Just before flying across the Tasman Sea, I spent two weeks in and around Sydney, which pretty much meant “beach, more beach, and even more beach”. This would give me the rest that would be needed before completing treks like the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, Milford Track or Rangitata Valley trip.

But, before I started my hiking adventures across New Zealand, Cathedral Cove (also known as Te Whanganui-A-Hei) was on my agenda – yes, I saw the movie Narnia. That large pinnacle that looked like the sail from a boat made quite the impression on me. So after two days in Auckland, I drove off to the Coromandel Peninsula.

I passed the beautiful Hot Water beach before arriving at the car park near Hahei beach. From there it was a nice walk down to the Cove. It took me 40 minutes, but I was pretty fast since I needed to continue to Matamata on the same day. It usually takes about 1 – 1 1/2 hours. The walk itself is nice and should be enjoyed, but due to heaps of people, I’d rather recommend to just get down to the Cove. Here you won’t be alone, since Cathedral Cove is one of the most visited places in the area. Yet is was still a real highlight and if I return there (which I will for sure), I’ll give myself more time to explore the region even more…

The striking rock is known as ‘Te Hoho’. It’s a large pinnacle at Cathedral Cove. Over centuries this has been sculpted by wind and water.

From Hahei Beach you can walk to Cathedral Cove, where a naturally formed archway are a real eye-catcher.

The famous Cathedral Cove. The cathedral-like arch makes quite an impression…

Cathedral Cove is one of the most picturesque spots on the Coromandel Peninsula.

A one-hour walking track leads through forest along the cliff top and then descends to the Cove.

Starting Point.

My starting point this year will be Bangkok, not because I love Bangkok that much, but rather because a friend of mine is a flight attendant and I can accompany her for a mere fraction of what a ticket would normally cost. These kind of friends are the best, aren’t they? All together I’ll have 6 to 7 weeks until I meet my friend (the flight attendant) in Beijing again to fly back home.

Second Stop.

The idea is to fly to Dhaka from Bangkok, where you get your visa arrival for 25 US$ – means no hassle with embassy visits. After a couple of days here, I’ll continue to Chittagong by train for another visit to the ship breaking yard. We’ve been here two years ago already and it’s one of the most interesting places you could ever travel to. After Chittagong I’ll continue to the Rangamati hills. Visiting the tribal people are on my priority list, as well as a bit of trekking, cruising on Kaptai Lake, visiting local markets and relaxing in harmony with nature.

The way back to Dhaka will be on a cruise on the Buriganga river, while watching the life along the river banks, followed by a visit to the local wet markets in Dhaka (missed out on this last time).

Always Indo.

After Bangladesh I really think I deserve a bit of beach & sunshine I found out that in Raja Ampat, West Papua, an initiative has been set up where local families build rooms and bungalows for visitors, providing them with 3 meals a day when no other option is available. we’ve been to Raja Ampat before, it’s an amazing area, still very unspoilt and very tranquil with the most stunning underwater life you could ever imagine! I’ll stay for about two weeks for a real beach vacation – including a bit of boat and jungle adventure…

Last Stop.

After Indonesia and fully relaxed, it will take a couple of flights until I arrive in Kunming, China. This will be my stepping off point for a visit to the Honghe Hani Rice terraces, a newly added UNESCO World heritage site, which has 1.200 years of history. I’ve read about this area since some years and I’m really looking forward to tick it off my bucket list. And if there’s still time, I will try to visit the Guoliang Tunnel Road in the Henan Province as well.

Well and then, after almost 7 weeks on the road, travelling time is coming to an end. But there’s always time for a little bit of shopping in Guangzhou before taking the high speed train to Beijing, where my journey comes to an end with the flight back to Vienna.

Suggestions.

What do you think? Good route? Should I change something? Does anyone have a more exciting option for my summer holidays? I’m open and happy for some other suggestions and still have a bit of time to change my itinerary…

My summer travel plans will take me to four countries in Southeast Asia.

This video is one of the most epic selfie-trips ever! Great idea and great inspiration for your next trip!

But before I go into detail, I was ordered to clarify something though: Ulli would very much like to distance herself from this post. LOTR is not really her thing. I tried to convince her to watch the 12 hours with me before I leave (after all it’s almost a documentary film at this stage haha), but she wasn’t too amused about my suggestion after I showed her the trailers. So, this post is entirely on my head only…

North Island.

The Shire – Hobbiton Set in Matamata.

The Shire is the home of the Hobbits and my real Middle-earth adventure stars right here!

