Spring Already?

I didn't realise its been so long since I updated this blog. I used to be so good while travelling and writing about every little experience that has caught my attention. Every cackle, every smirk, everything unordinary but this is now my life; I am settled, content and dying for adventure!
Time really flies when you get back to routine; we wake up, go to work, go home and cook dinner. Yes I did travel back to America but that is now 6 months ago. It has been 1 year since returning home from Canada; am I really destined to be living in New Zealand forever?

The winter has actually been really good in Wellington. I think on some days it got to about 5 degrees in the morning but slowly floated around 10 throughout the day. It was still cold but I do miss being covered in snow and having to wear snow shoes when going out to buy lunch.
I did manage to get 3 days up the mountain this season. The first day was with Antony and Rachel, we drove up Friday night after work and drank at a local bar till closing; it was a wild party! Too bad there was only 3 of us in the bar. The next day was perfect, fresh snow, clear skies and extra long queues;what more could you ask for?

A week later, I went up on another ski trip. It was with a different group of friends and we hired a Bach (also know as a cottage or cabin to people who don't speak English) with a spa because we can.
There's nothing more relaxing than sitting in a spa drinking beer after a long day snowboarding other than accelerating dehydration, causing dizziness, unconsciousness and "a tendency to make a person lose some of his inhibitions and partake in dangerous activities he may not do when sober. In or near a hot tub or even a pool, this can be very dangerous and lead to accidental death. It is best to avoid or closely monitor alcohol intake when enjoying a pool or hot tub."
Dangers of Hot Tub Drinking

Loads of BBQ's, work, more BBQ's, beard growing; yip I grew a beard. So long that it started itching and food was getting caught it in.

Japanese Choya - 16.1 MB

Ant's making a call

First Day Out

Mid-winter BBQ

Mid-winter Meat








Snow-Tub

Emptiness










Giant Carrot

Ant's Engagement Party

NZ Winter is tame in Wellington

I would love to share all the exciting stuff I have done in the past 2 months but Winter in NZ is actually quite uneventful. I have however moved into a flat with 4 other people, yip 4! Its a lot of bodies but so far so good. The last 2 months of chilling out has its moments but there's definitely not many outdoor activities available. I'm not a hater but Canada is just better is so many different ways.
I remember doing more in Spring, Fall and Winter than I ever did in Summer. Summer is all about exploring and kicking back with 10 beers.

On the bright side, the snow is getting better and hopefully in a few weeks, I'll be able to hit the slopes and do gnarly tricks. That's a lie; by tricks I mean linking turns. I would love to be able to ride like the people you see on TV but I'm a pussy and don't want to die.
I tried to be awesome in Canada and rode into a half pipe. POW! Sprained my wrists and fractured my ribs; out of action for 4 weeks.

The Olympics are brilliant! I can sit there and watch it for hours on end, even when I know nothing about the sports. Handball and rowing is pretty intense.
I have come to the conclusion that Womens diving is porno, well maybe just softporn. You may disagree with me at present but if you watched the whole sequence of the dive, you too will agree with me. Heres the play by play and for this example, we will assume the diver is Jessica Ennis of Great Britain

First she ready herself on the 10m platform, the camera pans awkwardly up and down. The dive commences and completes within 3 seconds then an underwater shot is shown. They then provide a super slow motion of the dive. By this time, Jessica is out of the water and adjusting herself. She proceeds to have a shower to wash the chlorine off her dirty body...........shit sorry, I honestly thought I was writing a porn script. So after the shower, she gets into a spa to keep warm. 10mins will pass and she gets out of the spa and proceeds to the 10m platform for her next dive. But wait, before she climbs the ladder, she drys herself using this incy wincy cloth while massaging and fonderling.........shit where was I? Anyway diving is porno.
But you know whats more porno than diving? Synchronised diving! yip, twice the fun.

