Updates

Ok, looks like there are new posts for the 30th,29,19,17,16, and perhaps the 9th. I think that's all… I think

love,

n

Me and Grandaddy Smith. At least I drive with my eyes open now mostly

New Place in Palmy

bedroom

living room/kitchen seating

kitchen

backyard/garden

front

Ug shopping

POO-Soft touch. Some jokes you just don't out grow

Today was learning the bus stop, trying to find my way around town in general, setting up PO boxes, ect. Very busy, kind of dull. I managed to find a few things like the "Family Store" and "the Warehouse" which is kind of like their version of walmart but like everything else here shopping wise for the home it is grossly overpriced and poorly organized. Disappointing. I would really love to have access to an IKEA store but they are not putting one in NZ under the guise that it would be so popular that it would cause major traffic problems. After looking around these past few weeks I would have to agree since the furniture and anything else for your home selection here is HORRIBLE and very overpriced. Of course I have now joined the petition to get IKEA in Auckland. Most people believe, and I agree with them, that the real reason there isn't IKEA is that it would destroy all it's competitors. Would it not cut down on traffic to have one larger store instead of driving around town twice to 5 little stores to accomplish the same task? ah well, I will make do. It is not the end of the world.

Major Updating

:D

Over the next few days I'll be doing another major update adding left out posts and adding comments to photos (there has been an upgrade on the posting server that allows more editing to the HTML of the page via blogger). There will be new postings to my first trip to Palmerston North and CouchSurfing, the River House, Paihia, the new place, and things I am discovering here.

Thank you everyone for your emails and continued support, love, and prayers. I miss you all and hope to get to see you soon in some form or fashion.

love,
n

This is for Cindy

Hugs and Kisses, Hope this makes you feel better!

New Place in Palmy

Today I left hopefully my last hostel for a while. I grow weary of living out of my pack. It will be nice to have a kitchen to cook from and a good place to hang my clothes after the wash. Oh and my own room again. I've been bunking with other girls since the dorms are cheaper than solitary. I moved into this nice little house with a cute garden and have already decked out my room as best as I could with the whole 2 personal items I brought. 

This man on a bike delivers papers. Quaint! 

Worked on figuring out the bus system today which has a learning curve but I'm getting the hang of it for the most part. Still have to run to the other side of the street on occasion. My roommates are quite and for the most part leave me alone which is perfect for me. I'll chat with you later but not too much. I like my alone time after a long day too.

Luck

The luck of this fire rabbit is still holding as God sees me out of the corner of his eye. I found the cutest little house at the end of a cul-de-sac less then 5 min to the bus stop that will take me directly to the door of my work place and the grocery store. Plus the don't require a huge down payment and I can move in tomorrow. The roommates are two Christian girls, one professional one in uni for nursing so that's awesome. Move in tomorrow! Yea!! Oh and it's furnished, double yea. Only foreseeable downside is that the bus doesn't run late so it will be hard if i want to take a dance class or be at the gym late but that's ok. I'll figure something out...

Apartment hunting

I really don't like apartment hunting on a deadline and apartment hunting isn't much fun anyhow. House hunting is fun because all the info, pricing, virtual tours, ect are online and you can browse it a dozen different ways. Apartment hunting is a complete mess of websites with broken links filled with useless information and letting fees. In any case, I have managed to find 3 plus one absolute backup if all fails. Apt 1 is out of town central but close to the bus stop, wont require a huge down payment ( I think) and is some older Christian girls. Hope to talk to them tonight. Apt2&3 are in city central (walk to work) but require larger down payments, letting fees and seem ok. I'll see those tomorrow am and hopefully can make a decision before then. I would love to not do another international money transfer but will make plans to do so anyhow. Hope for the best, plan for the worst.

Ug dud

who backpacks with this makeup shop??

Last night/ this am was a complete dud. I stayed at a new hostel and while it a nice place and very convenient I probably would have gotten just as much sleep in the intersection of the street below. I think there may have been some sporting event win somewhere judging by the partying below my window. Plus all the girls were long term stays and out partying too. Who backpacks with lipstick and heels?? I don't know bit at 6:00am the party was still on as I packed my bags for the bus stop. On top of the noise it's also daylight savings time. Usually in september I get an hour but since the seasons are opposite I loose one. Plus my bus is at 7:25 and not 8. Today will be long.

Back in Auckland

Back in Auckland just for the night and am staying at a new hostel closer to the bus stop. Saves me that hour walk uphill in the morning and seems all right. Managed to find a Mexican cantina of sorts that at least serves chips. Menu is kind of sad and the margaritas weak but it's the best I'm gonna get so I'm enjoying it while I can.
Daylight savings goes into effect in the am which they were kind enough to post on the walls of the hostel or I would have arrived an hour early to the bus stop. No bueno. Next stop Palmerston north!

Leaving paihia

Steam boat on the river

Today I am leaving paihia for Auckland as well as leaving my traveling buddy sylvia. Woke up not much earlier than usual since I have a late bus today. Normally I catch the 8am but I didn't want to be rushed today. Since the 10am was booked I'm catching the 1pm which should deliver me to Auckland some time close to 4:30 or 5. To kill time I've been walking around the town discovering hidy-holes and such. One thing I like about this sleepy little town on the bay is how dog friendly it is. People take their dogs everywhere even to work and the beach. Right now I'm camped out in the sun down by the wharf watching some strangely shaped bird dive in and out of the water looking for fish.
It's going to be a nice day

A year of discovery

book exchange: Harry Potter in German

It amazes me on this journey how many people I've met are from small towns across the world. Mostly from small towns in Europe too, specifically Germany. After just graduating their version of high school, young people of Europe are encouraged to backpack for a year and see the world or at least one other country. It gives them a chance to find themselves I think. To realize who they are and what they want to do and get out of their lives instead of jumping right into Uni (college) and wasting time and money doing it there. At least this way they get a greater world view and learn more about self-sufficiency than most of the freshmen i have met back home. Since the majority of them work their way across the trip it saves dear ole mom and dad some coin too. Why aren't we encouraged to do that in America? Why are we, were we pushed into college if we were not prepared , if we didn't know what we wanted?

Centabay Lodge- best hostel yet

kitchen and common area 

little out door court yard. so nice 

bedroom

Best hostel yet by far. Free kayaks, can walk everywhere, cheapest, super awesome people there, free movies to watch, hot tub, and lots of sun.

Girls night out

Izzy, two nice girls from Peru and Sky

I won a few :D  Thanks for teaching me the english Wolf

Girls from the Centabay and myself all went out to shoot some pool, excuse me billiards. The party included me, a Canadian (Sky) , two Germans (Sylvia and Izzy), two Peruvians from Lima and a guy from New Hampshire who just came along for kicks. I was a super nice place with good tables and no smoking. Double bonus you didn't have to pay for your time at the table or per game which of course encourages you to spend money on drinks which they can make more money from anyhow.

Paihia -Waterfall trail who's name I can't pronounce much less spell

pretty fern

the spikey things are the root systems of the tree- weirdly cool

me at falls