Can you believe it? The sun came out my last day in New Zealand, effectively the last day of my international trip around the planet. Steph, Carlien, Amy, and I hopped on the Stray bus for a free tour of Auckland. Carlien and Steph scored a free jump off of the Sky Tower which was a funny way to start off the day. We took in some other sights around town, walked around a volcanic crater, and sat by the water watching really big seagulls (these birds were the size of dogs).
In the evening Carlien and I went up to the observation deck of the Sky Tower. We had a cocktail and a chat above Auckland skyline. My head was flooded with thoughts and my shoulders tense with anxiety over returning to the States. {You know what... I missed the Oscars this year}
302 days I've spent on the road. It boggles my mind a bit. I wonder about how a trip like this will shape me from here on out. I feel as if I could return home and slip right back into where I was before. But I hope that doesn't happen.
I leave New Zealand on Tuesday morning and arrive in Hawaii Monday night. I'll take a few days on the beautiful island of Oahu to sort my head out a bit.
Thanks again to Walt, Mom, Mai, Charley, Lisa, Kim, Carol, John, Erica, Anton, Shilpa, Mikey, Daniel, Jeremy, and Kat for dropping some funds into the FeedTony hat to help me on the New Zealand leg of the trip. This place has been the most expensive country by far but I've had some unbelievable experiences here. Thanks for being a part of it all.
Labels: Food, New Zealand
It hasn't stopped raining in 24 hours. A poor end to this NZ trip. Hopefully I can get a partial refund on this Kiwi top bit tour thing and do a dive in Hawaii. When you can do anything outdoors, you have to find indoor entertainment.
Mike, thanks for the fundage which kept me at the hostel and out of the rain when dinner time came around last night. Steak and sausage barbecue was the evening meal with a free pint to wash it down. I spent the rest of the evening watching Whale Rider. It was a heck of a lot more interesting after being to the town where it was shot and learning a bit more about the Maori history behind it. Anyhoo, here's a look at lovely Paihia where we've been stuck for the last couple of days. It's off to Auckland this afternoon.
Labels: Food, New Zealand, Videos
Made it up north to Paihia. It's raining miserably. Looks like diving is out of the itinerary for New Zealand. Crossing my fingers for some sunshine before I leave Auckland on Tuesday morning.
Labels: New Zealand
Had another early morning today. This time it was off to Waitomo for Black Water Rafting in the Ruakuri Caves. This basically involved throwing on the ridiculous gear you see above, grabbing a rubber tube, and throwing ourselves into a hole in the ground with rushing water all around us. Good fun! One of the coolest parts of the ride was floating in the dark, looking up, and seeing hundreds of tiny lights on the ceiling. The lights were from glowworms which we learned were actually the larvae of gnats. So they're really glow-maggots. And what makes them glow is their excrement. Lovely. But with that weird knowledge aside, it was magical. Tomorrow I'm off to Auckland for a night and then up to the northern tip of NZ for some sand dune boarding and hopefully a scuba dive around the Bay of Islands if the weather gets friendlier.
Labels: New Zealand
Hello Mai! Thank you so much for sending me some funds for a nice meal. I decided to take in the Tamaki Maori Experience which featured a hangi meal (a meal cooked under the earth with hot stones). Our shuttle picked us up from the hostel and a host on the bus started by teaching us some of the Maori language (Kia Ora means "To Life" and is used as a greeting, a thanks, and a goodbye) as well as the etiquette for being welcomed into a Maori village and its chief.
Right from the start the experience was amazing. While villagers chanted in the background, Maori warriors dressed in full regalia and carrying traditional weapons came out to perform a traditional welcome. This involves lots of fierce eye-bulging, guttural grunts, and threatening swings and jabs of various weaponry. Then we were walked into a replica village to learn about different aspects of ancient Maori life like wood carving and more weapon wielding (Can you tell that I was pretty fascinated with the warriors?)
Following our village visit was a full out concert with dancing, drumming, and a an exciting haka or Maori war dance. And finally, dinner! I had my fill of potatoes, carrots, kumara, lamb, pasta, salad, mussels, fish, chicken, and a dessert of fruit, kiwi pavlova, and steamed bread pudding. All of it, crazy good. It was a great evening and thanks again for making it easy on my wallet! Kia Ora!
