The south island- a new beginning

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Hello everybody.
Sorry that it took me so long. But internet is getting more expensive and I am getting cheaper.

What happened? (read with Indian accent).

Napier: 7-11 january
So I left you when I was on my way to Napier. I stayed there a few days in a backpackers where a lot
of people were actually living, which made it somekind of nice cosy house, full of nice food everyday.
I learned to make dumplings with the Japanese, dapmfnudln with the germans..
Also Napier 'an sich' was interesting because I finally could see some 'interesting' architecture.
In 1931 there was a big earthquake wich distroyed the whole city. So they built it back, in one style: art deco, wich we could interpret as the american follower (opvolger) of our precious art nouveau (wich is much nicer to my advice). Anyway, the best word to discribe it was 'interesting'. I felt more in a hollywood movieset, than a real city. And I agree if lonely planet says: they milk it every penny for the tourists.

Levin: Organic river festival 11-22 january
Uptill now I think the best experience in New-zealand! I met the organiser of the festival while I was travelling
along the east coast. That's why I had the privilige to come earlier to his place and do some wwoofing there: bottling wine, tasting wine, picking apricots, reading my book, enjoying the view. ( they have a winery and make their own wine). So untill the13th I was more or less part of the family. I slept for the first time since I left Belgium alone in a room! Amazingly quiet.
On monday (14th) the other WWoofers arrived, to help and built up the festival. We were 65 volounteers! One big party 😊. You could compare it to Dranouter. The first days I was helping with the decoration team,
and when the festival started, I was in the 'information site'- team, together with Chris (Switserland), Steph (uk) and Charlotte (usa). Helping all the people, we had a lot of fun. And we were in front of the main stages, surrounded by footstalls (hamburgers, coffee, muffins,...).
During the day and at night, we sat al together at the river (campfire), we went swimming, some beers..
It reminded me of the good old days in the scouts 😉 This for 9 days! Zupa!
All the food was provided by the hari krishna, which is FANTASTIC and overloading! (remember macedonia?? same people, same food 😉

Kapiti coast: 22-25 january
After the festival, everybody went on travelling with everybody. I ended up with Chris ( and his car!).
We did some camping along kapiti coast (going south) and some buchwalks! It was relaxing, after the very
dusty festival.

Wellington:25-28 january
Me and chris bouth wanted to visit the capital as well, so we went sleeping at the house of Byron. A friend from the festival. Immediatly the first night we were dropped in the private nightlife. We ended up in a very nice house in the city center at a party of Byrons friends. Erasmus-style party (been there, done that 😉, but we enjoyed the delicious food! The next day, we went to a free concert in the botanic gardens and had a picnic there. A great summer atmosphere and a good Soul-concert! On sunday (27 th) we visited the must see museum Te papa, wich is way to big for one afternoon! After that, we went to visit our Hari Krishna friends, because again there would be delicious food for only 4 dollars. ( off course, we first had to sing the hare krishna-mantra untill we were nearly brainwashed, but the reward was too good, to refuse😉
We met other wwoofers again, and discussed new and old plans...
The next day (today) I took the boat to the South Island, Byron stayed in Welly for a little longer, and Chris went up his way north to meet his brother and look for work. But..... WE'll meet again!

In the meanwhile, I made some new plans with anna and marian (who I travelled with in the beginning)...
And of I go!

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Comments

[Lasloo]

Ja Hallo?!! Dat ziet er allemaal de max uit!!! Amuseer je daar nog goed! Greetz van een jaloerse bok