Just 8 days…
…till I fly back home to the good ol’ USofA…
In the meantime, I’ve been travelling the south island of New Zealand this week. It is so utterly stunning that it’s hard to take it all in. I could easily stay here for a year and not see it all.
I’ve went sea kyaking a few days ago, made a knife yesterday (I’m not kidding!) and arrived at Franz Joseph glacier today…where I’ll be going on a helicopter assisted hike tomorrow!!!! (So freaking excited about this!!! Oh my goodness!)
Last week was on the North Island, where I visited Auckland, Rotorua and Wellington.
You’ve heard a bit about Auckland already…quite pleasant.
Rotorua was unlike anything! It sits on a area of very high geothermal activity, so there’s steam billowing up from the earth, bubbling lakes of water or mud, and a funky sulphur smell permeating the town.
The city is also a well known Maori area. (The Maori are the indigenous New Zealanders.) I couldn’t pass up a chance to go to a Maori hangi (feast) and concert…and it was well worth the money.
First was a concert, where the tribe sang and danced. They explained the meanings of different hand movements and songs, and showed us warrior dances and marriage dances and so forth. It was really interesting stuff!
Next, the hangi which is cooked in the ground using timber and hot rocks…a bit like a Hawaiian luah. The food was amazing…and they really did cook up a feast: chicken, pork, potatoes and a special kind of sweet potato grown in New Zelaland, salads of all sorts and yummy chocolate cake for dessert. I was stuffed!
After dinner we went for a hike in the surrounding bush where we saw glow worms…which are really just maggots whose butts glow blue, like bright dots of fiber optic. It was a very cool sight…like stars, closer to home.
I also rode a jet boat in Rotorua! Amazing stuff! The boat reaches up to 85kph and can do 360degree spins. It was great stuff…really top notch. I’m thinking of going on another ride on the south island.
Next Wellington, a city I fell absolutely in love with instantly. I have no actual good reason for loving Wellington. It just hit me when I stepped off the bus. I loved it, sitting perched on the waterfront under big bright skies. The people were SO friendly too and I quickly met and befriended locals. It was just a good time all around and I was really sad to pass through as quickly as I did.
But, I had to go… I joined up with a tour group for the last bit of time here because I wanted to see as much as possible. The south island is largely unihabited so it would be tough to get everywhere I wanted to go in the short time I had left. The tour is good though…there’s always lots of options at each stop and the group I’m with are pretty decent. I’ve met a couple great people. 🙂 Oh…and our driver, Prince, is a bit of a trip. He’s definitely good fun.
Anyway…that’s all for now. I’m about to walk into town and pick up a trail to a glacier lookout.
I can’t beleive New Zealand. It is really SO special. I feel really lucky to be here.
Home soon…
Tags: New Zealand
LizG
8 days? Wow – time has flown. I’ll be home in little over a month (quite possibly the craziest month of my life, but that is another story). I’m thinking my next trip might have to be to New Zealand – it sounds awesome!
Yo liz!
I was in the anchor tonight and Squeaky asked after you – as did the regulars…seems like you are their official mascot….I really think she fancies me – she didnt spit in my pint and even bought it over to my table tonight!!!
I am sooooooooooooooo looking forward to coming across the pond…
I am gonna drink ya under the table…
ahahahahah…
see ya soon
Philip
Katie,
wil you be in town when I am there?
Philip
I’ll likely be in town from December 20 – January 1. You?
Katie
I will be in town on the 29th – with a lust for fine wine and cheap conversation – or is it the other way around???? i have to leave on the 3rd for home….
beyond that I have no idea what is happening…
Philip
Good grief! Can ya stop using my blog for flirting?!?
New Zealand rates as one of my top experiences of this trip, absolutely, without a doubt. It’s gorgeous from start to finish, with some of the nicest people too!
I already can’t wait to come back!
What about the orcs?
and the trolls?
and the Two towers?
Did you see those….