Hi Everyone,

What would you do to mark your birthday? I thought long and hard about this one but a sky dive seemed a reasonable idea and Lake Taupo is a wonderful location to do it from. There are 2 jumps in Taupo, 12000 and 15000ft. The morning was bright and clear with cloudless skies, I had got up early and had breakfast so I returned to the hosatel to ask at reception about organising a jump. One phone call and 30 minutes later I was being picked up from the front of the premises with a small group of others and driven to the local airport. I didn't actually get much chance to change my mind, before I knew it I was at the Skydive Jump Centre being whisked in ,briefed, shown a video and then being suited up, all before I could actually say, 'err, well actually no thanks'!

I opted to go all the way up, what is the difference between 12 and 15000ft anyway, apart that is from 3000ft? The answer is just a small amount of falling for just a bit longer before the chute hopefully opens. There is also a matter of phycological trauma which I will come to.

My jump instructor for the day was called Damian who ironically comes from Colchester (that will amuse some I know). You go half way round the World to jump out of a lovely little plane with a complete stranger, who then turns out to have come from your own back yard. I was actually quite calm inside and in fairness that was in part due to Damians influence and the fact that I didn't want to appear a whimp! Although, I have to add that you would not quite believe this when you see my face on the video just before leaving the plane, I did try to smile but it was a bit difficult and not at all convincing. Because I was going the extra distance, well you wouldn't expect anything else would you, I had oxygen supplied to me for the last few thousand feet. The plane was basic and is normally used as a crop sprayer, just to give you that little extra confidence! Inside, the plane has two 6' padded parrallel runners going from the centre of the cargo area towards the cockpit which are about 9" wide. You straddle these and basically sit on the jump instructors lap. The side door opens automatically when the Green light comes on and at that point you know that there is only one way you are going - Down!

There were 2 of us jumping but the other paying idiot had chosen to go at 12000. Let me tell you that on your first occasion this point really phycs you out. I mean, why do you actually want to to watch someone jump out of a perfectly good little plane and then fly a further 3000ft higher and do the same? I'm not sure I could answer that myself just at that moment and I seriously questioned myself about what I was about to do. Perhaps Damian sensed this and that is why he stuck the oxygen mask over my face! I was shown the altimeter constantly so I knew exactly what height we were at and experienced the full impact of nerves over anticipation, anxiety, stress and of course panic! I was shown the altimeter for the last time given a final briefing and then the green light came on, this was it, I knew what to do, the door started to open and I attempted to slow my breathing to something like normal. I got the final tap on the shoulder and we shuffled toward the open door. The camerman then climbed out and stood outside the plane at 15000 feet, all eyes were on me, well lenses anyway and I found myslef dangling out of the plane only held there by the harnesses. OH MY WORD!!! What was I thinking when I decided to do this? I have no idea!

I did try to smile, honestly, another check, a tap on the shoulder, a thumbs up and AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!

Try catching your breath when you are doing 200KPH, falling head first, tumbling out of a small plane, trying to look at the ground all that way below you. You are thrown into a complete sensory overload, your World just turns upside down, back to front, inside out , all ways up, all at once. When you concentrate on pulling yourslef together it is a stunning experience and when Damian stopped spinning us round and round and I felt less sick, I could focus on the scenery and what I was supposed to be doing. It was just brilliant but I felt I had missed too much just simply because it was happening so fast. I did keep my eyes open all the way but it is really difficult to comprehend that you had just been thrown out of a plane and that you are now falling towards the ground at an incredible rate of knots and that it is so far away. I can not say that I actually felt the ground coming towards me, it didn't compute at all, it was just unbelievable. You are just falling, falling and falling, the air is freezing, your ears are popping, you eyes are bulging, your heart is racing, it is just crazy.

Before I knew it we had reached 5000ft and the chute was deployed. The harness was lossened and then everything slowed down as if in slow motion and became a lot more sedate. I was able to focus again and the views were simply stunning, truly wonderful, from that far up. It was still incredibly clear and so overwhelming, an intense experience. We circled the airfield cleared ourselves for coming in and then landed without any drama whatsoever, I wanted to go again. The adrenalin had really kicked in and taken over my system, the High was amazing. I wanted more but only got a T shirt, oh and a DVD! You then have to disrobe and step out of your harness, everyone just jabbers away at you with excitement it is really quite amusing.

