Twelve months ago, I hopped on a borrowed bike with essentially zero training and rode in the Rail Trail Classic 100 – a 100 mile (150 km) bike race across Central Otago on New Zealand’s South Island.

Most cycle tourists in New Zealand tackle the Otago Rail Trail over the course of three or four days. While the cycling adds to the enjoyment, the main draw of a trip on the Rail Trail involves numerous mid-ride coffees, afternoon pints and evening pub meals. The surrounding scenery is stunning, but as the trail originally was the path of a train track, the gradient is very gradual and the riding isn’t necessarily exciting.

Snow Covered Otago Rail Trail

Over the past year I’ve clocked hundreds of miles on my mountain bike on trails throughout New Zealand and decided I would again set off to tackle the RTC100. I was determined to prove that not only could I complete this marathon of bike races, but I hoped to significantly improve my time.

New Zealand’s Spring weather is well known for throwing four seasons your way over the course of a day. The past week has been highlighted by stunningly warm Spring days, but alas before today’s ride Mother Nature sent a Spring Storm our way.

The result?

My 100 mile journey was complimented by a sloppy, muddy and unrelenting track. Much of the day was spent tackling snow covered countryside. When the snow cleared, a brutal headwind that almost stopped me in my tracks made for a tortuous final 40 kms.

In some bizarre way, I enjoyed it. I was glad to improve my time by just over an hour and a half, but equally thrilled to simply complete this epic race. The sense of accomplishment you feel after completing such a massive challenge is impossible to put into words.

Check out this video from the ride…

Technorati Tags: mountain biking, New Zealand, Travel Video

During my recent trip backpacking in Bali, I spent much of my time exploring the island from behind the wheels of my very own rented motorbike. It was an excellent, albeit slightly terrifying way to see the island.

From Kuta’s traffic-clogged streets to central Bali’s deserted, steep, and potholed filled tracks through the dense jungle, I was constantly challenged yet very in tune with my surroundings.

It was an ideal way to get around Bali and I can’t imagine my experience would have been anywhere near the same had I relied on public transport.

Cow on Medewi Beach

Two quick words of warning regarding the video.

First, at just over 11 minutes, it’s arguably too long. Yet based on much of the feedback I received, a 10 minute long video is watchable assuming you’re entertained throughout. With quick scene changes, a mix of dialogue and views of what I’m seeing, and some interesting facts throughout, I think this works.

Second, as I’m traveling solo, I didn’t have anyone alongside shooting the footage. Everything except the last scene was self-shot. The result? Some scenes are bumpier than others. This was inevitable with a shaking hand and a bouncing motorbike – I hope you can see past it.

I know I shouldn’t bring light to potential faults in the video – yet, I’d prefer you were aware going in.

Grab a coffee, a beer, or a glass of wine and enjoy …

Exploring Bali – A Backpackingmatt.com Travel Video

Highlights

0:50 – I visit the Sacred Monkey Forest to see Long Tailed Macaques just outside of Ubud – see the monkeys and learn about their place in Balinese culture.

4:40 – I visit a “Bali Drive-Through” for some street food.

5:21- While pulled over to check the GPS on my iPhone, I receive a traditional Hindu blessing from a local woman.

7:00 My experience at a traditional Bali cockfight deep in the jungle.

8:15 – Heavy rain forces me off the road and into a warung for some Nasi Goreng.

8:40 - While thinking I’m lost on jungle road in a rainstorm, I nearly crash my motorbike.

9:40 – After passing through small villages seemingly in the middle of nowhere, I reflect on the kindness of the people I’ve met before coming across another small village.

Thanks for watching. Please leave your feedback – good and bad – in the comments section below.

Technorati Tags: Backpacking Bali, Bali, Budget Travel Video, Travel Video

A trip to New Zealand isn’t complete without a bungy jump – a topic that has been written about often on Backpackingmatt. I’ve reviewed my experiences at the Lake Taupo Bungy and on the Nevis Highwire Bungy.

I put together a quick travel video which outlines the workup to my recent jump here in Queenstown. While we were short on light, and the filming was a bit rushed – in part thanks to my nerves – it should give you a great view and a different perspective on the experience.  Below, you have Backpackingmatt’s second travel video: The Ledge Bungy in Queenstown.

Quick Tips and Facts

• How high? The Ledge Bungy is 47 meters high.
• How much? A single jump will cost you $175. If you’re extra keen, consider purchasing a package which will get you jumps at other AJ Hackett sites with a slight discount.
• The Ledge Bungy is unique as you have the added option of jumping at night – putting a whole new twist on bungy.
• While the typical bungy attaches you at the ankles, on The Ledge you’re attached via a waist harness and therefore have a number of different ‘jumping styles’ to choose from.
• AJ Hackett surprisingly doesn’t pick up the cost of the gondola ride to the site of their jump. Save yourself the cost by hiking to the top. There is a trail that leaves by the Skyline Gondola … it might be a good way to walk off those nerves …
• Read about my jump here.

