From Theatre of Dreams to ..... The Toast Rack

A very strange thing popped up on the NZID facebook newsfeed today...

Most nicknames for sports stadiums have historic or inspiring names and nicknames, something the fans of those teams say with affection and pride. (Maybe not if your a Newcastle fan at the moment)

However, the stadium in Dunedin, officially called the Forsyth Barr Stadium, and which recently hosted a few RWC matches (England vs Romania, Scotland vs Georgia and Ireland vs Italy) has some very strange nicknames....

The Toast Rack, The Playstation, The Lunchbox and The Chilly Bin are just a few...

Hardly striking fear into the hearts of the opponents are they....

New 7 Wonders vote is in!

You may have seen our post on the 3rd of October about the vote for the New 7 Wonders of Nature. Well the votes have been counted (but not yet verified) and the preliminary list has been announced.

In no particular order:

Jeju Island, South Korea

Halong Bay, Vietnam

Komodo National Park, Indonesia

Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, Phillipines

Table Mountain, South Africa

And TID country based wonders:

The Amazon, South America (Including Guyana)

Iguazu Falls, Argentina (& Brazil)

Have a look and see if you agree!

Perito Moreno's advances

It doesn't happen every year (last time was back in 2008) but this year Perito Moreno glacier near El Calafate, part of the Southern Patagonia Ice Field, has advanced far enough to join up with the shore on the Magallanes peninsula in Los Glaciares National Park.

When this happens a natural dam forms between the 'Brazo Rico' and 'Canal de los Tempanos' sections of the lake, the water level on the Brazo Rico side builds up, as does the pressure of the water on the ice, which eventually gives way in a spectacular 'dam bursting' rupture.

Exciting to be there when it happens - with the fabulous accessibility to Perito Moreno via the network of walkways on the peninsula opposite the glacier, there'll be at least one great photo of the blow-out when it goes I'm sure!

This was Perito Moreno when I was there back in March 2011 

This is Perito Moreno now, having reached land opposite
- thanks to Eolo Lodge (via their Facebook page) for the photo

A sound article about ongoing political aggravations for the Falkland Islands

...by John Fowler,  Falklander and Deputy Editor of the Penguin News

Political aggravations yes, but the wider and economic consequences are no joke either...

The Falkland Islands in search of a voice.....

Successful Condé Nast Luxury Travel show

Thanks to everyone who dropped by to see Paul at the New Zealand In Depth stand at the Condé Nast Luxury Travel Show last week.  The four days were very productive, with barely a moment passing where Paul wasn't chatting to visitors interested in their own unique trip to New Zealand.

Thanks to everyone who helped the event run smoothly and result in an enjoyable time at Olympia.

P.S.  The National Hall at Olympia is a great venue and the 'Spirit of Christmas' Fair being on at the same time next door in the Great Hall was an added bonus, no doubt in increasing visitor awareness but also the tasters on offer in the food and drink hall were delicious!

Free Willy eat your heart out

In Oamaru (just up the coast from Dunedin) a jet ski has been set free to roam the ocean.

Usually something people do with endangered whales, dolphins etc, a woman 'accidentally' forgot to tie her wrist strap to the jet ski she was riding (apparently this triggers a kill switch when you get/fall off) and it sailed off towards the horizon to live happily ever after.....

at least until it runs out of petrol......

Conde Nast Luxury Travel Fair

Paul and Von are currently down in London at the Olympia National Hall, setting up for the Conde Naste Luxury Travel Fair, which starts tomorrow, and runs until Sunday.

Pop along and have a chat with Paul about any New Zealand holiday plans you might have or be contemplating. There's even a free competition to win some New Zealand fine wines, all you need to do is leave your details!

You'll find Paul at stand A6.....

Extreme Recycling..

Just found this odd story about an Argentinian man who has built a house from recycled bottles.

This chap once earned his living sorting through rubbish to find things he could sell, so a stroke of inspiration has meant he is now teaching others to do the same.

(It may just be me, but all the bottles look see through. He must use darker ones in his bathroom surely?)

One man's rubbish is another man's......... house..

7 billion people, where did you come?

Not strictly much to do with TID, but something I saw the other day and thought was interesting...

The worlds population is set to hit 7 billion (Wow!) in the next few weeks, after doubling in the last 50 years.

Were you the 6,445,678,123 the person born in the world? Or did you beat that?

Find out!

Build a squid

Whilst investigating the National Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa for the new experiences pages we are currently working on for our NZID website, I found this ridiculously simple, entertaining feature...

Build you own squid, release it, and watch if float around the ocean...

Simple things.....