tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-110074102024-03-15T07:36:51.203+13:00Moving to New ZealandKing Nerdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13837825440058017673noreply@blogger.comBlogger225125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11007410.post-7427602870558608482015-11-21T08:28:00.001+13:002015-11-21T08:28:44.103+13:00Japan Part 2 - Kobe Calmness Within Heart PostClean
Friendly
Stared at because white
No white people
Himeji Castle
Guide at Himeji
Wedding
Gardens
Doll store
Trains
Family friendly
Sleeping on tatami mats
Get off where the old people do
Shabu Shabu
Popcorn chicken
Lots of icecream
Mt Fuji
Tomo so crazy
Uuki
Grapes, mom bought me more.
PeachesKing Nerdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13837825440058017673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11007410.post-988422630733203462010-01-06T12:33:00.004+13:002010-01-06T12:55:29.938+13:00I had the opportunity to spend a day at Omarama gliding while on a a tour of the south island over New Years. It was about half-way through our trip and the weather had been mixed but mainly good up to that point. We showed up in Omarama the night before at about 9:00PM to see a couple gliders landing so that was a good sign. They were just starting to pack up shop at Southern Soaring but Chris King Nerdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13837825440058017673noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11007410.post-20410490520522912132009-09-10T01:24:00.015+12:002009-09-14T01:37:57.226+12:00Japan Part 1 - Tokyo Super Mega Happy PostWe arrived into Tokyo after a twelve hour flight from Frankfurt feeling fairly refreshed after an evening of doing nothing in the hotel. No walking around checking out old buildings. No expeditions to discover new evening eating establishments. It was nothing but room service and German TV. That was all to change, oh yes.We arrived into Tokyo with enough information to get us from the airport to King Nerdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13837825440058017673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11007410.post-34266526813383199712009-09-07T07:00:00.004+12:002009-09-15T18:58:56.363+12:00Vienna tripAfter 35+ hours in transit we are finally into our hotel room in Vienna. As crappy as 35 hours on airplanes and in airports sounds it really wasn't that bad. As long as you have sleeping pills and a bit of entertainment you are ok. We are going to read this post in 30 years and laugh about having to travel like this since we will just be teleporting everywhere.Some thoughts on Vienna- Definitely King Nerdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13837825440058017673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11007410.post-60286595026991913232009-09-07T06:18:00.004+12:002009-09-07T06:58:57.789+12:00The start of our trip and our stop in Hong KongAbout 9 months ago I went to Europe for a business trip and Roberta stayed at home. When the plan started to formulate to send me back to Europe for work it wasn't even discussed. Roberta was coming along as well. There is something amazing about the history in places like London and Vienna that the locals take for granted. Sometimes it takes a tourist to remind them of how stunning their home King Nerdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13837825440058017673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11007410.post-61771038343197200762009-04-26T06:27:00.002+12:002009-04-26T06:51:16.463+12:00Stonehenge and off to ViennaIt was my last couple days in the UK and I was staying with Jarlath. They gave me a great place to sleep and cooked some awesome food. They also enjoyed playing the train game and stomping me at it. It looks like they play trains often by their knowledge of the routes. A gracious host would have let the guest win at least on game.The final day in London went well. As I was heading to the airport King Nerdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13837825440058017673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11007410.post-59355906783684362722009-04-22T18:33:00.003+12:002009-04-22T18:47:33.829+12:00Third day in LondonThe third day in London consisted of lots more walking which is the way to see the city. I left the hotel without any particular plan except I had to be to the Globe Theater at around noon to meet Jarlath and the Family to go to the open day.Walking down random streets you will see a sign on the side of a building that says "Thomas Edison lived here". Huh, now that is history. Its nice that it isKing Nerdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13837825440058017673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11007410.post-42885558257415453992009-04-19T10:04:00.005+12:002009-04-19T10:35:57.774+12:00Second dayToday it was off to the Camden Markets and then my first shot at the British Museum.Bradley mentioned that I should go to the Camden Markets. I had no idea what they were about, I didn't read anything, I just went. Off to the tube...The underground system here is amazing. It seems like a model of how mass transportation should work. Also, when they say "Underground" they really mean it. When I King Nerdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13837825440058017673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11007410.post-88958689300487502702009-04-18T17:03:00.005+12:002009-04-19T10:36:20.998+12:00London - More than half way around the worldThe First Day:My trip to London is starting off great. The flights from New Zealand involved a 3 hour flight to Sydney, then an 8 hour flight to Singapore, then finally the long haul of 13 hours to London. Luckily I magically got upgrade to Business class on the flight from Singapore to London. Business class is much nicer than premium economy since the seats fold almost flat and I got to live King Nerdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13837825440058017673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11007410.post-50927786783662132592009-04-15T07:55:00.003+12:002009-04-15T08:05:03.457+12:00X-Terra TriathlonThis weekend I'm heading down to the X-Terra Triathlon in Rotorua. I'm doing the swim (1000m) and the run (11k trail run). I don't have a mountain bike so a friend is going to do that bit. I'm easily in shape for both legs. I'm just a little bit nervous about riding my motorbike down to Rotorua as I haven't done a distance ride in sometime. I should be fine. So for now I've banned myself from (Roberta Robleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06953475533243325350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11007410.post-29288689372275197142009-04-07T21:37:00.004+12:002009-04-07T22:00:03.510+12:00Bianchi Volpe 1 Yr Challenge Month 9My Bianchi Volpe is still holding up quite well on month 9 of my one year bicycle challenge. Last month I had an accident and landed on the hood of a car and luckily did not get hurt. Landing on the hood of a car is a lot softer than landing on concrete. The Volpe took some damage to the head gear and that had to be replaced for $90 but had it been in a car the damage would have been a lot more Roberta Robleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06953475533243325350noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11007410.post-27892601446021014592009-04-06T19:22:00.015+12:002009-04-06T23:02:32.037+12:00Northland NZ Tour - 6 HighlightsI went up north with a friend who was determined to go to the tip of New Zealand. So we did just that this last 'extended' weekend. Here are the six highlights and all of the pictures:1. Paihia (Bay of Islands)- nice little town with ferry access to Russel and is where the Treaty of Waitangi was signed aka birthplace of New Zealand. Would recommend the Pickled Parrot hostel. I could easily spend Roberta Robleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06953475533243325350noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11007410.post-59922715240389988682009-03-26T21:44:00.003+13:002009-03-26T21:57:15.661+13:00We're making our engagement ringsWe're taking a jewelry making class at workshop 6 in Kingsland here's a picture of our first silver rings, pendants (with brown stone), engagement mock ring (copper silver) and the beginnings of our wedding bands. For our engagement rings we are essentially piecing together three different bands trying to keep it simple yet interesting. The gold came from these mini 'bars' of gold that we Roberta Robleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06953475533243325350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11007410.post-22594303623227504422009-03-02T20:59:00.003+13:002009-03-02T21:40:01.249+13:004 Things the National Party is Doing RightI'll just say it right now I did not vote for the National Party (it's the republican equivalent). I was very excited to vote at a poll in NZ, as I have always done mail ballots in Oregon. So here are 4 things the National Party is doing right.1. They didn't mess it up with a bad copyright law and made it onto boingboing.2. They are reviewing the Resource Management Act. It's their version of Roberta Robleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06953475533243325350noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11007410.post-63764966437372370482008-12-13T22:28:00.001+13:002008-12-13T22:29:55.891+13:00Muriwai Beach first day of summer Thanksgiving bbq at the beach in MuriwaiRoberta Robleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06953475533243325350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11007410.post-24856299078936419182008-11-26T23:22:00.002+13:002008-11-26T23:27:45.721+13:00Moving to New Zealand PlugYou may have missed it but some folks in Wellington posted a comment requesting to plug a new dvd about moving to New Zealand. They are from the east coast US and are now living in Wellington. Anything that helps skilled labour move to NZ is OK by me. Granted I've never seen this video so can't vouch for it. But if they wanted to send me a free dvd, and I'll check weather its good, and later postRoberta Robleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06953475533243325350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11007410.post-62115292655428059302008-11-26T23:03:00.002+13:002008-11-26T23:20:55.050+13:00My first duo sport swim/runI did a Stroke and Stride event at St. Heliers. 