So today we were once again in the bay of islands. We went out on a boat today to see this famous hole in the rock that has been there since prehistoric times and has been caused by erosion. It was pretty cool. It's a massive hole - the boat backed into it. It had a really cool echo inside. On the way to the hole in the rock we saw some orcas (killer whales). And there was a baby swimming with it's mum.
After we got off the boat (that went put onto open seas too which was cool) we had some lunch and then got on the bus and came back to Auckland. Tomorrow we go to Rortarura. And then we keep heading south.
Right now we're sitting in the hotel room spoiling our supper by eating fudge, carmal corn and goldfish crackers.
Friday, May 15, 2009
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Bay of Islands
Today we were in the Bay of Islands which is in the North of NZ. Yesterday I was feeling sick and today it's now just a cough - that is slightly turning a bit nasty but I'm sure I'll get rid of it.
This morning we walked into town along the beach. It was beautiful. Our view from our hotel is beautiful too - sea, palm trees (yes palm trees) and little islands. It's crazy. We went shopping in town and then had some lunch and then we went on a tour of this town Kerikeri which is where the first Europeans settled. So we saw their houses. It was really cool.
Our guide was named Hewie and he's Mauri (which are the Natives of NZ) and he sang us some Mauri songs which was really cool.
Did I mention that NZ-ers drive on the other side of the road? Well they do. And everything is massive HILLS so it makes the driving experience interesting at 100 miles an hour.
We're just about to have dinner and I only have 4 minutes left of internet (20 mintues for 3 dollars at this hotel)
I also just wrote a bunch of postcards and am mailing them out so they should be coming to you guys soon.
This morning we walked into town along the beach. It was beautiful. Our view from our hotel is beautiful too - sea, palm trees (yes palm trees) and little islands. It's crazy. We went shopping in town and then had some lunch and then we went on a tour of this town Kerikeri which is where the first Europeans settled. So we saw their houses. It was really cool.
Our guide was named Hewie and he's Mauri (which are the Natives of NZ) and he sang us some Mauri songs which was really cool.
Did I mention that NZ-ers drive on the other side of the road? Well they do. And everything is massive HILLS so it makes the driving experience interesting at 100 miles an hour.
We're just about to have dinner and I only have 4 minutes left of internet (20 mintues for 3 dollars at this hotel)
I also just wrote a bunch of postcards and am mailing them out so they should be coming to you guys soon.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Sick
So this morning I woke up with a sore throat. I am now finishing up the day with a sore throat, a cough, naseusa, a headache, and the shakes.
We left Auckaland this morning after an early morning wake up and a lovely breakfast and got onto the coach. We drove for a few hours today. I seriously can't get over how green this country is. Everyone here also drives on the other side of the road - there are signs that I find amusing that say "keep left when passing". The first stop today was at the Kaumri musuem. The Kamuri is a tree that grows in NZ. They are some of the tallest trees in the world and their wood and bark is seriously flexable which made it fantastic to use for ships and houses and stuff. They also produce this gum that the tree bleeds to heal itself. The problem is that NZ-ers for the ship business and for the gum (good market for it back in the day) cut or either killed 96% of the Karmui trees. They're really slow growing trees (even for trees) and take thousands of years to grow. We saw one today called "God of the Forests" it's over 2000 years old and it's 13.5 m wide. It's bloody huge.
After the trees we went on a tour of where the Mauri (the Native people of NZ) and the Europeans first signed their treaties. The Mauri were very warlike apparently and were even cannibals at times.
We're staying in this current hotel (right now we're in the North at the Bay of Islands) for 2 nights. Tomorrow we have the day to ourselves and so we're going on some tours and such. Then we head back down to Auckland after these 2 nights to start going to the south island.
Hopefully I'll feel better by then.
We left Auckaland this morning after an early morning wake up and a lovely breakfast and got onto the coach. We drove for a few hours today. I seriously can't get over how green this country is. Everyone here also drives on the other side of the road - there are signs that I find amusing that say "keep left when passing". The first stop today was at the Kaumri musuem. The Kamuri is a tree that grows in NZ. They are some of the tallest trees in the world and their wood and bark is seriously flexable which made it fantastic to use for ships and houses and stuff. They also produce this gum that the tree bleeds to heal itself. The problem is that NZ-ers for the ship business and for the gum (good market for it back in the day) cut or either killed 96% of the Karmui trees. They're really slow growing trees (even for trees) and take thousands of years to grow. We saw one today called "God of the Forests" it's over 2000 years old and it's 13.5 m wide. It's bloody huge.
After the trees we went on a tour of where the Mauri (the Native people of NZ) and the Europeans first signed their treaties. The Mauri were very warlike apparently and were even cannibals at times.
We're staying in this current hotel (right now we're in the North at the Bay of Islands) for 2 nights. Tomorrow we have the day to ourselves and so we're going on some tours and such. Then we head back down to Auckland after these 2 nights to start going to the south island.
