There and Back Again

and Back Again

noreply@blogger.com (Nick) — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 19:10:00 +0000

Admittedly, I think I've left a few of you hanging. And while reading about me selling my guitar for the past two weeks might be just exciting as it was the first time, I suspect its probably time to write something.

So if you hadn't figured it out yet, I am back home in Corning, New York. And the weather has been so nice its been hard to sit down and really write something. But alas, it is raining. So here's a quick recap of my final days...

The last few days mostly consisted of studying for my last few exams, er....pretending to study. I know when we tell people why we were in NZ it was "For School." Yeah right. More like hang on the beach, go hiking, have lots of parties, relax, "accidently miss class", etc. My parents are still convinced I never attended class, well thats only partially correct. I did sometimes.

The night before we left about 15 of us went out to dinner in the pouring rain for one last huzzah. As I looked around the table of smiling and laughing faces, I think it finally set in how much I'm going to miss being around these people every single day. And I don't like to get sappy, but these friends are for Keeps.

The last day, before the heading to the Airport in the evening, a few of us headed downtown for one last look. And as a final farewell we made sure to pay one last tribute to NZ, we ate Lamb kebabs. And it had never tasted so good.

We jumped on the 12 hour flight to San Fransisco, and it turned out to be pretty painless. This might be attributed to the Ambien I stole from a friend. After arriving in San Fran we headed toward town to help kill our 7 hour layover. We went to the infamous In and Out Burger, whom Ed (or resident burger enthusiast) assured us was the best fast food burger ever according the burger enthusiasts world wide. They were indeed delicious, dripping with grease, onions, cheese, lettuce, tomato, and their "special sauce". I was convinced, they were the best. Unfortunatly, they're only to be found on the west coast.

We walked around a little more than jumped a streetcar to head back to the airport. We had another red eye to JFK departing around 9:45pm and arriving at 6:00am. The flight was much more painful as I could not get myself to fall asleep, as there were no pillows or shoulders to fall asleep on as I did the previous flight.

After standing through the awkwardness in JFK of everyone being re-united with their parents except myself and a few others, I made my way to the JetBlue terminal with my two carry-ons and two 50lb. bags, for my final flight. I think its fair to say that standing in the security line for 40 minutes was less than fun, and then having the plane wait in line for another 45 to take off was less than exciting. But with 30-some odd hours of traveling, what was a another 4 anyway?

So after being home for almost two-weeks, there are noticeable difference between here and There. The food for one is on a much higher level here, since its prepared by my mother. It is also much quiter here. Where before I was in a city and hanging out with some of my closest friends day in and day out. So its relaxing, but a bit lonesome sometimes.

The last thing that I noticed is that I often find myself starting a sentence like this, "Well in New Zealand they...." or "When I was in New Zealand, I...." Maybe that'll wear off, but I'm thinking for awhile it won't, and I don't mind. I'm already trying hard not to lose a lot of the memories from that beautiful place.

Everywhere I went when I was in New Zealand I tried not to take for granted. I tried so hard to soak it all in, because I knew eventually I'd have to leave. I'd peer out into the distance. I'd close my eyes and breath in the landscape. I'd listen to the ocean and mountains. Even now I try so hard to remember the memories of friends and places I tried so hard to ingrain in my mind; but sometimes there are places and times where the mind just can't hold it all in no matter how hard you try. New Zealand is one of those places.

Yet this isn't meant to sound sad in any way, but in fact, the opposite. I'm glad to have been fortunate enough to experience such a place. Somewhere that made me really appreciate the beauty of the earth and people. But I also realized you don't have to go all the way to New Zealand for that. Its as easy as staring up at the night sky or laughing with your friends.

Thanks for everyone who read this blog and all my shinanigans. I hope to start a new blog on who knows what, but I'll post it here, once I get an idea, for anyone who might be interested.

I'll leave you with a song wrote in toward the end when I was in New Zealand. Only a small group of people have heard it. I also put a little slide show along with it. The song can be downloaded via the player on the right or facebook or my music link.

I hope to make it back someday. And I hope you'll make it there too.

Peace & Love
-Nick

Sit Tight

noreply@blogger.com (Nick) — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 03:43:00 +0000

There's one final post coming, I swear. In just one or two days, its special so its taking a bit longer than I thought.

So don't go away, I'll back after a short messages from our sponsors.

While My Guitar Gently Weeps

noreply@blogger.com (Nick) — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 05:44:00 +0000

Timm and I having a jam awhile back.

So I sold my guitar today at a pawn shop. Bringing it back to the U.S. just wasn't going to happen. Marie (what I named my guitar) will be sorely missed and provided me with endless hours of joy. I bought her for $135, and got $60 back. Not too bad, I wasn't really expecting anything more than that. The end is coming near and I'll be home to warm weather. Yay!

One Week

noreply@blogger.com (Nick) — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 10:32:00 +0000

It's certainly weird to know that I'm only going to be living in New Zealand for one more week. Maybe I've become so accommodated to living here that I haven't realized in less than 7 days I'm going to have to pack everything up into to big bags and head home. Unfortunatly, I also have a few more exams standing in my way.

I'd of course be lying if I said I wasn't a little sad. This place is rockem-sockem hoppin, and in all reality, it might be a good while before I get back. Plus there will be lots of sweet friends I made to that I won't see for a little bit.

I am pretty excited to get home to warm weather, family, and more than just pasta and grilled cheese for dinner each night, though.

Soooo....with that said. Stay tuned for a few more posts before this adventure is over.

Keep it real home skillets.