I still have not had a chance to watch the 33 videos I took while in Disneyland and San Francisco but they will probably be crap anyway; next time.
No photos this time, I think my lens broken.
Till we meet again

Sam

Where was May?

The month of May didn't exist in my Calendar. I haven't even had a chance to watch the videos I took in Disneyland and San Francisco. So I'm going to spend the next few days updating the previous post with videos.
Ham did pay us a visit from Singapore. I'm pretty sure he spent 10 days eating all the good free range food New Zealand has to offer since he turned into a free range hippy.
We had dinner around Mike's and made Chicago Pizza along with tasting of 10 boutique beers.

What else is new, oh I have decided to move into the City for the following reasons:
a) I am nearly 30 years old and can't be living at home.
b) I need to be closer to work.
c) I am nearly 30 years old and can't be living at home.

A job opportunity came available so I have decided to take the bulls by the horn. Its going to be a huge change especially coming from unlimted holidays to only 4 weeks a year. In the last 6 months of work, I had already taken 7 weeks holiday! It will be tough but I think this will open up new doors for me. Saying that, I am still always up for a holiday to other parts of the world. If you want to meet up somewhere, lets lock it in.
Sam

Mojito and beer tasting; weird mix

Another impressive pizza

Teen Dad

Antony showing us that he can fit a fist in his mouth

Why is there a pink dildo in the lounge?

Brisbane / Disneyland / San Francisco

My trip to Brisbane was very relaxing; I got to catch up with friends and old flat mates. Jacqui was 3 months pregnant so she's starting to balloon; not much we can do here. They have recently found out that the baby is a girl so it's all very exciting down in the Southern Hemisphere.

After a short 13 hour flight and the 2 hours it took for me to transfer to Anaheim, I had finally made it to "Where dreams come true!" We spent the evening walking around Downtown Disney and dining at an amazing pizzeria there. The weather was warmish; 22 by day and 14 by night.
Disneyland is a Fantasyland where grown man and women can wear silly hats and t-shirt.
It is divided into two parks; one is the main Disneyland and the other is more of an amusement park called California Adventure.
It is hard to decribe the joy of Disneyland, there was just so much to do! There were fun rides, thrill rides, Churro's, live theatre, 4D theatre, more rides, more churro's, popcorn, Mickey, Donald, Goofy, weird triangle headed characters, squirrels and Aladdin.
Aladdin was such a let down, they should have had princess Jasmine walk around shaking her thang.
Was I too old for Disneyland? No way. Would I do it again? In a heart beat!

Since arriving in San Francisco, I have learnt a new American phrase
"I have a service dog". Bunce recommended a diner to me called Pinecreast Diner. After reading its history, the diner is famous for an order of poached eggs that ended in murder! Crazy but you should read up about it.
So this attractive girl; brunette, slim, dressed in black, red lipstick walks in with her boyfriend and dog. The conversation with the waitress went like this:

Waitress: Sorry we don't allow dogs in here
Girl: [In a sour tone.] I have a service dog!
Waitress: It doesn't look like a service dog.
Girl: It's a service dog!
Waitress: I will have to see its registration.
Girl: [shows the waitress the dog tags]

I did not think it was a service dog at all! It was a cute black puppy Labrador wearing a red hanky.
The only service that puppy would have been able to perform is lick peanut butter off the girls nipples.

The great thing about San Francisco is that every restaurant has Wifi. This may not be as useful to locals but for poor travellers like myself, it's always good to keep the roaming charges down. Sitting in Chinatown eating fried rice noodles while surfing for the next awesome attraction; Brilliant!

Golden Gate Bridge, Haight Ashbury, the Painted ladies by Alamo Square, the gay friendly neighbourhood of Castro, Fishermens Wharf, Seals at Pier 39, Lombard Street with 8 hairpin turns. So much to do, too much to say. Oh the Golden Gate Bridge is off limits to people walking after 9pm just incase you decided to jump but you can still ride your bike across.............interesting rule America.

