Today I got into a wetsuit, which was already wet (eeew!) then hiked across a cow field to repel down a silly hill. wooo! but then I repelled down a 37 meter hole in the ground into a sweet cave!!! then we hiked along a bit, and ziplined into a river! well sort of, once we ziplined to the top of the cliff they gave us hotchocolate....not a good sign for the temperature to come...we then grabbed silly innertubes and jumped off the little cliff into some icy cold water. we floated around in the water admiring glowworms before hiking up two waterfalls to get out...the whole ordeal lasted about 5 hours. then I saw some huuuuuuuge bunnies which they shear for wool... this is unrelated.
until next time
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Saturday, January 23, 2010
NZ Track Building
Appreciate every hike you take where you are walking along a track. Seriously, because someone made that. If you happen to be in New Zealand and visit TECT park or the Bird Sanctuary, know that I built those tracks...by hand. Appreciate!! keep an eye on the environment around you. There is always hope
until next time
until next time
Saturday, January 16, 2010
day in the life
tuesday was our first real day of work. for the first few hours we fulled the invading weeds and grass from around the baby trees. we found a variety of pests including the ever fearsome blackberry, wasps, spiders, and a baby slug named Jim.
We took a break from this for an early lunch and for a few people to recover from their plant allergies. After lunch we did a bit more "releasing" (a kinder word for weeding) and then headed off to build a trail.
This trail is for the elderly so one popular phrase we adopted was "can an 80 yr old walk it?" We tried to make it work. The work is pretty intense and tiring but it is so rewarding.
after our hard work we headed off to a waterfall. we played and swam, it was FREEZING!. everyone was jumping off this one waterfall and I was terrified to try it. But, if Adriana could face here fear of water and swim across the lake, I could jump off a waterfall. Cass and I held hand and off we went! It was exhilarating. The David Teoh, who, had never been in a real river before jumped off a 7 meter waterfall. His motto? "if a kiwi can do it an aussie can do it!". After that we hiked back to the bus and headed home.
For dinner we had mexican! (burritos really). I wasnt in the cooking group, but I helped out baceuse Nefoo and Xuan had never cooked mexican food beffore. We made burritos and they were excelent. We had lots of people try refried beans, they were a hit! PB+J and refreid beans....we will show the aussies some afmerican stuff afterall. After dinner we played a round of a charades game called hats.
once the sun set we headed out for a glow worm walk. we started walking the waywe had gone the other night when we got lost. we took a turn though, and headed down this crazy hill that was coverd in grass that was dsoaked from the earlier rain. This was by far the steepest cliff I have ever been down. We slid all the way down on what was a 45 degree slope or worse.
It was intese and painfull and really really fun. Ojce we got to the glow worms it was unreal! It was a fairy wonderland that looked a lot like the movie avatar. It was amazing. We were hiking in the pitch dark looking at tiny blue dots everywhere.
The trip has been amazing
Until next time
We took a break from this for an early lunch and for a few people to recover from their plant allergies. After lunch we did a bit more "releasing" (a kinder word for weeding) and then headed off to build a trail.
This trail is for the elderly so one popular phrase we adopted was "can an 80 yr old walk it?" We tried to make it work. The work is pretty intense and tiring but it is so rewarding.
after our hard work we headed off to a waterfall. we played and swam, it was FREEZING!. everyone was jumping off this one waterfall and I was terrified to try it. But, if Adriana could face here fear of water and swim across the lake, I could jump off a waterfall. Cass and I held hand and off we went! It was exhilarating. The David Teoh, who, had never been in a real river before jumped off a 7 meter waterfall. His motto? "if a kiwi can do it an aussie can do it!". After that we hiked back to the bus and headed home.
For dinner we had mexican! (burritos really). I wasnt in the cooking group, but I helped out baceuse Nefoo and Xuan had never cooked mexican food beffore. We made burritos and they were excelent. We had lots of people try refried beans, they were a hit! PB+J and refreid beans....we will show the aussies some afmerican stuff afterall. After dinner we played a round of a charades game called hats.
once the sun set we headed out for a glow worm walk. we started walking the waywe had gone the other night when we got lost. we took a turn though, and headed down this crazy hill that was coverd in grass that was dsoaked from the earlier rain. This was by far the steepest cliff I have ever been down. We slid all the way down on what was a 45 degree slope or worse.
It was intese and painfull and really really fun. Ojce we got to the glow worms it was unreal! It was a fairy wonderland that looked a lot like the movie avatar. It was amazing. We were hiking in the pitch dark looking at tiny blue dots everywhere.
The trip has been amazing
Until next time
Friday, January 15, 2010
New Zealand week 1
I have so much to add but only 1 minute 40 on my internet cafe computer left!
The trip has been incredible so far! We have built trails into rain forests, saved baby trees, and played lots of fun games. we are staying on a sheep farm and everyone is so much fun!
until next time
The trip has been incredible so far! We have built trails into rain forests, saved baby trees, and played lots of fun games. we are staying on a sheep farm and everyone is so much fun!
until next time
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Follow me around NZ
Jan 8- Board Plane in LA
Jan 10- Arrive in Auckland
Once I'm in Auckland I will be meeting up with the rest of my group from ISV and heading to McLaren Falls Park where we will be helping build a trail from parts of the park to a waterfall. we will be staying here for the first four days.
Jan 13- head into Tauranga
Once there we will be staying on a Marae, the community center of the Maori people. We will be participating in conservation work such as forest regeneration, environmental monitoring, bird surveys, and planting.
