South Island

PICTURES

Hi people,

Finally I have some time to give you an update on the last couple of weeks! I have arrived back in Christchurch yesterday with Merel- she flew back to Australia for her last 3 weeks before going back to NL. I will stay another 12days or so in NZ and then fly to San Francisco.

Merel and me met up again in Taupo three weeks ago. We spent a couple of relaxing days there swimming in beautifull water of lake Taupo and its rivers. After that Merel walked the Tongariro Crossing and I travelled to Wellington. We met up a day later and spent two very nice days there. Then we took the boat [ferry] to the South Island.

We arrived in Picton where we saw a lot of sealife, just in the harbor. Hundreds of seastars, fish and even some rays. One day we walked about 28km on the Queen Charlotte Track in the beautifull area around Picton (Malborough Sounds, a sort of ford-landscape).

After that we travelled by bus to Christchurch where we picked up our rental car. We drove immediately to Akaroa, a small place on Banks Pininsula. this is a volcanic pininsula where the crater of the main volcano actually erupted to form a bay of the sea. We swam with Dolphins there!! Amazing, swimming circles with these animals while they look at you.. really seeming to play and investigate you! We also collected (huge) mussels there and cooked them in a nice paella! It was great. We stayed on a farm/hostell... good beginning of our roadtrip!

After that we drove a whole day trough amazing landscapes to go pick up Myrte in Nelson. Myrte is a friend of Merel, travelling Australia and New Zealand aswell. After picing her up we drove to the far north, Farewel Spit and later Abel Tasman National Park. We did a whole day of Seakayaking there and saw heaps of seals and pinguins! We swam at amazing little beaches. In the afternoon we walked for another 3,5hours through the park. It was great. Just check the pictures!

After that we drove to the westcoast and down, to a place called Frans Jozef. There is a glacier there we were going to climb. What an insaine trip! All day climbing up the glacier trough cracks in the beautifull blue ice! Surreal!

Then we travelled South to Te Anau [after visiting Fox Glaciar down the road] where we had a nice afternoon break with Cheese and Wine [Valentine day and Merel and me 4 months together].

The next day we did a boat tour in the Milford Sound: a proper "fjord". Again, amazing. Pictures dont do justice. One of the cool things was that the boat dipped it's front into a waterfall [yes, we were standing on the front deck and got a nice shower].

After Te Anau we drove to Wanaka [great lake views and mountain air] and later Queenstown. Here we spent two days relaxing [reading, eating, drinking, going out, short strolls in the park and town]. We needed that after so much hectic travelling!

After Queenstown we drove south furter, to the South Coast where we saw amazing landscapes and pinguins.

We seem to have saved the best for last: On the way back North to Christchurch we visited the Mount Cook National Park. I can only say check the pictures of the blue lakes and the snowy peaks and crazy glaciers... it was simply magnificent!

The last night we dropped of Myrte in Akaroa, where we started our trip, so she could
swim with Dolphins aswell. The next day Merel and I dropped off the car in Christchurch and you know the rest.

It was an amazing trip, but I am happy that I am now on my way [slowly] to the Netherlands again. What a travels I have don so far! It has been what I wished for and more.. but I miss you all now so.. i'll be back soon.

But first a little bit more NZ and some North America too.

Check back soon!

PICTURES

Bas.

pictures South Island- in progress

the pictures of the travels on the South Island- the photos of Merel and Myrte will be uploaded soon to check back in a couple of days!

PICTURES

pictures Taranaki-Wellington

the pictures of the last week on the north island: Mt. Taranaki (vulcano I climbed) and the travels to Wellington after meeting up with Merel again.

PICTURES

South Island

Sorry people! I am to busy travelling to keep the blog updated, but I picked mussels with Merel as big as my hand and we cooked and ate them, then we swam with Dolphins (insaine), then we kayaked a whole day and encountered seals and swam in crazily beautifull blue sea, today we climed a glaciar all day- IT IS SIMPLY CRAZY!

