Let's just cut to the chase; I slept around a lot in New Zealand. I mean, it's not very hard to do when backpacking across both the North and South Island, visiting eight cities and sleeping in eight different hostels throughout 19-days. That is what you had in mind, right?
[Where sensuality and imagination meet.]
The adventures began in Auckland and, after six trips on the InterCity bus, one Islander ferry-ride across Cook Strait and approximately 10 hours in our rental car, ended in Christchurch. And in case you were wondering, no ride on public transportation is worthwhile if there isn't someone blaring music from their cell phone and singing along obnoxiously. And lest we forget the (un)pleasantly plump man whose elbow kept me safe from any sudden jerks the bus made during our 8-hours of travel. I digress. For every city we visited, we allotted one day for travel and another for an activity. After these two nights, we were off to our next destination. The South Island had a bit more to offer so we spent an extra night per destination. Our route looked a little something like this:
Each town was respectively charming. Anyone who cared to inquire about our travels figured that we were likely to party hard in Wellington, swim with dolphins in Kaikoura, and possibly get laid or bungy jump in Queenstown. Other times you don't get so lucky. Moving on. Even though Christchurch is still heavily impacted by the recent earthquakes and its entire City Centre has become restricted area, the community still welcomes visitors. I even visited a local market, where local residents sold hand-crafted pieces, second hand belongings and offered free meals. No matter the charm, there was an acknowledgement and respect for the Maori culture in a way that the Aboriginal culture isn't regarded in Australia. Today, the Maori people make up about 14% of the New Zealand population, while their language has been integrated into much of the New Zealand lifestyle. Oh, and here's a fun fact: Every word in the Maori language ends in a vowel. Maori men have also been known to participate in whats called Haka, a traditional war dance. I am unsure how widely practiced this aspect of their culture is practiced today, but one tourguide was more than happy to demonstrate the moves for us.
[Te Maata performs the Haka, traditional Maori war dance]
My senses were overwhelmed for just about every part of our journey. From the pungent smell of sulphur in Rotouroa, the sounds of the Pacific waves crashing in Kaikoura to daunting sirens all over the place. Imagine, you've just been lulled to sleep by the waves of the Pacific Ocean. Best sleep you have ever gotten, I mean better than the sleep NyQuil claims to induce! But all of a sudden, a siren sounds for about 15 minutes. Posters warned that sirens will sound to alert volunteers of an emergency and do not indicate a Tsunami, but I woke up frantically just the same. This happened in Kaikoura, Franz Josef and Christchurch; there has got to be a better way! I also felt about three earthquakes in Christchurch. The wind was a-howling and the building trembled right down to my bunk bed. I thought I was being dramatic until the owner remarked about the mini-earthquakes the next morning. Gotdamn fault line!
But now for my favorites of the five senses: taste and sight. You could imagine how delicious the seafood tasted there. I had to convince myself not to order mussels in every city, 'twas the most challenging thing I've done since that hike up Mt. Warning! The scenery, breathtaking and diverse. I even found a dolphin in the most bizarre of places, see for yourself!
[Pot of mussels braised w. tomatoes, garlic & herbs w. garlic bread]
Invito, Auckland.
[Thai fish cakes with mango, cucumber, mung bean and carrot salad]
Mac's Brewbar, Wellington.
[Sweet Julie: Grilled chicken marinated in ginger soy sauce w. sweet chili,]
lettuce, red onion & aioli. -- with a side of chips.
lettuce, red onion & aioli. -- with a side of chips.
Fergburger, Queenstown.
Hostels, fate and activities, oh my! One of Mum's last words to me were not to talk to strangers. But you could image how challenging this would have been having to sleep in 4 to 6-female share accommodations. Most nights, my classmate and I got lucky and we had the entire room to ourselves. In the more popular cities like Wellington and Queenstown, it was a full house. And by full house, I mean having to deal with clumsy entries by roommates gone drunk, people talking in their sleep, frequent risers who slam the door behind them in the middle of the night, travelers throwing their belongings all across the room, and a sick person contaminating the room. In the more remote towns like Picton and Kaikoura, we booked twin-shares and regained an appreciation for personal space. Most hostels also urged guests to conserve water by taking short showers and turning off the faucet while brushing their pearly-whites, but this was seriously important in Christchurch. As serious as suggesting a port-a-potty. I think not!