Labels: Food, New Zealand
For the last four days, I've been traveling along the north eastern corner of New Zealand where I had zero access to the internet, cell phone signals, or credit cards. With a pocket full of Kiwi dollars, I jumped on a bus from Taupo on Friday morning and headed off to Te Kaha. On the way we made stops at a sacred tree (which we hugged), several churches with beautiful Maori carving, and mostly just got used to our bus driver's wild driving through windy mountain roads (I would have been a little nervous but he's been rolling through these highways since 1959).
It was a quiet first night spent walking around the beach, taking in the sunset, and staring at stars. Early the next morning, we booked it down the coastline to Rangitukia where I spent the afternoon learning how to carve Maori designs out of beef bone. Later in the night I picked up a .22 rifle and fired a gun for the first time in my life. It wouldn't have been that big of a deal except that I was out at 11pm hunting for possum. (I know some of my "PETA" friends are scolding me for possum shooting but it was a one time experience that I took part in mostly because the possum in NZ are considered to be pests that eat bird eggs and destroy fruit trees and crops) I was surprised at how well I did with the rifle, swiftly picking off two possum from the moon roof of an SUV.
With blood on my hands (not literally) I slept soundly for a few hours before waking up early to hike up into the hills at 6am to watch the sunrise. From this point in New Zealand I was among the first in the world to see the beginning of the new day. By noon we'd arrived in the beach town of Tatapouri. There, I threw on some waders and walked out into the ocean to feed huge stingrays. These are the creatures that stung the late Steve Irwin. Weighing around 60kg, these guys swim right up to you for a bite of fish from your hands, waving the poisonous barb at you like a dog who's just gotten a treat. Afterwards, we watched one of the guys from Dive Tatapouri feed a little blue penguin that they were raising in captivity. It was a rare opportunity to see this species up close and fun to watch the little dude gobble up hunks of bait fish we'd caught while feeding the rays.
Afterwards, I grabbed a surfboard and tried my luck on some New Zealand waves. It was my first time on a fiberglass short board and it was really tough. Bigger waves than Australia and one slippery board made for a frustrating few runs. But once I got up a couple of times, it was all good. Later in the afternoon, we took a ride over to Whangara where the film Whale Rider was filmed. After taking a look at some prop whales and replica waka, we were invited into a Marae (a Maori meeting house) by one of the local elders. She gave some of the history of the people in the area and some behind the scenes details on the film and ended our visit to the Marae with a traditional hongi (the touching of noses between Maori's). Before we left, she also took a group of us down to the beach to do a blessing on the bone carvings we'd created the day before.
And today, it was back to Taupo. We stopped at a hot river where I watched steam rise around me as I sat beneath a waterfall, soaking my achy muscles. Bone carving, possum shooting, stingray feeding, surfing, and bathing in hot rivers... what a weekend.
Labels: New Zealand
Daniel, hope you're having a good day at work. It was excellent to hear from you the other day. I appreciate the contribution towards keeping me fed. This morning I waited to hear whether the weather would allow me to go out for my first skydive over massive Lake Taupo (said to be the size of Singapore). At 9:45, everything was go. That's when my heart started pumping and I got a bit nervous.
Skydive Taupo sends a stretch limousine to pick you up which is really amusing. A few minutes later I was at the airport getting suited up and ready to be thrown out of a pink airplane. It was all very surreal and my brain couldn't register any of it.
Up in the sky the view was incredible. After dropping a few people off at 12,000 feet, we climbed another 3,000 to our jump point. At this height we even had to use oxygen masks for a bit. Then, before I could even think about it, we were out and soaring above the lake. It was unreal. I've had plenty of dreams of flying and this is probably as close as I've gotten to the really doing it. It felt like a pretty long ride up there (maybe too long as my guide's spinning made me a little queasy).
Back on earth, I've just finished cutting my YouTube video and I'm off to have a big meal, care of one Daniel L. of San Jose, CA (I ended up having salmon with poached eggs over a potato rosti... speaking of salmon, remember that one time we went fishing? That was the only time I've ever been fishing.). Thanks again and I'll see you in a few weeks.
