Leavin the land of long white clouds

Trip Start Jul 24, 2007
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Trip End Nov 11, 2007


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Flag of New Zealand  ,
Monday, October 29, 2007

Five weeks in a country which was far more stunning than I thought both culturally and scenically how do you summarise that? I heard from numerous people that its best to get down to the South Island as fast as possible but in reflection I would say that both Islands are equally intriguing and both have something to offer everyone from beautiful walks which are free to high adrenaline junkie activities which cost quite a lot (although not in comparison to England where half of them wouldn't be allowed to go ahead because of bureaucratic red tape)

I feel like its been quite a whirlwind tour and although five weeks is longer than most people spend in a place I feel like I could have spent five months here and still not really scratched the surface but I think that its good to leave a place with a desire to return I guess if I'd been here and done and seen everything I'd have nothing more to want and thats not a good thing.

Experienced quite a few things - My first Volcanic Eruption, my first and second Earth Quakes and a few aftershocks and a wind like I've never felt before in my life and never wish to experience again. A place that smelt like eggs and not in a good way - erupting geysers and natural mud pools, my first time actually digging a hole in the sand and feeling hot water come through, a walk in a park where you have to seriously avoid the steaming areas of grass and for natural reasons as opposed to steam from a subway system.

Scenery so stunning that it looks fake, water so clear that you can see everything and more water so naturally blue that it looked like a swimming pool, bridges that have only one lane on them (thats practically every bridge outside of the cities) countless birds that can't fly, Kea's - a highly intelligent parrot like bird which has a call like its saying its name, an encounter with a white possum that was actually alive and several encounters of possums which were victims of road kill, an introduction to Maori culture and language which is an art form in itself, sheep farming up close and personal with the sheep and the dogs, the New Zealand obsession with eating pies for breakfast and the native sweet potato which is Kiwi land is served with anything and everything, an introduction to Bungee and how the ropes are made from tiny pieces of rubber which is spun together - plenty enough reason not to jump!, the kiwi obsession with jumping off anything and the endless desire that where there is water no matter how cold it should be jumped in, native trees so big that 8 of us outstretched could only just encircle the trunk, yellow eyed penguins coming home from a hard days fishing in curio bay and blue penguins basking in Milford Sound, the Haka too close for comfort.

A relationship between Maori and White Kiwi's that is peaceful and respectful and should be an education and an example to other countries and my departing gift from New Zealand - Bed Bugs!
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