In memory of Art

I recently received some sad news that a great friend to many of Koh Phi Phi's past and present residents, was found dead in Phuket earlier this month.

Art was known to many on the island, as the smiling face beaming from his beer and liquor stall in the heart of market place. He was a warm and friendly person, who had a genuine nature and loved chatting to us when we passed by. K1 taught him to be an open water diver, one of the first Thai students we'd had, I think, and everyone was proud that he'd passed with flying colours! A grade student for sure!

Although I've been off the island for a while, he was definitely one of my favourite faces to see and I know there are many people who will miss him dearly.

I've written this poem in memory of him and the wonderful island

Morning sun awakens me
A new dawn begins
An emerald carpet greets
The generations she has moulded

I walk with my ancestors
Barefoot and with grace
They are my support
I do not fear them

Once there was turmoil
Here on these shores
But together we have set
The foundations for our future

We will not look behind us
With sorrow or despair
But with dignity and strength
We carry each other forward

And as I softly tread
I leave my own legacy
A momentary impression
Which will remain here forever

And as I move towards
The new day beginning
Share the warmth with me
And enjoy my lasting smile

May 11th 2003!

As I left Heathrow airport, with my broski Daz... chubby cheeks tatty napper... thankfully things have changed a little... I think...

EPISODE III ReVeNgE oF tHe MyTh

COR! The people are mumbling under the words of the toothless Myth Lord, Count Grapevine. There are rumours on both sides of the Atlantic, Kay is about to do something big.

In a stunning move, the hip music man, Marvin Gaye, has swept into New Zealand and stolen back his sexual healing, leaving behind a cold and lonely city, engulfed in work and no play.

As the separatist tax army attempts to fleece the workers of their valuable savings, two Jedi knights lead a desperate mission to rescue and recapture the fun...

Hi mam! Hi Trevena! Hi Clive!

Just got off the phone to you mam!

Know you're going to have a look at this later, so thought I'd put a little hello on!
I haven't let anybody apart from the family know the "big news" yet by the way - so keep
"mum" - you can tell Trev & Clive... but I'd like to keep it schtumm til I know everything's going ahead ok!

Hope you enjoy the photos etc!

Lots of love k xxxx

On the phone to my mum! 

Karrin's attempts to get everyone to join in with the YMCA song were failing miserably... 

Lois and Braam 

Karrin's "surprise" face!!

Karrin

Angie 

Karrin, Mark & Yvonne - Owners of Picton Street & Lois  

Karrin, Tom and Ben

Braam  

Diving the Poor Knights

I have to make all my dive friends jealous, at least those who have never been to New Zealand, or the Poor Knights and say HAHAHAHA I have!

Cousteau rated them highly and so do I. They were truly unlike anything I've dived before, the kelp was lush and the rock formations grand and colourful. The number of different species of fish and marine invertebrates was countless and the water surprisingly mild...

From Mosaic Moray Eels, to Nudibranches on Scorpion Fish backs!! These dive sites had big and small life to offer. The second dive in Rikoriko cave was particularly cool, with eagle rays and stingrays resting side by side in reputably the world's largest sea cave.

It was definitely worth travelling for and once again it felt magic to be tanked up with scuba and enjoying my favourite pastime!

As I waited back in Whangerai for the Green machine aka Kiwi Experience bus to arrive, it began to pour with rain - it was fantastic... I couldn't have cared less that I was wet again having just dried off from the dives!! Following the down pour, a magnificent sun set broke and that was me made!!! What a fabulous way to end such a great holiday!

The final day of my trip north - a spectacular sun set marks it well! 

Leaving the dive Site 

Inside Rikoriko cave, Poor Knights' Islands 

Looking out of RIkoriko Cave 

Heading out to the Poor Knights 

Bay of Islands, Cape Reinga and The Rock Boat Cruise

This is perfection.

Arriving only 4.5 hours after leaving Auckland, the green kiwi experience bus pulled into the Bay of Islands township of Paihia. The area was once known as the hell whole of the pacific, due to the influence of it's port dwellers - generally British sailors and the criminals of foreign societies - who made the most of their time on dry land, by drinking, fighting and frequenting brothels. Today, the Bay of Islands are quite different - besides the backpackers... and they have a beauty that's best seen from off shore, right in the heart of it all, by boat.

I was fortunate enough to arrive on a day when overnight boat cruise The Rock www.rocktheboat.co.nz - was due to depart for a 24 hour trip around the islands. I've never done so many different things within such a short time - and at such great value. From Kayaking, to fishing, snorkelling to Mussel diving, and more!! We saw at least 3 pods of Dolphins during the trip, as well as a couple of penguins and all sorts of other marine and bird life. The crew were friendly and good fun, and they made an awesome BBQ despite the fact only Tanya and I were the only people on board to catch fish - and having said that, they were pretty small!!! Thankfully, they'd already done a spot of fishing earlier!

If anyone would like to know more about this cruise, please feel free to leave an e-mail address in the comments and I'll happily tell you more!

Cape Reinga was a brilliant trip which was made the following day to my arrival on shore again in Paihia. Given that I'd been out drinking with the crew the previous night, I was not quite with it for the early part of the day and trying to get up the sand dunes to board down them on Ninety mile Beach ( not actually 90 miles...) almost killed me!! But it was wicked fun!

The Cape itself was just spectacular and it was so cool seeing where another set of ocean/seas met, after having done the same in South West Australia - this time it was the very north of New Zealand!

On the way back from the Cape we stopped in several little towns, where we had fish and chips, viewed ancient Kauri swamp wood - pretty amazing really as this stuff has been unearthed dating 45,000 years, somehow being buried in these swamps found in the Northland.

There's so much that I could go into about this trip, but I think I'd end up writing an essay - so I will just say that to all of you who have been asking me - YES - New Zealand absolutely rocks in the beauty stakes!!!! And thank fully the weather was great!!! Hurrah for the winterless north!

Oh and once again, to totally plug the Rock overnight cruise... I meant to add that you did everything described and more for only $138!!!!

This is the life!! 

Boat restaurant, docked in Waitangi harbour 

Entering the harbour in Waitangi 

Sunrise over one of the islands 

There are close to 150 islands  

Our boat in the foreground, nestled in the islands 

In the midst of the Bay of Islands 

Fishing and target practice from the back of the boat 

Sailing out into the islands as dusk approaches 

Sunset 

Dolphins at sunset 

Moonlight on the sea