Kiwi's Continue to Surprise Me!

I got a package in the mail yesterday that was from New Zealand. I saw the customs form on the front and it said t-shirt. I thought huh...I didn't order anything...
I opened it up and there was a note that said the following...
"Hi Kelly!
Hope you had a great holiday here in New Zealand.
We are happy you came and did the Hunterville Hill Half too!
Sorry about your bleeding nose. I hope your shirt was okay. Here's a replacement or an addition to your running shirts collection.
All the best,
Kathleen"
I got teary eyed! They sent me a running club t-shirt of theirs. You don't understand everyone there at the race were locals and they took me in as one of them. THIS is EXACTLY what I'm talking about. These people kick ass!!!

New Zealand Day 8 (last day)

I woke up feeling a bit depressed. Knowing I would be heading back to the states and not being able to enjoy this country any longer left me feeling a bit empty inside. For those that know me well understand that there really is no other place than the good ol' USA for me...until now.
Instead of being down I decided I would try to get in every last bit of NZ before my flight later that day.
After I visiting the temple I changed clothes, got my hiking shoes on, back pack situated, water bottle filled, and I was off.


One of the hot spots that was listed in my NZ traveler book as well as on my map was Bridal Veil Falls, South Raglan. It was about an hour drive and then I hoofed it. This picture is at the entrance to the path.

Once I got to the falls, which wasn't long, I took a picture from the top. Beautiful!!

Then the path wraps around to the side for this magnificent view. A nice American man was there and offered to take my photo.

If you look close at the photo of just the falls looking down you can see the bridge. The following two are me on that bridge, at the bottom. Cool right?! While I was down there I met Terry, Kiwi, photographer who's work has been published in National Geographic, who was taking photos for his niece's wedding. The falls were going to be back drop silhouettes.

I loved this tree. I tried to jump up in between the two tress in time for the timer a few times but I just wasn't quick enough. RATS!

I was starting to get hungry and everyone told me you can't go to NZ without getting fish-n-chips. I went to the town of Raglan (like a very small Santa Cruz) and had my first experience. There is no such thing like half orders or for "one". It is what it is...I got enough food for three but it was pretty cheap, $6.50. Interesting...they wrap it up in three layers of newspaper...due to the oil I'm sure.

Then I went next door for a milk shake. What they do is add flavor to vanilla ice cream (that's the bomb!) so I chose the flavor,Hokey Poky.

I went to a small remote area in Raglan for my last lunch in NZ. What a way to end it too, about 2,500 calories later...
The sand is black here due to the iron that in it. Cool huh?

Lo and behold guess who I see pull up...Terry from the falls. He bought some lunch as well and so I waved him over to come sit with me. He shared that he works about 5 months out of the year. Then he travels and visits family the rest of the time. He said it was easy to live like that in NZ. He was telling me more people need to live outside the box. As he said that I had an ah-huh moment. You realize it's not about how much money you make or what kind of car you drive or where am I going to get my nails done...not there. There, YOU LIVE!!

After I said good bye to Terry I was on my way to Auckland for my flight home.

I was in line for my boarding pass for about 30 min and I accidental spilled a bit of water on the floor and was looking around for someone I could tell. The man behind me, American, said don't worry about it...it's not our country. I wanted to deck him square in the eyes! These people have been so kind, loving, joyful to be around and here's this J/A telling me to be a selfish American. All I could say to him was, WOW.

Upon boarding I met the sweetest older Kiwi man. He sat at the aisle as I was window (nobody between us). He told me he has been doing some genealogy and found some relatives in San Francisco and Oregon. He was on his way to visit them. I loved seeing the excitement in his face.

He's originally from Christchurch and kept telling me how much I need to visit the South Island. I told him that was next on my list of "things to do".

I can not describe in words how much I enjoyed my stay in NZ. I honestly can't. Like I've told a few, all the wonderful things God has made (including people) he put it all into one country, New Zealand.

New Zealand, you haven't seen the last of me.

New Zealand Day 7

I didn't get much sleep that night. Two hours if I was lucky. I had a full day ahead and it started at Waitomo Caves for some Black Water Rafting at 10:30. I needed to get breakfast, pack up, load the car and get there 15 minutes early.

There were 12 people in my group with two guides, Aaron and Alan. Everyone was a blast to be with. Here's a few photos of getting ready before our adventure.

The water was really cold so before we even got into the caves they had us jump in with our tubes backwards (that's how we'd go over the waterfalls later in the caves) to get used to the temp and to get a practice run before we went down to the caves. There's a photo of an example and then me in my blue helmet.

