We happily left Old MacDonald Farm the next morning and headed for Barrytown. On our way, we passed by the spot when the other Stray bus had flipped. I couldn’t see it too clearly from where I sat, but someone said there was a distinguished bus shape in the vegetation. Shortly after passing the site, we stopped at the Pancake Rocks. It seemed like people were pretty quiet after this. Three days can really change your life. I suppose stopping at the Pancake Rocks was the best place to reflect on the funny thing we call life. It’s pretty tranquil looking out at the ocean and seeing all these rocks that the water has eroded perfect lines on causing a pancake-like appearance.
After that much needed break and time for reflection, we ventured on to Barrytown.
Oh, Barrytown. This is one of the most interesting places I stopped on the bus tour. You’d miss this town if you blinked and I think Stray stops there for one purpose alone – embarrassment. There are only two things to do in this small town.
Firstly, we carved our own necklaces out of cow bone. Mine is a beautiful Maori symbol that represents strength, determination, brings peace, prosperity and good health. It also provides a safe journey over water. This hippie guy that was helping us had us all laughing the entire time. I miss the strange people I met while I was traveling. You never knew what they were going to say and do. Prime example…and I won’t write the cuss words out, but this gives you the idea of the kind of hippie he was. We asked how he ended up in Barrytown carving necklaces. His response, “I’ve done some good s***, bad s****, but I like this s****.” Who says that? I write this only because it makes me think about how much he’s gone after what he wanted to do. He proceeded to tell us about his trip across Europe that took seven years. The hippie got it. He understood what it was to go after what he wanted, no matter how long it took and he did what he enjoyed. So maybe it takes me 5-10 years to return to NZ, I can’t loose hope that it won’t happen. I want to go on mission trips. Maybe that’s 3 years off after my last car payment. I’m going to do it. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not completely unhappy being back, I just hope it’s a stepping stone to the next phase in my life I’m looking forward to. Le sigh…
Anyway, the other thing to do is Barrytown is cross-dress. Yes, that’s right. The hostel/bar we stayed at gives discount drinks to those who dress up. Imagine my surprise when we return from carving our necklaces to see 20 males dressed up as women. Not only were they dressed as women, but someone had put make up on them and painted their nails. Some of these images will never leave…Mark dancing in heels most of the night saying he doesn’t understand why they’re uncomfortable only to find out that his feet hurt, Spiderman pulling money out of his shoe because he didn’t have pockets, and the drunk Irish guy (well woman that night) singing his National Anthem loudly at Claire. Too funny. Vanessa, Claire and I did dress up…which was actually fun. Vanessa was David Beckham, Claire was Bob the Builder and I was Kevin. Let me explain. After the soccer and construction worker outfits were claimed, there wasn’t much left. I ended up wearing a HUGE pair of Khakis, which luckily I traveled with my belt, and a shirt and vest that did not match in the slightest. We someone named me Kevin and said I was the next US President. We further described Kevin as “the nerdy guy who just never figured it out”. Cross-dressing must sound weird to the outsider, but when you’re there and you see several males dressed up and dancing, it makes for some great laughs. Once again, I had a Chandy…was probably the only sober person, but I had a blast.
Sunday, October 5, 2008
South Island – Abel Tasman
This was a long bus ride. There was a place to stop and do a three day hike, but seeing as how I had limited time to get back to Christchurch, I ventured on, and promised I’d go back one day. I really hope one day this does come true…and that I could become a permanent resident. We’ll see.
I had a horrible attitude this day. I remember it so clearly. It was pouring when we got to the hostel and the kitchen was beyond packed. I think Vanessa, Claire and I all fed off of each other’s negative attitudes, making the Old MacDonald Farm much worse than it should have been.
Other than booking our catamaran for the next day, we basically ate and went to sleep. There was one comical thing that happened. I don’t know why, but the Stray bus drivers like to tell little lies and see who is gullible. When we arrived, our driver told us that there was a new breed of an animal... it was a crossbreed of a sheep and a camel called a Shamel. We walked past them and Vanessa was arguing with this German guy who kept calling it a Llama instead of a Shamel. I’m not really sure when we realized we’d been duped, but I don’t think I’d laughed that hard in a long time. To top it off, Vanessa called her boyfriend and their convo went something like this:
“Hey, there is this animal here that is a crossbreed of a sheep and a camel…”
“You mean a Llama?”
Wow, we felt dumb.
Anyway, the next morning we woke up early and walked a half day to Anchorage Bay. The walk was so enjoyable – very green and blue. We had to meet the catamaran around noon so we tried to get there early enough to enjoy some time at the beach. When we reached the beach, I had a very blonde moment. We weren’t sure which way to go and I saw part of this sign that said, “Anchorage Bay – 5 mi—“. Without even looking at the rest of the sign, I thought it meant 5 miles and we all started freaking out. Upon a more careful observation, we read that it said 5 min, not miles.
Relaxing on the beach is one of my favorite things to do and I was actually sad to have to board the catamaran. It was a gorgeous ride back though. I wish I’d taken a class on how to sail…next time, right? I enjoy the ocean too much for my own good.
I had a horrible attitude this day. I remember it so clearly. It was pouring when we got to the hostel and the kitchen was beyond packed. I think Vanessa, Claire and I all fed off of each other’s negative attitudes, making the Old MacDonald Farm much worse than it should have been.
Other than booking our catamaran for the next day, we basically ate and went to sleep. There was one comical thing that happened. I don’t know why, but the Stray bus drivers like to tell little lies and see who is gullible. When we arrived, our driver told us that there was a new breed of an animal... it was a crossbreed of a sheep and a camel called a Shamel. We walked past them and Vanessa was arguing with this German guy who kept calling it a Llama instead of a Shamel. I’m not really sure when we realized we’d been duped, but I don’t think I’d laughed that hard in a long time. To top it off, Vanessa called her boyfriend and their convo went something like this:
“Hey, there is this animal here that is a crossbreed of a sheep and a camel…”
“You mean a Llama?”
Wow, we felt dumb.
Anyway, the next morning we woke up early and walked a half day to Anchorage Bay. The walk was so enjoyable – very green and blue. We had to meet the catamaran around noon so we tried to get there early enough to enjoy some time at the beach. When we reached the beach, I had a very blonde moment. We weren’t sure which way to go and I saw part of this sign that said, “Anchorage Bay – 5 mi—“. Without even looking at the rest of the sign, I thought it meant 5 miles and we all started freaking out. Upon a more careful observation, we read that it said 5 min, not miles.
Relaxing on the beach is one of my favorite things to do and I was actually sad to have to board the catamaran. It was a gorgeous ride back though. I wish I’d taken a class on how to sail…next time, right? I enjoy the ocean too much for my own good.
South Island – Christchurch and Kaikoura
Flying in New Zealand is a bit more slacked than the US. I found this out on February 2nd as I departed for Christchurch on the South Island. On my way, I saw a sign that said:
“I miss the way you used to talk to me when you were a kid.” – God
Looking back, I can see this was God totally speaking to me because I was about to embark on one crazy adventure where I truly needed to be closer to Him than I had been in the North Island.
Dave and Sarah, a married couple from the church in Christchurch surprised me at the airport when I landed. I had expected to just go to the hostel and hang out downtown since I was leaving on the Stray bus in the morning, but they took me all over and showed me some beautiful sights.
That night in the hostel, I was speaking with two Danish girls who told me that I’m “not a typical American.” Call me crazy, but I loved being told that while I traveled. I didn’t want to leave a bad taste in people’s mouths, I wanted to prove that we aren’t all that stereotype most countries hate. I also met Vanessa that night, a girl from England who would be traveling with me on Stray. From the moment I met her, I liked her. She’d just come from Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam and her stories inspired my current fascination with going there myself. Needless to say, her friendly demeanor and attitude on life had me excited to travel with her.
