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	<title>Globaltrekkers Travel Stories, Articles and Travel Photos</title>
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	<link>http://www.globaltrekkers.ca</link>
	<description>exploring the globe with gentle footsteps</description>
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		<title>Remembering Sensational Syria</title>
		<link>http://www.globaltrekkers.ca/2491/remembering-sensational-syria/</link>
		<comments>http://www.globaltrekkers.ca/2491/remembering-sensational-syria/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 25 Apr 2012 16:56:31 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Irene Butler</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Arab Peninsula Middle East]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Syria]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[globaltrekkers travel photos syria slideshow video damascus]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.globaltrekkers.ca/?p=2491</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[by Irene and Rick Butler - Syria “wowed” us with its rich culture, its fascinating history, its ancient sites, and its gracious and friendly people. We had the good fortune to visit Syria about a month before the conflicts began, and our hearts go out the people in this incredible country. We would like to share by way of the following slideshow, the wondrous sights of Damascus, as well as the further reaches of Syria.]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Multifarious Manila</title>
		<link>http://www.globaltrekkers.ca/2372/multifarious-manila/</link>
		<comments>http://www.globaltrekkers.ca/2372/multifarious-manila/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 14 Mar 2012 06:50:43 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Irene Butler</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Philippines]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[academy awards]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ayala centre]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[baluarte san diego]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[basilica immaculate conception]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[basilica san sabastian]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[bastion san diego]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[battle of manila]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[binando]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[china town]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[chinese cemetery]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[chinese filipinos]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[coconut palace]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[donald trump]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[fort santiago]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[globaltrekkers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[globaltrekkers.ca]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[imelda marcos]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[intramuros]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[japanese occupation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[jeepneys]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[jose rizal]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[le mitre]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[makati]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[manila]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[manila cathedral]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mausoleums]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[modern makati]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[moma]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[old spanish walled city]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[pasig river]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[pedi cabs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[philipine]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[philippine revolution]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[philippine travel photos]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[philippine travel stories]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[philippines]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[pope john paul]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[quiapo]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[restorante delle mitre]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[san agustin church]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[santa cruz church]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sidecars]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[spanish american war]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[tahanang]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[travel photos]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[travel stories]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[walled city]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[white knight hotel]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[wwii]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.globaltrekkers.ca/?p=2372</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[by Irene Butler - Pix by Rick &#8211; Our Philippine Photo Gallery - What’s immediately different than anywhere else we have ever been? “Jeepneys!” The roads are chalk-full of these Technicolor elongated jeeps screeching around corners and flying-low on the straight-a-ways. The originals were converted US army jeeps left over from WWII. Millions of Filipinos depend on these open-sided vehicles with seats along the sides to get to work, school and about the city. Whether almost ready for the junk-yard or a splashy newer model, each has its unique name emblazoned on a board above the windshield and a distinctive paint job ranging from vividly coloured abstract designs, to faces of celebrities, religious icons, images of Jesus and saints. Some appear to have halos with the amount of chrome glinting in the sun, some are strung with fairy lights, but all have a dozen or more rosaries and crucifixes swinging from the rear-view mirror. For a ride to a mall we choose one with “Jesus Saves” on the name-board, and the face of Christ amid red and yellow swirls painted on the sides &#8211; for extra insurance, given the jeepney-accident-rate. Equally ubiquitous are the pedi-cabs (three-wheeled-peddle bikes with a covered [...]]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Bountiful Bohol Island</title>
		<link>http://www.globaltrekkers.ca/2357/bountiful-bohol-island/</link>
		<comments>http://www.globaltrekkers.ca/2357/bountiful-bohol-island/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 14 Mar 2012 05:48:07 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Irene Butler</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Philippines]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[baclayon church]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[blood pact]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[bohol]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ca]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[chieftain datu]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[chocolate hills]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[corella]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[de legazpi]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ferdinand magellan]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[friendship treaty]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[globaltrekkers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[hanging bridge]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[lapu lapu]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[loboc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[loboc river]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[luzon]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mactan