My Journey to another channel

Christchurch, New Zealand, Vinneve

I love to travel and it shows here in WordPress showcasing every place that we go to and enjoying every travel and experience we have in life. Sorry, I am not always here in WP for the reason that I am busier on another channel which is Youtube. Anyway, WP makes it better as I can embed my site here to promote to you ALL who are still here following me and I thank you ALL for supporting me. We have our reasons and I didn’t totally jump ship because I still make time to visit some of you but sad to see that some are either closed their account or not blogging anymore. Just want to say “Hi” again to all who have time to read this and check out my YT channel as below videos. Please feel free to comment here or on my YT channel and will get back to you asap. Here are some videos for you to watch and I hope you can also support me on YT please LIKE, SHARE and SUBSCRIBE, and if you could support me by clicking the “Thanks” button that would be great!

Thanks in advance!

short video Rotorua, Vinneve

ROTORUA TRAVEL SERIES PLS CHECK IT ALL , Vinneve

COPYRIGHT

The photos and articles on this blog are the property of the blogger EveWanderer11 unless otherwise stated. None of them should be used without her permission. Snippets and links could only be used on one condition: full credit is given to Evewanderer11 and the site, “Wanderlust, A new chapter”.

Advertisement

MATARIKI Festival in Auckland

Photo by Marco Milanesi on Pexels.com

MATARIKI festival started from June 19th to July 11th of 2021. This is the Maori New Year that signifies celebrations in New Zealand that begins with the rising of the “Matariki” star cluster. FYI, a star cluster is not a constellation. According to the Te Papa Museum “A cluster is a group of stars that are near each other in space. When seen from earth, the stars from the constellation appear to be closer together in a pattern, but they might actually be far from each other. There are about 500 stars in the Matariki cluster, but only six or seven are visible without a telescope”. Here is the link if you want to know more > https://www.tepapa.govt.nz/discover-collections/read-watch-play/maori/matariki-maori-new-year/whare-tapere/matariki-star-facts

With this celebration the Auckland Transport has given us the whole day of FREE transport last Saturday July 3rd on all buses, ferries (with a few exceptions) and trains to enjoy the event without worrying about parking. We parked in the designated train station parking lot and we are good to go enjoying the day up till night.

Please feel free to watch this YOUTUBE video and if you could LIKE and SUBSCRIBE that would be great too! Otherwise please do comment here and let me know your thoughts. More videos of our travels in PINOYSWISS ABROAD.

MATARIKI FESTIVAL, PinoySwiss abroad

Thank You for being here and will try to visit you all when I can. Soon we will be on another travel and will post it as soon as I can. Please note we travel responsibly and the fact that we are COVID FREE in the community here in NZ makes it easier and safer!

AURORA AUSTRALIS in New Zealand

Photo by stein egil liland on Pexels.com

Perhaps some of you are not aware that there is also an AURORA down under and yes that includes Australia as well since part of it’s name derived from it but there is one flight down here who can bring you to this very special phenomenon for you to see up in the sky! Southern Lights via Air New Zealand through Viva Expeditions as per this link >> https://vivaexpeditions.com/tours/new-zealand/canterbury-upper-south-island/southern-lights-by-flight

Please check this Youtube video for other infos and other news.

PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO PINOYSWISS ABROAD THANK YOU

COPYRIGHT

The photos and articles on this blog are a property of the blogger EveWanderer11 (Vinneve) unless otherwise stated. None of them should be used without her permission. Snippets and links could only be used on one condition: full credit is given to Evewanderer11 and the site, “Wanderlust, A new chapter”.

Best Sailing Team in the World

Maritime Museum to Wynyard Quarter Auckland City. NZ photo by Vinneve

We are so proud to announce that New Zealand best sailing team EMIRATES TEAM NEW ZEALAND has won the America’s Cup (once again!) so you can say it’s New Zealand Cup. This sailing competition started in 1851 making it as the OLDEST TROPHY in the international sport. See link for HISTORY.

Just to let you know here in New Zealand we are COVID FREE in the community. This is why this event made it to FINALS and eventually we won the America’s Cup. Yes, we are FORTUNATE. Of course, as what the Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said many times before “BE KIND” and it takes a TEAM OF 5 MILLION to make this happen. Please check out the Youtube video below to see this event. You can also watch it on Youtube channel by clicking the link below that says “watch on Youtube”. I hope you will like this video and if you could please do LIKE, COMMENTS, SHARE AND SUBSCRIBE. Once again thank you for being here with me!

@PinoySwiss abroad Youtube channel

COPYRIGHT

The photos and articles on this blog are a property of the blogger EveWanderer11 unless otherwise stated. None of them should be used without her permission. Snippets and links could only be used on one condition: full credit is given to Evewanderer11 and the site, “Wanderlust, A new chapter”.

Foreign vloggers lockdown stories in the Philippines

Early Christmas pre-covid times in the Philippines

If you do not know yet, The Philippines usually starts to prepare and celebrate early Christmas when it’s BER months which is now… in September. This is NOT the topic though, sorry. I will cover it next time.

