The Awkward moment when you check into your hostel in Wellington, looking like a bunch of scrubs.
The awkward moment when you check in to your hostel and the guy at reception starts talking about UK basketball... You start talking about Murray State's undefeated season.
The awkward moment when he looks up at both of you quizzically and asks, 'booked for Double Share ?'
The awkward moment when you open the door to your room and you realize that 'double share' doesn't mean 2 twin beds, it means one double bed.
The awkward moment when you realize LP's hat is from Rolex 3 day event.
The awkward moment when you go downstairs to ask what the wifi password is and the same reception guys asks you about your rowing shirt.
The awkward moment when the reception guy asks about your girlfriend.
The awkward moment after he asks about your girlfriend when you try and explain and end up sounding like you have a girlfriend anyways.
That awkward moment when you wonder why you haven't been questioned about it sooner.
For the record, on the record, I like boys, dudes, fellas, gentlemen.
Sorry ladies, I know I'm a catch.
Thursday, February 28, 2013
No More Auckland
I don't like Auckland, I don't hate Auckland but I definitely do not like Auckland.
In a country of 4 million people, Auckland hosts 1 million of them.
I love city life.. But these Kentucky girls have about had it with the city. After the Bay of Islands trip we said goodbye to our new friends from Stray--several of which I hope to bump into again on this adventure --and got to our hostel on Ponsonby road. Ponsonby road is a bright light in Auckland, lots of shopping and plenty of food.... But still in Auckland.
We stayed only one night in Auckland... So I guess Wednesday night? Thursday we hopped on a bus with our brand new Flexi-passes and 11 hours later made it to Wellington.
Now it's Friday and Wellington is completely booked up for the weekend. Instead of spending the next few days exploring Wellington (aka GOING TO HOBBITON... I might cry) we are getting on the Ferry to the South Island and I swear to god I'm gonna throw up all three hours.
I am a fan of Wellington already, an I'm looking forward to coming here on our way back through to explore (aka GO TO HOBBITON)
In a country of 4 million people, Auckland hosts 1 million of them.
I love city life.. But these Kentucky girls have about had it with the city. After the Bay of Islands trip we said goodbye to our new friends from Stray--several of which I hope to bump into again on this adventure --and got to our hostel on Ponsonby road. Ponsonby road is a bright light in Auckland, lots of shopping and plenty of food.... But still in Auckland.
We stayed only one night in Auckland... So I guess Wednesday night? Thursday we hopped on a bus with our brand new Flexi-passes and 11 hours later made it to Wellington.
Now it's Friday and Wellington is completely booked up for the weekend. Instead of spending the next few days exploring Wellington (aka GOING TO HOBBITON... I might cry) we are getting on the Ferry to the South Island and I swear to god I'm gonna throw up all three hours.
I am a fan of Wellington already, an I'm looking forward to coming here on our way back through to explore (aka GO TO HOBBITON)
Northland and Stray Bus
Bay of Islands, the center of everything to do and every place to go up at the tip top of New Zealand.
Kind of tacky, lots of touristy, but that didn't take away the overall beachy- kiwi ambience.
We booked the 'Patch' tour with Stray bus travel -- which is one of the bigger backpacking travel companies on both islands. We booked 'Patch' as test run to see if we wanted to book a bigger tour with them.
I wasn't completely sold on the idea of a bus tour with 30 ish other travel backpackers-- but for the price and what we got to do, we decided to give it a shot.
Stray Tours and all the rest of the New Zealand Bus Tours have different packages and itineraries for both the North and South Island-- all different prices and all different amounted of time. It's a convenient way to see the country but it's all super planned out. Part of my hesitation to do the tour was it felt like it wasn't me in charge of my trip-- it was some company... Anyways we gave Stray a whirl.
We made our way on a bumpy Stray bus up to the Bay of Islands and had first night guaranteed accommodation ( All Stray Bus Tours guarantee at least the first --which is extremely convenient during the high season, which confidentially LP and I are in the tail end of).
We roomed with a few Dutch girls, a German girl .................and two Scottish guys........... Ladies, please let that sink in.
Our first night in the Bay of Islands we were welcomed with a 4:30ish am fire alarm. The thing about fire alarms in the States and I assume other countries as well... First responders are there within minutes. There were no cop cars, no fire brigade, no nothing for our AM fire alarm.. Fortunately there was no fire... But still Bay of Islands is not a large place and that alarm was so damn loud. The 'fire' was some idiot who tried smoking in the room apparently.