PICTURES

Bas.

Roadtrip

Hi people!

You may wonder why I havent written in a while... I am on a road trip on the south island with Merel! It is simply amazing! Pictures will come soon!!

Bas.

next Vulcano: Mnt. Taranaki

I climbed mount Taranaki- a vulcano that rises out of the coastal flat-lands to 2520m.. an amzing climb.. the previous alpine walk [Tongariro crossing] was nothing compared to this [in terms of physical effort]. My god.. what a monster! Photos will come soon...

Bas.

Rotorua and Napier

Hi people!

After Taupo & Tongariro i went to Rotorua. This is an amazing place- everywhere there earth bubbles with Volcanic energy. Steam and fumes drift by everywhere- almost everybody has a hotspring in their own backyard! The town smells horrible though- a sulphur smell (like rotten eggs). But is is pretty impressive. I saw a geiser (biggest on southern hemisphere) in a park with some steaming lakes. There was alos a lot of information on Maori culture- they had a great war-canoe on exhibition! See the PICTURES.

After that I went to Napier. This little town on the east-coast was destroyed by an earthquake cin the 1930's. They quickly rebuilt everything in the style of the 30's, so now they have an amazing collection of Art Deco architecture... Just check the pictures.

I also added some pictures of the bustrip to Napier.

Enjoy.

Bas.

Auckland and Taupo

On top of Tongariro Mountain [1978m].

Hi People!

I've been in New Zealand now for more than a week. I was off to a slow start in Auckland since A- I was staying in a great hostel and B- I needed to get organised (in the brain) about my trip trough NZ.

In Auckland I have visited some vulcanic hills: Mount Eden and the next day Rangitoto. Mt. Eden is in the middle of the city, and on top you have a great view of Auckland. You can also see (in the photographs aswell) the green hills dotted troughout the city: these are all vulcanos! Really something. Especially cool to see a group of cows grazing in the crater of the vulcano.

Rangitoto is the youngest volcano in Auckland. It emerged out of the sea some six hundred years ago. That event has been thouroughly imbedded into Maori (native New Zealanders) culture- they have a gods that are linked to the vulcanic activity of the island. I took a ferry from the harbour of Auckland and dit a 12km walk around the island (which is mostly deserted accept from some holiday homes around the coast). It was great.

After Auckland I travelled to Lake Taupo in the centre of the North Island of New Zealand. It is the biggest lake on the southern hemisphere and was created in a hug volcanic explosion 1800 years ago. The Romans and the Ancient Chines recored that for months the earth recieved much less sunlight! I am happy to not have been here during that explosion! The lake is 30x40km... imagine.

Anyway, the first day I spent walking around and hinking along a river that flows out of the lake, towards some nice waterfalls. Great walk- the water was so nice and clear (and the weather was great too).

Yesterday however, I spent the whole day hinking in the mountains. This was incredible. Simply amazing. The walk I did was Tongariro Alpine Crossing- wich takes you trough some of the most amazing volcanic landscapes in the world. For people who know Lord of the Rings: this is the Mount Doom region (large vulcano with red topping you see in pictures). It was an all day, 23km hike (I did some side-tracks which made it better but also a bit tougher).

I hope the picture show a little bit about the trip because in reality it is simple flabbergasting- mindblowing- insainely wicked. What a trip! See the black lavaflow, the emerald turqouise lakes, the snowtops, the popped red blister, the steam and vulcanic fumes coming out of a valley, and mount Doom in the

PICTURES

What a trip am I making! This is what I came for! Can it get better than this??

Bas.

goodbye Melbourne, welcome to New Zealand

Auckland

vlnr Donnie, Matt, Dorian, Bruno, Rafa, Leanne, Dennis, Emily, Jet.

Hi people!