A visit to the Hobbiton Movie Set, featured in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit films, is a real must for every Lord of the Rings fan. It’s a picturesque 1.250 acre sheep farm with spectacular views across to the Kaimai Ranges. You can look at Bag End, where Frodo and Bilbo’s adventures began and get lost among the hobbit holes and visit the Green Dragon Inn.

Mordor & Mount Doom – Mount Ruapehu & Mount Ngauruhoe, Tongariro Alpine Crossing.

Mordor was chosen to be Sauron’s fortress, creating a natural fortress against his enemies. During the War of the Ring, Sauron gathered all his forces to Mordor. The Battle of the Black Gate or Battle of the Morannon was the final major battle during the War of the Ring.

“Draw out Sauron’s armies. Empty his lands. We will march our full strength on the Black Gate” - Aragorn

Mount Ngauruhoe and Mount Puapehu were digitally altered to appear as Mt Doom and is a feature of the Tongariro Alpine Crossing. In 2012, the Tongariro National Park was again used as a backdrop for the prequel ‘The Hobbit‘.

Paths of the Dead – Putangirua Pinnacles, Aorangi Forest Park.

The Paths of the Dead is a haunted pass through the White Mountains. The Army of the Dead accompanied Aragorn to Minas Tirith to defeat Sauron’s orcs, after which Aragorn declared their curse lifted. Filmed was this at the Putangirua Pinnacles Scenic Reserve in the Aorangi Forest Park, where I will be at the beginning of March as part of my journey to Cape Palliser Lighthouse.

Paths of the Dead.

South Island.

Rohan’s Capital Edoras – Mount Sunday, Rangitata Valley.

Edoras was the capital city of Rohan (The Kingdom of Men). The city was built on a hill in a valley of the White Mountains by Rohan’s second King. The city was built on Mount Sunday in the Rangitata Valley near Mt Potts Station and it took about 9 months to do so. Today, nothing remains of the set, yet the landscape in this area is supposed to be one of the most amazing in New Zealand. It will definitely be one of my highlights during this trip!

The Pillars of Argonath – Kawarau River, Queenstown.

The Argonath, also known as The Gates of Argonath or The Pillars of Kings, is a monument comprising of two enormous statues carved in the likenesses of Isildur and Anárion, standing upon either side of the River Anduin at the northern approach to Nen Hithoel. It marked the northern border of Gondor, as nearby down south were previous outposts, the Amon Hen and the Amon Lhaw.

Ford of Bruinen – Arrowtown.

The Ford of Bruinen was a way of crossing the river Bruinen, which was located in Eriador. In the Fellowship of the Ring film, Arwen carries Frodo on her horse while the Nazgul follow her on an epic chase. She then summons the flood to get away. The Arrow River is located just upstream of Arrowtown and is easily accessible.

Different Scenes from Middle-Earth – Rockburn Chasm, Glenorchy.

The film industry has fallen in love with the landscapes surrounding Glenorchy. Locations for Isengard, Lothlorien and Amon Hen for The Lord of the Rings trilogy were all filmed nearby.

Isengard, Lothlorien & Rivendell – Milford Track.

Milford Track is considered on of the finest walks in the world. It’s a 53.5 km walk over 4 days in the beautiful Fiordland National Park. Several scenes from the Lord of the Rings films where shot here, including scenes involving Isengard, Lothlorien and Rivendell.

And for all you Lord of the Rings fans, here’s a little something to dive into: A journey through Middle Earth.

I have 28 full days in New Zealand. This means that I’m on a pretty tight schedule, cause I want to see a lot (plus I’ll be travelling in the footsteps of LOTR)! After all, the distance between Vienna and Auckland is 17.841 kilometres/11.086 miles (!) so who knows when I’ll fly down there again. Usually this kind of tight planning gives me the creeps even before the trip starts, but not this time… Ok, that’s a lie, I hate being on a schedule! But since February is high season in Kiwi land, a lot of things need to be pre-booked.

Right now, the plan is as follows:

• Arrival from Sydney in Auckland on 21st February 2014
• Auckland – Cathedral Cove – Matamata (Hobbiton)
• Matamata – Tongariro National Park (via Lake Taupo)
• Tongariro National Park – Cape Palliser (including the Putangirua Pinnacles)
• Cape Palliser – Wellington
• Wellington – Picton (via Cook Strait)
• Picton – Nelson Lakes National Park
• Nelson Lakes National Park – Christchurch
• Christchurch – Rangitata Valley (Mount Sunday)
• Rangitata Valley – Franz Josef Glacier (via Arthur’s Pass)
• Franz Josef Glacier – Queenstown
• Queenstown – Milford Track (4 days of trekking)
• Milford Sound – Queenstown
• Queenstown – Lake Tekapo
• Lake Tekapo – Christchurch
• Departure from Christchurch to Sydney on March 22nd 2014

My One-Month Travel Route Through New Zealand. I’m focusing on the South island for my first trip to NZ due to the amazing landscape.

