Broken Hills

Spent today exploring the Coromandel peninsula.  Exploring included getting lost at the most northern tip with beautiful (and very rainy) beaches and finally making our way around to the forested hills southeast of our hostel.  Broken Hills is a park with hiking trails that go through deserted gold mine tunnels.  Steep, breath-taking, and very, very wet.  Yesterday and today POURED, so the trails were knee-deep at times.  Sarah managed to find the best mode of transportation.

The tunnels themselves were interesting.  Very wet to hike through!

Back at the hostel tonight and managed to see a bit of sun on the drive back.  Love this hostel!  It's very funky with a ton of charm and very friendly fellow travelers.  Lots of different ages and backgrounds.  Sarah and I were both up early this morning and got to enjoy reading in the living area with only the sound of the rain on the corrugated metal roof.  Here is a glance:

This area is dangerous; it's too easy to see myself living here.  Despite the poor weather, the people are incredibly friendly and the place is beautiful beyond words at times.  It's funny what a stark contrast it is to the urban areas.  Tomorrow, we are hitting the beaches in the area if it's sunny and then scooting our tiny car over to the west coast to stay in the Raglan area.  I've heard nothing but good things about the town and surrounding activities.  More caves and black sand beaches!  Wicked.  I leave you with a picturesque view of the Coromandel coast.

Until after the New Year!,
Kate

Auckland Adventures

Spent the last few days in the downtown district of Auckland.  After waiting for Al's plane to get in, we took a shuttle up to the city and found the hostel I had heard about.  Although it's in a very central location, Base Auckland turned out to be a waste of money in my opinion.  Thin walls, disgusting carpets, broken elevators, and not-overly-friendly backpackers made us look around for a different hostel our second night.  We ended up staying further uptown at a super cute local hostel called Silverfern.  For basically the same price, the place was clean, quiet, and full of awesome Aussi's who were keen to take out two Americans. 

Yesterday, we explored the city and went on a manhunt for the Auckland museum.  To describe Auckland, imagine San Francisco with a warmer, more humid climate and more people with funny accents.  Also imagine that no street runs straight for more than a block or two.  We ended up finding the place after a couple hours and the museum itself was much better than expected.  Located at the top of a hill in the Auckland Domain (which is basically a large central park area), you have a view of the whole downtown area up against the water.  Giant cranes lean over the harbor (Kiwi spellcheck tries to correct me to say harbour) and load huge barges while cruise ships take up the rest of the dock.  Beautiful view, slightly impacted by the big rainstorm that's currently coming through the area. 

After trekking around the city all day, we went back to our hostel and a group of Aussi's that have been living in the city for the past 2 months offered to take us on a bar-crawl in celebration of one of the girl's birthdays.  As a sidenote, beer is incredibly expensive here; a pint can cost anywhere from $6-$8.  The main appeal of the bar-crawl was that you paid $10 to get a free beer at each of the 4 bars.  Also had my first experience with being PAID to buy beer; when trying to purchase a drink, the bartender handed me back my money and gave me a $10 bill and a wink.  You, sir, made my night.

Sarah arrived this morning and we spent most of today trying to meet up, rent a vehicle, and drive to the Coromandel region.  Camper van didn't work out (yet), but we managed to find an economy car at a rental dealership half-way across Auckland.  While it's small, the three of us agreed we're lucky we found something.  Summer in NZ apparently means everything is rented!  I had a crash course in driving on the left-side of the road and we managed to get our bearings enough to head south.

If Auckland is like SF, Coromandel is like the most beautiful parts of Hawaii.  We're currently sitting in the living area of a sweet hostel close to the beach.  It's been pouring on and off all day, but we're hoping for some sun tomorrow to make it to the renowned beaches around the peninsula.  Content to sit and relax on the covered porch with the hostel cat this evening and get an early night!

To sum up:  having an incredible time.  Glad to be out of the city and finally in the country, but understand now why people say Auckland is a poor representation of Kiwi life.  Funny how almost a third of the population lives in the Auckland area alone!

Until next time,
Kate

P.S.  They have amazing Asian food here!

I have arrived.

Officially landed about 5 hours ago.  Waiting for Al's flight from Fiji to get in so we can meet up and bus over to the city.

