Rotorua...smells like yellowstone to me

Well i'm spending a couple days in rotorua, its the geothermal center of these parts, lots of pools and geysers and smelling things all over.
the other day i was in waitomo and had a great caving adventure. tired to sign up for a wet trip going blackwater rafting but i was the only one that signed up so they couldn't take the trip but i got upgraded to the Lost World trip. we hiked down to a huge crevice in the ground and basically dropped in...they call it abseiling. its like repelling but just straight down. it was fun and a little scary, mostly because it was 100 meters down...that's the length of a football field! and once down we went on an hour long caving adventure where i was able to lead us around most of the way (only 1 other guy and also the guide) all the way back into the cave we found a little grove of glow worms (which are actually fly larvae, maggots, and what is glowing in their digestive system releasing energy... but glow worms sounds more romantic!! eh?
the next morning i went on another glow worm trip, this one was in a boat down a little cave river, millions of glow worms, its like a sky at night, but with blue stars! i wanna try to see if i can get some eggs or something back home and grow my own, they are so cool!!!! no photos though, they don't allow pics.
then back on the magic bus to rotorua in the afternoon. had a great night at a maori village for a hangi, with concert amd dinner. i met up with giuliana and amanda, my UK girls from the other day that gave me a ride to auckland. it was so amazing, very traditional and all in full costume. started with a greeting (if you wanna call it that) by the villages warriors where they come out to intimidate newcomers, we weren't aloud to react or anything so it was a little weird because its kind of funny the faces and noises they make, lots of grunting, sticking out their tongue and bulging out their eyes. then we had a little concert, lots of singing and dancing, gave me the chills, very powerful. dinner was great, all cooked underground with hot rocks...lamb, fish, pork, root veggies including NZ's kumara (a sweet potato). and other great stuff.
today giuliana, mandy and i all went down to a geothermal wonderland, very cool. really just a really long nature walk with lots of bubbling pools, weird birds and the largest hot spring lake in the world. it was a great after noon, i'm going to miss those girls, random chance we met and made great friends with them...to bad i'm leaving so soon, would have loved to travel with them some more. said they wanna come to oregon someday though.
well i take off tomorrow for a day of bus travel and adventure, not sure the plan but back in auckland for another fun friday night out!!! then saturday night i got tickets to the national rugby game, its a pre-world cup matchup!!! All blacks (NZ's team) vs. France!!!! should be a blow out by the all blacks. bonus is anne-cecile, the french girl i met at the backpacker and i got tickets together so it should be extra fun because we can root for different sides!!
thanks for the emails and caring for all that wrote, i miss and love you all!!!

Momma must have raised me right!!!

So yesterday i made the trip back to auckland from paihia (and the northern tip of New Zealand). I actually didn't even take the bus back that i paid for, i met a couple of girls that are travelling together from the UK, a couple for very cool and sweet ladies, and they gave me a ride in their truck!!!
had a fun time the night before out at the bars, i actually met them because i also won a 2 for 1 sea kayaking trip and didn't have time so i went into the hostels lounge and asked if anyone wanted it and they said they did...got to talking, went out for drinks later, started at a karaoke bar but was run out of there by awful...and i mean awful bohemian rhapsody, 2 guys one was yelling so loud it was just mumbles and the other really high pitch and monotone....piercing!!! so we went next door to "the beach house" 2 guys were playing acoustic guitar, very good too!!! lots of fast dueling, and covers with their own, great, twists. we ended up sitting next to one of the bands mates and we got the full history of the band and his own personal history, locals can be so funny here, he was talking about living in the bush aka forest, getting in bar fights with friends for fun and just what life is/was like in the town back 15-20 years ago before the tourist flooded in. we laughed all night, he even got up and played a little harmonica. anyways on the way back to the backpacker they we were talking about our plans and we both were headed to auckland the next afternoon, so they said i could catch a ride after my skydiving if i made it back in time, which i did....
but best part of the trip was along the way we were going up a big hill and there was a car pulled over with 2 old ladies standing next to it... a flat!!! the girls pulled over, we all hopped out of the truck, no one knew how how to change a tire... they asked if i knew how.... DO I KNOW HOW TO CHANGE A TIRE?!?!!!! as every remiyac or someone who as traveled with a remiyac knows, a flat tire is eminent on any road trip!!!! we're lucky when there isn't one. changing tires in is my blood, had it changed in no time. momma would have been proud!!! no pics, sorry.
well i'm back in auckland, only real reason was to say goodbye to my friend andrea who is leaving this afternoon... but i got a txt yesterday at like 1:30 asking if i was still coming back, i wrote back "yup! on my way", sent a couple more when i got back and another before i went to bed and i still haven't heard from her... i'm kind of mad more than sad, she promised me, i said i had doubts because she flaked last time we tried to meet up, but she said to trust her this is the last chance we can see each other fro a while, that we were like best friends at work, she couldn't leave without saying goodbye... she was one of only a couple people i could reach out to the other night when i heard about my grandma, funny thing is jonny and mike (the kiwi and the scottish guys i worked with) actually called me when i sent them a txt, i really wasn't in a talking mood but at least they called, or i'm being unreasonable or dramatic, i jsut really felt close to her and its a little upsetting right now, i'll be over it.