Wade in the Water

noreply@blogger.com (Nick) — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 06:37:00 +0000

Here's another post about a tramp (hike) that I did here in NZ. With just over a week left in this beutiful country, a few of us decided we better make the best of it and go on an adventure. Rich, as you can see, was totally into the idea.
So we started of on what would seem like a regular hike through the woods. Of course when we started going downhill we realized there would only one way to get back. Going uphill of course.

Cate is great at posing for pictures...really.So we made it to the bottom of the trail and was faced with two options. Continue on forward, or loop back around via the stream track. We picked the stream caused it looked way more exciting than anything else.

It soon became obvious what it was called the stream track, because we ended up having to cross the stream about 13 times, and at times it came way past our ankles. If you've ever seen the movie Anaconda (not recommended) than that's what it was like.
At one of these big pools I may have jokingly mentioned the desire to go swimming. With me saying this Cate, Rich, and Lynn were quick to press the matter. While I was a little afraid the water may have been infested with some vicious bacteria that would eat me from the inside out, I gave in. Turns out I'm a sucker for peer pressure.
The water was cold. And when I was happy with just jumping in once, Rich insisted I jump in again cause he missed the photo. So I did. Then he missed it again. So I jumped again. Then he missed it again. So I jumped again. Then he missed it again. By this point, my skin was burning because the water was so cold. I did not jump again.

Either way, we continued on the stream which ended at a nice water fall. After cheking it out for a bit we climbed back up to the main trail to get back to the car, with our shoes soaked but heads held high. The signs had said on advanced trampers should hike this trail. We now consider us advanced.

Tim Tam Slammin

noreply@blogger.com (Nick) — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 23:24:00 +0000

Today you are going to learn the art of the "Tim Tam Slam" as demonstrated by our in-house Tim Tam guru and model, Cate.

You may be sitting there thinking "What is a Tim Tam Slam, Nick?" Well, to put it simply, its a 1"x2" piece of Joy. It's like anything that was good in world suddenly exploded in your mouth in edible fashion. Plainly put- IT...IS...YUMMY! Directions are as follow:

1. Heat up some milk or hot chocolate. Either works.

2. Take out your Tim Tam cookie biscuit and wave it around in the air like Cate here. I recommend "Chewy Chocolate Fudge," but other friends of mine stand by other varieties.

3. Now take your Tim Tam nibble off the opposite corners to expose the biscuit and chocolaty filling.

4. Now take one bitten corner and dip it in to the milk or hot coco. Take your mouth and apply it to the other bitten corner and apply your mouth. Now suck. Once you feel the liquid touch your lips then stop. Now take the whole Tim Tam and plop it in your mouth. Take too long and you'll fins yourself in a messy situation of melting chocolate.

5. Try not to die from the orgasmic blast of chocolaty deliciousness in your mouth so you can do another!

Also, you'll probably have to do serious research to find somewhere that sells these back in the U.S. They're aren't exactly sold there as far as I know, although I'll be bringing back some packages. This Wikipedia article also has some alternative ideas. So gimmie a call when I get back and we'll give it a go.

One Tree Hill

noreply@blogger.com (Nick) — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 04:51:00 +0000

With about 3 or so weeks left in NZ we seem to be searching for those little things that we have left to do around Auckland. Things that have been on our lists, but haven't gotten around to yet. Well a few days ago, we did just that. We went and checked out One Tree Hill. Yes I know there is an obnoxious show named after it.

Cate felt she could climb the hill instead of taking the "Sheep Path."

Technically this annoying, One Tree Hill, a show that involves a bunch of angsty young persons with boatloads of melodrama is named after a U2 song on the album "Joshua Tree." One Tree Hill (the song) refers to the volcanic peek, One Tree Hill, here in Auckland. The song was released exclusively here in New Zealand, which I thought to be pretty cool.

Sheep

More Sheep

Everyone

Funny thing about One Tree Hill however.....there's no actual tree there anymore. And while I originally planned to write out the story and reason behind it, it turns out to be quite a long story to retype. Thus, I highly encourage you to read the Wikipedia version, which is full of Boy Scout jamborees, angry activists, amongst other things. It's not too long.

We hiked up the hill to the top where you can see a tree stump of where it was. Oh yeah, and there's a big Obelisk there commemorating someone. The park (which is sacred ground to the Maori people) also had sheep and cows wandering freely. We tried to get up close to some, but they usually manage to scamper off.

I presume this is the "Tree." Maybe it should be renamed "One Stump Hill". Or just "Stumpy Hill."

Sheep?!!

Kevin's Maori Photo Study

noreply@blogger.com (Nick) — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 05:55:00 +0000

My friend and fellow Pinhole Adventure photographer, Kevin, has been working on a photo study of the Maori culture and its influence on urban life around Auckland and New Zealand. He's an extremely talented photographer, so I suggest you check out his stuff. Just Click Here. The link will also be posted under the "Cool Links" for clicking in the future. Be sure to look through them all!

One of Kevin's Portraits

High in the Sky

noreply@blogger.com (Nick) — Sat, 31 May 2008 04:50:00 +0000

So last night a bunch of us decided to head to the Sky Tower in Auckland here for some dinner. As the defining icon in Auckland's skyline it stands at 328m (1,076ft). It's known as the highest freestanding structure in the Southern Hemisphere.

We rode up to the observation level on possibly the fastest elevator ('lift' is what they call them here) I've ever ridden. I had to pop my ears at least 5 times on the journey up.