I have recently arrived in New Zealand, Auckland. Maybe you can tell from the picture; it is not the most beautifull city in the world in terms of architecture, however it is built on 50(!!) vulcanos amidst the sea. After a couple of sunny days, this weekend has been very rainy. I have spent most days on the internet and in books and travelguides, trying to make up my mind on where to travel (I am alos waiting for a package from Holland with my tent and campinggear).

In Melbourne I had a very nice goodbye-BBQ. Leanne helped me organize it and it was really great. Dennis and Emily were there, ofcourse! And Matt and Jet. And some guys from the hostel: Donnie (from New York), Dorian (from France), Rafa and Bruno (from Brazil). And ofcourse Leanne, who will be coming to NZ in Febuari, so I will see her soon again.

Merel stayed in Sydney- she will do some surfing and working on an organic farm. She will come to New Zealand for 5weeks, from 19januari onwards. We will travel the South Island together, that will be so cool!!!

Big hug, hope all of you are very well!

Bas.

new phonenumber

Hi people.

My new New Zealand phonenumber is:

+64-211-61-3464

Take care.

Bas.

happy new year!

New Year I celebrated in Sydney, with my cousin Marc and his girlfriend Clarissa, and some friends of them- some of whome I have met before in Germany or in Townsville. It was simply fantastic. We were invited to the home of somebody a friend of my cousing met while travelling. He had an amazing apartment with an amazing view over Sydney towards the Harbourbridge. It was awesome!! We bbq'ed on the balcony, opened some beers and later watched the crazy fireworks! What a night!

See more PICTURES HERE.

Bas.

PS. Merel spent the night with her friends in the Sydney Harbour, on a boat of people they'd met travelling. She made some movies of the fireworks.. I will try and upload them soon!

merry christmas and happy newyear!

From a sunny and hot (27-32 degrees celcius) Melbourne, I whish you all a very merry christmas and a happy and healthy 2009!

I will spent Christmas with Dennis and Emily and their family. They have invited me for lunch and dinner on 1st day of Christmas. On "Boxingday" (2nd day of Christmas) I will go to see a cricket-match in the big MCG-stadium (90.000 people)- Australia vs. South Africa, together with Dennis, Jet, Leanne and some others. Also Alistair (I guy from South Africa I met in Cairns while travelling) will come to see the game. All day, enjoying the sun, beers and cricket!!

PICTURES

For New Year I will fly to Sydney where I will celebrate with Marc and Clarissa (my cousin and his girlfriend) and some friends. Also Merel will be in Sydney for the New Year. Looking forward to that! I will be arriving in 2009 10 hours before most of you!

Hope your holidays will be well-spent. See you all in under 3 months! 17 March I will be back in Amsterdam...

Bas.

into the desert

Hi people!

I have visited the 'Red Centre' of Australia the last couple of days. It was simply incredible!

I left Melbourne (by plane) with a sore throat, a fever and backpain. I don't know how I got it, but it was pretty annoying. When I arrived in Alice Springs, it was raining! In the desert! Crazy. Good start hey!? Come here to see desert and 42degrees, and I get here sick, and 32degrees and rain. And Merel didn't come along in the end- she will visit the Red Centre later- she is working on an organic farm now until a couple of days before Christmas.

After having done some checking into a hostel, and some shopping for my tour into the desert, I was happy to get into my bed. I was shivering of fever and seriously thought about canceling my 3-day tour to Uluru (Ayer Rock), Kata Tjuta (Olga Mountains) and Kings Canyon- but hey, don't they have flying doctors here??

So, at 5 o'clock in the morning I got up and got into our tourbus with about 18 other people. We had a five hour drive to Kings Canyon ahead of us. Luckily the rainclouds were gone but they had left the desert cool and green!

At Kings Canyon, the creek was flowing for the first time in 23 months, so we were very lucky to see some beautiful waterfalls: A rare sight. We did a 3,5hour walk into the Canyon where most of us had a nice swim in one of the 'waterholes' (pools that usually survive extended dry periods- very important in aboriginal culture as you may imagine).