update!

well i survived the jump!! it was great had so much fun, it was cloudy but the clouds were only at about 6000 feet. so i free fell from 12000 to the clouds, openned the parachute in the clouds... then glided down under the cover and it was great view, clear and could see for miles!!! awesome, can't wait to do it again!!!

wow what a rollercoaster!!

well the past couple days have been crazy...
had a great day in auckland, checked out the sky tower (exactly like the space needle in seattle, but its the highest single tower in the south hemisphere, or something like that) had a great view from 220 meters up!!! got a better perspective of how large the city actually is!!! and it reminded me that i hadn't been to the docks yet to check out the big boats. so after coming down from there i set off to go find them. after a little wondering, i came across some beautiful yachts and chater boats. even saw the BMW/Oracle America's cup racer, so that was cool. wondered around town a little more, i've had a cold for a couple days and really wanted a smoothie but didnt want to spend the cash....but hey theres a $5 bill on the ground!!! so tommy got a feijoa smoothie (feijoa is this great little fruit only found in NZ, its like eating a VERY floral kiwi fruit.) rode the free bus around because i was tired of walking and made my way back to the hostel, we're i made a phone call home and got some bad new....Grandma Remiyac passed away that afternoon :( so sad, and all i could think about was how before i left for this trip i sort of ran out of time and didn't get to stop by her place for a goodbye...sigh... but i know the past couple months have been progressively worse and worse, so its for the best and shes in a better place now. but my parents kept telling me she was so excited to hear about my adventures and always wanted to know if they heard from me and what i was up to now. got a cool email a couple days ago about how my parents had a pastor come and pray with them, makes me feel better to hear that. but i'm keeping my head up and have fun, the next day i took of on "the magic bus", true name of the company, for the bay of islands a couple hours north of auckland, and its so peaceful here... had a nice cruise up though kauri forests which are massive like the redwoods but totally different looking, have a weird bark that senses when bugs are burrowing and sheds that part, so they look like they have fish scales. arrived in the evening just in time for a nice sunset of the mountains. went out that night for a couple brews and the bar i was at was having a raffle all night, and if you had a winning ticket you got to spin the wheel for a prize. well i was at a table with a lot of people and when ever people would leave the bar we would go snag their tickets so we had a pile of them and were winning everything. well i went to the bar to get another beer when they called out 69, which was one of my tickets, the girl i met from washington DC came in with the ticket, said she would spin the wheel but i could have the prize....and i hit the jackpot!!!! 50% off skydiving package!!!! actually just got back from booking it, only bad thing is, i leave tomorrow at 1pm and have to go if i wanna say goodbye to andrea, and theres a storm front coming tonight, but he said it "should" be gone by morning, but he would give me a call.
so today i had a great tour of the far north all the way up to cape reinga, where the Maori believe the spirits go to enter their afterlife... very cool sights and it was a long time, about 6 hours. took a few pictures, weather wasn't perfect but i guess it never is...highlight of the trip was the 90 mile beach (which is only 65 miles, dumb captain cook!!) but we drove ON the beach the whole way!!! and at the end was sand dunes that we used boogie boards to go down!!! so fun
so yup, ups and downs, strikes and gutters, wish i could be home but also dont want to leave this place quiet yet... next week waitoma glow worm caves where i'm planning to either blackwater cave tube or abseil 50 meters straight down into a cave...cant decided, someone said the blackwater was really slow and lame, no rapids. so i might go for the repelling in, that sounds crazy! then on to rotorua for geothermal fun, geysers and hot pools and a haka/hangi dinner... and if i have enough time hobbiton!!!

