Nov 2006

Bit of a change for todays blogathon... Both Pol and I have decided to vent our anger at the quality of driving on this fair nations highways. "what has brought this on?" i hear you ask.. Well, the fact we nearly had a head on collision with a rally driver on state highway 38 this morning merely reminded us that things needed to be said.
THE DRIVERS IN NEW ZEALAND ARE ABSOLUTELY SHOCKING!
Scenario one:
A fooking Hick in a black flat bed pick up truck gets us in his sights... The road is windy and the speed limit is 100kmph. EZY campa is doing 98kmph and fast approaching a blind bend in the road. Before we continue, i would like to add that if something is slow moving (i.e, doing under 70kmph) then it is an unwritten rule that it should move in to the side to let faster traffic past. Now, as i wasnt going slow, i didnt feel the need to let this mentally challenged idiot past me. However, he felt differently, approached at speed and flashed me several times, an indication, i thought, that he wanted past. As there was nowhere to pull over, i continued regardless until i saw the guys face in my wingmirror! (Yes, you guessed it, contestant no 1 had a death wish!) i immediately slowed down as i didnt want to die!
Scenario 2: Overtaking into oncoming traffic: (Nuff said... i was the on coming traffic)
Now thats done, i will tell you what we have done over the last couple of days.
Went to the Honey hive in Taupo... not recommended.. merely a shop that sold inconceivable amounts of honey and bee related tatt. Pol and I overdosed on free samples of honey and meade (yuck!) and left feeling rather sick.
Had a pleasant walk along the banks of hukka falls (not a waterfall but intense rapids that are generated to supply the local power stations with what they need.)
Have bathed in numerous hot springs.. we even found a campsite called Waikite valley.. 14 dollars each to camp. No check out time and the price included unlimited use of the hot baths! KErching!
Moved on to Rotorua yesterday. Nice place but smells like Pol after christmas dinner. :-) lots of sulphorous gas and the usual mingling of shops and cafes, nothing unique really! Have booked into the Base Hostel for a night as we are due a free bed (due to the length of our stay in Christchurch)

waiotapu thermal valley... nearly forgot about this one! Not cheap ($25 dollars - about 9 pounds) which is cheap but not for us crusty world travellers! Needless to say, the place consisted of loads of oozing and squelching pools of mud and water.

The smell of which is quite indescribable. stink bombs and fart spray is the best we could come up with! got some nice piccies but as we are lazy and cant afford the internet time to upload them all, you will have to wait.
Right, we are off to find some cleansing lotion for Pols acne outbreak and to chill...

BYEEE

Pollyali

Mammap: Since when you been busting some grooves and living in the ghetto girlfriend?!?
MammaA: When do you leave for Italy?

xxx

Right, time for you land lubbers to be updated on our quest for world domination.
Hanmer springs was the last entry so ill try and speed you all through what we have done in the last few days.
We departed Hamnner on the 27th and drove through the rain to a place called Nelson in the North of the South Island. The drive took us about four hours and when we got to our destination, the sun came out and it all looked rather nice again! We found a campsite quite close to the town centre and after taking some advice, we set off to look for somewhere to celebrate my oldness!after muc umming and arring we settled on a thai restaurant called the Golden Orchid (or something golden.. maybe Bell!) anyway, i wont bore you with what we ate but it was nice, the place was a little busy so the service wasnt great but hey, we are on holiday! Back to the campsite and Pol had bought me a choccy cake so we scoffed most of that and went to bed full and content! We have since turned our back on Chocolate and havent eaten any in nearly a week! (wow i hear you all say!) Saturday took us East to a small town called Blenheim, Small being the operative word as when we got there around three pm.. all the shops were closed (And this was on a saturday!) this led us to think we wanted to leave the primitive south island and head to the sun and intelligence of the North! We therefore called our van hire company who booked us on the South to North Ferry leaving at ten.. BONUS no 1: When we took the van, we were told that EZY would pay for the Ferry for the van only and it would cost us $60 each... when i arrived at the Ferry terminal, the man told me that our fees had been paid by EZY too! What a bonus.. kerching.
Pol slept on the Ferry while i entertained myself with Dead Men Dont Wear Plaid (Steve Martin film from the 1980's - Matt S) and by the various random comments coming from a very tall cross dresser sat in the corner of the lounge!
our first views of Wellington were pretty much the same as our first views of everywhere in New Zealand, through rain lashed windows.. however, when we went out to explore the city the next day, it was rather nice (albeit, rather wet) We met our Swedish friends in the Te Papa musuem and spent an enjoyable three hours wandering around the various exhibits and pressing buttons etc... highly recommend it if anyone decides to go there. Mooched around the shops all afternoon and went to bed early.. (very exciting i know!)
We then decided to drive up to the Tongariro National park and do some walking for a couple of days to save some money. It was spectacular! the Volcano was snow capped and as the ski season had just ended, all the mountains still had a touch of the white stuff... needless to say we went for a walk in it..(how bizarre!)
Walked to the emerald lakes yesterday (about 13km) and lazed around after as felt a tad tender... We are now in a place called Taupo waiting for our washing (which cost $6 each load and the machines dont even have a hot wash....grrrrrrrrr)
Thats all for now peeeps...

Pollyali

xx