Everyday Ramblings... There is a lot I haven't told you!

By the way, for those of you who have asked... School is going well. I know I've never mentioned it here... and I probably won't say a whole lot more. I love school, it's going to be a REALLY busy semester. 

Actually I am starting a business plan in one of them, learning how to keep competitive in the market with another, and I am also going to get hands on experience working with felines in the vet department for an ecology project! 

Today is just the second day, but despite being busy I am learning tons!! Also I'll be taking part in a Jujitsu self defense class soon. And I hope I've mentioned the weekly pot lucks that have been going on, because we are going start them up again with all the new international students this semester. 

Boy... I'm just realizing how little I've been telling you guys about life here in Palmy. I'm just sharing with you the travel stories.... 

Well I'm meeting tons of new people again, I've got over 30 new international neighbors, many of them Germans- They're pretty awesome! 

I will also be launching a new project that I've started... it a semester long treasure hunt, where I have hidden over 50 pieces of treasure around the city parks (25+), and have poetic clues as to where they are located... I'll have to tell you more about it later. It'll go public next Wednesday at our next potluck! Wish me luck!

Fish and Chips, Kauri Trees, Bay of Islands and Good Company

The last few days of the trip went by So fast! After our fantascit day at Cape Reinga, we spent the evening cheering the nations rugby team, the All Blacks. A tri-nationas tournament between South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand was just kicking off, and so we brought flags and spirit. The problem was that none of us knew what rugby was. Well that didn't stop us, and our friend Martin was sure to let us know when to cheer. The Game was Fantastic- New Zealand kicked butt!

The next day started off quite early, we packed our bags, grabed some cardboard and picked some fruit and were on our way. I was happy to see a familiar face- Martin, who picked us up in his awesome camper van, and drove us to all the best places in the area.


Our first stop was at the "Best Fish N Chips Shop in New Zealand". I'm always surprised at how Much they give you!


Then we headed towards the Kauri Forrest. It's a lot like the redwoods, though different trees and different orgins and history. The neat thing is that their sap smells like honey : )

After a nice tramp through the jungles, we drove to Watangi

Far North- Meeting of the Tasman Sea and the South Pacific Ocean

Visiting Cape Reinga, the Farthest North Point in New Zealand, seeing 90 mile beach, and kayaking the Bay of Islands has been an unforgettable experience!

The winds were measured to be about 140Km, so we played a game to see how low you could get without falling over. But don't open your jacket to win, you'll probably blow away!

Great place, great company, Good times!

Did I mention it was windy?

This is the far tip of the North Island. And when I say tip, I mean that is far North as you can possibly go and still be in the country. This is the point where the South Pacific Ocean meets up with the Tasman Sea. It is also a very sacred spot for the Maori tribes, as they believe this is where their spirits go after they die, and will ascend to the creator.

The sand dune you see here is where we went "sand boarding" Basically sledding without the snow. The best part is that you can go straight into the water and cool off. Did I mention that this is what winter looks like? It is the middle of winter right now!

A stormy day at 90 mile beach. Glad we were driving on it with professionals! And despite the conditions, it was still Gorgeous!

Isn't that a cool chair! Made of a Kauri Tree- trees that are dated to be between 30,000 to 60,000 years old. But don't worry, they didn't chop them down! The trees are dug out of the ground, like fossils, and can be made into things! If they are not however, they will go to waste and rot, as all organic matter naturally does.

Hey trev, I took this picture for you!! I remember you in the same place on your blog! This tree like the others was dug up out of the ground and carved into a staircase. It was stood into concrete and the store was built around it.

Say hello to the Kiwi birds!

Mom, this picture is for you! I know you like wood carving, you would have a blast with these guys!

Cable Bay

Cable Bay is one of my favorite places in New Zealand. It is the beach that would be on all the magazines, and is just too beautiful to ignore! Unfortunately the pictures simply do not do it justice. In just this little area, there is a vast expanse of tide pools with star fish, crabs, mussles, and many little creatures I can't identify. Also there are beautiful pink sand beaches, starting with the typical "sand" style and fading into pure seashells. Also the best ice cream shop in New Zealand is just across the street.

My FAVORITE home : )

Here we are! I was So happy to put that bag down!

Talk about a kitchen with a view!! It doesn't get any better than this! 

I love Uncle Ben's rice! MmmMmm Good. And nothing like a warm meal!

Hey look how easy it is to do the dishes. The sand worked as a great scrub brush.

The hill looks a little slanted I know, but it was such a good location. Luckily Barbara found a fantastic way to counteract gravity- we put the backpacks on the lower ground, and leveled it with a soft cushioning of clothing. The view in the morning was spectacular- watching the sun rise over a beautiful beach on the South Pacific Ocean, and not having to even get out of bed!

Here are some of the critters in the tide pool... 

We found animals and plants of all kinds. In fact we also saw a crab, several star fish, snails, and mussels. Did any one say Sea Food for dinner?

(I had a chat with a man who taught me a lot about mussels, but I later decided they were to small to make a meal of, maybe when they are bigger : ) )

The star fish were the best! The would get turned onto their backs and do a flip!

I see a sea star.

I don't know what these little guys are, but when you touch them it feels like rock.

and for the heater (which we didn't Really need) Hot rocks from the fire. I got the idea from Pirates of the Caribbean actually- they put hot rocks in there beds in the old days to keep warm. Pretty much the same thing.

In the morning we went exploring...