We left for Kaikoura the next morning. This was one place I was seriously excited about. It’s known for swimming with dolphins and seals. On the bus ride there, Vanessa and I started talking to another girl, Claire, who was from Scotland/Australia. Claire went deep sea fishing while Vanessa and I went with a big group to go seal swimming.
When we arrived at the beach, we had about a ten minute walk to the spot we’d swim to. The swim was actually scary and I’m a strong swimmer. There was one part where we had to wait for a break in the waves before we could swim through, otherwise we’d be smashed into the rocks. I’ll tell you what…the moment the guide said swim, I took off. The adrenaline was amazing though and when I reached the seal colony, I was in awe. These creatures are absolutely gorgeous with their big blinking eyes and their love for attention. At one point, one seal swam at me and jumped over my arm showing off. It was so cute watching them come up close then quickly dart away. I must say that these few moments will stay with me forever. Summer will never be the same…not when I know what the summer consists of in NZ.
That night, Clair cooked the fish she caught and the crayfish they gave her. The crayfish was the size of our lobster. Surprisingly, I ate some of the seafood and actually enjoyed it. I guess there is a first time for everything.
On the North Island, I had gone to bars…but only when I knew people and trusted them. I suppose this is when I started making some mistakes and started going out every night on the South Island. Now, people knew my beliefs and they saw that I didn’t have more than two drinks, but I regret how frequently I put myself in this atmosphere. It’s weird…I don’t miss that life. I see it so clearly, but while traveling, I would go out because that’s what backpackers did. We went to The Whaler Bar that night and Claire introduced me to the Chandy…half beer, half sprite. Sounds weird, but it’s actually pretty good. Needless to say, this was the first of many nights like this.
On a sad note, there was a horrific Stray bus crash on this day. The bus was about three days ahead of ours and flipped, killing one tourist. I don’t think the reality of it hit me until I met a girl on that bus two weeks later.
“I miss the way you used to talk to me when you were a kid.” – God
Looking back, I can see this was God totally speaking to me because I was about to embark on one crazy adventure where I truly needed to be closer to Him than I had been in the North Island.
Dave and Sarah, a married couple from the church in Christchurch surprised me at the airport when I landed. I had expected to just go to the hostel and hang out downtown since I was leaving on the Stray bus in the morning, but they took me all over and showed me some beautiful sights.
That night in the hostel, I was speaking with two Danish girls who told me that I’m “not a typical American.” Call me crazy, but I loved being told that while I traveled. I didn’t want to leave a bad taste in people’s mouths, I wanted to prove that we aren’t all that stereotype most countries hate. I also met Vanessa that night, a girl from England who would be traveling with me on Stray. From the moment I met her, I liked her. She’d just come from Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam and her stories inspired my current fascination with going there myself. Needless to say, her friendly demeanor and attitude on life had me excited to travel with her.
We left for Kaikoura the next morning. This was one place I was seriously excited about. It’s known for swimming with dolphins and seals. On the bus ride there, Vanessa and I started talking to another girl, Claire, who was from Scotland/Australia. Claire went deep sea fishing while Vanessa and I went with a big group to go seal swimming.
When we arrived at the beach, we had about a ten minute walk to the spot we’d swim to. The swim was actually scary and I’m a strong swimmer. There was one part where we had to wait for a break in the waves before we could swim through, otherwise we’d be smashed into the rocks. I’ll tell you what…the moment the guide said swim, I took off. The adrenaline was amazing though and when I reached the seal colony, I was in awe. These creatures are absolutely gorgeous with their big blinking eyes and their love for attention. At one point, one seal swam at me and jumped over my arm showing off. It was so cute watching them come up close then quickly dart away. I must say that these few moments will stay with me forever. Summer will never be the same…not when I know what the summer consists of in NZ.
That night, Clair cooked the fish she caught and the crayfish they gave her. The crayfish was the size of our lobster. Surprisingly, I ate some of the seafood and actually enjoyed it. I guess there is a first time for everything.
On the North Island, I had gone to bars…but only when I knew people and trusted them. I suppose this is when I started making some mistakes and started going out every night on the South Island. Now, people knew my beliefs and they saw that I didn’t have more than two drinks, but I regret how frequently I put myself in this atmosphere. It’s weird…I don’t miss that life. I see it so clearly, but while traveling, I would go out because that’s what backpackers did. We went to The Whaler Bar that night and Claire introduced me to the Chandy…half beer, half sprite. Sounds weird, but it’s actually pretty good. Needless to say, this was the first of many nights like this.
On a sad note, there was a horrific Stray bus crash on this day. The bus was about three days ahead of ours and flipped, killing one tourist. I don’t think the reality of it hit me until I met a girl on that bus two weeks later.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Home is where the heart is? or not?
I realize/realise I have neglected this site for far too long. It's about time I write about my last few months in New Zealand, my decision to return to the State's and what has been happening since then. I will say that it is a daily battle being back here between my heart and my head.
I never knew true beauty until I went to New Zealand. Now, I don't want to bash my own country, but it just can't compare. My decision to come back was based on God, and whilst I have to remind myself of that every day, my heart still yearns for NZ.
There are so many things I wish to say, but this will take a while. So much has happened since January, but that isn't really a surprise since it's almost October. I thought coming back would be easier than this...but God has not only been trying to teach me a lot in such a sort amount of time, Satan has been on the attack and I am constantly overwhelmed to the point of wishing I were someone else. I keep telling myself I don't want this entry to sound pathetic and like I'm whinning, but I'm beginning to think that's my personality. I've recently had it pointed out that I speak too often before thinking. Having finished reading Proverbs, I cannot deny that it's true. So as I write about the last of my travels over the next few weeks (sorry, I do have a job lol), I will try my best to think through what I'm writing before throwing it all on here.
I never knew true beauty until I went to New Zealand. Now, I don't want to bash my own country, but it just can't compare. My decision to come back was based on God, and whilst I have to remind myself of that every day, my heart still yearns for NZ.
There are so many things I wish to say, but this will take a while. So much has happened since January, but that isn't really a surprise since it's almost October. I thought coming back would be easier than this...but God has not only been trying to teach me a lot in such a sort amount of time, Satan has been on the attack and I am constantly overwhelmed to the point of wishing I were someone else. I keep telling myself I don't want this entry to sound pathetic and like I'm whinning, but I'm beginning to think that's my personality. I've recently had it pointed out that I speak too often before thinking. Having finished reading Proverbs, I cannot deny that it's true. So as I write about the last of my travels over the next few weeks (sorry, I do have a job lol), I will try my best to think through what I'm writing before throwing it all on here.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Back to reality and time to reflect
If you haven't noticed by now, I have delayed putting up blog entries about my South Island experience. I loved the South Island. I really had a great time, but I think that I've delayed writing about it because it means there are things I must own up to. Now I don't want you to start worrying, I remained safe and didn't get into any real trouble. However, spiritually speaking my first two weeks weren't not exactly filled with my best moments.
When I first got baptized, I was on fire. Although people warned me it would get harder, I felt as if nothing could harm me. All I needed was God and everything else just didn't matter.
Year two got a bit trickier. Situations came up and when tested, I look back and realize I failed miserably in some areas. My stubbornness caused severe stress on friendships and I focused on myself more than one ought to. I look back at when I was in Colorado getting ready to leave for New Zealand and wonder if I'd really been as inconsiderate as I feel I was. For example, when Heather's grandmother died, I was sad for her but I was out of touch with any compassion one should share with her friend in mourning. Year two was not one full of compassion on my part.
Then year three began. I truly believed that when I came to New Zealand, I'd remain invincible but I suppose that's when God humbles us the most. Year three has been hard. I love God and I desperately want to be as close as I once was but I can't sit here and yearn for the past. God has allowed me to be my own person and make my own decisions whilst abroad. I fully understand how I ended up in some of the situations I never foresaw. God has taught me so much and has changed me drastically.
