chriskerbers Blog on RealTravel

Franz Josef Glacier journal: Glaciers and Abel Tasman

Wed, 05 Jul 2006 15:17:47 GMT

It is Christmas Eve. Drove to Fox Glacier and Franz Josef Glacier half way up the west coast. The drive took all day, but we wanted to see snow on Christmas or at least the very compact stuff that makes up the area’s glaciers. These glaciers have been advancing 1 km over the last 10 years, or about 40 cm a day (or 4 widths of a man’s palm) but since the ice is melting a faster rate it appears to be retreating back up the mountain. With this daily movement comes an array of noises, belches and moans from the ablation zone where the glacier is melting. Sink holes, ice caves, crevasses and ...

Milford Sound journal: The Milford Track and 'Becomming Fine'

Wed, 05 Jul 2006 15:16:55 GMT

The Milford Track and Becoming Fine

The heralded Milford Track, the finest walk in the world. I agree it is truly one of the most stunning places I've seen on earth. The Milford resides in the Fiordland National Park, a world heritage site and 10% of the New Zealand landmass. Between the 45th and 47th south parallel and west of New Zealands southern alps receives some 5- 7 meters (16-22ft) of rain a year and not too many rain days to be otherwise noted. So when it rains, the granite mountains come alive and the rivers turn into raging torrents. We were a part of 40 independent ...

Queenstown journal: Queenstown and the tale of a rubber band

Wed, 05 Jul 2006 15:16:15 GMT

Queenstown On the shores of Lake Wakatipu, a very scenic mountain valley emerges the town of Queenstown. This is the capital of AA, Adventure and Adrenaline, where if you get a rush doing it you can probably sell it to the tourist. Sara was after only one piece of the town’s show. She dragged me to the highest suspension bridge in the land and the 103-meter bungy jump called Pipeline to experience this thing called, ‘rush.’ “Rush” defined around these parts is jumping off high stationary object, attaining 75 mile per hour speed, then have a 3 inch thick rubber band engage thus jolting ...

Christchurch journal: Kia Ora from the South Island's East coast

Wed, 05 Jul 2006 15:15:35 GMT

Kia Ora! Picked up the lovely Sara Den Besten this afternoon at the Christchurch Airport. I had arrived a day earlier. My strategy for her jet lag was to run hard in the daylight hours (writers note: sunset on the south island of New Zealand is 9:15 pm.) and sleep well at night. We were scheduled to tramp (hike) the infamous Milford Track the following week so there was much sightseeing to be done before.

Christchurch, ‘the Garden City’ my logical thought was to see the immense botanical gardens. It had a great collection of old trees, New Zealand native forest and a fragrant rose ...

Melbourne journal: 'She'll be apples, mate!' UPDATED!

Wed, 05 Jul 2006 15:14:56 GMT

Just let the dogs out of Dickie Garrard's house to chase a kangaroo. They had no chance against the long legged, pouched creature. They can jump clear across a two lane highway and slice your belly down the middle with ONE swipe of their rear foot.

I'm in Bell's Beach 'susing out' some opportunities for cousin George's sunscreen, getting a hold on the local 'okka' language and sliding on my butt.

First, Dickie Garrard Australia Olympic rowing team 1964 and 1996-2000 coach for USA. Dickie aka 'The Seal' lives in Bell's Beach and is best known for his smile and belting out an ...

Port Elizabeth journal: Jeffreys Bay

Wed, 05 Jul 2006 15:14:10 GMT

Jeffreys Bay. The SuperTubes 'Fabled Right' is amazing to experience. I have extended myself on a shorter slicker 6'11' as well a shooting waves on my back side, I am 'Goofy footer' in surf terms (ride w/ Right foot forward). I will sink or surf.

Caught 'Kob' fish caught yesterday on Gamtook river mouth east of Jeffreys w/ friends from Brazil, Auzzie and local boy. No waves so we fish. Bought white mussels for bait from local tribemen amd sealed the deal 10 Rand($1.20 and sinking lucky me), 2 hooks, 4 sinkers, 3 cigarets(not mine).

Children playing in the water after school ...

Cape Town journal: Cape Town and east to the Western Cape?

Wed, 05 Jul 2006 15:13:29 GMT

Hermanus: Southern Right Whales come to the protected cliff side bay of Hermanus in the spring to calf. If a calf is born in deep water other females will help out until the mother and calf are strong. Jazz fest on land to celebrate the season. and swimming in the Atlantic Ocean. Yes the change over to the Indian Ocean is a little east of here. Othe r important fact. This area has one of the worlds six floral kingdoms. N and S america make up one. I made up the word but it takes up .04 % (200-300 Kms)of the world suface. North and South America, 42%, take up another. The Fynbos, ...

