Oozing from my eyes
Trip Start
Sep 05, 2007
1
53
71
Trip End
May 01, 2008
Paihia,
New Zealand
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
I went out on St. Patties knowing that I had to catch a bus in less than 12 hours. I managed to drag myself away from the same "Mystery Pub" that I got sloshed at only a few nights earlier, and at a respectable 11:30 PM. The fear of missing the next day's bus was primary motivation, but their were alternatives, including the feeling that I was coming down with a flu. I stopped at a dair on the way home to pick up some eggs on the way home. I was under the illusion that I was going to get up in time to make breakfast. Ehhhhh... wrong! I chatted with the clerk for a while. He asked about what was going on outside, I asked about his turban. He seemed pleasant.
I was still drunk the next morning, which possibly contributed to me mis-packing my mp3 player; something I worried about all day
Tongariro National Park
. It was in my pack, under all my underwear.The trip up to Auckland was uneventfully. I sat next to a couple that I had met on the first stretch of my Kiwi-Bus trip. The world of a back-packer is small indeed. I also ran into one o f the Dutch girls in Auckland again. She was apparently stalking me before leaving for Fiji.
This stay in Auckland was short, only about 14 hours. I will be going back soon anyway, and was eager to get to the Bay of Islands.
I had been starting to feel sick for a while, and my first night in Paihia (or rather the booze) was the ignition point the little buggers infesting me had been waiting for. I've been sick as a dog since (got so bad, mucus was oozing out of my left eye, ewww). This is especially bad because Paihia is a wonderful place and the hostel I've decided to stay in is very social.
Easter seems to bring all the international students to the Bay of Islands. Americans, Canadians, Germans, Swedes. All very friendly, and I'm unable to socialize due to the bloody flu.
I haven't let my poor health stop me from having some fun, though. I've spent a number of hours lounging on the beach or swimming in the ocean under the sun.
The other day I went on a Cape Reinga tour, which took me all the way to the top of the Island
Sandboarding 1
. We got some history lessons along the way, did some sand-boarding (highlight of the trip), went swimming and body-surfing and drove along 90 mile beach.90 mile beach isn't actually anywhere near 90 miles long, by the way; it's actually closer to 67 miles. There are several stories about how it was named, all of which I think are overcomplicated and untrue. 90 mile beach is an actual state road at low tide. At high tide it is a vehicle trap for stupid tourists.
I met an English guy on the trip that is working locally for a while and has made himself a name and good contacts with locals just as I did in the Mount. I guess some people just tend to "blend in". It's easy to do in New Zealand.
I'm off for Russell for a night in a few days, then back to Auckland for the last time. I'm hoping to get some Kayaking in before I leave.
