Comments (0)

By Raubi Marie, September 9, 2009

Because New Zealand was first settled by the British, it has a culture thick in English influence. But don’t forget that like America, there were people living on the islands way before the English settlers came to take over.

In New Zealand those people are called Maoris. These eastern Polynesians decendants first arrived on the islands about 700 to 2000 years ago, bringing with them a culture rich with tradition.

Watch below as a group of Maoris perform their traditional dance, Haka. The harsh chants, body slaps and over-exaggerated facial movements were tactics used to scare off enemies while proclaiming strength and unity.

(If you were a fan of MTV’s last season of The Duel, you may recognize the dance. It is the same performance given by the cast during the introduction of the show. All season long I’m sure you, like me, were wondering what they were doing. The show was filmed in New Zealand… now it makes perfect sense!)

Comments (0)

By Raubi Marie, August 26, 2009

It is no secret that New Zealand is home to a vast amount of beautiful and diverse topography. Staggering cliffs, rugged mountains, endless fiords and secluded beaches are among the many breathtaking sights scattered throughout the adventurous countryside. But there is also an often overlooked aspect of the Kiwi’s diverse geography… the natural, unique features formed by the country’s geothermal hotspots.

The most wondrous examples of New Zealand’s geothermal activity can be found in area called Wai-O-Tapu, which is a Maori word for “Scared Waters.” This region, located just outside of Rotorua, is about a three hour drive south of Auckland and is home to a beautifully diverse landscape of cavernous craters and colorful pools formed by hydro thermal eruptions that took places hundreds of years ago. Continue reading 'Before Hot Spots Were WiFi'»

Comments (0)

By Raubi Marie, August 21, 2009

The thoughts of traveling to a foreign country are often filled with romantic notions of exotic, beautiful places, postcard sunsets and luxury suites. But the reality of traveling is not always as glamorous as the pages of Conde Nast Traveler and National Geographic. Sure there will be sights that will leave you awestruck and you will more than likely encounter many places so insanely different from your home that you will wonder if the plane you flew on actually took you to another planet, not just another continent. And yes, most of those places will be so great that you will forget about the creature comforts you have given up to embark on your trip (comfortable beds, short walking distances, familar foods, etc.). But wherever you go, you will always be on the hunt for at least one of those clean, comfortable places… the bathroom.

So I was pleased to find the coolest and cleanliest of all public bathrooms in Auckland, New Zealand. Watch as Jillian demonstrates how the Kiwis keep your public bathroom experience comfortably clean and personally private.

Comments (0)

By Raubi Marie, August 6, 2009

I apologize for the lack of updates to RaubiMarie.com in the past two weeks. Being out of the country, with limited Internet access has hindered my posting capabilities. But don’t worry, this trip is providing me all sorts of new topics. So please check back soon to catch up on everything you are missing.

Kia Ora!