We looked out over Auckland and the harbor as the sun was setting, then made our way up another level to "Orbit" for our 5:30 reservations. We quickly realized why it was called "Orbit" beside it being a snazzy, hip name for a restaurant. The restaurant in fact did orbit around the center of the tower, meaning it MOVED...very slowly. So luckily we got a constantly changing views of the night city scape as we ate.

The restaurant was also pretty classy. Way to classy for a bunch of cheap and poor college kids. The minimum amount to spend for dinner was $30. Way more than I ever would. But there was justification. To go up the Sky Tower just to look out is $18. So I might as well pay the extra $12 for a really nice dinner, as I was planning to go up the tower at some point before I left NZ.
So once we spent our minimum (which pretty much included the main dish and a beverage) and ate dinner we descended back to earth. Certainly an experience to dine so high up, but with a price tag of $30, it'll be awhile before I do that again.

Sorry Mom

noreply@blogger.com (Nick) — Sun, 25 May 2008 11:10:00 +0000

Well, my week of misery has passed and I'm done with my paper and presentation. As a new resolution, I decided I'm going to be more diligent in my posting. However, with little over a month left here in New Zealand, my funds for big trips to write about are beginning to run dry.

So what I think I'll try to do is post my day's events. This might include interesting articles I've read or other strange occurrences. It most also might be a post on how nothing very exciting happened at all. Believe it or not, those do days do occasionally occur in New Zealand. I've got a few ideas on my mind. So if There and Back Again starts become more of a personal journal, don't freak out.

Continuing on, you may be wondering why I'm apologizing to my mom. Well if you look at the photo below, I think you'll figure it out.What led to this was an interesting psychological debate I had with myself over whether I should go through with it or not. I had toyed with the idea of getting an earring for a long time. And if I remember it had more to do with boredom than anything, as if one day I looked in the mirror and said "that might be fun." Well at one point I think it was brought up somehow over dinner that I was going to get an earring in NZ. I got a nice gasp from my Mom and an estranged look from my Dad. After explaining my thought process, I got a laugh from both. I don't know if this was because they thought I was being absurd or they didn't think I was going to go through with it. Probably both.

Admittedly, as I've been here my desire to get an earring kind of fell off, although I kept in on my list of things to do. What I think what really made me do it was this: my brothers more or less said they would make fun of me if I got one. They also said they'd make fun of me if I said I'd get one, then didn't. I figured it be best I get one and not go back on my word, rather than the other. And in the 12 hours I've had it I've received both flak and compliments on it, so I think I can handle anything my family throws at me. I mean, deep down they love me anyway, right?

It'll be interesting to see what they think about the tattoo I got.

JUST KIDDING!!!!!!

Mix Tape Week 2

noreply@blogger.com (Nick) — Fri, 23 May 2008 08:24:00 +0000

Nick's Mix Tape

Here's week two's, give a listen. This week's isn't quite so bizarre and has some oldie but goodies.

Essays & Presentations: Not What I Signed Up For

noreply@blogger.com (Nick) — Sun, 18 May 2008 13:18:00 +0000

View From My Room

I feel like I find myself saying this a lot, but I'll say it again: I'm sorry I'm not fulfilling your There and Back Again appetite. I know I do have (a few) regular blog checkers, and I'm not doing the best at the moment.

The truth is however, I had a nice long essay due last week, and another due this week along with a class presentation. So as much as I'd love to blow them all off and say whooop-deeeee-dooooo, I'm thinking that's probably not the best idea.

So, at the end off this week I should be able to get back to being more reliable in my blogging. These are the last assignments until finals, which don't occur until mid-june. So I'll have plenty of time.

Also to keep you occupied don't forget to check out a few different things:

1. Ed's Blog - He's genuinely funny, a great writers, and usually gives a....different perspective on our similar adventures. It's listed under my links.

2. Listen to the "Mix Tape". I won't deny some of its kinda weird, but if you listen through it you might find something you like. It's got a good variety. I'll make a new one later this week. So last chance to hear this one. Feel free to make you own and post the links in "Comments", I'd love to know what everyone's listening to!

3. I've been struggling to think a of a new poll to make...so if you have ideas leave a comment. Anything will work.

4. If you haven't already, (in a shamless plug) you can try listening to my music (under links or the player on the right). If you don't like it that's fine...just keep it to yourself.

5. Check out Smitty and my photo blog, Pinhole Adventures. A collection of our favorite pictures, this was started before New Zealand, so feel free to skim through the old ones. We try to update it somewhat regualarly, though have been slightly slacking lately. We'll try to fix that.

6. Have a fatastic day and don't forget to SMILE :)

Mix Tape Week 1

noreply@blogger.com (Nick) — Tue, 13 May 2008 06:48:00 +0000

www.nickmarxhears.muxtape.com

So I totally stole this idea from a friend. But this site lets you compile 12 song on a "mix tape." So I thought I'd make one so you can listen to some bands and songs I like (and recommend). Hopefully if this works out, I'll make a new one each week.

Happy Mother's Day!

noreply@blogger.com (Nick) — Sun, 11 May 2008 13:51:00 +0000

Dunedin (South Island Day 7/8)

noreply@blogger.com (Nick) — Sun, 11 May 2008 11:25:00 +0000

Alright, sorry for the unecessary delay in this post. Let's finish this up, sh'all we?

We had stayed in a camper park in Dunedin and took advantage of the hot showers and electricity. We woke relatively early because we had to be at somewhere at 10:00. The place we had to be was Speight's Brewery for their guided tour.
This was my first tour inside a brewery and it turned out to be pretty cool. Our guide was Keith, an older retired gentleman that had the voice and looks of Michael Cane. I believe he said he had worked there for 30 years. And he likes beer. A lot. Which makes complete sense.

