From the beginning!....

From the beginning!...


Copied from my previous 'Get Jealous' Travel Blog site:
www.getjealous.com/lornie-licious

In order from Oldest to Newest.... (dates shown are the date the blog entry was made, not dates of arrival, etc etc....).


Things I will Miss most...
22nd August, 2007

Only 5 days to go.... OMG how its crept up on me!!! Still.... fantabulously excited tho :D I`ve been thinking about the stuff I am leaving behind.... my family, my friends- everyone! Old friends aswell as new ones.... everyone who could make my getogether on Sat 18th August.... Including Harriet, Tan, Jo, Sarah.... all of you...thank you so much for being there.... I loved it :) Good memories to go away with! The new friends I`ve made at work, and other places..... Emily.... I love you lots...and dont know how I will live without talking to you for a day because I cant now lol. Youre leaving present was very thoughtful and I hope you will not forget me in the year that I am away!!! And of course, I will miss my best bud; Lucy :). Im so lucky to have such great friends, so truely thank you my chums! Things a little less `slushy` which I will miss:

My FAMILY GUY DVDS (nooooooooo!!!!!!!)
Eastenders
Hollyoaks
Maidstone, Rochester and Bluewater
Weatherspoons (Rochester) lol and added to that , tap n tin!
My luxuries and my wide selection of clothes (hehe)
The use of internet (without paying an hourly rate!)
Seeing `Stardust` and other such cool new films at the cinema.. (if they arent out in nz!)
Lots of shopping!!!! lol

Im sure theres more!! On a serious note, thank you everyone for your support... I couldnt have hoped for better wishes or compliments from everyone for organising and going through with this experience!

Anyways enough of that...I will miss all that stuff...but Im damn well going to make sure its worth it :P

Yeah...that may have been a bit formal, and much like a speech at an award ceremony (teehee) but u no me!

I look forward to it all when I get back!
Speak to you all soon!

Love and hugs ....and ... all...that!

Lorna xxxxxxx

The Flight Out and Auckland- Intro!
28th August, 2007
Helloo from Auckland! Well, we`ve been here since Wednesday 29th August 07; we landed just before 9am at Auckland International Airport. The flight was the longest I had ever done- from the longest being 3 hours to this one (over 24 hours!) was quite a big difference!! However, Air NZ are highly recommended, as the staff were curteous and on the ball, the food and drink was lovely and the inflight entertainment was brilliant!! I watched Shrek the third, Blades of Glory, and some tv and music, whilst playing lots of games on the screen and trying to master some sudoku! We stopped off at Hong Kong after the first leg of the flight (which was around 11 hours...) for two hours. It was a shame we couldnt get off, as the scenery around the airport was breathtaking. The difference also between the airport staff in England compared to those in Hong Kong was astounding....but there we go!! After buying a few snacks (which were DELICIOUS!!!!) and taking lots of photos from inside the airport, it was time to reboard the plane at 18.10 (Hong Kong time...to make matters of time even more confusing..!!!???!) Then, the second leg of the flight , another dinner and breakfast later, and we arrived in Auckland, New Zealand!
We carried our majorly heavy (well, mine anyway) backpacks onto the next city bus, and got to the centre in no time. We got off at the hostel we had booked (the Fat Camel...right in the centre, near Queen Street , Shortland Street- which I believe is famous???????- and the high street). We left our backpacks in the very smelly, very messy cupboard (typical backpackers eh!) and went to discover the new city we were in, that felt very much like it was round the corner from Medway at that moment in time; however a lot more stunning!
We walked up Queen Street (the main high street in the city) which was busy, but not so compared to London. Lots of road works going on....however sill very pretty and open for a city. Full of great shops .... apparently all the stuff sold in Billabong and Quiksilver is designed in Australia, therefore is totally different to what is sold in England, and a lot nicer at that!!! However....not too much money for all that!! However still nice to window shop like a proper backpacker!!
We went to Mcdonalds (which I didn`t think they`d have here! How wrong was I!) and it felt like a home from home, also temporarily it lifted me out of my jetlag (temporarily being the key word!) I tried the Kiwiburger meal..which consisted of the usual drink, fries and burger (the burger had cheese and egg, burger-of course!- and beetroot; all the things kiwis love apparently!) It actually tasted rather nice! hehe. There we go, I have to talk about food! Paul was sooo adventurous and had a McChicken Royale!
We checked in, and got settled in our room, which is a double and part of an apartment (5 more rooms surrounding a kitchen/lounge area, and shared toilets/showers). I soon got used to the `hostelness` of the room... and got over the fact the sheets hadnt seemed to be changed before we got there. Ewwww. lol. We slept from about 3 until 7 am ish the next morning! Jet lag or what!

Thursday 30th August 07;
Not too much today either. Sorted all bank account stuff, went and bought sim cards (Vodafone....of course.... couldnt be anything a bit less BRITISH could it?? No Tanya, we arent being loyal lol) for our mobiles, and had a further mooch around the centre. Went into STA only to be sent to the KiwiExperience office in Parnell (a little walk away, so left it til Sat 1st Sept to go sort out our upcoming national bus travel!) and then came back to the hostel. we ate, wrote in journals, checked emails and did odds n sods...then fell asleep around 4 pm! until 12. then we had toast, as we couldnt sleep hehe (body time all confused!) and then i went to sleep at about 3 until 7 the next morning!