You know, my mom is going to watch that and the first thing she's going to think is, "Why didn't you shave your ugly face!?"
Labels: Food, New Zealand, Videos
Jeremy, thank you for the contribution. I didn't run out and find the most "cholent from Gehenna" looking thing I could find. I've actually applied your funds to my healthier eating. I bought some really delicious peaches and nectarines from a fruit stand on my ride out to Queenstown. And I've picked up lots of fiber-full breakfast bars and lactic acid battling bananas to assist me during hikes and other demanding activities.
It was great to hear from you. I hope the New Year (do you Jewish people celebrate New Year? Just kidding! Ah how I miss the religious humor) is treating you well. Hopefully we can catch up sometime when I'm wandering around LA next month.
Shalom!
Labels: Food, New Zealand
I've been having bad luck with airlines this week. While waiting for my Christchurch-Rotorua flight on Air New Zealand, the flight was canceled. Before I could curse under my breath, they announced that we'd be moved to a Quantas flight. While waiting for my flight, I called United to cancel my Wellington leg, as mentioned in my previous blog, but I was informed that the charge was $150 for cancellations, $125 for changes. On top of that, the guy helping me on the phone was extremely rude. United, you're really working on my last nerve, dude.
On the bright side, the weather is lovely in Rotorua at the moment so I've gone ahead and booked my skydive in Taupo. Fingers crossed, if the weather holds up, I'll have jumped from a plane from 15,000 feet by this time tomorrow. Forecast says rain though.
As I was landing in Rotorua, I smelled something foul in the airplane, as if someone had a full English breakfast and their rear end was sharing it with the rest of us. It wasn't until I stepped out of the plane that I remembered hearing that all of Rotorua smells of sulphur due to geothermal activity. Fun stuff.
I've been feeling really frantic lately. I'm trying to pack in as many activities as I can in the last 12 days of my NZ trip. I'm looking at the skydive, a 10 mile hike through the Tongariro Crossing (said to be one of the most strenuous and rewarding one-day hikes on the N. Is.), and all sorts of things you may get a kick out of. Yes, if I'm able to do any of it, it'll cost a fortune and a half but this is the home stretch man, go big or go home... I'm going to go big AND go home.
A couple weeks back, the saying, "your days are numbered" kept running through my brain. Well, that number is 17. In seventeen days, I'll be in San Francisco waiting for someone to take me back to reality. The uncertainty of what awaits me in the States makes me more nervous than jumping from an airplane. Seriously.
I've racked up a debt higher than I ever imagined. The trip may have taken me around the globe but I still feel like I haven't done everything I wanted, I haven't seen everything I wanted. With no money left, I fear that I will have to return to the confines of an office cubicle.
On the the other hand, I have hope, I have ideas. I'm still accountable only to myself (and the Visa corporation). I still have the freedom to follow old and new dreams. Much of my fate is in my hands. I've gotta be fearless, embracing the unknown.
I saw this on a t-shirt the other day: "You can't be old and wise without being young and stupid first." We're in the age of longer living and I've decided that I have plenty of years ahead of me to be young and stupid. Ha!
Have I reached the point where I've stopped worrying about what others think? Will returning to the U.S. thrust me back into conforming to society's expectations? Let's hope not. This trip has put me as close to the fringe as I've ever been and having met people who've already crossed this line, I can say that it's not a bad place to be.
Balance. That's all I've ever wanted. With my mind open to new possibilities and perspectives, it'll be a challenge to find a new middle ground. You work and you work and you work at it. That's living maybe.
Always help others. We're in it together.
\end rant
P.S.- I'm in Taupo now for two days before I start a four day tour. I may lock up my computer gear and travel light for my Kiwi Experience East As tour so this may mean a lack of updates for a few days. But you never know, maybe the Maori people have cheap internet cafe's in the maraes.
