NomadGirl Travels

I have never had a summer Christmas.  Christmas to me has lots of snow, dark nights, cozy living rooms with Christmas lights on the tree, decorations, and maybe a blizzard or two.  Two years ago, while traveling New Zealand, I had the opportunity to experience a New Zealand Christmas. It wasn't so different from Christmas in Canada, really.  Except that there was no snow.  I had a difficult time accepting that fact.  While living in Wellington I attended Arise Church in Wellington.  ( www. arisechurch .org.nz/ )   This church was very accepting of, and welcoming to, people from all walks of life. Church staff realized that there were quite a few people in the congregation that had nowhere to go for Christmas.  So it was arranged that 'the strays' - travellers, transients, orphans (people who had no family to spend Christmas with etc) - would go to someone's house for Christmas.  A sign up sheet was put into the atrium of the Michael Fowler Centre, where Church service

“I am looking for someone to share in an adventure that I am arranging,  and it's very difficult to find anyone.' ~J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit In honour of The Hobbit opening next month, and premiering in Wellington, New Zealand November 28, I thought I would talk about the Tolkien inspired tours available in Middle Earth (otherwise known as New Zealand). Specifically on the North Island. The first thing I did when I arrived in New Zealand was head to Rotorua. Tours to Matamata, where the Hobbiton Movie Set is located, can be arranged from the tourism office in Rotorua, or at any hostel. I highly recommend it.  www.hobbitontours.com The cost of the tour from Matamata is $75NZD, from Rotorua it is $110NZD (as of today's date). The tour includes Bag End, though I couldn't go up to it and it was behind scaffolding, due to preparations for filming. Usually guests are able to go up to Bag End. The party tree, that was featured in The Fellowship of the Ring , the pub,

I have gone whale watching off Vancouver Island, British Columbia...and did not see any whales! Ten years later, I got the chance to go whale watching again. This time, on the East Coast, off Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. This time I saw whales! I had the option to go as an excursion of my Moose East tour of Canada. Our whale watching experience was through Captain Zodiac in Cheticamp, Nova Scotia. Cost was $30CAD. http://www.novascotiawhales.com/ ~Angie

In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place: and in the sky The larks still bravely singing fly Scarce heard amid the guns below. ~Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae Canadian soldier, Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, wrote the war memorial poem, In Flanders Fields , during the second battle of Ypres, in Belgium on May 3, 1915. It is about his fallen comrades who were buried in Flanders.  This poem, and the poppy, have become a symbol of our veterans from the First and Second World War, and the Korean War. Every year, in November, the Royal Canadian Legion distributes poppies and Canadians wear them to honour our soldiers, who fought for our freedom. Poppies are worn in Britain as well, where Remembrance Day is also known as Poppy Day. I was recently in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. I visited the Canadian National War Memorial there. The war monument depicts soldiers on the battlefront, with a cannon behind them. As you walk around the memo

Guy Fawkes was an English Catholic who, along with two fellow Catholic Englishmen, was involved in a plot to blow up the British Parliament in 1605. Their plan was to blow up Parliament and assassinate King James I, thus restoring a Catholic monarch to the throne. It did not work.  Guy Fawkes was in charge of the gunpowder for this plot, and was guarding it when he was discovered during the early hours of the morning of November 5, 1605. This plan to assassinate King James I and blow up Parliament was also know as the Gunpowder Plot. Guy Fawkes has become synonymous with the Gunpowder plot. Every year on the anniversary of this failed attempt to blow up Parliament, monarchists throughout the British Commonwealth celebrate by throwing a dummy symbolizing Guy Fawkes on a bonfire, or with a fireworks display. November 5th is known as Guy Fawkes Day . I have been to a Guy Fawkes party in Canada where there was a dummy thrown into a bonfire.  I also attended the Guy Fawkes Day festiv

I was left behind. By my tour. In Paris. My first night there.  Here's what happened... It was July, I was on a Contiki tour of Western Europe. The first stop on the tour - Paris! Oh was I excited! I had always wanted to go to Paris! After arriving in the city, we went for supper, then left to go see the most famous sight in Paris - La Tour Eiffel! The Eiffel Tower!  The Eiffel Tower I was on the trip with my cousin. On our tour were several Australians, a few Canadians (like myself), some Europeans, Mexicans, and Americans. We had about an hour to spend at the Eiffel Tower. However, it was a really long lineup to get to the elevator.  In the small group of six that I went to to the top of the tower with were: Three Australians, one American, my cousin and me. We went to the first viewing platform and got a few photos of the city from there. Then, we went to the top. It was dark by then, so our photos were not great. In all we were at the top of the tower for about fi