Pictures and diary updates to come soon!
Thinking Of Everyone at home (NOT hehe) No seriously, we are!
Lots of Love,
Lorna (and Paul!)


More Of Auckland
31st August, 2007

31st August 2007

At 10.05am Paul and I made our way down to Reception to book up the Free Day trip ( with Stray...another NZ bus company...) We waited in the Fat Camel Bar (at our hostel) and were collected by the tour guide for the day `Worm` as he is nicknamed. (He could be described as a proper dude, full of funny stories regarding dolphins and extreme sports... etc). It was a really interesting bus journey to each stop, and there was quite a bit of useful info! Our first stop was the Auckland Sky Tower (the highest tower in the Southern Hemisphere, a little bigger than the Eiffel Tower apparently!). To top it off....we watched as someone launched themselves off of it and come down to the platform in front of us! This is called the `Sky Jump` and you can only jump off a Sky Tower in two places in the whole world (there and China!) so I figured that this would be a good thing to do.... (check back later for an update on how that one turns out!!!!)
Anyway, we drive over the Auckland Harbour Bridge next (to see what these places look like, we will load up photos for you so refer to those after or before reading these blogs!!).

Amazing views! We headed into Auckland Harbour (Viaduct Point) to check that out. and learned of the americas cup rivalry between oz and nz! We then drove onto Bastion Point, which was another great lookout of the city. You could see the islands of the huraki gulf (Brownes, Rangitoto, Waiiheke). Auckland is geographically flat, therefore all the hills you can see in the pictures are volcanic!

Then onto Mission Bay, where we ate the local favourite `Hokey Pokey` flavour Ice Cream (Vanilla and honeycomb I believe!) which is where paul had his paddle in the pics! Hehe- how cute are they btw??? lol the water was really cold ! It was a lovely olde worlde seaside town with a lush sandy/shelly beach. Then onto Achilles Point- with more scenic views and a monument. We then drove to the top of Mt. Eden, and had a walk around the crater- it was freeezing!!! It offered a 360 degree panoramic view of the whole city and suburbs. Noone could enter the crater due to a maori legend that a chief was speared in the back and died there in battle. We went to a `Speights` (Nz beer!) pub for lunch, and bought chips to share. Through talking to a Kiwi guy called Todd, i found out that the cheapesst supermarket here is knicknamed `Pack n S(l)ave` because you have to pack your shopping bags yourself! God they have it easy out here!! lol.
We had our free first `dinner` (a very small portion of pasta and bolognese) with a pint each! (Ive found Tui to be the best beer, named after a nz bird). However Export Gold and just Gold are also good!!!

On 1st September, we checked out Auckland Domain (the massive park with a museum!) Wandered up Queen St, `K` road (famous for nightlife n red light district!). The museum was full of cool maori info and artefacts, and also there was a level on wars, and a level on natural history (check out the photos!) it was an enlightening trip!
We went to Parnell to sort out bus travel via kiwiX, and found Parnell to be the nicest looking town outside Auckland, with lots of cafes and chocolate boutiques!!! Perfect!
It was so amazing to spend this time out here with Paul, sharing this new place and new experiences together- seeing and learning new things. It didn`t feel like the other side of the world for a while- because I`m always home when I`m with Paul (extremely damn cheesy, but v. true lol).

Extreme Sporting Begins... My Skyjump! *Yes, I did it!*
7th September, 2007
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>OMG!<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

My first extreme sport.... today is Friday 7th September, which is when I conquered `New Zealand`s Highest Jump!`.

Firstly, check out these sites to have a look at what I`m writing about!!
www.skyjump.co.nz
www.skycity.co.nz/skycity/auckland/sky-tower

