World Walker

One of the best kept secrets in West Auckland is the Rainforest Express train tucked away in the Waitakere Ranges.

It’s an enjoyable trip to get there from the city centre and worth taking the time to wind along Scenic Drive and enjoy some of the available stops, including the Elevation Cafe which has a spectacular view of Auckland. Further along is the Arataki Visitors Centre, where you can learn some local history, and find out about the Waitakeres’ trees, animals, and walking tracks.

Arrive 30 minutes before the Rainforest Express leaves Jacobsen’s Depot on Scenic Drive to get the lowdown on what to expect on the 2 hour tour or the longer picnic trip.

There you can see the original train that carried the workers who laid the tracks, built nine bridges and carved 10 tunnels out of rock, all of which you will be carried over and through during the journey.

The line was originally created to aid the construction of the Upper Nihotupu Dam, and is still used today for pipe maintenance. Watercare has run the train as a tourist attraction for the past 12 years.

The train is a small modern vehicle that runs on a narrow gauge with seating for about 50 people. It has a glass ceiling and a glass closed side for great viewing.

As you trundle along the narrow track you will look down on to nikau palms and through stunning natural bush – have a go at identifying kauri, rata, ponga and native birds like kereru (wood pigeons), tui and fantails.

A stop on the dramatic Quinn’s Viaduct provides more stunning views and a photo stop. The train driver will be happy to answer questions and talk about the track’s history, and local flora and fauna.

At the end of the track there are sheltered tables for picnicking.

From here you can walk to the dam’s edge via steps or a gravel path.

Once everyone is on board for the return trip there is more commentary on the sights in the tunnels, including of glow worms on the ceilings, and a few wetas – happily safely out of reach on the walls.

Portuguese food has a variety, but the Portuguese egg tart is prestigious. Pastéis de Belém, called the founder of Portuguese egg tarts, absolute “century-old”, no matter what time to come, there are the customers at door. Freshly baked egg tarts, sprinkle with creamy cinnamon, really fragrant lips and teeth, are very memorable.

Pastéis de Belém egg tart shop, is not just the space next to the monastery, the birth also closely related with the monastery. Legend of 1820, after the Portuguese revolution of freedom, all monasteries were closed. In order to survive, Monastery tried to do some desserts, sold in the candy store next door. They have quickly been accepted into the local flavor. From the beginning of 1837, the production method of egg tarts became secret, and since then it has remained the same. What changes only is the daily stream of diners.

Are there any grapes in Portugal? To Porto, the questions have been answered. Porto will tell you that the Portuguese do have grapes!

Along the Douro River from Porto to the east away, is the Douro Valley, which is the upper Douro River, and there is a large grape Park. The masterpiece of the grapes, often grow between the steep hills, which constitutes a very spectacular terrace.

With grapes, the wine is naturally indispensable. In the Douro River, stretches of terraced fields, and wineries scattered in the mountains, houses, constitute a unique scenery Road. In 2001, this area is the “World Heritage”: All referred to as “the Douro wines.” It is said to date, with the grape and wine around the world related to World Heritage there are five, two is of the Portuguese monopoly (2001, Portugal on the Douro wines; in 2002, Hungary, Tokaj wines; in 2004, the Portuguese Paper Library Island vineyard; in 2006, Mexican agave-growing areas and early tequila brewing facility site; in 2007, Ruishilawo terraced vineyards).

The Douro in the mountains, so far, has nearly 2000 years history of grape growing. Since the 18th century, for producing Port Wine to become world famous. Port wine is named attributable to Port. Port wine in the Douro region, after the completion of fermentation and fortified process, I would have called “Barcos Rabelos” boat, floating down the oak, shipped to Porto, in the cellar completed the aging process of bottling for sale, shipment for export.

After the grape harvest quarters, it is said that on the Douro river, almost all wearing various cellar flag Barcos Rabelos, that picture should be “quite spectacular”. As with the sherry, Port wine flourish are thanked to the British, the majority of the current Portuguese British is in control of the Porter distilleries, especially world famous brands.

Then the Portuguese traders probably will not think, today, it is said that only the United Kingdom has inherited the ”Porter” traditional culture. For example, in Cambridge, drinking Port wine must dress up for dinner, bottles must be on the left, clockwise transfer. Here, Porter cultural ceremony has a strong color.