I like to travel by myself. It allows me more freedom than having a travel partner. That said, I have traveled with my Mom (and will again), and with my counsin (that did not go so well).  As a solo traveler, and a female traveler, I feel it is sometimes better to travel with a tour company. This is not always the case-- I have traveled to England, California, and parts of New Zealand by myself. But when I do travel as part of a tour, I tend to like the companies that cater to small groups. Here are a list of companies that I have traveled with or had help with booking my trip: Canada Moose Network www.moosenetwork.com This backpacker company has two types of tours. In the West, travelers can hop-on or hop-off wherever they please and then book the next bus that has room available. In the East, tours are scheduled with specific stops and hostels. There are two options for the Moose East tours: Inclusive and non-inclusive. Inclusive is a bit more and all hostels and attractions 

The 'Art Deco' architectural style in Napier, New Zealand makes it a unique place to visit. It did not always look like it does today. On February 3, 1931 a 7.9 magnitude earthquake hit the Hawkes Bay region along the east coast of New Zealand. This was, and still is, New Zealand's most devastating earthquake. Due to the fires and subsequent damage caused by the tremors, downtown Napier was especially hard hit and had to be rebuilt. City planners decided to rebuild the city in the new 'Art Deco' style that was gaining popularity in Spanish countries. The Tom Baker Fountain This 'Art Deco' style gives Napier a unique style in New Zealand, making it a tourist attraction. As Napier is a major port, cruise ships stop there so that people can see the amazing architectural styled buildings in downtown. One major attraction along the waterfront is the Tom Baker Fountain, an 'Art Deco' style fountain that is lit up at night for a light show. '

Québec City is beautiful! La belle ville! Especially Vieux-Québec, the Old City. This is inside a fortress wall that the British built to defend against the Americans and Indians during the Seven Year's War.  Québec City is the only fortified city in North America, outside of México City. The city was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985. It has a very European feel to it. Inside the wall, one of the gatehouses Outside the wall Québec City was founded by French explorer Samuel de Champlain in 1608. During the Seven Year's War, in 1759, Québec City was captured by the British. In 1763, the French handed the city over to the British, thus starting the long history of resentment between the French and English in Qu é bec that continues to today. The name "Québec" is derived from the Algonquin Indian word Kébec, meaning "where the river narrows". This is because the St. Lawrence River narrows where Québec City sits across the river from L é vi

Canadian Falls A great day trip from Toronto is to Niagara Falls, Ontario. Niagara Falls are shared by the United States and Canada, with the falls split by Goat Island in the middle. One company that offers a trip to Niagara Falls picks up from hostels and hotels in downtown Toronto. The day trip costs $55 CAD and can be bought from various hostels in downtown, including Canadiana Backpackers and Global Village Backpackers. It is also available through Moose Network ( www.moosenetwork.com ) Pick ups take place between 9:15 and 9:45 am. It is approximately an hour drive to Niagara Falls, passing cities including Mississauga, Hamilton, and St. Catherines. Once there, the tour driver takes you to a great view of the Falls at a lookout. After about an hour you have the option of going on the Maid of the Mist. This costs $19 if you were to go alone, but there is a group rate of $16 too, that is offered on the tour at an additional cost. The Maid of the Mist gets you up clos

“Life is worth living as long as there's a laugh in it.”  ―  L.M. Montgomery ,  Anne of Green Gables I have been traveling in Eastern Canada. One place I have always wanted to see is the home of Anne of Green Gables - Prince Edward Island. I stopped in Charlottetown, the capital and birthplace of Confederation. PEI is known for a several things including: Red beaches, Confederation, and Anne of Green Gables . I went to the Anne of Green Gables store in Charlottetown. It has everything you could want relating to Anne: books, magnets, dolls, calendars, and Raspberry Cordial.  A bit of background to my story is a chapter from Montgomery's book. For those who are not familiar with Anne Shirley, she has a knack for getting into trouble. So here is what happened when Anne's best friend, Diana Barry, came over for afternoon tea. Anne invited Diana over for tea one afternoon, and it was very special because Marilla Cuthbert had given her permission to serve Diana Raspberry