We met Dale and Lisa in the Hostel Lobby at 10.30 this morning, and ventured off to our doom!!! lol. We got to the Sky Tower (the one in the pics I`ve already put up!) and went and paid for our jump ($175- about 60 quid!). We then got on our jump suit, which was bright Yellow and Blue, with like a lightning bolt on it!! SEXY! lol. Then on came the harness, and at that point I began to feel really so nervous!! It was just sinking in at that moment that I was actually going to lob myself off this really tall tower, whereas before I was all up for it no problem!! When we went up it a few days ago the height didnt really bother me, but today however, it did
(in a big way!!!!) Paul and Dale were taken off by the guy to go stand at the platform where you land at the end of the jump, so from then it was just me and Lisa - me waiting in anticipation, whereas either she was acting really confident or was actually really confident about it! Crazily, I had said all along that I`d go first! Big mistake!!
We went up in the lift to the restaurant, and had to walk through it to a room surrounded by glass. Then straight away someone said `whose first??` and I got dragged into the next room along before I knew it! A woman and then a guy checked my harness, and then took me outside onto the platform, which can only be described as a metal plank, protruding out from the main platform behind me! It all began to get really scary and I couldnt stop swearing from that moment on!!!! (as everyone who knows me well would expect of me!!). The guy who put our suit and stuff on in the first place asked where I was from and said `are all the people from the film `Snatch` from London and the south east??` I said I think their roles are meant to be yeah. So, obviously, the f*ing that came out of my mouth just confirmed that stereotype! Anyway, so as soon as I got to the edge and they were strapping me onto whatever they were strapping me onto (Wasn`t paying that much attention at that point...I could only think `How the hell am I going to jump off this?!?!?!?!?` In so many words!! I kept saying that I couldnt do it, so the woman suggested that I lean backwards to do it! Everyone afterwards said to me that that`s probably the worst way to do it to them!! But hey, I guess I`m strange! I was well scared, and I kept looking at Lisa who was egging me on! I held onto two ropes either side of me, and it was so hard to let go of them; I had t o hold onto my harness and clung onto it! The woman told me to edge back and hang my heels over the edge, as she was holding my harness from the front, then I heard her say 3,2,1 into her walkie talkie and I thought `shit!!! Im guna do it!` Subsequently, I closed my eyes and just leant back....and it felt WEIRD!!!! She let go of me and I just fell for a bit, then they dangled me and got me to turn around and look up for the photo. I can`t remember that part of it too much! The next bit I REMEMBER!!!! It was bad enough getting you to jump off a platform which was ridiculously high, but then to stop you, and then let you plummet down all the way to the ground from there (and restart all the jerkiness of the stomach!!!) was just plain mean!!!!!
It was the most surreal and amazing feeling, however I held onto my harness the whole time- it would have felt too free otherwise (although I couldnt have felt more alone or more unattached to anything in my life!!!) The sheer feeling of fear at just falling off this building was astonishing! It felt as thought the platform was getting closer too quickly and that I wasn`t going to slow down, however that`s when I felt the harness kick in and my legs just bent and gave way!I landed on my knees lol (to make it worse, the platform had a giant red bullseye on it!!! lol) to be welcomed by Paul and Dale, who said apparently it took me 1 min and a half to actually jump, whereas the guy down there had told them I`d be off in 30 secs!!! Hehe trust me to keep everyone waiting!! There was also a tour group on the Stray bus (the one we went on the other day) and I heard them clap me before they went off..so were probably waiting for me to jump too so that they could see someone! The guy at the bottom told me to `watch my language` lol...because I did not shut up once I had landed! We then stood and waited for Lisa to jump, and she did it facing forward, like a pro; waving her arms and legs around!! She came down, and we found out we could do a second one again for free. She did, but I didnt want to!!! lol. So we went inside and actually watched and filmed her on the TV screen. Then we took our harnesses and jump suits off, and watched ourselves on the screens. We got a free pass to go back up the skytower and have a look at where we had jumped etc, so we left Dale and Paul waiting again! I filmed the views in daylight, as last time we came up it was getting dark, and we looked in amazement at what we had just done! We then came down, and I decided to buy my DVD, seeing as doing it was such a huge ordeal for me!! Here are a few facts about the actual jump and tower, just to make what I`ve done seem more impressive!!!!:

-As I said, it`s New Zealand`s Highest Jump, at 192m or 630 ft
- 85km/h for approx 11 seconds
-The tower itself is the tallest in the Southern Hemisphere; higher than Sydney`s AMP tower, the Eiffel Tower- it`s the 12th tallest in the world!
-328m high (37 buses end on end!)

I`m sure I will show the DVD to everyone when I get home (all I kept thinking after was that my Nan would have a heart attack if she just saw me do that!!), and also I got two photos free with a voucher from a mag- which was good! I shall add the photos if I can at another point as my internet time is running low...but Id just like to say... WELL DONE ME!!!! lol.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
P.s: If you`re reading this and think it sounds like a piece of piss to do... you just have to do it yourself!!!!!!!!!! :P

