I was back in Auckland and back at work - but actually, it wasn't for very long. I only spent a week back in the big city. Graham - my boss from GNS had planned for me to go down to Wellington to work in a lab preparing samples for a couple of weeks. I had always wanted to go back to Wellington after only spending a few days in the countries capital. I always remember having fond memories of Windy Welly and now I'd get the chance to see it again. On top of that I would be doing some volcanology work that was completely new to me and he was paying for my flight there and back.....so to say the least - I was happy about the whole situation.
A week of work in Auckland flew by. I actually stayed at Harriet, Rob and Kate's house that week - they kindly let me lay my head on the couch to save me from going back in a hostel - and I was grateful for that.
When Harriet and I were in Taupo we discussed doing some trips away at the weekend. There are so many amazing places around the North Island, many of them not too far from Auckland itself and although I am now working - I still feel I need to see more of this stunning country - I mean thats pretty much the reason I wanted to travel the world. We hoped Rob and Kate would join us and I think they will on future adventures but they decided to sit this one out. My flight to Wellington was booked for the following Tuesday so the weekend was free. We picked up a map - pointed to a place on it - and off we went.
Rob has a car and he kindly insured myself and Harriet on it so we could drive. The place we chose was Waitomo - it's a good three and a half hour drive, south of Auckland on the Western side of the North Island. Waitomo is a region of New Zealand covered by fields and farmland - similar to many other places around NZ, but amongst the beautiful scenery Waitomo is famous for having some spectacular caves.
The waitomo Caves are huge, there's a fair few of them too and each one is slightly different. Just one of the reasons that these caves bring so many tourists in is because they are filled with Glow-worms. Within the pitch black caves, these small creatures excrete a blue'ish glow-in-the-dark faeces that literally lights your way. It's pretty amazing to see.
Actually we didn't just go in the caves for a look. This is New Zealand, the country which puts extreme into everything. The caves was no exception. We were on the Black Labryinth adventure. They gear you up in wetsuits and then you start off by going to a nearby river. You grab an inflatable tube (inside of a tyre type thing), just like back in Vang Vieng (Laos) and you practise jumping backwards off a ledge into the river - aiming to land in your tube. We then headed off to the cave.
The caves are water filled. At some parts your crawling under rock ledges, through narrow openings and along darkened tunnels. The water level varies, from up to your ankles - to up to your kneck.... thats where the tube comes in. You have a torch on your hard-hat but it's best to let the Glow-worms guide your path. The instructors had us leaping off of waterfalls that have formed within the caves or linking all our tubes together to create one big chain of floating bodies. The 'Black Water Rafting' as it's known - was a lot of fun and the caves were just incredible. This is why you travel around the planet - not to jump of of waterfalls within caves, or to see Glow-worms....it's to see it all - to experience things you probably never could or would back at home. It's why I'm here.
The weekend was great fun. As always when myself and Harriet get together - strange and chaotic things generally happen, and I'm sure that these things definately wouldn't of occurred if we were doing them with other people....I'm sure it's some sort of curse. So naturally, along our trip: we killed a bird. It flew at the windscreen and bounced over the top of the car......we like to think it's still OK; we saved a hedgehog. At first we naturally almost ran it over but then realising just swerved out the way, got out and carefully put it on the side of the road. I hope I didn't put it back on the wrong side or he'd have to start his crossing all over again - woops; and we also got pulled over by the Police. Yes, Harriet was doing more than the allowed speed and a Police car swooped up behind us flashing it's lights. Aparently the Police are hot on catching speeders and if caught always give out a fine - so we are told. Somehow we got away with it though - just a telling off from the male Police Officer. This was totally unheard of. All I'm saying is, if that was me driving - a fine would certainly have been issued - I'm sure she gave him a cheeky smile to escape the punishement!!!
Apart from all that - the whole trip was a great success and it will definately be followed up by a another, to some new destination with I'm sure all the craziness that this trip produced. But that adventure would have to wait for now. A few days after Waitomo, I caught my flight - and in one hour - I was back in Windy Welly!!!..........
Monday 19 January 2009
Waitomo (And The Amazing Caves)
Sunday 4 January 2009
Welcome To 2009
The big night was here. I never thought about this at the time, but later I realised (quite obviously) that I would not only be seeing the New Year - 13 hours before my friends and family back home in London but I would in fact be one of the first people (and I will say for dramatic effect - the very first person - you never know) to see 2009 arrive!!!
We had our party group ready. Myself, Darren and Jacqui were there along with Pete, Steve and Tom. Harriet also joined us for the night and we later met up with others (Scott and Tania). The night started off with facepaint. I wanted to go full-moon party style. So, just like I had done in the Island of Koh Pangan in Thailand on April 20th of 2008 - I once again got the paint out and covered everyone around me. We spent the first half of the night on the deck of Go Global were we all enjoyed a few drinks. Taupo was packed - far more than I had ever seen it before but I suppose that was to be expected on this night.
After a few drinks and even more drunken photos, we headed out to some bars. This is where the memory becomes a little blurred. I remember us all heading outside for fireworks. It was at this point that Tom (in a drunken stupor) accidently bumped into me - sending my camera flying, before crashing with an unhealthy thud. In less than a year of traveling I have now lost two camera's either to theft or damage. I am currently in search of my third. May I suggest to anyone thinking of traveling - to purchase a camera that is essentially indestructible and then look after the damn thing!!!
Anyway - as the night continued, my memory didn't. I vaguely remember everyone down by the lake at some point but after that - it's game over. It was a great night to see in 2009 and one I will not forget or remember anytime soon.
The days that followed New Year's Eve were filled with lying around in the sun by day and going out at night. The final day of Taupo was a time of mixed emotion. Nyree, who is the manager of Go Global (and who looked after Darren and myself on so many occasions) held a BBQ at her amazing house in Arcacia Bay about 10 minutes outside of Taupo. It's built into the surrounding hillside where you get the most immense view of Lake Taupo and Tauhara (the Volcano shaped into a pregnant lady). It was to say fairwell to us both and in return we bought her a gift to say thank you for the amazing time we had had there. The BBQ was fun, and later we continued it through another messy night on the town.
The next day, I was up early. Nyree drove Darren, Jacqui and Myself to the airport where Darren was catching his flight to Queenstown and where he was starting his new life. It would be a while before I would see him again.
Later that day I left myself. Harriet and I and Jacqui returned to Auckland. We said goodbye to all our friends there. Some of which we were sure we would see again, others we probably wouldn't. The key thing for me was - Taupo was now officially over. It was a chapter now finished and I am sure I wouldn't return there on this traveling journey. Jacqui returned to Auckland with us for one night before catching a plane to Queenstown herself, to meet Darren - and for me it was back to work. There were some trips around New Zealand I was already planning and even some trips outside of New Zealand I was planning - but essentially as the adventure takes another twist and progresses on another path - I knew ultimately, it would probably continue without a plan!!! I will see what happens, as I have done so throughout the past 11 months. It hasn't failed me yet and it's often best not knowing what tomorrow will bring...................