I can't explain how incredible it was in there. I'm a bit claustrophobic and only twice during the time down there did I think of how a simple an earth quake could happen and we'd be done for. (NZ has a fault line that pretty much runs straight through it) There actually were a few tight spots. If you were tall or big they'd have you go a different way. This picture is me coming from that spot. You could scrape your nose if you didn't lean back far enough, that's no lie!

They explained to us that they actually weren't "glow worms" but maggots whose feces puts off a glow once mixed with oxygen to attract their prey. Then they catch them with their strings. There were a few times everyone would have their helmet lights off so we could see how bright they were. It honestly was like being in a planetarium. They looked like stars in the sky.

As you see our fearless leader took a camera along the way to put all the photos on a CD. A group from the bus that I met at the hostile had done this and they said to get together with the people in your group and everyone pitches in to buy one CD and then have one person be in charge of emailing everyone the photos.

After we were done they have a place for us to shower and get dressed. Then inside we had bagels and hot soup waiting for us. Ahhh that hit the spot. I brought up the CD idea and everyone was on board but two people had already left and it was actually perfect. The CD was $20, everyone just put in $2 even. Worked out perfectly. Since I was heading home the next day I offered to send all the photos out.

My destination was Hamilton but on the way I had to visit a place in Matamata. I can't name the location because I signed a contract that I wouldn't but by the pictures I think you'll be able to guess. At first they had a sheep shearing demo and well I had to...just look at those arms and please, like he doesn't know it!

Afterwards he brought out two baby lambs for us to feed. This might have been the highlight of my trip. I fell in love with that little guy!! Then we met up with our tour guide took a bit of a tour around the grounds for the next 60 min.

Once in Hamilton I went to the New Zealand Temple grounds which by the why is HUGE. I booked a room there for the night, $15. Score!! After a very eventful day I went to Pizza Hut for a personal pizza and only paid $4 while days ago when I went to McDonald's for a Happy Meal it was $7. The mystery of international fast food prices...I'll never know.

I was already bummed out that I was leaving the next day but it didn't keep me up. From having a long eventful day, with little rest, I ate my dinner and asleep by 9pm.

New Zealand Day 6

I knew where I wanted to go as soon as I woke up...Huka Falls! Everyone that I had met previously had talked about Huka Falls. You can drive right to it or hike. I chose to hike. I was a bit sore from my run and needed to work those muscles out. From my hostile to the falls was a little over an hour.

The clouds were clearing and the weather was improving so I decided to continue my hike after I made it to the falls. The scenery was incredible and I couldn't pass it up! However, I didn't plan on continuing so all I had was a bottle of water, that's it. No snacks or candy to keep my energy level up. I just told myself I would hike/run/walk an extra hour and no matter where I was I would have to turn around. That would total 4 hours. I know my body and knew that was the max time before I'd crash and burn.

While I continued the trail I ran into some of my most favorite/memorable places. I love these yellow flower bushes and they were all over!! They smelled so good too!

This tree reminded me of a cheerleader's pom poms.

This was cool. On one side it was plush green and on the other brown pine trees. I took pictures of each side as well as the drastic change you see at the fence line. It was only for about 1/2 a mile but so random.

While I was out there, by myself, I felt safe and tied to nature. I was grateful for its beauty.

On the way back my stomach started to growl. I would think of what I was having for lunch and how good it would taste and that would quiet it down for a bit.

I got back to the hostile, changed, packed up my things, including a lunch to go, and was out of there. I then stopped by Lake Taupo and sat for about an hour and enjoyed my lunch. I couldn't had asked for a better view.

Back on the road, I first had to stop at this church. They have the smallest churches there and nobody is ever at them. They're so small I wonder if they were part of a movie set.

I was heading west to Waitomo. It took about four hours to get there. The scenery was continuously gorgeous.

My destination was Kiwi Paka, Waitomo. I made it!

After my arrival to Kiwi Paka I met, Nell from the UK, one of my doom mates. She had told me on her travel bus was a girl who they were celebrating by having a costume contest with bin bags. (But of course with her accent it sounded like bean bags) I laughed and said how's that going to work out...after we figured out our difference in terms I found out it was a contest with garbage bags. Here's some of their work, very impressive I must add. They wore them all night long!

There was a local pub right next door to our hostile called Curly’s Bar.

They were such a fun group. I met a guy from Australia, Brent. We talked most of the night. Everyone called him Chief since during their Maori dinner that’s who they elected. He was very charming, responsible, funny, witty, interesting, kind, and I won’t lie, easy on the eyes. Another crush!

Some of us stayed till 5am and the last ones got in around 6am. I think Curly was one of them. He was still going strong when I left about 5am.