Try saying that after a few

Trip Start Dec 06, 2006
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Trip End Ongoing


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Flag of New Zealand  ,
Monday, May 28, 2007

I happily left the eggy world of Rotorua behind and slowly made my way south stopping off in Napier again as it was a nice place. I was also going to take my camera back but it's risen from the ashes like a phoenix from the flames and appears to be back to its fully dried out working order. Well, apart from the battery that needed recharging, so no sooner was I happy than I was left with a useless lump of metal again.

My back has started peeling. Having enjoyed the various sights as I've toured NZ I now like to think I'm leaving a little part of me wherever I travel.

I passed by Tetaumatawhakatangihangakoauaotamateaurehaeaturipukapihimaun gahoronukupokaiwhenuaakitanarahu. Yes, I said Tetaumatawhakatangihangakoauaotamateaurehaeaturipukapihimaun gahoronukupokaiwhenuaakitanarahu. That's the longest place name in the world allegedly. Wales? You've go-go-gocht nothing. Translated it means 'The place where Tamatea, the man with the big knees, who slid, climbed, and swallowed mountains, known as land eater, played his flute to his loved one'. The sign also says that Tamatea, loved himself a bit which is why he kept making his own name longer.

I camped at a place nearby on the coast and it was a bit on the nippy side. When I arrived I was told I could pitch my tent near some of the caravans for added shelter as it had been windy. Luckily it wasn't windy but it was a cold night nonetheless. I wrapped myself up well though, I was in my sleeping bag with my wooly socks on and a t-shirt and jumper and I tucked a very nice fleece Air New Zealand blanket that I'd acquired around me. That left me with a chilly head though and by then I didn't fancy getting up out of the warmth so I took the scarf that I was using in combination with a travel pillow and wrapped that around my head. Perfect, it worked really well keeping my ears warm and in the morning it kept the light out.
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