Walking onto Alcatraz Island on a cold dark night enhanced the experience even more. Whist only 2.4km from San Francisco City, the cold water and strong currents are deadly.
The last successful attempt was on June 11, 1962 by Clarence Anglin (Bank Robbery), John W. Anglin (Bank Robbery), Frank Lee Morris (Bank Burglary) and Alan (Clayton) West (Trans. Stolen Vehicle). Although unconfirmed if they survived the harsh swim, some believe they drowned, some believe they are now in Mexico because they were learning Spanish while in prison. We will never know.
Sean Connery escaped from Alcatraz in 1963, this was later adapted in the film The Rock (1996)
Its good to be home and sleeping in my bed
Disneyland photos can be viewed here
San Francisco photos can be viewed here

Sam

The start of my fantasy

Dream came true

My adotped family

Some mouse

Some mouse taking photos with the gremlins

Pooh bear up to no good

Rainbows End log ride

The gremlins getting ready for the parade

Mufasa or Simba

I recall saying something about silly hats

Sleeping Beauty's castle but she was still sleeping

Evil Queen was a bit of a turn on

I honestly bent the bar

Obviousy not an SLR

This is what we all came to see

Johnny Deep in Pirates of the Caribbean

Johnny Deep in Alice in Wonderland

Wait, Johnny Deep didn't play Goofy?

Chinatown.....Wow

Chinese People.....Wow

More Chinese People.....Wow

Chinese Food.....Wow

Russian Hills

Tourist Trap Pier 39

Smelly Seals

Lombard Street

Red Bridge

Painted Ladies by Alamo Square

Alcatraz Island

My Hostel

Castro Theatre

Gay Dog

Finally rode a Cable Car

Street so steep it had stairs

29 year old in Disneyland?

My mate Chris first asked me to join him and his family in Disneyland about 5 months ago. The initial reaction was "No"; purely because I had just returned from North America not to mention Las Vegas (again). So the idea of travelling to Los Angeles didn't really appeal to me.
As time got closer, the "No" turned to a "Maybe". The "Maybe" turned to "I'll think about it". The "I'll think about it" turned to a "Nah".

14 days before the departure date, it became real. The answer was a "No"
This took a lot of thinking and consideration. My funds, my career, my travel plans, my kids........ok obviously no kids. In a way, it was a huge relief to finalise my decision.
As a child, Disneyland didn't really appeal to me. Mainly because it wasn't on my radar or knowledge. Rainbows End and Fantasyland in Hastings to me were the best then I experienced Space World in Fukuoka, Japan back in 1998. After that it was Dreamworld on the Gold Coast and that was it, I got old.

That evening, all I could think about was experience I could be having. Disneyland may be fun but it will be even more fun and rewarding when you are experiencing it with kids and sharing their joy and laughter. The next day, I went down to the travel agent and within 48hrs, my flights were booked!
To make it more of a holiday, I'm going to be spending time in Brisbane and San Francisco. My itinerary is as follow:

April 3 - Auckland, New Zealand
April 4-9 - Brisbane, Australia
April 9-14 - Anaheim, United States
April 15-18 - San Francisco, United States (I lose 2 days flying)
April 20-22 - Auckland, New Zealand
April 23 - Back to work in Wellington

Only 5 days before I depart; very exciting stuff!

About 2 weeks ago, we had a friendly visitor in our house. Long story short, a friend brought their dog around and somehow it managed to find a possum and chased it into the conservatory.
It was an evil looking sucker.

Fast forward a week, Ryan, my dad and I managed to get absolutely mashed one evening, started break dancing to Shania Twain and doing one handed push ups. I was in hysteria and cackling like a girl. I did not get out of bed until 9pm the next evening.........actually I lied. I got out of bed 4 times just to throw up.

Friendly Visitor- 10.3 MB
Shania Twain Break Dance - 12.3 MB

New addition to the family

Jaden being a Brat at Junglerama

Pretty sure he tumbled here