Since we cannot travel outside our own country or territories for most of the people around the world, may I show you what these foreign vloggers that are stranded in the Philippines (that I featured before as per this > LINK) are doing right now with the on and off lockdown GCQ, MCQ, ECQ (sigh!) Check them out again and you will be amazed how they coped being on a lockdown with so many varieties of quarantines. FYI, some parts of the country are covid-free! So don’t just trust the media. Search for truth!

Check out their adventures while living/stranded in the Philippines and some actually wants to stay for good.

The Island of PALAWAN – voted as the best island in the world 2020. Especially now that no other tourists around but mostly locals and some stranded foreigners, the nature is much more awesome!

@Jumping Places

SIARGAO – the surfing capital , island hopping etc.

@Martin Solhaugen + Eight Miles from Home

CEBU – the second capital of the country (sort of).

@Finn Snow

DAVAO – is in Mindanao. The President Duterte’s turf. You will change your mind about this region Mindanao. This vlogger bought a land here partnering with his best mate. It helps that they can speak the language there. Check them out.

@Becoming Filipino

MANILA – the capital of the Philippines. These are their updated vlog about INTRAMUROS (The walled city) and their life while living in Makati & BGC respectively. These 2 couples decided to live in the country.

@Making it Happen

@The Juicy vlog

There are some more vloggers but these are my favorite ones that I always watch on Youtube. Since our travel plans was shelved last April. We cannot go and visit the Philippines. It’s really disappointing because I have a very important mission to do there not just for leisure. But yes, it’s better to wait and be safe than sorry. So many restrictions on both countries NZ and PH anyway. So I am just watching these vloggers to feel like I am there.

Thanks for reading and watching these vlogs. You will not regret it and knowledge is POWER!

Frosty Wonderland

“It is the life of the crystal, the architect of the flake, the fire of the frost, the soul of the sunbeam. This crisp winter air is full of it.”

by John Burroughs

In response to the Word of the Day Challenge – Giddy. I am not sure if I will be giddy to know about how cold it is down there today! But I do agree it is breathtakingly beautiful. Will you agree with me?

See photos below. Please click to zoom it to size. Credit goes to One News TV. I cannot help not to post this. It is on State Highway 8, a southern scenic regions of the Mackenzie Basin and Central Otago in South Island, New Zealand. Major cities are: Lake Tekapo, Omarama, Fairlie, Twizel, Roxburgh, Lawrence, Alexandra & Cromwell. FYI, just in case you want to visit next year.

Switzerland has a white swan while here in New Zealand we have a black swan. The lake got frozen so the swan must walk instead. Cheers!

Dessert Museum, A unique way to sweeten your day!

SUGAR? No thanks, I’m sweet enough!” anonymous 

What is the best way to sweeten your day? Go ahead to Dessert Museum.  Yes! you heard me right.  Though it’s not really a Museum in the true sense of the word it shows to appreciate what makes this appealing to kids and when there are kids there are families in tow… and in the Philippines, the family is a big deal.

DessertMuseumfliers,vinneve

LakbayMuseo, vinneve foto

 

 

It is located beside MOA, Pasay City (a part of metropolitan Manila) which is truly a City within a City.  Another tourist attraction is LAKBAY MUSEO which is just beside it inside the S Maison mall which is connected to MOA or Mall of Asia as per the previous post. Click this LINK.

Anyway, this Instagram-able place is a bit pricey for most Filipinos especially if you have 2 or more kids which are normal in the Philippines.  Nevertheless, they even have a time they’re fully booked.  It is better to buy tickets from KLOOK as I realized too late as it’s cheaper online. Also, my father’s ticket is free because he’s celebrating his birthday this October. So a better plan, when there are 1 or 2 people in the family, has a birthday coming.  FYI… at least you will be getting some sweets 5-6 pcs per person in every room that has a treat (though not all the rooms have it).  Of course, kids love it!

Donuts.DessertM, vinneve

Marsmallows.DessertM, vinneve

We spent two hours I think inside as the kids explore other activities while eating their sweets, and the adults posing selfies, two-fies or the whole family!  So you see this is the only Museum (sort of) where you are allowed to eat your sweets! At the end of the day… one happy kid is all that matters!  Soon he may not truly enjoy this kind of thing so I might as well savor the moment with him.

Thanks for checking my blog or this new post, truly appreciate your time.  LIKE, FOLLOW and/or comment will be good too.  Enjoy LIFE while we can!

Destination: Louvre Abu Dhabi, beautiful architectural Museum

 

My son and I went to Louvre in Paris when he was just 5 years old. He’s my travel buddy ever since and we both love the same things except shopping of course haha!  You may wonder what is the meaning of Louvre anyway?  Here as per Google meaning “overlapping strips in a window (to let in air but keep out rain)” first recorded 1550s. The form has been influenced by apparently unrelated FrenchLouvre , the name of the palace in Paris, which is said to be so named because its builder, Philip Augustus, intended it as a wolf kennel”.

