Kia Ora!

The South Island of New Zealand was just a big mess of crazy fun! We went for day long walks, climbed random inanimate objects, danced along the water’s edge to Moon River, went rock climbing and gondola riding, gave someone a mohawk, danced till the wee hours of the morning, and had Fergburgers! MmmmMmmm. What a trip! !

Good just keeps getting better!

 

Now I’m in the North Island heading towards Auckland. The North Island is much more populated and not quite as scenic as the South Island, but it's still beautiful.

At the moment I’m in Rotorua which has hot springs and mud pools and smells like rotten eggs. ick! Cool town though.

I went to a cultural event this evening that explored New Zealand’s indigenous people the Mouri and their history and culture. Very interesting!

"Love life and life will love you back. Love people and they will love you back."

Arthur Rubinstein

 

 

the kiwi way

I can’t even begin to describe the things I’ve seen and done since arriving in New Zealand. I can definitely see myself living here! It’s unbelievable.

I went swimming with seals in Kaikoura. The water was freezing cold, but we had some stylish wetsuits to wear so I was only a little slushy-like instead of frozen solid. There were so many seals, and they were so cute and playful.

We stopped on the side of the road the next day to go on a random trail and came upon this waterfall. There were like 30 seal pups playing in the waterfall. Seals are quickly becoming my favorite animal...except for Clyde.

I went horseback riding in Westport. I haven’t ridden a horse since elementary school so I was a bit rusty. We went through a river, and my horse actually swam underneath me. So cool!

Themed pajama party!

I spent the whole day yesterday climbing Frans Josef Glacier. What an amazing experience!!

I went on a kayaking trip around Lake Mapourika. It was unreal. It’s a black water lake so the it has mirror-like effect. At times it was hard to figure out if where the reflection in the water ended and the grass and trees actually began.

And the sunset was breathtaking

I absolutely love it here. It’s truly heaven on Earth!

Sydney!

Sydney is such an exciting city. The hustle and bustle of it all reminds my of New York. I’m staying in a great location near Hyde Park. First day I went to the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House and saw part of a ballet rehearsal! I also took the ferry out to Manly Beach. The view from the ferry was absolutely AMAZING!!

Manly was a cool place too. It was a bit too cold to jump in the water sans wetsuit so I just watched surfers and walked along the beach.

We got caught in the rain yesterday in the Botanical Gardens and climbed up in the rocks for shelter.

This was my view.

Great place to be stuck in the rain, aye?!

After we went to the Chinatown, the Chinese Gardens, Paddy’s Market, and just explored the city.

Here are some of the white water rafting pics from Cairns. SOOOO much fun!

ah suki suki

Noosa was fantastic!! I was supposed to stay for 2 days and ended up staying 5. By far the best beaches, great people, and terrific weather. I went on a great 2 hour trail that goes through a national park that’s just along the beach, went to the market in Eumundi, did some ocean kayaking, and lots and lots of laying on the beach and playing in the waves.

The Sunshine Beach was an easy ~5 minute walk from the hostel I was staying at.

Beautiful sunsets!!

I’m in Brisbane now. It was Buddha’s birthday festival this weekend. There was music, dancing, lots of food, fireworks, etc all on Southbank.

Yesterday I went to Moreton Island for some more beach time and some sandboarding! I think I ate more sand than I slid on. It was fun though.

We swam in a blue lagoon of crystal clear spring water, played in the ocean, went on a 4-wheel drive over sand dunes, and explored a shipwreck. It was a jam-packed fun filled day!

Sliding down the east coast has been so amazing. I’ve met the most amazing people, seen unbelievable sunsets, and been on some really incredible adventures. I’ve got this overwhelming feeling of gratitude. I’m so thankful not only for this outstanding trip, but for this life I’ve been given. It’s good, so good. I hope to cherish every step and every breath. There is so much beauty to be found, in people, in nature, the tangible and intangible. I’ll take home with me great memories and photographs and no regrets.

I think the most important thing in life is to live it.