Our real wake up call was for 6:45, another Tour Bus picked us up (the US now I'm referring to are the people who boomed with Stray, the Kiwi Experience etc) and took us on an adventure up even more North.
Cape Reinga is close to the most Northern part of NZ, and as I mentioned in the last post, a very spiritual place for the Maori culture. Cape Reinga is the crossing over of the dead- spirits of the Maori. There's a light house there at Cape Reinga, and a few coastal walks--- but with out tour we were there for 45 minute and 45 minutes only. So.
Our tour included this thing called 'sand boarding', heard of it? It's exactly like what it sounds like... On the western part of the North are these absolutely massive sand dunes, I'm talking 6 or 8 stories high. You get a boogie or body board and it's just one big slide. Of course getting to the top is the toughest part. Sand is extremely hard to walk on up hill. And the those dunes are really freaking high.
I get to the top of the dune and feel like throwing up-- it's so high!!!!!! And I looked down. Don't ever look down. It's terrifying and exhilarating all at once. The ride down was quick and easy (that's what she said? )
Then it was on to 90 mile beach, which is actually more like 90 km beach, which in New Zealand it's actually considered a road/highway.. It's on the map like a road. The beach is super wide. Driving on the beach in NZ is nothing like driving on the Beach in say.. Daytona Florida. First because its basically deserted, second, it's not trashy-- literally, figuratively, physically.... Etc.
I did get a little sunburn (sorry Mom). And the general consensus about the Stray tour was.. It's a nice way to get around and it got us up to the Bay of Islands but the idea of an Itinerary that wasn't completely our own and kind of getting the feeling that we were cattle being herded (some may disagree that we aren't cows..... we are just nice girls) . This is a very successful company on NZ but the way they did things just wasn't and isn't the way LP and I want to use our time.
AND FINALLY....Of course the only picture I got of this experience on my phone is. The picture of the BEST food I've eaten on this trip so far... Fish and chips.
Kind of tacky, lots of touristy, but that didn't take away the overall beachy- kiwi ambience.
We booked the 'Patch' tour with Stray bus travel -- which is one of the bigger backpacking travel companies on both islands. We booked 'Patch' as test run to see if we wanted to book a bigger tour with them.
I wasn't completely sold on the idea of a bus tour with 30 ish other travel backpackers-- but for the price and what we got to do, we decided to give it a shot.
Stray Tours and all the rest of the New Zealand Bus Tours have different packages and itineraries for both the North and South Island-- all different prices and all different amounted of time. It's a convenient way to see the country but it's all super planned out. Part of my hesitation to do the tour was it felt like it wasn't me in charge of my trip-- it was some company... Anyways we gave Stray a whirl.
We made our way on a bumpy Stray bus up to the Bay of Islands and had first night guaranteed accommodation ( All Stray Bus Tours guarantee at least the first --which is extremely convenient during the high season, which confidentially LP and I are in the tail end of).
We roomed with a few Dutch girls, a German girl .................and two Scottish guys........... Ladies, please let that sink in.
Our first night in the Bay of Islands we were welcomed with a 4:30ish am fire alarm. The thing about fire alarms in the States and I assume other countries as well... First responders are there within minutes. There were no cop cars, no fire brigade, no nothing for our AM fire alarm.. Fortunately there was no fire... But still Bay of Islands is not a large place and that alarm was so damn loud. The 'fire' was some idiot who tried smoking in the room apparently.
Our real wake up call was for 6:45, another Tour Bus picked us up (the US now I'm referring to are the people who boomed with Stray, the Kiwi Experience etc) and took us on an adventure up even more North.
Cape Reinga is close to the most Northern part of NZ, and as I mentioned in the last post, a very spiritual place for the Maori culture. Cape Reinga is the crossing over of the dead- spirits of the Maori. There's a light house there at Cape Reinga, and a few coastal walks--- but with out tour we were there for 45 minute and 45 minutes only. So.
Our tour included this thing called 'sand boarding', heard of it? It's exactly like what it sounds like... On the western part of the North are these absolutely massive sand dunes, I'm talking 6 or 8 stories high. You get a boogie or body board and it's just one big slide. Of course getting to the top is the toughest part. Sand is extremely hard to walk on up hill. And the those dunes are really freaking high.
