Beard goes Backpacking

pass the wine...

lauratheexplorer — Mon, 7 May 2007 17:36:00 GMT

Hello world!

I am now in the Coromandel, where the harbours, mountains, rainforest and beaches make me a bit stuck for words. Think of a beautiful spot that you've seen. And then you get back in your car and drive on. Out here, that spot is visible from the car, street, round every corner, from every angle, at the top of the hill, the bottom of the hill, through the trees and beyond the horizon. Beautiful. It's a healing paradise.

Gallery: If smirnoff made holidays...

lauratheexplorer — Thu, 3 May 2007 09:23:00 GMT

more pics

second half...

lauratheexplorer — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 18:32:00 GMT

So i'm one month in, and one month to go. It's certainly going to be a game of 2 halves. First = party. 2nd = culture (+ party). The rugby was great, the home team won. You can't beat a good live-at-the-game atmosphere.

Next, in Kaikoura, I went whale watching. We saw 3 sperm whales, and the Classic sight of when they dive down and give a magnificent view of their tails. I managed a couple of pics which I am dead proud of.

Now back in Wellington in North Island, headed back to the very top - Cape Reinga - for a spot of sand-boarding. After that it's time to chill in Hamilton for a couple of weeks. One last 'fix' - Ju and Ki have bought a motorbike so i'll don some padding and go for a spin hopefully! ...Then the Big Trip Home. Take cover I'm full of beans! Woohoo!!

and relax...

lauratheexplorer — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 19:18:00 GMT

I have been moping about for a couple of days cos had to say goodbye to everyone from the party bus, we've all gone our separate ways. So today I treated myself to a good ol' massage, and a day in natural hot springs, 41degrees! Proper relaxed now, ready for a BIG NIGHT tomorrow, starting and ending in the Holy Grail, with rugby in the middle. Fab. The Holy Grail is a converted picture theatre obsessed with sport, screens everywhere, rugby, motor racing etc up on a massive cinema-style screen. My new favourite pub in the world.

swimming with dolphins

lauratheexplorer — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 21:25:00 GMT

I am now in Kaikoura and today I swam with dolphins, the 2nd of the 2 things I really wanted to do in NZ (the other was a bungy). It was, by far, the most magic experience. I imagined I would be clinging on to the edge of a boat, shivering and wrinkly, waiting for a glimpse of an over-sized fish somewhere in the murky distance. NO WAY! We were in the sea (a gorgeous turquoise-blue), with snorkels, surrounded by loads of dorsal fins. When I was finally brave enough to stick my face in, there were dolphins, as long as me, dancing around about a foot underneath me. They circled around me and I turned on the spot, round and round, looking right at each other. I dived down but forgot to hold my breath and got a throat full of snotty sea water! So much for my perfect moment! The guide guessed about 200 in that pod. We caught up with them and got back in 2 more times. Such a beautiful experience. I was scared at first because they swam right at my face and I was surrounded, but I went with it and loved it of course. Perfect.

PHOTOS PHOTOS!

lauratheexplorer — Sun, 15 Apr 2007 12:42:00 GMT

finally I have managed to upload some pics. Enjoy!

calm before the storm

lauratheexplorer — Sun, 15 Apr 2007 10:57:00 GMT

Milford Sound. Don't bother! It's a boat trip through glacier-created rocky mountains, which I believe is beautiful in the sunshine. Thing is it always rains there. Plus mammoth bus trip (5 hours each way). That one failed to raise my heart rate or stir my juices of amazement.

HOWEVER

Next stop NEVIS BUNGY!! Now that's more like it! 440ft over a river. For a split second as I shuffled to the edge I panicked that it's an impossible thing to do. Then I was soaring through the air getting a top buzz thinking Again Again! I LOVE BUNGY JUMPING.

We are now in Christchurch, resting for the first time in 2 weeks. We spent all afternoon yesturday sat in the town square watching street entertainers, people plaing life-size chess, and strolling through the stalls. Tomorrow - swim with dolphins. YIPPEE!

MORE panel damage!

lauratheexplorer — Sun, 8 Apr 2007 17:12:00 GMT

Ok spent the day on Franz Josef glacier today. The views were beautiful. We were in the crevasses & things, now I feel akin with Joe Simpson cos I too slipped over. However not just twice, but about a million times so I think he had it easy...

Ben stayed at the lodge relaxing and saving money for his bungee. He has been thinking of chickening out, but I will drag him up by his ear and shove him off myself if that's what it takes. No way am I spending the next 6 weeks wth a woos!