Labels: New Zealand
Check this out... I have a flight on Feb 26- Wellington to Auckland, Auckland to Honolulu. I plan to be in the Auckland area at this time (1 hour flight from Wellington) so it would make more sense to fly out of Auckland. But, if I don't check into the Wellington to Auckland flight, the Honolulu flight gets canceled. To cancel the Wellington leg of the flight, they would charge me $125. To book a flight from Auckland to Wellington (to catch my original flight), it would be $33. WHAT THE?!
Stubbornness makes me want to book the $33 flight just because I'm ticked off at United for their strict re-booking fee. But then I'd fly from Auckland to Wellington to Auckland in one day polluting the skies with more carbon. Gah!
I think I'll go eat some Subway sandwich now. $3.00 for a six-inch sandwich. THAT's a number I can handle.
Stubbornness makes me want to book the $33 flight just because I'm ticked off at United for their strict re-booking fee. But then I'd fly from Auckland to Wellington to Auckland in one day polluting the skies with more carbon. Gah!
I think I'll go eat some Subway sandwich now. $3.00 for a six-inch sandwich. THAT's a number I can handle.
Labels: New Zealand
I had a lot on my mind today as I was stuck on a bus for seven or eight hours. I wanted to share some of it with you but my brain and eyeballs are tired. I'm hanging out in Christchurch (yawn) for a couple days. Maybe I'll try to get a haircut. Anyway, I'll update this entry with the stuff that swirled around in my head all day (I think I drooled on myself while napping on the bus... embarassing). For now, I give you views of the south island:
Yup, things by water are pretty.
P.S.- Anyone own a hotel in Honolulu? I need a room.
Labels: New Zealand, Videos
This morning I got up really early to head out to the AJ Hackett Nevis Highwire Bungy jump over a gorge near Queenstown. I've never really been too interested in bungy but seeing as it was practically born here in New Zealand, I decided to give it a try. Funny thing was, I wasn't at all nervous about it. I just hadn't experienced anything similar to jumping 400 feet off of something. It wasn't until they'd strapped the leg harnesses on that I started to wonder what I got myself into. Moments later, they attached the bungy cord and it was on. A bunch of tiny baby steps (as my legs were buckled together) and one giant leap for new kinds of experiences. I cut my expletive out of the video for the benefit of the children (and my mom's ears) but it's that first moment that the ground comes rushing towards you that you realize you may have gotten in over your head. If you're able to watch the YouTube video, you'll see the view from the camera I held in my hand (just for my YouTube fans) and footage shot by the AJ Hackett people.
Later in the afternoon, I did the Canyon Swing where you're taken to a platform about 100m above a river, dropped 60m, and swing 150kph through a 200m arc. My jump choice was the "Elvis" where I was hung facing the sky and dropped upside down. Pretty wild.
I was supposed to head off to Milford Sound tomorrow but the stupid Kiwi bus is booked up on Tuesday which means I need to rush back to Christchurch tomorrow. Argh! Milford's supposed to be beautiful but I'll be as happy as I can with the wonderful sights I've taken in on the South Island. Wednesday I fly up to Taupo to start a new tour of the east of the North Island. Lots of Maori cultural experiences are in store for me. And perhaps some surfing!
Labels: New Zealand, Videos
My sore body wished we didn't have to hop on the bus at 7:30am yesterday but the driver wanted to get us out early enough to see an amazing view of Mt. Cook and the Southern Alps. Above is a photo of me and the banana peel (named Peely) that I carried around Lake Matheson as I took in the mountains reflected off of the glassy water.
On the bus, I looked around at the mostly European (with a couple Americans and Canadians thrown into the mix) and felt like we were a privileged bunch, being shuttled around these awesome landscapes, stopping for what feels like the most random of activities. I had to remind myself not to take my opportunities for granted as there aren't many people in the world who are fortunate enough to spend a month hiking across beaches, glaciers, and cities. I guess there was a bit of guilt (perhaps the season of Lent is poking up somewhere in my brain) for sitting on some bus, trying to decide which bungy jump to book for the weekend.
There's so much going on in my friends' and family's lives right now. I'm constantly trying to figure out how I'm going to take all of this travel and use it for the greatest benefit. I will for the moment try to set that thinking aside and continue to drink up the wonders around me.
