Whitianga ( said fitty- anga)

Well after a very long day and the issue of the flat tyre; we eventually arrived here at roughly 9pm. We dumped all of our stuff and had quick tour round hostel; Cat's Pyjamas owned by Buster a slightly scary man and his wife Wendy who we had yet to meet. It was a little bit like a maze in the hostel especially in the dark. As we were knackered and really couldn't be arsed to cook, we went on the hunt for a fish n chippy, luckily we didn't have to go far to find some fish and chips. It wasn't a chippy it just seemed to serve any fast food going, but anything would have done. As we walked in we met our new friends also getting some quick n easy food; Eva and Carmen. In usual girly stylie we all screemed in surprise of seeing each other again so soon. We said our au revoirs again (not goodbye as we had planned to met up with them again in Tauranga). We then wandered to the beach in the dark munching our fish n chips. Also tried a New zealand fizzy soft drink called lemon and Pareoro (spelling wrong), was quite yummy, really thirst quenching and bit gingery tasting, i'm actually drinking it again now. The fish was good so tender, a crossed between bass and mackerel and the chips were ok. We couldn't see a lot just lots of red and green flashing lights in the water; we were trying to guess what the view would be like in the morning. We got back to our dorm and went straight to bed, though there were obviously people staying in our dorm, they must have all been out somewhere, any how we were gone zzzzzzzzzz zzzzzz zzzzzzzz.

Awoken about seven in the morn by the buzzing of the bell, the telphone and a loud northern (English) girl staying in our room talking to a guy about the antics the night before and having to climb through the window!!!. GREAT. They had also woken Sam in the night coming in stumbling around. We were quick to judge and assumed they were the typical louts that were out getting drunk every night, but we did remember that we do that occasionaly too. We decided we were gonna chill a bit on our first day here and wander to the beach; but before that we had to do some washin and take the car to the garage as water was still pissing out of it. We left it at the garage for them to look at and get back to us on. When we arrived at the beach it was almost midday yet there was pretty much no one else on the beach, where the hell is everyone we thought. Any way we enjoyed having the beach to ourselves and had a paddle in the sea, it seemed even colder than before, maybe cos we'd got hot lying on the beach; it was a scorching morning.

As the weather got slowly colder and more blustery, we took a walk to the other end of the beach and enjoyed the view. We also were doin a little bird spotting, sad i know but it does appear to have become one our hobbies here, there are lots of different species we would never see at home!!!( doin s*** job of justifying it....yes we're just a couple of twithcers). As we strolled back the road way the garage eventually rang to give us the bad news the radiator was b*****ed., and was gonna cost more than $400 to replace, but it had to be done and it's no worse than our bad luck at home!!! At least it should be done by Saturday which is when we were gonna head off.

Back at the hostel we enquired about the cheap flights that could be arranged (seen in good old Lonely Planet). Buster the owner and pilot informed us that if we could get another person to come along it would only be $25 each for 30 mins, which i reckon is pretty darn good. We went into our dorm and met the Northern girl (Tara), Lucina (Argentinian girl) and Pete (Scottish guy), Sam asked them if any of them fancied a flight. After a little thought and persuasion Pete decided it sounded like a good deal, so we were set for 9am the next morn. We realised our early judgements weren't true and they were all a litlte older and quite mature but obviously good fun. The afternoon was full of internet stuff and flew by. We decided to go out for a drink that night, especially as it was a thursday and it appeared to be the night we ended up goin out on. By the time we had cooked and eaten tea (egg fried rice and veg....yummy) and got ready it was ten o'clock and neither of us really felt like going out anymore. It had to be done though it was a thursday and we persuaded ourselves that it would be fine once we got out.

