Recapping Northland the lazy way: with photos.

As I mentioned in my last post, I headed up to the top of the North Island with a very nice girl by the name of Julia that I met at the hostel here in Auckland. 

It was a great three days and I am very proud to say I successfully managed to drive on the left-hand side of the road for the first time since 2004.  Once I turned right into the wrong lane, but other than that, I was golden.  Go me!

I could spend paragraphs describing the verdant hills, the sparkling bays, the misty horizon, the majestic trees and dunes and the gently swaying palm fronds that I enjoyed on my travels. But I’ll just show you what it looked like, yeah?

The route we took 



We spnt our first night in the very small town of Pukenui at a hostel that overlooked this beautiful bay. We were the only people in the place save for this German guy who was at the beginning of a five month biking trip up and down the country.  Crazy.

The three of us drove over to Ninely Mile Beach, which is, confusingly, a 64-mile stretch of uninterupted beach along the wesst coast of the top of the North Island. It's officially a highway, though you're not advised to drive on it.  Go figure.

There we watched the sun go down in a spectacular fashion.

The next day we went to Cape Reinga, which is the northernmost point of New Zealand.  The Maoris believe that the spirits of the dead reach the underworld from this point.

Here the Tasman Sea and the Pacific Ocean meet and make this funny wave. It's pretty cool.  

We also headed out to the Te Paki sand dunes where you can rent a board and, after a strenuous climb, slide down on your stomach like a tobbogan.

Te Matua Ngahere is the oldest and biggest tree in NZ.  This kauri is an estimated 2,000 years old and is six metres wide and has a girth of 16 metres!

This was the view from my room at the hostel in Whangaroa.  The town was laughably small, but the hostel was pretty sweet.  We were the only people in it, and it had a hot tub!

This awesome dog greeted us at the Ngwha Springs hot pools.  It layed on its back invitingly for at least five minutes after I stopped rubbing its belly.  It then refused to move when I needed to back the car up.

The Ngawha Springs hot pools.  They don't look like much, and smelled aweful, but my skin has rarely felt so nice.  Unfortunately, three days and three showers later, I still smell a little like sulphur.

Toi Toi grass is something you see nearly everywhere in NZ and it's awesome.

So that was Northland.  Now I'm back in Auckland and am back at square one.  What to do, what to do?  I applied for a job here, but haven't heard anything yet, and should likely continue looking for a car.  I just need to get motivated!

Back at it OR Deciding not to decide

So here I am again.  Back in New Zealand.  Back in Auckland.  Back in the sun and the summer. 

The journey here was less than comfortable: five airports (Ottawa, Chicago, Los Angeles, Nadi, Auckland), four airplanes, 36 hours, one hour delay, and far too many bodies in close proximity.  But I have to say, the more long-distance flights you do, the less long they seem.  A sleeping pill doesn’t hurt either J

I was extremely fortunate (and extremely grateful) to have a ride from the airport courtesy of my friend S____, a delightful German girl I met in Wanaka in October.  We stayed in touch and it happened that we were both in Auckland at the same time so she very kindly offered to pick me up in her rental car.  So sweet of her.  Unfortunately for me she was on her way home (to surprise her parents a few days early no less) the following day, so our time together was brief.

So I’m back at Freeman’s Lodge in Auckland and it’s a bit of a homecoming.  It was here that I first alighted in NZ four months ago, and where I stayed before heading to Sydney in December.  I was very happy to find safe and sound the bag I’d ferretted away in the storage closet back then.

In the days since arriving, I am not proud to say, I have been less than productive. 

I’ve lounged around my dorm room chatting with other listless folk.  I’ve put together a portfolio (though it’s not as slick as I’d like. I may be picking some of my former colleagues’ brains for tips – be warned). I’ve perused magazines that previous guests have left behind (did you know that Jennifer and Angelina are in yet another feud? Riveting! And that Cameron Diaz exercises? Shocking!).  

I’ve debated the merits of buying a car (which looks like a sensible choice given my indulgent packing this time around).  I’ve half-heartedly started looking for a car. I’ve stressed about my financial situation. 

And I’ve endlessly vacillated between countless choices about my life – Should I look for work immediately or volunteer for a bit in exchange for room and board? Should I head north or south? Or should I stay put in Auckland? Do I want to be in a city or in the country? Do I want to look for “real” work in an office? Or do I seize this opportunity to try something totally different and pick fruit or prune vines for a few weeks?