Jan 24- Waitomo
once in Waitomo we will be black water rafting (white water rafting but in a cave)
Jan 26- Rotorua
Along the way to Rotorua we will be going to the Kiwi encounter (not the fruit the bird), and Zorbing! Zorbing is getting into a HUGE beach ball and rolling down a hill...google it. then once in Rotorua we will be rafting down the largest commercially rafted waterfall in the world. 14 drops...7 meters high...wow! after all that adventure we will be relaxing in the hot springs after visiting the Hells Gate Thermal Reserve. That evening we are invited to a Hangi (what I think will be kind of like a Luau)
Jan 29- Wellington
The Capital! We will be stopping at the largest lake in the country (Taupo) and passing through the Tongariro National Park, home of the volcanoes. While in the capital city we will get a private tour of Te Papa, the national museum. Then we have a chance to just hang out and enjoy the city.
Jan 31- Nelson
to get to Nelson we have to take a ferry across the cook straight. once in Nelson I have the choice between sea kayaking and 4 wheeling through the forest. Trust me...I'm going kayaking.
Feb 2- Franz Josef
on the trip to Franz Josef we get to see the southern Alps, stop at a seal colony, and see the pancake rocks. Once there we are hiking the Franz Josef Glacier.
Feb 4- Queenstown
Bungy jumping? Not for me...while the idea scares me I wanted to try it...however my hip injury prevents me from doing this crazy activity. Once in Queenstown we will be taking a jet boat down the Shotover canyon. The last night we have a big celebration!
Feb 7- good bye New Zealand!
Jan 10- Arrive in Auckland
Once I'm in Auckland I will be meeting up with the rest of my group from ISV and heading to McLaren Falls Park where we will be helping build a trail from parts of the park to a waterfall. we will be staying here for the first four days.
Jan 13- head into Tauranga
Once there we will be staying on a Marae, the community center of the Maori people. We will be participating in conservation work such as forest regeneration, environmental monitoring, bird surveys, and planting.
Jan 24- Waitomo
once in Waitomo we will be black water rafting (white water rafting but in a cave)
Jan 26- Rotorua
Along the way to Rotorua we will be going to the Kiwi encounter (not the fruit the bird), and Zorbing! Zorbing is getting into a HUGE beach ball and rolling down a hill...google it. then once in Rotorua we will be rafting down the largest commercially rafted waterfall in the world. 14 drops...7 meters high...wow! after all that adventure we will be relaxing in the hot springs after visiting the Hells Gate Thermal Reserve. That evening we are invited to a Hangi (what I think will be kind of like a Luau)
Jan 29- Wellington
The Capital! We will be stopping at the largest lake in the country (Taupo) and passing through the Tongariro National Park, home of the volcanoes. While in the capital city we will get a private tour of Te Papa, the national museum. Then we have a chance to just hang out and enjoy the city.
Jan 31- Nelson
to get to Nelson we have to take a ferry across the cook straight. once in Nelson I have the choice between sea kayaking and 4 wheeling through the forest. Trust me...I'm going kayaking.
Feb 2- Franz Josef
on the trip to Franz Josef we get to see the southern Alps, stop at a seal colony, and see the pancake rocks. Once there we are hiking the Franz Josef Glacier.
Feb 4- Queenstown
Bungy jumping? Not for me...while the idea scares me I wanted to try it...however my hip injury prevents me from doing this crazy activity. Once in Queenstown we will be taking a jet boat down the Shotover canyon. The last night we have a big celebration!
Feb 7- good bye New Zealand!
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Apparently I'm Australian
Just 2 weeks away from being in sunny New Zealand and Im riding out the storm of the year here in Boston. I'm finishing up my packing today (woo hoo) and I cannot wait to get on the plane! I'll be making a stop at home to spend x mas with my folks and then January 8th I'm off!
As I pack I'm following the detailed list that ISV (International Student Volunteers) has given me. However, along with the list are emergency contact numbers, consulate info, power wattage info and general things you might need to know that are differences between your home country and New Zealand. Unfortunately, ISV thinks my home country is Australia. "The Australian exchange rate is....the number for the AUS consulate is....the food you will eat will be just like Australia" These are all really great to know....but I'm from America. They are sure going to be surprised by my accent!
I got a great day pack at REI, cant wait to fill it up! Its got a water bladder and even a rain cover!! Also, Ive been applying copious amounts of self tanner so I don't look too pasty! Ha Ha.
Tomorrow I'll Update the Itinerary so you can follow my journey across NZ.
Until next time....
As I pack I'm following the detailed list that ISV (International Student Volunteers) has given me. However, along with the list are emergency contact numbers, consulate info, power wattage info and general things you might need to know that are differences between your home country and New Zealand. Unfortunately, ISV thinks my home country is Australia. "The Australian exchange rate is....the number for the AUS consulate is....the food you will eat will be just like Australia" These are all really great to know....but I'm from America. They are sure going to be surprised by my accent!
I got a great day pack at REI, cant wait to fill it up! Its got a water bladder and even a rain cover!! Also, Ive been applying copious amounts of self tanner so I don't look too pasty! Ha Ha.
Tomorrow I'll Update the Itinerary so you can follow my journey across NZ.
Until next time....
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
34 Days!
In just over a month I will be flying across the United States, then crossing the entire pacific ocean to arrive in New Zealand. I'm looking forward to my first two weeks there where I'll be volunteering on a conservation project. It will be so fun to get my hands dirty and help save the planet, even if it's just a little bit. The second two weeks of my trip will satisfy my thirst for adventure! I will be kayaking, white water rafting, black water rafting, jet boating, horse back riding, glacier climbing; and that's only the beginning! I cant wait to experience the culture of New Zealand. What I'm most looking forward to, however, are the friends I'm sure to make along the way. I'll Keep you all updated as I find out. Next week I should have my packing list!
Until next time
Until next time
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