It will take a while to post everything about the South Island, but I hope that you go into reading about my South Island experience foreseeing what I lacked to see. Just remember though, I am still trying to be a disciple and put God first. I own up to the fact that I made some mistakes, however, God knows exactly what we need when we need it...and after two weeks of travelling on my own, Brandon and Michelle showed up and I started to see how I'd let my surroundings influence me.
When I first got baptized, I was on fire. Although people warned me it would get harder, I felt as if nothing could harm me. All I needed was God and everything else just didn't matter.
Year two got a bit trickier. Situations came up and when tested, I look back and realize I failed miserably in some areas. My stubbornness caused severe stress on friendships and I focused on myself more than one ought to. I look back at when I was in Colorado getting ready to leave for New Zealand and wonder if I'd really been as inconsiderate as I feel I was. For example, when Heather's grandmother died, I was sad for her but I was out of touch with any compassion one should share with her friend in mourning. Year two was not one full of compassion on my part.
Then year three began. I truly believed that when I came to New Zealand, I'd remain invincible but I suppose that's when God humbles us the most. Year three has been hard. I love God and I desperately want to be as close as I once was but I can't sit here and yearn for the past. God has allowed me to be my own person and make my own decisions whilst abroad. I fully understand how I ended up in some of the situations I never foresaw. God has taught me so much and has changed me drastically.
It will take a while to post everything about the South Island, but I hope that you go into reading about my South Island experience foreseeing what I lacked to see. Just remember though, I am still trying to be a disciple and put God first. I own up to the fact that I made some mistakes, however, God knows exactly what we need when we need it...and after two weeks of travelling on my own, Brandon and Michelle showed up and I started to see how I'd let my surroundings influence me.
Monday, March 10, 2008
South Island pictures! Part one!!
I have so many photos of the South Island and haven't had enough time to put all of them up yet. I will post more but these should hold your interest until I've found time to upload more.
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2128124&l=17000&id=36600409
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2128132&l=b1af2&id=36600409
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2128331&l=f7e25&id=36600409
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2128343&l=aa25f&id=36600409
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2128425&l=4d5f8&id=36600409
Expect at least two more albums on their way of Doubtful Sound, Milford Sound and Queenstown!
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2128124&l=17000&id=36600409
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2128132&l=b1af2&id=36600409
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2128331&l=f7e25&id=36600409
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2128343&l=aa25f&id=36600409
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2128425&l=4d5f8&id=36600409
Expect at least two more albums on their way of Doubtful Sound, Milford Sound and Queenstown!
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Why can't God just tell me what to do?
I'm back from the South Island...well actually, I've been back since the 28th but haven't been able to update this. It will probably be a while before I do seeing as how life is beyond chaotic right now. Let me explain:
I came back to work only to find out that the firm is splitting and half of us have been let go. It’s disappointing because I wanted to work March and April to save up money to go to Australia. Instead, my last day is 31 March. I’ve been thinking about temping but I can’t help but wonder if God wants me to go back to the States early.
On one hand, I work till the end of March, use my US $ to go to Australia in April and come home in May. Downside to that is I’ll miss John and Paulline’s wedding. Upside is that I get to see my parents earlier and will be back in Charlotte to enjoy summer and hopefully some softball. :)
On the other hand, I work till the end of March, temp for the month of April, go to Australia as planned in May and return to the States in June. I’ll get to be here for the wedding but I’ll be getting back in the summer and competing with all the recent graduates for jobs.
Sigh…I am confused. This is the time when I wish God would just tell me what he wants me to do. I really hope I make the wise choice. I’m not making any decisions right now. I’m still acting on emotions and I need to wait a bit to really think this all out.
Anyway, that’s my short update for the time being. I’ll write again soon.
I came back to work only to find out that the firm is splitting and half of us have been let go. It’s disappointing because I wanted to work March and April to save up money to go to Australia. Instead, my last day is 31 March. I’ve been thinking about temping but I can’t help but wonder if God wants me to go back to the States early.
On one hand, I work till the end of March, use my US $ to go to Australia in April and come home in May. Downside to that is I’ll miss John and Paulline’s wedding. Upside is that I get to see my parents earlier and will be back in Charlotte to enjoy summer and hopefully some softball. :)
On the other hand, I work till the end of March, temp for the month of April, go to Australia as planned in May and return to the States in June. I’ll get to be here for the wedding but I’ll be getting back in the summer and competing with all the recent graduates for jobs.
Sigh…I am confused. This is the time when I wish God would just tell me what he wants me to do. I really hope I make the wise choice. I’m not making any decisions right now. I’m still acting on emotions and I need to wait a bit to really think this all out.
Anyway, that’s my short update for the time being. I’ll write again soon.
Friday, February 8, 2008
A bit scared
So I just wanted to write and let everyone know I'm alright. One of the Stray buses overturned and one tourist lost their life. We passed by the site yesterday and it was rather creepy. Here's the article but I just wanted to let everyone know I'm being as careful as possible. Scary.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/topic/story.cfm?c_id=663&objectid=10490349
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/topic/story.cfm?c_id=663&objectid=10490349
Friday, February 1, 2008
i kan spel
Today at work I was so annoyed thinking about how I wasn't able to spellcheck any of the blogs I posted yesterday. You see, when my computer crashed I lost Word and therefore had to type everything up on Wordpad. So I've now gone through and checked the spelling and am completely mortified by some of the errors I made. Not only that, but I constantly switch between American English and British English which is definitely going to cause problems in the future.
Anyway, I am off tomorrow for the South Island. I'll write again soon...maybe. Ha.
Anyway, I am off tomorrow for the South Island. I'll write again soon...maybe. Ha.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Relaxation and Wellington
When we got back from the Crossing, we all ordered separate pizzas and pigged out. Talk about being hungry. The guys also made me try this Scottish drink called Irn Bru and I really enjoyed it.
We paid a bit extra to take a different bus from Stray the next day because the day we all needed to be down there, Stray wasn't operating. On the way, I was quite bored. I think I was just used to being extremely busy but luckily both Martin and Chris have great taste in music so we just swapped our iPods around the whole time. There are a lot of bands they introduced me to as well and I'm really going to look into them more now.
Finally, we made it to Wellington. It was our intention to go to another bar...basically it was our last night together as Yvonne was leaving the next morning and then we were all parting ways on Sunday. Without even a second thought, I followed them to the bar. On the way there, Martin mentioned my heart necklace I always wear. He said that women hold necklaces that mean something to them and he'd seen me hold mine before. I'd never heard that before but I thought that was really cool...yet sad at the same time. I realised that I hadn't really spent much time with God recently and I had changed so much in three weeks I was beyond confused about everything.
We got hungry a bit later and made our way to Burger King. Chris and I somehow managed to get on the topic of how I try to fix people. I don't know why I do this. What's even weirder is that the topic came back up later when I was talking to Martin. A lot of what Martin said was quite challenging. It really made me start thinking hard about why I believe the things I do. The questions I once found so easy to answer all of a sudden seemed difficult. That's what travelling had done to me. It was then that I realised how much my heart and my mind are at war.
After about maybe 4 hours of sleep (our hostel had 20 beds in it!), we got up and went to the Te Papa museum. I really like this picture I got of the guys as they had a Scottish exhibit in the museum:
What's really funny is that they asked me to point out Scotland on the map inside and it made me nervous. I knew where it was but I was just so scared of being that "dumb American." Haha.
Afterwards, we went to ride on the cable cars. Had I been more awake, I might have enjoyed the view a bit more. It should come as no surprise that I went back to the hostel and took a nap.
