Elaine’s Top 12 Tips for Traveling

Hi everyone, I thought I would impart my immense traveling knowledge to those of you thinking of going overseas.  The thing with NZ is that to get anywhere you have to travel long haul and usually like me cattle class.  It’s amazing the things that you need while you’re away that you always forget or don’t even think of.   So here are a few tips that I hope will help make your trip a little easier.  J

1-                A good book for the flight is essential as there are only so many movies you can watch, and make sure you start the book before you leave so you engrossed in it when you take off.

2-              Get a phone that has roaming capabilities so you can keep in touch with loved one and tell them all about what’s going on.

3-               No pegs clothes line.  You’ll be surprised how handy this is and doesn’t take up any room.

4-              Ipod or MP3 players are a must for long flights and a lot of the planes now have USB ports in the seats so you don’t have to stress about running out of juice.

5-               Pack easy dry clothes and always take a jumper, even if Africa it got cool in the evenings and it’s handy on the plane to keep warm or use as a pillow.

6-               Wherever you go take the best camera you can afford and lots of memory cards, it means memories forever and photos to show your kids.

The wine review this month is the very nice

 Shingle Peak Sauvignon Blanc 2008

It’s described as a vibrant and aromatic Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc showing lifted gooseberry, citrus and pear characters.

I personally love this particular tipple and I prefer it quite cold, it’s nice sharp, clean wine that seems to cleanse the palette and is a great accompany wine with fish and chicken dishes although you know me I enjoy a glass anytime.  It’s quite sweet for a Sav and it definitely made to be drunk now and enjoyed.

Now usually you pay around $18.99 per 750ml bottle but this week it’s on special at Foodtown for $9.99, now that is an awesome price and needs to be seriously taken advantage of.   I give this wine a 4 out of 5 glasses.

Hi Everyone

Now I know I don’t whinge often (yeah right!!) but I have to say something about the distinct lack of participation regarding Halloween costumes this year.

Now bearing in mind it’s not my favourite holiday and I could quite happily set the dog on the little monsters (only kiddingJ) I thought I would do my best and bought some yummy Moro bars for the little trick or treating sprogs that came up my drive.

Now I have to say that any kid that can be assed walking up my steep drive and then two flights of stairs nearly deserves a chocolate just for trying but no it’s just not that easy at my house.

My theory is that if you expect lots of treats just to be handed out to you because you knock on my door then you’re in for a shock.  Let’s face it these days you don’t get nothing for free!!  So you need to make a least a little bit of effort to receive the chocolate that I worked hard to buy, and cutting two holes in a sheet or putting a set of fairy wings on your back doesn’t cut it baby..

So two sets of fairy wings rock on up to my house and knock on the door, dog goes completely mental as he’s already stresses at all the fireworks going off a week before Guy Fawkes.  Now I’m contemplating whether to release the hound or not and to be honest by the time I lock the dog away, get the chocs from the fridge and unlock the freaking door I cannot be assed asking why I should part with my chocolate for a set of glitter fairy wings!!!!

Bah Humbug J

20^th October 2008

 Hello everyone

I have to tell you about my new love…….yes while away traveling around the wild South African countryside I fell head over heels in love.  Hard to believe to those of you who know me but fear not I haven’t traded in the current beau yet.

My new love is a strong, fast, mysterious carnivore called Eddie!!!  I know what you’re thinking I have gone nuts but I’m sane I promise….well as sane as I get sober anyway.

This new love affair came about when we visited the Rhino and Lion park near where we were staying at Monchique www.monchique.co.za .  We had hired a car a gorgeous new Toyota Yaris which believe me goes like shit off a stick when you are on the open road, we decided to go for a tour and look around the park.  Thinking we would park up and get in a truck tour we drove up to the big gate and asked for two tickets and thought we would park and then go out into the African jungle…….AH NO!!!  We ended up nearly four wheel driving through the game park in our baby car hoping to god a lion wouldn’t take exception to the Yaris.

October 5^th 2008

Hi Everyone

The first installment of my wild trip to South Africa starts in Cape Town, our first port of call.  We arrived at about 8.30 in the evening after a very long air trip totaling about 27 odd hours.  Needless to say we went straight to our hotel, thanked god for a hot shower and a soft bed and slept…..

Up bright and early at 5am the next morning, I kid you not I was up that early obviously the body clock was way up the s*!t as I am never up before the sun, it’s part of my religion.  So after fluffing around trying to sort my bags out and having showers and breakfast the tour guide arrived for our tour of the Capeland Wine region.

So we drove about an hour out of the city to Siedleberg vineyard, which turned out to be my favourite of the day.  The weather was overcast but not raining and we were given a tour of the cellars and the gusts of where the wines are made.  Then we went to the tasting room and that’s were the smile on my dial started.

Siedleberg is well known for their wines and set with the beautiful backdrop of Table mountain it’s not a place to miss on your tour.  The staff was amazing and really knew their stuff.  What impressed me the most was unlike New Zealand when you go on a wine tour in S.A you actually get to try 6-8 different wines of your choice!!!

So we sat down and got into the good stuff, now as you all know I’m not completely on to it with all the ins and outs of wines and how they’re made blah blah, but I know a great wine when I taste one and I was in heaven.  In fact nearly all of the wines were delish and quite frankly if I could have got a job there and shipped my dog over I would have been happy forever.  But we had to move on.

With us on the tour were a couple from Washington and a couple from England, where escapes me right now but both couples were particularly knowledgeable when it came to wines and shipping cartons of them home….. They preferred to have a sip and throw out the rest, now I don’t know about you guys out there but this kiwi girl does not spit out wine, one it’s a waste of good vino and two I feel disrespectful doing it so I choose to drink which was ultimately my downfall….