Paihia; Bay Of Islands
12th September, 2007
When me and Paul arrived in the lovely town called `Paihia`- it was a ghost town (with the winter season just coming to an end). We checked into the gorgeous `Saltwater Lodge` hostel....which was a huge suprise to me (in comparison with where we had previously stayed- the Fat Camel in Auckland). There were TONS of movies, a foozball table, a huge lounge and kitchen area, immaculately clean dorm rooms, free bikes.... and some very very nice ppl! I made some great friends whilst I was here including Tomoko from Japan, Clara from Hong Kong, Florian from Germany, Justin from the states (although havent spoken to him in a while!). I love those guys so much, and spent a jolly few nights with them in the salty bar (the cheapest and best bar in Paihia probably, just infront of Saltwater Lodge Hostel) playing on the free pool! The beers are 2 for $3.50 (not even GBP1.50!) until 9, and then they are $5.50 each (thats like GBP2!) The best beer has to be Tui, but the cheapest ones here are usually Liquid Gold or Steinlager. Me and Paul went bike riding up to Woolworths (it`s a supermarket here! The biggest chain and one of the cheapest), which is on the way to Waitangi from Paihia (Waitangi holds the `Treaty Grounds` where the treaty which was made by the British was signed by both themselves and the Maoris here, stating the rights of the land, years and years ago). We also went Kayaking (for the first time in my life!!!!) which was a cool experience for me. You all know me....I can`t swim too well.... and by the time we had paddled out to quite a depth of water, I had panicked and started crying at every movement the kayak made! We kayaked to one of the islands that you can see from the beach (how awesome is that!!! an empty island with like your own beach....hehe.) and it took a lot for Paul to get me back in. However, once back in I went at it like a pro, and thoroughly enjoyed it (yes..that`s me all over isn`t it!!) lol. After a few days, Paul startted his handyman job (in exchange for accomodation, internet and laundry) at the Mousetrap hostel, which is on the same small road as Saltwater Lodge (King`s Road). Check this out..... The lush sandy beaches are just at the bottom of this small road where we lived... Result!!! Tops England doesn`t it guys! *pokes tongue out*. We also did a day trip to Cape Reinga (the northern most point in NZ, where the light house is, and the only place where you can see both the Tasman sea and the Pacific Ocean meet- and they are both actually different colours.... it was AMAZING!). The bus drove us up there, talking about all the farming goings on etc as we drove through the Far North. There was a town where the population was purely Maori, I believe. We went with Dale and Lisa, and Robyn and Micaela from England also- who were fantastic chicks!! (in the pics!). We also stopped at `Kauri Kingdom` and the `Kauri Forest`.... the kauri trees were the first living organism on earth, and some of the items in the kauri kingdom were like 40,000 years old!!! Wow. Me and Paul also did the `Day in the Bay` Dolphin Cruise, where the ferry looked for marine life...and we spotted loads of dolphins....they were so fast, elegant and majestic, and just damn right beautiful!!! My jaw was on the floor the whole time I was watching them, and I laid down at the front of the boat just to look down and be closer to them! (although it was very windy, and this didnt help with sea sickness later..... !). However, noone got to swim with them, as they had juveniles with them. We went through the famous `Hole in the Rock` and saw the Cape Brett lighthouse, just by Russell (the town across the water from Paihia). We stopped on one of the Islands and it was scorching hot! Paul snorkelled and I just laid in the sun on the sandy beach! (refer to pic!). We then walked up and around this island, and got back onto the boat. A great day out in the bay.

I moved to `Bay Adventurer` Hostel, which again was on the same road, but had a totally different feel to it...which can only be described as the `holiday feel`. All of the outside of the building are wooden, there are some studio apartments and dorm rooms comprising it. There is a courtyard in the middle where everyone sits (usually smoking) but there has been the odd bbq and drinking occasion! I absolutely grew to love this place!! Again all the hostels are immaculately clean, and feel so spacious. The management are WONDERFUL!!!! Nadine and Michaela were so interesting to talk to (for Michaela, to hear about her past travel experiences...and for Nadine....well....its just about `honeys` really!!! lol also her past drunken -and whatever else- experiences!!!). They made me feel so welcome and I will never forget it guys! I cleaned here each morning for my free accomodation and money off my laundry. It was so much fun, and made more friends here (also lived with two familiar names from the past.....Dale and Lisa....who always cracked me up during their stay there!!!! I will never forget Dale`s impressions of different accents....inparticular the ones of me and `my mate TAAAAAAAN` (lol i think i told you about this Tanya?) and Kelly Tarltons bus driver...which always made me laugh so hard I cried!!! I met some really cool people at Mousetrap, including Renier and Quentin (Bob and Q), Liz (Netherlands) and Naomi (Scotland). Also met some wicked guys (who I love to pieces!!!) called Adam (Canada) and Mara (states), whilst out at Salty`s one night. We all drank and danced in the rain on the beach after....and everyone sang their national anthem.....except me! Guess why..... well, I dont know it do I! lol. Monkey and a couple of other `dudes` from NZ also accompanied us, and I can always remember Monkey singing `I would walk 500 miles`. I went to Haruru Falls with Adam and Mara one day... and we weren`t too impressed (or maybe I`m speaking for myself?!) at the falls itself, however edged around the gate closing off the walking track and found more lovely sites, and an even lovlier small waterfall, tucked away behind the trees. We hitched there and hitched back (yes...the took my hitch hiking virginity!) and it was so easy to do actually. I will always remember it. They were camping at the `Pickled Parrot` hostel, just around the corner from King`s Rd, which was also nice. The tent was soo cosy!!!! I went to `School Road Lookout Point` with Tomoko one day, just as the sun was setting, and it was lovely!!!!! The views of Paihia were awesome. It was a half hour trek each way to the viewpoint, through lovely woodland. However this is probably the simplest trek to be done in Paihia. I will miss the conversations me Tom and Clara used to have about different cultures, languages and guys! They are such lovely funny girls....and damn do they know how to cook well!!!! Tomoko always made me laugh, because she always carried around an electronic Japanese to English dictionary, which we had a lot of fun with. I also remember drawing Japan and the UK in the sand with twigs.... bless us! I made some good friends at Bay Adventurer called Karl (ESSEX BOI!!!!!) who, to my astonishment, has been away from home travelling for 3 years already, and has a year left to do in NZ! Good on you Karl!!! and Belinda from South Africa (such a sweety, and really makes me laugh!! We`ve had some great chats!). Also I will never forget the Argentinian guys Lucas, Valentine and Augustine, Philippe and Emanuel from Switzerland and the lovely fish that caught and cooked for our big shared meal, and Steffy from Germany ! (What can I say about Steffy.....sooo cool, so energetic and out there, and at the same time so great to talk to and so intelligent.). Also Kent and Brad, the other guys from Ireland, States and Canada who stayed at Bay Adventurer... they were fun!

