*Footnote*

I am back home!

It's so good to be on familiar ground, seeing the sights and hearing the sounds that I recognize so intimately. It feels like I am back on solid ground, after spending a few weeks scaling mountains and being out at sea.

But I am suffering from sea legs, from vertigo; I do feel a bit wobbly and unsteady; a little dizzy from what I've seen and done.

My New Zealand (Part 1) adventure is at a close, but it's really only just started so many things for me. I am excited to travel again - back to New Zealand, to Ireland, Spain, Australia, Thailand, and so on... : )

Yes, I have been bitten by the travel bug, the exploration bug, the desire to continue to be open to people, experiences, differences.

But I hope that this adventure has given me the foundation to continue to be curious and interested. To continue to be unafraid to try new things and push that comfort envelope a little each day. Even in the familiar surroundings of Ottawa, and the well-worn, *known* role that I have at work, and with my friends and family.

So, I'd like to make a toast to having adventures, and to my good friends and family who traveled with me virtually on this journey, and to the road ahead...

...to the knowledge that I have no idea where it will lead.

Canadians!!

Good Morning!

I slept extraordinarily well last night, after all that fresh air, sunshine, hiking, and altitude. I had crazy dreams about runaway ferrets, piles of books to read, and Gail Angel trying to organize the team (made up of mostly ferrets, cougars, and some humans ; ) to play all sorts of games.

Clearly, my mind is starting to think about getting back to Ottawa or something...

... however, I still have a few more days to play! : )

I am off today to Cambridge. A small town a few hours west of Taupo, towards Hamilton. Apparently Cambridge is quite well-known for it's horse-breeding. I may get to see some horses, but what I am going for is to meet up with Kiwi Mike and Kate (and their daughter Ngaire) from Ottawa. They are in NZ for their vacation, and to visit family and friends. I will be spending the next couple of days with them. I am pretty excited to meet up with some familiar faces!!

How to Top a Volcano!?

I did it! : )

I was able, thanks to the gloriously sunny day, to hike the Tongariro Crossing. The crossing is a supposedly 8 hour hike to the top of an active volcano (Mt. Tongariro)!

I got up at 5am, so I could catch the early express bus from Taupo to the Tongariro National Park. The bus was packed. (Apparently this is the #1 one-day hike in all of New Zealand, so I'd say it's slightly popular!). We all got off at the start of the track, Mangatepopo Hut. (Click here if you want to see a map of the hike.)

It's about a one hour walk along mossy fields and some rough outcroppings to get to the first land mark Soda Springs. The next leg from Soda Springs is the Devil's Staircase. This part was hard. Very steep, it lasted about an hour, and it was just one pile of rocks on top of another. One steep step up after another. (Hence, the staircase!)

By the time I got to the top of this section, I was roasting in my long-sleeved shirt, and I had made a friend. Crispin was traveling with a whole crew of his family, aunts, uncles, cousins, Mom & Dad, and was leading the pack. He moved a little like a billy goat jumping from one rock to the next, and I was determined to keep up with him, if only because he picked the best lines to walk up. When I arrived at the top, Crispin was there looking very refreshed. I drank a liter of water, as we chatted about where we were from, and what we were doing on the top of a volcano. Cris is a Kiwi, from the West Coast of the North Island, who is living and working as a carpenter in London, England. This was his first time on the Tongariro Crossing tramp, too.

The view was spectacular. The sky was blue, and all you could see was this towering volcano. Mt. Ngauruhoe, with lava lines scored into it's side. This is Mt. Doom, from Lord of the Rings, for those of you who may remember it. And it is massive. It looks as if it's just put together by loose rock and sand, piled to the sky. This volcano is still active, according to historical data, it erupts ever 25 years. The last time it erupted was in 1975, so it's about 6 years overdue.

At this junction in the hike, I had the option of hiking to the summit of Mt. Ngauruhoe. It's a very technical climb, more difficult that the Staircase I had just climbed, and it added about 2 hours to your hike.
Now, call me chicken, or call me lazy, but it had been drilled into my head that no one should start this climb after 9:45am. Otherwise, you risked missing your ride back to Taupo (and you'd have to call Search & Rescue to tell them not to go searching for you). Cris and I were way ahead of the rest of the hikers and it was already 9:45. I wasn't really interested in hiking this section on my own, so I decided to pass. He moved on, and I stopped to take many pictures.