And while I wish I could remember all cool stuff he showed us, I can remember a few neat tidbits. New Zealand apparently has the best hops in the world, and he wasn't just saying this. Brewers from around the world import New Zealand hops, including Guinness, Budweiser, and a bunch of other I couldn't remember. The Speight's brewery also use what are called fermenting gyles. They're essentially giant open wooden tanks that are lined with cooling pipes used to frement the beer. There are only two breweries in the world to have them and Speight's is the only one to be currently operating them (for special brews). So I guess in the world of brewing, they're extremly well known and many major film crews and publications have been in to do stories on them.
The brewery is also known as a gravity brewery. So all the ingredients are taken to the top floor and slowly go throught the breweing process toward the bottom floor. This was used in early breweries as to assist the transfer of ingredient from one stage to the next. It's argued that this is the best was to brew, but really it doesn't matter that much. So we continued on through the tour checking out the big copper tanks, the water room, and mixing rooms etc.
We had rumor that at the end of the tour you get to taste al of the different brews in a 20 minute free for all in which you get to grab a small tasting glass and operate the taps at your own leisure (or ambition). Rumor confirmed. There were six different flavors to choose from. My particular favorite was the porter- specially brewed in the gyles, a dark brew with flavors of roasted coffee and burnt chocolate. Another favorite was a seasonal summer brew, an apricot wheat beer. While maybe not considered a "Man's Beer" it sure tasted good. Like candy.
While I was modest in my tasting since I'd be driving later on, some of my RV mates were in heaven. They made sure to get their $15 dollar tour fee's worth of beer...and then some...and then some more. In fact, instead of the 20 minutes or so that a regular group would get, we ended up hangning around for 45 minutes chatting with Keith our guide. He was actually just filling in for the 10:00 tour for someone, so he had nowhere to go. We chatted about politics, famous NZ people, jokes, and got him to sing the New Zealand national anthem for us. (Check out the Video)

We finally left and decided we'd walk around for a few hours to grab some lunch and allow me a bit of time before jumping behind the wheel. Downtown Dunedin was nice, although admitedly nothing to rave about. It was nice to see Dunedinites have a sense of humor though, where someone had placed an empty beer bottle in the hand of this famous poet's statue. (picture below).

When we did finally get on the road again we made a quick stop at Baldwin Street, the steepest street in the world (according to the Guinness Book of World Records). Kevin and I walked to the top, and it was steep. You couldn't really appreciate its steepness though until you saw some ambitious car make the attempt. Engines revving and speeding toward the upstart, the car would hit it like a brick wall and was forced to drop it into first gear as it impishly crawled to the summit. The RV would have never made it- good thing I didn't try.
The rest of the day was mainly commited to driving back north toward Christchurch with a quick stop in Omaru. It was there where we walked on some trails and caught a quick glimpse of the tiny Blue Penguins. Normally we would have had to pay something outrageuos, like $20, to sit in the viewing are to see them, but somehow we made our way along the coast on a trail and ended up on the opposite side of the viewing area. Ooops. After they came out of the water and waddled to their little house, some guys from the viewing area came over to kindly escort us out. Apparently it was a private trail that closes at dusk, but it happens a lot that people end up there by accident. So we got to see them for free. Take that eco-exploitation. Weak.
We drove a little further and parked along the side of the road for our last night in the RV. The next day we got up and finished our drive our final and original place, Christchurch. We didn't do much besides clean the RV, grab some lunch downtown, then head to the airport. Our flight was canceled after it was suppose to have already boarded, luckily we were put on flight back to Auckland; not everyone on the original flight were wuite so lucky. But due to its relative uneventfulness, Day 8 isn't going to warrant a post. Sorry.
So that was my adventure around the South Islands. Glaciers. Mountains. Narrow winding roads. Fjiords. Sounds. Beaches. Penguins. And seven friends cramped in a six person RV for 8 days. Good times. Let's go back. (Cue End Credits)

The Catlins (South Island Day 6)

noreply@blogger.com (Nick) — Mon, 05 May 2008 08:09:00 +0000

So we drove out of Fiorland shortly after we got back from our kayaking the day before. After about two hours of back tracking to get out of the park, we got to go another two hours to Invacargill and then the Catlins National Park. Another night spent of on the side of the road and in the morning we were practically there.

Now to keep this post short (mostly because I'm still recovering from my 21st birthday weekend and don't feel like writing) I'll briefly tell you where we went, and then lots of pictures.

So we got up in the morning and went to Slope Point, which is the Southern Islands most southern point. If you read wayyy back, you'll remember I had been to Cape Reigna, the North Island's (and NZ's) most northern point. So this made it feel like we had done it all, although its not New Zealand's most southern point, because there is actually a third smaller island more south. Here some of us climbed down and played on the rocks cause the tide was out enough.

Then we headed down some more gravel roads (which I guess we weren't suppose to have the RV on) and stopped at a petrified forest. This was my first time to a petrified forest and needless to say, there were no actual trees. Just fossils of them. The tide luckily was far enough out that we could go down and check them out.

The we drove down the road just a little to a beach called Porpoise Bay. While there weren't any dolphins that swam up to us (apparently the do sometimes there) we did come across a seal. So of course we set up our towels etc. close by so we could hang with it and have it teach us how to be so lazy. After being there a little while we grabbed ice cream and had ourselves a little jam sesh with the guitar and bongo.

We then went north along the coast to Nugget Point where we checked out some yellow eyed penguins from afar. Apparently they are the rarest species of penguins in the world. We were in a little shack above the beach looking down on them from afar, so my photos didn't work out the best, but if you look close you can spot them.

