Al and Chris go a-travellin' The world is ahead of us! Yay! tag:travellerspoint.com,2005-11-01:/blog/?domain=alandchris 2006-10-01T14:20:41Z alandchris img/travel-blog-feed.png It's heading into Winter tag:travellerspoint.com,2006-10-01:/blog/?domain=alandchris&thisblog_entryid=13&entryid=25972 2006-10-01T14:20:41Z 2006-10-01T14:20:41Z Well.. It is the first day of October and winter is starting to sneak up behind you and tap you on the shoulder whilst running the other way... (That is such an Al thing to do). It is rainy outside with all sorts of Thunder and Lightning... I had my guitar in hand when it started and for some unknown reason felt it was a good idea to sing Lightning Crashes... I hate the subconscious! I am a wee bit excited ... Well.. It is the first day of October and winter is starting to sneak up behind you and tap you on the shoulder whilst running the other way... (That is such an Al thing to do). It is rainy outside with all sorts of Thunder and Lightning... I had my guitar in hand when it started and for some unknown reason felt it was a good idea to sing Lightning Crashes... I hate the subconscious!

I am a wee bit excited because things are all starting to fall into place... work is awesome.. the school is going well... the students are amazing and making some good friends with the staff team as well... The church work is a bit slow but starting to build momentum! We have a flat sorted out to move into mid october with a good long time mate from NZ... AND!!! This one is hugely cool - I am now speaking at my FIRST camp over here... I can now put INTERNATIONAL speaker on my CV... hehe...

Christine is going well... she is getting some great placements down here in London, but can travel a long way to get there sometimes... the poor wee thing spent 2 hours on the tube the other day trying to meet up with my mum and I for dinner with some relatives only about 5 miles away!!!

We still miss home and welcome any contact!!!

More later!

Al

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]]> Londonium tag:travellerspoint.com,2006-08-24:/blog/?domain=alandchris&thisblog_entryid=12&entryid=21520 2006-08-24T21:01:38Z 2006-08-24T21:01:38Z Hey there... We have found a flat... that is pretty cool.. I like it when we have a flat! going to the Cotswolds this weekend with my Ma and Auntya and Uncle from NZ... should be a blast - Christine is in the Isle of Man working, and she goes to Croatia and Italy in a few weeks! That's all for now... ... Hey there...

We have found a flat... that is pretty cool.. I like it when we have a flat!

going to the Cotswolds this weekend with my Ma and Auntya and Uncle from NZ... should be a blast - Christine is in the Isle of Man working, and she goes to Croatia and Italy in a few weeks!

That's all for now...

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]]> No-longer gainfully unemployed tag:travellerspoint.com,2006-07-04:/blog/?domain=alandchris&thisblog_entryid=11&entryid=16080 2006-07-07T14:49:09Z 2006-07-04T22:57:01Z well... what a week it has been! I had an interview up here in Scotland the other day and was offered the job of Community Youth Worker for a cool organisation called DARE. Supporting a bunch of local schools and Youthy type things in the local town... but whilst waiting to hear back from them... I was offered an interview for a VERY cool job back down in London... I was whisked down on the train and interviewed... stayed with ... well... what a week it has been! I had an interview up here in Scotland the other day and was offered the job of Community Youth Worker for a cool organisation called DARE. Supporting a bunch of local schools and Youthy type things in the local town... but whilst waiting to hear back from them... I was offered an interview for a VERY cool job back down in London... I was whisked down on the train and interviewed... stayed with an awesome couple called Rodger and Pauline... they had even been to New Zealand... ANYWAY... had a very exciting day at Davenant School for the role of Chaplain and Community Youth Advisor to the local Anglican churches. The School is a Christian school and it is VERY VERY sweet... real big on Sports, and Real big on performing arts and music... Where was it when I was at high school!?

Anyway... long story short... Al got the job, starts in September and we are moving back to Londontown!

Will be very cool to be nearer to people we know!!!

Byeeeeeeeeee

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]]> Reality Check tag:travellerspoint.com,2006-06-23:/blog/?domain=alandchris&thisblog_entryid=10&entryid=15198 2006-06-23T11:26:24Z 2006-06-23T11:26:24Z It's funny... everyone back in NZ that has been over to the UK tells you how AMAZING it is... Christine and I were sitting around the other day... and we were thinking that this isn't really the case. Let's just assume that one isn't into drinking and partying hard for a minute... What else is there here for you... the things that stick out to us the most are: [list]The history. The deals on stuff The lack of service the paperwork [/list] It is shocking the ... It's funny... everyone back in NZ that has been over to the UK tells you how AMAZING it is... Christine and I were sitting around the other day... and we were thinking that this isn't really the case. Let's just assume that one isn't into drinking and partying hard for a minute... What else is there here for you... the things that stick out to us the most are:
    The history.
    The deals on stuff
    The lack of service
    the paperwork

It is shocking the lack of customer service and the amount of beauracracy!!! People are really unfriendly on the phone and the banks require so much paper that it is little wonder that the Amazonian rainforest is shrinking faster than England's chances of winning the World Cup!!!

