first task. There we were on our hands and knees, underneath the trees carefully avoiding the occasional cow patty for the first hour asking ourselves “what in the heck have we gotten ourselves into?” An hour later Heather came to get us and I was put to work weeding and pruning. Thankfully I had rubber gloves up to my elbows as blackberry and gorse are very sharp weeds!  Meanwhile, Andy was digging a trench for the pond to drain out.  It was hot and we were sweating, but it felt good and satisfying somehow to do manual labor. A river runs right on the other side of the road so we jumped in for a nice, cold swim when we were done. Needless to say, I worked up quite an appetite and mowed a gigantic lunch afterward and spent the afternoon finishing my book.

That evening, their daughter Brooke and her fiance Ant came into town.  Ant is a forest ecologist and is studying the area around Hawke’s Bay and I have enjoyed hearing about the Department of Conservation, forest ecology, Maori history and the effects on the environment in New Zealand.  Everything they do is self-sufficient, Earth and energy conscious and ecologically friendly.  New Zealanders are generally down to earth, natural looking and unpretentious – how refreshing!

 

The next morning we had our hands right in the dried cow dung and hazelnuts without a care, laughing how the day before we were so meticulous trying not to touch it. The kids from next door created a makeshift water slide next to us on the sheets of garbage bag material laid out to kill some weeds in this one area. I shoveled dirt to help mend the pond the rest of the morning and my arms still hurt. It’s been humbling so far to say the least. That afternoon, we went for another swim in the river with their neighbors who also have a WWOOFer (from Germany) and enjoyed chatting and skipping rocks. We borrowed mountain bikes and took a nice hour-long ride along the river on the highway here in the river valley with beautiful mountains on either side with spectacular views. Visually it reminds me very much of Southern Oregon around the Ashland/Medford region as I suppose it’s approximately the same latitude. Afterward, we had about 15 people over for a homemade pizza party. Dave and Heather have a real stone pizza oven that Dave began heating up around lunchtime and make-your-own pizzas were done within about 2-3 minutes. We had a blast with their friends and neighbors, drinking home brewed beer and sharing stories.

 

Everything is so fresh and delicious here. Today I was not looking forward to another morning of digging in the dirt so over breakfast I aptly phrased the question, “Heather, might I have the opportunity to work in the kitchen today and learn a few things from you?” She makes jams, jellies, sauces, homemade pasta, homemade bread, soups – you name it. And everything is fresh right from the garden. She obliged and I went to work and made a vegetable lasagne with homemade pasta and everything from the garden. We spent the afternoon at a couple of wineries nearby and brought home a reserve chardonnay from Sunset Cliffs, an organic winery. The lady serving us at the winery is from the Czech Republic who came to visit NZ and never left. I can see why.

The best part of the experience for me in the WWOOFing world so far is the cultural aspect. Heather, Dave, Brooke and Ant have invited us in and treated us just like members of the family. These folks have had WWOOFers for 15 years! It really is a symbiotic lifestyle here, with physical labor here on the property from us while they take care of our room and board.

Unlike Christmas Day, New Year’s Day and Pay Day, Father’s Day’s place in the calendar is difficult to pinpoint because it changes from year to year – and, indeed, from country to country. You might think that this gives you a legitimate excuse to forget it, but now you’ve found the internet you won’t need an excuse. Getting your perfect personalised Fathers Day Gifts is but a few clicks away.

To be honest, the chances of anyone who lives within 200 miles of western civilisation forgetting Father’s Day are very slim indeed. The early warning sirens will have given you at least a month’s notice. Card shop windows will be prodding you with subtle capitalised slogans, pubs and restaurants will be advising you to “Book now for Father’s Day”, which is nice of them, and even the new page on your calendar will have that telltale little subheading under the date. And that doesn’t take into account the fact that your dad has started being extra nice to you and asking your mum how she enjoyed Mother’s Day.

But say the card shops all closed down, the pubs were banned from advertising, your calendar and diary have fallen behind the fridge and your dad is on a business trip to the moon. Then how will you know when Father’s Day is?

It’s easy. Ever since the first Father’s Day was proposed by Sonora Smart Dodd in the early 1900s, it has been held on the third Sunday in June. So: in 2008 it’s on 15 June;

In 2009 it will be on 21 June; and in 2010 it will be on 20 June.