When we all woke up and waiting for Chris to get ready (wow he's slow), I was getting everyone to write their email addresses in the back of my journal. Stupid I know. I wasn't exactly paying attention until I heard Martin say, "Is it okay that I'm reading this?" I'm pretty sure I flipped out because Angela said, "What's the big deal?" to which I explained it contained personal stuff. All I could think about was the spiritual struggles I had written about and how embarrassing that would be to have someone to read it. Oh well.
I believe this trip was full of rather interesting conversations. That night I found myself having a convo with all of them about not being in a hurry to get married. If I've learned ANYTHING in New Zealand, it's that marriage is hard and I am nowhere near patient enough nor do I wish to give up my independence yet. Being around all of them made me want to travel forever. Just work for the government in different countries, immerse myself in new cultures and just live every day amazed by all my new surroundings. It's really difficult when you catch the travel bug.
My last talk with Chris proved to be an interesting one. It left me so confused about my life, but not entirely in a bad way. Travelling has changed me...and not all for the best. My relationship with God has become rather shaky. I hate admitting it but it's true. I suddenly was so tired of standing out and being different. It was only after I returned to Auckland that I reminded myself that that is what I'm called to do and wishing to live even remotely close to my old ways is beyond foolish.
When I returned to Auckland, my boss asked me if I planned to renew my Visa. While it's very tempting, I have to think about God right now because I haven't done a good job of that lately. Obviously, I haven't done my best spiritually as of late and that's no one's fault but mine.
I'm getting ready to leave for the South Island soon and I'm going to try my hardest to fight harder. I do love God, but a lot has changed and I don't want to become lukewarm. I write all this because it's all I know to do. I write...that's my thing.
Leaving New Zealand is going to be difficult....but going back to the States is going to be even harder. How am I supposed to go back to my old life when I'm no longer that person? I don't hate the States, don't get me wrong. I want to see my family and friends, but I have this desire to travel as well. I hope this explains the whole heart vs. mind thing I'm presently struggling with.
There are heaps more pictures that you can look at if you get a chance.
Here are the links:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2121203&l=22706&id=36600409
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2122029&l=6317a&id=36600409
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2122785&l=f82a7&id=36600409
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2122790&l=94e0b&id=36600409
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2122792&l=25dc5&id=36600409
On Saturday, I'm off to the South Island for the month, so don't expect me to write on here often, if at all. I'll write when I can!
We paid a bit extra to take a different bus from Stray the next day because the day we all needed to be down there, Stray wasn't operating. On the way, I was quite bored. I think I was just used to being extremely busy but luckily both Martin and Chris have great taste in music so we just swapped our iPods around the whole time. There are a lot of bands they introduced me to as well and I'm really going to look into them more now.
Finally, we made it to Wellington. It was our intention to go to another bar...basically it was our last night together as Yvonne was leaving the next morning and then we were all parting ways on Sunday. Without even a second thought, I followed them to the bar. On the way there, Martin mentioned my heart necklace I always wear. He said that women hold necklaces that mean something to them and he'd seen me hold mine before. I'd never heard that before but I thought that was really cool...yet sad at the same time. I realised that I hadn't really spent much time with God recently and I had changed so much in three weeks I was beyond confused about everything.
We got hungry a bit later and made our way to Burger King. Chris and I somehow managed to get on the topic of how I try to fix people. I don't know why I do this. What's even weirder is that the topic came back up later when I was talking to Martin. A lot of what Martin said was quite challenging. It really made me start thinking hard about why I believe the things I do. The questions I once found so easy to answer all of a sudden seemed difficult. That's what travelling had done to me. It was then that I realised how much my heart and my mind are at war.
After about maybe 4 hours of sleep (our hostel had 20 beds in it!), we got up and went to the Te Papa museum. I really like this picture I got of the guys as they had a Scottish exhibit in the museum:
What's really funny is that they asked me to point out Scotland on the map inside and it made me nervous. I knew where it was but I was just so scared of being that "dumb American." Haha.
Afterwards, we went to ride on the cable cars. Had I been more awake, I might have enjoyed the view a bit more. It should come as no surprise that I went back to the hostel and took a nap.
When we all woke up and waiting for Chris to get ready (wow he's slow), I was getting everyone to write their email addresses in the back of my journal. Stupid I know. I wasn't exactly paying attention until I heard Martin say, "Is it okay that I'm reading this?" I'm pretty sure I flipped out because Angela said, "What's the big deal?" to which I explained it contained personal stuff. All I could think about was the spiritual struggles I had written about and how embarrassing that would be to have someone to read it. Oh well.
I believe this trip was full of rather interesting conversations. That night I found myself having a convo with all of them about not being in a hurry to get married. If I've learned ANYTHING in New Zealand, it's that marriage is hard and I am nowhere near patient enough nor do I wish to give up my independence yet. Being around all of them made me want to travel forever. Just work for the government in different countries, immerse myself in new cultures and just live every day amazed by all my new surroundings. It's really difficult when you catch the travel bug.
My last talk with Chris proved to be an interesting one. It left me so confused about my life, but not entirely in a bad way. Travelling has changed me...and not all for the best. My relationship with God has become rather shaky. I hate admitting it but it's true. I suddenly was so tired of standing out and being different. It was only after I returned to Auckland that I reminded myself that that is what I'm called to do and wishing to live even remotely close to my old ways is beyond foolish.
When I returned to Auckland, my boss asked me if I planned to renew my Visa. While it's very tempting, I have to think about God right now because I haven't done a good job of that lately. Obviously, I haven't done my best spiritually as of late and that's no one's fault but mine.
I'm getting ready to leave for the South Island soon and I'm going to try my hardest to fight harder. I do love God, but a lot has changed and I don't want to become lukewarm. I write all this because it's all I know to do. I write...that's my thing.
Leaving New Zealand is going to be difficult....but going back to the States is going to be even harder. How am I supposed to go back to my old life when I'm no longer that person? I don't hate the States, don't get me wrong. I want to see my family and friends, but I have this desire to travel as well. I hope this explains the whole heart vs. mind thing I'm presently struggling with.
There are heaps more pictures that you can look at if you get a chance.
Here are the links:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2121203&l=22706&id=36600409
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2122029&l=6317a&id=36600409
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2122785&l=f82a7&id=36600409
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2122790&l=94e0b&id=36600409
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2122792&l=25dc5&id=36600409
On Saturday, I'm off to the South Island for the month, so don't expect me to write on here often, if at all. I'll write when I can!
Taupo - Tongariro Crossing
The Tongariro Crossing is rated one of the best one day walks in New Zealand. I know why. My pictures don't do it justice but I've said that about every place I've been in New Zealand so I'm not surprised anymore.
We started walking the 18k walk at about 7am. The first obstacle was making it up the Devil's Staircase. I would like to say that it was more difficult than I initially thought it would be. After basically rock climbing, we made it to the base of Mt Ngauruhoe (aka Mt Doom from Lord of the Rings). Now, they say that if you have trouble with the Devil's Staircase you shouldn't try climbing Mt Doom. I looked at it wondering if I should and realising I'd regret it if I didn't, I began to climb. I've never actually climbed up a mountain full of volcanic rock before. To say it was difficult is an understatement. I was so tired by the time I made it up, but completely thrilled.
When Chris and I finally made it to the top (I think he stayed behind because he felt sorry for my slow butt! ha) we sat and ate lunch. The view was beyond amazing and I didn't want to leave, but we were on a schedule and didn't want to miss our bus (haha I laugh at this statement).
