Another year, another country and another story to tell...

So, here we are in 2010. Has been some time since my last post... I make no apologies, because even the most hard core travellers (my tongue may firmly be planted in my cheek right now...) need some time for R&R and I was lucky enough to get plenty of it in Denver. If you read my last entry you will get some idea for my opinion on the final part of Trip South America, so being able to chill out with family was the best christmas present I could get. Luckily, I got even more than that - my own room (!); a place to leave my stuff without repacking it every 5 seconds; no need to empty my wallet every day; etc. But especially I got to spend time with two most precious little girls in the world! Even I, the eternal hater of all annoying little kiddies, was taken away with their energy, enthusiam and unbridalled happiness with even the most mundane thing. Imagine we could all be like that... Anyway, that means I now miss the girls, but will make sure I go back soon to see them. Then there is also a little matter of another niece I need to go and meet in Holland (can anyone say frequent flyer miles??).

Well, with Denver and its couch surfing, skiing, and pigging out behind me, it was time to hit the road again. And after being pampered for 3 weeks, I wont lie and say it was easy to step into a tin shower (yes, it was made of shiny metal), share a room with snoring hunks of smelly travellers and start forking out my life savings just to eat some breakfast! Auckland was a good place to start though - its like a little bit of Britain in the Southern hemisphere. Its not too big or too small, but good enough for a few days to acclimitise to old backpack once again. Was good to meet up with Kevin for a beer or two - although having said that, that night put the fear of dragons into my bank account - can this place really be this expensive?! Hmmm...

Having read the NZ Lonely Planet from cover to cover on my 24 travel over from Denver, I understand that there is some pretty good opportunties to wear in your walking shoes here, so started with a small 25km stroll around the Island of Waiheke off the coast of Auckland. After a week on the road now, it seems that that walk may be one of the easist things I do in my trip over here... After much head scratching I decided to join the Kiwi Experience and let its giant green bus lug me around the North and South Island. Imagine, one bus, 50 backpackers, 100 ways to attempt suicide every day - it makes for a potent mix. Just when you think the day is done after (relatively) safely negotiating 7 grade 5 rapids in a piece of rubberised air, it starts again with competitions to see who can spend the most money on beer in one night! If it wasnt for the good weather, beautiful surroundings, nice people and good conversation, it would remind me of London.

After being "on the big green waka" for a week now, I have decided to jump off the bus for a day of catchup here in Windy Welly, the capital city of NZ. Sort of a stock take of the events of the North Island - put it all into perspective before crossing the channel to the South Island tomorrow. Im not exaggerating when I say its difficult to recall and place all the things that have happened in just one week on the bus, but this is a brief summary...:

It all started with a light paddle in a sea kayak around some beautiful limestone cliffs in Mercury Bay. Swiftly followed by a cultural evening in a Maori village, complete with a full show with the tongue dancing and thigh slapping that is the Haka. After one or two beers in the bar that night/morning, we headed into Waitomo to have a go at some Black Water Rafting - sounds a little scarier that it is, floating around dark caves, lit by thousands of tiny glowworms, in a doughnut, but pretty fun and impressive all the way. Having been a little lazy by letting the tubes do the work, the opportunity to do the Tongariro Crossing in Taupo a day later was appealing. The 22km trek across loose volcanic rock, on a rainy day, with a 5.20am start wasnt quite as attractive. Nonetheless, we got up and did it, crossing right over the craters of the volcano and circling around the base of Mount Ngauruhoe (aka "Mt Doom") in a 7 hour epic classed as on of 9 NZ's Great Walks. Thanks to our mentallist bus driver (Morri, who cant stop saying the word "Chur"... is it even a word?), we stopped off at a little waterfall... in order to throw ourselves off it. It wasnt the 5 meter drop, or the raging current at the bottom that did the startling, it was the sub-zero water that got everyones eyes wide open! Great little side trek to get a bit of buzz going in the bus. Finally, we wrapped up the events of the North with a little boat ride down a river called Rangitikei River.. The pleasant rowing however, was constantly interrupted by annoying little grade 5 rapids, the odd upside down boat, a broken paddle, some boat-free rapid running, some rock falls and to top it all off another 5m cliff jump into the river! All in a days work in NZ.

Sound like a relaxing holiday so far? Apparently, the North Island is just a taster for the South. I head off that way in the morning, starting with some time in the Abel Tasman park. A week or so travelling down the rugged West coast culminating the fjords and glaciers of the South West. If all goes to plan (i.e. the parachute opens...), I should be Sydney on 8th of Feb. Lets see where this giant green bus takes us next!

Oh, and Ill be trying my best in the coming days/weeks to catchup on uploading all the missing photos that I still havent finished!