]> http://www.bugsly.net A web site for Hannah Levy en http://www.bugsly.net/node/178 <p>WE ARE HOME!!! It is great to finally be home, anyway looking back at the last few days in Auckland all we did was pack and get coffee (no joke!). We got home to all our friends and our new home too! it is great being here but I am sure all of us miss the adventure of the trip a little. To all of you who continued to check my blog when i kinda "forgot" to write it every day (we get pretty busy sometimes you know!) thank you for being faithful readers. One af my favorite things was getting email and comments from you relating to our adventures. So thankyou for all of your contributions!</p> <p>Bugsly</p> California Car Core Fly Sun, 16 Jul 2006 13:14:32 -0500 http://www.bugsly.net/node/177 <p>This morning we headed out for a day in downtown Auckland. Auckland is like a lot of big cities we have visited so far, very clean and safe feeling.</p> <p>There are a lot of upscale stores and some pretty good bakeries and restaurants too. </p> <p>Tomorrow we are going to the Auckland Museum and hopefully the <a class="glossary-term" href="continent#term6"><acronym title="Antarctica: Antarctica">Antarctica</acronym></a> Museum too. We can't wait!</p> <p>Bugsly</p> Car Core Foreign Language and Music Study New Zealand Physical and Health Education Walk Thu, 13 Jul 2006 01:24:48 -0500 http://www.bugsly.net/node/176 <p>Today we drove from The Bay of Plenty to Brian and Jean's farm. Since we last saw them, their cows have had many calves. Some of the newborns are very quiet but others chew at your legs for milk. They were soft and came in all colors ranging from red to brown and white.</p> <p>It was great to see Brian again.</p> <p>We drove the rest of the way to Auckland and checked into our hotel. We spent the rest of the day relaxing and unpacking.</p> <p>Bugsly</p> Car Core Foreign Language and Music Study New Zealand Physical and Health Education Walk Wed, 12 Jul 2006 01:21:59 -0500 http://www.bugsly.net/node/175 <p>We arrived in the Bay of Plenty and after browsing the shops for a while, Dad and I just happened to come upon 12 plastic tomatoes at a store called The Warehouse. As we were paying for them, my Dad's cell phone got a message from my Mom saying "Tomato Bonanza, all set!". When we finally counted up all of them, we had 36. So now we have to figure out how to get 36 plastic tomatoes home on the plane.</p> <p>Hopefully they will make it home as beautiful as they are now!</p> <p>Bugsly</p> Car Core Foreign Language and Music Study New Zealand Physical and Health Education Walk Tue, 11 Jul 2006 01:17:29 -0500 http://www.bugsly.net/node/174 <p>We have been in Taupo right next to Lake Taupo for the last couple of days. My Dad and I went to see a geothermal collection area for the power plant. It was really incredible to see all of that hot air coming right out of the earth. They capture it in HUGE pipes and send the steam to the generator where it powers 5% of <a class="glossary-term" href="glossary/term/19"><acronym title="New Zealand: The Polynesian Maori reached New Zealand in about A.D. 800. In 1840, their chieftains entered into a compact with Britain, the Treaty of Waitangi, in which they ceded sovereignty to Queen Victoria while retaining territorial rights. In that same year, the British began the first organized colonial settlement. A series of land wars between 1843 and 1872 ended with the defeat of the native peoples. The British colony of New Zealand became an independent dominion in 1907 and supported the UK militarily in both World Wars. New Zealand&#039;s full participation in a number of defense alliances lapsed by the 1980s. In recent years, the government has sought to address longstanding Maori grievances. Information taken from The CIA Fact Book">New Zealand</acronym></a>'s electrical needs. Pretty cool.</p> <p>Also, big news, my Dad found the first plastic tomatoes that we have been looking for. They have them in restaurants with catsup inside and my Mom is obsessed with having some. My Dad found three and he is now a hero.</p> <p>Bugsly</p> Car Core Foreign Language and Music Study New Zealand Physical and Health Education Walk Mon, 10 Jul 2006 01:12:51 -0500 http://www.bugsly.net/node/173 <p>We have had a great yet somewhat cold time in the country. We stayed on a farm in a little house called Hodd Cottage. We were greeted by the owner Virginia and her Corgie, Jessie. Jessie is very friendly and likes to bark a lot as most dogs do.</p> <p>We settled into the cottage, built a roaring fire, and listened to the rain pour down. Virgina made us a delicious meal of chicken lasagne, salad and a great cake. It was just what we needed on a cold winter night.</p> <p>The next day we drove to Taihape for the internet and lunch at a place called Cafe Exchange. There was good food and mostly it was warm!