The next leg was along the south crater... a lovely, gloriously flat section, that gave me plenty of chance to catch my breath. By the time I reached the end of the crater, the clouds rolled in and obscured most of my view of the valley. It was quite amazing at how fast the weather turned from scorching hot, to cool and misty.

The terrain is very moonscape like. All rock and sand. Hardly any vegetation (mostly on the lower sections), and black, clumpy lava rocks everywhere. There were also red lava rocks, and orangey-yellow ones. There was a strong sense of sulfur in the air which came from the many geothermal springs that were situated on the sides of the mountains.

I climbed another slight uphill section to the Red Crater. This crater was a gorgeous bright red, from which mineral I have no idea (maybe iron?). It took another hour to wind around to the summit of Mt. Tongariro. The view would have been breathtaking, but it was covered in fog/clouds. I met up with Cris again, had a quick bite to eat, and we got moving before the chills set in. Once I crossed over the top of the Mt. Tongariro, to the other side, the sky, once again, was clear, and I could see these gorgeous, emerald lakes. As I walked down to one of the lakes, I could see steam coming from the side of the rocks. I put my hands on the rocks, and could feel warmth. It was so fascinating to feel such heat radiating from inside the earth. Very cool!

We walked along the emerald lakes, which looked quite deep, and to a large outcropping of rocks. Cris wanted to wait for some of his family members, and I was happy to bask in the sunshine and have a water break. His cousin Louisa (Lou) arrived a few minutes later, and after a little bit of chocolate, we headed down the mountain. (Here's a tip for travelers, it's a good idea to carry chocolate with you. It makes it easier to make friends : )

The next leg was an easy maneuvering around rocks along a slight decline... it felt good after the earlier exertion. We arrived at the Ketetahi hut soon after, and stepped in to add our names to the visitor book, have a bathroom break, and relax for a few minutes. It was at this point that I dared to look at my clock... thinking that we were making good time, but that I'd be pretty much on target for my 3:30 bus.

It was 11:30 am. It had taken us only 4 hours to cover almost the whole walk!! We had motored! : ) Unfortunately, it meant that I *could* have hiked to the Ngauruhoe summit...but coulda, woulda, shoulda... it just means that I will have to go back and do it again.

We ate up our food and, with a much more leisurely pace, wound our way down the mountain. We passed by a huge hot spring, tested the warmth of the murky, blackish water. At this point, the vegetation got really interesting. From nothing but sand and rock, to more rock croppings and mossy vegetation, to low shrubs and bushes, and then, with about an hour to go, we hit the lush, thick forest. It was a gorgeous walk, wandering through the bush, listening to the birds, and feeling the cool, fresh air of the dense forest, feeling sheltered, after being battered by the wind on top of the mountain.

We arrived at the bottom at 1:30! I was very happy to have been able to experience this hike, and see the magnificence of New Zealand. I felt pretty sleepy and content.

It was also cool that the three of us were the first ones finished! ; )

Maori Art (Whakairo)

I am absolutely fascinated by the Maori art that I have been enjoying and experiencing here in New Zealand. I feel strangely connected to the designs and shapes that I see contained in the paintings, carvings, and face tattoos (ta moko), that I have seen.

There is a strong use of spirals (like baby ferns that haven't opened yet), curled lines, triangles, jagged lines, dots, the use of black and white color, and symmetry. Some of you know that I have dabbled in some abstract drawing over the years, and what's really interesting is how similar my doodles are to some of the shapes and designs within the Maori art that I've seen so far. It's kind of eerie, actually. And something I would really like to explore further when I get home.

The Maori word for art is Whakairo. (Pronounced "fa-kay-ro").
It literally means a design, or as a verb, to ornament with a pattern.

Most of the Maori treasures now admired as art were originally created for practical or functional purposes, and are regarded by Maori as "taonga tuku iho", prized possessions handed down from their ancestors. Taonga, from what I understand, are living, organic, sometimes personalized and named beings, each with its own mauri (life force), mana (prestige), and korero (history and mythology).

Here a few examples, in case you are interested.
Carving
Tapestry
Mask
Ta Moko
Bone Pendants

A Sign Posted Outside a Store Named "Possibilities"

I walked by a store named "Possibilities."
The name speaks for itself, really, as it was full of things that help inspire, enlighten, and teach people.

This sign was posted out front.

