Bread

Things I expected to find in my hair today: Sawdust, dirt, leaves.

Things I did not expect to find in my hair: a dead bug.

Today we had vegetable soup with homemade bread. It was too good. People I found the reason why my homemade bread has never been what it should have been. Flour. It always comes down to the flour. This one had all the little grains and special yeasts it needs to be so tasty. I want to eat it every day whenever I want sandwiches. Or soups.

The bread reminded me of when my mom used to make fresh bread all the time and we would all gather around sneakily pushing each other trying to get first in line. I would always want the first slice from the top. I figured it had the most bread in one slice. Yea I'm clever like that.

Thoughts..

I can't believe it's already March! I swear time goes by faster here. And soon it will be Easter! At the grocery store today I got excited about it since they had tons of Cadbury chocolate bunnies on display. Yumi (the Japanese girl) didn't understand it, she says there are not many Christians in Japan. Which is sad, I think everyone needs a chocolate bunny at least once in their life. So I got to tell her about my Easters and how my mom would hide our baskets. I of course would be the last to find theirs and would get increasingly frustrated but more than usual one of my siblings would tell me where my basket was. I could never make it as a pirate. Forgot to tell her about confetti eggs. I don't think she would truly understand the concept. And would defo think me strange. Cracking eggs? on people's heads? yep..

Hopefully I'll get around to uploading some pictures. As of right now I'm a bit lazy.

Takapau

In the middle of nowhere. And I wouldn't have it any other way. Staying in the house with me is a girl from Japan (so lovely) and a guy from France, whose accent is thick and can't understand what he says alot so i alternate between laughing and giving blank expressions.

I have seen my first apple tree! The apples however are all not edible as the summer has been bipolar and they haven't ripened and are bad. There is a pet goat. Really friendly but I swear it has evil eyes. Dude, he has a 3D tv. I didn't think people actually bought them. Speaking of having outrageously nice technological gadgets. I of course didn't bring my laptop and was using Umi's (that how imagine her name is spelled..) and Paul (the host) said oh hey I have an old one you can use while you're here. Uhhh yea an iBook is soooo old. Cadbury hot chocolate for morning tea :) also I discovered that my fav candy in the entire world (already mentioned strawberry gummy candy) is sold at local grocery stores near me. Welcome to my life and diabetes.

I wielded my first chainsaw today. Scared I would somehow saw of my foot. Luckily this did not happen. Also lemon trees are surprisingly pretty. And the secret of having all your groceries growing in your yard is just the luck of the soil. Depressing I know, but now everyone doesn't have to feel bad about their lack of "green thumb". Just have to move out to NZ.

WWOOFing

Update on my life. I will not be staying with a crazy guy who only eats raw vegetables/2 meals as I hoped. He is doing a cleansing fast/having lectures when I wanted to stay. bummer. I will neither be staying with the "Sisters of Compassion" because they refuse to call me back. rude. Instead I will be up in Takapau on Monday with a nice couple but likely to be less exciting as the other two prospects. Still I'm excited.

Went up Mt Victoria yesterday and did not see any elves. Or a sign that said "Welcome to Rivendell" as I expected. I do think I saw where the hobbits were just out of the shire and ran to get off the road. But it was all trees so maybe I was wrong? I feel like there should defo be some signs. Or little symbols carved into the trees?

Windy Wellington

This city is living up to its name. I'll be walking around and get blown into the person next to me. And they will give me a weird look, because of the bumping and also the way I have given up trying to be a cute backpacker. I have started wearing my orange and blue Australia backpack and haven't done laundry yet. Yep I'm a real charmer. Today it's finally not raining so i'm going to see if I can get up to Mt. Victoria and see if I can spot some elves. It's where they filmed a few scenes of Rivendell.. get it?

Hakuna Matata

Ok so much has happened alot of craziness which I can't even go into it's such a long story. Ending with I'm now in Wellington!! It's soooo good to be back on the North Island! Only been here for a few hours and I love it. The city has an Austin/NOLA vibe but cool without even trying.

I went to Milford Sound yesterday. Absolutely worth it even with the 8 hour bus ride. As beautiful as everyone has been saying and glad I went! Took so many pictures that I can't even upload them all here so I'll leave you with my favorite.. and two more. lucky you.

You might be thinking "cool man but i think your camera messed up". Think again. This is a picture of Mirror Lake and shows the reflection of the Southern Alps. My favorite picture I've taken yet. Framer.
This picture is "sweet as". You can see the rain forming and then flowing down. The water is so clean there. I regret not filling up my water bottle with it/even trying it. The idea of drinking from a stream is taught to equal death so even though I could see it with my own eyes how clear and 100% pure it was I was still afraid. sigh.

I like how the wind is taking the water away from fully falling. Milford your rocked.

Another Day, Another Mountain

Walk up to the top was steep man. Even the picture looks wimpy. No one will probably ever believe me. But it was intense I promise!!


View from top!
City of Queenstown!
Beautiful.
Picture from the Gondala. I didn't pay for it. I know horrible but way too tired to walk down. I thought about doing the 5 hour hike today but alas am exhausted. And it rained yesterday so it would be dangerous right? That's my excuse anyways.

Thoughts...

Apparently everyone is leaving Ireland. And moving to Australia.

Watched LOTR3 last night and it was amazing. Watching it in NZ makes it double cool!

Queenstown

Hello from Queenstown! Just hiked up this mountain! Don't know what is actually going on with my hair. My calfs hurt once I got to the top, absolute angles my friends. But so worth it. The girl I went with was so nice about me stopping a few times for a breather. Blaming it on the altitude.

What's this you ask? Only the best find in the Southern Hemisphere.

Because THIS is what was there!!! STRAWBERRIES!!!!!!!!!! I haven't seen these bad boys since 2008. I wanted to buy the jar but settled for the little pack of about 5. I may go back again today. Though I did regret eating them today while on the hike.. Best day ever. I love you Queenstown.

The city.

The lake and everyone out.

so cute.

Aunt Mary freakout out when she forgot to put a flower in my room when I returned the other day. haha so she ran outside and got this one :)

Queenstown is so beautiful but I think I like the North Island better. Not that I'm complaining at all about the South Island but I keep feeling like the mountains are blocking something important.

I love staying at hostels, people may not understand this but they are so cool. You meet so many people and I love hearing about their lives and all their adventures and plans. It does help that the one I'm at now just got an award for the best in all oceania :)

P.S. Had a newer post but it shows up after an older one. Look for "KeriKeri".