Tauranga, NZ
Trip Start
Dec 17, 2007
1
16
31
Trip End
Jan 20, 2008
Tauranga,
New Zealand
Thursday, January 3, 2008
New Years Day my supervisor gave us a 1 hour late start so that we could sleep in after being out late. Many departments didn't go to bed at all and were looking a little peaked, but being the non-night owl of our family I went to bed around 2 pm (remember that I slept almost a full night's worth yesterday afternoon due to exhaustion so now I was fairly awake for just a bit past midnight).
The second sea day was sunny and warm so we ate lunch out on deck while cruising - that's not something I could ever do in AK due to the speed at which we must cruise to get to our next port and the cold rainy climate
Bench on Mt Maunganui
.Today we docked in Tauranga. I was ready to get off the ship by 9:30 am and I planned ahead to be off the ship all day. It was the best port thus far and I really LOVED Picton. This port is definitely a beach town like Picton only bigger. We didn't actually dock in Tauranga but in a smaller town nearby. The town reminded me of the mental picture I get when I hear the words Malibu California. I have never been to Malibu but I picture a lazy beach town with surfing, sand, water craft, beach front homes costing gazillions of dollars and sun bunnies of all ages hanging by the water.
This port also had a large mountain that could be climbed or walked all the way around. It was about a 50 minute walk around the base. I tried to climb to the top, but after 2 straight days of taking Bonine while at sea for safety sake I was too dehydrated and started experiencing vertigo about half way up. I was so amazed at how many people twice my age were sprinting up this mountain, some were even jogging, but then may I remind you I have my camera bag weighing a good 10 pounds probably as well as the whole dehydration factor and small 16oz water bottle limitation. I played it smart and safe and came back down while I still had water and continued to walk around the base of the mountain
Hillside
. That was a good enough workout as the road still dipped and climbed a bit. When I got 3/4 of the way around I heard the sound I've been waiting for.What is the one thing that instantly comes to mind when thinking about New Zealand? Before you say Kiwi Fruit let me clue you in on a trivia fact - there are more of these in New Zealand than people. I had come this far and had not yet had an up close encounter with sheep. I saw them out of the bus window on my excursion in Picton, but today I was to finally get up close and personal. I had been smelling them all the way around the hill and seen their droppings, but wondered where they were hiding out. I was taking a picture of the surf when all of a sudden I heard the bleating and jumped out of the way. A lone sheep charged past me from down below and ran up the hill beside the path and then I saw 2 other sheep on the hillside. There they were, right in front of me and I didn't have my telephoto lens ready. In the time it took me to get out my second camera they had moved up the hillside and I had to take zoomed distance shots. Thankfully my lens has decent range and I managed to snap a few before they chomped their way over the top of the hill and out of sight.
Walking further down the path I saw more and more sheep
Mount Maunganui
. My day was complete, my prayer answered - God just please let me not leave New Zealand without seeing sheep!After interacting with the sheep I went down to the beach. The beach didn't have any sand, the ground consisted solely of seashells. It was very unique and beautiful. I picked up a few shells to bring back to the States. Hopefully shells aren't a quarantine item that will be confiscated. Shhhhhhhh.
After lounging on a bench and watching the surf for a long while I walked into town and looked in a few shops. I purchased a delicious dinner at a restaurant that had indoor/outdoor seating. I had a Thai Fritter with Pumpkin Mash. It was delicious! I have been trying to eat as many things, that are of interest, as I can that I don't normally find in the States. So far so good.
I eventually walked back to the ship to meet Alyshia for dinner. I am able to stay out fairly late in this port, but after the beautiful hot weather I experienced today I am drained from being out in the sun. The truth about the UV rays down here is that they are indeed intense. I wore my big brimmed hat and kept covered on my top half with a zip up lightweight cotton jumper and managed to only get a bit red on the front of my neck and chest, but nothing serious. If I hadn't taken these precautions I would look like a lobster like my poor roommate who didn't wear sunblock yesterday while reading on the top deck of the ship.
Tomorrow I will stay on the ship in Bay of Islands for IPM and work in the library, but then the day after I will be in Auckland, NZ to meet up with Maree and her husband Caleb. I can't wait, I haven't seen Maree since 2003 or so. :)
-T