We don't really like being here... everything we love and cherish is in New Zealand.. But we are both people that will make the most of wherever we are... and realise that we can't really make a snap judgement on the place when we have been here such a short time. We know that when we find a church to go to, that things will pick up a bit... we even have a car now... which makes these things more accessible.

I have a major Job interview tomorrow and have to give a 10minute presentation on Volunteer recruitment... this will be an awesome challenge!

Will keep you posted!

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]]> We're heeeeere! tag:travellerspoint.com,2006-06-11:/blog/?domain=alandchris&thisblog_entryid=9&entryid=14183 2006-06-13T11:42:54Z 2006-06-11T19:07:13Z hehe... I figured that rather than replicate our travel update here... I would add a part to our website that helps out... [url=http://ouroe.alronberg.com] and then you can do as you see fit! Anyway... in other exciting news... WE BROUGHT A CAR!!! It is a 1992 VW Golf - 5 Door and 1.4L... It will also have a roof rack! Just for good measure! Anyway... more later ... hehe... I figured that rather than replicate our travel update here... I would add a part to our website that helps out... http://ouroe.alronberg.com and then you can do as you see fit!

Anyway... in other exciting news... WE BROUGHT A CAR!!! It is a 1992 VW Golf - 5 Door and 1.4L... It will also have a roof rack! Just for good measure!

12_1_b.JPG

Anyway... more later

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]]> LESS THAN A MONTH!!! tag:travellerspoint.com,2006-04-02:/blog/?domain=alandchris&thisblog_entryid=7&entryid=8258 2006-04-03T05:46:47Z 2006-04-03T05:46:47Z Well... here I am sitting at Starbucks on an overcast April afternoon... I worked today when I had the day off, but the way I figure is that the day I just worked pretty much pays for the night in the very cool fancy resort I booked us into for a night in Kota Kinabalu (type Gayana Island Eco Resort into Google)! It is real funny... I have about 2 weeks left at work and it is REAL hard when all ... Well... here I am sitting at Starbucks on an overcast April afternoon... I worked today when I had the day off, but the way I figure is that the day I just worked pretty much pays for the night in the very cool fancy resort I booked us into for a night in Kota Kinabalu (type Gayana Island Eco Resort into Google)!

It is real funny... I have about 2 weeks left at work and it is REAL hard when all I can think about is how in 27 days at this time, I will be enroute to BORNEO!!! We are starting to get REAL excited but the reality is, in exactly 4 weeks time, we will be half dead, half way up Mt Kinabalu! But hey, that's what our travel insurance is for eh!? I am really looking forward to ditching this whole shiftwork shindig... it is not really my cup of tea, but somehow I have managed the last year or so of doing it!

Edinburgh is still our first major destination in terms of where we are going to live, and we are currently looking for the sharpest deal on Lonely Planet or Rough Guide books about Scotland. I am looking forward to some awesome as "hillwalking" as the locals say!

We have downloaded SKYPE which will help us keep in touch with family and friends around the world and I highly recommend it to you all! Add us - theronbergs - is our login... anyway... enough idle chit-chat... will write more next time I get an idle moment at Starbucks!

C U, Al

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]]> Visas tag:travellerspoint.com,2006-03-04:/blog/?domain=alandchris&thisblog_entryid=6&entryid=7112 2006-03-04T16:33:38Z 2006-03-04T16:33:38Z We got our Visas this week... that makes life that little bit easier!!! We can now actually go to the UK without fear of coming to grief at Heathrow... It has been a process I can tell you... I can see why Kiwis are soooo well liked as workers in England, cos if the High Commission is anything to go by, we are bound to be nicer people to work with!!! But we got there in the end!!! Edinburgh is really ... We got our Visas this week... that makes life that little bit easier!!! We can now actually go to the UK without fear of coming to grief at Heathrow... It has been a process I can tell you... I can see why Kiwis are soooo well liked as workers in England, cos if the High Commission is anything to go by, we are bound to be nicer people to work with!!! But we got there in the end!!!

Edinburgh is really starting to excite me!!! I watched Trainspotting just to get my head around the accent... and now anything remotely scottish is starting to grab my attention... Ewan MacGregor movies, I am already a Golf Fanatic... bring on the Glenfiddich? Flip, I nearly even went to McDonalds the other day!!! I will never eat Haggis mind you... well... maybe I will give it a wee go!

Oh well... that is all for now... :) Catch ya again soon!