Full Disclosure: AJ Hackett provided me with a complimentary jump in return for this review on Backpackingmatt.

Technorati Tags: Adventure Activities, Adventure Sports, bungy jumping, New Zealand, Queenstown, Travel Video

Below you’ll find the newest edition to Backpackingmatt – Travel Videos. I’m excited at the opportunity to share my tips and experiences in video format. This will hopefully allow you to better get a feel for the destinations I travel to.

I look forward to any feedback about my first video – be it positive or negative. Please feel free to share them in the comments section below.

The first (of hopefully many) travel video takes you to the rugged, West Coast of New Zealand’s South Island. I hope you enjoy Episode 1 of my Budget Travel Videos in Franz Josef, New Zealand.

Additional Franz Josef Tips

• For any glacier viewing you plan to do, start early. Clouds often come in during the early afternoon.
• Everything is extremely expensive in Franz Josef – plan accordingly. Stock up on food, drink, and petrol before you arrive.
• In the high summer season, book your accommodation well in advance as the village will fill up.
• Your cheapest option for food in Franz Josef is the fish and chips shop on the street parallel to the main road (there are only two streets, I trust you’ll find it!). It’s a fish and chips shop, internet cafe, and laundromat combo.
• The glacier is found about 5kms outside of the village. If you don’t have your own transportation, you should have good luck hitching to the glacier carpark. Otherwise, you can catch a shuttle for about $10 return.
• For good nightlife, check out the Monsoon Bar – their motto is, When it Rains, We Pour. And it rains a lot in Franz Josef. It’s a busy place especially when the Kiwi Experience bus shows up. On Wednesday nights, head up to the Blue Ice Bar for the best (and only) karaoke in Franz.
• If you want to attempt to get away from the tourist crowd, consider checking out the Haast Public Bar. It’s about 1km north of the village center and offers the only reasonably priced pint in Franz Josef. With a pool table, a juke box, and a tough, West Coast barmaid, you can have a good night out. Ask about their Riggers and you can take away two liters of beer for about $12.
• For more about the Franz Josef Glacier Guides hike, check out this post.
• For pictures from a helicopter ride over the glaciers, check out this photo essay.

Technorati Tags: Backpacking New Zealand, Travel Video

A bungy jump is arguably one of the most difficult things you’ll ever have to do. To stand on the edge of a bridge and jump goes against everything that feels right. Every part of your body, your mind, your rational thinking conscience says, “no, absolutely not.” To overcome that voice in your head and make the leap of faith is one of the greatest feelings in the world.

Nevis Highwire Bungy

The more you think about the jump, the harder it gets. The pre-jump experience with AJ Hackett’s Nevis Highwire Bungy gives you plenty of time to think – this makes for a truly epic experience.

After checking in for my Nevis jump in Queenstown’s city center, I boarded an AJ Hackett shuttle bus which took me and about 20 other jumpers outside of town. The first stop was Kawarau Bridge – home of the world’s first commercial bungy jump in 1988. At Kawarau Bridge, about 15 people left the bus leaving only five brave souls to make their way another 10 kms to the Nevis Jump site. Not much was said on the bus ride – I sensed that everyone was as nervous as I was about the upcoming jump.

After turning off the SH 6, a quick 10 minute ride up a dirt road left us at the base of a steep mountain. We got off the shuttle bus and were asked to board a smaller, 4WD vehicle which made its way up a steep and winding gravel road.

As we neared the top of this road, our driver pointed out the wide open canyon to our right. Suspended above the canyon on a cable was the jump pod where I’d soon make the leap. My heart skipped a couple beats and I began to get a feel for what was to come – a massive jump.

After reaching the top of the hill, myself and the other jumpers were fitted with a harness, our weight was checked again, and we were led to the cable car which would bring us out over the canyon to the jump pod. The jump pod itself features a glass floor which provides some stunning views of the river on the canyon floor.

Getting ready to jump

When it was my turn to make the leap, I was positioned in a chair which appeared to either belong in a dentist’s office or a torture chamber. The bungy cord was strapped to my feet and I was given some last minute instructions for the jump. Of my biggest concern was the bit where I was to pull the cord to release my feet after the second bounce. This would allow me to be pulled back up to the pod in a seated position – as opposed to upside down. Seemed to be straight forward enough – unless perhaps you had just experienced 8.5 seconds of free fall!

