Guest post: Breath-taking New Zealand

I fell in love with New Zealand every day during the week I spent there. At what felt like every turn, I discovered something new, something that made me want to try and miss enough flights home till the government would just give up and grant me permission to stay!

New Zealand is known as an adventure destination, and it really is a haven for that. The luge was an unparalleled experience for me, especially since I did it at night, and the skyswing and flying fox I am sure would have been a delight to try had I not already been frozen through. But, considering adventure is all anyone talks about when it comes to New Zealand, I am going to talk about everything else but that.

I landed at Auckland airport and had three hours to spare till my coach arrived to take me to my first destination – Rotorua. After 30 minutes of walking around the airport and it’s handful of stores, the only thing left to do for me was to step out. That is how I got my first glimpse of the beautiful country: greenery everywhere, seagulls waddling around unconcerned by human proximity, and, most important to someone from Mumbai - brilliant weather.

Rotorua Crafts Village

A few days into my trip I asked my guide what summers were like in New Zealand, and she replied, “It’s really warm. It touches 24.” She really couldn’t understand why I laughed at that.

The drive from Auckland to Rotorua consisted of rolling countryside and the fattest, fluffiest sheep I have ever set eyes on. It was a three-hour drive after two long flights, and I didn’t sleep a wink! 

 

Rotorua Museum

Rotorua, where I spent four days attending a conference, is plagued with the smell of sulphur as it is a hotspot for geothermal activity. But I hardly noticed. Dawn and dusk in Rotorua bring with it a soft curtain of mist that emanates from these geothermal ponds, so for a few hours in the day all you can see of the lake in the centre of the city is this white blanket. During the day the weather is perfect to just walk around and take in the sights. It has a brilliant museum, a lovely crafts centre, beautiful walkways and souvenir shops galore.

But my favourite part of my stay in Rotorua was discovering that Hobbiton was only an hour away. I can imagine visitors who have never heard of The Hobbit being exceedingly thrilled with visiting Hobbiton. To a Tolkien fan, it is perfect in every way, with intricate details that leave you wanting to go home and start a Hobbit movie marathon so you can point out exactly which hobbit hole you stood in front of. 

Hobbiton

For non-fans, it is just the most beautiful photo opportunity there is. Standing in front of Bag End I could see visitors dressed in Elvish cloaks drinking ale, and, in stark contrast, people who looked at us like we were nuts when we discussed Bilbo’s eleventy-first birthday. It was the best day ever!

***************************************************************

Maansi Sharma writes for a travel magazine. Originally from Pune, she has now made Mumbai her home. She loves her gadgets, her food and her boo - and in that order! If you wish to know more about New Zealand or any of the vast number of destinations she has visited, she can be reached at ms.maansi@gmail.com.

Look out for part deux on New Zealand 'Big pleasures in tiny New Zealand' where Maansi describes her experience of visiting Queenstown and Christchurch that was destroyed by earthquake some years ago. 

All photographs are taken using Canon EOS 1200D  

Enjoying coffee Melbourne style

No, this isn't a post about enjoying coffee in Melbourne but about bringing to life Melbourne’s coffee culture in India. 

Melbourne is known as the coffee capital of Australia and the cafes are made to inspire, invigorate and elevate your coffee drinking experience. They help you appreciate the beverage in an endeavour to enhance your experience while sipping a cup. Coffee culture is popular here with home to more than 2000 cafés - and some of the world's best baristas.

Tourism Victoria has been promoting the region actively in India and keeping in line with this initiative, it delivered an immersive experience of diving in to one’s freshly-brewed coffee. 

The afternoon featured an amalgamation of aromatic coffee and creative intriguing art. It was all about the beautiful and interactive coffee and art performance put together by the multiple world latte art champion St. Ali Barista – Ben Morrow and renowned visual artist Harun Robert. 

Over the past couple of years, the coffee culture has rampantly taken over Melbournians. We can safely say the same for Indians as well.

Ben Morrow

For the discerning coffee drinkers, they still favour a cup of espresso and its variations. Some cafés even offer a tantalizing array of alternatives, including syphons, filters and French-pressed coffee.  Every day, on average, the Port of Melbourne handles 30 tonnes of coffee beans!

Tourism Victoria personified the average consumer’s love for coffee by showcasing some vivacious art and culture through two acclaimed coffee artists. Creativity took a leap and the performance saw master latte artist Ben Morrow create beauty with cups of latte known as latte art bearing signature elements of Melbourne such as the city skyline.

Ben with Indian artist Harun Robert

Harun Robert on the other hand took control of the coffee canvas and in synch with Ben, designed one masterpiece after another nuanced with hints of Melbourne city and its penguins from Philip Island and City Circle Tram with the Flinders Street station at the backdrop. It was spectacular! 

This was followed by a coffee appreciation session by Ben Morrow with beans from the eminent coffee chain St. Ali. The session not only engrossed the audiences through the mesmerising aroma but also gave them an authentic feel of Melbourne’s finest coffee experience. Ben is an innovator in the field of latte art and has been at it for half a decade. 

Gran Canaria is grand

Gran Canaria is a miniature continent. 

It has beaches with crystal-clear water and fine golden sand (or dark volcanic sand, whichever you prefer). And just steps away from the sea are the mountains. You can get close to the south coast to appreciate its warmth, go through its ravines and subtropical forests, or reach the ridge area where the Canary island pine reigns.

At a cool 24ºC even in midwinter, Gran Canaria is a bridge between three continents. It has witnessed the greatest adventure in history: the discovery of the New World. Its legacy as a stopping point for travelers is reflected in the open, cosmopolitan and multicultural character of the island. A heritage for the enjoyment to people with over 500 years of history marked with colonial flavor and traditions of Atlantic identity. It has a mix of traditional and contemporary local cuisine, the result of the entries and exits between continents.

Once there, you can enjoy festivals of classical music, world music, jazz, rock pop, film festivals, opera, theater... And if you like costumes and magical nights, you'll love the Carnival of Gran Canaria held in February.

The streets are filled with music and colourful parades lending an atmosphere of an island holiday. 

You can even choose your ideal acco option: from a natural palm grove city hotel to experience the city, a discreet private villa or a farmhouse at the peak.