island]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mahogany forest]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[miguel lopez]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mindanao]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[panglao island]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[philippine archipelago]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[philippine travel photos]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[philippine travel stories]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[philippines]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[river watch floating restaurant]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sandugo]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sikatuna]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[spanish colonialism]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sun avenue hotel]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[tagbilaran]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[tarsier]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[tarsier foundation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[tarsier sanctuary]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[tarsiers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[tarsius syrichta]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[visayas]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.globaltrekkers.ca/?p=2357</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[by Irene Butler &#8211; Pix by Rick - Our Bohol Photo Gallery - Deciding on another island to hop to is difficult being that the country is made up of 7,107 islands with exceptional sites on many. The Philippine archipelago is divided into three, with the top group of islands called Luzon (which is the largest Philippine Island on which Manila is located). The middle group of islands is known as the Visayas, and the bottom group is the Mindanao. We fly to Bohol in the Visayas, drawn by the geographical phenomenon of the Chocolate Hills and a desire to see the endangered Tarsiers. The capital of Tagbilaran is a village-like port with low buildings, the highest being the churches and a mall that locals call “Mickey Mall” because of its McDonald’s Restaurant. The Sun Avenue Hotel is perfect. The staff is super friendly and we find out, after visiting several tour operators, that our hotel offers the best tour rates and we can even customize our excursion inland. A day later with our driver/guide “Lino” we breeze in an air-conditioned Toyota towards the 40-metre mounds known as the Chocolate Hills with stops at some sites along the way. In [...]]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Ultimate Bali &#8220;High&#8221;!</title>
		<link>http://www.globaltrekkers.ca/2328/ultimate-bali-high/</link>
		<comments>http://www.globaltrekkers.ca/2328/ultimate-bali-high/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 23 Feb 2012 05:06:52 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Irene Butler</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Indonesia]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[5 star resort]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[5 star villas]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ayung river]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[bali resorts]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[bali travel stories]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[bali vacations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[balinese classical dance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[coconut grove beach]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[eat pray love]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[fine dining]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[four season resort and spa jimbaran bay]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[four seasons]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[four seasons resort and spa sayan]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[four seasons resorts]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[globaltrekkers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[globaltrekkers.ca]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[gong music]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[indian ocean]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[infinity pool]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[julia roberts]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ketut liyer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[travel photos]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[travel stories]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.globaltrekkers.ca/?p=2328</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[by Irene Butler - Photos by Rick &#8211; Our Four Seasons Sayan Photo Gallery - Our Four Season Jimbaran Bay Photo Gallery &#8211; With our Wedding Anniversary and Valentine’s Day in the same week, Rick and I decide to lavish ourselves in a bit of luxury…heck, sumptuous even, at a facility renowned as the pinnacle of uber-pampering – Bali’s Four Seasons Resort and Spa. We further enhance our experience to encapsulate the best of both Bali worlds, and divide our week between Four Seasons Sayan- deep in lush jungle terrain, and Four Seasons Jimbaran Bay nestled beside the Indian Ocean. Our mouths drop at the sight of our Sayan Villa; a private pool jutting from the embankment, lush gardens edging the outside comfy sofas and dining table, and inside the villa another deluxe lounging space, a canopied bed, a huge soaker tub, a shower, plus a rustic outdoor spout for a cooling spray amid leafy surrounds – in total over 2152 sq ft of spaciousness that has Rick commenting, “Hey, we almost need walky-talkies.” We can not even begin to imagine the Royal Villa where Julia Roberts puttered around in between her jaunts into Ubud to sit in the magical [...]]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Beautiful Blissful Bali</title>
		<link>http://www.globaltrekkers.ca/2314/beautiful-blissful-bali/</link>
		<comments>http://www.globaltrekkers.ca/2314/beautiful-blissful-bali/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 23 Feb 2012 04:22:56 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Irene Butler</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Indonesia]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[abian sari]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[agro tourism]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[bali]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[bali travel stories]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[balinese culture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[balinese hinduism]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[beaches]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[campuhan temple]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[civet]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[galungan kunigan]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[globaltrekkers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[globaltrekkers.ca]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[gunung kawi]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[hindu]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[indonesia]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[kuningan festival]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[kuta]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[luwak]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[luwak coffee]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[macaque]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[macaque monkey]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[monkey forest]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[paradoxurus]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[rice fields]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[rice