I get to the top of the dune and feel like throwing up-- it's so high!!!!!! And I looked down. Don't ever look down. It's terrifying and exhilarating all at once. The ride down was quick and easy (that's what she said? )
Then it was on to 90 mile beach, which is actually more like 90 km beach, which in New Zealand it's actually considered a road/highway.. It's on the map like a road. The beach is super wide. Driving on the beach in NZ is nothing like driving on the Beach in say.. Daytona Florida. First because its basically deserted, second, it's not trashy-- literally, figuratively, physically.... Etc.
I did get a little sunburn (sorry Mom). And the general consensus about the Stray tour was.. It's a nice way to get around and it got us up to the Bay of Islands but the idea of an Itinerary that wasn't completely our own and kind of getting the feeling that we were cattle being herded (some may disagree that we aren't cows..... we are just nice girls) . This is a very successful company on NZ but the way they did things just wasn't and isn't the way LP and I want to use our time.
AND FINALLY....Of course the only picture I got of this experience on my phone is. The picture of the BEST food I've eaten on this trip so far... Fish and chips.
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Stray and Bay of Islands
So, we hopped on our 'Stray' tour bus this morning. Our bus driver is a kiwi, his name is Scratch, he's bald and he drives like a maniac.
Our full bus day took us from Auckland up to the Bay of Islands. It's absolutely gorgeous and I'm having a hard time finding the humidity.
Tomorrow, we take a day trip to Cape Reinga. Up there it's a very spiritual place for the Maori culture. Very much looking forward to it.
Will also be sand boarding(?!)... Or surfing on sand dunes. Sounds dangerous. But okay... I'll try it, considering I paid for it.
Here's a look at a vista in Bay of Islands.
Our full bus day took us from Auckland up to the Bay of Islands. It's absolutely gorgeous and I'm having a hard time finding the humidity.
Tomorrow, we take a day trip to Cape Reinga. Up there it's a very spiritual place for the Maori culture. Very much looking forward to it.
Will also be sand boarding(?!)... Or surfing on sand dunes. Sounds dangerous. But okay... I'll try it, considering I paid for it.
Here's a look at a vista in Bay of Islands.
City of Sails
Here's the thing about Kentucky girls.
The city is nice for awhile-- the sounds, the smells, the people-- all of it is nice for awhile. After being in Sydney for 6 days, being surrounded by people 24/7, then coming to Auckland, it's time to get the hell out of the concrete jungle... Kentucky girls need their hills, valleys and mountains.
We spent the better part of Friday at the airport-- avoiding Sydney. We were absolutely sick of it. We seen as much as we wanted, and spent way too much money doing it.
The last few days in Oz, I felt bit under the weather and actually-- I'm maybe at 80% health right now. I don't know what it is, maybe it's the constant motion of this trip-- not really settling in completely, getting up early and then just going, going and going.
Anyways,
So now we've made it to Auckland, otherwise known as the City of Sails. Walking to the Harbor, we saw thousands of boats at the docks, a few were out in the bay. I think Auckland may be the Dan Francisco of New Zealand. It's got ocean views, plenty of hills and a vibrant night life with clubs, pubs and everything in between.
As for our first night out in Auckland, it just so happens to be the Chinese New Year Lantern Festival in Albert Park (as in King Albert and Queen Victoria, google them, lovely monarchs).
The Festival was absolutely swarming with 18-20 crowd... Should mention that 18 is the legal drinking age in NZ... The lights around the park are fine, but it's PACKED and uncomfortably so. We perch on a little hill over looking a fountain with a light dragon in it with a few other.... Hundred.. Maybe even thousands of people. We set up shop and just wait for these lanterns to be let loose... Then we wait some more... And then we see a lantern floating up into the sky... And a few others. AND THEN THERE WAS A FIST FIGHT.
And that was the extent of our Lantern Festival. Way to go Year of the Snake.
So today, to the people who are actually reading this blog (Thanks Mom and Dad) it's SUNDAY. I still cannot kick whatever it is that has been bringing me down-- so we had a lazy day. No city adventures, no weird interactions, just absolute LAZINESS. And before you get all mad because I'm in a foreign country and taking a personal day-- if you will-- I slept most of the day and am about to pass out tonight. Sometimes you get need a recoup or two, ya FEELZ?
