How Cheap Is Cheap Enough?

I know during this global recession, everyone is trying to get a good deal.  No one wants to spend too much, and no one wants to spend more than they have to.  My whole question is how much is too much?

After my last post, I received some emails regarding the swine flu (to which we are no longer supposed to be calling the swine flu because someone got offended?) and decided to investigate what this really is doing to our global travel economy.

While travel was down due to the recession to begin with, this really hasn't hit the industry yet.  The one key think that I was noticing was the fact that everyone seemed to think that they would get to go to Mexico for nothing now.  

Comments I heard were - "I bet we can get flights for $10 to Mexico now", "They must be giving trips away!"

But after speaking to a couple of the agents, they put these fallacies to rest, saying that only one airline was flying to Mexico, and that tickets were more expensive than ever, because some people still wanted to go on their holidays.  Supply is down, and strangely enough, demand is up.

The same holds true with Europe.  Airlines are struggling to fill their planes, Flight Centre is attempting to maintain their footing (with airline price guarantees for international flights) and still, people are waiting for prices to fall.  The first time I went to Australia, almost a decade ago, I took the milk run, as there were no direct flights, and paid over $1800.00.  Now, you can get a direct flight from Melbourne to Los Angeles for $1016.00.  If you will take one stop in New Zealand, you can have it for $950.  But still people are claiming that this is too much to pay.

My question is, how much is too much.  When will it be cheap enough?

The airlines have to make sure that they can pay for the fuel, the upkeep and their staff to get us safely from one destination to another.  After the recent scare that passengers had on a flight from Sydney to Vancouver, we would think that paying a little more to ensure our own safety would be better?

My love/hate relationship

While the snow continues to fall, I am reminded of my last two homes, in New Zealand and Australia, where the snow didn't find me.  I had to go find it.  And when I did see snow, it was a completely joyful reunion where I frolicked and played like a small child again!  But the difference was that I didn't see it every day.  It didn't plague me on my days off, taunting me with nice days when I am stuck inside working, and then snowing every chance it gets when I'm allowed to join the outside world.

Here we are, sitting at the half way point of April and we are still getting snow.  A winter day in Melbourne means rain and wind.  Same as a lot of the UK, save Scotland who gets their fair share of snow.  A winter day in the Bay of Plenty in New Zealand, means rain and cold winds.  I can take the wind.  I can stand the rain.  What I'm a little sick of is this white stuff that is a cross between ice and rain, and brings with it freezing cold temperatures, and misery.

Why am I here?  Why do I call Calgary home?  I don't.  That probably explains everything.

Most Amazing Place To Spend A Morning

Although I must admit that it will take more than a morning to do.  

When I was younger and more foolish, I took a Contiki tour of the South Island of New Zealand. It was a great way to party it up, see the sights and meet some people!  The only problem was the majority of them were American.  And while I don't necessarily have anything against the Americans - seeing as technically I am one - I did not want to see a scenic, beautiful island, with a pack of loud mouthed Yanks that could only continually tell us how 'everything was bigger and better in Texas'.

Thankfully, the night before was a hard drinking one, as there was nothing to do but drink on this small ship that we were stuck on.  Where we were stuck was what made it the most amazing place to spend a morning.  

We were on the incredible Milford Sound.  It was November, the water was icy, which I can personally attest to after jumping in it repeatedly, and it was stunning!  Snow capped mountains plunged into icy water.   There were waterfalls cascading down cliff faces.  There was peace and quiet.  Except for on the boat that is!

When I awoke in the morning, at the crack of dawn (I don't know why, but I have this knack for doing it, even after spending the previous night getting to know a great bottle of Chardonnay with some great Australians) I stumbled (you can't gracefully climb those stairs) as quietly as I could to the main deck.  

And it was peaceful, and quiet.  The sun was just coming up over the mountains, and it's reflections was crystal clear in the sound.  Cottony clouds hugged the cliffs like long lost lovers, and a pod of dolphins slowly slid through the water past the boat, close enough that I swear I could touch them.  

It was like this for a moment - but what seemed like an eternity - before the boats motors were running, and people were awake.  The moment was lost, but the memory will last an eternity.  

The most amazing place to spend a morning by far.

Click here for more information on the tour I did!

When the Going Gets Snowy...

It seems that March has gone in like a lamb and is going out like one hell of a lion here lately.  And while the weather outside might be just a little bit frightening, it's bringing back memories of a place that doesn't seem so far away when some Katchafire is playing on the radio (or cd player) and I'm staring at my one picture (that takes up a full wall I swear) that depicts nothing but the ocean out a window.

And while I stare at that, my thoughts wander to the little town of Mount Maunganui, a small resort and surfing town where the populations swells by about four times it's regular amount during the summer months - that kiwis tend to think are still too short!

The Mount towers over the peninsula of population like an overbearing parent and provides shade in the heat, and an amazing playground for children of all ages.  Climbing to the top gives those willing to bear the brunt of the climb with amazing 360 degree views, while for the less adventurous, there are the hot pools that are nestled at the base of the mount.  

These hot pools are full all year round, from the winter months and those that have spent the day kayaking down white water rivers in frigid glacial water, to those of us who just want to soak up the heat, while glimpsing the stars when the wind picks up slightly - blowing the fog away for a moment.

With a beach that stretches for kilometers, that can be perfect for sea kayaking, wind surfing, sailing, boating or even surfing, and a small town centre that boasts a multitude of cafes overlooking the beach (where dolphins can be seen on perfect days), this is one reincarnation of heaven.  

Long days spent with a coffee overlooking the beach, after a walk around the mount to break a sweat, with a soak in the hot pools later - what could be better?