I was sad to leave my favorite home...

Hitchhiking to Whangarei

I have to say, Hitch Hiking is one of the Best forms of transportation. Throughout the trip Barbara and I got around 15 rides, and I covered over 2000 km. It didn't cost us a dime in fuel too! The best part is that being two girls, we were picked up by nice, mostly "normal" people, and usually we would wait 5-10 minutes for a ride!

The strangest ride we had was from a "christian" woman, around 25 years old, who was on her way to resurrect a dead baby... No really, we got a 2 hour sermon along the drive about how much she loved us and how she could save us from hell. Poor Barbara was afraid that we might be kidnapped and taken to her cult, though I didn't get the same feeling, it was certainly an interesting ride!

The best ride was from the horse whisperer! He is a therapeutic masseuse who was on his way to work on race horses for the Olympics! He also works on humans, and bases his practice on energy flow within the body. Very interesting stuff! Well I got a card, and I was sad to have to get out of the car.

Everyone was SO nice though! We were regularly offered places to stay, given extra food, and people simply went way out of there way to help us!

Our first night in the Northland, we camped at a hostile in Whangarei. The location was supurb! and the option of a hot-tub, trampoline, and hair dryers was too good of an offer to pass up!

   

A short hike away, we followed a path beside a wonderous waterfall, and followed along this bridge through the forrest.

This little river is about to make a huge leap down the rocks!

Hard to believe that was the same river huh? The water below is just perfect to swim in!

Do a little dance! We almost set the tent up right there.

Many fruits grow naturally in New Zealand. This here is an Orange tree. We also packed with us tangerines and lemons that we found. Other things that are easy to find are blackberries, kiwi fruit, grapes, and FEIJOAS!!

We also discovered a cool new fruit called tamirollos. They are deep red like an apple and are shaped like an oval tomato. They're sweet and similar to eat as a kiwi fruit.  ;  )

This is a tamarillo.

Here is the beautiful pool and spa we got to lounge in for the evening!! Oooohh so good.

Auckland: Days 1-3 of Northland Hitchhiking Tour- New Zealand

The last few weeks has been inspirational, fulfilling, and has helped define who I am and where I want to be. I have experienced incredible things here in New Zealand, and in having done so at this point in my life has been crucial to what I will do in the future. I have already achieved more than I ever though I would in a lifetime, and I'm only 21. I have so much life left to live, yet, there more that I want to do and see than ever before. 

We all choose our paths, and what is important to each of us, is different. I want to see the whole world! Every little bit of it, and though I may achieve so much as seeing every continent (I've already been to 3), or even every country (there are around 200), I would still only see less than 10% of everything out there to experience. 

People are amazing. I listened to a Muslim prayer in Urdu- the Pakistan language and the ceremony was enchanting. Though I hold tightly to my own beliefs,  it was touching to watch them practice theirs. These little things in life posses a great power, a great energy that is all too easy to overlook.

I hope you begin to understand as I take you on my tour to the North.
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  The journey began in Auckland where I met up with Barbara Keil, a wonderful girl from Germany, whom I have never met before. For a little background, I met her on a great web site called CouchSurfing.com, where we learned we'd be neighbors at Massey University- and where eventually we decided to travel together.

So, let me show you the city, from the best view there is!! From the Sky Tower!

  

"At 328 meters Sky Tower is the tallest tower in the Southern Hemisphere, offering breath-taking views for more than 80 kilometers in every direction." (Sky Tower website)

In the picture above, you can see a small spider like figure between the upper tree and the tower, this is a bungee-jumper!

This view is what that jumper would have seen as they fell back towards the ground... hmm... 

Well we are looking down from the tower, watching the people below walk underneath. I heard a bit of a crack, and my hair stood on end. hehe, then I found out it was a cheerio under my foot  : )

Beautiful buildings along the way...

Ooo There she is! Auckland. You're looking out at the ocean and at a very large park beside the city center.

This is one of the bay areas, you can see the dots of sail boats all along the water. Also on the warf there is a fish market in the early morning.

Here is a view of the main city center! I stayed looking out from the tower for hours! Such a Great View! Apparently there are offices in it... I wonder if I could live there...?

This arena is used for everything: ice skating, basketball, concerts, and international net ball. The two most popular sports here by the way, are Rugby (like Football but a lot more interesting) and Cricket- umm you hit a ball with a bat and knock over sticks. 

I played cricket with the Pakistani's, but they would explain it to me in Urdo without realizing I couldn't understand. It was fun anywayz, but I still don't know how to play.

  

This is my Great Friend Barbara!!! She was a fantastic traveling partner! 

oh Kathmandu Kathmandu, I'd be lost without you.          Literally.

-    its an outdoor shop where I get everything. I love it! Especially when everything is half off!

This is downtown Auckland- but I loved the irony in this. AA in the US usually stands for Alcoholics Anonymous, set right behind a beer advertisement. 

Auckland was so much fun!

The first night I got there, I met Barbara, and a good friend from Bozeman I hadn't seen in years! Tom Brekke, I met him when I was in 8th grade, we were always kind of aquantances, but who'd of thought we would meet up in New Zealand? Well all met up, and Tom introduced us to all his climbing friends and we hung out in some of the best dance bars a college kid could ask for! Needless to say we had a great night in Auckland dancing, playing pool, and meeting tons of people.

Also we found a wonderful hostile to stay in, it was very comfortable and became like our family and home.