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us most.
We ask ourselves "Who am I to be brilliant?"
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of god.
Your playing small doesn't serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people don't feel insecure around you.
We were born to make manifest the glory of god that is within us.
It's not just in some of us, it's in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine, we give permission for others to do the same.
As we are liberated from our fear, our presence automatically liberates others."
- Nelson Mandela

Heading North to Lake Taupo

Good Morning Everyone!

I am off early this morning to catch a bus to Taupo, which is about 6 hours north of Wellington. My backpacker mates and I went out for a great Saturday party last night, they said that they wanted to give me a right send-off, and needless to say it was a bit difficult dragging myself from bed after just 2 hours of sleep! ; )

The Taupo region hosts New Zealand's first National Park. This park contains three magnificent volcanoes - Mt Ruapehu, Mt Tongariro and Mt Ngauruhoe (the latter which stars as the scary ‘Mt Doom’ in the movie “Lord of the Rings”). If the weather is good, I hope to be hiking the Tongariro Crossing, which is a full days' hike to the top of Mt. Tongariro. If the weather isn't good, I am sure I'll find something equally fun to explore. : )

I enjoyed Wellington. It is a fun city with a very active nightlife. There are many delicious spots to dine in, funky stores, interesting architecture, and tons of green space. I walked up to the Mount Victoria lookout yesterday which gave me a 360 degree view of the surrounding area. It was very scenic. The gang at the Worldwide backpackers mostly consisted of people on a one-year work visa. They hail from all over the world: Ireland, the UK, Germany, and Switzerland. And they were very welcoming to travelers like myself. It felt a little like one big family.

I've actually found that traveling the way that I have been is a great equalizer - it doesn't matter where you come from, or where you are going, how long you are staying, what you do back home, everyone is on equal footing. It's pretty liberating.

Thought for the Day

"How old would you be, if you didn't know how old you are?"
- posted on the fridge of the Worldwide Backpackers

We"LL"ington on the North Island

Yesterday, Thursday the 31st, was probably the longest travel day so far.

It started with an early 7:30 am bus ride to Picton, which dropped me off at the Ferry terminal. The 11:30 ferry was cancelled, due to rough weather (which should have been a warning to me...) so I was put on the 2:30 ferry. That gave me some time to do a little shopping, have some breakfast, and walk around.

The ferry was delayed again until 4pm, and once the huge swarm of people pushed and shoved their way onto the boat and found seating, it was fine. : )

The ferry ride started out great. My ship was the Arahua. It's a huge ferry, holds about 750 people and 200 cars, and travels about 36 knots/hour.

When we first started out, and traveled into the Queen Charlotte Sound, the water was calm, and everything was great. I chatted with some people around me, read the newspaper, treated myself to a beer (Monteigth's Black).

Once we hit the Troy Channel, things changed. The water was extremely rough, water kept crashing on the front decks, and my stomach started flip-flopping. I found a spot upstairs, by the doors, and for an hour and a half, I stood there so that I could breathe fresh air, and keep my eyes on the horizon. People around me were hurling, and it was all I could do to remain calm, breathe, and relax. I think that was the worst case of seasickness that I've experienced. Hours later, when I walked the streets of Wellington in search of dinner, my legs still felt wobbly. ; )

I arrived in Wellington around 7pm. It was pouring rain, and by the time I found my luggage, got onto a shuttle bus that took me to the train station downtown, and walked to my backpackers, it was close to 8:30pm. I got my bed, YAY, freshened up, and in the pouring rain, walked down to the trendy Cuba street for dinner. I found a great second-hand bookstore, got myself something to read, and ate at place called EastWest, which was a delicious blend of Asian/Bistro dishes! Mmmm!!

Today, Friday morning, it's still pouring outside, so I am off to explore the Te Papa Museum of New Zealand. (It's supposed to be similar to our Museum of Civilization.) I hope to spend a few days relaxing in Wellington, and sight-seeing.

Back to Nature!

Kia Ora!

I am back from my nature adventure, and wearing warm, dry clothes! YAY!

The first day, Monday, was gorgeous. The sun was shining and the sea (Tasman Sea) was calm and a lovely turquoise-blue color. I got a lift to the Kaiteriteri beach, where I met my fellow travelers and guide. We were a group of six, with a nice international blend.