28 days & 3.750km by myself, with my 4×4 car, road map, trekking gear and of course my camera equipment. So looking forward to this adventure!

For all those who want to hold on to summer a little longer – which includes us of course, a short trip to the Costa del Sol in the South of Spain is the perfect getaway; if you’re looking for nice weather, beautiful beaches, rich culture, fantastic sights, as well as affordable flights, the area around Málaga is just the right spot for a cheap holiday.

The city of Málaga from above.

Málaga has earned a reputation that makes is extremely popular with visitors. Flights are not too expensive from all over Europe, hotels & apartments are widely available, the beaches are well worth travelling there, the water is clear & refreshing and many of the activities & sights in and around the city are free of charge or low cost.

The climate in Andalusia is simply amazing, with temperatures in the high twenties to high thirties Centigrade in the summer months. This is just one of the many reason why we’ve been travelling to Carvajal, which is just outside of Málaga between Torremolinos and Fuengirola, for the last couple of years at the end of August or beginning of September. Staying outside of Málaga simply has to do with the fact that the beaches aren’t too crowded and we came across a very lovely apartment when we first searched for a place to stay at. Plus it only takes about 20 minutes by the Renfe train to the city centre.

The beach along the Costa del Sol in Spain.

Our core activities mostly vary from sunbathing to zipping Sangria, yet there are plenty of things to do both at day and night (among the most popular are for example a day trip to the world-famous Alhambra in Granada or a visit to the Picasso Home Museum), so every kind of traveller should find what they’re looking for.

The Alhambra in Granada, Spain.

I was born on April 27th, 1986. My parents were travel enthusiasts and one would think that a baby would settle them down a little. Well, not the kind of parents I have. And thank God for that, because my journey began straight out of the maternity ward…

Africa – How It All Started.

My parents were fixing up their Unimog to convert it into a mini-apartment for one of their long-term African adventure – this time with me in tow. The truck would become our home for the next year (or so), so things needed to be in place for the journey to start. I quickly adjusted to the fact that my sandpit would become the Sahara desert, that my toys came out of the toolbox and that I would take my first steps between jerry cans, spare parts and sand sheets.

So we set off to Africa on a truly remarkable journey, and I was right in the middle all the time – not only because my place was mainly in the baby capsule in the middle front seat but also because I opened a lot of doors with my baby smile; even the grimmest custom officers, check-point soldiers or police chiefs couldn’t resist me :D It was always “baby first“.

I never got sick and mum had 800 nappies packed in the trunk. Actually, we had all the fun in the sun, 24 hours together with both parents – a rare privilege for a child.

By the age of one, I had 15 countries under my wings.

Those were the good times…

Back To Civilisation – but not for long.

Back in civilisation, the longing for travelling prevailed and it didn’t take long until we flew to Malaysia. This was the time when walkmans just conquered the market – omg how cool was that?! Now, even the longest, roughest bus rides through Sarawak didn’t bother me at all. It was “Bibi Blocksberg” or “Fünf Freunde” all day long. Mum also bought my first bike there – not only to speed things up (after all I was only four years old) but also to make me happy because I hated walking for hours. I was certainly the first Western kid cycling through Kota Kinabalu. We had a couple of rules like “Always stop in front of a street” or “Don’t run anyone over (not even a chicken)” and this worked really well for both of us.

Mum Knowns Best.

Yup, mum’s definitely do know best. She knew how to handle every situation, or how to keep me busy…

Giddyup Down Under.

We continued to Australia. And since Down Under is cattle country, I was on a horse by the age of five. It was mum’s idea to become a Jillaroo, so living on a farm in N.S.W. was not a problem any more. We adjusted well and blended in like all the others.

Busy Bangkok.

Bangkok train station was hot, humid and busy and we had to get tickets. While mum disappeared through the crowds, I stayed put with (or better on) our luggage. She told me that I had to ‘protect’ the bags and made a game out of it so that I would really watch out. In case someone wanted to grab them – or me – I should just start screaming. I looked pretty grim and nobody tried to steal anything after all.