So tomorrow, Monday, LP and I booked what's called A Stray Bus Tour... Heading up to the Bay of Islands and Cape Reinga, which is the northern most tip of New Zealand. The bus is leaving around 8, only problem is, is that on our receipt it says for one passenger... Fingers crossed.
Now that we're here it's almost overwhelming all the places we can go. We are so ready for the South Island though that we may detour parts of the North island to get there. Ah!
And finally, this is a disclaimer: INTERNET IN NEW ZEALAND COST 10¢ FOR 1 MEGABYTE OR SOMETHING RIDICULOUS. So probably no more Skype/ Face Time unless its an emergency or if the wifi is completely free.
With that there's a good chance that I will have a bunch of posts built up for when I know wifi is cheap and post them all at once.
Like this one... It's Sunday in NZ when I'm writing it , who the fuck knows when I'll post it.
Okay, bye.
***its Monday at 4:45***
The city is nice for awhile-- the sounds, the smells, the people-- all of it is nice for awhile. After being in Sydney for 6 days, being surrounded by people 24/7, then coming to Auckland, it's time to get the hell out of the concrete jungle... Kentucky girls need their hills, valleys and mountains.
We spent the better part of Friday at the airport-- avoiding Sydney. We were absolutely sick of it. We seen as much as we wanted, and spent way too much money doing it.
The last few days in Oz, I felt bit under the weather and actually-- I'm maybe at 80% health right now. I don't know what it is, maybe it's the constant motion of this trip-- not really settling in completely, getting up early and then just going, going and going.
Anyways,
So now we've made it to Auckland, otherwise known as the City of Sails. Walking to the Harbor, we saw thousands of boats at the docks, a few were out in the bay. I think Auckland may be the Dan Francisco of New Zealand. It's got ocean views, plenty of hills and a vibrant night life with clubs, pubs and everything in between.
As for our first night out in Auckland, it just so happens to be the Chinese New Year Lantern Festival in Albert Park (as in King Albert and Queen Victoria, google them, lovely monarchs).
The Festival was absolutely swarming with 18-20 crowd... Should mention that 18 is the legal drinking age in NZ... The lights around the park are fine, but it's PACKED and uncomfortably so. We perch on a little hill over looking a fountain with a light dragon in it with a few other.... Hundred.. Maybe even thousands of people. We set up shop and just wait for these lanterns to be let loose... Then we wait some more... And then we see a lantern floating up into the sky... And a few others. AND THEN THERE WAS A FIST FIGHT.
And that was the extent of our Lantern Festival. Way to go Year of the Snake.
So today, to the people who are actually reading this blog (Thanks Mom and Dad) it's SUNDAY. I still cannot kick whatever it is that has been bringing me down-- so we had a lazy day. No city adventures, no weird interactions, just absolute LAZINESS. And before you get all mad because I'm in a foreign country and taking a personal day-- if you will-- I slept most of the day and am about to pass out tonight. Sometimes you get need a recoup or two, ya FEELZ?
So tomorrow, Monday, LP and I booked what's called A Stray Bus Tour... Heading up to the Bay of Islands and Cape Reinga, which is the northern most tip of New Zealand. The bus is leaving around 8, only problem is, is that on our receipt it says for one passenger... Fingers crossed.
Now that we're here it's almost overwhelming all the places we can go. We are so ready for the South Island though that we may detour parts of the North island to get there. Ah!
And finally, this is a disclaimer: INTERNET IN NEW ZEALAND COST 10¢ FOR 1 MEGABYTE OR SOMETHING RIDICULOUS. So probably no more Skype/ Face Time unless its an emergency or if the wifi is completely free.
With that there's a good chance that I will have a bunch of posts built up for when I know wifi is cheap and post them all at once.
Like this one... It's Sunday in NZ when I'm writing it , who the fuck knows when I'll post it.
Okay, bye.
***its Monday at 4:45***
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Farewell to Oz
I just woke up on our very last day in Sydney, Australia. And honestly I can kind of feel a sense of relief that it's the last day.
Sydney has been an absolute....whirlwind. It's also been expensive, exhausting, intimidating, and wonderful all at the same time. I see myself coming back here one day for a nice visit and chat, but Australia has a lot more to discover and I wish we'd had the time and the funds to explore it all.