Lucy, a freelance journalist of primarily health-related articles for magazines
and Dan, a review editor for Empire magazine, hailed from London, England

Krista, an opthamologist from Vancouver doing a fellowship in Auckland for a year

Tim, a pilot from Brisbane, Australia, who is living and working in Hong Kong

Rene, from Switzerland

and Matty, a native Kiwi, our blonde-haired, dreadlocked 20-something year-old guide

I set out in my two-person sea kayaks with Rene, and cruised along the coast. We kayaked close to seals who swam alongside our boats, and watched them frolick like puppies (they were so cute!). They play like dogs do, wrestling with their mouths open. They are quite the pests, and enjoy playing and pushing each other off of rocks.

It's funny to see a seal climb up a rock, clearly to take a break and have a nap in the sunshine, and another one (or sometimes two) will poke him, or bite his butt, and make him so annoyed that he jumps into the water and starts scrapping with the others. My kind of animals!! ; )

We paddled along the coastline and explored remote harbors and lagoons. One in particular was called Shag Harbor, and it was full of caves. The water was so calm and quiet... it was extraordinarily peaceful and serene. We just kind of floating along, listening for birds (called Shags), and watching to see if any seals were in the harbor.

It was magnificent.

After a full day of paddling and sunshine, and before I could burn anymore (the sun is so strong!), we pulled our kayaks ('yaks) up on the beach at Bark Bay.

From the moment that we set the kayaks on the beach and started setting up camp, the wind picked up and we knew we were in for a stormy night. : )

The wind was strong, but we set up our tents and Matty started cooking dinner. While he got our vegetable curry cooking, Lucy and I decided to make a fire. We had a delicious dinner, complete with white wine, and we talked a lot about traveling and adventures.

For dessert, we made chocolate fondue with fresh fruit. Heavenly!!

We cleaned up dishes, and Matty said "C'mon Family, let's take a walk on the stormy beach!" So we strolled along, listening to the roaring of the waves crashing, feeling the rain and sea spray on our faces, and the wind whipping around us. It was so beautiful. We met up with a DOC (Dept of Conservation) employee who told us to move the 'yaks off the beach unless we wanted to lose them, because the storm was coming. By the time we decided to go to bed, the rain was falling hard, and it felt like our little 2 person tents were going to fly away!

It poured all night!

The next morning, the weather station announced gale force winds of 45 knots (almost 90 km/h) coming from the South. Since that meant we would be traveling into a headwind for the whole 6 hours back, Matty made the announcement that the sea kayak leg was cancelled. Regardless of the fact that it was pouring rain, and that we had a 20km hike back, a few of us (Tim, Krista, and me) decided to have an adventure! (Naturally!)

So we packed up our stuff, and although I wasn't wearing much more than a pair of polypropylene bottoms, a wool top, and sandals, we headed out for a hike along the Abel Tasman trail from Bark Bay to Marahau. It was supposed to take 7 hours of tramping up and down the coastal trail, through mud, and along the edges of the cliffs, but it took us only 4 hours and 20mins. (We boogied!) The trail was similar to the West Coast trail, but was a bit wider and much smoother, so I didn't have to navigate roots and slippery sections as much. We even had a bouncy suspension bridge to cross.

It was pouring rain the whole time, but because we were quite sheltered in the forest, I didn't get that wet. It wasn't until the last hour of the tramp, along the shores of the sea, that I got drenched. It was so much fun. We had great conversations about McDonald's & Super Size Me, life in Australia, New Zealand wildlife and flora, and the Canadian healthcare system in comparison to Australia And New Zealand. Time flies when you talk a lot! : )

We arrived sopping wet about 2 hours earlier than expected, and bumped into Lucy and Dan. After a steaming cup of long black coffee, they gave us a lift back to the Kaiteriteri beach. From there, the Kayak tour group trucked the three of us back to Nelson. We arrived at the backpackers freezing and wet, but very happy. It was an exhausting couple of days, but it felt so good getting back to the simple things in life!

Kayaking along the Abel Tasman

It's hot and sunny here in Nelson! In fact, I just sat outside for an hour and I think I have a wee little burn. Yikes! The sun is very strong!!

I am off tomorrow on a 2 day kayak adventure. It's a chance for me to get some good exercise and fresh air, explore some of the coastline along the Abel Tasman National Park, see some seals, take tons of photos, check out some remote beaches and lagoons, swim, sleep overnight on the beach, and experience some of the Maori culture!

