How To Pack for New Zealand (2 weeks in December)

How To Pack for New Zealand (2 weeks in December)

18

DEC 2016

Let me just start by saying that I traveled through New Zealand’s summer season, and so this list was compiled with temperate weather in mind. I packed all my clothes and toiletries into my Nike duffel which is so convenient because you can either carry on or check it in! I just checked it in because I had a free check baggage and I didn’t want to carry my clothes in transit. All my important stuff–laptop and charger, external hard drive, DSLR camera, iPad, travel journal, wallet, passport and itineraries–were packed into my Deuter 30L hiking pack. I also took my lavalava because I like to have one wherever I am when I travel.

– Deuter 30L Hiking Backpack

– Cameras

– Canon 60D / charger / memory cards /

– 24-105mm f/4L / 50mm f/1.8 / 24mm f/2.8

– GoPro Hero 4 Silver / accessories / Waterproof Dome

– iPhone / charger / earphones

– Socket converter

– Pillowcase

– Sunblock / Hat / Sunglasses

– iPad (with pre-downloaded books on my Kindle)

– Lavalava – doubles as a scarf or as a blanket!

– Laptop / Charger / External Hard Drive

– Microfiber towel

– Passport / ID and student ID / Emergency contacts

– Cash and credit cards

– Reservations and itineraries

– Hand sanitizer

– Toiletries (for staying in holiday parks and camping)

Jones Turns One

Jones Turns One

It’s always such a wonder when you see a kid go from your friend’s baby bump to a walking laughing little human in the blink of an eye. Mia and Jeremy brought this adorable little dude to the world and he has grown so much!

2016 Samoana Jazz and Arts Festival

2016 Samoana Jazz and Arts Festival

8

DEC 2016

I love jazz, not in the way that fancy people love jazz, but in such a way that I have a jazz playlist on my iPod and I listen to it a bunch (especially when I’m making brunch—two very exceptional things on one playlist, score!) yet I don’t know any of the artists.

Last year when I was working for the Department of Commerce, the Samoana Jazz and Arts Festival organizer came by asking for assistance with the jazz festival. My boss volunteered me to be the official photographer and that’s a whole other story altogether.

This year, now that I am working at Bluesky as the social media and sponsorship coordinator, I met with the organizer again and this time volunteered myself to be the official photographer for the festival again. I went much more prepared, compared to last year when I almost cried over my insecurities as a photographer next to a cocky official looking guy with a ginormous camera. But that’s beside the point. It also helped to know the musicians this time around because it’s a lot more fun taking photos of people you’re comfortable with.

This is the 3rd Annual Jazz Festival. Every year it opens in American Samoa in the first weekend of November, and then travels over to Samoa for the following weekend. The musicians are mostly local to American Samoa and Samoa, and the style of jazz is localized and includes much more than just jazz music. There are more young bands participating and they have added their twist on jazz (think Valerie by Amy Winehouse, but more jazzy).

The first day of the festival started off with an ethnomusicology forum held at the American Samoa Community College, and then was followed by a corporate event in the evening. The second day is themed “Young, Gifted, and Jazz” for young musicians and artists to share in the spotlight. And the last day is jazz on the beach at Tisa’s Barefoot Bar for a roundup of music, fresh food and drinks.