I wish every airline was like Air New Zealand.  Good food, comfy seats, and what seemed like endless movie/music options.  My ride consisted of a Harry Potter marathon and a 6 hour nap.  Sweet as.  (Kiwi saying for "awesome".)  Should also mention that the flight safety video included the All Blacks (rugby team), Richard Simmons, and streaking grandmothers.  Can't beat that.

Also, EPIC walrus mustaches appear to be fairly common.  Classic British!

Send-off

The countdown broke 24 hours last night after 7 PM.  Bags are packed, clothes are clean, and spirit is high.

Had a fantastic holiday; best one I've experienced in years.  Family on mom's side from the Seattle area came down and the kids were so uplifting and fun to be around.  I don't see my extended family very often as both sides are spread out amongst the West and as us kids get older, many are settling down with families of their own.  Three year-old Lucinda ran us all ragged, and speaking for myself, I loved every minute of it.  She's the stereotypical little girl in the sense that she adores pink, princesses, and her mommy & daddy but has the added bonus of manners and the sweetest smile.  We watched the Disney movie Tangled 3 times within 24 hours, but she could've picked a worse flick to rewatch again and again.  My mom has a huge soft spot for infants and thoroughly enjoyed having the chance to rock Lucinda's baby brother Ewan to sleep one night.  So thankful all of us had the chance to be with my grandfather this year too; I know how much he loves his grandkids and great-grandkids.

Update on dress shenanigans: I ended up going rockclimbing rather than finishing the dress before I left.  Boo on me.  Will have to finish it next time I come home unless Mom takes pity on me and attaches the skirt while I'm gone.

As for other news, leaving with some sad thoughts.  Two of my pets won't be here when I return.  A fellow forester and friend was watching my pet chinchilla Remi and two days after I left, a skunk broke into the cage and killed her (Remi, not my friend).  Completely out of human intervention, but still depressing to know that she won't be around for cuddles when I return to Humboldt.  On top of that, our other family dog Reboot is being put down in three days.  My dog Doll passed away back in October and her partner in crime has been rapidly declining in health and spirit.  Truth be told, I'm happy that my folks are finally putting him to rest; it breaks my heart to watch him wander in our garden on tired, old legs with so much loneliness in his eyes.

I'll pack these thoughts away though until I'm standing on a mountain's edge and can smile at all the good times as well as at the thought that they're in a better place.  Can't wait for that moment!

Until next time, take care of yourselves!

Kate

Domestication

I decided that before I leave, I am going to attempt sewing an article of clothing to wear on my trip.  My mom has been an amateur seamstress ever since I can remember (I especially loved the pink dresses she made for me when I was in kindergarden), so I asked if she would help me with the project.  Despite her protests that an apron or scarf would be easier to start with, I decided on a sundress.  After all, it's just a skirt with straps.  Seems simple, yes?  After 6 hours of painstaking, finger-pricking, and monotonous detail today, I am slightly more convinced that she might have been right.  However!, I'm hoping the dress will be done tomorrow.  And that it will fit.  And that it won't look like a noobie seamstress made it.

I hope to add this to my "womanly accomplishments" list that includes baking from scratch, changing a diaper, knowing how to iron a shirt, and being able to clean the heck out of a bathroom when the time calls for it.  Still working on learning how to tie a tie.

Also, realizing that three weeks is not nearly enough time to go everywhere I wish I could in New Zealand.  Dang it.  I hate it when you're already planning your next trip before you've even left.

Post-Graduation & Pre-departure

It's official!  I'm a Humboldt State graduate with a bachelor of science!  I imagined more elation and joy, but the last week has left me thinking more and more about the future and the pressure to "do something".  A lot of the let-down came because others graduating with me didn't seem nearly as excited to be done; most of them are either heading straight off to jobs or have to move back in with their parents and find a real job soon.  Unlike other semesters, many people took off the same day they finished finals.  Luckily, two of my favorite people (Sarah and Al) who also just finished school will be heading off to New Zealand with me, and I know that we will be able to finally let loose and relish the freedom!