The name of the tour company is Kaiteriteri Kayak. It's owned and operated by 4 proper locals, 2 men and 2 women, and they are supposed to be a lot of fun!

See you in a couple of days!

Captain Ken

I met Captain Ken today!

Captain Ken is a youthful 80+ year-old man who decided, on a whim, to sit next to me on a bench while I waited for my bus. He was hoping to see an air show, and asked me if I knew anything about it.

One thing led to another and before you knew it, we were talking about adventures. Captain Ken was in the Royal Air Force in the UK. He signed up at age 15, went to the Korean War. He moved to New Zealand, after spending 10 years or some in the Air Force, and became a skipper. He captained many boats, of many sizes, for about 40 years. In those years, he'd seen rough seas, shipwrecking weather, and had many interesting experiences. He told me he learned a lot about life and what one was capable of, in those extreme, intense moments.

I explained how I was traveling on my own. How it's been wonderful and interesting, challenging and amazing, and how much I was enjoying myself. He smiled, pointed to a campervan, and told me he was off on his own adventure. He was driving around the country, all by himself. He admitted that he was very shy, and had difficulty meeting people. But he said, for some reason, he felt he could come over and talk to me. And he did.

Thanks, Captain Ken, for saying hello to me and spending some time with me, and for reminding me that my life is better off because of the people I've been fortunate to know.

Happy Adventuring!

Off to Nelson

Hello and Good Day! : )
I am off to Nelson.

Nelson is supposed to be a lot like Victoria, BC. Complete with beautiful beaches, lots of artists, funky shops and markets, extraordinary sea kayaking, abundant wildlife, and the Abel Tasman National Park.

For more information, you can check this site out: http://www.nelsonnz.com/nelson-richmond/index.html

I will be doing some sea kayak excursions, hiking, maybe a little shopping, and lots of wining and dining! : )

The drive to Nelson is about 6 hours. I'll be travelling along the coast, and through the Marlborough Sounds (which is one of New Zealand's most famous wine regions).

Hopefully I will get a little more sunshine, too. : )
I'll probably be staying for 2-3 days, so it should be a fun place to explore.

Kaikoura, A Beach Village

Hello from Kaikoura!

Kaikoura is a beach village on the shores of the South Pacific Ocean. I think the population is 3,000 or so. It's tiny but breathtaking. Yesterday, I did a huge tramp around the peninsula, along the cliffs and shore of the ocean, and saw seals frolicking on their rocks. It was a pretty overcast and windy day, but the smell of the ocean and the sound of the waves crashing onto the rocks was wonderful.

Last night, I went out with some of my "backpacker mates." We were quite an eclectic crew: Baseball cap-wearing, surfer dude, Michael,from San Diego, California; Smooth-talking, snowboarder extraordinaire, Monsieur Aurelian from the French Alps; and cool, crisp rower Pim from Holland. We had a couple of good, local beers, potato wedges, and many interesting discussions about traveling and living around the world, enjoying different cultures and countries, and the importance of traveling and opening ones' eyes to new and interesting people and experiences. Stimulating conversations, indeed.

This morning the sun is shining and the sky is blue. I am off to find a beach for some sunbathing, I think!

Happy Easter to everyone! Be well.

New Zealand Cuisine

My experience with New Zealand food has been really good.
The food, generally, is very similar to Canadian cuisine, with a few exceptions.

Savory pies and muffins (steak and cheese; chicken and broccoli) are very popular, and are sold even in convenience stores.

Espresso (or as Kiwis call them "short black" or "long black") is served everywhere - even in the dingiest of diners or shops - and they are so good! It's hard to find regular filtered coffee. Unfortunately this means I just may have to invest in my own personal expresso maker. I don't think Timmies is going to cut it for me anymore. ; )

A typical Kiwi "special" is anything served with lamb. : )

There is a lot of Asian influence in the cities I've been to so far - so Japanese, Korean, and Thai restaurants are in abundance. Mmmm!

Wine and locally brewed beers (Monteight, Speight, and DBs) are very popular and quite delicious.

From what I can see, Kiwis love their sweets. Some of the new goodies I've tried are jelly tips (chocolate covered ice cream cones with a jelly tip), hokey pokey ice cream (vanilla with butterscotch chunks), pixie caramel chocolate bars, and minties.

I've also tried an interesting fruit, a feijoa, which is similar tasting to passion fruit.

