New Zealand: The Kiwi paradise

For many, a trip to New Zealand is not worth the trouble, since it’s not exactly the kind of country that has been publicised and popularised among the masses. However, once a person gets to know the country better, there’s nothing better than the Kiwi paradise.

Rotorua: The sulphur-rich air of Rotorua will give tourists a taste of the most dynamic area in New Zealand, filled with bursting geysers, sizzling mud pools and hot springs. The Maoris, natives of NZ, respected this place to the hilt, naming it Wai-O-Tapu, or Sacred Waters. 35% of the current NZ population is Maori, and the cultural performances and the traditional hangi is as eagerly looked upon as the stunning landscape. Rotorua is also known as ‘Sulphur City’, and in spite of the eggy odour, it is one of the most frequently visited parts of the country. Talking in numbers, close to 3 million people travel here on an annual basis, resulting in a tremendous amount of energy and vivacity!

Whitianga: No pun intended, but if one comes to Whitianga, it’s best to get wet, or at least want to! The major highlights of this exotic destination are the Mercury Bay beaches and the kayaking, boating and diving opportunities one gets at the rocky limestone coast and the Te Whanganui A Hei Marine Reserve. For those who like to spend their time at more upmarket joints, there are numerous restaurants and accommodation choices, although most of the former are overpriced and don’t exactly offer dishes one can look forward to! Kupe, a Polynesian explorer and a nautical legend of sorts, is believed to have landed here, and the name Whitianga is actually derived from Te Whitianga a Kupe (The Crossing Place of Kupe) The Cathedral Cove and the Hot Water beach are two other famous attractions.

Wellington: bordered by hillsides sprawled across a fantastic harbour,the capital of New Zealand justifies the reason why people give it so much importance. True, there has been a traditional struggle of one-upmanship with Auckland, but the cultural and artistic wealth of Wellington is certainly unsurpassed by any other city in NZ. Thanks to the significantly small populace, the number of restaurants, cafes, shops, galleries and bars is exponentially high! Also, the general look and feel of the city is much better than Auckland, with timber Victorian houses scaling up and seemingly transcending steep valleys. The city is also home to the dynamic film industry of NZ, earning the moniker ‘Wellywood’. As soon as the film crews begin their activity the mood of the city magically transforms into one of celebration and gaiety. In fact, the Lord of the Rings trilogy was shot in Wellington, and director Peter Jackson credits the city as being the reason for his Midas touch. Not surprisingly, this acclaim has also gone in favour of boosting Wellington’s image.

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New Zealand: The Maori Magic unfolds

New Zealand is among the first countries where the sun shines, and rightly so, for Aotearoa (Maori for New Zealand) offers something new everyday, and is an inspiration to many global metropolis who think that size matters. This remote and sparsely populated island scores high on the list according to its size. It has picturesque and scenic locales, fantastic festivals, sumptuous food and the finest of wines, and a lot more adventure sports activities than one could imagine. And that is not all, for the cultural side of the country is as strong, with the Maori spirit remaining alive in every New Zealander. Indigenous people are most revered and respected here, and society is much more accepting, simpler and gentler than the rest of the world, making this country the perfect concoction for a traveller looking for something different.

There has been a tremendous spurt in the number of tourists – 2.2 million in 2007, from 1.6 million in 1999; a 60% jump – Agreed, there has been plenty of activity that tends to get a bit overloaded at times, but more often than not, that is the fun of it! Coming to the domain of the arts, the Kiwis (slang for New Zealanders) enjoy creating a mixture of music, comprising mostly of dub, reggae, hip-hop and rock. There are also opposing views of the anti and pro-arts lobbies, with the former opposing the opening of new art galleries and the latter wishing for more to boost tourism. Irrespective of whatever result comes out from time to time, those who enjoy art still get their money's worth, and those who don't, simply get busy in so many other activities!

The national sport, or obsession, to quote more accurately, is rugby. There are tremendous ups and downs, with the latter being more due to the team not exactly being full of star performers. The 2007 defeat of the All Blacks at the hands of the French led to practically the entire nation coming to the streets and crying their hearts out! But that is just what passion is all about! For those who are concerned, the national real estate boom is still going pretty strong, and Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington are among the world's most expensive cities in terms of housing affordability relative to income. There is also a lot of talk regarding endangered dolphins, treaty settlements, fixed net fishing and didymo (rock snot!) infestation in the waters, lakes and rivers to be specific. And that pretty much sums up the country. Love it, hate it, one just can't ignore it. Right from the high adrenaline activities to the awesome food and liquor combo, to the eccentric and relaxed local population and the raging passion for sports. New Zealand has it all!