</p> <p>We had a great time at Hodd Cottage and Michael and I got to play ping pong in the garage. That was fun!</p> <p>Bugsly</p> Car Core Foreign Language and Music Study New Zealand Physical and Health Education Walk Sat, 8 Jul 2006 01:07:48 -0500 http://www.bugsly.net/node/172 <p>Our time in the capital city of <a class="glossary-term" href="glossary/term/19"><acronym title="New Zealand: The Polynesian Maori reached New Zealand in about A.D. 800. In 1840, their chieftains entered into a compact with Britain, the Treaty of Waitangi, in which they ceded sovereignty to Queen Victoria while retaining territorial rights. In that same year, the British began the first organized colonial settlement. A series of land wars between 1843 and 1872 ended with the defeat of the native peoples. The British colony of New Zealand became an independent dominion in 1907 and supported the UK militarily in both World Wars. New Zealand&#039;s full participation in a number of defense alliances lapsed by the 1980s. In recent years, the government has sought to address longstanding Maori grievances. Information taken from The CIA Fact Book">New Zealand</acronym></a>, Wellington, has been great. It has been extremely windy and rainy though, and a bit harder to get around.</p> <p>We went to an amazing exhibit at the Te Papa Museum that had all of the costumes, props and some of the scenery from The Lord of the Rings Trilogy. </p> <p>The detail in the costumes was amazing. Even the main characters costumes were in the exhibit. They had interviews on screens with all of the different actors and clips from the movies too. Even the ring itself was there. It was an incredible exhibit.</p> <p>Bugsly</p> Car Core Foreign Language and Music Study New Zealand Physical and Health Education Walk Thu, 6 Jul 2006 01:02:28 -0500 http://www.bugsly.net/node/171 <p>We've had buckets of fun in Queenstown for these last five days. We started on the first day going lugeing at Skyline Luge. Dad, Michael and I went down the luge track three times each. It was SO much fun with dips, turns and hills all over.</p> <p>The next day I went to the movies with my Mom and saw "Click" while Dad and Michael went snowboarding. I really liked the movie and it was good to have some time on our own.</p> <p>The day that we left, we all went back to the luge together and this time, my Mom did it too! We got to go four times and it was just as fun as the first time!</p> <p>We headed to the airport next to make our way to Wellington.</p> <p>Bugsly</p> Car Core Fly Foreign Language and Music Study New Zealand Physical and Health Education Train Walk Mon, 3 Jul 2006 00:58:08 -0500 http://www.bugsly.net/node/170 <p>We have just had 3 more great days at Tangowahine Farmstay. This time, in addition to feeding the cows, we got to milk one. Hand milking is not as easy as it looks. It's tricky business making sure the cow doesn't kick you or the bucket. </p> <p>It was relaxing to be there again and I will miss Hugh and Pauline when we leave this time since we wont' be coming back on this trip.</p> <p>Bugsly</p> Car Core Foreign Language and Music Study New Zealand Physical and Health Education Walk Thu, 29 Jun 2006 00:55:24 -0500 http://www.bugsly.net/node/169 <p>We have been in The Bay of Islands for the last two nights. The weather has been glorious and the hotel where we stayed was great.</p> <p>We took the ferry over the Bay to the town of Russell where we walked around, saw the museum, and had lunch. After we took the ferry back, we drove into the night to have fish and chips at a place in Manganui where my Dad had been many years ago when he stayed there. The fish and chips were so good, wrapped in paper and greasy with lots (too much!) salt. It was worth the <a class="glossary-term" href="glossary/term/31"><acronym title="Car: Use a car to get from one place to another">drive</acronym></a> and I am glad we got to go there.</p> <p>On Sunday morning we made our way to the place where the Maori and the settlers first signed a treaty to found <a class="glossary-term" href="glossary/term/19"><acronym title="New Zealand: The Polynesian Maori reached New Zealand in about A.D. 800. In 1840, their chieftains entered into a compact with Britain, the Treaty of Waitangi, in which they ceded sovereignty to Queen Victoria while retaining territorial rights. In that same year, the British began the first organized colonial settlement. A series of land wars between 1843 and 1872 ended with the defeat of the native peoples. The British colony of New Zealand became an independent dominion in 1907 and supported the UK militarily in both World Wars. New Zealand&#039;s full participation in a number of defense alliances lapsed by the 1980s. In recent years, the government has sought to address longstanding Maori grievances. Information taken from The CIA Fact Book">New Zealand</acronym></a> together. It's called Waitangi and there is an amazing Maori meeting house there. It had Paua shell inlays and beautiful weaving and carvings.