This post tells about the authors' initial experiences in New Zealand, starting with historical details about the Māori culture and their arrival, the Treaty of Waitangi, and the author's arrival at Wellington Airport. The author meets old friends, explores Wellington, visits a nature preserve, and experiences a Māori Marae, providing a rich and authentic introduction to New Zealand.
Category: Family
New Zealand and Australia Part 1
In "Fridaes' Adventures," the blog focuses on people over places, favoring serendipity over planned experiences. The authors, traveling primarily with Airbnb, emphasize mingling with hosts to learn about the local culture and history. Their Fiji journey exposes them to the island's rich history, diverse culture, and warm, welcoming people, leaving a lasting impression.
A Tale of Three Cities Part One
"It was like a chess game, and we were the pawns."
Bangkok Part 3
As our week drew on, Rebecca and I got more comfortable venturing out on train, subway and bus. We met Big when he was free to see places wth us, and explored on our own when he had to go to a meeting or just wanted to meet with his buddies somewhere and have a … Continue reading Bangkok Part 3
Bangkok Part 2
In many ways, we had waited for fifteen years for this. Big arrived in the United States when he was just fifteen years old, on the biggest adventure of his life. He seemed confused, bewildered by our habits and eating customs, and he was thrown into a high school senior schedule with little English. His … Continue reading Bangkok Part 2
Bangkok
Our Stay in Bangkok Part 1 I did not start writing about our stay in Bangkok until we were ready to leave. Looking back now, as we prepare to go to the airport, a flood of thoughts rush in as we parepare to get on the plane to Vietnam. These thoughts were somewhat of an … Continue reading Bangkok
A New Circle Begins, Part Two
This is our last post from Romania. For all the consternation I went through renting a car from a friend of Cornel’s, we had grown to like the little diesel Volkswagen Golf. Along the way, we had anthropomorphized the compact as "Alf" (those were the letters on the license plate). He had carried us up … Continue reading A New Circle Begins, Part Two
A New Circle Begins, Part One
Some stories seem to unfold in a neat, chronological path. Others do not lend themselves to that form easily. And this is one of them. While the circle of our trip arced through Marginea passing by father's birthplace, and locating, finally, Gheorghe, Leonica, Mariaora, and Gavrila, and closed, we still had one day to return … Continue reading A New Circle Begins, Part One
Circle of Friends–Part 3: Tulchea and the Danube Delta
We arrived near dusk, partly due to the fact that Romania had just changed to daylight saving time here, but I doubt that's what they call it. As the sky was turning grey and the winds picked up, Rebecca and I found a small restaurant on the second floor of a row of businesses near … Continue reading Circle of Friends–Part 3: Tulchea and the Danube Delta
Romania’s Painful Birth of Freedom: Long Read
The will of the people was inevitable, most people told us. It was building to a flashpoint, waiting for a spark. We retraced the steps of people 29 years ago to find out what were the elements that ignited the Revolution. (Some photos from this post are from the Museum of the Revolution Decmber 16-25 … Continue reading Romania’s Painful Birth of Freedom: Long Read
Fridaes' Adventures 