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An Introduction..........." Hi, I am so pleased to meet you!"My name is Gail. I grew up only really seeing the North Island of our beautiful country. Holidays were generally taken over the long summer school vacation. With an abundance of beautiful beaches, we were never short of a great camping spot. Apart from a short visit to my aunt in Christchurch, I left New Zealand to travel the world, having not really seen the South Island. After teaching stints where every school break was an opportunity to see as much as I could of Britain, I opted for the most comprehensive camping trip around Europe I could find.18 people squeezed into a small kombi van for three months. It was amazing how we adapted. Riding along with plenty of time to think, my ambitious travel plans evolved. When I told my friends I planned on going to USA, overland through Asia AND Africa before going home, they laughed! Two weeks after I arrived back in London I had myself a job in USA looking after a little boy in Philadelphia. My return fare was paid – this was just as well, as I had only 7 pounds to my name when I arrived in the States! After 6 months I returned to London, and went on to do everything I had planned on that bus trip! My feet were now well and truly infected with that traveller’s itch! However, all good things must come to an end, and having arrived back in London from Africa, I decided I should reluctantly return home.
Home to New Zealand
Soon after, I met my husband - travel our “thing in common”. He too had lived and worked in many different countries. We didn’t get to leave New Zealand for another 10 years. We moved around living in Hamilton, Christchurch and Auckland. It was while we lived in Christchurch I got to see and experience all the wonderful sights, activities and places in the South Island for the first time. It is so different to the North Island it could be another country.
Back in Auckland, we had two children and moved a 70 year old villa onto a 10 acre block of land. Yes, it was cut in half and transported from the city by truck. Put back together again, we spent the next years renovating and coping with all that goes with farming and the good life. Just as we finished the house,we were transferred to Western Samoa. After two years living in Apia, and another two in Lautoka, Fiji, we came home a year early, due to the 1987 coup. The children were lucky to have travelled to many Pacific Islands, Australia, Europe and around the United States and Canada in those years.
Determined they would see their own country, we not only travelled extensively to different parts of the North Island, but had a wonderful caravan holiday around the South Island. Some New Zealand "to do's "We still have a long list of “to do’s” in this great country. As you will read in my New Zealand travel writing section, a year ago we made a trip down to do the Tranz Alpine Rail trip and the Wild Food Festival – a popular annual event in Hokitika on the West Coast.Another “ must do” on most New Zealander’s list these days is the Tongariro Alpine Crossing day walk, which we did Christmas 2006. We had walked the Milford Track years before in our Christchurch days.Having met tramping we loved to walk as many different tracks as we could.Our bush is so beautiful. 
The last few years have seen us kayak many of the rivers, lakes and sea around Auckland and the North Island. A highlight was the Abel Tasman National Park, near Nelson. Every Sunday for nearly three years a group of us kayaked somewhere different, usually around Auckland. This gives you an idea of just how many wonderful waterways we have. We continue to travel the world going somewhere most years. Our children insist they inherited their itchy feet. One lives in Japan, the other Vietnam. Yet, for all of us, New Zealand has so much to offer.
Planning holidays wish list!Having planned so many overseas holidays I know the hours involved in trying to find all the relevant information. Sometimes you feel you are going around in circles. Sifting through marginally useful information, I have often wished all the information was there in one place. Not just a cursory mention , but some meaningful personal thoughts, ideas, options and advice, to help decide the best means of travel, accommodation and must do activities.Where to get a visa - or if it is required, the best currency to take, what clothes will be required for the climate at the time of year etc. I could write a book on my experiences on this aspect of travel alone! We prefer to travel independently – but it does make the preparations more time consuming.
Being independent, I have been determined that these days I will do something where I have total flexibility and freedom.
A Discovery.........I discovered Site Build It a few years ago. It was still really quite new and I was totally computer illiterate. I took the plunge and started a website. SBI had a wealth of information, but it was all written. I was also very busy with family and work. I struggled and gave up. But it has sat in the recesses of my mind for 3 years.........and a realisation!Travel writing was an option.A course via the computer set me going and I loved writing about my many travel experiences to share with readers. BUT...........I very soon realised the whims of editors who often did not even reply, were not going to be very productive financially. Nor did that mean freedom. I had come full circle. A SBI site was definitely what I wanted to do.
A travel site was a perfect fit. I really felt this was the best retirement plan I could think of, still allowing me the lifestyle I wanted.
I know I could never build a website from scratch. But after reading all the information, I realised the dream was definitely still possible.
A Great Christmas present!I gave myself a Christmas present and took the plunge on Christmas Eve 2007. It is the best present I could have asked for. I was motivated to do this website on New Zealand after going through maps and brochures helping an English friend’s son and daughter-in-law plan their New Zealand itinerary. Also for several years I had Japanese homestays, teaching them English each morning , before they went off sightseeing.Much of our English conversation was on various aspects of New Zealand, from sightseeing and activities, to culture and nature........and planning their site seeing for the afternoon. We have also entertained many international guests, and showing them the best of New Zealand was always great fun. It was so interesting to hear their reactions .What they liked best, how they found New Zealander’s, what they thought of our culture and unique features. For young people, learning Maori songs, dances and the haka, are always a highlight. Also sharing my love and knowledge of New Zealand with all those who can only enjoy it for a holiday, helped me settle on my choice. What better way to spend my time than on holidays! Site Build It FunI am having a great time coming up with not only the well known holiday sights and activities for you all, but also some of New Zealand's best kept secrets, for you to experience.The improvements in Site Build It in those three years, is truly amazing. With video’s for instruction, written if you prefer, just follow the steps and it just all falls into place. I am really thrilled as SBI takes all the boring, time consuming bits, and does them for me. They also have just about every tool possible to help me, every step of the way. This means I can concentrate on building my website. As usual I am aiming high. Whilst this is my retirement plan, more than that, it is a fun activity where I am learning, creating, using all my skills and loving every moment of it.I experience the thrill of achievement every day, as another new skill is acquired! I hope you find my website informative, helpful and enjoy using it, as much as I am, creating it. As it is an ongoing work in progress, do come back often, to catch up on new information. I have not started on the road to earning from it yet. But I have a list of possibilities soon to be put into action.Adsense and being an affiliate, are my route to earning income. On my next trip, instead of filling in the country entry/exit form as a Home Exec, I will now be stating I am an infoproneur. How impressive is that! Maybe by now you are having a brain explosion and thinking - I could do this too! You are right ............. you can! Fun for you too?If you too are a traveller, and the chances are you would not be reading this if you are not, then take a look at this travel opportunity.But - it does not need to be about travel. Choosing something you know and love is half the secret. Taking the next step and having a look will get you excited. So go ahead – you have seen what I have done, go and look at some of the other SBI family and their creations, here. If like me, you have been wondering how to supplement you retirement income............you don’t need to look any further. You have years of valuable information to pass on to the world at large. To see how you could achieve this, have a look here. One of the other great things about Site Build It that I just love, is how we all help and support each other in the forums. You are never on your own. There is a wealth of help and information given out each day. All you need to do is ask, and people come running......well......... writing..........., with help. Others share their successes, so we all learn from them. This is an amazing international family. Go and have a look now! If you are keen to join me in this journey, there is a money back guarantee and a free trial. I’ll look for you in the introduction forum. Got some questions? Go here to let Ken Evoy – Site Build It’s founder, answer them. Now you know all about it, you can click here and I’ll meet you in the Forums. Click here to leave " An Introduction "and return to Home Page
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