Bangkok held another incident for us. I once got lost in the toy section of a shopping centre. I didn’t notice it at all, but in the meantime my mother frantically alerted the entire staff and they announced through speakers that a little blond girl was missing. After one hour they found me; I was happily playing in a changing room & mum almost had a heart attack.

At a market in Bangkok.

Sri Lanka.

We climbed Adam’s Peak and stayed at Brown’s Beach Hotel in Yala for a while. All the local kids listened to my command :D Sand, waves and sun – perfect!

Back in the days, a “white” kid was still a real attraction…

Indonesia, my second home.

School stopped travelling for a while, but mum decided it was time to learn some proper English. So she simply took me our of elementary school and decided to hit the road again. Down Under is was once more. Getting there took quite a few of months, because Indonesia was en route. All my friends where going to school back home, and I was studying on a remote island; cycling for PE lesson, Maths in the hammock and German under the stars – not too bad if you ask me :) And of course, the island kids where curiously watching as always. Oh and I’ll tell you, mum was definitely a tough teacher!

Beside the day to day school work, I learned how to fish and how to survive in a remote place, without modern gadgets of any kind. While my friends at home teased their pets, I targeted the Komodo Dragons with a slingshot … yeah, those where the good times for sure!

In Togean Islands, I had my first diving experience when dad went down to 20m depth with me in tow (just one octopus and one bottle of oxygen). Fun for me, but mum on the surface simply freaked out and tried to harpoon dad after getting me out of the water. Imagine all the Indonesian gloating over our family dispute :)

When leaving Togean Islands, we hired one seaworthy looking vessel. What we didn’t know was, that it was the captain’s first journey to the mainland, so he missed our destination by far, and we steamed along the coast to find a landing point. Right before sunset we arrived in a small fishing village, in a beautiful bay with stilt houses. When we came closer, many little canoes started paddling toward us and we got stuck between sea and shore. Everybody was screaming and welcoming us. We felt like Lady Di on Australia tour…crazy I tell you! They told us no tourists ever had been to this village before. This warm welcome preceded a week’s stay at the mayor’s house. Luckily he had just acquired a new TV with satellite connection, so I got in charge of the remote control immediately, plus the best and only chair on the veranda. Me in the chair and all the villagers on the floor around me, sitting in front of the TV watching “Cartoon Network” was a pretty funny sight for my parents. Honestly, this was actually my most memorable travel experience until today. Ever since that trip, we came back to Indo at least once a year and today I call it my second home.

On a ferry to some remote island…

In Timor with a lot of school kids.

Having fun with kids in Sulawesi…

The travelling never stopped and today, I feel very grateful for having seen so many different places of our beautiful planet.

What about you? How did you catch the travel bug?

Although Istanbul isn’t the capital, it’s the largest city in Turkey and the leading industrial, commercial, historical, and cultural center. Not only because of the diversity of people, but also geologically; Istanbul is the only major city world-wide that lies on two continents, Asia & Europe. I heard that it’s supposed to be one of the most fascinating places and therefore, I can’t wait to to dive into the “Soul of Turkey” in less than two weeks!

We booked ourselves into a fantastic historical flat right next to the Galata Tower with a 360° roof top terrace, which I desperately need for “bird view” photo opportunities – whether day or night.

Things we want to see:

Hagia Sophia
One of Istanbul’s illustrious landmark, the Hagia Sofia was a former church, mosque and now a museum. It is the most important achievement of Byzantine architecture.

Topkapi Palace
This palace was home to all the Ottoman sultans. Today it’s a museum. The Treasury of the Museum is considered one of the most celebrated treasuries in the world.

Blue Mosque
Although popularly known as the Blue Mosque, its real name is Sultan Ahmet Mosque. It is famous for the beautiful blue tiles and glass work ornamenting its walls.

Grand Bazaar
We love markets, so this is a definite must! Grand Bazaar is the oldest and largest covered bazaar in the world. It’s situated in the heart of the city. Inside the Grand Bazaar you can enjoy shopping and find great bargains in 3.000 shops.

Galata Tower
It was called the Christea Turris by the Genoese and the Megalos Pyrgos by the Byzantines. It has a modern restaurant and cafe on its upper floors with a stunning view of Istanbul. The Galata Quarter is also the trendiest area in Istanbul…

Suleymaniye Mosque
This mosque is the largest and most imposing. It’s an architectural masterpiece. The aesthetic supremacy of its interior and exterior and its perfect proportions have been captivating visitors for centuries.