Words....

I thought it would be fun to share some of the NZ lingo with you. These are some of the words and phrases that I've stumbled across either through meeting people or reading things. Enjoy!

words:

lollies = candies
ice blocks = popsicles
sunnies = sunglasses
togs = swimsuits
water sippers = water bottles
takeaway = take out
mate = friend, guy, buddy, pal
tramp = a trek, hike, bushwalk
proper = real (for example, that's a "proper" thoroughbred)
wopwops = remote
jandals = sandals, flipflops
chillie bin = cooler
boozer = public bar
judder bars = speed bumps

common phrases:

Sweet as! = excellent, cool
How you going? = How are you?
You're alright = You are welcome
Good on ya! = way to go, good for you

The pronunciation of letters also adds to some of the charm.
For example peck is how a Kiwi would say "pack", and left is "lift".

Most of the place names in NZ stem from the Maori words. The Maori alphabet, from what I've read, has 15 letters. It's very Hawaiian/Polynesian sounding. Some examples of lakes or regions are Te Anau, Taupo, Wanaka, Tekapo, Pukaki, etc. They sound easy to pronounce. ; )

Xena Warrior Princess?....hmmm....

I went on my horseback riding adventure in Glenorchy today!! : )

Before I arrived, I was imagining that I would swing myself gracefully onto the back of some sleek, black stallion, and miraculously create a connection between beast and woman. I would barely need to hold onto the reins, and would instantly be in tune with this fine animal, and we would go cantering off into the sunset.

The reality was not quite like Xena, Warrior Princess, but it was pretty fun!

The horse I was riding was named K-sharn. K-sharn (Sharnie for short) is this gorgeous 14 year-old thoroughbred. K-sharn is also a movie star. (He was in the Lord of the Rings, Return of the Kings film. There is a scene near the end of the film, before the big battle scene, where Aragorn goes into the cliffs to get the ghost army. They pan across this field of horses. K-sharn, and about 7 others from the stables we rode from, are in that shot.)

I haven't been on a horse in a long while. I felt comfortable getting onto the saddle, and remembering how to hold the reins. And like you'd steer a bike, it was easy to turn Sharnie's head. He was pretty responsive.

Once we started moving, I got used to using my calf muscles to hold on, and started relaxing. The day was exquisite. Bright, sunny, and warm. Par (pronounced Pear) was our tour guide, and he was quite funny and bubbly. I even managed to snap a couple of photos while we bounced happily along.

Then Par decided we would trot our horses a little. He demonstrated that the most comfortable way to trot (for both person and horse) was to hold the reins in one hand and press down on the withers (the knobby bone protrusion on the horse's neck), and with the other hand, grab a fistful of mane. What he didn't say was hold on for dear life. Before I even got in the right position, our horses took off. One guy fell off immediately, and I was reduced to giggling and bouncing, trying desperately to hold on TIGHTLY with my legs. (Squats never hurt this much!!)

I couldn't stop laughing, I was sure that I was going to blast off my horse.. but I managed to stay upright. K-sharn was definitely frisky and he spent the rest of the ride taking off whenever he felt like moving faster than a walk. My kind of horse! : )

The rest of the ride alternated between trotting (and me giggling) and walking, and we saw a great deal of the countryside. We crossed a few rivers, learned about the now extinct Moa (the largest bird of New Zealand which measured at 3 meters high). We saw a lot of the local vegetation, as well as the some non-native plants, like the willow and rose-hip bush.

It was a lovely fun day!

Queenstown Adventures

Yesterday, I climbed to the highest peak in the city of Queenstown. I stood on top of the mountain, with a couple of sheep, and drank in the sights. It was spectacular. The sun was scorching hot, and the sky was clear blue. And I could see for miles around me.

I stayed up top for a bit, soaked up some sunshine, and relaxed, then took another 2-3 hours to meander down the mountain, and walk along the lake. It was a gorgeous day.

I fell asleep quite early, I think I was knackered (Kiwi word) by the fresh air and sunshine. Blissfully happy. : )

This morning, I got up early, and went for a long run. I had a delicious breakfast (I was very hungry) and am now heading off to go horseback riding in Rohan country! (For those of you who are Lord of the Rings fans, you'll know what I mean.) The region is called Glenorchy, apparently there are many rivers that wind through the fairly flat land, and it's surrounded by the mountains. I may even have the opportunity to ride a horse that was used in the film. Me, hanging out with movie stars... who knew?