We then continued north another couple hours to Dunedin.

Milford Sound (South Island Day 5)

noreply@blogger.com (Nick) — Fri, 02 May 2008 23:07:00 +0000

So we got up nice and early for our kayaking tour of Milford Sound, signed some waiver forms (like we have to do for everything), and were taken to a boat launch where we'd go out into the sound. We the proceeded to get decked out in yellow and purple gear that would keep us from getting cold and wet. I'm pretty sure those colors went out of style in 1994, but I wasn't about to say anything.

Either way, we got in our two person kayaks and started to paddle out on the sound. I was actually paired up with a girl who was from Vermont (i think) who had here sister and her (the sister's) boyfriend visiting. This happened because there were seven of us and I ended up being the odd man out. Good thing this girl and her guests were cool, other wise the trip would've consisted of awkward silences and forced conversation.

Also, I mentioned in my previous post that this place was located in Fiordland National Park. Well after some research I found a fiord is more or less giant mountain rising high above the ocean water that is at their base. I guess you can find some in Sweden too.

This place was stunning and the photos don't give it an ounce of justice. But I'll let them try. I took up our guides offer to go swimming and my partner decided to follow suit after she saw how awesome it was. Apparently people don't swim in the sound often, so I figured I better. Everyone else decided to stay warm and dry. It was totally worth it though, if not just to say I did it.

Queenstown to Milford Sound (South Island Day 4)

noreply@blogger.com (Nick) — Fri, 02 May 2008 05:40:00 +0000

So the night before we decided to pull of on the side of the road to sleep just outside of Queenstown. They next morning we were all so gratefully awaken by a city council member telling us we were prohibited to "freedom" camp within 10km of any residential areas in Queenstown. Apparently he didn't recognize we were from America and invented freedom.

After a good scorning he then handed me a brochure of all the place we could camp and told us if we were found again we could get fine. Lucky for us we blowing this popsicle stand and making for Fiordland. It was kinda funny though, because there were tons of campers on the side of the road the night before. So this guys just must drive around a 8:00 in the morning everyday yelling at campers and handing out these brochures. The brochures (I wish I had kept it) went something like this: "STOP! YOU CANNOT CAMP HERE! ... If you're not camping, then have a nice day." I would've told him we weren't camping, but I answered the doors in my pajamas, and it would've been a hard fib to sell. So I simply replied "We were tired?" Only to realize what I said was blatantly obvious.

A quick breakfast by the lake and we were cruising. The drive went smoothly, as I popped in one of the four mix cd's I made for the trip. I'd listened to all of them at least ten times each by now and was still able to sing along with relatively good enthusiasm.

We entered into Fiordland national park a little after 1:00 and began our 2 hour drive to Milford Sound. Along the way, however, we pulled off at different areas to run through valleys, walk though forests, and play in streams. At one area all the boys began to build a dam in one of the creeks- some things you never get to old for. Dana, the only girl with us, stood and watched as the boys played with their rocks.

The drive through the park was pretty treacherous, like the roads often are. We did get to drive though a single lane tunnel that went straight through a mountain. It was built during the depression, so I was hoping it would hold up as we made our way through, and it did.

We got to the sound pretty late in the evening and weren't really able to do anything. We found a hostel/camper park to stay for the night. We had booked our activity for the next morning: Sea kayaking out on the sound.

Franz Josef to Queenstown (South Island Day 3)

noreply@blogger.com (Nick) — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 04:34:00 +0000

We had parked overnight about halfway between Franz Josef and Queenstown, in a place called Haast. While it would've been nice to check out the beach here we had to get to Queenstown by 2:00, as my other fellow adventures had bungy jumping scheduled at that time. We hit the road relatively early because I didn't want to deliver them to their appointment late. The drive, like always, was awesome. It seems like you can't go anywhere in New Zealand without being impressed by the scenery- not that I'm complaining or anything.About an hour and a half from Queenstown, near a town call Wanaka, we came upon a very large obstacle in the road. In fact, it brought us to a complete stop at and I was dumbfounded on how to get around this furry, moving herd of sheep. The shepherd kind of just waved at us to drive through, but the herd literally took up the road from side to side for at least 100 meters. Luckily, someone in an SUV (who I assume has encountered a herd of sheep before) drove past me and took the lead. All I did was crawl behind at a slow pace. So slow that Timm was able to jump out the side door, run up and hug one of the sheep before it scrambled off. Finally after following the SUV that was moving the the sheep like it was Moses parting the Red Sea, we got back up to speed.We cruised into Queenstown at about 1:15pm- a good 45-minutes before they had to be at the bungy place. They jump they were doing is the second highest commercial jump in the world at 134 meter (somewhere around 440ft I think). Why you ask didn't I do this jump? Well besides being a scaredy cat, $220 was a little steep to pay to poop my pants. Unfortunately, Timm had forgotten to make reservations, so he was stuck with me hanging around Queenstown.Queenstown was definitely a very nice town. It's also blatantly obvious it caters to tourism and thus very commercial, but I felt it was done tactfully which gave it a small town feel. It sits right on the edge of a large lake that was magnificent as the late afternoon sun hit it. So while everyone was off being adrenaline junkies and Timm was busy emailing a professor some work, I took a stroll around town with my camera and snapped a bunch of beautiful shots.
We all met up later on once they all returned and grabbed dinner at "Fergburger." Supposedly New Zealands largest burger. While it was big, I don't know if it is actually NZ's biggest burger. But I will say this, it was one of the best I've had yet, and most of my mates would agree.

