Abel Tasman National Park by Nils van der Burg via Flickr (CC BY-SA 2.0)
New Zealand has become known as the place to go if you’re looking for an extreme, adrenaline packed thrill. From sky-diving, bungee-jumping and ice-climbing, to surfing, canyon-swinging and white water rafting, New Zealand really has it all to offer!
Now I know what you’re thinking.. these activities aren’t everyone’s cup of tea, and you’d be right. So beyond extreme sports, what does New Zealand have to offer?
For millennia communities have been trading in prestige items simply for the economic benefits or to affirm power and social position. We’ll be taking a brief look at a couple of commodities that have been the prized objects of certain traders and even nations and continents throughout history. Firstly we’ll begin with spice, a commodity with one of the longest trading legacies.
Photograph of the Cutty Sark by Karen Roe via Flickr (CC BY 2.0)
I haven’t been to many Glaciers it must be said, neither am I particularly well versed in the art of skiing. Recently a summer trip to Austria led me to come across this gem however, the Hintertux Glacier (or Hintertuxer Gletscher in German).
Photograph from the Hintertux Glacier by Larsjuh via Flickr (CC BY 2.0)
This stunning glacier is located high up in the mountains in the Tux Alps, in a side valley that sprouts off from the popular Zillertal Valley. To say that this area is picturesque would be a true understatement. I visited in summer and was just as impressed with the scenery, being deep within the mountains at valley floor level, as I’m sure I would have been visiting during the winter season. Continue reading