The Wonderful World of Hostels

Generally, a hostel has all the ammenities you may need (showers, kitchens, lounges, tvs, internet, telephones) and are very clean. The ones I have stayed in are 2-3 floors. Each floor has a lounge/kitchen area, internet access, and a whole slew of rooms.

Some of the hostels are right in the heart of the city, and some located just on the outskirts of town (within a 10 min walk). But they are generally laid out so that if you are traveling on foot, it isn't hard to get to.

One thing that I have found traveling with a backpack is that I don't feel like I have my own place to go. I feel a little like I am a transient, and in many ways I am. So it is a good to have a place where I can stash my gear (usually a locker) while I take off exploring. It's a little piece of freedom.

Hostels are very affordable. I am paying between $18-23/night. It certainly makes me think twice about going and spending 3 nights worth of hostels for one hotel room!!

Rooms come in singles or shared. And the shared can be a room of 4, 6, or 8. And they can be single sex or mixed. Generally most people using the hostels are in their 20s, but I've seen a lot of people in their 60s/70s, too. It's pretty diverse.

I stayed in a dorm last night with 7 other people. It was a mixed room (men and women). The average age was about 22. It felt a little like being at camp, except that you don't really know anyone.

It was a bit awkward this morning, though, waking up, trying to get a pair of pants on so that I can go to bathroom, precariously navigating down the ladder from the top bunk, and trying not to wake everyone else up as I rummage through my pack to try and find clean underwear and socks. ; )

People are generally on different schedules, so everyone comes and goes at odd hours. Some people are asleep by 7pm, others stumble into the room at 3 am. You never know when people are arriving or leaving, and where they are coming from. It's a bit like a circus, but as long as you don't have difficulty sleeping, it's all good.

Most people that I've met in the hostels are from Germany, Asia, or the UK. I've met a couple of Aussies, and a few people from the US. But no Canadians, yet. : )

Happy Birthday to Me!

Morning!

I am off to do some tramping (New Zealand word for hiking) and climb the hills around Queenstown. Then I'd like to treat myself to some chocolate birthday cake! : )

I just wanted to thank everyone for wishing me a happy birthday. I feel so spoiled that y'all are thinking of me from way over there!

I'll write more later. Cheers!

Lionel Ritchie's #1 Fan ; )

How you going? (Translation - How are you doing?)

I've only had two little incidents on this adventure. (That's good for me!)

The first is that someone swiped my Canadian flag patch off my bag. I don't own an iron - so I had made a hole in the patch and attached it to a carabiner on my pack. Apparently Canadian flags are hot commodities. Who knew?

The second is that my Ipod mini died in LA. Completely died.
All the contents on my MP3 player seemed to be erased.

Now traveling without tunes is not the end of the world, despite all my "boo hooing". However one thing happens when you don't have your own choice of music at your disposal. You become susceptible to any piece of music that you happen to stumble across. It's like your brain is a sponge - it sucks in the song and plays it over and over and over again.

For example, I walked through the park in Christchurch and heard a snippet of Lionel Ritchie's "Say you, Say me". I had that song stuck in my head for the entire day. It was only until I heard another song - thankfully it was Mr. Brightside by The Killers - that I was saved. ; )

So, a word to fellow adventurers. Iron on your Canadian flag onto your pack and know a couple of tunes by heart before you leave! : )

The Wheels on the Bus...

Good Morning!

It's another early morning for me. I seem to be crashing at 9pm every night and waking up at the wee hours of 4-5am. It's a great way to start the day! : )

I catch a bus this morning for Mount Cook and Queenstown. It'll be a bit of a drive, but I am anxious to see some mountains and different terrain!

The Remarkables are the mountain range just on the fringe of Queenstown. They were featured in Lord of the Rings (For those of you who remember, these were the very jagged, snow-capped mountains that the fellowship had to cross in the first film.)

Queenstown is supposed to be like the Whistler of New Zealand. Any extreme sport you can imagine, can be done. I believe it's actually the birth-place of bungee jumping.

When I read through the Lonely Planet and looked at some other promotional info, some of the activities that peeked my interest were:

clay target shooting
farmstays
canyon swings
overnight horse treks
river surfing

I'll keep ya posted. : )

Arrival in Christchurch

Kia Ora! (Hello!)