paddies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[rice terraces]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sacred monkey forest sanctuary]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[travel photos]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[travel stories]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ubud]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[yeh pulu]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.globaltrekkers.ca/?p=2314</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[by Irene Butler - Photos by Rick &#8211; Our Bali Photo Galleries - Verdant tangles of jungle, towering coconut palms, expansive beaches, turquoise sea – and that’s only from the airplane! Kuta is our first Bali sojourn, the happening beach town with surfer dudes, sun-browned bodies and not-so-wise lobster-red tourists of all ages, funky cafes (our favourite is the Smiling Frog), hoards of hawkers calling out services, such as “Taxi” or “Massage”, and others with souvenir-type goods for sale. We relish the relaxed atmosphere; especially evening beach walks to watch the sunset with crowds of like-minded people. After a few days it is onto Ubud, known for its focus on Balinese Culture. Ninety-five percent of Bali’s citizens are Balinese Hindus, which differs from India’s Hinduism. Locals are quick to say they have one supreme god – Sanghyang Widi. They also honour the trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, although statues of these deities do not abound. A popular Hindu god, and my personal favourite, is Ganesh, the elephant headed son of Shiva. More prominent in their everyday life are many Balinese gods, arising from a strong animistic belief of powerful good spirits living in high places, and demons under the [...]]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Jakarta&#8217;s Beat</title>
		<link>http://www.globaltrekkers.ca/2305/jakartas-beat/</link>
		<comments>http://www.globaltrekkers.ca/2305/jakartas-beat/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 23 Feb 2012 03:39:29 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Irene Butler</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Indonesia]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[batavia]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[dutch colonialism]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[dutch east indies company]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[fave hotel]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[globaltrekkers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[globaltrekkers.ca]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[indonesia]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[jakarta]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[jakarta history museum]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[java man]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[kota]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mohammad birthday]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[monas]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[museum seni rupa and karamik]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[national monument]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[soeharto]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[soekarno]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[toko merah]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[travel photos]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[travel stories]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[wayang museum]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.globaltrekkers.ca/?p=2305</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[By Irene Butler - Photos by Rick - Our Jakarta Photo Gallery - Jakarta is akin to a blast from a giant furnace – the sweltering heat, the bombardment of exhaust from vehicles and motorbikes channelling from twelve lanes into four as our taxi driver aggressively squeezed forward on the 1 ½ hour drive from the airport to the Fave Hotel. After this exhilarating first taste of the nation’s capital of 9 million citizens, which is located on Java (the largest of the 17,508 islands in the Indonesian archipelago), we found Jakarta full of contrasts. Although the traffic never ceased to be chaotic, the locals (when not behind the wheel of a vehicle or riding one of the 4 million motor bikes in the city) go about their daily routines at an easy-going pace. Our choice of the Fave Hotel could not have been better; budget with great amenities, and close to restaurants, cafés, and malls – yet just down the street are tarp-covered eateries where locals on work breaks sit on plastic stools spooning in soup and rice dishes cooked over small propane stoves. These vendors soon know us well, waving, smiling and taking time to chat. Rick is [...]]]></description>
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		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Beautiful Blissful Bali Video</title>
		<link>http://www.globaltrekkers.ca/2441/beautiful-blissful-bali-video/</link>
		<comments>http://www.globaltrekkers.ca/2441/beautiful-blissful-bali-video/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 22 Feb 2012 23:58:08 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Irene Butler</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Indonesia]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[bali]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[four seasons]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[four seasons resort jimbaran bay]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[four seasons resort sayan]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[globaltrekkers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[indonesia]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[jimbaran bay]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[kuningan festival]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[kuta]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[kuta beach sunset]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[monkey forest]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sacred monkey forest sanctuary]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sanctuary]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sayan]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sunset]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ubud]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[video]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.globaltrekkers.ca/?p=2441</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[by Irene and Rick Butler - Follow us through Bali with our video presentation of temples, jungle, villages, beaches, resorts and a “10-out-of-10” sunset!]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Auckland and Geothermal Wonders of Rotorua</title>
		<link>http://www.globaltrekkers.ca/2281/auckland-and-geothermal-wonders-of-rotorua/</link>