After my flying visit to Kaitaia and Ahipara.... I stayed at Mousetrap hostel, because I had cleaned at the Bay Adventurer for almost a month. It had more of a homely feel to it (it was just a huge house really!) and was really nice still. It had some lovely sea views which I saw when I woke up and looked outside each morning, which made me feel happy to be here in NZ! I worked at the two hotels (housekeeping and waitressing) for a couple of weeks, and then decided I would like to be a tourist, and maybe after that it would be time to move on. It had started to heat up here now....proper summer days sitting on the beach with an ice cream, reading my books! All in all, Paihia is a beautiful place, and so relaxed. 10/10!

A huge shout out to Dan....we love you man! You haven`t lost that loveing feeling.... (cant believe you sang karaoke to me!! lol) Saskia, Anna, Stephy, Heather, Izzy, Elise, Kiki, Rachel, Bret, Turnell...... sooo many amazing ppl!


Ahipara Beach, *Herekino Forest*, and Kaitaia
6th October, 2007
On the 6th October 07, I took the Intercity bus to Kaitaia from Paihia, and the journey took 2 hours. Kaitaia is the northernmost town in Nz (in the area classed as the `Far North`). On the way there I passed through Keri Keri, Kaeo, Mangonui..... And the scenery was out of this world! I had the intention of staying with a family to do au pair work, and also generally help with meal preparation, feeding chickens...etc! I saw Shipwreck bay (at the end of `90 Mile Beach) and the house`s location was absolutely beautiful ... surrounded by rainforest, in its own valley....with a long windy road leading up to the house! It took ages to drive to Ahipara (the next small town) let alone the next main town (Kaitaia), which is

My Short experience of Kaitaia and Ahipara (more Herekino Forest area than Ahipara itself!)

nothing in comparison to an English town for amenities. Walking was not an option. This hindered me quite a lot and although the family were lovely and I really wanted to try and live this way of life, I really wanted to meet other people at this moment in time, and do things in my spare time. However, there was also nothing to do in the house when I wasn`t working.... no TV (NOOOOOOO) lol. Just silence. I discovered a lot about myself and my westernized ways. I did get stuck in with the way of life (creeping through the woods with the light from my phone to get to the compost toilet outside of a night!), made chicken food and shuved on some wellies to set off through the creek to get to feed the chickens! I helped prepare the meals for the family, and helped generally moving wood around from the woodhouse etc. I enjoyed the time I had spent there, but had just wanted to be back in Paihia talking to travellers from around the world.

On the Sunday evening I was driven back to Kaitaia and stayed at the hostel there called `Mainstreet Backpackers` and (can highly recommend it), which was such a huge relief! LIFE! SHOPS! WOOO! I wandered around buying myself things from the supermarket just because I could, spoke to a few people at the hostel re travel plans...and generally could relax! The owner was so nice and gave me a lift to the bus stop early the next morning.... I made my way back to Paihia and once again enjoyed the scenery of the Northlands on the return journey. An experience to remember.


The *Working Holiday Visa* part of my trip...
19th October, 2007
My Work Experience during the trip so far!.....

- Bay Adventurer- Cleaning for accomodation from Wednesday 19th September until Wednesday 3rd October, each morning approx 9.30 am til 12.30.

-I did Housekeeping at the `Paihia Beach Resort hotel and Spa` for a week in 19th October 07, Paihia.

-I was a morning and evening (breakfast and dinner buffet) Waitress and did some bar work at Hotel Paihia for 2 weeks ending 21st October 07.

-I attempted Au pair/Wwoofer work near Ahipara, however found it too remote and lasted 2 days! Now am currently happy to be a tourist in Paihia and be a lazy bum on the beach with all the nice choc and ice creams to take up my time :D (Correct as of 22nd October 07)

To be updated!


Highlights..Paihia to Auckland
24th October, 2007

It`s all a learning curve!

No idea what to do regarding jobs, location, etc etc!!! Need to really sort my head out after this tough several weeks!!! Nothing else to report except for negativity really lol. Just a bit lost and stuck.