The trip back to Taupo was full on with people talking about their own experience, some would go again, some would not, me I had a headache such was the rush and I needed to calm down but I knew I had to do it all over again.

30/08

I left Taupo for the second time but on this occasion heading South to Wellington and crossing from North to South island. I have now found myself some new friends and travel companions, Justin, Ciera, Thomas, Andrew and Monica and a bus load, and I mean a bus load, of others. This is the busiest bus I have been on and space is at a premium. Everyone rubs along pretty well but our little group is pretty cool, thank you.

We passed through a lot of scenery where the Lord of The Rings Trilogy was filmed, I have to confess that I didn't recognise any of it but we went for a couple of walks all the same including Taranaki Falls, hence the photos and could view Mount Ruapeku volcano from here. We ended up driving through the stunning landscapes of the Tongariro National Park to River Valley adventure lodge and the Rangitikei river. It was a very pleasant place in a wonderful location with plenty to occupy you if you so chose.

From River Valley we travelled onto Wellington where I only had one night before making the crossing by boat to the South Island. It was a shame because there is a lot to see and do in Wellington and it is definately on my 'to do' list when I return. The next morning was an early start to catch the ferry across. We were on board by 8.30 and set sail by 9.00.the crossing takes 3 hours and we were lucky to have a windy but relatively calm day to go across. There was hardly a cloud in the sky but get onto the windward side and you were nearly cut in half by the cold. The trip provided some vivid memories of the Islands and a memorable trip over. The approach to Picton harbour actually takes an hour from entering the Straits taking you past hillsides apparently untouched by human hand and the views do not disappoint the imagination. We headed for Nelson and one of the nicer hostels we have stayed in, Fern Lodge. They provided a decent meal for not a lot of money and decent beer, they also supplied the most miserable bar maid I have ever come across. I actually thougth that I had done something to uspet this young lady in some way as everything I asked for was receiced in the most negative way possible, I discovered that this was actually her responce to everyone. Quite astonishing, if you dont want to work somewhere or deal with customers dont do it, go elsewhere, they had a lovely place, great food, good accommodation and CRAP staff!

03/09 - Never mind things could only get better, couldn't they? We left Westport and headed directly down the West coast road, destination, Lake Mahinapau and a fancy dress party!

First we walked along the coastal path and past the Cape Foulwind seal colony, yes it was windy but thankfully not foul and yes we did see the seals. We also stopped at Punakaiki Pancake rocks and blowholes. The only problem with this was that we didn't have enough time to do either of these areas justice. If I were to do this myself I would have given the whole day over to just being at these locations because there was alot to take in and see. However, the brochure says, 'unique overnight stay at a historic West coast pub', well we first had to stop to buy props for the fancy dress party but had to conform with the theme set by the pub which was the letter 'P'. The weather was getting worse and once we had pulled up at the pub it was pouring down and cold.

The Dorms were very poor and we basically had to sleep in a porta cabin on bunk beds which were completely wrecked and atrocious. Not to be deterred we presented ourselves for supper which I have to say was outstanding, unlike the bunks or the pub! The party was after dinner so people retired to prepare. There was a pretty good showing and I make no apologies for the photos, we all had a good time, some getting into more trouble than others! Nuff said!

The next day we headed off to Franz Joseph Glacier, a part of the trip I had been particularly looking forward to. I cant help making comparison between this part of the Country and The Rockies in Canada. The mountains are not quite as big but equally as spectacular but without as much snow which has surprised me as it is still winter, but only just. The Franz joseph lodge was a complete relief compare to the previous night, most people were hiking the Glacier but i had decided to give this a miss because I didn't want to aggravate old injuries and wanted to do something else the day after we left here. We had a free day around the area and I had a glorious days walk to the base of the Glacier and viewed it from a rock called The Sentinal, it was a total of approximately 10 K so not too strenuous. The day was clear with blue skies and little wind, it was T shirt weather again and lovely not to have to defend yourself against the cold. I managed to do a lot of bits for myself and was fully prepared for the remainder of this leg of the trip. The others returned having had a beautiful day on the Glacier itself and obviously a great experience, next time maybe.

See you soon,

Chris