The World journal: Round The World

Tue, 09 May 2006 16:40:15 GMT

Photos from my round the world trip.

Bangkok journal: ...and the world's your oyster

Mon, 24 Apr 2006 01:04:31 GMT

Bangkok, Oriental setting And the city don't know that the city is getting

Only here 4 days to witness the smiles, Muay Thai boxing(best brutality on tv), Theravada Buddhism, massage and a get keen haircut.

Again the contrasts of culture are apparent yet a bit stealthy. Icons of religion are all over the buzzing city. Emerald, relaxing, sitting, happy, gold and lucky buddhas are in beautiful wats(temples). Cultural stealthyness in the fact of stories I heard of jewelry scams, trickery of card games and plain old theft.

Smack in the middle of Southeast Asia, Bangkok can ...

Dubai journal: Emirates Tradition

Mon, 24 Apr 2006 01:04:27 GMT

The stark contrast of tradition and modernity here is apparent. As differnet as the crystal blue Arabian sea and soft red sands(hot under foot)of the desert.

With up to 80% of the working population here being foreign the preservation of tradition is taken quite seriously. Allah, family and charity are part of the five pillars of Islam.

Prayers are said 5 times a day - before sunrise, high noon, middafternoon(when shadows and object casting are the same height), after sunset and later night. A combination of standing, bowing, sitting and prostration happen in 2-4 cycles(10 min.) ...

Dubai journal: Arabian Landscape

Mon, 24 Apr 2006 01:04:25 GMT

Who's reading this? Please send to message to guestbook email at ckerber@airtreks.com Masalama

I have been in the desert 4 out of last 5 days w/ South Africa Ex-Patriots John Callie (SA Row team 94-97) and girlfriend Linda Stanford. Unique fortune of working with 'Offroad' book editor Shelley Frost. Note to Aunt Carol: she is also a harpist!

So we trudge the desert sands of UAE, Saudi Arabia and Oman with GPS(Global Positioning System via satellite) in one hand, pen in the other and camera ready for pictures of desertscapes, wadis(water ravines), and points of interest like ...

Wellington journal: Hawkes Bay

Mon, 24 Apr 2006 01:04:23 GMT

Spent New years in Hawkes Bay on the North Island. Chris and Marki Nilsson's farm - Te Awanga Downs was were we gladly laid our tired heads and joined with friends for holiday celebrations. New Zealand is first time zone and sunrise of the 'proper' millennium and we are on the East Coast at Cape kidnappers.

We also were invited to stay at their close friends beach house in Waimarama. People say the South Island is more beautiful than the North. But I would reckon Hawkes Bay area is very beautiful, with acres of vineyards and flowing hills of stock sheep and cattle.

Thank you ...

Johannesburg journal: South Africa

Mon, 24 Apr 2006 01:04:11 GMT

SA and safari Got up to Kruger National Park to view game. And we were quite lucky since it was raining. Animals are quite active during the day when it is cool. And we saw them at every turn. The highlights are two kills 1) Giraffe by two female lions and 2) Impala by a cheetah. Amazing life and death conflict safely in our car on the side of the road. As well the list below:

- White Rhinos - Giraffe - Many Zebra and Wildebeast - Buffalo - Hippo - Kudus, Genets and Steenbok - Eagles and King fishers And elephants galore. One visited Dan and I for lunch. We heard a huff ...

Johannesburg journal: Farewell to SA

Mon, 24 Apr 2006 01:04:09 GMT

South Africa - Touching the suface of Arfica Few centuries of repressed anger has come to bear fruit since the end of Apartheid. In an already extreme world, the poles have turned upside down in the early 90's and thus the laws of the evolution, jungle and bush readily apply. Ruling whites, 12 % of the estimated 40 million total population, are now being ruled. The newly elected parties (like the ANC) are making radical changes - renaming cities, highways and streets and imposing a quota system.

Social side : "Change of government was good, it had to happen but I don't want to lose ...

Durban journal: Wild Coast to Durban

Mon, 24 Apr 2006 01:04:07 GMT

Ahh

Jeffreys bay - Cinsta - Coffee bay ... the Wild Coast

Just picked up yesterday paper after a 10 days ...

In Durban at the minute to meet w/ sunscreen company about my cousin George's Hawaiian formula. And this place needs skin and shark protection.

Rule: Don't pee in the sea, the sharks will smell you.

Just out of the Transkei or the Wild Coast, The last Xhosa homeland to enter Republic of SA. And rightly so, the last of true South Africa is in existance here. Villages strone over the hills and children walking home from schools in uniforms heading back to ...