Instagram story viewer> @shane_po> Posts

Shane Potaka

@shane_po

undefined

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

Download All

Reopening of Hinetamatea Marae, Anaura Bay, East Coast, NZ. Where the romance began with the Coast as a young 18 year old. By default I became part of the Rangiwai Whanau and never looked back. Some fantastic and very fond memories here. by @shane_po

35

0

3 months ago

Part 2 of Snippets of AlJoun and Madaba, Jordan 🇯🇴. Visiting the AlJoun Castle dialed me back to the Great Saladin and his exploits during his rule. It was a formidable structure built to fight from, defend against and dominate the region. When I was in Damascus I got to visit Saladins tomb which I now fully appreciated. Next visit was Madaba where I had been before but now I could take my time and I surely did. A place that has changed rule many times but it was the mosaics I had come to see. The work required and the stories they tell was again overwhelming. As for the food I’m sure that I ate Mansaf every 3rd night 😂😂. #aljouncastle #churchofthevirginmary #madaba #jordan #toyotatroopy taken in Jordan by @shane_po

35

1

5 months ago

Snippets of Jerash, Jordan 🇯🇴 Part 1. Crossing the Border into Jordan was a test of my patience and it doesn’t help when you have none to start with. Finally the 5 hour ordeal was over and the first issue was to find a place to crash for the night. It was a pleasant surprise to be amongst the trees again and I just chilled for a couple of days just tuning in. I thought I had exhausted myself of ancient Roman ruins from Palmyra, Syria but that was not to be the case. Once again I was overwhelmed by what Jerash was presenting me with that I ended up spending 2 days going over the ruins. I didn’t have the ruins to myself but I met some cool people as I slowly wandered around. I really don’t know how people can do these types of places in 2-3 hours. The Jerash ancient Roman ruins was an amazing start to my Jordan journey. Totally loved it. #jerash #jerashruins #toyotatroopy #overlanding #Jordan taken in Jerash Roman ruin city, Amman, Jordan by @shane_po

43

4

5 months ago

taken in Al-Qurain Martyrs Museum by @shane_po

52

2

6 months ago

Baghdad (North Gate) War Cemetery, Basra War Memorial and the Basra British War Cemetery Iraq 🇮🇶. I paid my respects to the NZ Fallen in Iraq. 7 in Baghdad, 1 at the Basra Memorial Wall and 5 at the Basra War Cemetery. To comprehend what I was seeing at these 3 locations and how it made me feel was a blow to my spirit. However to push past that and place the shoe on the other foot to get a greater perspective of why this is what it is did help to make sense of it all. Due to my background and where I’m from, I find this unacceptable and disrespectful to our fallen but I also understand why and there are many valid reasons to mention. At the end of the day, I have fulfilled my personal duty and now it’s up to those who hold the power to bring peace and stability to their amazing Country and allow these Men and Women a resting place we can all safely visit. #remembrance #iraq #baghdad #basra #overlanding taken in Iraq by @shane_po

44

0

6 months ago

Snippets Part 5 of Tadmur (Palmyra) Syria 🇸🇾. To be able to take Paikea up the Great Colonnade and have front row seats at the Roman Theatre was an opportunity I would never be able to do anywhere else. Next I visited the township of Tadmur to witness the suffering and violence they’ve been subjected to but how they continue to survive and remain resilient. Nothing but Total respect but that feeling of helplessness at the same time. #palmyra #syria #toyotatroopy #toyotalandcruiser taken in Palmyra, Syria by @shane_po

120

11

6 months ago

Snippets Part 4 of Tadmur (Palmyra) Syria 🇸🇾. I chose to spend 2 days exploring the ruins of Palmyra with a local guide called Mr Ali. Foreigners are scarce due to the presence of certain undesirables so I was happy that I was able to support him financially. I had the freedom of the ruins to myself and we roamed on the back of his bike to untold gems of places. No restrictions. No one telling us where we can and can’t go. Just how I like it. Once again I was gobsmacked to be in presence of such grand structures and engineering even though ISIS had destroyed large parts of it. I spent time at the Temple of Baalshamin, the great Colonade, the Theatre, the Agora, the Citadel, the Tetrapylon, the Temple of Bel, the Tombs of the 3 Brothers and finally the hot springs. What a day to absorb so much and reflect over a delicious Bedouin meal. The next day was even better. #overlanding #palmyra #Syria #romanruins #toyotatroopy taken in Tadmur, Hims, Syria by @shane_po

58

0

6 months ago

I came to pay my respects to the only New Zealander commemorated at the Basra War Memorial. Lieutenant William Wallace Allison Burn (MID). The first NZ aviator to be KIA. A remarkable story. His name is unfortunately not on a panel so big Caddy and I tipped our drinks at the Memorial plinth in his honour. Such a privilege to share this moment with big Caddy in Basra, Iraq. We served together in the Military and after. #remembrance #rnzaf #nzfallenheroes #ww1 #basra taken in Basra Memorial by @shane_po

54

4

6 months ago

Update from the Baghdad North Gate War Cemetery, Baghdad, Iraq 🇮🇶. #remembrance #anzacs #nzfallensoldiers #baghdad #commonwealthwargraves taken in Baghdad, Iraq by @shane_po

117

8

7 months ago

Snippets Part 3 of Damascus and Palmyra Syria 🇸🇾. Local food has always been a huge part of traveling agenda. If I see locals lining up for something, I jump in the line. If a local recommends a favourite place I will 99% go. Driving out of Damascus towards Palmyra you once again see the magnitude of destruction. Areas were just pummeled. Remnants of factions are still active in pockets of Syria, Palmyra being one of them hence the many Military checkpoints. Very friendly chaps and most always offering chai which I never refused. It allowed me to stretch my legs, have a chinwag and get a feel for the surrounding situation. Good old hearts and minds stuff 😉😎or just an inquisitive Kiwi. #damascus #palmyra #baghdadcafe #overlanding #toyotatroopy taken in Damascus, Syria by @shane_po

73

3

7 months ago

Aleppo, Syria 🇸🇾. I was fortunate to pay my respects to our Fallen and spend time at the Aleppo Citadel and the Old City. What a privilege to rub shoulders and be welcomed by so many Locals considering their circumstances. No Syrian has gone unscathed from this war. Some have lost their earnings. Some have lost their dwellings. Some have lost loved ones. Some have lost all 3. In Aleppo you can feel the struggle and it’s evident on their hardened faces but they get on with living. The destruction and damage is overwhelming and it will take decades to rebuild but they get on with living. May peace remain and the Leadership love and care for their People. #syrianwar #aleppo taken in Aleppo, Syria by @shane_po

84

0

7 months ago

Snippets Part 2 of Damascus, Syria 🇸🇾. Damascus was unrelenting. I got sandwiched in the actual Liberation Day celebrations. An awesome buzz to be part of and totally loved it. I needed to recover from the chaos with a couple of local beers and a nice relaxing hammam. I decided to leave my Rig in a secure place in Damascus and caught the Bus to Aleppo. My gut was saying that was the best thing to do. The Damascus bus station felt like the Wild West as they haggled to fill up their bus. Driving out of Damascus and seeing the destruction from the war was immense. #Aleppo #Damascus #afamiabeer taken in Damascus, Syria by @shane_po

55

2

7 months ago