They say that climbing down should only take about 30 minutes. Once again, because I'd never climbed this sort of mountain before, I found this to be a challenge. I'm not sure that challenge is a strong enough word here, but it will have to do for now. I'm really not sure how long it took me to get down. Let's just say that I thought Chris had left me and was long gone by the time I reached the bottom. Actually, I was almost to the bottom when a guy who was climbing said there was some guy waiting for me. (YAY!) I wanted to cry I was so happy he'd waited but I was already covered in my tears in fear. Yes, you read right. I cried about half way down the mountain. I fell a couple of times and pretty much scared myself so badly I was in tears. I cried, I prayed, I sang some church songs. I did everything I could think of to have enough faith that I was going to make it down. Let's just say that by the time I made it down, Chris and I were about an hour and a half (What?!?) behind schedule and the bus had warned us that they would not wait for anyone. Oh. My. Goodness. How were we going to get to the hostel?
Chris tried to convince me that it wasn't the end of the world if we missed the bus but that we should at least try to make it anyway. And so the very quick walk began. I kept wanting to stop for water and Chris kept saying wait till we reach this point or here have some chocolate, keep walking. Seriously, he was beyond encouraging and I am forever grateful for him putting up with me that day. We reached this bush area and according to our schedule, we had about 1.5 hours left before the bus left and a suggested 2 hours walk ahead of us. When we reached the forest, we had 45 minutes until the bus left and it was suggested that it would take at least an hour. At one point, Chris got a bit ahead of me and seeing as how it freaks me out to be in the woods by myself, I jogged to catch up to him. We finally saw the exit (thank you God!) and our bus was still there! We made it....with two minutes to spare! Wow.
Now, here's a picture of the reason I made it to the bus on time:
And here are some other pictures of amazing things I saw along the way:
We started walking the 18k walk at about 7am. The first obstacle was making it up the Devil's Staircase. I would like to say that it was more difficult than I initially thought it would be. After basically rock climbing, we made it to the base of Mt Ngauruhoe (aka Mt Doom from Lord of the Rings). Now, they say that if you have trouble with the Devil's Staircase you shouldn't try climbing Mt Doom. I looked at it wondering if I should and realising I'd regret it if I didn't, I began to climb. I've never actually climbed up a mountain full of volcanic rock before. To say it was difficult is an understatement. I was so tired by the time I made it up, but completely thrilled.
When Chris and I finally made it to the top (I think he stayed behind because he felt sorry for my slow butt! ha) we sat and ate lunch. The view was beyond amazing and I didn't want to leave, but we were on a schedule and didn't want to miss our bus (haha I laugh at this statement).
They say that climbing down should only take about 30 minutes. Once again, because I'd never climbed this sort of mountain before, I found this to be a challenge. I'm not sure that challenge is a strong enough word here, but it will have to do for now. I'm really not sure how long it took me to get down. Let's just say that I thought Chris had left me and was long gone by the time I reached the bottom. Actually, I was almost to the bottom when a guy who was climbing said there was some guy waiting for me. (YAY!) I wanted to cry I was so happy he'd waited but I was already covered in my tears in fear. Yes, you read right. I cried about half way down the mountain. I fell a couple of times and pretty much scared myself so badly I was in tears. I cried, I prayed, I sang some church songs. I did everything I could think of to have enough faith that I was going to make it down. Let's just say that by the time I made it down, Chris and I were about an hour and a half (What?!?) behind schedule and the bus had warned us that they would not wait for anyone. Oh. My. Goodness. How were we going to get to the hostel?
Chris tried to convince me that it wasn't the end of the world if we missed the bus but that we should at least try to make it anyway. And so the very quick walk began. I kept wanting to stop for water and Chris kept saying wait till we reach this point or here have some chocolate, keep walking. Seriously, he was beyond encouraging and I am forever grateful for him putting up with me that day. We reached this bush area and according to our schedule, we had about 1.5 hours left before the bus left and a suggested 2 hours walk ahead of us. When we reached the forest, we had 45 minutes until the bus left and it was suggested that it would take at least an hour. At one point, Chris got a bit ahead of me and seeing as how it freaks me out to be in the woods by myself, I jogged to catch up to him. We finally saw the exit (thank you God!) and our bus was still there! We made it....with two minutes to spare! Wow.
Now, here's a picture of the reason I made it to the bus on time:
And here are some other pictures of amazing things I saw along the way:
Taupo - Skydiving
We left for Taupo the next day. Immediately after we arrived, I headed to Skydiving Taupo to jump 15,000 feet out of a perfectly good airplane. It was by far one of the best experiences of my life. I got a DVD, pictures and a t-shirt and am soooo glad I did it. The scenery was beyond words and I can't imagine a prettier jump than that.
Rotorua - Girls Just Want To Have Fun
After this, we headed to Rotorua where I found myself in an interesting situation. I met this girl from Germany named Hanna and I completely believe it was God that knew we needed to meet each other. Out of nowhere, she asked me if I had any beliefs. Turns out, she's a Christian as well. We talked all through dinner about scriptures, the difficulties we face being backpackers and just where we're at spiritually. Best of all, she's living in Auckland presently. We haven't hung out yet but I hope we get to when I return from my South Island adventures.
It was Megan's last night in New Zealand and the group of them were going to a bar. I don't like bars. I don't like random males coming up to me as if I'm a piece of meat and I don't like putting myself into that environment either. However, because it was Megan's last night, I really wanted to go. Chris said he would look after me and that made me feel better as well. In case I didn't mention it, he's a cop back and Scotland and like twice my height so yeah, I knew he's protect me.
I guess I should explain Chris before you all think some crazy thoughts. I will never forget Chris. Because of our little adventures on the beach, I got to know Chris. Well, at least what I could in such a short time frame. What I appreciate most about him is just how real he is. He'll talk about anything. It's funny though because he's one of those guys that walks into a bar and all the chicks attach themselves to him. I don't understand how he does it, but he's definitely got some magnetic vibe. Chris has a girlfriend back home though and I think that's another reason we got along so well. From comments and things that later occurred, I felt as if Chris was tired of girls hitting on him non-stop. I'm sure that the attention is nice, but I think he just wishes they wanted to be friends. I suppose that's where I come in. I'm like a little sister to guys like that. Being a Christian definitely helps because obviously I'd never "chase" after him. Chris also really respected my beliefs which definitely says a lot about him.
Anyway, back to that night in Rotorua. I went to the bar and after a soda, Hanna went back to the hostel to sleep. I drank sodas all night long, danced till my legs hurt and just had a great time with all of them. I don't make it a habit to go to bars and I don't make it a habit to stay out late, so please stop assuming things. If you're worried or have questions, talk to me because I'd rather not hear it through someone else. In all honesty, I see how I can be viewed as a hypocrite since I made a big deal on New Years and that's something I've thought about. We all come to these points in our lives where we start questioning our convictions and yes, some of mine have been tested.
But then I think, why are people upset? What kinds of people did Jesus hang out with? Tax collectors, leapers, etc. People completely looked down upon. I never looked down on any of them because I am probably one of the worst sinners of them all, but Jesus exposed himself to the world to try to save it. If I always keep myself locked up how will I ever make an impact on the world? I realise there is a fine line though...something I will be more careful of whilst in the South Island.
So, I say all this because I can't lie on my blog. Actually, I don't want to lie period. Was going to a bar the best idea? Probably not. But I made sure I was with both males and females I'd come to trust and they all looked out for me. I'll go back to this more later.
It was Megan's last night in New Zealand and the group of them were going to a bar. I don't like bars. I don't like random males coming up to me as if I'm a piece of meat and I don't like putting myself into that environment either. However, because it was Megan's last night, I really wanted to go. Chris said he would look after me and that made me feel better as well. In case I didn't mention it, he's a cop back and Scotland and like twice my height so yeah, I knew he's protect me.