Old City Walls of Istanbul
Old Constantinople was surrounded by walls described as land walls and sea walls. These walls were considered to be the largest fortress ever constructed in the Christian era. With the numerous towers, it’s a magnificent sight.

As you can see, the fours day we have there are packed. But I’m always open to even more suggestions, especially the ones a tourist would never find. So, any Istanbul insider tips?

But this is future talk and for now, autumn is the time when you better come prepared. That means if you’re planning a weekend trip, check the weather forecast beforehand; if it looks a bit undecided/grim, be sure to pack up your rubber boots, an umbrella and a raincoat because this means “Acqua Alta” time in Venice. We arrived unprepared and looked pretty stupid when we wanted to leave the hotel after breakfast and the street was knee deep full of water. Our hotel was a really nice one (nothing fancy but who needs that anyway if you’re just planning on sleeping there), not far away from the train station but unfortunately they had no rubber boots to borrow.

But, as we’re all not made out of sugar, we took off our shoes and socks, rolled up the trousers and walked down fifty meters to the next shoe shop. Lots of people were already lining up get a pair rubber boots – imagine winter sale at Macy’s … people start doing anything for a last pair of those new trendy shows … As the place was not directly in the city center, the boots were on 16 € per pair – not too bad for a quick solution of the problem. In the city center we saw people paying up to 40 € for a pair of rubber boots. Depending on your negotiation skills you can get them for 30 – 35 € when buying them from one of the “flying merchants”. They were the obviously winners of the day!

The thing that worried us a bit was the electricity issue. So much water and high voltage is not the best combination. But Venice is prepared for these occurrences. Even the shop owners were pretty unimpressed by the situation, so we didn’t give it that much more of a thought.

So we were on our way and got to see how other visitors handled the weather conditions. We came across some funny sights indeed. Some simply walked barefoot, not worrying about catching a cold (it was pretty cold that day), others had a garbage bad wrapped around their feet to keep the water our of the shows. This method might work for a little while but in the long run, they usually give up – that’s why you see lots of garbage bags floating around in the streets.

Anyway, so we walked all day long without getting any blisters. The walking itself was a bit tough though; we weren’t able to run or walk pretty fast because we needed to avoid an overflow of water into the boots. Then at around 3 pm the tide turned and it was “business as usual” again…

“Acqua Alta” on Piazza San Marco in Venice, Italy.

The walkways are flooded during “Acqua Alta” in Venice, Italy.

High water in the streets of Venice, Italy.

“One time” Rubber boots are a must during “Acqua Alta” in Venice, Italy.

Uncle Chrisi enjoyed the trip to Venice, Italy.

Interesting show styles during “Acqua Alta” in Venice, Italy.

Some people simply give up during “Acqua Alta” …

… others try to save money by wrapping plastic bags around their shoes.

Places Of Interest In Prague:

Old Town Spare: The Old Town spare is a must for every visitor with astonishing architecture of the romanesque, baroque and gothic eras.

Petrin Hill: It’s 266 steps up Petrin Observation Tower but it’s sure worth it! The view of the city is absolutely thrilling but you definitely need to be free from giddiness because if the wind blows, the entire structure tends to move a little.

St. Vitus Cathedral: St. Vitus Cathedral in the walls of Prague Castle is unequivocal the highlight of this miniature city. Wandering around the streets of the largest castle in the world will provide you with many great photo opportunities.

Some Impressions Of My Weekend In Prague:

The Astronomical Clock in Prague, was built in the 15th century. To fully appreciate the clock’s intricate construction, watch the procession of the Twelve Apostles: on every full hour, a small trap door opens and Christ marches out ahead of his disciples, while the skeleton of death tolls the bell to a defiant statue of a Turk.

Strolling across Charles Bridge is everybody’s favourite Prague activity. If you want to experience the bridge at its most atmospheric try to visit it at dawn.

The Second Defenestration of Prague (happened at the Prague Castle) precipitated the Thirty Years’ War.

Prague Castle is the largest ancient castle in the world (570 m long, on average 128 m wide, area 7.28 hectares).

The medieval astronomical clock adorns the southern wall of the Old Town City Hall in the Old Town Square.

St. Vitus Cathedral is the dominant building within the Prague Castle complex, and a Gothic masterpiece commissioned in 1344.

Golden Lane is a special atmosphere reigns in the little street inside the Prague Castle. It is lined with small picturesque houses, that look rather like doll’s houses.