still wide eyed
Current mood: excited
Category: Life
I am not done here.
I am constantly in awe of this amazing place. New Zealand has such diverse landscapes and so much to offer, I feel as if I have only scratched the surface even after 7 months (has it been that long already?).
I have learned that when the weather is bad and you're homeless, life gets a bit more expensive... I've been on the road for 3 weeks touring the South and then North island in my own car... I have spent a majority of those nights in my tent and a majority of those days seeing as much as I can. Wandering and seeing the sights by day, sleeping under the stars at night. Torrential rains which would later be dubbed "the worst storm in 50 years" hit and had me rethinking my route, my activities, and my sleeping arrangement. The hard and constant rain drove me right into a hostel for 3 nights where I met cool travelers and played cards and put together puzzles. It was really nice to relax a bit (funny when a hostel is luxury) but I found myself wondering when I could again commence my left-side-of-the-road driving again. After 2 and a half days of constant down pour the sky opened up, became blue, and was even sunny and hot within a few hours.
I jumped outside quickly with a few new friends to explore Cathedral Cove, which can only be done at low tide. The next day I hit up hot water beach on my way out of town and I have been loving being on my own. I feel so free with a full tank of gas!
I have seen a lot and know there is more to see. I leave tomorrow for Australia for 3 weeks for good music (Bluesfest in Byron Bay) and good company before coming back to New Zealand to finish out my work visa (they may have to kick me out of this country!)
I'm not good at keeping in touch- as told to me by Martin, who's English but lives in New Zealand. I laughed as I thought about what my loved ones on the other side of the world felt! I'm working on it, but priorities are to see and do and that's exactly what's on my agenda.
I'm now in Auckland (survived city driving!) and the sun is setting on the sky scrapers and the large city brings strangers around me who look familier.
Here's a recap of the last few weeks:
"Official" last night out in Nelson:
Montieth's Brewery Tour in Greymouth
Brooke and I ended up sleeping at the old man's house... such kind people!
Hokitika WildFoods Festival (people eat anything from cow nipples to worms to fern shoots...wow)
Glaciers (Fox and Franz Josef)
Camping on the beach
Wanaka, Queenstown,
Mt. Cook,
Lake Tekapo
Christchurch, Kaikora... Camera battery running low at this point so not so many pictures to show for it unfortunately...
St Patricks Day back in Nelson at work:
Wellington with Martin and Clare:
Gannet walk (largest mainland nesting place for Gannets) near Napier:
Huka Falls in Taupo with a walk to spa park and natural hot pools:
Natural thermal wonders and craters in Rotorua:
Dance parties, dress- up, and easter egg coloring with 4 little girls in Tauranga (where I lived for 2 1/2 weeks at beginning of time here)
Traffic jams on the Coromandel penninsula
Cathedral Cove with new friends (only available at low tide)
Hot Water Beach (dig pools to sit in water that is 100 degree- natural hot pools again... only done at low tide)
lots of driving...
wow... so much more to learn.
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