Now for the complicated bit. Not every nation follows the “third Sunday in June” rule. The ones that do stick with the rule include most of North and South America, a big chunk of Europe plus China, Pakistan, India, South Africa and the Philippines. However, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Belgium use 29 March.

In Germany it always coincides with Ascension Day, which is forty days after Easter and therefore on a Thursday. It’s also called “Men’s Day”, and is not as much of a family day as is the British Father’s Day; indeed, the men (not necessarily fathers, either) often go off into the countryside an engage in what resembles a pub crawl! Fortunately for the German economy, it’s a public holiday.

In Finland, Norway, Sweden and Estonia, Father’s Day is held on the second Sunday of November, but Denmark holds it on 5 June.

Other major exceptions are Brazil (second Sunday in August) and Australia and New Zealand (first Sunday in September), and there is a smattering of other countries’ Father’s Days or their traditional equivalents throughout the year.

So now you know when it is, you are just left with the exceedingly simple task of deciding what Fathers Day Gifts to get for your No. 1 dad. Well, you need look no further than these very pages, because on the internet you’ll find personalised gifts that will show your old man just how much he means to you. We cover all budgets and styles, from gadgets and golf to magical days out. All you need to know is what country you’re in!

So summer is here, and there is always a dilemma of what to drink on a hot summer’s day. Yes, a cold lager is refreshing, but sometimes it’s nice to have something different, and lager is a bit much fattening liquid. Wine is perfect for a summer’s day. In this article, we will cover some great summer wines, and also give you a few ideas of how to serve it to make it extra special.

The first thing that comes to mind when talking about wines to drink in the summer is Sauvignon Blanc. This crisp, dry wine is perfect for summer drinking, just make sure you chill it well to get the optimum out of it. When looking for a Sauvignon Blanc, look for one that comes from New Zealand, as this white wine offers something a little more special. These wines are the best types of wine created from this grape, and the most applauded ones are the ones from the Cloudy Bay or Marlborough areas of New Zealand.

But what if you’re not too keen on dry white wine?

There are some really good German sweet white wines which, when chilled, are refreshing and add something completely different to the norm.

Also, a Portuguese friend of mine keeps her red wine in the fridge too. She doesn’t like white wine, and swears by a chilled red wine instead, which is great in the Algarve, where the temperatures get quite high.

For those of us not quite ready to chill our red wine, there is a middle ground. There are some spectacular rosé wines on the market. These are fantastic with picnics and BBQs, and also great to just sit and drink with friends. There is something about the fruitiness of a rosé that makes you think of the summers past and the great times that you’ve had.

But there are plenty of other ways to enjoy white wine too. There is the traditional spritzer or shorle, where a white wine is mixed with soda or lemonade (depending on whether you like things to be a bit sweeter or not), and served with ice. This is an excellent cooling drink.

There is also the Spanish favourite Sangria, where red wine is put into a jug with fruit, some liqueur and some fruit juice or lemonade. This is the staple drink on the Costa Brava, and is best if left in the fridge for some time, to let the flavours mix together to ensure the perfect summer cooler.

In Germany, they make something called the Bowle (This is German for punch). This again involves fresh fruit, often strawberries or raspberries, which are then mixed with sparkling wine. The result is a fizzy, fruity treat, which will cool you down nicely. If you are feeling particularly adventurous, you can add a splash of brandy to the mixture to give it some extra fizz.

So whatever style of drinking you have, there is a summer solution for wine which will suit you.

The poker game has been a part of card games competitions for more than two hundred years already. Undoubtedly, poker has charmed the majority of the planet, starting from poker rooms on river boats and in bars on the Wild West in the past and up to modern card rooms with a huge amount of tables and luxurious casinos all over the world. Be it the USA, Europe or even Latin and South America, poker has become a super popular game of the 21st century. But even now there is a “new horizon”, which will be actively conquered in the forthcoming years, in order to move poker to the new stage of its popularity among dozens of millions of new players.

This “new horizon” is a continental Asia. One billion people lives in China, one more billion is the population of India, and one more billion is spread over the remaining part of the continent. Considering such an amount of potential poker players, this market is a “gold vein” for organizers of the game. Only recently this horizon started to be developed (with or without the assistance of local governments). The new horizon can become the last one for poker, meaning that it will completely conquer the whole world. Organizers of poker assure that by the end of 2007 many Asians understand perfectly well what is “blind”, “turn” and “river”.