I guess I should explain Chris before you all think some crazy thoughts. I will never forget Chris. Because of our little adventures on the beach, I got to know Chris. Well, at least what I could in such a short time frame. What I appreciate most about him is just how real he is. He'll talk about anything. It's funny though because he's one of those guys that walks into a bar and all the chicks attach themselves to him. I don't understand how he does it, but he's definitely got some magnetic vibe. Chris has a girlfriend back home though and I think that's another reason we got along so well. From comments and things that later occurred, I felt as if Chris was tired of girls hitting on him non-stop. I'm sure that the attention is nice, but I think he just wishes they wanted to be friends. I suppose that's where I come in. I'm like a little sister to guys like that. Being a Christian definitely helps because obviously I'd never "chase" after him. Chris also really respected my beliefs which definitely says a lot about him.
Anyway, back to that night in Rotorua. I went to the bar and after a soda, Hanna went back to the hostel to sleep. I drank sodas all night long, danced till my legs hurt and just had a great time with all of them. I don't make it a habit to go to bars and I don't make it a habit to stay out late, so please stop assuming things. If you're worried or have questions, talk to me because I'd rather not hear it through someone else. In all honesty, I see how I can be viewed as a hypocrite since I made a big deal on New Years and that's something I've thought about. We all come to these points in our lives where we start questioning our convictions and yes, some of mine have been tested.
But then I think, why are people upset? What kinds of people did Jesus hang out with? Tax collectors, leapers, etc. People completely looked down upon. I never looked down on any of them because I am probably one of the worst sinners of them all, but Jesus exposed himself to the world to try to save it. If I always keep myself locked up how will I ever make an impact on the world? I realise there is a fine line though...something I will be more careful of whilst in the South Island.
So, I say all this because I can't lie on my blog. Actually, I don't want to lie period. Was going to a bar the best idea? Probably not. But I made sure I was with both males and females I'd come to trust and they all looked out for me. I'll go back to this more later.
EAST CAPE
This was my favourite part of the trip. When I think of it, I just smile. I met some incredible people. Touring the East Cape included Megan (American), Yvonne, Angela (Swiss), Chris, Martin, Iain (all 3 Scottish) and myself. Driving along the coast cannot be described. The amount of beautiful beaches still floors me to think about. We spent our first night in Maraehako Bay and I spent quite a bit of time talking with Megan. She has been all over the world and it was so inspiring to talk with her about her travels. It really made me that I haven't been anywhere yet!
Back: Yvonne, Angela, Iain, Megan
Front: Me, Chris, Martin
The next day we stopped at two churches. One was the first church ever built on the East Cape. It sat at the edge of the beach and just looked like a scene from some old movie. The other church was just as amazing as it was built in memory of all the fallen NZ soldiers from WWI and WWII. The stained glass window was the best part. It had these two Maori soldiers (Lt and Cpt I believe) kneeling at Jesus' feet. The church was beyond peaceful and I wanted to stay for hours but we left within minutes.
We eventually made it to Tokomaru Bay where I attempted surfing again. Unfortunately it was a short board and I was beyond unsuccessful. Afterwards, I went for a walk with Chris. This was the beginning of mine and Chris' crazy adventures. I can't recall for how long we walked but when we got back, everyone was gone...including our bags. Now I know what you're thinking but imagine how I freaked out. My passport was in there! I had two locks on my bag though so if someone did steal it, they'd have a hard time with it. I just kept telling myself that everything could be replaced. There was a possibility that people took our stuff back for us, but we weren't sure. Without our bags and with no shoes, we walked back on gravel to the hostel. Imagine the relief when we made it and found our bags in the bag of the van. Sigh. It was a stupid move I know.
The next morning I set my alarm for 5:30 so I could watch the sunrise. I wanted to see the first sunrise in the world..why not???
I thought it was totally worth it. :)
When we left the hostel, we stopped at this 660 metre pier. I think it's the longest one in the Southern Hemisphere as well.
We later arrived in Gisbourne but quickly left to go to the Rere Waterslide and wow, it was so much fun! Sliding facefirst down this waterslide took me back to when I was a child and spent my summers at Big Canoe. My mother knows exactly what I'm talking about as I wore out many swimsuits there. Luckily they provide a raft for this one. They gave me a small wetsuit to wear and I put up such a fit about not being able to fit into it. After they all told me to fit, I tried not to be stubborn and actually got it on. Hmm...guess I should have shut up.
That night everyone was drinking again except me. That night I just got down and felt so useless. I felt like I annoy people and it was best to keep to myself so I went upstairs and tried to go to sleep. I actually started feeling like Yvonne all of sudden hated me and would have rather been talking to a wall than me. I can't explain it. I just kept telling myself that it was stupid to care what people thought of me. I just didn't want to be that typical annoying American and overthought everything. I guess I just sometimes feel like I need people more than they need me...
The next morning, the guy showed up to take some people shark cage diving. As it was $250, I declined. However, when the guy got there, I was the only one awake so I started talking to him. He asked why I wasn't going and I told him it's hard being a backpacker with a budget. He said, "I'll tell ya what. If you can get a few more people to go, all I need is $600 for the boat, so I'll charge $150 each." I couldn't pass that offer up so I hurried and got my swimsuit on, brushed my teeth and left.
When we were on the boat on our way out into the deep blue, I started to wonder if I would get sea sick. No sooner did I think it that Chris got sick. He actually threw up several times, but I was just sick to my head/stomach/everything. I wasn't so sure if I would throw up though. I think I have my father's iron hard stomach and I got through it. Chris, however, puked on a sharks head. Ha ha.
All in all, I'm glad I went...sickness and all. It was amazing being in that cage, the sharks coming up and tapping against the cage, then swimming away and eating the bait. Oh wow. I'm really glad I did that.
Back: Yvonne, Angela, Iain, Megan
Front: Me, Chris, Martin
The next day we stopped at two churches. One was the first church ever built on the East Cape. It sat at the edge of the beach and just looked like a scene from some old movie. The other church was just as amazing as it was built in memory of all the fallen NZ soldiers from WWI and WWII. The stained glass window was the best part. It had these two Maori soldiers (Lt and Cpt I believe) kneeling at Jesus' feet. The church was beyond peaceful and I wanted to stay for hours but we left within minutes.
We eventually made it to Tokomaru Bay where I attempted surfing again. Unfortunately it was a short board and I was beyond unsuccessful. Afterwards, I went for a walk with Chris. This was the beginning of mine and Chris' crazy adventures. I can't recall for how long we walked but when we got back, everyone was gone...including our bags. Now I know what you're thinking but imagine how I freaked out. My passport was in there! I had two locks on my bag though so if someone did steal it, they'd have a hard time with it. I just kept telling myself that everything could be replaced. There was a possibility that people took our stuff back for us, but we weren't sure. Without our bags and with no shoes, we walked back on gravel to the hostel. Imagine the relief when we made it and found our bags in the bag of the van. Sigh. It was a stupid move I know.
The next morning I set my alarm for 5:30 so I could watch the sunrise. I wanted to see the first sunrise in the world..why not???
I thought it was totally worth it. :)
When we left the hostel, we stopped at this 660 metre pier. I think it's the longest one in the Southern Hemisphere as well.
We later arrived in Gisbourne but quickly left to go to the Rere Waterslide and wow, it was so much fun! Sliding facefirst down this waterslide took me back to when I was a child and spent my summers at Big Canoe. My mother knows exactly what I'm talking about as I wore out many swimsuits there. Luckily they provide a raft for this one. They gave me a small wetsuit to wear and I put up such a fit about not being able to fit into it. After they all told me to fit, I tried not to be stubborn and actually got it on. Hmm...guess I should have shut up.
That night everyone was drinking again except me. That night I just got down and felt so useless. I felt like I annoy people and it was best to keep to myself so I went upstairs and tried to go to sleep. I actually started feeling like Yvonne all of sudden hated me and would have rather been talking to a wall than me. I can't explain it. I just kept telling myself that it was stupid to care what people thought of me. I just didn't want to be that typical annoying American and overthought everything. I guess I just sometimes feel like I need people more than they need me...