Hopefully I'll feel better by then.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
The City of Sails
So this morning we got up and had breakfast at the hotel. We then did a bit of shopping and had lunch at Esquirers Coffee which is like Starbucks only NZ style. It was really good. I like sitting in coffee shops. Anyway, then we came back to the hotel and met up with the tour.
For the tour, other than my mum, everyone is at least 40 yrs older than me. With the tour we went on a tour of Auckland and saw all the yachts and rich areas of town. We saw the harbour and went to the fish market where one of the guy workers there lifted out a 3 kilo lobster from the tank so I could take a picture of it.
Then we went on a sailboat and toured the harbour. The skipper let me steer the boat for a while which was really cool. Then we had dinner and came back to the hotel. Tomorrow the tour is leaving at 8:30 am and we're going north.
For the tour, other than my mum, everyone is at least 40 yrs older than me. With the tour we went on a tour of Auckland and saw all the yachts and rich areas of town. We saw the harbour and went to the fish market where one of the guy workers there lifted out a 3 kilo lobster from the tank so I could take a picture of it.
Then we went on a sailboat and toured the harbour. The skipper let me steer the boat for a while which was really cool. Then we had dinner and came back to the hotel. Tomorrow the tour is leaving at 8:30 am and we're going north.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Farm Life
Today we went to Alison and Gary's farm. They have 160 acres of land. They were dairy farmers and they do have 110 cows but they lease their land now and make money that way. Just before we got to their house we saw a calf being born it was crazy. Gary went over to help and then the mother cow stood up and the calf was half in and half out of her. I'm not kidding. I also have pictures.
Nz-ers also speak like the English. I also saw pheasants, magpies, wild turkeys, deer, hawks, tons of other birds. Gary and Alison also have fruit trees: lemons limes oranges manderians peaches pears and some others.
I had venison for lunch (that's deer guys). Then we went on a drive along part of the country and hit the coast and saw a lighthouse. I lost feeling in one of my toes lol. This country is seriously ALL hills. All you do is go up and down up and down. But it's beautiful and so green. They also have so many different trees. It's also crazy windy here which makes it colder than I was expecting. We pick up the tour tomorrow and then the day after we leave Auckland and go to the north of the island which means it'll be warmer (the south is colder).
Sabrina is posting my blogs because my iPod touch doesn't let me use blogger for some reason so I can read it but I can't type anything on it so if I don't respond to your comments that's why.
Nz-ers also speak like the English. I also saw pheasants, magpies, wild turkeys, deer, hawks, tons of other birds. Gary and Alison also have fruit trees: lemons limes oranges manderians peaches pears and some others.
I had venison for lunch (that's deer guys). Then we went on a drive along part of the country and hit the coast and saw a lighthouse. I lost feeling in one of my toes lol. This country is seriously ALL hills. All you do is go up and down up and down. But it's beautiful and so green. They also have so many different trees. It's also crazy windy here which makes it colder than I was expecting. We pick up the tour tomorrow and then the day after we leave Auckland and go to the north of the island which means it'll be warmer (the south is colder).
Sabrina is posting my blogs because my iPod touch doesn't let me use blogger for some reason so I can read it but I can't type anything on it so if I don't respond to your comments that's why.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Here in NZ
So we arrived in NZ at 7 am Sunday which is like 5 pm Saturday for Toronto people. It rained when we landed then cleared up and we saw a beautiful rainbow on the way to the hotel. Friends met up with us - Alison and Gary ( they're in law extended fam technically) and they took us out for lunch. Then we went to the winter gardens which are beautiful and got a tour of the city. We went to Gary's sister's(Elizabeth) place for tea and a chat after that.
We had to switch hotel rooms because the AC was on and no one could figure out how to turn it off. Turns out it was broken or something. So we got a new room. Right now in Toronto it's 1 am Sunday and it's like 5:30 Sunday here so we're going down to dinner soon. I'm really tired. And I keep feeling like I'm on the plane cause the room feels like it's going up and down.
Tomorrow we're going to Alison and Gary's house. They live an hour out of Auckland. Maybe I'll shear a sheep or milk a cow while I'm there.
We had to switch hotel rooms because the AC was on and no one could figure out how to turn it off. Turns out it was broken or something. So we got a new room. Right now in Toronto it's 1 am Sunday and it's like 5:30 Sunday here so we're going down to dinner soon. I'm really tired. And I keep feeling like I'm on the plane cause the room feels like it's going up and down.
Tomorrow we're going to Alison and Gary's house. They live an hour out of Auckland. Maybe I'll shear a sheep or milk a cow while I'm there.
Friday, May 8, 2009
Flight One
In Vancouver. Have 5 hr layover until next flight to auckland. That flight is 13 hours. Taking off is scarier than landing. It took my right ear like 20 min to pop and it really hurt. Right now I'm drinking starbucks and walking through a duty free store.
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