Sulfur city

Exploring some of the North Island I signed up for a Magic Bus tour of some of the highlights for the north. Its a bit of a whirlwind, but nice to see some things very fast. =) Crazy part is our bus, an entire tour bus, only had 5 of us on there. Very crazy, but we made friends and it was great. Sad to leave them as we get along very well.

We first went to Waitomo Glow Worm Caves. After being actual caving, I am normally opposed to going to caves where I am lead around, but this time it was wonderful because it was so different. Floating around on a boat through the cave with glow worms above my head like stars. Magical feeling. Sadly couldn't take pictures but check the link out for how it would be like.

Since we had some extra time there we wandered around and found a bunny-hair farm. They take care of bunnies and cut their hair and make stuff. The owner was wonderful and even took out a bunny for us to pet and told us all about it. They treat their bunnies very well, and they are hallarious to watch.

Then we went over to Rotarua, the Sulfur city. Known as such as it is located in the land of natural hot springs, and the air everywhere smells a little bit sulfury. The city itself isnt that great... not friendly really. Rather boxy and tourist looking. But the hot springs themselves are amazing. All along the side of the lake they pop up and bubble everywhere. I wandered around in the morning and there was nobody else out-hopped some fences and was right on the water with the springs. Maybe a bit unsafe but very cool.

And what hot spring experience is there without some spa? Went over to the Hell's Gate mud spa-bathe in natural mud baths. Left the skin feeling amazingly soft, but sadly stained my wonderful swimsuit badly... not sure if that will wash off. =(

Now one more day in north island, before heading to south island which is covered in snow. Ahhh!

Birds and birds and more birds! Oh my!

Wanting to make sure to see some of New Zealand's fine wildlife, I decided today to go on a day trip to Tiritiri Matangi, a wildlife refuge island about an hour and a half ferry from Auckland. It only has one ferry go to it per day, and not a large one even, so lots of time with just self and the forest.

I originally signed up for the guided tour for the first 1.5 hours there, but after about 5 minutes of listening to the guide (who was very good actually!) talk, I realized that the best part of this place was just to go in the woods and walk around by myself.

And right I was -- the feeling of only hearing the sounds of the birds chirping all around me, and the distant sound of the waves... magnificent.

Made me sad for my camera though - I know it is an amazing point and shoot, but at a place like that you really do need a better one. The birds move so fast and it is impossible to catch them so close to you (unless you have great patience to stay still for a long long time... which I do not). The best option is when they are a ways away, and even my 10x zoom does not do enough there.

But the island was amazing. Not just the birds, but also the cliffs and the sky and just... nature. It was wonderful just wandering around seeing where my feet would take me. Maybe a bit too wonderful because it is only 7:30pm again and I am again too tired to do anything. Oh well, I will adjust eventually.

Oh and just for the record, I am not being completely anti-social during the trip. Talking to lots and lots of strangers. =) I should take pictures with people really, or else it seems like I am just in my own bubble. But yes, I am not anti-social as the pictures and descriptions seem to look like.


I love this photo! I had set my camera on self-timer to get a picture by the cliffs, and the bird managed to fly into the shot. Shows just how many birds there are on that island.

Volcanos! Oh my!

So as it turns out, Auckland is built on 50 volcanoes. And they are not permanently dormant -- one is bound to erupt eventually. Volcano insurance anyone? =)

Today I took a trip to Rangitoto - a volcano island just off the coast of Auckland. It was a beautiful day, unlike the cloud of yesterday. The ferry whisked away quite early in the morning toward the hill of an island.

The island is not too huge - it took about an hour to climb up to the summit, complete with a small detour toward the lava caves. The view was magnificent -- Auckland and its sky tower are amazing, and New Zealand does prove to be full of the most amazing greenery.

Tomorrow heading to Tiritiri Matangi - a wildlife reserve island not too far from Auckland. Very exciting -- lots of birds and wildlife! =)

And now bringing the first pictures from the trip -- actual proof of the fact that I am in New Zealand. Tada!