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]]> Wedding was Sweet... now back to travel planning tag:travellerspoint.com,2006-02-18:/blog/?domain=alandchris&thisblog_entryid=4&entryid=6592 2006-02-18T16:58:40Z 2006-02-18T16:56:43Z Well... the wedding has been and gone and it was truly an awesome experience - everyone had such an amazing time... check out the pics [url=http://www.alronberg.com/wedding/]... Anyway... now we are in the process of sorting out visas and stuff like that! Should be a blast! Catch ya soon! ... Well... the wedding has been and gone and it was truly an awesome experience - everyone had such an amazing time... check out the pics http://www.alronberg.com/wedding/...

nice.jpg.jpg

Anyway... now we are in the process of sorting out visas and stuff like that! Should be a blast!

Catch ya soon!

Wedding was Sweet... now back to travel planning remains copyright of the author alandchris, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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]]> Did I ever tell you about my honeymoon? tag:travellerspoint.com,2005-11-02:/blog/?domain=alandchris&thisblog_entryid=2&entryid=3122 2005-11-23T10:00:11Z 2005-11-23T10:00:11Z Day 1 - Auckland - Christchurch on Qantas (Stay at Charlie B's backpackers) Day 2 - Christchurch - Dunedin in Rental Car. (Stay at Adventure Backpackers) Day 3 - Dunedin - Milford Sound in Rental Car (Stay at Milford Sound Lodge) Day 4 - Sea Kayak on Milford Sound then on to Te Anau... (Kayaks with Fiordland Sea Kayaks and Staying at Kingsgate Te Anau) Day 5 - Te Anau - Queenstown (Stay at Parklands Lodge) Day 6 - Queenstown - Wanaka (Stay at Purple ... Day 1 - Auckland - Christchurch on Qantas (Stay at Charlie B's backpackers)

Day 2 - Christchurch - Dunedin in Rental Car. (Stay at Adventure Backpackers)

Day 3 - Dunedin - Milford Sound in Rental Car (Stay at Milford Sound Lodge)

Day 4 - Sea Kayak on Milford Sound then on to Te Anau... (Kayaks with Fiordland Sea Kayaks and Staying at Kingsgate Te Anau)

Day 5 - Te Anau - Queenstown (Stay at Parklands Lodge)

Day 6 - Queenstown - Wanaka (Stay at Purple Cow)

Day 7 - Wanaka - Franz Josef (Stay at YHA)

Day 8 - Tramp on Franz Josef Glacier (8hrs) - Stay at YHA

Day 9 - FJosef - Greymouth - Blackwater Rafting in the Afternoon - Stay at Noah's Ark Backpackers (awesome place)

Day 10 - Free day in and around GReymouth

Day 11 - Back to CHCH

Day 12 - Back to AKL!

Did I ever tell you about my honeymoon? remains copyright of the author alandchris, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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]]> A Break from planning to travel the world... tag:travellerspoint.com,2005-11-23:/blog/?domain=alandchris&thisblog_entryid=3&entryid=3699 2005-11-23T09:53:46Z 2005-11-23T09:53:46Z OK... so the wedding is probably going to be our excuse for not planning our travel in the immediate future... but I think it's a pretty good excuse... We are really looking forward to travelling... and in the meantime, we get to honeymoon in the South Island... Yay! ... OK... so the wedding is probably going to be our excuse for not planning our travel in the immediate future... but I think it's a pretty good excuse...

We are really looking forward to travelling... and in the meantime, we get to honeymoon in the South Island... Yay!

A Break from planning to travel the world... remains copyright of the author alandchris, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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]]> We got our tickets!!! How cool is that!? tag:travellerspoint.com,2005-11-01:/blog/?domain=alandchris&thisblog_entryid=1&entryid=3084 2005-11-01T10:49:28Z 2005-11-01T10:37:59Z Well... we went to the travel expo on Sunday and had our sharp little eyes peeled for the best deal on a one-way fare to the UK... we saw many and came across a little $959 doozy on royal brunei [url=http://www.bruneiair.com/]. We now get to visit the part of the world where I really wanted to go on our Honeymoon! We are real excited about it all! We fly out of Auckland on April 30th next year and fly through ... Well... we went to the travel expo on Sunday and had our sharp little eyes peeled for the best deal on a one-way fare to the UK... we saw many and came across a little $959 doozy on royal brunei http://www.bruneiair.com/. We now get to visit the part of the world where I really wanted to go on our Honeymoon! We are real excited about it all!

We fly out of Auckland on April 30th next year and fly through Brisbane on our way to Brunei. We will spend around a week and a bit checking out Brunei and Sabah and climb Mt Kinabalu, the highest point in South East Asia.

From there we fly to Dubai for a couple of days and then on to Heathrow... We are excited, but a little bit freaked... there is no turning back, we are definitely on our way to the UK!

If anyone you know has been to any of these places, then we would definitely appreciate any pointers etc...

We got our tickets!!! How cool is that!? remains copyright of the author alandchris, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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