Caves, Pub quizes, drinks, bbqs....

I think it could be the 1st of march/2005 Kia Ora! The title really says it all - from Whitianga to Rotorua to Waitomo (which is where I am now sitting) in Rotorua I did all the Mauri stuff - evening meals with crazy dances and wandering around geysers in the day before learning the hakka... it's all been good fun! Last night was THE NIGHT even if i am biased - i arranged a bbq and cooked a lovely tuna (tobasco) pasta salad... i even made up a salad dressing (all thanks to the wonderful minty and smash!) must have cooked about 40 sausages for pretty much everyone i've gotten to know through the bus - i'm hanging on here now so they're leaving me behind... tus it became a 'last supper' of sorts - i dragged the stereo out of the kitchen and ran the old mp3 through it and got the frisbee and the guitar and.... and.... so much fun! At about 4am the group of 25 (or so) had dwindled to around 5 so after many crowd pleasing sing-alongs it was time to retire. It's going to be weird without mark and emma (two chiefs that have been great to spend time with) but we'll keep in touch so no worries mate. ooh the pub quiz - another of my brilliant ideas (*look at the size of his head) - 10 of us entered a pub quiz in rotorua and came third!!!! with winnings of $20 BUT the guy with our cash left immediately presuming that as we were tourists we would not come back the next week to chase him down (oh but I will, it's a matter of principal!!) well i'll have to finish this later - the old money's running out fast...

toodles

Feeling Hot Hot Hot...

the something/02/05 Hello there friends and family (and hangers on) I've finally arrived in AKL now - and it's hot. Having been delayed in our departure of heathrow due to snow I can only utter the immortal phrase - ha ha. The flight was great - great views - bad films - super nintendo games for you to play - nice food (though I realised after consumption that I was allergic to the custard cake thing in my first meal) bumped into a friend in Malaysia (as you do.....). best keep this short as I obviously need a shower (the chairs are emptying around me! take care everyone

Tomorrow, tomorrow I'm leaving tomorrow....

don't panic..... last full day in blighty for a long while and I can't wait to go finally and stop worrying about the flight. Once the flight is out of the way i'll be basking in the glorious sunshine..... skillo! well here goes nothing....

Two weeks and counting...

7th Feb 05 I've so much to do today and seemingly so little time - arguably I have been on t'internet for several decades it seems - but anyway on to more important (and probably quite dull) news - I've started to get all my stuff together to go off on my adventure but keep having to remind myself that my bag is fairly small so it probably isn't a good idea to try and fit too much in - i'm limiting myself to a weeks supply of clothes and a few books, mp3 player, sunglasses, tent!!... i guess the list does run on a bit. so.... now to play the waiting game....