Today, we head into Queenstown, 'Adventure Capital of NZ'. The plan is to rent a car to check out Milford Sound for a day and then jump 430ft off of a hanging platfrom on Sunday morning. How are you spending your weekend?
Labels: New Zealand
Happy Lunar New Year and Happy Ash Wednesday folks. I had a brilliant day out on the Franz Josef glacier doing my first ice-climb. I started my day at 7am, geared up and had a strenuous hike up onto the glacier. The rigid climbing shoes aren't the best footwear for hiking over rocks and my feet were hating me.
Armed with clamp on spikes and two ice axes, me and three other people roamed around crevasses and did five climbs up about 18 meters. The weather was great and the ice was challenging enough to leave me completely exhausted by 4pm. I loved it. It was probably one of the top ten things I've done on my world trip.
If I had any more money, I'd probably really get into rock climbing as well but the equipment for this sort of activity is outrageously expensive. Check out the new photos in the picasa gallery or see some footage on YouTube:
Labels: New Zealand, Videos
The other day we passed through Westport and took some nice coastal walks through places like Cape Foulwind where I finally spotted my first wild kiwi bird. Unfortunately, the stupid British dudes from the tour bus scared it away before I could snap a photo. After a night of beating the girls in some card game called "Beanie" we got a full night's sleep in before heading to Punakaiki and taking another short hike along the west coast, checking out the pancake rocks (rock formations that resemble stacks of pancakes), and a smelly seal colony.
I've been blowing through New Zealand much too fast but I can't afford the time or money to take it slower. It's the sort of place that has so many incredible vistas that staring out the window is a joy. And sadly, that's how I've had to experience much of it.
Last night we made a stop at Lake Mahinapua. The Kiwi bus had organized a huge dinner for us. I definitely ate way too much. Check out the photo to see the plate piled with food. All of that went into my gut along with a second serving of venison. After dinner, the seventy or so of us went to a "fancy dress" party which I guess is what they call costume parties around these parts. I decided to wear a fancy dress. I'd fought a Thai boxer, climbed Mt. Fuji, gone swimming with dolphins... why not try dressing in drag? Regardless of not having shaved, I still made a pretty convincing girl which made the girls and boys uncomfortable. Mission accomplished.
After midnight, Carlien and I took a walk out to Lake Mahinapua to see the glowworms. These soft-bodied beetles have luminescent organs that emit light to attract mates. I remember how excited I was the first time I saw a firefly walking with my friend My in Queens (NY). Phosphorescent creatures are wild man. When we started on the path, there was pitch blackness in front of us and behind us. We had to follow the space in the trees above to know where the path went. Then, along the sides of the path, we'd start to see patches of undergrowth dimly lit. Crouching down, we took a closer look and found dozens of tiny dots of light. Carlien said they looked like fairies, I compared them to accent lights that light footpaths. Out on the lake, stars filled the sky. But soon, the cold chased us back to the hostel.
Early in the morning, we walked back out to the lake to see the morning mist roll across the water and the sun breathing warmth into the green around us. Another sleepy bus ride took us out to Pukekura for a peak into the touristy Bushman's Centre. We watched a video about the history of the deer population in NZ, fed some possum, and grabbed breakfast.
Finally, we ended up in Franz Josef Glacier Village. We took a quick look at the magnificent glacier that I will be climbing tomorrow, armed with spiky boots and two pick axes. Should be interesting.
Labels: New Zealand
The other day in Nelson I went to check out Michael Clayton at the movies. The movie kind of beat me up a little. George Clooney got a nom for the role, right? Well deserved because by the end of that movie I felt as exhausted as his character seemed to be. But not so exhausted that I wasn't going to tackle the short hike up the hill in Nelson to reach the Centre of New Zealand.
Thank you again for providing me with my first meal on the South Island in Christchurch. I know you've been dying to get out here and you were here in spirit as I munched on an enormous avocado burger from some joint called Wisconsin (who's slogan is "Home of the best burgers in the world"). Hope your foot's doing well and the new job turns out to be what you're looking for. Share some of your global perspectives with those kids!