After the instructions were clear, I ‘toed’ my way towards the jump point. A small, metal platform which juts off of the bungy pod. The cord was tossed over the edge leaving me again with the stomach turning feeling of what was to come. The jumpmaster counted down, “3, 2, 1, go Matt!” and I dove out, hands first, over the canyon below.

Words can’t begin to describe the feeling, the ground rush sensation you get as you plummet towards the canyon floor below you. I won’t even try. It’s a completely comfortable experience – no significant jerk as the bungy cord reaches it’s end. A smooth flow up, and again back down. The euphoric feeling is immediate, and lasts for hours after the jump. You’ll instantly begin thinking about when you can jump again.

Soaring through the canyon

The experience was a great one from start to finish. The team at AJ Hackett does a terrific job of both making you feel safe and comfortable. From the check in, to the harnessing up, to the jumpmaster who is your last contact before making the leap – everyone was professional yet fun. Both characteristics you want the day of your jump.

Thinking of taking the leap yourself? Here are some facts to get you started:

How high? 134 meters (440) – Australasia’s highest jump!

How long will you fall? 8.5 seconds

How much? The jump itself will cost you NZ$250 – all transport included. AJ Hackett also throws in a free shirt. If you want video and photographic proof, you’ll be out another $80. Not a cheap experience, but well worth it in my view.

Where? The check in for the jump is in Queenstown’s City Center at the Station Building. Allow about three – four hours from start to finish.

Is it worth it? Yes. It’s not a cheap experience, but well worth it in my mind. For $250, you’re getting a half day experience that you’ll remember for the rest of your life. Taupo’s Bungy is pretty epic as well – but, you pay your $109, get your ticket, jump, and that’s you finished. AJ Hackett goes out of their way to make your jump an experience to remember.

Technorati Tags: Backpacking, bungy jumping, New Zealand, Queenstown, travel tip, working holiday

New Zealand is home to a number of adventure activities – from skydiving, to white water rafting, to jet boating, to bungy jumping. Prior to my move to the Southern Hemisphere, I never seriously considered the act of throwing myself off of a bridge. Seemed foolish. Seemed dangerous. Seemed terrifying.

And it was.

Shortly after arriving in Auckland, I came to realize that it would be wrong not to toss myself off of a bridge. AJ Hackett established the world’s first permanent, commercial bungy jumping operation in Queenstown in 1982. As I wouldn’t be in Queenstown for a number of weeks, I decided I couldn’t wait that long to jump. My first leap would be in Lake Taupo, high above the Waikato River – 47 meters high, to be exact.

Taupo Bungy

The traditional bungy jump often takes place off of a bridge – not in Taupo. The Taupo jump is off of a cantilever platform which juts out from a cliff over the clear blue waters of the Waikato. The view of the opposite shore of the river, contrasting with the steep cliffs on either side of the platform, makes you feel much higher than the 154 feet above the water you are.

I arrived at the jump site on a sunny, Sunday morning. A number of people were congregated around the viewing area watching the adrenaline seekers make the leap. With my nerves on edge, feeling slightly hung over from the previous nights drinking, I decided a New Zealand beer would be in order. As I nursed my Monteith’s Original Ale, I realized that postponing the inevitable jump wasn’t making things any easier.

After paying the required $109 for the privilege of defying death and jumping off a ledge, I was escorted out onto the platform. Taking a seat, my legs were bound together with a sort of harness. Attached to the harness was a carabiner. Attached to the carabiner was a rubber bungy cord. A frightening taste of what was to come, the cord was tossed over the edge of the platform. My stomach plunged as I felt the cord pulling on my legs.

I was told to stand up, and awkwardly shuffled my way to the edge. Trying hard not to look down to the waters of the Waikato below me, I listened to the last-minute instructions of the (hopefully) competent Taupo Bungy employee. I listened to him count,

“Three, two, one, bungy.”

And I leaped headfirst towards the beautiful water below me. It was a brilliant feeling. An instant rush of adrenaline that can’t be adequately described by words. An addictive rush that I guarantee I’ll experience again in the coming months.

Check out the video of my bungy experience:

Thinking of making the leap yourself? Before heading to the Bungy Site, stop into Taupo’s iSite for the ‘mates rates’ deal. If you can convince a mate to jump with you, you’ll both receive free DVDs of your experience (a $70 value). You know you want to …

Technorati Tags: bungy jumping, New Zealand, Taupo

The Eiffel Tower, all lit up.

Technorati Tags: eiffel tower, paris

Below, you’ll find a quick video clip … I suppose a video that would be quite unentertaining without a quick introduction from myself.

This little bar … literally, in an alleyway, off of a side street, and barely marked from the outside … was the first place Brian and I decided to have a cerveza at in Spain. Our arrival was marked by an unfortunate, but somewhat humorous event. We found out after missing two buses to Sevilla, that when you get on a car ferry, and ride five minutes across the river separating Ayamonte (Spain) from Vila Real de Santo Antonio (Portugal), the time changes.