Fools Gold

noreply@blogger.com (Nick) — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 01:52:00 +0000

This is actually a story I wrote a long time ago but never posted it, so here it is. Also thanks to Cailtlin for some of the photos.

It was our last day of a three-day trip to the Coromandel Peninsula. After amazingly getting everyone out of bed and checked out of the hostel with 3 minutes to spare, we tried to decide what was on the agenda for the day. Yeah, college students are capable of thinking a day ahead and maybe even two. But this was our third day and we hit all the “must-sees.” So I wanted to check out the “not-so-much-seen.”

I grabbed my friends Lonely Planet: New Zealand travel book and started searching. I stumbled upon the Broken Hills gold-mine workings. Feeling like I had possibly saved the day, I began to suggest the ideas to others. Much to my dismay, it was received with a mediocre response by most of the group. Everyone seemed to be spent from the two previous days on the Coromandel Peninsula. While I couldn’t really blame them, we were in New Zealand for goodness sake! I personally think it’s going to be awhile before I get back here. There seemed to be growing consensus just to head back to Auckland. But I wanted GOLD! And who doesn’t?

Well most didn’t, although the actual probability of finding gold in an abandoned gold mine was non-existent. But it’s the idea that counts, right? Either way, I was able to get the interest of five fellow prospectors. They saw what I saw in it: adventure, excitement, and profit. We managed to steal one of the three cars and set out search for that glorious New Zealand gold.

We traveled south on the peninsula about halfway until we came to the town of Pauanui. A quick stop in the visitor center revealed we were not far from striking it big. We turned off of the main motor way onto a rural road that quickly went from asphalt to stone. The car snaked through the forest on the road that was built to accommodate one and a half cars. The trees above made a canopy that only allowed part of the sun’s ray through, creating an eerie twilight. I felt like Marlow in Joseph Conrad’s, Heart of Darkness, venturing deep into the jungle in search of its spoils. Others in the car began to guess who’d be the first killed, as if we were suddenly part of a B-rate horror film in which one of us was luring the rest in to the remote forest as if to repay the rest for some past wrong doings. I suggested such morbid talks should be end, and they did, with everyone concluding it was I who had evil intentions.

We finally came to a small car park at the trail head, unloaded the car, loaded up our bags, and set out. About five minutes into the hike we were suddenly climbing up through the forest, but excitement soon became exhaustion when the up part didn’t stop. With legs burning and lungs gasping, I soon wondered if those who decided not to come had made the right decision. Of course they didn’t. I knew once we struck gold they’d come running to us like lost cousins when you’ve won the lottery.

We continued to trudge up the mountain on the natural steps that were provided by surfaced tree roots. At one point we passed a group of elderly trampers who were easily in their seventies and thought to myself, “Geez, I’m here sucking wind while these old folks are taking it like was a stroll in the park.” We tried to act calm and collected as we moved by them, but I think they saw through our façade. Old people have special powers you know.

After a good forty-five minutes going uphill we made it to a look out point that peered over the valley. It was a humid day and you could see the moisture wrap around the hills in the distant. The crickets chirping reminded me of summers back home. We drank some water and ate a small snack as we admired the forest’s serenity.

Refreshed and ready to go, we continued on, but this timed downhill. Going down proved to be similarly tricky because the mud made for shoddy footing. A few of my companions found themselves with dirt covered derrieres. At the bottom (well really the middle of the mountain) we came to a five-hundred meter long mining tunnel.

The tunnel, meant to be one of the highlights of the trail, was used about one-hundred years ago to send ore through the mountain when gold mining was still prominent in the area; this was of course easier than sending it over the mountain. We had brought our flashlights (what Kiwis refer to as torches) and were ready to venture into the unknown.

The floor was a muddy mess and forced us to walk on the thin rails on which carts of ore use to run upon. Any slip and I was guaranteed to have my clean hiking boots painted in a reddish brown from top to bottom. The walls too, were oozing with a slimy brown, not to mention the giant cave crickets almost the size of my palm. And when we turned off our flashlights you could see the tiny blue glow worms that made it seem like you were suddenly outside looking at the night sky. I managed to make it down the cool and damp tunnel and appear on the other side with only a few bumps on my head from the ceiling.

The rest of the trail was equally as exciting as the first, with a few other smaller tunnels, mud pits, and waterfalls along the way. All the while, I had been trying to spot some glittery gold and at one point knelt down in a stream, grabbed a handful of dirt and sifted for flakes. Needless to say, I came up empty handed. We’d forgotten to pick up our surveyor pans in town, although actual panning is prohibited in the park.

We twisted around the side of mountain and came upon a copper-colored river down below. While watching the river snake from above, I heard someone behind me say, “Who wants to go swimming?” I, much less anyone else, hadn't come prepared to swim, but sometimes peer pressure get the best of you. We forged our own path to the river, stripped down to our boxers and slowly waded in. The water was frigid and I had one of those “This was a dumb idea” moments. But why not? We were in New Zealand for goodness sake! At least that’s what I keep on telling my self.

A quick attempt at drying off and short walk back to the car we were ready to head back to Auckland. All the while something had been stirring in my head, somewhat of a revelation, if you will. I began to think about all the others who decided for one reason or another not to come and how much they had missed out. No photos or words would really be able to describe our adventure.

That little description in that tiny travel book just didn’t seem to be adequate to convince the rest of the gold mine’s greatness. It didn’t have any giant billboards advertising it, it didn’t have and pictures showing it, and it must’ve seemed to some that it was nothing more than a hike on the side of the road.