Labels: Food, New Zealand, Videos
A few days back, Carlien and I got up early to bus over to Abel Tasman National Park near Nelson. The night was windy and the morning sky was filled with clouds. Not the best conditions for sea kayaking we thought. The sea shuttle that took us out to the starting point at Bark Bay was a roller coaster ride in itself. Fortunately, our guide gave us some motion sickness tablets to ease our equilibriums.
This was the best idea we had all day because our group of nine kayakers was reduced to three after the rough seas and misty weather sent some of the others running back to dry land. It was my first time with a sea kayak of this sort. We wore "skirts" to keep the water out and I had foot pedals that controlled a rudder in the rear of the kayak for steering. We paddled out to a seal colony for a bit and had an enormous lunch (well, I had a big lunch as I helped myself to the extra food we had on hand after the others left early) on the beach. It was a nice work out, the weather turned out alright, and despite not being able to do the full course because of the sickies, the 5km we did paddle left me ready for a good night's sleep.
Labels: New Zealand
Just wanted to chime in from the wonderful west coast of New Zealand. I'll try to find some wifi and give you a full report on my sea kayaking and amazing strolls around the coast. Later this week I try my hand at climbing a glacier. And maybe on the weekend, bungy jumping?!
This has got to be the most expensive country of my trip because there's so many incredible things to experience. Feedtony.com ;)
Labels: New Zealand
I'm hanging out in a place on the northwest of the south island (huh?) called Nelson. Clean air, sunny days, very nice. Tomorrow I'll jump in a kayak to explore the coast of Abel Tasman National Park. Should be good.
Leaving Kaikoura, New Zealand's landscape reminded me of California. Similar colors. Oh, there was this suburban area of Christchurch that looked like the meaner streets of San Jose with less cars. (And the crowd is more Pac Islander than Mexican/Vietnamese, too) So it feels a lot like home except the shops close at 5:30pm (argh) and the weather's actually warm right now.
Leaving Kaikoura, New Zealand's landscape reminded me of California. Similar colors. Oh, there was this suburban area of Christchurch that looked like the meaner streets of San Jose with less cars. (And the crowd is more Pac Islander than Mexican/Vietnamese, too) So it feels a lot like home except the shops close at 5:30pm (argh) and the weather's actually warm right now.
Labels: New Zealand
After spending a brief day in Christchurch, I headed to the coastal town of Kaikoura on the south island of New Zealand. We had the choice between spotting sperm whales or swimming with wild dusky dolphins in the ocean. Feeling a bit hungary for physical activity, I decided to jump into the sea with flipper. Everyone needs a little porpoise in their life, right?
It was an expensive trip ($145NZD gets you a wet suit, snorkel gear, boat charter, and all the hot chocolate & cookies you want after your swim) and I was a little skeptical of what we'd actually find out there. A 25 minute ride took us to a spot where we slid into the water and tried to "entertain" the dolphins into coming to us. You do this my making as much noise as you can (I did a lot of "mooing"), making eye contact with the dolphins, and swimming in circles.
The moment the first dolphin appeared under me, I freaked out with excitement. I circled around and around mooing, squealing, and gasping as I tried to follow it. As soon as the dolphins swim away, we race back to the boat to find another group. And what a group it was. Our guide estimated that there were at least 300 dolphins out and about. The curious little guys were jumping out of the water, swimming under and around us, and appearing to have a grand ole time watching us humans flailing in the water. It was beautiful. As tempting as it was, I resisted the urge to grab on to one for a ride.
On the way back to shore I caught a glimpse of the large albatross that inhabit the area. Their wing spans were as large as the dolphins below. After a much deserved nap in the late afternoon, I woke up to a steak dinner that Amy and Carlien had cooked up. Not a bad day at all and what a nice start to my south island adventuring. Next stop, Nelson.
(the photo above is of a sperm whale's tail taken by the girls on their whale watching trip)
Labels: New Zealand
Woke up this morning and took another walk along the water, up through Lambton Quay and the downtown Wellington area to see this beehive looking building next to parliament. Around town, there are numerous public sculptures. I dig it. Wellington sort of reminds me of Toronto maybe. I went along the Terrace back to the hostel to find myself rushing to the bus to catch my flight to Christchurch. When I got to the airport in the knick of time, it was announced 15 minutes later that my flight had been delayed by 3 hours! I hate that. If I knew I had that much time I would have taken the cable car up the hill and grabbed lunch. Pacific Blue did provide a $6 (not enough for a drink with my Chicken & Brie sandwich) meal voucher to appease us.