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Going Abroad- Don't Forget to Get an International Roaming SIM

In this global communication era where people usually travel from one place to another, remaining connected is the main necessity of each one of us. Millions of people from around the world travel each year for various purposes such as business, leisure, recreationalor educational. If you are planning to move overseas for any of these purposes, you need to stay in touch with your family and friends. Calling is certainly one of the most comfortable mediums of being in touch with each other. If you use your home mobile phone abroad, you will end up spending a fortune as international roaming charges are very expensive. So if you are going abroad, don't forget to get an international roaming SIM card which is also known as global roaming SIM card.

Earlier, people making a trip abroad were never able to make international calls so easily. Hefty amount associated with international calls always avoided the people to make calls to their near and dear ones. If they were making any international call, the duration of the call was always kept in mind to get rid of excessive expenses. Now the time has changed. You can make use of global roaming SIM cards to make calls at reasonable rates to your loved ones. These cards have proved to be the most appreciated way of communication and that too at affordable rates. There are number of offers provided by different service providers on these global SIM cards so that you can have fun while making international calls.

International roaming cards are the cost effective media for the people moving in a foreign country. It is definitely one of the best means of efficient communication universally. Global SIM cards are dynamic and compelling means of communication. It serves according to your need. If you are travelling to more than one country, you can avoid excessive roaming charges with International roaming SIM cards. You get the opportunity to stay in touch whilst you travel without spending a fortune in roaming charges. An international roaming SIM card is inexpensive as compared to other options available for international calling. This card will not cost you much upfront and, once you have one, you will save up to 60% on your mobile bill. I am pretty confident that you would love to keep your money in your own pocket.

By using a global roaming SIM card, you can keep track of your expenditure. Most International SIM cards are prepaid so you know exactly how much money you are spending. If you take an international SIM card, you won't get a nasty global roaming phone bill when you get home. Moreover, an international SIM card makes it easy and convenient to keep in touch with those back home. It is not always easy to get a calling card or access to a landline whilst you are travelling abroad. A global roaming SIM card is undoubtedly an economical and trouble-free way to stay connected with your friends, family and colleagues.

Unravel the mystery of Kiwi country

Napier: Although Napier is the cultural capital of New Zealand, one does not have to be too much inclined towards the same, as there is so much more to look forward to. The city has a fervent passion for architecture and fine wine, and has shaken off its not so illustrious past that was the worst natural disaster in the history of NZ, the 1931 earthquake. The city was rebuilt in the prevalent styles of that era, and still has much of the Art-Deco buildings that serve as a painful memory as well as the resemblance of courage. Architecture lovers from all over the world flock to Napier, despite the fact that most of the structures are low rise, possibly to avert the risk of damage due to another earthquake. However, the 1930s streetscapes are still there, and the city is sunny and charismatic, with an 'English seaside' appeal.

Tongariro National Park: The North Island is overpopulated with volcanic-cone skiing, with Mt. Ruapehu in Tongariro National Park being the perfect ski zone. The resorts Whakapapa and Turoa, each situated on different sides of the mountain comprise the largest ski area in NZ, with lift passes being available at both establishments. The former, i.e., Whakapapa, is situated 6km above Whakapapa Village and has 30 groomed runs, along with a multitude of snowboarding opportunities – cross-country, downhill and ski touring – with the highest lift access in the country. One can drive up the slopes or travel via a shuttle minibus from the Whakapapa Village, National Park township, Taupo or Turangi. There is also a beginners' lift at Smaller Turoa, along with provision for snowboarding, downhill and cross-country skiing. Also, no road toll or parking fee is required, and regular ski-area transport is also available from Ohakune, which is 16kms from the Park, and has the most exciting post-ski arrangements. The club operated Tukino is located on the eastern side of Mt Ruapehu, 50km from Turangi. The place is more or less remote, and a 4WD vehicle is needed to make advance booking for using the club transport. Since the access is not the most convenient one, the area is not too crowded even during peak seasons.

Rotorua: The sulphurous airs of Rotorua might not suit the taste of a majority of the regular tourists, but those who 'dare' to venture to this part of the country, NZ's most revered thermal area awaits with steaming hot geysers, springs and 'burning' mud pools. This is the region of the Maori tribe, and one of the most spellbinding springs was named as Wai-O-Tapu (Sacred Waters). Even today, 35% of the local population is Maori, and the cultural performances and traditional hangi is as phenomenal an attraction as the attractive landscape. 'Sulphur City', as Rotorua is also called, is one of the most visited spots on the North Island, having more than 3 million tourists on an annual basis.

While in New Zealand, subscribing to Matrix international sim cards ensures huge savings of up to 80% on international calls compared to regular calling services, so that one can talk to friends and family without having to worry about the bills.