My World Adventure

So after we got our car, which we do now have, we were still just hanging around the hostel not really exploring too much. Well all of that changed today when we got our stereo hooked up in the Mitsubishi. We just started reading through the books my friend brought about New Zealand and we discovered there were some waterfalls in the vicinity so we drove to where the closest one was on the map and started our descent down the path. It opened itself up to a small waterfall that we thought was pretty cool but we saw the edge of the water and couldn't see the bottom just beyond where we were so we kept climbing down.

What we saw next blew our visual sensory. It was a triple waterfall. Never seen nor heard of one before but low and behold in front of me was a triple water fall where there were three stages where water would literally fall. So we stopped took a number of pictures and then kept heading down figuring we would see some nice spot for more pictures. Little did we know there was yet another bigger waterfall waiting for us at the bottom. It was definitely something right out of a picture. One of those wonderment's that just has to been seen in order to gather the full beauty of it and to be able to believe it. If I had just seen a picture I don't think I would have believed what I saw. I would have thought it was a digital creation or just a green screen from somewhere else. But nope. It was the real thing.

Needless to say it was a great time and at the bottom of the water fall was a nice deep pool, but that will be swum in on a later day. Oh yes it will.

Until next time.

So yesterday I actually climbed to the top of a mountain, Mt Maunganui. It wasn't too bad but took a good 45mins-60mins. But that included stopping along the way to take picture after picture. Man I love my camera.

Some of the views I saw were very unrealistic. If I had just seen pictures of them I would not have believed that they were real. It is crazy how that works, but since I saw it with my own eyes I guess I have to believe that it was real. There was a view of the bluest water I have ever seen about 15 minutes from the top of the mountain that blew my mind. I could see mountains as far at the eye could see along the shoreline and water until it fell off the side of the world. There were islands that are probably just left alone from the human touch in view and the steepest fall one would hope to avoid. No guardrails, nothing stopping you from falling to your death but your own fear.

It was a good feeling to accomplish something like that. While searching google for picture of Tauranga the same ones kept coming up, but now I know there were of Mt Maunganui because I took the same picture from the top.

I will climb it many more times I am sure. I want some pictures of me on the top and hanging off the side. It will be hard to beat those views but hey i still have a long time in which to do so.

Until next time.

It has been a few days since I arrived here in Tauranga. I am still trying to get set up with everything but that just takes some time. Since I got here I purchased a cell phone so that will allow us to keep in contact with employers and other travelers along the way.

The next big purchase is going to be a vehicle for the time spent in New Zealand. We talked to many people about the right way of going about traveling and everyone suggested getting a vehicle to travel around. The only other options would be Bus, train or try to hitchhike. Buses are very expensive for traveling around the entire country and they also don't take you everywhere you want, trains are apparently useless over here because there are not enough routes that they take.

The vehicle will be for under $2000NZD so that is less than getting around by bus right there for a month. Insurance is also cheaper over here being under $200 for the year. That is one month of payments back in Canada.

Last night we ended up playing some pictionary and it turned out to be a hilarious night because I can't draw and the guesses had everyone laughing.

Meeting people. Seeing the sites. Living the dream.

Until next time.

Still in Auckland and still at ACB. Went through our IEP orientation today which was very helpful. Set up our New Zealand bank account and got our Tax number business under way. Had an ok breakfast this morning. Getting used to this Tomatoe paste or sauce stuff is going to take some getting used to. I already miss Ketchup more than almost anything else.

It has been a day of getting some things done. We are pretty sure we will head to the Bay of Plenty area in the next few days to stay and work dring the kiwifruit picking season. Looking into a few different hostels to stay in while working down there. Just waiting to get a reply from a few of the places I emailed.

Getting a vehicle was brought up today while discussing heading out of Auckland but that is a while off i am sure. The convience of a vehicle is missed dearly but the cost of driving and everything is seeming pretty high. Gas prices are in the $1.60's NZD/litre mark around here. Plus there is the insurance, the cost of maintenance and everything else that goes along with it. We will see about it though. i would like to not have to deal with the cost but if it is shared that will help.

Auckland is just too big. Too much to attempt to take it and it just doesn't have a great vibe. I want to be somewhere small and near a beach. Tauranga and the surrounding area sound like a good place to head to.

Until next time.

Me and Sam arrived in Auckland early this morning at 5:28AM Local NZ Time. The flight was gruelling and long. There was a good selection of movies and TV to watch but trying to sleep was hard. I may have gotten a total of 3-5 hours, hard to keep track when there was no clock.

We had vouchers to get up to the Hostel we are staying at, Auckland Backpackers Camp, and since we can't check in until 1:00PM local time we are forced to kill some time. I have an empty stomach and a tired brain. I don't know how much fun day one will be.

Let's just say I am glad to be here and things will be looking up after a good nights sleep and a good hearty meal.

Until next time.