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magical travel experience
Tales of magical travel experiences, from close to home at Mahia or far away at Samarkand, are flowing in from readers
The warm wind whipped past as the inflatable boat sped to where the tail had disappeared under the water. Donning my mask I slipped over the side into the warm, crystal-clear Niuean waters. I was greeted with the sight of a large humpback whale swimming lazily below me. His song drifted up and seemed to go right through me, an amazingly beautiful compilation of grunts, moos, whistles and so much more, that you could not only hear but feel as well. As he eventually disappeared into the blue and his song got fainter and fainter I knew I'd had an experience that I would remember for the rest of my life.
Warren Mackie
Childhood joy
The magic I experienced 30 years ago as a 5-year-old child living in Singapore remains with me today. A man named Bobby who owned a makan stall and made the best chilli crabs taught me how to use chopsticks by transferring lime pips from one plate to another. I ate fresh mangoes & coconut from the trees in our backyard. I danced outside in monsoon rains with my friends. I trembled with excitement during thunderstorms. I made Chinese lanterns.
I slept under a mosquito net. As a Maori, these were all magical experiences which have left an indelible imprint on me. It will be 30 years this July since I left Singapore, I would dearly love to return with my son and family so we can experience some of that same unforgettable magic together.
Trish Fong
Sharing of culture
One of the things I love about the times my family has travelled through Asia is the wonderful experiences that local food markets and halls offer. We try to find out where the locals eat for a few dollars at small unique stalls. Wonderful colours are all around and delightful smells fill the air. It is simply the best place to people watch. The most magical travel memory I have is of the smiles on the faces of an elderly couple as they sat enjoying their breakfast at a small table by the side of the street. They looked approvingly on as my three young children shared the local culture and enjoyed the local foods. In this willingness to try new things and in the beautiful smile of a weathered old face I sensed the world would become a more united place as our children grow and cultures show greater appreciation of each other.
Wayne Taylor
Father's birthplace
I think my most magical travel experience was over 20 years ago when I was on my big OE and decided I had better do the correct thing and finally visit my dad's birthplace in Croatia (then Yugoslavia). After spending time with relations on the beautiful coast of Podgora, I ventured to a little place called Zastrazisce on the island of Hvar, managing to overcome the language barrier thanks to an English-speaking family friend. I was taken to an unused, but still standing, stone block house and and shown the very room my father was born in. It was a truly magical feeling, emotions aside, to see the simpleness and yet untouched beauty of this house set amongst lavender fields on the non-tourist side of this exquisite island.
Linda Wade
Glistening water
I went and stayed at my uncle's bach in Mahia. It truly was a magical experience; we spent the whole week laying out on the beach watching the glistening water and enjoying the sunshine. In the evening we would build a bonfire and sit around toasting marshmallows, treating ourselves to a few drinks and sharing stories from our past. The surroundings are filled with beautiful rolling mountains, cute little cottages, friendly holidayers and large scoops of hokey pokey icecream. It was such a relaxing atmosphere.
Katie Coyle
Old soulmates
Mine is a magic animal moment experienced at the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary in Ubud, Bali. The macaque monkeys there run free and are extremely proficient at purloining food from visitors. The raiders are quick and noisy, and the ensuing bedlam can get quite scary. But, in the midst of all the racket, one macaque mother took a shine to me. She approached quietly and sat beside me, gently nestled her head in the crook of my arm and stared into my eyes with the most open, trusting look. She seemed completely calm and happy. It was as if we were old soulmates. It was pure magic. It was also a moment made comical when a passing youngster decided to interrupt our moment of bliss and poked at the macaque. In a split-second she leapt up ... and bit him hard on the bum.
Bruce Scott
Indian wedding
My 16-year old daughter Claire and I have just got back from a trip from Kolkata to attend a colleague's wedding. We were invited to stay at my colleague's house, so we experienced real Indian life as well as being treated like royalty.The celebrations consisted of five main events, from mandi gatherings to the actual wedding and reception, where the groom arrived on a horse, accompanied by a very loud brass band. Claire and I wanted to wear Indian clothes and be included in everything.
After the wedding we took a quick trip to see the Taj Mahal, thinking we may never be in India again. What a building. Truly took my breath away. And such a romantic story.
Kim Moros
Busy beavers
Several years ago my family and I went on a six-week holiday to America and Canada. In British Colombia, we came across a small town called Duncan's Cove. We stopped beside a beautiful blue lake and booked a cabin on the waterfront for a night. It was about 10m from the water and we were able to watch the local fishermen in their little boats. That evening we took a walk around some of the nearby lakes and stopped momentarily at one particular spot. Moments later there was a splash, maybe 5m away, and there was a beaver paddling furiously through the shallows. As we waited, the beaver family emerged and we stayed until nightfall as they busily went about their work, ignoring us completely. It was such a spontaneous, natural wildlife experience that it has remained my most vivid memory of the trip for years.
Courtney Addison