Hi Sam,

I was that Kiwi staying in Simpkins bed and breakfast in Washington when you were there. I was flicking through my DC photos and wondered if that English guy who won that Guardian newspaper competition ever made it to New Zealand. Well, I see you have!

Good to hear you had a excellent time skiing in Aspen and got off the tourist track in Fiji. If you come to Wellington, I'd be happy to give you a city tour from a local's perspective. Tourists often bypass Wellington, but I think it's worth the visit. You should also visit the Marlborough Sounds, one of my favourite places in New Zealand. Hope you are not too sick of old hostels, strange beds and shared bathrooms!