ramblings of a Seattle travel, food and photography hound
One of the recommended places to have breakfast in Rotorua is the Lime Caffeteria, only a few blocks from the Rotorua Museum. The interior is sleek, slightly retro. There is an upscale ambience but not stuffy. The wait staff is very friendly, helpful when you have questions. The coffee here is stellar, served in a... Continue Reading →
The smell gets to you after a while. Not only is it an assault on the nostrils but, if you're trying to recover from a cold (like we were), it leaves you wheezy and congested. Rotorua reeks of hydrogen sulfide spewed out by the area's mud pools and hot springs. The city literally sits on... Continue Reading →
We stopped for lunch in Tairua, a popular resort town with surfing, fishing and diving recreational opportunities. The commercial district is small with a few shops, galleries, an i-Site center and places to eat. We walked past several restaurants before deciding on The Pepe, which serves basic cafe fare: burgers, sandwiches, fried fish, salads, and... Continue Reading →
After spending the night in Whitianga, we headed south to Rotorua. Along the eastern edge of the Coromandel Peninsula is Te Whanganui-A-Hei Marine Reserve which was set aside by the government in order to protect a rich variety of sea animals and their habitats. Curiously, the sea creatures here grow bigger and are more plentiful than... Continue Reading →
On our previous trip to New Zealand, we skipped a stopover in the North Island altogether. On this trip, we decided to stay for an entire week. We'd rent a car and drive through the upper portion of the island, making stops in the Coromandel Peninsula, Rotorua, Waitomo Caves and, of course, Auckland. We arrived... Continue Reading →
Another business forced to close its doors after the September quake was Copenhagen Bakery located in the PriceWaterhouseCoopers Centre (now demolished). Known for its famous pies and pastries, it relocated to the Bishopdale neighborhood of Christchurch where it enjoys as much popularity as before. After a visit to the nearby Willowbank Wildlife Reserve, we went... Continue Reading →
Project Re:START in Christchurch is an attempt to revitalize a portion of the Central Business District by erecting a mall consisting of stacked shipping containers that have been modified for commercial purposes. It opened late last year to a lot of fanfare. This seems like an ingenious idea and one that has an eco-twist to... Continue Reading →
The September 2010 earthquake forced the closure of many businesses in Christchurch, many of them for good. This is one of the unfortunate consequences of natural disasters. Imagine how much more magnified the problem was for businesses in Fukushima. Samurai Bowl was a Japanese restaurant with a popular following, especially among Japanese students studying here.... Continue Reading →
Seattle will soon open its giant ferris wheel. At 175 feet, it's the tallest on the West Coast. We noticed it for the first time when we were walking around Pier 57 at the waterfront.
Two years ago, when we stayed at the WorldMark in Bend, the receptionist recommended a pub in nearby Redmond called Diego's Spirited Kitchen, serving fare with a Mexican twist. The waiter at Diego's back then suggested the flatiron steak, one of their most popular dishes. That turned out to be an excellent choice. On our... Continue Reading →
zoomeboshi 