Please visit my photographs for some great shots. I whittled them down from a cool 600 photos in 2 weeks..
New Zealand Photos
Enjoy the journey through my eyes..
Sandra
Kaituna: All the Way!
Now in Rotorua, ready to kayak and i have never worked this hard to get to the put in. Every last car was rented in Auckland so I opted to take a bus here. Currently in a hostel traveling solo and trying to either hitch a ride, rent down here or hop on one of the rafting companies vehicles that come to pick up the tourists. I'll see if I can bat my blues and buy them a beer. Let me tell you that this is an amazing place!! The flowers, of which seems to be the only models posing for my camera.. You have a mixture of evergreen, rolling hills and the most dense tropical forrest I have seen. This doesn't even compare to the hikes I did while in Hawaii with my friend, Jason back when I was 21. I'm sure it's similar to the central american jungles. The rolling hills give way to gullies. Lush greenways, and right now, I'm overlooking a huge lake, the sun is setting, the clouds are rose coloured, whispy and a layer of stratus above, much darker, threatening really.
Morning.. I rented a car. The raft guides were all 18 or so. I didn't stand to really make any headway with them unless I was wearing a triangle top and a toga hat at the party. And really, I felt that I didn't want to ask them. They didn't look like the mood I was in. You know, the fake smile, the giggle at their rediculous jokes to get a ride to the river. I did, however, meet a few Kiwis my age and they gave me directions to their campsite for the next day. Their raft trip was for 11am.. There's my backup..
The only car in Rotorua was perfect sized for me and my kayakless self.. Road trip! So very excited to see the sites from the map and some little roads that lead to smaller, dirt roads, that lead to a dusty hill with amazing views... I started down the way at 9 am in my ride towards the Redwood Forrest. Among palm fronds... Still spectacular!!
1pm was my meeting time and I was to look for the white vanagon. Seems to be a choice ride here for boaters.. I arrive to meet Sam Sutton and hit the river, but first, lets meet some raft guides.
The Run: I pull into the take out and a group was finishing the run. I happened to walk up to a handsome raft guide (stay away from guides, their sly) and they created a bit of anxiety in me when they compared the Kaituna to the Truss at home. I haven't done the Truss yet for multiple reasons.. First, it wasn't on my list of runs to do. And second, do I need to in order to be a kayaker in the area? Anyhow, I keep thinking of Big Brother and the Cave... Sam and I chatted for a while, I'm sure he was gauging my ability of lack of ability.. He has two boats for me: Java or the Mystic.. The Mystic looked like I could outfit it, but low and behold, I was still falling out of the outfitting... But the Java brought back unpleasant memories and the last swim I had at Opal. Damn, I'll take the Mystic over a Java today..
The drops were reminiscent of a tropical Opal Creek, but not quite. I expected a bit more, however, I still had a great time.
At the end of the run, we traded to our play boats and I got a lesson from the 3rd ranked Freestyler in the world.. Pretty cool.. Looping at the hole seemed the thing to do.. Good times. I threw a loop, but didn't quite stick the landing. Got a chuckle from Sam though.. I also met the best, according to Sam, kayaker on the North Island. His name escapes me. I remember him being humble and such a sweetheart. He threw some cartwheels in his creeker at the hole.. Fantastic to watch such grace.. I could have run that a few times that day!! Too bad I was psyched out in the beginning of the run from the pretty boys..
Morning.. I rented a car. The raft guides were all 18 or so. I didn't stand to really make any headway with them unless I was wearing a triangle top and a toga hat at the party. And really, I felt that I didn't want to ask them. They didn't look like the mood I was in. You know, the fake smile, the giggle at their rediculous jokes to get a ride to the river. I did, however, meet a few Kiwis my age and they gave me directions to their campsite for the next day. Their raft trip was for 11am.. There's my backup..
The only car in Rotorua was perfect sized for me and my kayakless self.. Road trip! So very excited to see the sites from the map and some little roads that lead to smaller, dirt roads, that lead to a dusty hill with amazing views... I started down the way at 9 am in my ride towards the Redwood Forrest. Among palm fronds... Still spectacular!!
1pm was my meeting time and I was to look for the white vanagon. Seems to be a choice ride here for boaters.. I arrive to meet Sam Sutton and hit the river, but first, lets meet some raft guides.
The Run: I pull into the take out and a group was finishing the run. I happened to walk up to a handsome raft guide (stay away from guides, their sly) and they created a bit of anxiety in me when they compared the Kaituna to the Truss at home. I haven't done the Truss yet for multiple reasons.. First, it wasn't on my list of runs to do. And second, do I need to in order to be a kayaker in the area? Anyhow, I keep thinking of Big Brother and the Cave... Sam and I chatted for a while, I'm sure he was gauging my ability of lack of ability.. He has two boats for me: Java or the Mystic.. The Mystic looked like I could outfit it, but low and behold, I was still falling out of the outfitting... But the Java brought back unpleasant memories and the last swim I had at Opal. Damn, I'll take the Mystic over a Java today..
The drops were reminiscent of a tropical Opal Creek, but not quite. I expected a bit more, however, I still had a great time.
