IT’S MY BIRTHDAY TODAY!! The big 22. All very exciting, but more exciting that I’m celebrating it in New Zealand with my good friends.
I picked Chris up at the airport this morning. As we left the airport we got to watch the sunrise on the drive back into Auckland. I realized how much I love watching people greet each other as they venture off the plane and meet there loved ones on the other side. Kinda brings a little tear to my eye. You have the wanna be rock star dressed as the average joe waving to everyone as if he’s the front page of people’s magazine (but with no one watching but me), then you have the dad and the kids running to greet him in open arms, the native islanders dressed accordingly in matching native attire, but my personal favorite has to be all the old ladies with their duty free liquor bottles in tow. After the airport fun and the $6 dollar parking fee later we were hustling around to repack so we could catch our bus down in sky city. Last ones on of course, wishing we could call it running fashionably late but instead just late because of the city bus. We were on the road and headed towards Whangarei to meet Jessica and Samantha, who had done scuba diving at the Poor Knights Islands the previous day, thus the reason Chris and I had to take the bus to meet them. Arrived and drove on to Bay of Islands where we eventually found a place to stay in Paihia for the night. Booked our Dolphin Experience Boat for the next day and headed down to the waters edge to indulge in some food and must needed birthday fun. Funny thing is I think we lasted till dinner and once we ended up back at the hotel I’m pretty sure we all fell asleep at 7pm. We must be catching the old people disease.
21. OCTOBER
Woke up early to meet our boat ride of bay of islands and crossing our fingers we’d see wild dolphins. Partly cloudy, but ending in sunshine. However the wind had a mind of its own. We passed through the famous hole in the rock and were toured around a sea of islands, 143 in total. The last twenty minutes before heading to shore and not a dolphin in sight, we were going to be issued vouchers. AND THEN. A whole group of them appeared, with a little baby who jumped out of the water for us. I think if I see some whales now, my life will be complete. Wild dolphins are such beautiful creatures. Being wild they live up to 40 years, compared to that of dolphins kept in captivity who live for less then 5 years. Sad if you think about it. Brings real thought into the life of animals kept in captivity.
After the dolphin fun we ended up driving all the way up to the largest sand dunes ever in Te Paki. Rented some body boards for a few hours and started the trek of a wall we called the sands dunes. Chris and I climbed it three times and every time you get to the top you have to sit to catch your breath for what seems like days. Then the most absolute funnest thing happens and you soar down the dune for what’s probably only 3 seconds of amazing. The videos I have explain it perfectly. We finished off the day covered in sand and a drive up to Cape Reigna, which in Maori legends is the place of the departing spirits and where the Pacific Ocean meets the Tasman Sea. A truly breath taking sight to see! But of course what part of New Zealand isn’t.
22. OCTOBER
A night in a backpacker, which we were so fortunate to get being it Labour day weekend and all. That and we never plan far enough ahead to actually make a booking. We drove down the west coast and stopped at 90 mile beach. You’re allowed to drive your car on it but take warning that your car might get stuck and they say, “You will see hoods of cars buried in the sand.” Thus said there was no way we were going to risk Amileo’s life, plus Davis would have a cow if we got the car lost in a pit of sand.
Took the ferry across the Hokianga Harbour from Rangiora to Rawene. Stopped in Rawene to have a bite to eat. It still irritates the shit out of me how when I order fish I ask if they have lemon wedges or vinegar. They then have this puzzled look on their face like why would you want that or I’ve never even heard of such a thing. But then they reply with oh well we have tartar sauce. Then I agree to that and they say 60 cents. I can’t wait to go back to the states where condiments are free like they should be when you order food.
We pulled up on the top of a hill to what was an amazing view. In the mean time Samantha spots this hitchhiker who needs a ride. After much debate we invite the French kid into our car being the nice people we are. Unfortunately it was probably his worst decision of his journey yet and I should note that you just had to be in the car and inhale the drama for the next thirty minutes, its no wonder French people don’t like Americans. First off the car started to over heat a bit and I end up checking the oil and then we don’t know how to read the foreign cars dipstick, so then there’s yelling and texting to Davis to freak him out and mean while the poor little French kid sitting in the back witnessing this mayhem. It’s all ean while the poor little French kid sitting in the back witnessing this mayhem. It’s all very humorous looking back on it now, at least it is to me…
We eventually get to the Waipoua where we drop the French kid off. It’s home to Tane Mahuta (Giant Kauri) Tree. And the most enormous tree you will probably see in your whole life, not even kidding! The entire drive through Waipoua Forest is lush, green, and really takes your breath away because of how well the conservation of New Zealand is maintained. Even looking at the farmland and the pastures. Perfect fences all uniform. It’s like a Sim City in real life. Then we headed back to Auckland and arrived just for dinnertime. Alls well that end well I guess.
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