Sydney is just the start of what this journey is supposed to be all about. This trip, from the very beginning has been about New Zealand--- but even more than that it's about self discovery, life experience and I don't know... finding myself? Is that too cliche? Maybe.
This is the first time in my entire life where I haven't had any real obligations or commitments. I'm being dependent on myself. I don't have to go to class, or worry about homework, or a work schedule--for the first time ever there's a huge blank space in my calendar and I can fill it with whatever I want too. How freeing is that? Or terrifying? Or fill in adjective here.
Already this week, we've met a lot of really wonderful people--from all over the planet. Most are traveling along, but some are traveling together and I think that independence is so important to expanding your outlook on nearly everything.
Thank God, Allah, and the old Gods and New that we are here.
See you in New Zealand, my friends.
Sydney has been an absolute....whirlwind. It's also been expensive, exhausting, intimidating, and wonderful all at the same time. I see myself coming back here one day for a nice visit and chat, but Australia has a lot more to discover and I wish we'd had the time and the funds to explore it all.
Sydney is just the start of what this journey is supposed to be all about. This trip, from the very beginning has been about New Zealand--- but even more than that it's about self discovery, life experience and I don't know... finding myself? Is that too cliche? Maybe.
This is the first time in my entire life where I haven't had any real obligations or commitments. I'm being dependent on myself. I don't have to go to class, or worry about homework, or a work schedule--for the first time ever there's a huge blank space in my calendar and I can fill it with whatever I want too. How freeing is that? Or terrifying? Or fill in adjective here.
Already this week, we've met a lot of really wonderful people--from all over the planet. Most are traveling along, but some are traveling together and I think that independence is so important to expanding your outlook on nearly everything.
Thank God, Allah, and the old Gods and New that we are here.
See you in New Zealand, my friends.
Swedish Proverbs
To update, I didn't bring up that I was a cat lady, and I tried super, super hard to not say the word 'y'all.'
It was really fucking hard, but I managed it alright.
The adventures at HQ will be some of my favorites from the week in Sydney--those happenings are as follows:
There was a mission to find a bath towel for LP, that turned into a 4 1/2 excursion all around Sydney that ended up with one of the Best views at the Harbor from the Pylon Lookout on the Sydney Harbor Bridge. (Pictures at the bottom)
We were introduced to 'Goon'-- which is the backpackers version of boxed wine-- think of the brand Franzia... Disgustingly delicious and stupid cheap.
The sexy scandinavians. That's all I can really handle saying about that.
Rachel from Belfast, Ireland with a pretty excellent southern drawl , and Mags from Scotland who has a serious love for Las Vegas. Together we made 'the Goonies' or the 'Goon Squad.' Obviously original names.
Drinking games.
Oh and the very sexy Australian.
Anyways, Backpackers HQ in Kings Cross turned out to be our favorite hostel. Wake Up! Is great, but the community at Backpackers was absolutely wonderful and is exactly what I think we needed.
After our weeklong adventure in the land of Oz-- the land Down Under, I am so much looking forward to really starting our trip away from the hustle of an international city.
Australia, I WILL be back one day, but for now....
To AUCKLAND!
It was really fucking hard, but I managed it alright.
The adventures at HQ will be some of my favorites from the week in Sydney--those happenings are as follows:
There was a mission to find a bath towel for LP, that turned into a 4 1/2 excursion all around Sydney that ended up with one of the Best views at the Harbor from the Pylon Lookout on the Sydney Harbor Bridge. (Pictures at the bottom)
We were introduced to 'Goon'-- which is the backpackers version of boxed wine-- think of the brand Franzia... Disgustingly delicious and stupid cheap.
The sexy scandinavians. That's all I can really handle saying about that.
Rachel from Belfast, Ireland with a pretty excellent southern drawl , and Mags from Scotland who has a serious love for Las Vegas. Together we made 'the Goonies' or the 'Goon Squad.' Obviously original names.
Drinking games.
Oh and the very sexy Australian.
Anyways, Backpackers HQ in Kings Cross turned out to be our favorite hostel. Wake Up! Is great, but the community at Backpackers was absolutely wonderful and is exactly what I think we needed.
After our weeklong adventure in the land of Oz-- the land Down Under, I am so much looking forward to really starting our trip away from the hustle of an international city.
Australia, I WILL be back one day, but for now....
To AUCKLAND!
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