Bucking the trend

So despite the advice of every single person we have spoken to (as well at the guide book), we decided that we would head to the east coast of NZ. The consensus seemed to be that the east coast was not very nice, dirty, poor, not part of most tours, and potentially even a little unsavory. We decided it sounded like the perfect place! Heading east we passed through places like Tauranga, Whakatane, and Opotiki (please don’t ask me to pronounce!). The Maori are the native people here, and their presence is reflected in the majority of the town names, although we saw nothing but European looking folks in most of these places. The majority of NZ that we have seen of NZ, until we hit the east coast, has been 100% set up for tourists. Imagine a beach town in summer anywhere in the USA, that is what the majority of towns we’ve seen look like. Little shops, hotels, cafes, art dealers, and real estate agents, but very little beyond the tourist offerings. I think that is the other reason we wanted to head east, to simply get out of the range of the tourist. I know, I know, we’re white American tourists, but I’m surrounded by Americans normally, I want a change when I go on vacation! Anyway, our gamble paid off wonderfully as we ended camping on a beach that was free, deserted, and simply stunning. It was one for the nicest places I’ve ever stayed. And there is nothing like the sound of crashing waves to ensure a great nights sleep. We also got a small taste of Maori life today. From our very limited time spend in a few non-tourist towns where we were the only European looking people, I would guess that the Maori have not shared in the wealth that the rest of NZ has enjoyed.

The down side with our visit to the east coast is that it’s a bit of a hike from the other place we want to go- the glow worms! So this afternoon we did a bit of driving and have ended up at Lake Taupo, which is in central part of the north island. We are definitely back in the land of the tourist, but it’s amazing scenery, so it might be worth it. Tomorrow will be a hike around a volcano, and then the next it will be the worms!

The connection is very slow today, so no pictures until next time!

Magic, and left is right?

Airplanes are magic. We are so accustom to flying that I think we often forget how truly amazing it is to be transported from once place on earth to a completely different place in a matter of hours. Even though I understand all the mechanics and physics of air travel, it still never fails to amaze me when I step off a plane to a completely different world. I was thinking on the flight last night how if you took someone from a hundred or more years ago, put them in a seat in a long metal tube for a few hours (assuming the windows were covered!) and they then stepped off in another part of the world, they would think you were a witch! It is an experience that is completely unimaginable at any other time in history other then the most recent few years. Anyway, the magic did its trick, and after an amazingly painless flight, we magically found ourselves in the Auckland airport! We have rented a minivan that will serve as transportation as well as sleeping accommodations. Of course the hardest part is the fact that they drive on the wrong side of the road here, although they seem convinced that it’s the correct side! We traveled west out of Auckland to a jetty of land called the Coromandel Peninsula. About 2 hours outside of Auckland, an amazing thing happed, the world became more gorgeous then usual! Driving along the lush green mountains where they slide gracefully it to the ocean, the water a stunning shade of turquoise, islands in the distance. Absolutely beautiful! We are camped tonight at a place just north of Coromandel Town, right next to the beach, and the weather has been sunny and wonderful all day. We just got some travel advice from a French couple camped next door, but we’re still unsure where we are headed tomorrow and the remainder of the trip.

The beginning and reunion in LA

Well the journey has started! It was a relatively short hop over to LAX where I am now waiting for a much longer Qantas flight to Auckland. 13 hours! Good thing it leaves at midnight so hopefully exhaustion will kick in and I'll be able to snooze a good bit of the flight away!

The other big event today is meeting up with my old friend Bayard. Bayard and I met in 7th grade, which would mean we've been friends for 28 years! Not only is Bayard one hell of a good bloke, but he's the best traveling companion anyone could ask for. Easygoing, rarely stinky and always up for an adventure. Not to mention funny. He's had many a clever quote, but two of him most memorable are 'I feel like I'm made of mucus"  once when he was feeling under the weather, and "Why didn't you tell me how much fun drinking and smoking can be!" when he got his first taste of said indulgences at the age of 24.

Tomorrow Auckland (although by the calendar it's two days from now!), and that's when the big adventure will start! Stay tuned for lots of pictures and hopefully some good adventures!