I have arrived in Christchurch. : )

It's 10:35 am NZ time on Sat the 19th, which means it's about 4:35 am on Friday for you all.

My flight over was easy... I think I slept a solid 10 hours. Watched a couple of movies and made some Kiwi friends. When I arrived at the airport, I was told it would be about 2 hours before I could catch a bus into town. (It's about 15 km). I decided it would be a great way to stretch my legs and watch the sunrise.

The weather is gorgeous! Very tropical climate. Of course, my hair did the "instant afro dance" as soon as I stepped outside into the humidity. It was a lovely walk into Christchurch. The town was pretty sleepy, but it was nice to get a feel for the houses and the quaint buildings and churches. Everything is in full bloom - and it's so lush. There are flowers everywhere. There are palm trees, willow trees, and rubber plants. There is greenery everywhere. And it's so warm!!

My pack seems to be way heavier than I imagined it, or I am just not used to carrying it, yet. Yikes! About a half hour into my 2 hour epic tramp, I was strategizing on ways to reduce my load.

I figured I could ship stuff back home, or I could sell clothes to fellow backpackers along the way. I kept hearing a convincing voice in my head saying "I don't need a pack lock. What for? I bet there are lockers I could use. And I don't need an extra pair of shoes. Why did I bring those for? You know it's not going to rain, so I don't really need my rain jacket!"
Hopefully, I'll get used it.

In any event, I am sure I'll be built like a truck at the end of 3 weeks. Ha!

I found an internet cafe while I am waiting to get into my hostel room.
I'll be sharing a dorm with 3 other people. It should be interesting, but a great way to meet new people. Once I shower and get settled, I expect that I'll crash pretty hard.

Ttyl. : )

Here is a piece of trivia for you. According to the Guiness Book of Records, the longest city name in the world belongs to this New Zealand city:

Taumatawhakatangihangakoauotamateturipukakapikimaungahoro-Nukupokaiwhenua kitanatahu

Happy St. Patty's Day!
Hope everyone enjoys a pint of the good stuff today.

I'm off the Airport - my flight leaves at noon today, and I arrive in Christchurch sometime around 5am on Saturday. Wow, how time flies! ; )

Bye!

See y'all in April! : )

1 More Sleep!!

There are only a few outstanding items that I have to do before I board a plane tomorrow...

1) put the contents of what's on my guest bedroom floor actually into my backpack ; )
2) empty out my fridge of anything that's likely to grow green fuzz in the next few of weeks
3) charge up my iPod mini
4) burn off some of my extra energy
5) sleep (is that even possible?)

Fun Facts about NZ

New Zealand Facts & Info:

Full country name: New Zealand (not Zimbabwe)
Area: 268,680 sq km
Population: 4 million
People: 75% New Zealand European (Pakeha), 10% Maori, 5% other European, 4.5% Polynesian, 5% Asian, 0.5% other
Language: Maori, English
Religion: Predominantly Christian (75%)
Government: Independent member of the Commonwealth of Nations
Head of State: Queen Elizabeth II
Head of Government: Prime Minister Helen Clark
GDP: US$85 billion
GDP per capita: US$22,360
Annual Growth: 2%Inflation: 2.7%
Major Industries: Food processing, wood and paper products, wool, textiles, dairy products, iron and steel, machinery, tourism, sheep farming
Major Trading Partners: Australia, Japan, UK, China and the USA

Some of the noteworthy cultural events include:
BMW Wine Marlborough Festival (2nd week in February; Blenheim)
Golden Shears Sheep-Shearing Contest (March; Masterton), a must for lovers of sheep and sweat

Cave Rafting on the North Island

One of the adventures I've been reading about is Cave Rafting. Generally cave rafting consists of a 100 ft rapel down into a cave, where you hop on an inner tube, float around in the dark, following the cave tunnels, and experience glow worms and other cave formations! Sounds excellent! : )

Only 3 more sleeps!

Where Am I Going?

I thought I'd include a map of New Zealand and a link to one of the best Kiwi travel sites.

4 more sleeps!

A couple of people have suggested that I create a blog for my wild and crazy New Zealand adventures. I don't honestly know how often I'll be wanting to sit in front of a computer monitor, but what the heck. It's an easy way to share my adventures, and reassure any worried friends and family members that I am ok! :)

4 more sleeps!