</p> <p>We drove back to Tangowahine Farmstay after leaving the Treaty Grounds. It was a beautiful drive. The rain has stopped for now.</p> <p>Bugsly</p> Boat Car Core Foreign Language and Music Study New Zealand Physical and Health Education Walk Mon, 26 Jun 2006 00:47:05 -0500 http://www.bugsly.net/node/168 <p>We have just spent four wonderful days at Tangowahine Farmstay. Hugh and Pauline Rose, the owners, made us so welcome and we felt like a part of their family.</p> <p>Every afternoon at 4:30 we fed hay to the cows up on the hill. The cows were happy to see us with lots of mooing and more mooing. We rode on the back of the tractor sitting on top of the bales of hay. It was great fun!</p> <p>It was neat to see their dogs Ruth and Fred hard at work rounding up the cows. Hugh also took us on a great ride on the beach in his 4WD <a class="glossary-term" href="glossary/term/31"><acronym title="Car: Use a car to get from one place to another">car</acronym></a>. We had lunch together at a place called the "Funky Fish" that was also great. The food there was amazingly good and the beach was beautiful.</p> <p>We stayed in their cottage which was great fun for Dad as it had a wood fireplace. He kept it going and the cottage was cozy and warm all the time.</p> <p>It was so wonderful being there and feeling like we were home.</p> <p>Bugsly</p> Car Core Foreign Language and Music Study New Zealand Physical and Health Education Walk Sat, 24 Jun 2006 00:38:10 -0500 http://www.bugsly.net/node/167 <p>This morning we got up early and flew to Auckland, <a class="glossary-term" href="glossary/term/19"><acronym title="New Zealand: The Polynesian Maori reached New Zealand in about A.D. 800. In 1840, their chieftains entered into a compact with Britain, the Treaty of Waitangi, in which they ceded sovereignty to Queen Victoria while retaining territorial rights. In that same year, the British began the first organized colonial settlement. A series of land wars between 1843 and 1872 ended with the defeat of the native peoples. The British colony of New Zealand became an independent dominion in 1907 and supported the UK militarily in both World Wars. New Zealand&#039;s full participation in a number of defense alliances lapsed by the 1980s. In recent years, the government has sought to address longstanding Maori grievances. Information taken from The CIA Fact Book">New Zealand</acronym></a>, got our rental <a class="glossary-term" href="glossary/term/31"><acronym title="Car: Use a car to get from one place to another">car</acronym></a> and drove in a torrential downpour to our friends Jean and Brian’s farm near Hamilton. We arrived in the pouring down rain to their warm and cozy home. They made us very welcome and we had a great time with them. We stayed for 2 nights and enjoyed their company and getting to know about New Zealand from them. We watched an All Blacks Rugby Game and had great fun.</p> <p>Bugsly</p> Car Core Fly Foreign Language and Music Study New Zealand Physical and Health Education Walk Tue, 20 Jun 2006 02:01:56 -0500 http://www.bugsly.net/node/166 <p>Doyles Fish and Chips by the Bay has the best fish and chips I have had so far on the trip. We took the ferry to Watson’s Bay and enjoyed lunch on the water. It was great. Afterward we explored the town a bit and then caught the ferry back to Sydney. </p> <p>Bugsly</p> Australia Boat Car Core Foreign Language and Music Study Physical and Health Education Subway Walk Sat, 17 Jun 2006 02:00:35 -0500 http://www.bugsly.net/node/165 <p>This morning my Dad and I returned our rental <a class="glossary-term" href="glossary/term/31"><acronym title="Car: Use a car to get from one place to another">car</acronym></a> and then went to the Australian Museum. They had a special exhibit about pearls. There was a natural history exhibit as well with lots of taxidermied animals like crocodiles, kangaroos, and many animals in jars in preservative. It was gross! And it also smelled bad in that room…</p> <p>Bugsly</p> Australia Boat Car Core Foreign Language and Music Study Physical and Health Education Subway Walk Thu, 15 Jun 2006 01:58:38 -0500 http://www.bugsly.net/node/164 <p>Today we arrived in Sydney. Our hotel is nice and right on the harbour. We went for a <a class="glossary-term" href="glossary/term/34"><acronym title="Walk: Use your feet to get from one place to another">walk</acronym></a> to see the city and eventually caught a really good meal right on the bay. The fish was fresh caught and cooked right away. It was delicious.</p> <p>Bugsly</p> Australia Car Foreign Language and Music Study Life Sciences Physical and Health Education Subway Walk Wed, 14 Jun 2006 01:56:59 -0500