Yeah cont....

i forgot the best part of the story about selling my car. so heres the full story...
so the guy txt messages me at 7:30 says he saw my ad on trademe.co.nz (new zealands ebay) and was interested, to complicated things i was planning on driving romain 2 hrs north to a job he found in the morning at 10am, so i asked if he wanted to see the car that night or the next morning. he said the next afternoon was better... but i got him to agree to see it that night, he said he need to get a ride and would txt me when he was on his way in about an hour, and in kiwi fashion he got back to me 2 hours later saying he was bout to get on his way... so its getting pretty late, its dark, a little rainy... i would never check out a car this late, but he shows up. i crossed my fingers and said a little prayer, and the car actually started first try!!! and ran smooth!!! he popped the hood (but was so dark i dont know what he was looking for) walked around the car and said he would take it, we negociated $500 for it and he had to run to an ATM and would be right back. he gets back, we fill out some paper work and hand over the keys for the cash... walk him out to the car, and here's the best part, he goes to start up the car and it turns over and over and over and won't start... (this is happens all the time but i didn't want him to know that, i knew the trick) we were on a hill and it was low on gas so i blamed it on that. he kept trying and i could hear the starter was draining the battery, and finally it puddered a little, it really wanted to start and with a plume of smoke and the smell of a flooded engine it started!!!! i was jumping for joy inside!!! and he drove off...perhaps regeting his purchase. but she was a great car and we had a great time together, she'll be missed, my little corona!

yeah!!!

had a pretty rough day yestrday, i have been kind of stuck in auckland trying to sell the car we bought and no one is buying... i didn't want to leave to go travel a little because i knew as soon as i left someone would give me a call, i did everything i wanted to do in auckalnd and there is so much i want to do that is only a day trip away. but at 10pm lastnight i sold the car!!!! a wopping $500!!!! i get to keep $240 of it too, i put in $400, i think it was worth it. there just isn't the market for cars now, end of season, could have sold it for the twice that mid-seasson.
i also booked a trip yesterday to go to the northland, it looks so beautiful, i'm worried this rain is going to ruin it!!! i should get back on sunday, say goodbye to andrea who i haven't seen for like a month! then i'm going on another trip on tueday or wednesday, to go backwater tubing...its tubing though caves!!! and theres little glowing worms that you can see in them. and hopefully i'll have time to go to a hangi, its a moari (the natives here) dinner party were they put on a song and dance. then saturday i got tickets to the national rugby game here in auckland, its france vs. new zealand, should be a blow out by NZ but its funny its france because i got tickets with a girl i met at the hostel that is from france...cute kid. somewhere in there i really want to go to see the hobbiton place...maybe tomorrow. so busy now!!!

Kia ora (hello in maori) from auckland

well we finally made it to auckland...where we go our seperat ways, its a little sad. even though the trip where was rushed and stressful, i guess we did get to see a lot and do a lot together and i'll always remember it. now we just need to see the car by sunday and everything will be great. we are thinking of going down to the airport with a sign, getting travellers just when they get to here with a great deal, something hard to turn down. we'll see
so monday i think i'm going to hop on a bus, destination still unknown. i kind of want to find a nice place to relax for a couple days, somewhere with a good night life but fun things to do during the days.....like christchurch!!! too bad i'd cost way to much to get there and back since my flight if from auckland, i just need to do a couple week tour of the north island. well i don't have much time just wanted to give an update, i know its been a while. not even sure where i was last time i updated...think it was wanaka, so next was arrowtown near queens town, north up the west coast of the south island stopping in franz josef, saw the glacier, murchison, cruized though the Marlborough wine region tasted at a couple places, hopped the ferry in picton for the north island, stayed in wellington for the night, shot up hwy 1 to lake taupo for the night, further north to mt maunganui (great place, wanna go back) and up to the coramondel peninsula last night and auckland today!!! i think that was it... fwwwww that a whilwind...can't wait to travel a little slower. oh and i'm planning on making some posts when i get home to reflect my actual trip...cheating i know, i should post as i go along but its too hard, too expensive and i'm too busy, i'm keeping a paper journal though so i'll basically post that with pics and links and stuff...
anyways gotta go, take care all and miss ya!!! email me if you get a chance!!!!

hola!!! zoom zoom

gotta be quick....internet is $$$$$expensive!!! $1 for 10mintues
we have began traveling now... i recommend you google search where i have been to get an idea of what its like because i dont' have time to fully explain
spend 2 nights ago at lake wanaka!!! amazing went on a great hike to see it from way up!!!
last night in arrowtown, a little town just north of famous queenstown nice slow night, got a great nights rest for the drive today, which was out to the west coast....though the alps!!! amazing views along the way
tonight we are staying near franz josef glacier, tomorrow we are going to try to get as close as possible to the glacier...might be my last chance to see one with the global warming.
anyways i gotta go...miss ya and will update soon with more info
tomorrow we are heading to the north of the south island...only a couple days left on this island and on to the north via ferry, we are on a rush tour, which is very disappointing because there is so much to see and i'm missing it all!!!! i guess i'll have to come back...;)
just hope my little toyota can make it, the roads are very steep sometimes and the curves are sharp!!!! 2nd gear on the inclines and the smell of burning breaks are a common occurance, sigh, wish me luck. we still have 2 weeks of this.

