Vacation News Continued...

FREE INTERNET!! Yes that's right. A hostel with free internet. I haven't had such luxury in all of my travels. There isn't even a lineup right now. I'm in a little place called Oamaru. Noted firstly for it's closeness to two fantastic penguin colonies and secondly for it's victorian style stone buildings from the late 1800's.

I had originally planned to catch the Naked bus up to Oamaru from Dunedin but ended up befriending 4 other Stray bus travellers who were keen to come up too. So we hired a car, and voila! here we are. The freedom of having a car is fantastic and it also meant we got to see the Moeraki Boulders which I would have otherwise skipped over if I were travelling by bus.

It is hard to believe that a year has passed since I saw Canada last. This is a beautiful place and I have seen and done so many things I never thought I would ever have the opportunity to. I have met so many amazing people who I hope to know for life. I have changed and grown so much... for better? I appreciate bird watching and raggae music now. Who'd a thunk it?

I am both sad and excited about coming home. It is sad to come home knowing what I am leaving behind... but hopefully not losing for good. It is exciting to get back to seeing friends family and surroundings that I know and love. As much as I am still me, I know that I am not the same as I was when I left and I never will be again. Life has changed a lot, but when I get back I'll land right back in that rutt that I left. I hope that I've learned enough about myself and life this year that I'll be able to get back on my feet quick as. (Quick as what? no, just "quick as".... it's a kiwi thing)

I hope everybody has had a fantastic year too, no matter where you be, no matter what you have been doing.

Tomorrow, I return to Dunedin then on back to Queenstown. I hope hope hope that the luggage I left there has not been damaged or broken into. It contains all of my presents plus 4 bottles of wine for the remainder of my trip and for Ryan. I will be meeting up with Ryan on friday! YEAH!!!!

xox til next time.

Mini Update

I am finished in Wellington for the time being. I have been travelling the south island of new zealand for the past 2.5 weeks. It has been fantastic!! I started in Picton and got to Abel Tasmen on teh first day. There, I went horseback riding and sailing. It is a very beautiful place.
Next I went to Farewell spit. An amazing spot in New Zealand which not many tourists commit to getting to. It is one of the largest sandspits in the world and is soon to be labelled a world heritage site.
I headed down the coast and stayed in a place called barrytown, which is little more than a hotel.\
Then to hokitika where I carved my own Jade/Pounamu pendant. I'll show you when I see you in two weeks or so!! ah!!!
Then to Wanaka a beautiful oasis set in the mountains near a glacier carved lake. A little bit of heaven, I think. Stayed for three nights then on to Queenstown and then down to Milford Sound. Next a not worth mentioning stop in Tuatapere and then.... STEWART ISLAND!! What a gorgeous little wee place. Birds singing in the trees like you wouldn't believe. I have seen so many different species adn got some semi-decent photos of most of them. I have been searching to get a good photo of the New Zealand wood pigeon and I think I've come pretty close now to what I was after. I'll post them when I have more time.

I am now in Dunedin. That's Gaelic for Edinborough, but other than the fact that both cities are surrounded by 7 hills and some of the street names are scottish... I'm not sure that htey have much else in common. Tomorrow I am going to rent a car with 4 friends from the stray bus that I have met on my journies. We are going to go up and stay one night in Oamaru where we will go penguin spotting for little blue penguins and yellow-eyed penguins. Yellow-eyed penguins are the most rare penguins in the world!! I am so excited. I originally was going to go up on the bus, but screw that. A car with friends is waaaay better!!

Have to go. Rushing rushing... vacation is busier than work!

All the best!

a few new photos are on facebook now. Ciao!