Our time in between missing these buses was spent drinking the cold, tasteless, and highly carbonated beer that is Cruzcampo, eating tapas, and drinking our first Spanish vino. Towards the end of the evening, we decided we really needed to focus on finding a place to stay. We were directed from the bartender to a hostel which we found to be closed. After this, we embarked on what turned out to be a one hour plus walk around Ayamonte in search of a place to stay. We walked aimlessly, without directions from anyone, and not surprisingly found nothing. We tried to talk with a couple people along the way – but, with us speaking (very) minimal Spanish, and them speaking minimal (or no) English, we had no luck.

Frustrated, and arguing about something, we tried to figure out how to get back towards the city center as our aimless walking had taken us to a residential area of Ayamonte. Soon, we found what would be classified as the area around the city center of Ayamonte. We blindly navigated our way through the alleyways of town – when, somehow unbeknownst to us still, we turned a corner and found our watering hole.

Earlier on in the evening, our watering hole was deserted. Two or three hours later, we walked in to find the below scene. An extremely smoky bar, filled with many drunk local Spanish men – all clapping and listening to traditional Spanish music.

You won’t be able to tell from this video, but it really was fascinating. They could all make different clapping sounds for different songs … and nearly everyone in the bar was taking part at some point in each song. All impromptu – a bunch of locals having a good time out. The man with the jean jacket was doing everything he could to teach me to clap along. While we couldn’t communicate with each other (at all), I had a terrific time.

Technorati Tags: spain

Brian and I got off the train in Jessheim (yes heim) yesterday evening around 11 or 12. It immediately felt like we were in Norway – it was cold, clear, and the streets were lined with snow. We were unsure of where we were supposed to go. Our couchsurfing host was at a party and hadn’t yet returned our call. I’m sure we looked of lost travelers as we walked up the main street of Jessheim (a town of 14,000) with our backpacks – surely not an every day site in the middle of a Norwegian winter.

As we walked past a number of small bars, a couple of things became clear to me. Firstly, I was premature in my evaluation of the Norwegian women. They are beautiful. Secondly, it became clear that the people of Norway are wonderful. Three or four guys drinking outside of a pub had flagged us over to them. They wanted to know what in the world we were doing in Jessheim. We explained our stories. As we were getting ready to leave, one of the guys reached into his pocket and tried to give me a 100 Krone note (equivalent to about €15). I told him I couldn’t take his money – he then insisted on going inside and buying us two beers.

We made our way to meet up with our couchsurfing host – Oyvind. We were greeted by Oyvind and his friend Espen and they immediately insisted we take some shots and go to the local bar. We had too many expensive pints, made fools of ourselves on the dance floor, but had a wonderful night out in our first Norwegian town. We spent most of today sleeping – Brian and I are both drained after the Christmas festivities and a day of traveling.

We plan on getting up early tomorrow and heading to Oslo to catch a train towards either Bergen or Voss. Our Lonely Planet Norway book describes the Oslo – Bergen railway as, “one of the most spectacular rail journeys on Earth.” Sounds like a plan?

Below are some of my latest pictures as well as a video of our Christmas day swimming adventure.

Technorati Tags: norway

I spent yesterday dropping in and out of coffee shops and pubs – relaxing, drinking coffee, writing emails, reading, and basically enjoying a day of accomplishing nothing. Starting next week, I’ll also be working days at Ard Bia’s Cafe. Until then, I don’t work most evenings until six or seven. So, my days are spent in coffee shops around Galway. Working in the service industry undoubtedly results in you having a strange schedule.

Speaking of work, I remembered a story I wanted to share with you all. I worked last Saturday day at Nimmos for a party we were having upstairs – a group of 35 celebrating a 25th wedding anniversary. I work with a lady who speaks nearly perfect English, she just has a heavy French accent. Right as the group was sitting down, Geraldine told me she wanted me to describe the menu to the group because of her accent.

What?!

While I have no problem speaking in front of groups, this fact changes when I’m describing a menu that I’m still learning – babaganoush, grilled halloumi, confit fennel, etc. Lets just say these weren’t common things I discussed in my work at Telefund for four years.

“Geraldine,” I said, “I really think it’d be better for you to describe everything – even with your accent – I’m still learning the menu!”

Nope. It went okay, but I wasn’t exactly excited. Funny enough, when I finished, a man in the party said, “In English now, please.”

I decided yesterday evening I was going to go for a walk around Galway and take pictures of the city. I ended up walking to the bay. I decided to take a quick video …

Technorati Tags: galway