750m swim, 3 k run and I am pooped. I was really nervous about it, mostly about the transition and not having the flash gear, and having my blabs hanging out everywhere. When I arrived at the race there were some real pros (totally buff hot people) walking around. Crap-oh-crap I thought. Well I walked around and eyed some ladies that looked more my Roberta Robleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06953475533243325350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11007410.post-66240412933043260022008-11-17T18:21:00.003+13:002008-11-17T18:56:42.827+13:00Parenting Beyond BeliefFor all the parents out there, I came across a really cool seminar for parents:Participants learn effective ways to encourage religious literacy without indoctrination; help kids interact productively with a religious world; help kids develop active moral reasoning; weigh church-state issues in the public sphere; address sensitive issues with religious relatives using the principles of nonviolentRoberta Robleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06953475533243325350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11007410.post-27375969536329022282008-11-16T17:44:00.003+13:002008-11-16T17:58:32.983+13:00I did the Auckland Harbour Crossing!Yay, I swam across the Auckland Harbour today in the organized sea swim. I could have swam a lot farther. I think I'll try to do another ocean swim for a farther distance. They do a swim around Rangitoto that is about 4.8kms. I think the only thing holding me back is the chafing around my neck from my wetsuit. I used some anti-chafing stuff (comes in a deodorant type dispenser), which helped, butRoberta Robleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06953475533243325350noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11007410.post-58161060529452038092008-11-10T18:17:00.003+13:002008-11-10T18:41:07.326+13:00Auckland Harbour Crossing SwimIt's time for me to do something crazy. I've been training for the Auckland Harbour Swim. I think I'm prepared. Yesterday I swam 3000 metres at the Parnell baths (cold saltwater pool), and I have been doing some open water swims with a local group at Kohimarama so feel fairly prepared, but it will still be a challenge. I'm looking forward to it. Wish me luck!I hope my teeth don't get too cold Roberta Robleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06953475533243325350noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11007410.post-19833139444992093252008-11-10T17:59:00.003+13:002008-11-10T18:17:03.225+13:00Dental Implants in New ZealandAs some of you may know, I've had some dental problems stemming from an accident as a little girl. My two front teeth, literally, where knocked dead and I have been very careful with a second set of crowns on them. They finally both came loose at the same time, and I had both of the entire tooth pulled and two titanium implant posts as replacements. Titanium apparently does a really good job of 'Roberta Robleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06953475533243325350noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11007410.post-90332173233816211402008-09-09T07:54:00.002+12:002008-09-09T08:04:38.975+12:00Still on the bicycle challengeI've been riding to work everyday rain or shine. Yay, it's been fun and I've lost a little weight, fortunately no close encounters with cars since day 1.Yesterday I opted not to ride my bike because of a dentist appointment, then I was going to take a taxi to work. For various reasons I ended up riding the bus to work during rush hour and it was soooo painfully slow. Urgh, I'd rather ride my bikeRoberta Robleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06953475533243325350noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11007410.post-71409325089411045192008-08-15T19:47:00.002+12:002008-08-15T19:51:38.774+12:00Month One on My BikeSo it's been about four weeks since I've been commuting to work by bike. I'm much more savvy in traffic than my first day when I got hit by a car. Except now I completely take over a lane when I need to and don't give a fuck sake whether they start honking their horn. At least they see me. The days are getting longer so I'm mostly riding during the day. Still having fun on it, got all the trafficRoberta Robleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06953475533243325350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11007410.post-22870629006037491272008-07-29T19:38:00.002+12:002008-07-29T21:02:12.003+12:00Some US vs NZ musingsWe've been out of the country for just over 3 years, having lived in Costa Rica and now New Zealand for the last two years. I certainly do miss the conveniences of living in the states. There's a lot of things that are just faster (internet), cheaper and easier in the US vs. living in NZ. I won't go into those details. However, the one thing that disturbed me the most was the high level of Roberta Robleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06953475533243325350noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11007410.post-76393275178534922962008-07-23T20:42:00.002+12:002008-07-23T21:07:50.435+12:00I Got Hit by a Car on My First Day Commuting by BikeYes, sadly, Auckland drivers are totally dildos. It was a pathetic wet rainy morning and some douchenozzlette on her way to work drove by me and clipped me with her mirror. The best part was she didn't stop.I bitched her out at the next intersection, scaring the living shit out of her. I forgot to get her plate numbers. Here's what Cycle Action Auckland say to do about reporting incidences. It Roberta Robleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06953475533243325350noreply@blogger.com3