At the end of the run, we traded to our play boats and I got a lesson from the 3rd ranked Freestyler in the world.. Pretty cool.. Looping at the hole seemed the thing to do.. Good times. I threw a loop, but didn't quite stick the landing. Got a chuckle from Sam though.. I also met the best, according to Sam, kayaker on the North Island. His name escapes me. I remember him being humble and such a sweetheart. He threw some cartwheels in his creeker at the hole.. Fantastic to watch such grace.. I could have run that a few times that day!! Too bad I was psyched out in the beginning of the run from the pretty boys..
NZ Blunder
Hello from New Zealand! It started off a bit bumpy, but I have persevered! My first flight was cancelled in Portland. I would have missed any connecting flight so I didn't leave until Saturday, which meant I didn't arrive till Monday. (international dateline and hellish flight) I missed the whole reason I was coming this weekend. There was a gathering for friends that are leaving the show and it was the last gathering at this city before they moved on. There was a Prom theme and had planned to wear a bridesmaids dress from a wedding I was in. The party was on Sunday night. :( Oh well. It is what it is.
They also misplaced my luggage and only half arrived here and just received the rest of it yesterday. There were screaming kids on the flight alternating fits. Reminiscent to a flight to Europe in business class I once had. Needless to say, the first day was soured since my mood sucked. But quickly got over it when I started exploring.
I'm renting a car tomorrow to head down to Taupo and Rotorua tomorrow, which are prime places for kayaking. Then off to the north west coastline for black sand beaches. I'm looking forward to getting out of Auckland. I'm ready to move on for sure. I think I am going to spend the next three days off by myself. There are so many backpackers here that I will have no trouble linking with people to chat with. So good mix of traveling with people I know and then time to myself. My friends are all working and I will have the advantage of taking time away.
I have been visiting my Cirque Du Soleil friends and saw the show from back stage sitting with the musicians in a black cloak as to be invisible to the audience. If you have never been to a show, the music is a live performance and normally within view of the audience. This one is set back a little more from the stage, behind the 'forest' yet you can see everything within the show. I was privy to the queues given by the stage manager, the musical director and the like with a head set. I have received a very warm welcome here with my cirque 'family' and miss them quite a bit but I certainly know that I made the right decision to stay in Portland. It's great to visit them, but in all honesty, I can say I'm happy with my choice! I certainly struggled for a couple of months over that. Anyhow, the museum sit atop this amazing hill called the domain in a park setting and overlooking the city of Auckland. The weather is slightly humid moving into the latter part of the summer here. It threatens to rain but hasn't as of yet. The climate has a tropical feel.
Can't wait to head to the south island. Amy and I are getting together straight away. She met another girlpaddler down there. It seems like we will have a girl paddle of our own. Except my friend Adrian who started kayaking. If we include him on the run, it will still be like a girl paddle.. 75% women exploring the runs.. I have a guide book that classifies things here as moderate or hair raising. Their moderate being 3-4 and then 4-5. They have a have two more classes, 6 as in you swim and live it's doable and a make my day classification.. F**k that!!
Flora is amazing! The amount of blooms astound me! I have several decent pictures so far. Looking forward to taking more. :)
More as time goes on! I will have a pool day eventually to document more of my travels as it gets more interesting. Driving will prove quite entertaining for my next email. I can almost guarantee it. :)
They also misplaced my luggage and only half arrived here and just received the rest of it yesterday. There were screaming kids on the flight alternating fits. Reminiscent to a flight to Europe in business class I once had. Needless to say, the first day was soured since my mood sucked. But quickly got over it when I started exploring.
I'm renting a car tomorrow to head down to Taupo and Rotorua tomorrow, which are prime places for kayaking. Then off to the north west coastline for black sand beaches. I'm looking forward to getting out of Auckland. I'm ready to move on for sure. I think I am going to spend the next three days off by myself. There are so many backpackers here that I will have no trouble linking with people to chat with. So good mix of traveling with people I know and then time to myself. My friends are all working and I will have the advantage of taking time away.
I have been visiting my Cirque Du Soleil friends and saw the show from back stage sitting with the musicians in a black cloak as to be invisible to the audience. If you have never been to a show, the music is a live performance and normally within view of the audience. This one is set back a little more from the stage, behind the 'forest' yet you can see everything within the show. I was privy to the queues given by the stage manager, the musical director and the like with a head set. I have received a very warm welcome here with my cirque 'family' and miss them quite a bit but I certainly know that I made the right decision to stay in Portland. It's great to visit them, but in all honesty, I can say I'm happy with my choice! I certainly struggled for a couple of months over that. Anyhow, the museum sit atop this amazing hill called the domain in a park setting and overlooking the city of Auckland. The weather is slightly humid moving into the latter part of the summer here. It threatens to rain but hasn't as of yet. The climate has a tropical feel.
Can't wait to head to the south island. Amy and I are getting together straight away. She met another girlpaddler down there. It seems like we will have a girl paddle of our own. Except my friend Adrian who started kayaking. If we include him on the run, it will still be like a girl paddle.. 75% women exploring the runs.. I have a guide book that classifies things here as moderate or hair raising. Their moderate being 3-4 and then 4-5. They have a have two more classes, 6 as in you swim and live it's doable and a make my day classification.. F**k that!!
Flora is amazing! The amount of blooms astound me! I have several decent pictures so far. Looking forward to taking more. :)
More as time goes on! I will have a pool day eventually to document more of my travels as it gets more interesting. Driving will prove quite entertaining for my next email. I can almost guarantee it. :)
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