		<comments>http://www.globaltrekkers.ca/2281/auckland-and-geothermal-wonders-of-rotorua/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 05 Feb 2012 06:52:33 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Irene Butler</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[New Zealand]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[aotearoa]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[artist's palette]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[auckland]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[auckland museum]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[black swan]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[blue lake]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[brown kiwi]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[buried village]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[buried village of te wairoa]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[champagne pool]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cyathea dealbata]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[geothermal]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[geyers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[globaltrekkers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[government gardens]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[green lake]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[haka]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[hangi]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[kiwi]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[kiwi birds]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[lady knox geyser]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[lake ohakuri]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[lake rotorua]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[limestone]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[lord of the rings]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[maori]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[moa]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mt tarawera]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mud bath]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mud pools]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[new zealand]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[orakei korako]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[pahutu]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[peter jackson]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[poi]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ponga]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[prince of whales feathers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[rotorua]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[silver fern]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[te puia]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[the domain]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[the hobit]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[thermal park]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[travel photos]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[travel stories]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[wai-o-tapu]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[wakas]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.globaltrekkers.ca/?p=2281</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[by Irene Butler &#8211; Photos by Rick - Our New Zealand Photo Gallery - Our first impression of Auckland is how “at home” we felt. We are struck by the similarities to our hometown of Vancouver BC &#8211; from the waterfront filled with cruise ships, yachts and sailboats, to the fine shopping areas and malls, to the quiet tree-lined residential streets. Even the weather is as temperamental as Vancouver’s, in that all four seasons can be experienced in one day. On our first major walk our throbbing thighs confirm the roller-coaster terrain of Auckland which rests on 49 volcanic cones, some rounding off at such a height as to award a panoramic view. After taking in the architectural highlights of the city centre we venture further out to The Domain, a vast park where we do a few bush walks, then delight in the formal gardens of flowering plants. The park is a happening place, with picnicking families and a crowd of folks sitting on the grass in front of a gazebo stage where a jazz band and singers belt out tunes. We spot the impressive structure we are looking for at the back of The Domain – the Auckland [...]]]></description>
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		<title>New Zealands Subterranean World of Waitomo</title>
		<link>http://www.globaltrekkers.ca/2272/new-zealands-subterranean-world-of-waitoma/</link>
		<comments>http://www.globaltrekkers.ca/2272/new-zealands-subterranean-world-of-waitoma/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 05 Feb 2012 05:51:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Irene Butler</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[New Zealand]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[arachnacampa luminosa]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[aranui cave]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[black abyss tour]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[black labyrinth tour]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[globaltrekkers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[glow worms]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[glowworm cave]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[glowworms]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[lord of the rings]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[maori]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[maori culture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[new zealand]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[peter jackson]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[photos]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ruakui cave]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[smaug the dragon]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[the hobit]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[waitomo caves]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[wetas]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.globaltrekkers.ca/?p=2272</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[By Irene Butler &#8211; Photos by Rick - Our Waitomo Caves Photo Gallery - We get up extra early, aim our rental car and head out from Rotorua to the hilly Waitomo region. On the scenic 2 ½ hour drive we drive through verdant valleys, past fields of corn and flocks of grazing sheep and herds of grass mulching cattle. It boggles my mind knowing that underneath the hills of Waitomo region are 300 known limestone caves, and we are excited to see the caves that are open to the public that go by the same name as the region – the Waitomo Caves. A song pops into my mind, which I share with Rick and we both sing as we breeze along, “Shine little glowworm, glimmer, glimmer…” in anticipation of actually seeing them. “This song sure dates us,” says Rick. “But,” I say in our defence, “when this version of the song became a Mills Brothers hit in 1950, we were mere children.” Arriving at the Waitomo Visitor’s Centre, we purchase “Triple Cave Combo” tickets to see the works: the Glowworm, Aranui and Ruakui Caves. The Glowworm Cave is first. Hardie, our guide, explains the lifecycle of the glowworm [...]]]></description>
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		<title>Geothermal Wonders, Caves and Maori of New Zealands North Island</title>
		<link>http://www.globaltrekkers.ca/2432/geothermal-wonders-caves-and-maori-of-new-zealands-north-island/</link>
		<comments>http://www.globaltrekkers.ca/2432/geothermal-wonders-caves-and-maori-of-new-zealands-north-island/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 04 Feb 2012 17:58:52 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Irene Butler</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[New Zealand]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[geothermal]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[geysers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[globaltrekkers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[maori]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mud pools]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[new zealand]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[oreiko korako]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[pohutu geyser]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[rotorua]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[waiotapu]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[waitomo caves]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.globaltrekkers.ca/?p=2432</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[by Irene and Rick Butler &#8211; Experience the sights and sounds of these incredible natural wonders through the lens of our video camera.]]></description>
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