With all this decision making threatening to drive me nuts, I’ve decided not to decide for the time being.  Instead, I’m heading up to Northland for a few days with a girl I’ve met in the hostel.  We’re renting a car and hoping for good weather for the beaches up there (it’s been a miserably stormy day).

When I return on Saturday I’ll concentrate my immediate efforts on purchasing a vehicle (a daunting task for a newby such as myself) and deciding on the volunteer/work situation.

I will just keep repeating my mantra: No matter what I choose, it’s the right choice J

Packer’s regret

People tend to laugh at me for beginning my packing weeks, or even sometimes months in advance of a trip.  I like packing.  It’s exciting.  And apparently, I need many moons to critically assess my baggage, cause last-minute Nadine does not make the best choices.

How many blue/turquoise shirts can one person own?

Many, it appears.  And evidently one can somehow manage to pack them all in one’s suitcase without realizing the monochromatic upper-body wardrobe one is creating for oneself. 

Seriously.  I have in my bag not one. Not two. But three blue/turquoise tank tops.  I also have a turquoise t-shirt, a turquoise blouson, and a turquoise dress.  Oh.  And turquoise earrings. WTF was I thinking? I never thought I had so much of the aquamarine stuff, but apparently, sartorially speaking, it’s one of my favourite colours.  And it seems that when I’m frantically packing at the last minute, it’s my go-to hue. 

And that’s not my only folly.

I abandoned my general approach to packing (less is more) for a decidedly more permissive style.  I fully took advantage of the fact that I was allowed to bring two checked bags on this trip and managed not only to fill a 70L backpack, but a massive rolling duffel bag as well. I have with me two pairs of jeans, three dresses, three bathing suits, two pairs of black leggings, two pairs of yoga pants, at least six bottles of sunscreen and a whopping eight pairs of shoes (!!!!!!!). And I just realized that the brown pair I brought doesn’t really match any of the pants or dresses I have with me. Ouch. 

Honestly, what was I thinking?

So now, though I wasn’t sold on the idea, I’m going to have to buy a car to manoeuvre about.  Oh well.  I’m sure it’ll turn out to be a good thing after all.  This way I’ll be mobile, will be able to get to areas that previously have been off limits, and, if worse comes to worse, I can sleep in the car! 

Classiness insues.

The problem with having such amazing friends and family is that it’s really hard to say goodbye…again.

What a great month in Canada. 

I indulged in lots of the food I’d been missing (see below), enjoyed some non-bunk-bed, non-shared room shut eye, and had numerous baths. 

More importantly, I spent lots of quality time with my immediate family, some good times with my extended family, and had an amazing week in Ottawa reconnecting with friends and meeting brand new humans Noah and Hugh.  I even got to see my mom and Roger get married! 

Predictably, I’m rather emotional (as many of you have seen over the last few days), and weepy (my eyes hurt). Though I’m excited to be heading back to New Zealand, it really is difficult to leave such incredible people behind.  I prefer the French expression “au revoir” to goodbye though, so I’ll see you all again before we know it.

A huge huge thank you to everyone for all your support and encouragement.

Liz, Ryan (and George and Hugh), you were incredibly welcoming hosts and I’m eternally grateful (there’s a small token of thanks on the guest room bedside table).  Julie T, Julie R, Christine, Leigh, Cristin, Melissa, Simon, and Alex, thanks for coming out for dinner last night (and for those who were at the Bachelor viewing extravaganza, thanks for sucking me in to the train wreck that is that show).

Nadia, it was so fortuitous that we were both in town at the same time.  Best of luck with MSF.  I hope you get a call today!  And can’t wait to see you Down Under (you too Jen!).

Luc, merci pour les “pep talks” et ton amitié. 

To the IDRC crew: great seeing you all and reconnecting, albeit too briefly. 

Mom, Rog, congratulations again, and thanks for all the love and support and rides and food J

Dame, thanks for visiting with me yesterday and for driving me to Ottawa last week.

Val, Paul, Johnny, Uncle Chris: thanks for being you J

OK, enough cheese for the moment. Let's look at some pictures of food.

Picollo's pizza

mom's granola

popcorn, hot chocolate, marshmallows, cheddar chips, All dressed chips.

I'd post more, but the internet is slow at the airport, and my flight is about to board.

Ciao for now!