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Published: February 23rd 2006
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Wow! What a trip! It was amazing - delay after delay after delay, but thru it all such grace under pressure, if I do say so myself! I am rather proud of myself, since patience is not exactly my strong suit. The journey door to door (or rather door to dock) took 32 hours!!!
Some highlights:
G was AMAZING at helping me get ready and pack - truly deserves the Most Amazing Person and Partner in the Entire Universe by A LOT Award!!! Especially as I got really ill and lost 24 hours right before I had to leave (and she was amazingly wonderful at taking care of me too). Not only did I have all my stuff for a three week trek across New Zealand, but also all the stuff for Mom and Brian too! They practically had more to bring than I did! G devoted her whole three day weekend to helping me and also took the day off work to help me with last minute stuff and bring me to the airport on Tuesday (Oly time). Mazin chika!
Flight from Seattle to San Francisco was good - ended up talking with a very nice and
Erika's ipod travels the world...
Me n' ipodie on the plane, about to wait over two hours to take off sincere man who was in his early 50s who teared up when talking about his daughter's upcoming wedding in a very sweet way. He also turned out to be racist. But rather than taking it personally, I was able to just see it as one of his faults and not be invested in having to change or educate him. Go me!
Change at SFO went very smoothly. Once we got on the plane, after waiting an hour, they announced there were problems and we had another hour or two to wait. Some of us walked up the gangway and hung out there (not in the actual lobby part, tho, they wouldn't let us there cuz it'd be too hard to clear us all to get back on the plane - I was very understanding and patient with that too (kay, can you tell I'm proud of myself???
)). I ended up in several very good conversations with people and was able to really help several: maintaining a positive attitude towards the situation, free phone calls for those who had no cel (especially the foreign visitors), doing yoga together, and even sharing about Nam Myoho Renge Kyo and the amazing First sighting of New Zealand
Gorgeous New Zealand from the air benefits I get from chanting! Not bad for about 45 mintues! And we were even back on the plane at EXACTLY my goal time!
The flight to New Zealand was mostly good, got to watch several movies I'd been wanting to see, read some, wrote to G, listened to the cutest ipod in the world (oh and took a pic of the ipod and me on the plane! ala Erika). We still got in about two hours late, but it was ok. While we were about to deplane there were all these DIRE warnings about not bringing in any food products or camping gear or other stuff - fines or even imprisionment! But when I got to customs and declared what I had (snack bars from fresh fruit and veggies, rice crackers, pickled japanese plums, and more plus a tent!), they were like, 'kay, thanks!' and that was it!
When I got out into the arrivals section, I waited for mom - it was so sweet to see all those happy warm reunions of other people! Oh, and it was LOVELY to have thought to bring jasmine water toner and lush moisturizer - almost as good as having Airport in Aukland
Every flier who ventures across oceans to distant lands is a potential explorer; in his or her breast burns the same fire that urged adventurers of old to set forth in their sailing ships for foreign lands. a shower! Because of horrid traffic, mom got there about a hour later and we cried so happily to see each other!
We drove back via Aukland. We had coffee at a cute small cafe and then sushi for lunch. We also went by LUSH!!!! When I walked in, I asked to speak to the manager and then started to tell her that I was a LUSH employee in the US (to inquire about getting the discount here too) - the words were barely out of my mouth when she asked excitedly, "are you looking for a job??" I laughed and said, "uh, no" and explained my situation. A girl on the plane had told me about how US citizens can work in NZ and Australia for four months pretty easily, and for a quick moment I had a lovely fantasy about working at LUSH NZ and living in Aukland for four months!!
The drive home was LONG!!! There was so much traffic and road repair. There aren't really freeways here, they are all more like highways...kinda like hwy 1 along the California coast - thru lots of towns and over very hilly and curvey terrain so it takes a long time to get anywhere.
We stopped off in Whangerei (pronounce Fan-ger-ay), where, deleriously tired, we got gilatto and ran a couple of errends. Then finally here in Opua and on the boat!
It is amazing how lovely it is to be in private space! I have had no privacy for soooooo long, and even tho Mom and Brian are here, still there is something so mentally/psychicly relaxing about it.
I'll post pictures later. Mom is cooking and I can't wait to eat, space out, and just generally crash!
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Ty
non-member comment
LUSH? glad ur there in one piece!
Yuri, I don't remember what is LUSH?