I went on a tour of Los Angeles in April 2010. I was staying in West Hollywood and wanted to see the rest of the city. It was a very full day, visting Hollywood, Venice Beach and Beverly Hills.  I saw the  Hollywood  Walk of  Fame. I couldn't find any of the stars that I wanted to see (Harrison Ford, The Beatles, and Grace Kelly) - I only  had half an hour, but was able to get a photo with Steven Spielberg's  star. I took several other photos of stars - Tom Hanks, Sandra Bullock, and  Houdini. All these were within the two blocks near the former Kodak Theater. (in 2012 they changed the name of the Kodak Theater to  the Dolby Theater.) I couldn't find Marilyn Monroe's handprints, but found the handprints of Harrison Ford, Julie Andrews, C3PO and R2D2, and the Harry Potter hand, foot and wand prints in front of Grauman's Chinese Theater. Very cool! Steven Spielberg's Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame I also s aw the  Hollywood  sign. It was really far

A great day trip from Chiang Mai, Thailand is to the Buddhist temple Wat Prathat Doi Suthep. This is a very sacred temple to the Buddhists. It holds the sacred Buddhist relic believed to be Buddha's shoulder bone, that was carried to the site by the White Elephant. After carrying the relic to the top of the mountain, the elephant died at the site. It was decided that a wat should be built on the site and that it should hold the relic. At the bottom of the 309 steps Wat Prathat (wat means 'temple') is located 15km outside of Chiang Mai, in Chiang Mai Province. You must travel along a winding road before reaching the wat. Once there, to reach the entrance to the wat, you must climb 309 steps up the side of a mountain. There is also a tram that can take you to the top, but it comes with a cost (50 Thai baht return). Lotus Offering Just inside the entrance, there is a shrine at which Buddhists make offerings including lighting incense candles and offerings of l

Have you ever been conned? I don't mean in the criminal sense per se, what I mean is: Has someone ever convinced you to buy something you had no intention of buying in the first place, or that you paid way too much for because the sales person was extremely persuasive and would not give up? This happened to me this week, and I am still trying to rectify the situation. What happened was this...I have been really sick with a cold. On Monday I stayed home from work, but had no medicine in my house, so I had to go to the store for some meds. On my way out, there was a box for a fitness club where you could enter to win a free trial. I impulsively put my contact information down and entered it in the box. Then I left the store. On Tuesday, while at work but still not feeling great, I got a call from the Fitness Centre. The manager, Helen, wanted to know if I could come in to have a look at the place that night. I said yes, because that is what I do. I called after work to cancel the a

I recently bought a condo, finally. It was time. I had been renting for years and had resisted the chance to buy earlier because I was not ready. I needed to travel overseas for a year first. My move made me think about accommodations while traveling. When I book a trip the second thing I look at after booking whatever flights or tours I am going on, is where am I going to stay? I usually stay in hostels as they offer the budget price that I am looking for. This poses a special problem for me because I am afraid of heights, so it is difficult to get out of some top bunk beds in hostels. I have to be particularly choosy, I discovered in Los Angeles in 2010, when the first morning of my year long trip overseas, I was trapped in my top bunk because I was too scared to get down, and it was a difficult bunk bed to get down from anyway. By the time I toured the South Island of New Zealand, four months later, I booked all my hostels based on three criteria: beds (not bunks), free meals, and

Its slogan is "The Greatest Outdoor Show On Earth". It is famous throughout the world. When I was traveling through the South Pacific, people would ask me where I am from. When I told them Calgary, some asked if that was close to Toronto - no, it is not. Others knew where I was talking about because of two things the Calgary area and the city itself is famous for: the mountains, and the rodeo. The Calgary Exhibition and Stampede is on for another year. This year is extra special because it is the 100th anniversary of the Calgary Stampede. The Stampede started out as a way for Calgarians to connect with their Western Heritage past. One Hundred years later, it is what Calgary is famous for and a great time to be in the city! In addition to the usual events happening at the Stampede, this year some new events have been added. These include a zipline that is about 110m high at the start, and a simulated surfing trainer that allows amateurs to get an idea of what it is like t