The next morning, the guy showed up to take some people shark cage diving. As it was $250, I declined. However, when the guy got there, I was the only one awake so I started talking to him. He asked why I wasn't going and I told him it's hard being a backpacker with a budget. He said, "I'll tell ya what. If you can get a few more people to go, all I need is $600 for the boat, so I'll charge $150 each." I couldn't pass that offer up so I hurried and got my swimsuit on, brushed my teeth and left.
When we were on the boat on our way out into the deep blue, I started to wonder if I would get sea sick. No sooner did I think it that Chris got sick. He actually threw up several times, but I was just sick to my head/stomach/everything. I wasn't so sure if I would throw up though. I think I have my father's iron hard stomach and I got through it. Chris, however, puked on a sharks head. Ha ha.
All in all, I'm glad I went...sickness and all. It was amazing being in that cage, the sharks coming up and tapping against the cage, then swimming away and eating the bait. Oh wow. I'm really glad I did that.
Hahei Beach, Raglan, Maketu and Rotorua - 27 December 2007 - 5 January 2008
On our way to Hahei Beach, we stopped at this mountain, Paku, that had the most incredible view. I met an English couple, Kat and Jimbo, on the bus that I started hanging out with. There was this German guy, Sebastian as well but that's a long story that will require some explaining.
We arrived in Hahei and went swimming almost immediately. The water was a bit cold but once you're in it becomes perfect, especially on such a hot day. The four of us later went kayaking a bit later. Sebastian and I were paired up and he wanted the back to control where we go. That proved to be a bad decision as he ridiculed my paddling skills, but he would stop paddling when he was trying to steer. Can someone please explain to me how rhythm exists when ONE person is paddling? Needless to say, we did not agree. Finally we stopped at Cathedral Cove for coffee and we swapped places. This is my turn to gloat as I'm proud of my female qualities that include multi-tasking. With me steering the kayak AND keeping up with his "rhythm" we were going so fast we stayed well ahead of the guide most of the way.
I would like to say that the several dolphins we saw were the most amazing part of kayaking but instead, it was the lesson I learned. Here it is: It's important for me to lead (paddling and setting the rhythm) and women are needed to help guide at times and follow their lead). I have no idea if this makes but it really opened my eyes to the whole leading thing a bit more.
After that "interesting" event, we went to Hot Springs Beach. Pretty much you just dig a whole and roast your bum in the hot water. Crazy.
The next day we headed to Raglan where I learned to surf! It's a black sand beach that apparently has one of the best left hand breaks (?) in the world. I stayed another day and went surfing again. The first wave I caught the second day, both Kat and I rode it all the way in together. I love surfing so much! I didn't want to leave, but as I was on a time restraint I had to leave.
After Raglan, we left for Waitomo. I went abseiling in the glow worm caves there. On a side note, I can tell I've been here too long. I sent a text message to my parents afterwards and they wrote back saying, "Abseiling?". I thought that's what we called it in the States and was highly confused. I asked this American on the bus what we call it and she said, "Repelling" like I was stupid. Repelling! How weird. Anyway, it was such a cool experience. The last little bit I was climbing through and it was so tight I had no idea how the males were going to fit. Ha. I loved it.
I went to Maketu that night for a cultural night. This Maori family had built a Marae (basically for money as it wasn't a real one) but they put on a show for us which was pretty cool. As there were only 7 females there (sad), they made us dance with pois. I really wish some males had been there so I could have watched them learn the Haka.
The next morning, we stopped in Mt Maunganui which was BEAUTIFUL. I wanted to stay and surf but unfortunately there wasn't enough time. I was just happy I got to go there as it wasn't on Stray's itinerary.
It was on our way to Rotorua that I learned the East Cape bus wouldn't be operating until that Saturday which meant me and this girl from Switzerland, Yvonne, were stuck in Rotorua until then. It was Monday.
New Years in Rotorua is one I will never forget. There were five of us: Yvonne, Heidi (American), two German girls and myself. Before you read this, I should warn you that whilst I stand firm in the decision I made this night, it wasn't an easy one. That explanation will come later.
To start off, there was this really annoying Canadian there who just wouldn't stop saying how dumb Americans are and how much he hates them. If we bother him so much, why is he wasting his breathe? It just got old, but of course everyone was finding him incredibly funny whilst I found him drunk and sad.
Early in the day while we were at the grocery store, I told them I would not be going to a bar. First of all, I didn't trust these girls and secondly, I didn't trust drunk men...especially on New Years. They seemed fine with that and we went back to the hostel and made dinner. Later we found ourselves at the park where there was live music. Now I'll admit, I'm not a huge fan of reggae but any music live is enjoyable. By this time, the girls had had quite a bit of Malibu to drink and they were dancing and laughing when all of a sudden Heidi says, "This music sucks! Let's go to the bar." As I am stubborn, I refused to back down. This girl had been claiming to be this great Christian not too long ago and wouldn't let it go. She said I'm preventing the group from doing what they want to do. I got a bit bold and said, "Of all people, I expected you to understand." Needless to say, she didn't. Yvonne and I managed to be left behind while they went to the bar. I so incredibly grateful for Yvonne too. We don't have the same beliefs but she respected mine and I felt we go along really well in Rotorua. We even spent the next few days together just reading and talking since our bus schedule got changed and we were stuck there until Saturday.
Anyway, when we met up with the three of them after midnight, Heidi tried to tell me that no one talked to them at the bar and that they had this own corner to themselves. Not even three seconds later, the German girls were discussing these guys who came up to them and grabbed them. I rest my case.
Aside from that drama, the few days I spent in Rotorua weren't awful. Yvonne and I went to this Marae. I find it so beautiful and the carvings just amaze me. I really love the Maori culture. We also made our way to Wai-o-Tapu and it as well was beautiful.
We arrived in Hahei and went swimming almost immediately. The water was a bit cold but once you're in it becomes perfect, especially on such a hot day. The four of us later went kayaking a bit later. Sebastian and I were paired up and he wanted the back to control where we go. That proved to be a bad decision as he ridiculed my paddling skills, but he would stop paddling when he was trying to steer. Can someone please explain to me how rhythm exists when ONE person is paddling? Needless to say, we did not agree. Finally we stopped at Cathedral Cove for coffee and we swapped places. This is my turn to gloat as I'm proud of my female qualities that include multi-tasking. With me steering the kayak AND keeping up with his "rhythm" we were going so fast we stayed well ahead of the guide most of the way.
I would like to say that the several dolphins we saw were the most amazing part of kayaking but instead, it was the lesson I learned. Here it is: It's important for me to lead (paddling and setting the rhythm) and women are needed to help guide at times and follow their lead). I have no idea if this makes but it really opened my eyes to the whole leading thing a bit more.
After that "interesting" event, we went to Hot Springs Beach. Pretty much you just dig a whole and roast your bum in the hot water. Crazy.
The next day we headed to Raglan where I learned to surf! It's a black sand beach that apparently has one of the best left hand breaks (?) in the world. I stayed another day and went surfing again. The first wave I caught the second day, both Kat and I rode it all the way in together. I love surfing so much! I didn't want to leave, but as I was on a time restraint I had to leave.
After Raglan, we left for Waitomo. I went abseiling in the glow worm caves there. On a side note, I can tell I've been here too long. I sent a text message to my parents afterwards and they wrote back saying, "Abseiling?". I thought that's what we called it in the States and was highly confused. I asked this American on the bus what we call it and she said, "Repelling" like I was stupid. Repelling! How weird. Anyway, it was such a cool experience. The last little bit I was climbing through and it was so tight I had no idea how the males were going to fit. Ha. I loved it.
I went to Maketu that night for a cultural night. This Maori family had built a Marae (basically for money as it wasn't a real one) but they put on a show for us which was pretty cool. As there were only 7 females there (sad), they made us dance with pois. I really wish some males had been there so I could have watched them learn the Haka.