I got the 3 1/2 hour bus journey back to Auckland from Paihia on Friday 2nd November, (through Whangarei -pronounced `fang-grr-eye`!- Wellsford, Warkworth, and all the beautiful lush green scenery, and arrived at 8pm. Once I could again see the sky tower, I felt happy and like I had somehow missed Auckland, and having some relaxed time. I got off at the Skycity bus station, and checked in at the surf and snow hostel (as a guy recommended it to me in Paihia! Let`s not go into why I won`t be going back to the Fat Camel....just one word....SCABIES!!! lol.) The surf n snow is so close to the bus etc, although noisy (which has to be expected anywhere in Auckland!) and I dont think much of the kitchen. However, a better option than the Fat Camel. I stayed in an 8 bed dorm, and have been there since, living the Auckland life as you do! (buying lots of junk food from the 24 hour Mcdonalds(!!!!!) bakeries, the many 24 hour `star marts` and internet cafes here.... sitting in cafes, in Albert Park, looking around the shops....generally feeling lost in a big city! The city never sleeps, but then again nor do I at the moment! Taking my time in thinking about things here, and getting odds and ends together. Not sure I can say I like bing here still....at the moment I`m hating it, and compared to my last visit back here, it`s a lot worse! All I can say is, I cant escape hearing things about people I know in Paihia (!!) and seeing things about Paihia too. Not the best place to be right now! Hopefully all this negativity will fade soon!

I guess I have a long long time to start feeling better...although in my head its a big rush (ahhhhhh!!!!) atm, I guess taking my time is a good start :) thanks to all my lovely great wonderful family and friends here in NZ and at home for keeping in touch with me and giving me the strength I need to think about moving forward (even though Im at a stand still right now!)- there is always hope... which is what youve given me lol.

On Sunday 4th Nov, I met with Florian (very lovely German friend from Paihia :P - now living and working in Auckland) and we went to a very lovely Korean restaurant.... It was the first time I tried it, and had squid, with a number of other accompaniments, which were, interesting....(!) didn`t like so much! Lol. We then went to Skycity Cinema and saw Fracture (Anthony Hopkins)- I liked it, and rated it 7/10! I sat and watched the lovely fireworks in Auckland the next day, from the harbour- which looked amazing! I`ve come all this way and am in the largest city in NZ, and all it reminds me of.....is Upnor! lol. Only one person in this world will know what I`m talking about! It was a very poignant moment for me. Saskia (Yet again, another lovely German friend I made up in Paihia- crazy as ever and loves to shop- really makes me laugh!! :D ), came down and stayed at Surf `n` Snow too. I spent the afternoon with her, and we met Florian, and again went to SkyCity Cinema and watched Stephen King`s 1408. I loved it, however, I`m not sure Florian did! I spent the next day (Thursday) with Saskia, and we shopped, ate Cookies and went Nandos for dinner. The best bits of Auckland!!!I left Auckland for Whitianga on Friday 9th November with the KiwiExperience. The scenery continuously improved on the journey.

Some Useless Info...Hey , you know me!!
4th November, 2007

Some Useless Info

Important things that I keep learning the longer I spend here in NZ, that seem normal to me atm, but would have not learned in a million years back home! It`s my little diary of the fundamental words, phrases and other useless facts about NZ, that I can always look back on and remember!

(They might seem sooo normal, so if you laugh at me...I shall kill you. And if you read them and accept them....I will kill you last. lol.)

NEW ZEALAND - Words & Phrases

Jandals : sandals!!!! How bizarre!
Kiwi: A New Zealander! (Not to be confused with the `Kiwifruit` and `Kiwibird`)
`A good feed` : A lot of food (e.g. a filling meal!)
People like to say `Sweet As` A LOT! basically translating to : `Cool` `Okay` `Yeah` `Yep` `Whatever` `Good Good`
`Yeah yeah yeah` sounds so good when you hear a Maori say it really quickly mid sentence! I`ve never heard someone just say `yeah` once here!
`Bach`s` are holiday homes pronounced `Batches`. Like the historical bachs at Rangitoto.
`kia ora` : `Hello`, in Maori
`Gums` or `gummies`- are `Wellies` (boots).
`Dag`- Hard case, joker, comedian
`eh` is used at the end of every sentence, instead of asking an actual question. It is the same as when the Medway people use `innit?!` at the end. Eh is used a lot more here than I`ve ever heard in my life!!!
NEW ZEALAND - Useless Random Info!

Maoris and Pakeha`s (White, European New Zealanders) Make up the country. They are secondary to Sheep (who rule New Zealand! Baa!).
-There are 3.9 million people: around 15% Maori (the indigenous people of NZ, who live mostly around the Northland area). NZ has 13 times(!!!) as many sheep as people - around 47.2 million sheep!!! Again, most to be found in the Northland area, I`m assuming (I`ve seen so many, those as well as cows/calfs lol).

-I think the amount of German travellers here can contend with the Kiwi population! Every other traveller you meet is German!! lol. Canadians I think are second, then maybe the Brits!