Yet this is what I’ve come to realize- that there doesn’t need to be all that stuff in order to have a great time. All one needs to have is a small sense of adventure and exploration. Why follow the billboards and signs in life if they’re just going to take you where everyone else goes? Of course all those places are great and dandy. And they’ll likely provide a great experience- but I doubt they’ll provide an original experience.

So maybe we didn’t strike gold and aren’t bound to cruise around in Lamborghinis. But we did make a profit; we got to conquer merciless hills, go through a mountain, swim half naked in river, and share a sense of accomplishment with five fellow gold-miners. Gold mining may not be my calling, but I’m no fool when to recognizing a good time.

Franz Josef Glacier (South Island Day 2)

noreply@blogger.com (Nick) — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 07:05:00 +0000

Although our RV was freezing, we managed to come out from under our covers at 8:45 to get ready for our glacier walk/hike. So we got to the main building where we paid and got hooked up with some boots, socks, rain jacket, and crampons (the metal spikes that let you walk on ice). We were then herded into a bus like cattle and driven to the national park where we would then hike to the base of the glacier.
Our guide for the day was Carl (guy with the big pick ax) who would lead us up the icy wall. I like Carl mostly because he didn't like standing around too much, ans also I suppose because he wasn't going to let and giant ice boulder things fall on our heads. He would also cut "steps" with the ax to give us foot placements on difficult terrain.
The crampons were pretty awesome. The metal spike were about an inch and a half long (seen in one of these pictures). Essentially, if I accidentally stepped on my other foot, it would look like swiss cheese. The did make me feel cool when I was walking up super steep ice like it was nothing.

The hike up the glacier about 6 km and had an awesome views. The Franz Josef is one of only three glaciers in the world that descends down into a rain forest. One of the others is about 20km down the road, and the other is in South America. So one might think we'd be all bundle up, but shorts and a jacket was enough to keep us warm. Which also explains why we could almost always hear rushing water from the melting ice.

The hike lasted around 7 hours. We got back into town, filled up on gas and left right as the sun was setting. I drove another 2 hours, about halfway to Queenstown (our next stop) and pulled into a camper park where we could plug in. I reckon we were all pretty exhausted from the glacier.

Christchurch to Franz Josef (South Island Day 1)

noreply@blogger.com (Nick) — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 02:23:00 +0000

We flew into Christchurch which is on the east coast of the South Island, kind of in the middle there. This is where we would begin our eight day journey. From here we picked up our six person RV (although we had seven people) and after a quick stop to pick up groceries (mostly sausages, pasta, juice and beer) we headed for the west coast. I happened to be the only one who could drive manual, so I got the job of chauffeuring everyone 2100km around the South Island- yippie!
Only about 2 hours out of Christchurch we came upon these giant limestone boulders along the side of the road and decided to pull over. Our inner child(ren?) came out, as the often would during this trip, and we began climbing all of the boulders to the top of the hill. The view of course was magnificent.
We still had about 5 hours left to drive and the sun was moving quickly, so we said goodbye to our beloved rocks and moved on. The next 3 hours of driving were utterly terrifying. It was my first day driving in New Zealand (so other side of the road), not too mention it being a cumbersome camper van that crawled up hill so slow I swore I saw a snail passing us at one point. We were headed for Arthur's pass which goes directly through the alps. And while the drive was very scenic with giant mountain flanking us on each side, the road was very narrow, windy, and steep, which made for a nerve racking drive. My main goal at hand was to avoid wrecking the RV, especially because the rental place took an imprint of my Mastercard and could charge up to $2500 in damage if we returned it busted.

Amazingly we made it through the pass and to the west coast just as the sun was setting over the ocean. It was about two hours from here to Franz Josef and the glacier. The drive went relatively well although once again there were many windy parts where the going got extremely slow, especially because it was dark out. But we made it there, bounced around the quaint little town and then found a parking lot to settle in for the night. The next day was our glacier hike.

I'm Baaack & Hello There Isaiah

noreply@blogger.com (Nick) — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 09:37:00 +0000

Well sorry, its been slow the last two weeks. I was traversing the South Island for a week or so and when we got back we had to immediately go on another one to the Taupo/Rotorua area. Both were GREAT times and the second trip was all expenses paid by Loyola- can't beat that.

This post of course is not going to cover those expeditions, they'll come later on. Instead I'd like to brag about MY NEW NEPHEW!! My sister-in-law Kristin and brother Nathaniel (congratulations) said howdy to him in person on April 15th. His name is Isaiah and I reckon he'll grow up to be a ladies man. You can already tell from the pictures below they'll be swooning over him in no time.
Oh yes, I'm sure you've noticed the stagnant poll. I'll try to make a new one. But congratulations to the 4 who new Aotearoa meant "Land of the long white cloud." However, I have little doubt that its just my friends that are over here with me that voted for it. Cheaters.

So like I said, I'll be posting some of my travels from the South Island shortly. Since my travel journalism class is now over they'll probably be more pictures and less writing. I might also try to make a slide show and just narrate it. We'll see how this goes....

All Great Days End With Karaoke

noreply@blogger.com (Nick) — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 11:02:00 +0000

The day started the same way many days do here in Auckland. Wake up, realize its 9am, go back to bed. Wake up, notice it’s now 11:30am, contemplate getting out of bed, realize that such contemplation is futile, go back to bed. Wake up one last time, notice its 12:30pm, realize I’m a good for nothing bum, then roll out of bed.