Touchdown Auckland

First of all, I would like to recommend to everyone the airline 'Air New Zealand'. This was probobly the best flight I have ever been on -- lots of room, amazing food, amazing coffee, great choice of wine, 30+ movies (and good ones), and the most comfortable blankets ever (I almost stole mine). Wonderful flight.

Though upon touching down I almost ran into quite a bit of trouble. Normally customs forms in countries are not that big a deal... check no everywhere and all good. Well... not here. I glanced over the form--no I dont have food, livestock, or dirt. Check check check.

Well not so much check -- upon putting my backpack into the customs scanner the officer pulls it out and states that I have hiking shoes in there that I did not declare that are not new, and therefore I lied on my form. What? Since when can I not bring hiking shoes?

Well apparently the Oceania region requires all items that have been used and have any soil on them must be declared. The officer let me off, maybe because of the dumbfounded look on my face. That teaches me not to read the fine print well enough. Sure enough -- the form did state that all used hiking shoes must be declared. Luckily all that I had to do was to extract them from my bag (thank goodness it unzips in so many places!) and have him scan them. Lesson learned.

But alas, now I am in Auckland... and the sun has not yet risen. Being the safe lone female traveler I am, am attempting to not go outside until there is some light. Though the sight from the hill I got dropped off on was amazing -- could see the skyline, and well... a city asleep is a beautiful sight.

But my main desire now is some sleep - some people are starting to get up and make breakfast in the kitchen, but I am really too tired to try to be social. Hoping I can get to sleep early tonight and meet some people when I have a bit more energy.

The foggy city

I haven't been to San Francisco in well about.... 6 or so years? In my mind it has always been the hilly California town of awesome asian food. Warmer climate and all.

The whole time the pilot was talking how SF was overcast... yet we were over California, and it was sunny and beautiful and amazing... He kept saying this until 5 minutes before touchtown... when it was still sunny! I couldn't believe him. And then... suddenly, with no warning, a giant cloud appears. It came to me a bit of a shock to walk off the plane from 80 degree DC into well.... bonechilling wind, foggy SF.

And as it turns out the city is so hilly that different parts of the city have different climates. Thats just insane.

Still planning to buy a sun lamp as soon as I move to Seattle. Sunlight... I need you for survival.

For now, I am going to find my un-stylish windbreaker and grudgingly take it out for todays' adventures.

I'm Gradumacated!

Thanks for all the memories University of Maryland, College Park.... am very sad to leave. But now a start to new adventures.... stay tuned. =)

The end of many things

I think updates generally come either very often, or not at all. Once I have not updated for more than a week, updating seems hard. I don't know where to start when I try to make my post. So many things have happened. So many things have been seen (and eaten). Where to start?!

But the ice needs to be broken eventually. Always seem to come back. Hopefully for the better.

The reason for this return is that well... this blog will soon need to be used on a regular basis. I am graduation in May 21/22 and then departing for New Zealand and Australia on the 23rd through July 3rd. This appears like the best form of communication and I am hoping it will be functional.

As of the state of life now--panic. Complete panic. Hard to believe that in 2 weeks I will be graduated, and leaving everything and everyone I know. I realize I will return in July for a month, but I doubt I will see most of the people I see now then -- it is more of an effort in the summer. And then after moving away... who knows who will remember about my existence?

It is hard to think about leaving college. I get very attached to places. I know, College Park MD is not the best place on earth. But the memories are good, and there are things you learn and love about a place. This was five years of my life. That is quite a substantial length of time. It is a time when I think I have grown the most as a person and I think I have come out at a much greater place than when I exited high school.

But now the long list of lasts is starting. Last meeting of my fraternity was last night. Last day of work is on Wednesday. Last day of classes is Tuesday. Last exam is the following Wednesday. The last time I see person after person most likely. Head wraps around these ideas.

But life goes on. New experiences will come. New exciting places. New friends. New adventures. New everything. So for now, looking ahead and marching on to what will happen.