`Pack `n` Save` (Known as `Pack `n` Slave`) is by far the cheapest supermarket, although these are hard to find. So far I`ve only seen one in Kaitaia, and one in Wellsford. It`s called this, because you have to pack your own food bags!! (which is very rare in NZ! Also it`s rare apparently to fill your own car with fuel. Woah they have it hard out here!)
The more common and popular supermarket chain is `Woolworths` (no not the woolies at home!) and `FoodTown` (the same company). They seem to be really cheap, and are everywhere! And you dont pack your own bags :)
Really, contrary to the popular belief back home in the UK, Kiwis and Aussies are in fact very...VERY different! In accent, culture...everything! And they like it that way.
McDonald`s is open 24 hours in Queen Street, Auckland, and they sell meals like the `Mac Attack`, which has 2 big mac meals and is so cheap lol. And NO I havent tried it myself!!! KiwiBurger is my favourite though - yum yum! (Beetroot, egg n cheese with the normal burgery stuff!)
Star Mart is also open 24 hours usually wherever you go...if you ever get cravings during the night!
FOR COFFEE LOVERS SUCH AS MOI: There`s the usual Starbucks- which all seem to be open really late. There`s also Esquires, which give you free wireless internet with any purchase, and generally seem to have a good selection and good service...and relaxed cafes! However top of my list for the actual drink selection and quality are `Gloria Jean`s Coffee`- Try the `Hot Mud Mocha`: to die for!!!
The `Twilight Zone` In Paihia sells the best fish and chips ever! (you can get fish n cheaps meal 6 for just $5!)
Ti Bay Takeaways in Paihia are a little more expensive and out the way, but the food is gorgeous and the helpings are generous!
`Hokey Pokey` is the most popular flavour of Ice cream here and is totally Kiwi.
Other totally Kiwi foods are `Rocky Road` Flavour ice creams and chocolate bars.
Their version of Walkers is `Eta`
Their Cadbury selection is to die for!! Doing loads of different types including different desert flavours.
Ripples, Kettles ... are the best crisps.
Whittakers, cadburys, pinkys, hazelnut twix, caramel kit kat chunkys... are the best chocs!!
If in doubt, and in Auckland, DO NOT stay at the FAT CAMEL HOSTEL!!!!
`The Warehouse` ("where everyone gets a bargain!" -theme tune) is the same as Wilkinsons in England I guess....but a lot better stuff, and also a lot more clothes!!!!
They love `Milo` out here.... a hot chocolate (or cold!) energy drink! so much so they have it in the office supplies section in `The Warehouse!`. They also sell it in chocolate bars...which are also good. (Helen... you`re right.... I`m in Chocolate heaven!!! :D)

*My Song*
6th November ,2007

I`ve always loved this song...but think it applies so much to me now.

* I Hope You Dance *- By Lee Ann Womack

I hope you never lose your sense of wonder

You get your fill to eat

But always keep that hunger

May you never take one single breath for granted

God forbid love ever leave you empty handed

I hope you still feel small

When you stand beside the Ocean

Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens

Promise me you`ll give faith a fighting chance



And when you get the choice, to sit it out or dance....

I hope you dance

I hope you dance



I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance

Never settle for the path of least resistance

Living might mean taking chances

But they`re worth taking

Lovin` might be a mistake

But it`s worth making

Don`t let hell bent heart

Leave you bitter

When you come close to selling out

Reconsider

Give the heavens above

More than just a passing glance....



And when you get the choice, to sit it our or dance....

I hope you dance

(Time is a real and constant motion always)

I hope you dance.

(Rolling us along)

I hope you dance

(Tell me who)

I hope you dance

(wants to look back on their youth and wonder)

(where those years have gone)



I hope you still feel small

when you stand beside the ocean

Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens

Promise me you`ll give faith a fighting chance



And when you get the choice, to sit it out or dance....

Dance

I hope you dance...


The Coromandel Peninsula... KiwiExperience Bus, Hahei Beach-Mercury Bay- Cooks Beach, and stay in Whitianga!
9th November, 2007

After not much sleep in Auckland and an early`ish` pick up by the KiwiExperience, we stopped off at the office in Parnell (What I think is the pretty part of Auckland!) for a breakfast stop, and so the driver could sort out the tickets. He asked me to get him a venti Latte on my way to Starbucks, and after having my own mocha and sitting down, I totally forgot what the name of the coffee was he had asked for (yes.. really.. as a coffee lover I feel ashamed!). It amused me that I had to call the office from Starbucks to ask him again what it was he wanted again! We set off for Mt. Eden, for one last look at the sights of Auckland city. After a few pics, we got back on and drove onwards to Thames for a lunch stop (a pretty little town en route to Whitianga in the Coromandel). Whilst there I chatted to a few people from the bus...including D from England (Hamel Hempstead??- if thats how you spell it!), Ashley from Canada and `Jin` (thats now how you spell it but its how it sounds!) from Korea. It was really hot and sunny! We then ventured onward to the Coromandel, and whilst on the bus we had the option to either do the free walk around Cathedral Cove, or to pay for a 3 hour Kayak Tour. I signed up for the kayak tour along with 4 others.