I dropped $2 on Global Gossip internet before I realized that the airport has free (but really slow and weak) wifi. I've snuck into the conference area though and the signal's strong enough for me to bore you with these fine words while I kill time. Wish my phone worked. Maybe someone's online...
I forgot how rubbish I am about taking photos when I'm traveling alone. People told me to take a lot of pictures and aside from Asia, I really didn't take enough photos. I've learned that you never regret taking too many photos, especially when you haven't kept a detailed journal. Argh.
Labels: New Zealand
I brushed up on some New Zealand history at the Te Papa museum in town before taking a walk around town a bit. I really want to find a kiwi, suckers are cute as koalas. Wellington is pretty laid back and the people seem really chilled out. I'm diggin' it. I wasn't able to escape my head just yet and stopped to sit by the water and reflect on my travels a bit. Then this randomly burped out of my head:
The Quay
I saw you walking
With your tank top, ready to pop
Towards the harbor in
Your tight jeans
Long hair tied back
In a pony tail.
I was ready to hail
You down, thinkin'
Man, she's hot.
Then I thought not
Because you lit up.
Made me want to throw up
My hands to say, stop!
You're far too lovely
To let those cigs scrap thee.
Lots of time on my hands as you can see. After another nap, I woke up and checked out Charlie Wilson's War starring Tom Hanks. Good flick. Took me away for a little while before I returned to the hostel and slapped this together. Yes, it's been a silly weird day in my brain.
NOTE TO MOM: Dear Mother, I've shipped a box of clothes and books to your home. Just toss it onto the pile of other things cluttering up my old room. Thanks!
Labels: New Zealand, Videos
I was just browsing a couple of old posts from Spain. It's freaking me out. Did I really go there? Did I really make eye contact with that girl? Did I savor the horchata as I trudged up the hill to Park Guell? Thank God for the places I've been able to see and the experiences I've had. I hope I can remember them again!
Azad's off to Spain and Germany. My buddies from Koln are getting together again. Anyone want to give me $3k to send me to Carnival? Just kidding, I've got some mountains to climb and stuff here.
My brother told me to get out of my head and to enjoy my trip. I'm trying, I'm trying but the last nine months, this upcoming month... I'm going to explode!
Why can't you all be here with me?
Azad's off to Spain and Germany. My buddies from Koln are getting together again. Anyone want to give me $3k to send me to Carnival? Just kidding, I've got some mountains to climb and stuff here.
My brother told me to get out of my head and to enjoy my trip. I'm trying, I'm trying but the last nine months, this upcoming month... I'm going to explode!
Why can't you all be here with me?
Labels: New Zealand
I arrived safely in New Zealand today, Wellington to be precise. I haven't really been sleeping well the last few nights... inner turmoil and the whatnot. So when I got here, I sorted through my things and napped the rest of the afternoon. Seems a bit chilly outside and wasn't the best time to discover that I'd left one of my favorite fleece jackets on the plane. (You know, the black American Apparel zip jogger that I always used to wear. Bum deal.) Looks like I may have to shop for some sort of Kiwi jumper tomorrow.
I'm going out for a stroll. I hate going to sleep with turmoil and waking up with turmoil. It's giving me indigestion. What's eating you, Tony? Life, sunny Jim, life. A good walk to sweat it out perhaps.
I'll try to bring you some photos from around town tomorrow. Checking out the history museum and maybe taking one of the nice walks up the hill for some fresh air and fresh thoughts.
I'm going out for a stroll. I hate going to sleep with turmoil and waking up with turmoil. It's giving me indigestion. What's eating you, Tony? Life, sunny Jim, life. A good walk to sweat it out perhaps.
I'll try to bring you some photos from around town tomorrow. Checking out the history museum and maybe taking one of the nice walks up the hill for some fresh air and fresh thoughts.
Labels: New Zealand
