Travel Blog Posts
Hot Spring, Sky Dive, Rafting Class 5 Rapids
Published: January 5th 2012Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Taupo » Ohakune
January 5th 2012
Taupo (January 1st & 2nd 2012) It was a beautiful morning. Blue sky, white clouds. Bunch of us hiked to a hot spring. Half way there, it started pouring. We kept on going since the rain was not that cold. And it was worth it! The girls did not bring bathing suits so they took some photos and turned back. Joao, Alex, and I chilled out in the springs. The hot running water was the perfect complement to the cold rain. Alex didn't have swimming shorts but he went in in his beige skivvies. He managed to look gay in every photo. We cooked dinner at the hostel and took it easy the rest of the night. Worked up my nerves and went sky diving with Sara, Jana, and Katie the next morning. I expected to ... read more
New Year's Eve in Taupo
Published: January 1st 2012Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Taupo » Ohakune
December 31st 2011
December 30th, 2011 Got rained on in Rotorua. All outdoors activities were cancelled. Swam in the heated pool at hostel. Went for walk in rain. Saw Austrian boys running from awning to awning. Joined them. Had lunch. They told me they will show me around when I get to Vienna in April. Went to Maori Cultural Experience. It was just like a Hawaiian Luau. Nothing exciting for me but everybody else enjoyed the experience. More drinking at pub that night. December 31st, 2011 Got to Taupo at around 1pm. Went to bungy jumping area. Jana jumped. Jared, Katie, and I did the rope swing. I wanted to save bungy jumping for Queenstown when I hope to get my nerves up to do the Nevis jump. Simona, Sara, Joao, Austrian boys came along to help take photos ... read more
Waitomo Glow Worm Caves and More Fun at the Pub
Published: December 31st 2011Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Waitomo
December 29th 2011
The more south I go, the more beautiful the country gets. The girls got some sing-a-long action going on the bus today. Got to Waitomo at around 2pm. The hostel here looks like a ski lodge. Really beautiful. Shared room with Joao and Jared. Big, clean room. At 3:30pm, went caving with Joao, Jared, the three Swedish girls, Jana, Rebekah (Germany), three Austrian guys (Gerhart, Gerald, Stephen). They didn't let me bring my GoPro b/c they didn't want me to break a leg trying to take photos or shoot videos (or bc they wanted me to buy the photos they take). Was pretty bummed out as it would've been an awesome video. We bought the photo CD but they didn't take very good photos. Caves were beautiful. Completely dark except for little florescent green light on ... read more
Hot Water Beach (The Real Fun Starts)
Published: December 29th 2011Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Coromandel » Coromandel Town
December 28th 2011
Simona woke me up at 7:30am. We walked to the bus stop. Didn't see Joao. Went to check on him at 8:15 since bus leaves at 8:30. Homeboy was still knocked out on his bed with his mouth open. I woke him up and told him what time it was. Dude looked completely confused. Don't think he had time to brush his teeth. Told him not to get too close when he talks to me that day. We hopped on bus to Hot Water Beach Campsite in Coromandel. There were 26 people on that bus. We all introduced ourselves. Started to have trouble remembering names. Bus driver Andy called ahead and checked us into our cabins. The campsite was amazingly beautiful. By far, the nicest hostel I've ever been in. I shared a cabin with Joao, ... read more
Paihia-Bay of Islands & Last Night in Auckland
Published: December 29th 2011Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Bay of Islands » Paihia
December 27th 2011
December 26th Woke up at 6:30am with a slight hangover. Joao and I decided to travel together. Caught bus to Paihia. There were about 15 other people on the bus, mostly Europeans. 4 hour scenic ride through rolling green fields full of cattle. Saw pink sheep (genetically engineered to produce pink wool). Checked into hostel in Paihia at around 11:00am. Along with Joao and myself, there were 4 other people in our room. Simona (Switzerland) had been at English language school here for seven weeks and now traveling for another three weeks before she goes home. Marinka (Slovenia) is a retired kindergarten teacher and just recently turned 50. She likes to take a lot of photos. Couple from Austria, Birget and Sacha. Sacha is yet another engineer I've met here. We all got a long pretty ... read more
Xmas in Auckland
Published: December 26th 2011Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Auckland » Central
December 25th 2011
Landed in Auckland at 6:30am Xmas morning. Felt pretty crappy on the plane but felt much better after I landed. Took shuttle to Central Auckland. Kiwi guy on shuttle told me to go to Devonport island and hike up Mt. Victoria. There was nobody on the street and all the shops were closed. Checked into hostel. It was a tall building with kitchen, dining area, Internet cafe on the lobby floor. Reminded me of barracks in Marine Corps. My room had four beds but the only other person in there was a German guy whose name started with "Vol." Called him Voltron a few times accidentally. It just rolled off the tongue. Went for a walk through Central Auckland. Really clean city but a little boring especially since nothing was open. Took a ferry to Devonport. ... read more
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