News – May 2008 (Tauranga/New Zealand, May 27, 2008)
- Website statistics: In April we were able to welcome on our website 55'748 visitors who did 1'579'212 hits.
- (March = 50'201 visitors – 1'538'676 hits)
- The visitors are coming from about 100 to 118 different countries!
- Record day since 12/17/1998 - the birthday of our website: 11/5/2007 = 13'407 visitors and 787'456 hits
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- On May 5th, 2008, we left – after having spent 78 days and driven 4'000 miles – New Zealand's South Island. It was a
- chilly and rainy day on the ferry from Picton to the capital Wellington. But we had a beautiful time before and have
- explored a lot of outstanding landscapes. Many can be seen on our picture websites part 1, part 2, part 3 and part 4.
- Since, we traveled another 1'500 miles on the North Island, which – though 25% smaller – has about three times more
- people. That impression, however, we didn't have yet – the biggest part living anyway in the megacity of Auckland.
- However, road traffic increased considerably in certain areas and line-ups occur again. On the other hand, the
- climatological conditions improved – frost is now rather seldom. Regarding the often discussed "beauty contest" between
- the two islands, we personally find the Northerly part not less interesting and worth exploring. If the South offers more
- rough and wild scenery, the North looks instead more tamed and organized. We also noticed many of the darker looking
- Maoris, who, with a an overall share of 15% of the population, settled down nearly entirely in this region..
- Unfortunately, the prices are currently skyrocketing: The petrol increased about 15% within the past three months, what
- is reflected immediately in all the other sectors and heats up the inflation. Nevertheless, we feel sorry to leave soon this
- safe and beautiful country – the spirit of discovery pushes us onwards. Hence we are searching now for a new possibility
- towards the Pacific, but it looks very much that the terms won't get anymore so easy like they were offered back in
- January in Hong Kong by the French freighter line CMA-CGM. There will be no other choice than to rummage at the
- various shipping agents in the port cities of Tauranga and Auckland, to what new destinations we are able to ship with our
- means. The price differences are enormous
- also the flight costs will affect heavely our budget.
New Reports/Pictures
- SOUTHEAST ASIA: mouse over picture shows comments
- click a picture to see details
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| + our New Zealand Trip, 4th part | South to North Island – May- 2008 |
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| + our New Zealand Trip, 3rd part | South Island – April 2008 |
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| + our New Zealand Trip, 2nd part | South Island – March 2008 |
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| + our New Zealand Trip, 1st part | South Island – Febr.-March 2008 |
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| + our Hong Kong Trip | Hong Kong – Dec. 2007+Jan. 2008 |
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| + our Taiwan Trip, 3rd part | Taipei-Taitung-Kaohsiung – Nov. 2007 |
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| + our Taiwan Trip, 1st part | Kaohsiung-Kenting-Taitung – Oct. 2007 |
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| + our Indonesia Trip, 6th part | Kalimantan – July 2007 |
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| + our Indonesia Trip, within the 5th part | Tana Toraja (Toraja-Land) – June+July 2007 |
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| + our Indonesia Trip, 5th part | Sulawesi – June+July 2007 |
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| + our Indonesia Trip, 4th part | Sumba, West Timor – May+June 2007 |
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| + our Indonesia Trip, 3rd part | Lombok, Sumabawa, Flores – April 2007 |
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| + our Indonesia Trip, 2nd part | Bali – Jan.-March 2007 |
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| + our Indonesia Trip, 1st part | Sumatra, Java – Dec. 2006 |
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| + our Borneo Trip | Sarawak, Brunei, Sabah, Kalimantan – Sept.-Nov. 2006 |
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| + our LandCruiser on a "Rejuvenation Cure" | in Miri/Sarawak - the East Malaysian province on Borneo Engine/Body: June-Aug. 2006/Transmission: Sept. 2007 |
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| + added from a earlier visit to the USA: | Las Vegas (Millennium change) |
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| + added from our Arabian Peninsula round trip: | Pictures from Yemen (May-June 1996) |
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| + Flashbacks of our Worldrecordtour: | Pictures from "all the continents" (Oct. 1984 - April 1997) |
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