Speaking of New Zealand, today was spent preparing for the adventure.  I now have a brand-new backpack (my first that isn't secondhand!) and a new pair of hiking boots that will likely tear my feet up on our first hike.  However, shopping all day has heightened my anticipation of the trip and also triggered my memory of how I can't stand shopping for more than an hour.  Here is a list of items to be packed to (a) help me remember everything I need to pack and (b) to remind me in the future of things I packed for traveling overseas since I've seemed to have forgotten what I packed last time.

*Backpack
*2-person tent
*Sleeping bag
*Passport & ID
*Trekking pants - can be pants, capris, and shorts
*Other clothes - shirts, dress, sweater, undergarments, socks
*Rain jacket
*Camera & charging cable
*Travel towel
*Bathing suit and board shorts for possible surfing opportunities and definite swimming opportunities
*Shoes - hiking boots, flip-flops, nice shoes for polite company
*iPod & charging cable
*Books - Freakanomics and assorted New Zealand outdoor adventure guides
*Sunglasses
*Toothbrush, toothpaste, fro-pick (aka Kate's comb), asthma meds, Neosporin, mole skin, razor, lotion

More will be amended to this list as I think of things I've forgotten or overlooked.

I have a few items I plan on buying once I land in Auckland, such as sunscreen, shampoo, pre-paid international cell phone, etc.  I don't feel like taking up space in my bag on the flight over and I figure Sarah and I will split the cost of the disposable items.  The one thing I am NOT packing that I am worried I might regret is a sleeping pad.  Sarah and I have settled on the idea of renting or purchasing a camper van while we're in the country so that we can get around easily and plus, who hasn't always wanted to live out of a van for three weeks??  From the sources I've heard/read, the price should come out the same as if we stayed in hostels every night.  Al and I will be flying in a day ahead of Sarah and we will confirm if this rumor is true and also check out available vans; stay tuned to see how this idea pans out.  In any case!  If we're in the van, I don't want to cart around a sleeping pad the whole time and if we're not in a van and instead in hostels, I have no need for one.  After a month of sleeping in the dirt out in New Mexico, I've realized that I can sleep almost anywhere if I'm tired enough.

I'm flying out in 6 days (and 1 hour), so I've got time to figure the rest out.  And on the bright side, it's only 3 weeks.  Short time to do many things...including but not limited to!: hiking, swimming, skydiving, pub-crawling, tree-hugging, fjording, dancing, singing, and sight-seeing.

In the meantime, I'm back in Davis for the holidays and will be spending the time with my parents, my hilarious 92 year-old grandfather, my mom's step-nephew Chris and his family.  Chris is bringing his two kids, a 1 year-old baby boy and a 3 year-old girl.  Psyched to have kids around for the holidays!  First time since I was a kid myself.  Mom and I shopped today and I convinced her to get a small tent with an attached tunnel that we can set up on Christmas morning to convince the little girl that Santa came.  Mom is also sewing a baby blanket for the baby boy; his gifts are monkey themed!  I am ridiculously excited to have a real Christmas this year, complete with family and holiday spirit!

Until send-off, take care of yourself and happy holidays!

Kate

New Transitions

For the past 22 years of my short-lived life, I cannot remember a time when I didn't identify as a student.  In t-minus 2 weeks, this won't hold true for the first time.  EVER.  I will be free as a proverbial bird with all the freedom and recklessness to find myself in heaps of good times and troubles...well, good times and troubles that I didn't have the time or opportunity for before.  I'm writing this blog to try and document my first full year as an adult.  Possible stories:  New Zealand adventures! (this is a must), roadtrip to Seattle, backpacking the entire Lost Coast, employment?, more roadtrips!, and a good possibility of ending with being shipped off by the Peace Corps.

For all my lack of creativity, I'm telling myself to use this as an excuse to take more pictures and search for all the poetry I've forgotten to share.  Despite a severe degradation of education in some areas at Humboldt State, I have thought often of my religious studies class that I took as a sophomore in college.  My favorite part was the poetry; we were exposed to poetry from multiple religions and once I read Rumi, I was hooked.  At least for the rest of the semester.

I died as a mineral and became a plant,
I died as plant and rose to animal,
I died as animal and I was Man.
Why should I fear? When was I less by dying?

 Until next time,
Kate