Have you ever won anything? One of my luckier days was October 6, 2010. The week before I was reading the Capitol Times in Wellington, NZ and saw an ad for a special event being put on by Weta Workshop called "The Art of District 9". This was to be held at the Embassy Theatre in Wellington. All that was required was that you send your mailing address via email to the Capitol Times. I don't usually win anything, but thought: "What the heck. May as well try." Then I promptly forgot about it. One week later I received an envelope in the mail. It was two tickets to the event "The Art of District 9"! This included a chance to hold the Prawn Guns used in the film, meet four artists who worked on the props and art for the film, and a special screening of District 9 . Very cool! So I met my friend at the theatre and took photos with the Prawn Guns. They were heavy! At one point I realized that Richard Taylor was there signing autographs and taking photos w

In 2009 I decided it was time to return to England. I had not been there in ten years and it was time to go back and see what lay beyond London. That said, I did want to spend a few days in London and that is why I decided to research filming locations for the Harry Potter movies and create my own Harry Potter tour. At the time, filming was taking place at Leavesden Studios, just outside of London, for the final Harry Potter film. I could have gone and stood outside the fence, but that seemed like a waste of time to me. Now, since March 2012, tours of Leavesden Studios are available to the public. I hope to return one day and do a tour.   http://www.wbstudiotour.co.uk/ After spending four days in London doing and seeing everything I missed the first time, I started the Harry Potter portion of my trip. First stop - Gloucester Cathedral. Scenes from the first film and more recently Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince were filmed at the cathedral. I had booked a tour bef

"Not all those who wander are lost." ~ J.R.R. Tolkien I tend to get lost when I travel. Sometimes on purpose, sometimes by accident. One place where it is very easy to get lost by accident is Bath, England. In North America, our towns and cities are designed on a square grid that is easy to follow. Bath is another matter entirely. The roads follow no set design, they twist and turn and to add to the confusion, there are traffic circles! One famous traffic circle in Bath is the Circus. Just beyond the Circus is the Royal Palace on the Royal Crescent.  On a map, these roads look like a question mark. After that though, the roads flow off in various directions and it is very confusing. I had to find landmarks to have a vague idea of where I was and how to get back to my hostel! Royal Palace The Roman Bath Houses are a good landmark for reference. These are located in the centre of the main tourist area of Bath and they have the famous Thermae Bath Spa located abov

“Remember what Bilbo used to say: It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to.” ~J.R.R. Tolkien Wellington, New Zealand is where Peter Jackson and Richard Taylor live and work.  Richard Taylor owns and runs Weta Workshop and Weta Digital. I took a Lord of the Rings tour of Wellington and the surrounding area. It was a very good tour, both for the fan in me, but also of the city itself and the area around Wellington. We started where the movies were first filmed - at Mount Victoria. This is a large hill (not a mountain by my standards) that has forests and lots of pathways. This is a public area, which caused a few problems while the movies were filming. We went to the spot where the hobbits fall off the cliff onto the path after being chased by the farmer through the Shire. This is where the "Get off the path!" scene and the woods befor

Coral in the Great Barrier Reef The Great Barrier Reef is so amazing, I snorkeled it twice! The first time I went to the Southern Great Barrier Reef, out of Airlie Beach. It was really neat to see the coral. I was a bit scared, though, because the waves were really strong out in the ocean like that. The second time I went, it was out of Cairns. This was better. The water is clearer in the Northern Great Barrier Reef. My tour took us to two different places. The first was Michaelmas Cay ( http://www.cairnsattractions.com.au/michaelmas-cay.php ). This was really cool. It is another world under the sea. Very peaceful. It is really neat to see all the fish. I saw lots of different types of colourful fish, and the coral is so pretty! Michaelmas Cay is a bird sanctuary, so when I put my head above water, it was like a scene from Alfred Hitchcock's "The Birds". It was very noisy above water! The second place the tour took us to was again, out in the middle

"I've been traveling on a boat in a plane in a car, on a bike with a bus, and a train." ~George Harrison I don't remember how the idea got in my head in the first place. I must have been watching "Crocodile Dundee". Somehow the idea that I had to go to Australia got in my head and would not let go. I have wanted to go to Australia since I was nine years old. It took me 25 years to get there, but finally, my dream trip happened! I traveled on Oz Experience ( http://www.ozexperience.com/ ), a bus tour catering to backpackers. It is hop-on, hop-off - you can get off when and where you want. As I had one month exactly to do everything I had always wanted to do, I had my trip planned down to the last day. I booked all my buses online through Oz Experience. I also booked all my hostels, my tour of the Red Centre, and my inter-Australia flight from Cairns to Alice Springs before leaving Canada. I was a bit worried about not getting my entry visa,