Monthly Archives: October 2016

Home Away From Home

Hi everyone! How are you? It’s been a little while since last.

Writing this I’m only days away from having spent 3 full months on the islands of New Zealand. 3 months about which I haven’t been writing too much about here on this blog. And to be honest I don’t have any intentions of doing much about that today either.

Quick summary:

New Zealand. Hands down one of the most – insert your personal superlative of choice – place I’ve ever set foot in. Words don’t cut it for a place this densely packed with epicness in every imaginable form. Pick your favorite scene from Lord of the Rings, and there you have it. Literally. Rugged stretches of wild coastlines, lush rolling hills, majestic mountains, snow-white beaches, thick native forest topped with fiords and glaciers putting Disney’s Frozen to shame.

Home of a awe-inspiring wildlife including everything from merciless killer whales, to curious penguins and the mysterious kiwi bird. Also home of the ever so delightful Kiwi people, with their big smiles and loving souls. And who knows. Perhaps this could even be the home for future me? Out of the 27 countries I’ve cycled through New Zealand is the first one where that thought has even entered my mind, and it has done so over and over again ever since I first came here. At least in my mind, that – if anything – says something about this place.

But of course. Everyone is not as easily impressed. To photos from some of the most drop dead gorgeous parts of the south island my Dad had one response:

‘Hm. Seems like an awful long journey to end up in Norway.’

Haha. (For those of you who don’t know, I have the border to Norway a couple of days cycling from my childhood home.) However much I love disagreeing with my Dad, I guess I have to admit that from time to time there is a bit of truth in some of the stuff that comes out of his mouth.

So… Yeah.

Now, where was I?

That’s right. Instead of telling my own tales from this country, I’m simply hoping to plant a seed for a few of you to come here and collect your own. Because if you come here you will. And I’ll give you my word for that you’ll love them too.

Really. If you ever (ever!) get the opportunity to take part of some of the magic of this place – TAKE IT :-)

Until next time,

Fredrika

By |October 24th, 2016|Oceania, Travel Logs|
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Hitchcock was right…

‘Every new place comes with it’s own challenges. But more importantly with it’s own beauty. In Turkmenistan, for example… Blah blah blah…’

I’ve long lost count of the times I’ve been hearing myself repeat the mantra. Disappointing curious listeners hoping for some mucky stories about me getting ambushed by everything from assaulting men in the Middle East to poisonous snakes in Australia. Or at least about a few cyclist-hating drivers spraying me down with washer fluid.

I like to tell the happy tales. Partly because I have so many more of them. And partly… just because. That’s not what this post is about though. It’s about that first sentence.

‘Every new place comes with it’s own challenges.’

I could have written this post a week ago, and happily pointed out that this statement officially was no longer valid. Because except the occasional (OK, quite frequent) hill – New Zealand has zero challenges. For real.

Never before have I cycled through a place where the whole experience is totally comparable to spending a chill day, week or month sipping milkshakes on a perfectly puffy cloud, moving around in ideal speed above whatever view you fancy for the day.

Or so I thought.

Until last week. When I – for the first time – heard that ominous CAW CAW echoing from above, and got smacked in the back of my head by the horrendous flying demon that is currently my one and only arch enemy in this life.

Next time someone asks, there will be no more politician’s response.

‘What is the worst thing that’s happened to you on the road?’

I have one answer.

‘MAGPIES’.

Because magpies are the ultimate proof that there is no God. Or that if there is, he clearly isn’t a good person. Furious like Greek shepherd dogs. Vicious like Malay monkeys. Persistent like groping Vietnamese MC-douchebags. These guys (girls) have got it all. And they can fly.

We’re obviously doomed.

I remember the time (say two weeks ago) when I thought these birds were awesome. Amused I watched as they were outsmarting any cat around and strutted about with their full on bird swagger. And I mean they’re pretty enough, right?

No.

Not in nesting season.

I don’t even know how to begin to describe this new element of daily life on the road.

This is what ‘Birds of New Zealand’ sais:

“this now ubiquitous, introduced Australian songbird is loved by many and despised by most…it can be a considerable public nuisance during the breeding season, when it becomes highly aggressive, and will knock cyclists off their cycles and hit passing pedestrians on the head.”

What Youtube sais:

Haha. Do take 2 minutes to watch this! And let’s all try and appreciate not being the girl in the saddle at the moment.

What I say:

Thank you birds, for making me fall back in love with my helmet :-)

What I really say:

#%@!*^#%#<'@!!

And lastly. What the queen of all evil sais herself:


I mean. That this is what you find on Google sais it all?

Haha. I guess that’s all for now. Wish me luck going back to battle tomorrow!

Until next time,

Fredrika

By |October 9th, 2016|Oceania, Travel Logs|
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Another Love Story

That New Zealanders are a lovely bunch seems to be a somewhat of a globally accepted fact. Perhaps it’s got something to do with being geographically so cut of from most of the madness of this world. Perhaps it’s something in the water. Regardless of which, it’s definitely there.

From time to time travelling New Zealand reminds me a lot of my time in Turkey, Iran and parts of Central Asia. Random people go totally out of their way just to make sure you’re alright. Reach out a hand because they want to, rather than because you need it. Ask you How, not If they can help. The sort of genuine hospitality that I think I’d come to believe was only to be found in muslim countries.

Living on a bicycle and in a tent does leave one exposed to rain and wind, but even more so to the people around you. Walls and doors to lock are far from part of everyday life and wherever you find yourself, you’re in it. Like ‘instead of watching rain through the window – you’re feeling it run down your neck’ sort of in it.

Luckily this is just as true when the sun is shining. And when you find yourself surrounded by Kiwis.

After having had the Aussie outback set the standard, camping on the north island of New Zealand is nothing but disastrous. Rolling down Northland I usually found myself along roads with nothing but fences and closed off farmland. Areas which in themselves are quite great to look at, but absolute crap to pitch a tent by.

In most places this would definitely turn evenings into somewhat of a headache. Here though, it really only tweaked my sunset routine to something quite great. Most evenings I found myself left in the hands of yet another farmer’s family, posing as the adoptive sister/daughter/friend for the night.

I obviously love this. But between you and me, I am getting too spoiled over here. Almost to the point where I think I might would do well from having roaming cyclists added to the general ‘don’t feed wild animals’-policy.

The other day it struck me that things are getting seriously out of hand…

…as I saw this – and instead of realising that I had a tricky camp spot coming up, caught myself thinking that I was likely to be in for a good home cooked meal tonight.

It’s awesome. And it’s bad.

Gosh.

I think I’m getting domesticated..?

Fredrika

P.S

Oh! I just feel like you guys need to know that not only the über-friendly Kiwis live here – the most majestic pet pig the world has ever seen does as well. Meet Priscilla!

By |October 2nd, 2016|Uncategorized|
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