Page 5 - Explore Magazine Summer 2018

WELCOME TO 3

HELLOWORLD &

EXPLORE MAGAZINE!

THERE’S STILL TIME FOR THAT
PRE-CHRISTMAS BREAK
EXECUTIVE GENERAL MANAGER – SIMON MCKEARNEY

There’s nothing like a dose of vitamin D sunshine coupled with relaxation to carry you
through the last few dreary months of winter rain and cold, and I recently did exactly that.
I headed to Denarau Island in Fiji with the family and it isn’t hard to see why Fiji is so
popular with Kiwi travellers: same time zone, short flight so no jet lag, and it’s warm and
friendly. Literally hop on a plane in the morning and by early afternoon you’re relaxing by
the pool, cocktail in hand, kids happy in the pool. Perfect.
And the holiday choices in Fiji are endless: mainland Denarau, the Coral Coast, the outer
islands or boutique cruise ship exploring. We’re extremely lucky as Kiwis to have the
Pacific Islands on our doorstep and of course Fiji isn’t the only choice for sunshine and
relaxation: the Cook Islands, Samoa, Tonga, New Caledonia and Niue all beckon.
Wherever you choose to escape to the sunshine there’s still time before Christmas to
squeeze in a short break and recharge before the silly season hits. And don’t forget to
take Explore magazine with you and plan a trip further afield over the summer break. In
this issue you can read all about cruising Alaska, exploring Namibia, and travelling around
Croatia, Japan and more.
Happy holiday planning!

TRAVEL WITH ALL YOUR SENSES
EDITOR – TRACEY MEHRTENS
Kiwis are great travellers and can sometimes take travel for granted, but there’s a lot
more to a holiday though than booking your trip, packing your bag, hopping on a plane,
checking into your hotel and exploring.
Don’t forget to absorb all the sights, sounds and flavours surrounding you when you’re in
a new destination. And again, while it may be called “sightseeing” there’s a lot more to it
than just that.
Open your eyes and take the time to look around. Look, don’t just see.
And then take the time to taste. Close your eyes, savour the tastes of local food and
listen at the same time. Listen to the people talking around you, to the people cooking
your food, to the street sounds as you walk.
Touch is also a valuable part of the travel experience. Walk through a spice, fabric or
fresh food market and reach out to feel the textures in front of you.
And smell is a very powerful sense. Close your eyes, inhale. Savour the scents of the
place while you can.
So next time you’re travelling, remember that it’s not just about sightseeing. Take more
than photographs because we humans have five senses and they can make all of our
trips more memorable.

HELLOWORLD : EXPLORE : SUMMER EDITION