Dee, me, David (orginally from States, now in Sydney!), Jin and Ashley all did the kayaking tour. It was absolutely beautiful and I had a blast!!! Again, I did try kayaking for the first time in my life in paihia previously, but this was the first time I had done it 'properly'...for a few hours in the heat, trying to keep a good pace going to keep up with the others! I stared in awe at the scenery quite often, as the guy who led it noticed....he had commented saying, ''you can't take that smile off your face now...and there's me thinking earlier that you wouldn't come on in the end!"(because I was asking lots and lots of questions about the likelihood of it capsizing....what can I say...non swimmer :D lol). We got off at Cathedral Cove (absolutey stunning as you can see by the pictures!!!) and wandered around, taking photos. We were provided with some juice and cookies from the tour guide...woohoo!
We spotted a Stingray in aptly named 'Stingray Bay...' (however I either wasn't actually quick enough to look or quick enough to get over there in the kayak!).
Once the tour was over, we got the world's shortest ferry ride across to Cooks Beach- Whitianga (seriously...no exaggeration...none of us had thought the ferry had even started moving when we had arrived!). In everyone elses case, they could have swam across...I on the other hand, could have maybe done a long jump..... and maybe fallen into the water and panicked....lol

We then got to our hostel where our bags already were (the ''Cat's Pyjamas" hostel, along the same street as the main shops... and got changed to go out to Blacksmith's pub for a cheap dinner and drinks! We sat alround talking, then went onto the hostel where the rest of the bus had gone (Turtle Cove). We all wandered along to Smittys bar, where people sat around playing card games and chatting (majority of the bus were younger than most of the travellers I had met, and predominanty British!). Still, not a bad experience for the kiwiexperience,contrary to popular belief.... Then back to Blacksmiths for some pool and cool dancy music stuff, lol. A mini disco methinks!! Then off back to hostel.

I stayed for a few days, the rest of the bus left the next morning, and Dee stayed one more day. In my few days there, I had a good wander around the area, along the lovely beach, right over to the harbour on the other side. Looked in the cool shops, went for a wander through some 'bush'and amused myself filming strange birds, and houses...and the surrounding hilly scenery, which seemed to lock you in! But in a good way! It was just a typical example of being totally secluded from the rest of the world's hustle and bustle, and a place I'd want to be relaxing when I am old! It made me wonder what was beyond those hills in the distance... and kept my wonder and inquisitivity very much alive! A definite spot to recommend if you will visit new zealand and would love to experience beaches, natural beauty, wildlife, and some relaxation!

Whilst at the Cat's pyjamas hostel (which was lovely and homely by the way!) I had a little accident involvingmy finger and a stupid window in between my bed and the computer room, being bolted open, and therefore I unlocked the bolt to shut out noise and have some privacy. There was no sign up and unfortunately the 'too heavy to hold up by myself...'wooden window slammed down onto my fingers, and i was unable to lift it up...so had to prize them away....Ouch! Not for the faint hearted...otherwise known as me.... :S
P.s- unless the staff change at the information centre in whitianga, don't rely on them to quote yo accurately for the bus prices, or to help you out...they are useless! The troubles lead from my last full day in whitianga when i tried booking, and also the next day when i actually got onto my bus heading southbound for mount maunganui in the bay of plenty! I ended up paying a lot extra than i had been quoted twice, told i hadnt paid the full amount and had to pay it in order to get my second bus from Thames changover.... Sucks!

Mount Maunganui- the start of it!
12th November, 2007

I arrived on 12th Novemeber 2007 on the intercity bus from Whitianga-Thames-Tauranga-Mount Maunganui!! After all the hassle with the bus company, I was happy to have arrived. I was dropped off at the information centre, and knew which road I had to take etc, although my backpack felt increasingly heavier, and the hostel was hard to spot amongst all the shops, and I couldnt tell exactly how far down the stretch of shops, cafes, restaurants, bars etc it was according to my map! It blended in to everything else! It was one of two choices of hostel in this area....so therefore not exactly well set up for backpackers! This one was called 'Mount Backpackers'and was the most central....the party hostel also. It was closest to the main beach and on the same road as all the main shops etc. Also closest to 'Maumo'(the mount).
However, as I found out, it wasnt the cleanest, or quiestest...I sound snobby but I just dont care! Spent two weeks there and met some really cool people, and had a few memorable times. However, I left after that, onto the other backpackers 'Pacific Coast Lodge'which is further away from the main amenities, however, closer to 'New World'supermarket, and also bigger, cleaner and a more homely and well run hostel. This was to be my home until the 1st of February 2008... It was boiling hot when I arrived here, and for most of my stay (got sunburnt on a few occasions!), the beach was long, big, gorgeous and sandy!!! It totally encircles you, leading right along from Papamoa beach, along Marine parade, all the way down to the main beach, then you get to the mount itself, which has a little beach around it, and on the other side of it is 'Pilot Bay.' Stunning place! Full of life, and full of kiwis. More a 'proper authentic kiwi town'than the previous touristy places I've stayed. (althought this place does get really touristy with the arrival of huge cruise ships, and people flocking from other parts of new zealand...mainly aucklanders it seems...AKA 'Jafa's!'