Anyway, have you ever felt like you met the right person at the right time? More so, that you were meant to be in a given time and space just to meet a specific person. Not romantically, but to learn something new about yourself. Perhaps something you have been mulling over, consciously or otherwise. I had moments like this a couple of times during the trip. Conversations ranged from culture, relationships, self-acceptance, fate, spirituality and personal aspirations. I had scribbled my deepest thoughts and worldly questions in my journal only to have them later uncovered in random conversations with strangers. This is what it's about, discovering your truths amidst the natural ebb and flow of life. I have been great about keeping in contact with most of these travelers and hope that they walked away with as much insight and appreciation as I have.
Another truth that I discovered was that the needed to live within my means. I was unable to do all of the activities mentioned in the previous post, but there were still great activities worth highlighting. For one, the Sounds Connection Wine Tour. We visited 4 wineries and tasted about 23 wines from the Marlborough Region including Sauvigon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Gewurtztraminer and Late Harvest Reisling. The Gewurtztraminer and its hint of cinnamon was my absolute fave, as well as the fruity taste of the Late Harvest dessert wine. Give it a try the next time you dine out =).
The second highlight is thanks to Mum whom answered all of my "SOS" emails. With a quick deposit (or two), I had the opportunity to bungy jump! The AJ Hackett Bridge Jump sits 43m (143 ft.) above Kawarau River and was actually the first bungy jump site in the world! He asked how I was feeling, I replied "Foolish". The moment comes. 5-4-3-2-1 Bungy! "Wait, you're not going to push me?" A woman, who was kind enough to take photos of me, later asked what went through my mind before I jumped. An expletive, ha! But now that I am alive and well enough to share the story, I am ready to take the next step in this relationship I have with Adrenaline: Sky-dive. I'll keep you posted. Other activities included the Kelly Tarlton's Arctic Center, Hell's Gate Spa, Rotouroa and Te Papa Museums, Sounds Connection Wine Tour, Sightseeing Tour, and the Glacier Valley Walk.
Below is a just snapshot, all activities are not depicted. Click to enlarge. Enjoy!
Anyway, have you ever felt like you met the right person at the right time? More so, that you were meant to be in a given time and space just to meet a specific person. Not romantically, but to learn something new about yourself. Perhaps something you have been mulling over, consciously or otherwise. I had moments like this a couple of times during the trip. Conversations ranged from culture, relationships, self-acceptance, fate, spirituality and personal aspirations. I had scribbled my deepest thoughts and worldly questions in my journal only to have them later uncovered in random conversations with strangers. This is what it's about, discovering your truths amidst the natural ebb and flow of life. I have been great about keeping in contact with most of these travelers and hope that they walked away with as much insight and appreciation as I have.
Another truth that I discovered was that the needed to live within my means. I was unable to do all of the activities mentioned in the previous post, but there were still great activities worth highlighting. For one, the Sounds Connection Wine Tour. We visited 4 wineries and tasted about 23 wines from the Marlborough Region including Sauvigon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Gewurtztraminer and Late Harvest Reisling. The Gewurtztraminer and its hint of cinnamon was my absolute fave, as well as the fruity taste of the Late Harvest dessert wine. Give it a try the next time you dine out =).
The second highlight is thanks to Mum whom answered all of my "SOS" emails. With a quick deposit (or two), I had the opportunity to bungy jump! The AJ Hackett Bridge Jump sits 43m (143 ft.) above Kawarau River and was actually the first bungy jump site in the world! He asked how I was feeling, I replied "Foolish". The moment comes. 5-4-3-2-1 Bungy! "Wait, you're not going to push me?" A woman, who was kind enough to take photos of me, later asked what went through my mind before I jumped. An expletive, ha! But now that I am alive and well enough to share the story, I am ready to take the next step in this relationship I have with Adrenaline: Sky-dive. I'll keep you posted. Other activities included the Kelly Tarlton's Arctic Center, Hell's Gate Spa, Rotouroa and Te Papa Museums, Sounds Connection Wine Tour, Sightseeing Tour, and the Glacier Valley Walk.
Below is a just snapshot, all activities are not depicted. Click to enlarge. Enjoy!
[Until the next discovery.]