For a long time on-line companies have been interested in the possibility of entering Asian markets (particularly, Chinese market), but governments of Asian countries prevent on-line or traditional gambling industry from full-scale development. The government of India, for example, does not actively support the idea of the gambling industry (though there are six casinos in this country). China, which will host international Olympic games-2008, the government gradually weakens the control over the Internet. This is very good news for the representatives of the gambling industry, who have already prepared to launch a large-scale acquaintance of Asia with poker.

Steve Wynn, the owner of hotels and casinos all over the world, is ready to bring his brilliant and glamorous style to the Asian market. “Wynn Macau”, the complex of casinos and hotels, was opened on September 5 in Macao. It familiarizes the Asian continent with the luxury of Las-Vegas. It includes hotels of 600 rooms and casinos, which undoubtedly offer gambling and poker games, just like the other Steve Wynn’s institutions do all over the world. The 20-storeyed hotel will be an exact copy of the hotel-casino “Wynn Las Vegas”. The company plans to arrange further spreading of table games throughout the continent.

TV has also brought poker tournaments onto the Asian market. The most popular world poker tournament (World Poker Tour or WPT) has recently granted a license to TV stations in Macao and Singapore for them to show the first season of WPT games to the Asian audience. But the continent is getting ready to organize its own outstanding poker tournaments. The organization entitled “PanAsia Poker Tour” has recently declared that the debut of this new championship will take place in November, and it is for the first time in history that the official championship will take place in Manila, Philippines.

The event called “PAPT Philippine Open” will take place on November 3-5 in “Airport Casino Filipino”. Its final tournament will incorporate free Texas holdem poker game with the prize fund of $2500. It is expected that the tournament, which got the official permission of Philippines State Corporation for Control over entertaining and gambling industry (Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation or PAGCOR), will attract celebrities and professional poker players who would attempt to win the title of the tournament champion. There are plans to film this tournament to be shown in the future on Asian TV. This means that the spectators of the Asian continent want to watch games, which are played on their own land.

However, the poker tournament entitled “PanAsia” does not stop at arranging one event. Leaders of this organization have adopted plans to arrange in 2007 a tour across the continent with ten stops. The latter are planned in Macao, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Korea, Japan, New Zealand, Australia and the Philippines. If the tour appears to be successful, it will be able to attract millions of new poker players to the poker community.

India is also a part of Asia; the world outlook of Indians in many aspects reflects the peculiarities of Asian or even Eastern philosophy. Gambling games and casinos in the Indian society are usually condemned (though many Indians want to change this), while poker sites, which are not prohibited here, encounter difficulties in spreading deeper into the continent. It is interesting that some activities of the on-line poker companies take place particularly in India. For example, the company “PartyPoker” has a branch office there with 900 employees, the company pays taxes here, as well as in Gibraltar, where its headquarters are located. Nevertheless, India will be able to display its real interest to poker during the first tournament in the history of this country, which will take place in 2007.

Asian poker championship in India – Asian Poker Classic – with the guaranteed prize of one million dollars will take place on March 1-3, 2007, in a major resort Goa (Grand Resort Goa) in the hotel “Intercontinental”. It is expected that more than two hundred players will take part in the tournament. The admission fee being $7500, this competition is to attract some of the best poker players from all over the world and many celebrities. Its organizers hope that the poker site (and the tournament sponsor) “Maharajah Club” that has earned a reputation a long ago will help to attract many players to this competition.

Perhaps, the organizers themselves will give the best account of the tournament. This is what the tournament director and the respected director of the championship “European poker tournament” (European Poker Tour) Thomas Kremser said about the event. “Nothing similar has ever happened in India before. Undoubtedly, the tournament will be impressive. The striking beauty of the Goa resort, splendid hotels and absolutely unique character of this tournament will become its unsurpassed scenery. It will be the poker tournament of the year!”

Asian poker players have already inscribed their names into the history of the game. From Johnny Chan to Men “The Master” Nguyen and Can Kim Hua, Asian players made their contribution to the game, and today their impact is felt in any tournament. Upon arriving onto the Asian continent, poker will conquer the new and the last geographic horizon and give birth to a new generation of champions from Asia.

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