WHILE WAITING FOR THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG, WHAT ABOUT A JOURNEY TO THE MIDDLE-EARTH?

Richard Armitage as Thorin in The Hobbit - The Desolation of Smaug

The Hobbit movie 2, The Desolation of Smaug,  is going to be released in less than a month and curiosity as well as excitement increase. I can't wait to see my best favourite, Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage),  again engaged in his adventurous quest,  in company of his bizarre mates.   Of course, I'm also looking forward to seeing dragon Smaug revealed and listening to Benedict Cumberbatch's voice (I want to see it in the original version... FX!)  

Anyway, this post is not just about The Hobbit movies, but more about the amazing natural settings Peter Jackson chose for their shootings. Just have a look at this awesome infographic: A Travel Guide to The Middle -Earth. Ready for the journey?

AUTHOR INTERVIEW - JAMIE BAYWOOD, GETTING ROOTED IN NEW ZEALAND + GIVEAWAY

First of all Jamie, welcome and thanks for finding the time to answer my questions. The first one for you is: What brought you from your home in California to New Zealand? 

I’m from California. In my mid-twenties, I had bad dating experiences in California and a dream to live abroad. I read in a tour book that New Zealand’s population had 100,000 fewer men than women. In an attempt to have some ‘me time’ I moved to New Zealand.

Why  New Zealand  as your destination?

As an American citizen there are actually very few places in the world you can get a work visa and just show up. If you are an American under thirty you can get a work visa in Australia and if you are an American under thirty-five you can get a work visa in New Zealand.

What was the hardest lesson your learnt starting a new life alone?

I really feel travel is the best teacher. I didn’t know a soul in New Zealand before I went there. Within two weeks of my plane landing in New Zealand, I found a place to live and a job. I don’t know anywhere else in the world you can do that. I’ve been living abroad since 2010. It’s made me resilient, self-reliant, fearless and adaptable.  I’ve really learned to trust my instincts and believe in myself.

It was shockingly easy to relocate to New Zealand literally a few weeks after I made the decision. It only took a couple of weeks for my work visa to go through. I was 26, single, I quit my job, I moved out of a little cottage I was renting and put the few things I had at my mom’s house and brought a suitcase with me to New Zealand.