Our love for Museum keep us together in every Country we have visited through the years. He is now 10 years old and this time it’s a must to go and see another LOUVRE but here in Abu Dhabi where we currently live as an expatriate and before we go home to NZ.  According to Google, Louvre Abu Dhabi is a beautiful architectural “Museum for arts and civilization”.  See below some beautiful arts and paintings.

And some bizarre ones below… 

And that was ME,vinnevefoto

Beautiful scenery outside restaurant and coffee shop. There’s a lot to see actually in and out of the building. We thought we have seen it all but was surprised to enter another side of the building and saw another collections. If you have a kid with you there’s also a Children’s Museum and some extra activities for them to do. If you are an AD residents it’s better to buy an annual pass. They usually change some arts and crafts as well as featuring special arts or paintings from another Country every 3 months or so.  For Museum enthusiasts you can easily spend the whole day here.  Lovely calming scenery outside, to sit down at the stairs /benches with someone or just be by yourself facing the sea or even touching the water below.  Children must be supervised.

Cheers!

Destination: RAK Glamping by the beach

 

RAK stands for Ras Al Khaimah. It’s one of the 7 Emirates of the UAE 🇦🇪. DUBAI is the most known Emirates but actually the capital is Abu Dhabi. RAK is one of a kind destination that perhaps not many of you know what or where it is.  Here is the LINK for you to browse about this part of the Emirates.

I had an older post on this LINK at our first time to this place, so please check this out to know more. For now… it’s about our last escapades outside Abu Dhabi before we go back home to New Zealand 🇳🇿 after living here for more than 3 long years without going on holiday back to our home Country.

We bought a family “glamping” package thru a Groupon website as mentioned by our family friend and seeing they cater to your needs complete with mattresses and other necessities inside of your chosen type of tent, we didn’t hesitate though hubby worry a bit about his back (he got some extra pillows though).  This is our first time being in a tent considering we live in Nz famous for hiking, beach and yes camping.  It’s a long story why. Anyway, the staffs we’re all attentive and glad that it surprised us that we didn’t have any problem or complaint at all throughout the 2 days we we’re there. We just enjoyed our family bonding with friends and used their facilities and free activities for kids.

 

Dining tables as per guest number, vinneve foto

 

Dinner (cooked meats & grilled seafoods) and breakfast with unlimited drinks were included and yes free alcoholic drinks from 7-10pm. Some people are so happy about it. We are a casual drinker so we don’t have to binged. We appreciated that we don’t have to worry about our kid asking for sweets or even popcorn as it’s also provided at the open air cinema as well as marshmallows for the many bonfires provided whether for everyone to use or for relaxing sitting beside with your friends or family chatting what to do in the morning.  My boy went crab hunting and swimming at the beach. He can do kayaking or paddle boarding but in a lake or around mangroves not in an open sea though there’s some lifeguard there… still I’m a bit protective alright. Adults were the ones eager to use it including jet skiing and so much more.

Above water obstacle course should be on the water but because it’s a bit windy so it’s safer that the kids play on this on the land.

They have petting zoo as well as per schedule only. Swimming pool is fun for kiddos especially the small ones.  They have another pool for all to enjoy.

RAK Longbeach campground is really a good place for family who want to experience catered camping.  We leave with good memories.  Cheers!!

Journey from the past to the present.

Truly, I already started practicing what the quote is all about just late this year … 3 years later!  For sure, I am not the only one and I did try my best.

Another blogger that I am following gave me an inspiration and insight about my topic today. He gives good advises & can explain better than me about what a topic is about… his name is Drew and here is his LINK.  Enjoy reading!

His post about “Navigating Life” and I can’t help but to answer in my mind the questions asked in his seminar at work that he put in his blog and explained.

Here’s the thought:

1.  The most important thing is where you are right now.  I now realized that I was focused on  the “the life I had before”  that it’s hard for me to let go and accept what are the good things staring in front of me… yes where I am right now.  I keep comparing but the reality is, it is not fair to compare “a kiwi to a date!”  if you get my meaning.  Where I am right now is with my family and hope to stay that way.
2.  Appreciating what you have.  I started to see and appreciate what life has to offer for us in our current situation.  Nowhere else we will feel these “benefits” and gain more insights about the World and having an “expats (extra-ordinary) life”  if we stay put in our comfort zone.
3.  It’s better to have plans and if one is a failure then you have many other options in place.  I often think that after we finished our journey here, that I for one, will be back in my hometown, home Country.  I guess now it’s different.  I am now open to possibility of saying… “it may not be, yet…”  OR “will see what other opportunities out there” OR  “we can always go back anytime”  as I cannot decide just for myself since having a family, it’s all for one and one for all!  Plan A, B, C’s are the best way for us to go ahead.  Life’s journey is never easy but somehow we will decide what’s best for our family one contract at a time!

I leave you with another quote and maybe some of you readers can also relate to my post.  Feel free to comment and I will truly appreciate it.  Thank You for your time.