Today’s Porto by the Douro River, is almost Port wine world.

Porto’s Vineyard, in fact, is not on the bank; you have to go deep into the south bank of the village. Where almost every winery can let visitors visit. Among the many wineries, the probably most familiar to Chinese people is sandeman. Today the brand is not only Port wine, also bought the same name in Spain sherry. In the south, you can see the most is “holding a red cup of sandeman “.

Starting from Paris, the sky rolled up with thick clouds, the summer haze is as always. Way to Brussels, the clouds did not have the slightest sign of abating, even dripped up a sporadic drizzle. Already arrived in Amsterdam at night, the air is moist and cool, and seemed to remind you of having entered this country in the lowlands below sea level. Looking at the sky, thick clouds floating in the air have long ago disappeared, leaving only the stars shining within the sky.

Early the next morning, we started to go to the windmill village outskirts, the weather is surprisingly good. Travel needs with the cooperation of the weather, but every time my travel journey, seems to have that bit of luck; I do not mean that every trip has blue skies. But in my opinion, a number of different regions or different topics, before I have read a lot of information about it in the book, when imagine its look always accompanied by a kind of weather to form a specific scenery, perhaps this is the generation of the so-called stereotype impression. Came to the windmill village, the sky and white clouds had been wiped into a thin layer, the sun shone through the gap. Such a picture even deepened my long-standing impression of the stereotype of the Dutch windmill. I told myself at heart: “Yes, the Dutch windmill should have the look like this.”

Passed a small wooden bridge, we entered the small village along the lake which is dotted with a dozen windmills from the building, all of which looked the same as those have seen in the pictures before many times. Before the small Netherlands was dotted with tens of thousands of the windmills, but with the advent of industrialization, today there has been very few survived. The windmills in the village, naturally have lost its use as a tool before, but after the repair have been put in this new place to satisfy the curiosity of visitors from various quarters.

By the small street on the other side of Windmill, there is a pasture surrounded by a small wooden fence, dotted with dozens of lovely sheep, as long as the tourists beckons, and a few will come to the fence slowly. The other side of the lake is a gathering place for residents of the village, by the shore there are chic Dutch village houses, even have interpreted the rural life of the Dutch village more than the windmills.

Had farewell to Vancouver’s coastal range, a half-hour later, the Scenery outside the Windows again was covered by snow waves. Snow Wave is actually a hill peak, being blowed by the wind closed to the polar, posture was tidy, like avalanche coming. Next to the seat the South Korean fashion designer Anna was obviously more excited than me, “This is Rocky Mount?” “I think so.”

Because liked the Rocky Mount, Anna chose traveled to Calgary for settlement, gave me a copy of the design homepage, “this time next year on my website you will see a lot of Rocky Mount and the Canadian cowboy theme Scarf. ” While her speaking, the Rocky Mountain out of the window has escaped the same as the fog, and on the light grasslands, Calgary, Canada’s fourth largest city has revealed the look. This city had been assessed the world’s cleanest city in the official assessment. “You see, it is like a piece of lace table cloth formed by a lot of circles and lines, my first work has the inspiration.”

I think I  am more fortunate than Anna, because my trip to the Canadian Rockies would begin from Calgary the most artistic temperament of hotel. The hotel’s name, called “Art”. Art Hotel is Calgary first designed local hotel, the hotel owner is particularly interested  for Canadian young people’s avant-garde art, and placed his own collection of more than 50 pieces of installation art and paintings, lamps in every corner of the hotel. One of the most visible location in the hotel lobby is a work related to time – a row of different styles of watches and clocks placed in a row, the following was written – I remember the traces of time flowing.

Handsome waiter told me that the room water came directly from the not far Rocky Mountains, is full of glacial melt water. This allowed me having sudden spirit, went to get a glass of ice water on the balcony. The Rockies really did not let me down – she was hiding in Calgary after the group of buildings, the snow top setting the colored sun glowing.

In addition to Rocky Mountain snow top, Calgary gave me another white surprise. Early in July each year, Calgary Stampedehas always been the biggest cowboy theme celebration in North America, the surprise naturally related to cowboys.

