Dec 24, 2022
In this episode: The FAQ is: on being single and traveling: The destination is New Zealand, North Island. The lesson learned is: losing jewelry while traveling and the tip is: be willing to pause and be safe in travel.
FAQ : Ruth asks, I will be newly single in the new year and want to do some traveling that I did not have the opportunity to do when I was married, I am excited but a little timid about solo travel. Does anyone have any tips on trips that would be a good dipping the toe in the water?
Response: Being newly single is a great time to take a travel somewhere new. It’s ok that you’re timid at first. Some tips to dip your toe in the water will be found on Level 1 or Level 2 travel stages. Here’s some advice:
Don’t wait for your trip to come to you. Find out yourself how much you like travel and just start out small, this weekend take a trip on a city bus, train or to your nearby next city you’ve never seen. Go alone. Don’t be tempted to find a friend and see how you do.
Let me know when you get back how did that go.
Today’s Independent Destination- New Zealand’s North Island
New Zealand was one of the first locked down countries who did well with Corona Virus in 2020. In this episode, we’ll focus on the North Island, and in another episode, I cover the South Island.
My friend, Jenny Latto, talked to me about what’s new on the North Island, New Zealand. She’s an artist who lives in Waiuku, part of Auckland City, an hour’s drive to Auckland Central or downtown. About 8k away from her home are some surfing beaches, including one that has either black sand beaches on one side or white sand, whatever you prefer. She told me about a Sandspit beach with a slide into the water which sounds nice. They are on an 8-week holiday in the summer months, the opposite weather from the Northern Hemisphere. She said that you could really travel from one end of the north island in a day if you wanted to.
http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-KohStor-t1-back-d3.html
If you go to NZ North Island, you’ll hear about the Waikato River, the longest river in NZ. 264 miles long.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waikato_River
You may find a nice rural area in Ohakune, where the ski areas are nearby.
https://www.mountainviewestate.co.nz/about.php
Wellington on the North Island is nice to walk on the boardwalk and stroll the restaurants and waterfront bars.
Touristy places to visit include the Lord of the Rings sights and the Peter Jackson owned, Weta Studios in Wellington.
https://www.wellingtonnz.com/experience/see-and-do/weta-workshop/
Today’s Lesson learned-losing jewelry on the road
Walking through a small town in Alaska, I felt a chain from my necklace in my sleeve. That was not a good sign. It indicated that my special cross from my necklace had broken and was missing. I have the chain, but not the pendant. The lesson learned was to buy a better chain with clasp. I had warnings prior that the clasp was old and I should have done something about that. So, learn from my lessons, replace the old clasp before you lose the pendant.
Today’s Travel Advice- Be willing to pause and be safe
Pandemic travel may be with us a long time, so you will be getting used to new ways of walking through airports, using public spaces, and making meaningful travel decisions, especially about safety. Be more willing to smile, take a breath, and to let someone go ahead of you in line during these stressful outings. You never know, you may just make someone’s day when you do. What a great experience that will be, right?
Dr. Mary Travelbest Facebook Page