Sydney

.........................................................................Spent 8 great days in Sydney, the jewel of the Pacific for sure. Such a beautiful city and harbor. The Opera House is definitely one of the greatest buildings, I spent many nights on the steps in front of it watching the end of the Australian Open on the big screen they had set up there. Tons of Chileans there rooting on their Fernando, or Fena as they call him. I met a real cool guy from Chili named Nicholas in my room, and we ended up hanging out all the time. Celebrated Australia Day on Friday, lots of free concerts in the many city parks, and they had shut down a whole street just for a hot rod show, very cool. No Bar-B-Q's that I could see however? Checked out Bondi beach and swam in this real cool saltwater pool right next to the bay, with the big waves crashing over the side into the pool, very cool. Also spent two days out at Manly beach just relaxing in checking out the great views! Taught Nicholas how to play gin rummy over a bottle on wine a couple nights, I worked him but he is improving. Also checked out the zoo and aquarium, both very good, I got to learn about all the animals that could very well kill me over the next couple weeks! Crikey! Sydney is definitely a metropolis on the lines of NY or London, the sidewalks are always packed with all the young business people in their Armani suits and high heels, very serious. Melbourne was also busy but much more layed back people, more bohemian styles and artists. But Sydney is more beautiful, I just loved being down there on the quay and people watching and checking out the different views of the Opera House and Bridge.

http://picasaweb.google.com/ethan.ahlberg/Sydney

Melbourne

..............................................................Melbourne has been a great place to kick off my Oz experience. Spent a couple days with my homeboy Luke. We went to the Aussie Open and saw about as much tennis as we could handle. It's a great event, just wondering around from court to court, finding a great match with the crowd into it and sitting in the sun. The fans get so into it at the grand slams, and are sometimes the best part of the show, yelling out hysterical comments right when there's a moment of silence. Melbourne is a beautiful city, the parks are great, the river walk is lines with restaurants an bars, the museum is very cool. Lots of very interesting architecture here as well, at all scales. I also was able to check out my first rugby match, between the Christchurch team and a team from western Australia. It was a good show, although the Kiwi's just had there second unit in because they are so dominant at the sport (not really aussies cup o tea). Today watched some world class beach volleyball, I guess this has been my sporting event part of the trip? Also caught the night market last wed., cool bands and good food. Check out link to photos:

http://picasaweb.google.com/ethan.ahlberg/Melbourne

Last Days in New Zealand

......................................................................Spent my last days in New Zealand in Christchurch with Sanford. It was good to just chill out and take care of some things before I left, like selling the old car, she did me well, and I will miss her, even with all of her dents and missing mirror (got hit by a gardener while parked on the street, but got some $$ out of it, sweet). Last night partied with Sanford's Brazilian roommates which was crazy, they were loving singing along to some good ol Guns and Roses. I got some great movies of them, all good fun. Then went out to a couple dance clubs/bars in town, saw a good live cover band (like all the bands in NZ). Off to Oz, ready to burn up at the Open. For more pics click link:

http://picasaweb.google.com/ethan.ahlberg/LastDaysInNewZealand

South Island Road Trip

...................................................Left Queenstown a week ago. Drove down to Milford Sound, which is actually a fiord, and took the afternoon ferry ride in the midst of a torrential downpour. The waterfalls, how to describe the water? I'll let the pictures try to convey it, but it is just one of those things you have to experience yourself. It was like mother earth was weeping.

Headed south to Invercargle, met up with this dude from Pamplona there I had picked up hitching to Kaikoura a while back. He kicked my ass as chess, but said he could hook me up with accommodation if I ever made it to the running of the bulls.

Then drove down to the Bluff, south tip of the island to take the picture in front of the signpost. The drive from there to Dunedin was quite beautiful. The Catlin Coast is very rugged and rocky, kind of reminded me of Big Sur. Dunedin was a Scottish town with some cool churches, but I especially liked the graffiti. Met a crazy night warden at my hostel there. A sweet little old lady who had visions of the future and was a religious nut. She was convinced God had warned her of the future of western Australia as a nuclear waste dump. She also loved George Bush because he had defeated the anti-Christ (Saddam), and helped to protect Jerusalem for the return of the messiah. She was also big into sustainable energy innovations.

