Michael (Eak) and Shahn are out in the big beautiful world, these are our adventures.
We have been living in QLD, Australia and are getting ready to embark on our next adventure.... Michael has dreams of sailing around the world and exploring every nook and cranny - while Shahn has dreams of visiting strange and exotic locations to meet the incredible humans that inhabit them.
Moving away from the touristy places and getting off the beaten track is our goal. Lets see where we go!
Anyone that knows Michael, knows that he is a "do-er". Always up for doing something, anything! Since he had to leave the Hartley in NZ, he has been missing sailing and occasionally goes out on a huge boat at Redcliffe and sails around Moreton Bay (see previous posts re: sailing) but after being in Australia for 18months now and searching endlessly for the best boat for the best bargain.... It happened and he now has a little Cat!
The day we picked her up, 15th September 2013!
Sailing at Wivenhoe Dam, taking the beast out for its first spin. It hasn't been used for a number if years and when we got her home, had over 5litres of water in the left hull, oopsy. Beautiful day and a nice way to spend the afternoon!
Poor Hugo has been shafted from the garage so Eaks new baby gets pride and place in the garage.
Weekend Fun.
Went out Sailing on Lake Wivenhoe, Craig and I had some mean fun and broke the dolphin striker, (not sure how), then the following weekend Shahn and I took it out for a spin. Shahn went out on the trapeze and we managed to achieve 14.6knots (27km/h) in about 20 knot winds?. A bit of flying the hull, forgetting my give way rules but all good.
Just the beginning.......... I'm sure there will be plenty more videos etc to come!
So we needed a trip to NZ see the family, which is difficult to do as the live at opposite ends of the island. It was around the time of Marg and Pete's birthdays, Shahn's brother, Josh 's Birthday and so her parents also made the trip down to the Wanaka house. We also went down to the farm but we never took any photos, as always too busy doing things and having a look around.
Flying in to Queenstown
Snow-park from the air.
Flying below the hills as we land, pretty cool!
Chris driving
Hitting the Slopes, Michael, Shahn and Crispy.
Doing it with the Go Pro, looking professional if anything!
Lake Wanaka from Treble Cone, best view around...
Shahn
Eak & Shahn
Some boarding, its been a while since my last play in the snow I was very rusty. Some of these are from Josh's GoPro (thanks!!)
Kea (Nestor notabilis)
Station on Lake Whakatipu
Some night shots Albert town (Wanaka)
Last night out in Wanaka at the The Cow, from left - Robbie (Shahn's Mum), Josh (Shahn's Brother), Shahn and Michael, Kerry (Josh's girlfriend Emma's Dad), Darryl (Shahn's Dad), Sara (Emma's Mum) and Emma.
On the 10th of August we started our trip to hike within Girraween National Park.
The camp grounds were amazing, hot showers, fire places so really not roughing it.
So we first headed up the first pyramid and had a look at all the views amazing and a nice easy track, then at night we decided to try and get some of the perseid meteor shower but we missed them all. We had a friendly possum in the camp who just wandered up and looked around before continuing. Classic Aussie possum, whereas a NZ possum would attack your face if you get too close.
We spent most of the night trying out different exposures with our camera, took ages to get the right technique but were pretty stoked with what we achieved. Thoughts??
Looking side on through our Galaxy (crazy amount of stars), really crazy makes the planet feel small. This is the Milky Way.
The only part of the meteor shower we got in the very bottom right hand side. The tiny line.
The Pyramid
The first Pyramid - we climbed to the top of this, it was steep!
Climbing on top of the Mt Norman
From the top of Mt Norman looking east
Second Pyramid
On the Pyramid.
The balancing rock, really impressive as the area its balancing on is really small and you can put your hand underneath the rock. Crazy!
Bit of Rock Climbing, was a bit of a mission getting down.......
A long way down..... "Shahn be careful", "I will"... Seconds later skidded a little bit, Michael just shakes his head at me. Uhhhhggg okay sorry I'm a bit of a clutz, but I try!
The Doorway
Jumping about in the bush
The top of Mt Norman looking south.
Getting to the top of Mt Norman meant heading up a little Chimney was a bit of a mission, really narrow and steep but good fun.
Nights shots near Chinchilla
These nights shots were really cool, as I was trying to get the meteor shower but had little luck, also it was rather cold.
After spending time inland and all keen for a bit more adventure, we needed a bit of fun and relaxation on the beach to end our incredible trip. So we flew from Arusha after the Safari direct to Zanzibar.
Snorkelling videos
Star fish
Having fun in the sun
On the Dhow to the island for a swim and a feed, after snorkelling.
Jellyfish amongst the seaweed
On a boat to the Prison Island
Sailing Dhow
Prison Island - this crazy island was originally to be used to imprison slaves in the mid 1800's, but it was never used for this purpose and was used as a quarantine for people with yellow fever. It now houses giant tortoises in a "conservation enclosure", we only took a few photos with the tortoises. It was incredibly sad, the tortoises are fed cabbage and other greenery that is bought across from the main land as nothing much grows there. I walked up to one tortoise that was over 50 years old and noticed that it had something white hanging out of its' mouth, on closer inspection it looked like plastic webbing that their food comes bagged in. So I pulled it out and it had been wedged in its throat, it was over 30cm long and it looked a lot happier once I had removed it. After this, I looked around and there was so much plastic and rubbish on the ground, in the tortoise poo - so much for a conservation effort for the giant tortoise. Pretty disappointing really.
Prison island, looking towards the west to the mainland of Africa
Fish
Star fish
Grave island
Stone town
No one likes food-time photos, but its memories so love it!!
Reading her book, relaxing on a very rainy day watching the sea.
Garry Yacht master
Talking business
Sunset on the beach from the hotel restaurant, so stunning!
Waiting for dinner to arrive, excited as!
Beer.... Craig and Jenna
At the pub on the beach
Bar Owner finding the "good stuff"
Tooooooo many beersies!
Mr Castle
Markets in Northern Zanzibar
First night in Stone Town. Only beachfront cafe that served alcohol and close to accommodation. Unable to swim at this beach as sewage pumped straight out here, yum!
We love being on holiday, so much delicious food. The team taking a moment to debrief.
Dinner on the rooftop in Stone Town. We were the only people in this restaurant and we made the poor staff climb up 14 flights of stairs with all our food. Good times!
Stone town definitely has Arabic influences in its architecture, and Muslim culture, although interestingly talking to the locals during the daylight hours it is very tradition in dress and customs but at night time the rules change and it is just like any western town (Although I assume this has a lot to do with the tourists it was very interesting). The nightlife up the northern party of the island was very cool.
Dinner on top of Stone Town
Our last night in Stone Town was spent having dinner at the roof top terrace. We went to Prison Island for the morning then snorkelling afterward, later we went on a spice tour before heading further north for some more sun and lots of cocktails!
Spice tour
Tree ants
Passion fruit
Nutmeg
Flash as hats and accessories.
Climbing for Coconuts
Just sleeping on a load of timber as they headed home, TIA...
Markets
Food-time Photos
The last hotel we stayed in has this beautiful roof, very clever.