Although time was out of step, I was hardly looking for cowboy shadow at the buried streets of the “cowboy city”. But no doubt, on the Calgary streets there were more gentleman drinking coffee and looking at newspaper. On the lost occasion, inadvertently caught sight of a catch dream device (Dream Catcher)  hanging in the shop door, this use of feathers, leather woven spider web shaped decorations, in the Indian world means filtering the nightmare, only let dream of good fortune pass through. This catch dream device of the oversized lid actually brings me luck.

Underneath the catch dream device it is written, “Behind every successful rancher, there is a wife working in the city.” Witty remark easily pointed to the store’s cowboy theme. The shop named Lammle’s, and I went into, gorgeous straight alligator cowboy boots, hundreds of cowboy belt buckle, sharp spurs, the inspector ’s insignia, bronze statue with the theme of love … … the air seemed to smell the unique Ranch Wild flavor. However, the most spectacular is row after row of dazzling cowboy hat.

When I was looking for feeling by trying on a cowboy hat, the burly Lennon came over, pointed to the white top hat on his head and told me, “My friends, you should go back with a white hat, which is Calgary ’s symbol. “Lennon told us that for the cowboy section, the Government will release worldwide on 10 000 Calgary VIP features white hat, brim hat features a black ribbon on the line will ring up Pigtail. It is said that a white cowboy hat was Calgary tradition, the first being from a cowboy competition in 1948, when the cheerleading uniform wearing the white hat, brought good luck to the home team, from then this tradition continues till today. During 2002 when Western Eight summit was held in Calgary, the heads of state including Bush also put on a white hat, which is Calgary ’s hospitality.

What made me surprised was that in the Olympic Park of Calgary, a city government representative also held a lovely “coronation ceremony” for my white hat.  “Please put up your right hand, then follow me to read,” the old lady with a straight face, “I will always wear the hat, except for sleep, has been wearing, and will tell all my friends, it comes from Alberta, Canada, the beautiful city of Calgary.” Especially in the oath at the end, she did not forget to use the right palm heavily tapping at my hat, for afraid of not wearing the hat tightly – she is really an old lady with a hundred percent of the Calgary cowboy spirit.

To say the trip to Colombia, the most sensable place of course ought to be Cartagena. Cool and different plateau of Bogota, Cartagena along the Caribbean side has a tropical feel, and style of thousands.

The city during the mid-16th century became the Spanish colonists plundered wealth of South American gold and silver transshipment port and the slave market. In the early 17th century it was Latin America ’s third largest city. The rich history and classic architecture, makes Cartagena Inscribed on the World Heritage List.

Here is a place Colombia ’s most famous writer Coase (the author of “Hundred Years of Solitude”) used to stay, and his masterpiece, “Love in the Time of Cholera”, took place in Cartagena. Walk along the hotels, pawn shops, cafes, parks appeared in the novel, memorise the fiction plot, it is a kind of time-feeling.

Look at these colors the edges of the picture, naturally, you will fall in love with this Caribbean side of the city.

On top of the St. Philip Castle, a huge Colombian flag is flying high. Golden yellow symbolizes the sun, grain and rich natural resources; blue stands for sky, sea and river; red is symbol of patriots fighting for national independence and liberation and shed blood.

1, Burj Dubai

Dubai skyline of the highest point, up to 818 m, estimated completion time is September 2009.

2, The Palm Islands

Jumeirah Palm Island  began construction from July 2001 and to be completed in 2006, the occupation has been progressing smoothly. Currently there are 4000 Palm Island villas and 32 hotels on the island by monorail transport system.

3, Dubailand paradise

Today the largest theme park is Florida’s Disneyland, but after completion of the project of Dubai paradise that will belong to it. The park covers an area of 107 square miles, including 45 super-large projects and 200 sub-projects, programs, and will be completed by 2015, the total size is 2 times of the Florida Disneyland.

4, The World Islands

The world’s largest man-made islands, Dubai to be increased to 232 kilometers of coastline. Program is designed according to the shape of the world map, and split into more than 300 artificial islands. The World Island is the world’s most expensive real estate on earth, the price of each island is about 1500-5000 million. It was reported that Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie bought an Island in Ethiopia, but this has not been confirmed.

5, Underwater observatory Hydropolis

The world’s first underwater luxury resort, the main building  is under 20 meters of the Persian Gulf sea level. The resort offers 2,200 guest rooms, construction investment will be more than one billion U.S. dollars .