Finally got up to Christchurch yesterday, been hanging with Sanford. I have tomorrow to enjoy this city, this country, then off to Aus. For more pics click the link.

http://picasaweb.google.com/ethan.ahlberg/SouthIslandRoadTrip

Lake Taupo Kayak (waterproof pics)

Here are some pictures I finally got developed of a great kayak trip I took on the north island. Cool rock carvings done by a Maori in the early 70's. We had a great guide from Virginia who served us tea on the beach, I guess that's what they do in Virginia??

http://picasaweb.google.com/ethan.ahlberg/TaupoKayak

New Years In Queenstown

.........................................................After two fairly long days on the road, made it town to Queenstown for New Years Eve. Met up again with Eamon who I had met hanging with Pat in Wellington, and Pat's friend Sanford and his roommates Kai and Marin also rendezvous for the night of festivities. We hung out at Eamon's incredible apartment overlooking the Remarkables, drinking Speights and getting to know each other. Then we trekked down to town for a night of bar hopping and fireworks. Next day we hiked up to the gondola for a great view of the lake and mountains plus witnessed para gliders and bungee jumpers. Had a great time doing the land luge up there, as Eamon describes it, its the best buy in town, $10 for two thrilling rides. Sanford and his party took their leave the next day and Eamon and I decided to test our skills on the Shotover river with his two kayaks. To make a long story short, we made it about half of the 13 km before I had capsized 4 times and almost broke my hand on a rock. We decided to stow the kayaks in some bushes and climb out of the ravine back to the car. Easier said then done. I know it will be hard to believe, but the thorn bushes and brambles were straight out of a horror movie, thorns 4 inches long I tell ya. I had the wet suit on, so eventually, I just had to lower my head and bulldoze my way through when I could, but had to resort to creeping along on our belly's to get under the bushes for a long way. I won't lie, I thought it was going to be bye bye for Ethan for a while there, but after an hour and a half the slowest going ever we found the road, Thank God! What a beautiful sight! The hands still pretty swollen but I couldn't leave Queenstown without an extreme adventure. The next couple days Eamon and I did some just amazing day hikes, did some swimming in frigid lake waters, and did another night on the town. He was a great guide and host, best week yet on the journey. More pics at:

http://picasaweb.google.com/ethan.ahlberg/QueenstownNewYears

Abel Tasman Coastal Trek

...........................................................Took the ferry to South Island on Boxing Day with Chad from Oregon. We drove over to Nelson where we took in a wicked fire show, then spent two nights and 3 long days hiking along the northern coast. It was a beautiful series of bays with rocky islands and white beaches, some pretty steep parts where I thought my legs were going to give out. Met a interesting couple from Israel the first night, then drank a couple bottles of the wine we got while wine tasting the morning we drove up to the trail head the second night. Chad killed me a cards but it was great fun. Warning to any attempting this hike in the future, beware of the sand fly's, they don't seem all that bad but a day later you realize you've been eaten alive. It's only the females that bite, damn women!:) Anyway, check out the pictures at this link, they speak for themselves.

http://picasaweb.google.com/ethan.ahlberg/AbelTasman

Christmas In Wellington

Back in Wellington for Christmas weekend. Hung out with a British guy Dave, then partied with some Germans, Kiwi's, and a American named Chad, went out dancing at Sandwiches again. Then decided to spend Christmas eve camping out at Pinugari Pinnacles, an amazing landscape. Christmas night partied with a bunch of crazy Irishmen. They were drinking the Johnny Walker when I got back to the hostel around 2pm. Then they decided to make it a toga party, and persuaded us all to join in, "Where's your toga laddy?" "Free drinks at the toga party in the lounge from 9pm to 5am tonight!" It was hysterical, a bunch of singing and dancing. Ended up getting kicked out of the hostel however, so we walked down the street to another that had a bar "that was actually open", and continued our merry times. Kind of rough morning catching the ferry to the south island at 7am on boxing day, but well worth it. The funniest part of the night was when they tried to tone it down a notch, so they did a heart rendering rendition of Silent Night, then back to more loudness, having been quiet-er for a few minutes. Also hung out with a cool girl from Sweden. Overall had a great time and will miss the North island, but the south beckons, heading to Abel Tasman coast to do some camping with Chad.

More Pics at

http://picasaweb.google.com/ethan.ahlberg/ChristmasInWellington