The next morning, we stopped in Mt Maunganui which was BEAUTIFUL. I wanted to stay and surf but unfortunately there wasn't enough time. I was just happy I got to go there as it wasn't on Stray's itinerary.
It was on our way to Rotorua that I learned the East Cape bus wouldn't be operating until that Saturday which meant me and this girl from Switzerland, Yvonne, were stuck in Rotorua until then. It was Monday.
New Years in Rotorua is one I will never forget. There were five of us: Yvonne, Heidi (American), two German girls and myself. Before you read this, I should warn you that whilst I stand firm in the decision I made this night, it wasn't an easy one. That explanation will come later.
To start off, there was this really annoying Canadian there who just wouldn't stop saying how dumb Americans are and how much he hates them. If we bother him so much, why is he wasting his breathe? It just got old, but of course everyone was finding him incredibly funny whilst I found him drunk and sad.
Early in the day while we were at the grocery store, I told them I would not be going to a bar. First of all, I didn't trust these girls and secondly, I didn't trust drunk men...especially on New Years. They seemed fine with that and we went back to the hostel and made dinner. Later we found ourselves at the park where there was live music. Now I'll admit, I'm not a huge fan of reggae but any music live is enjoyable. By this time, the girls had had quite a bit of Malibu to drink and they were dancing and laughing when all of a sudden Heidi says, "This music sucks! Let's go to the bar." As I am stubborn, I refused to back down. This girl had been claiming to be this great Christian not too long ago and wouldn't let it go. She said I'm preventing the group from doing what they want to do. I got a bit bold and said, "Of all people, I expected you to understand." Needless to say, she didn't. Yvonne and I managed to be left behind while they went to the bar. I so incredibly grateful for Yvonne too. We don't have the same beliefs but she respected mine and I felt we go along really well in Rotorua. We even spent the next few days together just reading and talking since our bus schedule got changed and we were stuck there until Saturday.
Anyway, when we met up with the three of them after midnight, Heidi tried to tell me that no one talked to them at the bar and that they had this own corner to themselves. Not even three seconds later, the German girls were discussing these guys who came up to them and grabbed them. I rest my case.
Aside from that drama, the few days I spent in Rotorua weren't awful. Yvonne and I went to this Marae. I find it so beautiful and the carvings just amaze me. I really love the Maori culture. We also made our way to Wai-o-Tapu and it as well was beautiful.
Paihia, Cape Reinga and Russell - 22 December - 26 December 2007
On 22 December I hopped on the Stray bus and headed up north to Paihia. I was quite excited about going up there because I heard it was completely amazing. Not only that, but Melissa from the UNCC study abroad office lived up there the year she was abroad and worked at a hostel called the Peppertree Lodge so I decided to stay there. I was highly amused that there were new owners and had missed the old ones by two weeks. At any rate, I enjoyed staying there.
I spent my first day wondering around being amazed by the beach and booked myself on a catamaran the next day. I'd never been sailing and it was such an amazing experience. All the islands, the blue water and people from all over the world made for an excellent day. Unfortunately I didn't put any sunscreen on my legs and consequently received the most wicked burn of my life (just so you know, the whole in the ozone layer is over New Zealand and the sun is intense). I met quite a few people that were on a Contiki tour and spent half the day with them. At one point we saw dolphins that swimming along with us. It was such an amazing sight watching them.
After I went sailing, I met up with an American girl named Julie who had been teaching in Gisbourne for about four months. We decided we were going to walk to Haruru Falls. I thought I'd read somewhere that it was a 2 hour walk or something but disregarded that and ventured off...wearing jandels (aka flip flops). It was truly a beautiful walk and Julie and I talked about so much I will never forget that walk. One of the best parts was when we came across this long bridge with countless mangroves surrounding it. As it was high tide, it was such a spectacular sight and walking amongst them made me feel as if I'd discovered some sacred place. Eventually we came across a sign which said we had walked 4 K's and it was 1 more K to the falls. Um....what??? Right after that, we realised that the trail had been closed off due to fallen trees. Like rebels, we hopped over the gate and continued on our way. When we finally reached the falls, we decided to walk back on the road since it'd be getting dark soon. There was a couple that stopped and asked if we wanted a ride, and I'm sure they were nice people, but had I hitchhiked I know that my father would have been on the next flight over to kick my butt. We kindly declined but it was a LONG walk back.
The next day I had another crazy adventure. I went up to the Cape where the Tasman Sea and the Pacific Ocean meet. I was in complete awe at this place. The Maori people believe that when they die their soles make their way up to the Cape and enter the underworld through this Pohutukawa tree.
After that, we went dune surfing at Ninety Mile Beach. You pretty much ride a body board down these dunes. I had sand everywhere but it was so much fun. So the day up at the Cape was Christmas Eve and the weather was perfect. I can't say the same for Christmas Day though. It rained ALL day and I just hung out and watched movies with people at the hostel.
On Boxing Day, I went to Russell which is like a 10 minute boat ride from Paihia. I made my way over to Long Beach and was completely at a loss for words. The pictures do not do it justice but it was the most beautiful beach I've ever seen. I didn't want to leave, but I had to catch my bus back to Auckland. I wish I could have spent another week there, but the 6 days I was there were fantastic.
I spent my first day wondering around being amazed by the beach and booked myself on a catamaran the next day. I'd never been sailing and it was such an amazing experience. All the islands, the blue water and people from all over the world made for an excellent day. Unfortunately I didn't put any sunscreen on my legs and consequently received the most wicked burn of my life (just so you know, the whole in the ozone layer is over New Zealand and the sun is intense). I met quite a few people that were on a Contiki tour and spent half the day with them. At one point we saw dolphins that swimming along with us. It was such an amazing sight watching them.
After I went sailing, I met up with an American girl named Julie who had been teaching in Gisbourne for about four months. We decided we were going to walk to Haruru Falls. I thought I'd read somewhere that it was a 2 hour walk or something but disregarded that and ventured off...wearing jandels (aka flip flops). It was truly a beautiful walk and Julie and I talked about so much I will never forget that walk. One of the best parts was when we came across this long bridge with countless mangroves surrounding it. As it was high tide, it was such a spectacular sight and walking amongst them made me feel as if I'd discovered some sacred place. Eventually we came across a sign which said we had walked 4 K's and it was 1 more K to the falls. Um....what??? Right after that, we realised that the trail had been closed off due to fallen trees. Like rebels, we hopped over the gate and continued on our way. When we finally reached the falls, we decided to walk back on the road since it'd be getting dark soon. There was a couple that stopped and asked if we wanted a ride, and I'm sure they were nice people, but had I hitchhiked I know that my father would have been on the next flight over to kick my butt. We kindly declined but it was a LONG walk back.
The next day I had another crazy adventure. I went up to the Cape where the Tasman Sea and the Pacific Ocean meet. I was in complete awe at this place. The Maori people believe that when they die their soles make their way up to the Cape and enter the underworld through this Pohutukawa tree.
After that, we went dune surfing at Ninety Mile Beach. You pretty much ride a body board down these dunes. I had sand everywhere but it was so much fun. So the day up at the Cape was Christmas Eve and the weather was perfect. I can't say the same for Christmas Day though. It rained ALL day and I just hung out and watched movies with people at the hostel.
On Boxing Day, I went to Russell which is like a 10 minute boat ride from Paihia. I made my way over to Long Beach and was completely at a loss for words. The pictures do not do it justice but it was the most beautiful beach I've ever seen. I didn't want to leave, but I had to catch my bus back to Auckland. I wish I could have spent another week there, but the 6 days I was there were fantastic.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Update
I've spent three weeks exploring the North Island and just returned to Auckland tonight. It's going to take me a while to update so please be patient. I have so many great photos too! Check back soon!!
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