6, Bo porcelain hotel

Burj al-Arab Hotel is also known as Bo porcelain hotel / Yacht Hotel. This prestigious seven-star super deluxe hotel Royal Suite prices have soared from just opened up 1000 U.S. dollars a night to 20,008 U.S. dollars. Burj Al Arab is renowned by the famous architectural design firm Atkins, which symbolizes the recovery of the city of Dubai.

7, Saudi Arabia Shopping Mall

It will go beyond the South China mall in Dongguan of China and become the world’s largest shopping center, construction area of 10 million square feet.

8, Business Bay

It is positioned in the Middle East and the world financial center, in the future will bring together 230 commercial and residential buildings, total construction area of more than 64 million square feet, comparable to New York’s Manhattan and Tokyo’s Ginza.

9, The Dubai Marina Pier

After the completion of this terminal, it will replace the current De California terminals to become the world’s largest man-made pier architecture, including more than 200 high-rise buildings. Inside there are Dubai’s Internet City, Dubai Media City and the United States universities in Dubai.

10, The Emirates Towers

United Arab Emirates building is twin towers, including the United Arab Emirates Office Tower and Jumeirah Emirates Tower Hotel. The heights are 354 meters and 309 meters, ranking among the world’s tallest building in the 12th and 29th places, which have been the symbol of Dubai.

Fiji in the South Pacific, is an island near New Zealand.

This time diving in Fiji, I had met a lot of “the first”, what happened in the first time is always admired.

Airline companies have launched direct flights from Hong Kong to Fiji, going to Fiji now can be directed without bypassing Australia. My friend organized a diving team, and had booked direct flights from Hong Kong to Fiji ahead before with the inaugural tickets. Traveling in flight is of course a matter of extraordinary significance.

Arrived in Fiji International Airport we had to transfer to a local flight, then flied to an island to get to our dive destination. The first time riding such a small aircraft, the aircraft can only carry a dozen of people, and before boarding the plane you would have the body weighted, in order to balance the weight of the aircraft on both sides; the first time flying at such a low altitude, flight height was just thousands of miles; the first time sitting in the aircraft with cockpit doors wide open (the door between the cockpit and passenger compartment); for the first time watching the pilot to control the plane take off, how the aircraft to fly through the cloud and fog, and then landing in a microcomputer field; for the first time in the air facing the camera to the driver, to record every rare scene. However, what made me the most excited, was letting me the first time following along with the aircraft, overlooking from the sky the wetlands of the Fiji Islands, it is a visual experience which I had never seen before.

Wetlands are a very new term, it is necessary to be noted. I may wish to quote a paragraph from the information book to explain: “Wetlands: whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary wetlands, peat land or water are , stationary or flow, fresh water, brackish water, salt water body, including those waters with depth does not exceed 6 meters at low tide. They may include riparian and wetland and coastal areas adjacent to wetlands which are not located within the island or the sea Water body with depth more than 6 meters at low tide. This definition includes coastal coral beaches and seagrass beds, tidal flats, mangroves, estuaries, rivers, freshwater marshes, swamp forests, lakes, salt marshes and salt lakes.”

I can not remember how many times having bumps in the blue sky, and I can not remember how many times through the porthole overlooking the vast expanse of sea and earth, but I had never been like this time so relaxed and happy. Shallow sea water that swept over the reef, annihilated the beach, and surrounded the island. That shallow water was under the bright sunshine, with crystal glowing patches of light blue, like a section of the clean blue belt, more like a brilliant piece of jade, sprinkling in the deep blue sea, set in the mountains luxuriantly around the island. Watching those pieces of jade, I had a myriad of thoughts, I can not help but thinking of that popular  “He Shi Jade ’s ” allusion, the story during the Spring and Autumn Period when the person Bian, who is, “He Shi Jade ’s” discoverer, suicided to make a contribution to the rare jade … … .

Perhaps Fiji is the country in the world of the most wetlands and most spectacular places, at least for me so. Such beautiful and elegant jade, such miles of embroidery Kampf, how can not let me admire! Nature’s magic lies in creating a wonderful and various shaped natural landscape. Flying above the Fiji Islands in the blue sky, touching the clouds, overlooking from the air the charming wetlands, my eyes had tightly linked the three of the sea, sky and land together, my beating heart had been completely slammed into it.