After the Kings Canyon walk we drove another 4 hours (past Mount Connel that you can see in the pictures aswell, sometimes they call it "Foolaru" because people think it is Uluru). It was a long drive to our campsite in the desert. We made a nice campfire and put all our swags (heavy canvas sleepingbags in which you put your own warm sleepingbag- swags allow you to sleep outside in the desert) in a big circle around the fire. We ate a good 'chili-con-carne' and drank a beer and fell asleep almost immediately after that.

I woke up just before sunrise. A narrow flaming red line formed the horizon. I stayed inside my warm sleepingbag, feeling only a slightly chilly wind on my face (the only exposed part of my body). The red line slowly grew into a slightly wider dark orange one... everything else was black, the horizon, the landscape and the outline of trees and bushes. After dark orange came bright orange, yellow, even green and then blue... all in 20-30min. What a sight. No sounds, just wind and dust blowing past... AMAZING!!! It's good to be alive- and I am a lucky bastard.

When everybody got up and had breakfast, we went to see the Olga Mountains or Kata Tjuta. This is a very strange rock formation very close (35km) from Uluru. And like Uluru it is a very sacred place. We walked through the amazing gorges for some 4 hours. We found another waterhole to swim in. It was full of huge tadpoles (kikkervisjes), and everybody that got in was cleaned by them. We also found 'ochre' in different colors that aboriginals used for their rock-art drawings- of which we didn't see any because these sacred places amongst the hills are not to be visited by non-aboriginals.

After Kata Tjuta we went back to our campsite for a couple of hours chillin'. When the sun started to go down and the temperature dropped (from 35 to 27 or so I guess), we went for a small walk at Uluru and a visit to the Aboriginal Culture Centre there- very interesting: we saw their tools (boomerangs, spears, diggingsticks, etc.), their paintings, some of their stories and explanations about their food. Great stuff! The walk at Uluru took us to see some waterholes and caves. Our very nice guide 'Mark' gave us explanation about the Rock, it's history and explained to us some of the laws and customs of the aboriginal people.

After that we drove off a little, to see the sunset at Uluru. This was at a big parking area where hundreds of people had gathered in one big photograpghy-orgy. People in high-heels drinking champagne, backpackers in their 'Wicked'-campervans, touristgroups, families... everybody there.. it was hilarious: all watching the sunset at a big Rock- 450km from any civilization (Alice Springs has not even 30.000 inhabitants, and it's the biggest thing for at least 1500km in any direction).

After dinner we got into the swags again for another night under the stars. We were woken up at 5h again to go and watch the sunrise at Uluru. And just when I was climbing out of my swag, still sleepy, I saw a HUGE falling star... very wide tail and very 'slowly' moving... so good!!! Another great start of my day. I felt slightly better since the first day... the fever was gone but backpain and sore throat were still annoying me however.

We watched the sunrise at an empty carpark area (!) and it was of course even nicer than sunset. Then we went for a long walk around the rock (some 10km's!). And I thought it would just be a rock... but it is full of interesting caves, little valley's with waterholes and cracks through which rainwater comes down. And so RED! In short, it is a very intricate holy-place for aboriginal culture, that has visited Uluru for over 40.000years. We have been told about their rituals and things like that. For instance: if somebody dies at this place, the aboriginal tribe there, all of them, have to make cuts in their skin and bleed to mourn the dead and get rid of bad spirits. That is why they politely ask anybody not to climb their Uluru. Unfortunately, aboriginal law has not been incorporated into Australian Law, so it is not forbidden to climb the rock. I (and our whole group) respected the aboriginal's wishes, but we were probably some of the few... many stupid people didn't care and climbed it anyway... buses full of tourist cursing like crazy in the aboriginal St. Peter Cathedral.... makes me sad!!!

Anyway, we had a 6hour drive ahead so we left around noon, after we had a nice 'English' breakfast with beans and sausages and eggs and all that. In the bus back to Alice Springs, I suggested to put all the left-over beers into a music-quiz competition: I sat in the front-seat with the i-pod connected to the stereo and played songs, and who-ever guessed songtitle and artist would get half a cup of cold beer. It was hilarious. For 2,5 hours we laughed like crazy. And then we ran our of beer. 5 minutes later everybody was asleep!

