Even as I write those words I still find it hard to imagine that this is actually going to happen to us. We are Michael and Christine Dike and we are celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary in October this year. For almost two years now we have been talking about taking a trip and, in our minds, we have gone around the world and back! In June this year we started to talk again about our trip as we realized that, if we did not make a decision soon, the decision would be made for us and we would not be able to go anywhere. On a fateful day in July this year we called Lynn and Louise Rogers to get information about visiting New Zealand and Australia. They were already planning a trip in December and suggested that, instead of going by ourselves, we join them as they know so much more about the two countries than we do. Not only was this a fantastic offer that we could not refuse, it was also a chance to mix business with pleasure. We could enjoy a fabulous vacation while working with people who are excited about the Internet and the possibilities for travel that the net opens up to everyone in the world. During our wedding anniversary vacation we will be writing articles on this web site detailing our daily activities and describing the attractions we see and places we stay.

Things have progressed rapidly from that day in July until now. Our plane tickets are booked and some plans are already in place for New Zealand. We had a very exciting day last week when, during our travels through Missouri, we visited with a girl who had just arrived from New Zealand. Iza and her three month old baby Rose were visiting friends for a couple of months. They live in Auckland and Iza was able to give us first hand information on things to see and experience. Michael spent a long time talking to her, fascinated by the things she was telling him as well as the accent she used! What a wonderful accent the New Zealand people have. They speak our language but in such an interesting and unusual way that sounds so exotic to our ears. One thing she told us we must do is buy fish and chips and eat them on the beach! As I was born and lived my early years in England, I love fish and chips so that will be no hardship for me.

Something else we discussed with her was the fact that we will have one day to ourselves in Auckland before Lynn and Louise arrive and we were wondering whether to stay in Auckland or rent a car. Iza suggested that we rent a car and see the area north of Auckland as it is very beautiful and as soon as we rent the campervans we will be heading south out of Auckland. North of Auckland is the Bay of Islands which is the number one destination of New Zealanders and tourists. It abounds with fantastic green rolling hills and ragged coastline. Unfortunately, this is 170 miles north of Auckland and, although that would be a long day trip in the United States, we think it will be too far to tackle in one day in New Zealand.

We were also able to buy some New Zealand money from Iza. She had N.Z.$30 with her and we gave her $15 for them. It was fun to see the colorful money and hear the explanation of each bill from her. They also use $1 and $2 coins similar to Canada and she explained the significance of the Maori carvings on them. Unfortunately we had a great deal of distance still to cover that day and I had to tear Michael away very reluctantly.

As soon as we decided to take the trip we headed for Barnes and Noble to stock up on some books to read to educate ourselves on the country. As we are just setting up the Traveling New Zealand web site we have to resort to books to get our information at the moment. But wait until this web site gets underway and it is possible to take a virtual tour of New Zealand before you visit! We have been reading our books avidly and there is much more to see and do than the four of us would be able to accomplish in two months let alone two weeks! But I am sure we will do our best to fit in as much as possible.

Over the next few months as our trip plans forge ahead, I will update this site with my observations and the mounting excitement in looking forward to a trip of this magnitude. A long time ago when I was in Grade 5 I did a project on New Zealand for Social Studies. I fell in love with the country at that time and now I will finally be able to see for myself the things I wrote and dreamed about so many years ago.