Auckland in 2 Days

Well, Morgan and I are now in Auckland.  A quarter of the population of New Zealand lives here.  Last night Morgan and I went up to the Sky Tower...the tallest point in the city, complete with glass floors!  It's been fun to walk around the city, which has all the American highlights including Starbucks iced lattes and Wendys chicken nuggets.  (We had both yesterday.) We've spent most of the day today in the Auckland Memorial Museum and strolling through the historic gardens.  It's so hot here!  It doesn't have the constant wind that Wellington does so you definitely feel the humidity here.  Tonight we'll head down to the waterfront and most likely make one last beach trip tomorrow before I begin the trek back to Sacramento.  This has been a phenomenal trip, and I will miss New Zealand dearly. Leaving all that is comfy has forced me to embrace new people, new places, and a new, more exciting version of myself.  Please pray for safe travels.  Enjoy the pics below the map.  

The places you go...the people you meet

Hi friends and family! Hope all is well with each of you. I have been having an amazing time on my tour around the South Island. The best part has definitely been making some really wonderful friends. In the end, the places you go really don't matter unless you're sharing it with some really cool people. Happiness is perfected when shared right? Climbing and crawling through the enormous glacier in Frans Josef was a major highlight. It is absolutely stunning and extends about 11 kilometers! Horse back riding by the beach in Westport was--as you could guess--amazing. This is one of the only riding tours that lets you ride the horses while they swim!
This trip has been pretty jam packed and I am looking forward to sleeping in the same bed for more than one or two nights at a time. But cooking dinner together in the hostels, hanging at the beach, playing cards, celebrating birthdays, and just walking around town have been the most priceless experiences. Today I said goodbye to most of the friends I've been travelling with. Hopefully not goodbye forever....I'm thinking a reunion in .....Italy???
Lots of love to each of you. Thanks for thinking of me. Enjoy the pictures below the map!

First Day in the Wild South!

I just made it to the South Island where I'll be taking a a 10-day tour along the west coast, through Queenstown and Christchurch. Our hostile is quite nice...complete with a two-course dinner and beer tasting of some of NZ's finest brews! It has been so fun to meet people from all over the world! So far I've met lots of people from Germany, the UK, and Japan. This bus tour takes care of everything...accommodation, some meals and fun, discounted things to do in each town. There's always bungee jumping in Queenstown! I don't have tons of time at this Internet cafe but just wanted to keep you updated. I've added some pictures down below (underneath the map) of some beach time in Wellington with Morgan. Cheers!

Central New Zealand

Most of the towns in central New Zealand are sandwiched between miles of incredibly green farmland, dairy factories and mills. Tokoroa is one of them. It has truly been a delight to stay with Morgan's grandparents and meet her cousins. The pace moves a bit slower here. There's always time for tea- English breakfast tea that is- with milk, sugar, and a chocolate raspberry slice. On Wednesday, Morgan, her grandmother, cousin, and some family friends made the 45 minute drive to Rotorua. The smell of rotten eggs alerted our arrival--it's actually because of the high amounts of sulfur in the ground, which back in the day was used for beauty and medicinal purposes. We learned all about it at the Rotorua Museum of Art and History, which used to be a very luxurious bathhouse and hospital. The museum is located right in the middle of the peaceful government and gardens and was designed along the lines of European spas. People would come from all over the world to receive healing from the treatments at the Bath House. Yesterday, we drove through the small, quaint towns of Tirau, Mournsville and Cambridge. In Mournsville, we took a trip down memory lane and visited Morgan's old neighborhood and schoolhouse--which had a total of two classrooms. I may sound like a gluttonous American to Morgan but the best part thus far has been the food: sausage rolls, mince pie, pecan tart, cornish pastie, honey ice cream, hokey pokey ice cream...the cereal here is fantastic! Good thing the only scales here are in kilos....ignorance is bliss. Below are some picures of the Rotorua Museum and Morgan's first triathalon which she completed on Monday at Scorching Bay in Wellington. Work it Morgana!

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This is the view from Morgan's flat

Welcomed by Wellington

Well, I am in New Zealand safe and sound.  So far, I've had an incredible time....ready to move here now.  :)  I've had a fantastic time seeing the sights of the city with my good friends Morgan and Ian.  I love being surrounded by water.  Every place you look is pretty much a postcard snapshot.  Thursday, we went on a driving tour around the city, had lunch at one of the many quaint cafes where I had my first lamb and mint pie--quite good!  We then drove up to Mount Victoria, one of the best views of the city.  It was absolutely beautiful!  Yesterday, we went to the Karori Wildlife Sanctuary and the Te Papa National Museum where we learned about Maori culture, natural history, and saw a colossal squid!  Sick.  Last night, I went out for a Thai dinner with Morgan and her friends...they taught me some Kiwi slang...the accent is quite catchy!  So far, things have been great.  Thank you friends and fam for your prayers for safe travel.  Can't wait to share more adventures!  Check out some photos down below!  

Embark Here

Welcome friends and family! Thanks for checking on me! Well, my trip to New Zealand is less than a week away and I can't wait.

I'll give you a quick rundown of what I'll be up to for the next month. I depart Sacramento on January 13th and will stay with my good friend Morgan in Wellington. (The capital of New Zealand which is in the north island). On the 19th, she is doing a triathalon which I will cheer wildly for. Then on the 20th, we're heading up north to her grandmother's house for a few days. Then on the 27th, I depart for my week-long excursion around the south island. With hopefully nothing more than a light backpack, I am in for some amazing sights....glacier climbing, secluded islands, whale watching...to name a few. Then on the 4th of February I'll head back to the north island, catch some rays on the beach with Morgan and her brother Ian, and then head back to the States on February 9th....most likely very jet-lagged, tan, and happy.

Thanks for keeping me in your thoughts and prayers. Love you all!