We wandered up the road to the bar we had seen buzzing the night before, tonight though, it seemed that there was only two people in there and they were all men. So walked around towards a bar Sam had seen in the afternoon, though we ended up goin into a bar/pub next door to it called Blacksmiths. We did deliberate a little as it seemed there were only men in there and was a little intimidating. We got our $3.50 jugs (as we are backpackers...didn't even need to prove it so we obviously must look grubby and smelly). As we wandered to find somewhere to sit Sam spotted the american and Canadian guy we had met in the Lion's Den, they were sitting with a group of locals; all men, nevertheless we ended up sitting with them. There was a guy called Greg he was one of the older ones(45); a roofer who was just up here for couple days doing a job, he liked to waffle on, but was a very nice man(was like our dad for the evening). The others were a little quieter, though one of them a tall gangly guy who looked bout 50 was dancing round on the porch like a lunatic practically rubbing up against the door, it was hilarious. Our one quite drink out had turned into yet again a few more beers, we chatted with the locals for quite a while and before we knew it we were up dancing with Greg and the American, the Canadian youngster had had far too many by this stage to dance. We were loving the dancing and dancing a little nutterish as usual, music was pretty good pop n R n B and the usual going out stuff really. I think we could have danced most of the night away but we had to be up early for the flight and really didn't wanna be hung over for it...so we said our goodbyes and headed for home just round the corner. ....another random night yet again...back before one so not too bad

Up and excited for the flight ahead, as we approached the hanger (garage) we could see the plane. Wow neither of us had been in such a small plane before(only 4 seats including the pilot)...looked a little scary but still excited. We helped to pull it out and watched as Buster did all the important checks before the off. We also had to don earmuffs with built in microphones so we could all talk and here each other...felt like we were really involved. It got off the ground perfectly fine as i should have expected really. As soon as we were up there was already such a great view of the town and the river, and it was pretty smooth so far. Buster took us along the near by coast and a few of the nearer islands. It was so beautiful to see the coast from the air, the sea looked a gorgeuos blue/green and was crystal clear. There were some impressive houses on the cliff edge as well has in the hill tops, very jealous. After another quick wizz around the town, Buster came into land, it swayed a little in the cross winds before landing but the landing itself was thankfully very smooth...good job Buster.

We had heard and read about good snorkelling around the area so decided to go on a hunt for anywhere that might rent some kit out. We found one place for $15 an day, which wasn't too bad but we thought maybe we could just buy some cheap gear for not a lot more then keep it for our travels and maybe take it home if we can fit all our stuff on the plane home!!! So after a lot of trying on masks and fins and deliberating....with both came out with all the gear and slightly less in our bank accounts!!! yet again!!! Sam also purchased a nice little shorty wetsuit that was in the kids range, and a good buy. We headed across the passenger ferry to walk to lonely bay, Pete the Scottish guy accompanied us too, which was lucky cos he knew the way. The water was a little nippy but not too bad once in. visibilty for snorkelling was pretty s*** though so didn't last long...we just went for a swim instead, less pete cos he's bit of a wimp when it comes to cold water. Weather went down hill again later in day so we decided to head back via Eggcentric Cafe. A gorgeuos little cafe you'd mistaken as a house, cakes were unbelievably good as well as coffee  and half the price of home. Me n Sam shared a piece of carrot (heavnely) and a piece of chocolate and raspberry(i think mainly chocolate...scrumcious). Back across the little very five min ferry, very quaint. It was to be an evening in tonight and it seemed the girls in our dorm were in too; Tara and Lucina. The music was blaring from Blacksmiths but we weren't tempted for another night...getting old!!! We enjoyed a nice girly evening of face masks and ranting about people. Tara was going off on one about Pete which was quite funny cos he'd said summit about her earlier in the day. She did have a point though, he was a little patronsising and liked to think he knew a lot about everything even when he clearly didn't. We felt very relaxed with them( and good just being in female dorm) and was nice to chat bout general crap and travelling ofcourse, many of our thoughts and feelings were the same. Lucina was also(as Sam0 interested in art and did illustration as a hobby, her work was very impressive, and i could see Sam's passion for it oozing out as she talked to her about it. We eventually all dozed off as the music appeared to get louder and for all i know was goin all night.

Next day we found out that the stupid parts people had sent the wrong sized bloody radiator and so we had to stay around for another two days, after a bit of sweraing and being pissed off we decided to rent a car for the day. So as not waste our time we headed of in it to explore Hahei and find hot water on the beach ....