A "New" Kind of Kiwi

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Alright, alright…I’m sorry it’s been so long since new, exiting words have found their way to this page. Of course maybe after that last one you were hoping to find an apology of some sort (it has been edited finally!). Or perhaps you’re thinking…hmmm…has it been a while?…I only come here when extremely bored.

So i’ll get to it. let’s just say New Zealand wins a secure place in my heart. I had only heard wonderful things about the place and must admit that i waited in giddy anticipation on the plane ride. while in Europe I admit that this part of my journey seemed so far off i had almost forgotten this whole other adventure waiting in the southern hemisphere. Like a little bonus after visiting with my friends in OZ: “surprise! You get new Zealand too!” like a little present at the end of all the rewarding but sometimes tiring travel. like starting all over again…an entirely new kind of place to explore.

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Let’s start out with a few basic facts. New Zealand: population? 4 million people. Amount of sheep? 37 million. And actually, 3 million of these people are on the north island, mainly in the “big city” Auckland. So yes…little fluffy, wobbly creatures dot the mostly wide-open country side. Other interesting fact: No one in new zealand is more than 128 kilometers from the ocean. And it would seem that every person is obliged to be the friendliest you’ve met. New Zealanders are also quite an active bunch. One amazing guy spoke of a 12K “fun run” that he wanted to do with his son…who’s 8. This man also feels insufficient in that he has only completed one marathon (in which he unexpectedly took 2^nd). They also love their “tramping” as it’s called here…which for those uniformed…is wilderness fun. i.e. trekking, hiking and camping all combined into a nice kiwi-style word. And let's talk kiwis.  People are kiwis, kiwi birds are very rare and nocturnal, kiwifruits are green and have twice the vitamin c of an orange and 20% more potassium than a banana! Good! You’re all sorted and ready to travel through new zealand! And since the plane flight's on the expensive side I’ll do my best here for ya….

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Heaps to talk about so I’ll just try limit myself and write a few entries to contain it all. Christchurch was my first stop, the largest city on the south island, and as you now know…this isn’t really all that big. More like a town than city, it is beautiful, vibrant but also quaint. My hostel turned out to be across the street from a veggie restaurant/organic brewery and the entire arts center, complete with a theatre, independent artist studios and stores that hosts an outdoor crafts fair every weekend. Yes…I think this place will do quite well thanks. Enjoyed being in a new place and of course browsing through the arts center more than once. The botanical gardens were also a beautiful place to hang out and read and run into a german girl I met in the hostel I stayed one night in Melbourne. This whole small world thing is really starting to become apparent. We actually ended up hanging out a few times which was great. Another nice thing was meeting up with an old friend from Hamilton and being able to hang out with she and her boyfriend. She came to new Zealand after graduation to work for a while and has now been in Christchurch for 2 years. We had some fun adventures including mountain biking, plastic men! (heh), and organic food shopping which we’ve both become slightly obsessed with. But seriously…who knew a tube of toothpaste could cost $10? Was once again great to catch up with an old friend and have hilarious times together. Was able to borrow her bike and head on a little trip to the local Sumner Beach, about 10K away which was a nice ride except for the insane gale that practically blew me off this 1-speed mountain bike with a parrot squeaker horn on the handle bar. As I approached the coast highway I saw another guy go by on bike and thought “wow…that dudes really chuggin along” looked as if he was going up a mountain. And then I turned into the “storm”. Lovely day apart from that damn wind blowing! I hadn’t intended a workout, but at this point it was either pump through the unrelenting wind or start rolling backwards…no really. I arrived panting and slightly shaken to lounging coffee drinkers and ice cream eaters. I immediately ran to change into less wet clothing and I think the woman at the swanky restaurant let me in out of sheer pity…or terror. I stalked in half mad: red face, completely dishevelled muttering “toilet?” I came out a new person ready to hit the sands. The tiny beach town greeted me nicely. And the beach sits uniquely as the shore comes to a point and jets off in two directions along a right angle. I laid in the sand for a bit but of course the wind didn’t stop and I greeted far too many sand grains with my face that I didn’t manage to shield off with my makeshift jacket fort. Oh sand…I think I may still have some granular souvenirs from that trip. In Christchurch i also got a taste for that New Zealand outdoorsy love on a little hike that Nicole recommended. Wonderful views through the hills and mountains of Christchurch and got high enough to look out to the ocean and coast line. Sure is a harsh environment around these parts. The sun is so intense here….6pm feels much like our 2pm and it wasn’t long before I was huffing up a sweat hiking up through the brush. On my way back an older guy was running up this thing. Hardcore kiwis. After a week in Christchurch I was rarin’ to see the rest of this country, hopped a bus and before I knew it spectacular views hit full force…and 2 months later I don’t think the landscape has ceased to impress.