Crusty eyed and woozy, I haphazardly make my way to the shower to cleanse myself of such sloth. I turn the shower on so it’s extra steamy while in my half-coma, I manage to undress. I step in to the water and am suddenly awake due to the third-degree burns I just received from the flowing water. I manage to find the shower knob and set it to a more temperate level. I give myself a quick wash with a bar of soap and my Kid’s 2in1 Happy Apple scented shampoo and conditioner.

Delighted to be smelling like a sour apple Blowpop, I scrounge around the kitchen for some food only to realize I have a box of cereal but no milk. It looks like I’ll be eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for breakfast- for the fifth day in a row. I begin to contemplate if I’m really eating breakfast, or if it’s lunch by this point. Through a series of complex calculations and theorems I decide it’s still breakfast- and a damn good one at that.

Somehow, I’m ready to go to my 2pm class. Well, ready in the physical sense. Psychologically, I’d rather be sleeping. But I grab my books and head to the elevator to ride down eighteen floors. I manage to make it to class in about fifteen minutes and find myself a seat. One page of notes and twenty-seven different stick figure sketches later, I am released from the prison that is known as class. My utter bliss suddenly turns to grief when I remember I have another class. ‘I DON’T WANNA GO TO CLASS!’ But I do anyway. I walk there like a moping child who hasn’t gotten his way.

Amazingly, my doodling skills improved over the last 2 hours and I’m suddenly sketching DaVinci’s “Mona Lisa” and VanGogh’s “Starry Night”. My friend turns to me, looks down at my paper, and asks “What’s all that crap you’ve got on your paper.” I softly begin to weep at his inability to recognize my drawing abilities. Some people just don’t know art when they see it. After another two hours of treachery I am free, for good this time.

I begin to wander back toward my apartment and on the way decide to stop in the convenience store for a steak and cheese meat pie. Since coming to New Zealand I had recently become addicted to these meat pies. They are like chicken pot pies back in the states, but with beef and without all those nasty vegetables. They’re cheap as well, I give the cashier $2.20 and am on my way. While walking I devour the pie so fast that I almost cannibalize myself by mistaking my hand for the delicious pastry.

It’s a little after 6pm now and I head back up eighteen floors to my room. I flick on the tele and sit down at my laptop to do some homework. But homework just seems so unappealing, so I spend the next 45 minutes checking my email and Facebook account in hope that someone has added me as their friend. Nothing. My eyes begin to water. Who needs dumb ol’ friends anyway?

The meat pie doesn’t seem to be holding me over so I decide to make some dinner. As I put the water on to boil, I try to decide on which kind of pasta to eat tonight; spaghetti, penne, or spirals. I pick the spirals because they are by far the coolest shaped, and thus taste better. The other way I’m able to tolerate eating pasta five times a week is change up the sauce. One night its “spicy pepper”, another “original tomato”, and another “extra garlic.” Combine these with the different pastas and the variations are endless. My culinary skills would make even Betty Crocker blush.

The evening begins to wear on and the friends that I do have begin to think of something to do tonight. After the rejection of my suggestion to watch BioDome, it becomes clear that we were going to do what college students do best: head to the pubs. I of course would never condone such actions (right Mom and Dad?), but I went nonetheless. After a short ten minute walk we were on the famous Queen Street in downtown Auckland.

We hit a few different pubs, getting a drink at each one. By this point we’re all getting a bit loosened up from the day’s trials and tribulations, and decide to head to one of our favorites, The Fiddler. We walk up the street toward the small Irish watering hole only to be met by blaring music and off key vocals. And then it hit me. It was karaoke night… it was heaven.

I walked on in and stared up at the giant words being highlighted across the screen like the Disney sing along videos I use to watch when I was little. Forget the bar, forget the booze. I was headed straight for the list of songs. This place had to get fired up and I knew just the song. I confirmed the choice with my closest companions who’d be singing along with me. It was going to be epic.

While we waited for our song to reach the top of the queue I begin to remember my complete and total distaste for karaoke and any living being who took part in it. But since I came to New Zealand I’ve had a revelation. You shouldn’t be ashamed of who you wish you were. Embrace the fact that it’s okay to pretend you’re a rock star. It’s okay of me to realize I’ll never be that cool.

After philosophically examining the ethics of karaoke for about ten minutes, I suddenly realize our names were being called out and our song was up next. I stand up, pull my shirt down tight, stretch my neck, do a few shoulder shrugs, and get ready to rock. My band members come and huddle close together around the microphone.

“Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy? Caught in a landslide, no escape from reality…” The bar suddenly became revitalized as its patrons heads lifted as if being awoken from a long and deep sleep. Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody.

I sang with all my heart, pumping my fists into the air and singing at the top of my lungs. Oh how a little bit of alcohol can send one’s sense of humility through the ceiling. It doesn’t matter; for the next six minutes I am Freddy Mercury rocking my guts out. The melodic guitar riffs and head banging drum beats pulse through the pub and all who occupy it. Anyone who wasn’t on their feet was either passed out or immune to being happy.

With the pub alive and well again, the song comes to its soft ending. The screams and cheers are coming at us from every angle. “Thank you! Thank you! Thank you, Auckland! And goodnight!”

This was an assignment for class and slightly exaggerated, so don't worry Mom & Dad- I didn't really cry when my friend made fun on me.

On South Island

noreply@blogger.com (Nick) — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 03:17:00 +0000

Ok so I managed to find some internet, but this isn't gonna be long. We got our RV Wednesday and drove to the Franz Josef Glacier for our hike on Thursday. Check out the pics.

We're in Queenstown for the day where some of the group are going bungy jumping (way too expensive for me to be terrified). We headed toward Milford Sound and the Catlins in the next day or two.