At night, back in the hostel we had dinner all together and then a lot of beers. It was again and amazing trip! I am so happy I have done this before going to New Zealand on the 8th of January.

Check the PICTURES!

Bas.

Great Ocean Road

Hi people!

With Merel, I made trip along the Great Ocean Road, a famous coastal route along the Southern Ocean, south of Melbourne. Dennis, my friend, was so kind to let me borrow his car- a 1970's Alfa Romeo, 2.0l sportscar. Very very nice! We had a great time. We took two days, walking rainforrests, enjoying the coastal landscape, seeing cliffs and gorges, seeing wildlife (Koala's Echydna's Kangaroo's) and good food, talks and listening to music. It was just GREAT!

Check the PICTURES.

Bas.

Federica!!

... along the way we stopped at a scenic lookout. Another car parked there, just after us. 3 people get out, 2 guys and a girl. I say politely 'hello' without paying much attention. Just before Merel and I get back into the car, I look at the girl one more time. "FEDERICA!!"
- "Bas!?!?"
My god! How small this planet is. Federica studied with Dennis and Alberto in Delft for one semester in 2004. We haven't seen eachother in 4 years and there we meet, by coicidence, on a carpark along the Great Ocean Road. How insane is life!?!?
Bas.

MOVING ON

Hi people.

I will soon be moving on to New Zealand. I had planned to stay in Melbourne and Australia until at least mid-febuari, but some things have changed. I didnt find a job in architecture, but in a restaurant. But this is only covering my expenses [barely]. I am not saving any money for the remainder of my travels. Also my father is going through some though times personally. So, I have decided to go to New Zealand soon [probably around 14 december] which will bring me back to The Netherlands around mid-March.

Before that time I am plannig to go see the red-centre [Alice Springs and the N.P. around there] and the Great Ocean Rd.

Ofcourse it is too bad, Melbourne is a great city. I would have loved to spend some more time here and celebrate christmas with Dennis and his friends and family- but fortunately he will move to Paris in Januari- so we can catch up then.

This is the way travelling seems to go: you never know what's going to happen next. That's what the edventure is all about.

Hope all of you are well. Nice to see you are all still following my stories [Nol en Vijf bijvoorbeeld!].

Bas.

Merel in Melbourne's Possum Paradise

Hi there people. This is Merel. Merel rocks! She is from Utrecht and loves great food and good music, and loves playing violin! I have met Merel about 2-3months ago, when I was visiting Leanne in Proserpine. We enjoy a lot of afternoons in Melbourne's very nice parks. Check the pictures at the PICASA site for an impression of my time in Melbourne.

One evening this week, in the park, we ended up feeding many many possums! It was POSSUM PARADISE. How cool is that!?

More news soon, because Merel and I will be going to drive the Great Ocean Road together and hopefully visit Ayers Rock, the Olga Mountains and Alice Springs soon.

Bas.

work in Melbourne

Hi People.

Finding work as an architect in Melbourne has not succeeded. The global financial crises has distroyed the construction-industry here. No jobs what so ever. A lot of architects and related professionals have actually been fired. It's havoc. Anyway, I have found a job as a waiter in a Tasmanian Restaurant- very 'sjiek'. It's very hard work but I like it. The money is extremely bad (8euro/hour) but enough to cover my expenses.

You can check the restaurant's website here:

http://www.puresouth.com.au/

Take care,

Bas.

Whitsundays- NEW PHOTOS

Hi people,

I received some photos of my Whitsunday-sailing adventure. These pictures were taken by Daniella and Iwan; a very nice German couple that was in our group. The pictures are amazing so enjoy!

Bas.

PICTURES

in Melbourne

... we do a lot of this on the front-veranda of Dennis' house.
Bas.