Last night in Christchurch....:(

Well tonight will be the list night we spend in christchurch. today should be a very busy day. need to get everything in order while we still have a home base of sorts. running down to the tax office today to sort out all that kind of things, then to the winery to get a summary of the money we made, then the registration on the car runs out in a couple weeks so i need to figure out where the DMV equivalent here is or where ever i need to go, and laundry....and of course goodbyes. we'll be splitting up today, some of us will be meeting back up in auckland at the end of this month though.
this weekend was a wild and crazy one!!! spending lots of money i really don't have to spend. was out to 4ish on saturday going to clubs having a great time withe some new friends i met. this is a great town for nightlife... well if you got the money! we started out having a few pints at an irish pub with a great band playing, i even requested one of my favorite irish drinking songs and the obliged!! it was great, Molly Malone!! also went to this weird little bar that was in a basement, all cement and live turntable DJs. ended up at the place called shotters....which was really trendy but fun, only played pop music but was full of beauties so i couldnt' complain too much.
took yesterday pretty easy, slept in till the afternoon. met up with andrea and izaak for a beer with romain and ivan, chris joined us later. had another beer at the belium bar, and got to see my favorite bartender again!!! ivan was funny, i said something about her and he acted all upset and said but i'm in love with her.
anyways, its farewell to christchurch and on to other parts of the south island, we only have about 2 weeks to travel so it kind of sucks, but we should be able to see lots, but it will all be fast. i think the first stop is going to be dunedin, then head for the west coast, stop by queenstown (a huge party town, but not enough $$$$ to really stay there) but probably stay in wanaka for a little...should be close to the mountains by then or already.....think lord of the rings when they are crossing the snow caped alps like mountains.... thats the landscape down here. i can't wait. then we head up north, visit the Marlborough region, a big wine region. ferry to the north, see as much as possible before we need to be in auckland by the 21st for ivans flight, at which point we should meet up with andrea and izaak fresh from fiji and i have till the 4th till my flight. so much to do, so little money and a car that i'm scared won't make it. but hey thats why you call it an adventure!

Super cell in Nebraska!!!!

just a really cool picture i thought i would share!

how much sleep is too much sleep?

i hope i'm just recovering from all the hard work because i can't help but to sleep. last night we all went out to dinner together... had some bangers and mash!!! yumm!!! when we got back I went to my bed to take a little nap....well i didn't get up till 9:30, i got up watched a little tv then, thought about going out but decided that maybe i need a long nights rest, well i didn't even hear everyone get up in the morning, i woke up at like 8:30 and the room was empty... maybe tonight i'll go have a fun time out on the town.
which reminds me, may is music month in NZ and there was a kick off at the dux de lux with lots of bands, it has a couple bars in it and each one had a different kind of music, i mostly stayed in the lounge bar where i first heard a ben harper like band then listen to another rock band with a lady lead singer... fur patrol. it was a good show, even ended up meeting a couple that was from the US, eugene and washington state... we all went out to the belgium bar after the show, no cute bartender though. i swear i knew the girl... but she says she claims eugene but lives in montana now. anyways it was a great time and a nice night out. returned back to the backpacker for some southern comfort and coke with the boys and hit the hay pretty late...
other than that i have been taking it pretty slow the past week... just walking around town, checked out the art centre, a couple free museums, and the botanical gardens are usually my after breakfast/lunch (when ever i get up) stop. finally got into the greenhouses today, past 3 times i went couldn't. hey had a really cool tropical one, lots of vines and palms, waterfalls and even a banana tree with bananas!!!
not sure what i'm going to do this afternoon... i'm actually kind of getting bored of this town right now, not wanting to spend any money since i didn't make enough working has put a damper on my going out and doing whatever... i mean there's a lot of cool stuff to do but its all kind of spendy...but i might splurge tomorrow and pay to go to the Antarctica museum, they have little blue penguins there you can play with... i know, awesome!!! but i also heard they run wild down south....which is where our travels are taking us next....i can't wait i still have a month of traveling left, in fact i really haven't even started!!!!