PARTY tonight cos it's a fellow backpackers' 20th... bring on the Jager Bombs!! Or more's the point - a cocksuckincowboy. Go find out!

Gallery: wetsuits, horses & glaciers

lauratheexplorer — Thu, 5 Apr 2007 21:00:00 GMT

few more bruises...

lauratheexplorer — Thu, 5 Apr 2007 20:31:00 GMT

Well today started off nice and relaxing. We had a 1.5hr walk in Nelson Lakes National Park. Which I have just learned is the most dangerous thing I could choose to do in NZ because 10 - 40 people die in the bush every year because they aren't well prepared and get lost or caught in bad weather and die out there. Luckily in the middle of my kiwi mates on a short tramp the worst thing I experienced was hunger. Always blummin hungry.

Then it did get a bit hairy. They let me loose on a 250cc 5gear semi-automatic Sports Quad... got all excited at first, discovered could do little power slides and things. Then we were just pootling along for quite a long time just doing follow-the-leader and my mind started to wander. I was hanging back then wooshing along to catch up. And weaving about... I happened to weave around a bend which was banked and didn't shift my weight and rolled!! The quad rolled on top of me. Was stuck for a moment, but crawled out miraculously undamaged. Got some bruises, but I was most concerned about the quad because any damage and i'd have to pay for it. THANK GODDESS it was ok. Moral of the story - Be careful what you wish for - you might just get it. I was wanting a bit of adrenalin and I got it!

sore bum

lauratheexplorer — Wed, 4 Apr 2007 17:41:00 GMT

Well the kayaking trip is temporarily off. Ben is deperate to get down to Queenstown to do his bungees and if he went ahead, it would take a week for me to catch up again. Also some other friends i've made are continuing and just didn't want to be left behind! It's not safe for a girl of my age to be wandering NZ alone with all these sheep... So hopefully do it on way back up.

Went horse riding yesturday for 2 hours through Lord of the Rings Territory. Been meaning to go riding for a while so that was a fantastice return to the ride! Got on well with my horse - Buster - we even had a couple canters and a few jumps. Yahoo. We stayed in River Valley Lodge - a gorgeous remote lodge believe it or not - in a valley by a river where they do grade 5 white water rafting. I am going to stop there for a week on my way back up to be a SLAVE!! Fo 6 hours a day of cleaning, housekeeping etc (what bliss! CLEANING!) I get free accommodation, meals and internet use, plus one activity. So i'll do rafting for free. How very clever.

Easy day today and just a walk tomorrow. Phew.

ps. sore bum is from horse riding...

rafting and skydiving

lauratheexplorer — Sun, 1 Apr 2007 13:51:00 GMT

Hey world. Went black water rafting which was great fun. Hilarious. 3 hours in a sexy wetsuit floating through caves lit up by green glowworms which look like fairy lights. LOADS of entertainment value from the fact that we were in rubber rings. "don't touch my ring!!' "get out my ring!" etc etc.

Did a 15,000ft skydive yesturday. WOW. Jumping out the plane was such a buzz, we free-fell for over a minute. Then the parachute went up and I was flying like in my dreams. Sweet! Been there done that got the t.shirt the dvd and the photos!

We also saw an angora rabbit being clipped - poor thing was on a rack! I have been reiki-ing everything like mad - the poor rabbit, Julies ankle, the 2,000 sheep that had to run through the streets.

Soon to go tramping camping and kayaking. I am going to resemble a beanpole when I get home. At this rate I will feel more comfy if I swing into work on a network of ropes and pulleys or something. Got to go, time in internet cafes goes much faster than real time! Everyone reading this send me a msg I love it!

Is my brain functioning well enough to write a good-un?

lauratheexplorer — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 12:54:00 GMT

Hello world. After getting more exercise than my body has had for 6 months in the 30 seconds we had to run through Singapore airport, we stayed in a backpackers in Auckland. Then we came straight to Julie's place which is where I am now, in the local library cos the internet is free. We've been on the beach with black sand, walking, eating and generally lounging around gossiping.

We have established that the dogs should not be allowed to drink much sea water again (not without a cork), Kieron does indeed have a guardian angel, Julie has a hefty Beer sensitivity, Ben needs Biocidin, and I can fly to the other side of the world and buy WHATEVER I NEED.

We set off for serious adventure on Thursday, starting with some black water rafting and then a sky dive. (later on Ben has figured out he can save himself a fortune by doing 3 bungees... ok Ben!). While on the subject of Ben, he is going to be formally introduced to flip-flops because he still has trench foot after leaving the army years ago. Not good. For my nose.

We almost missed Ben's birthday today. This afternoon he said "what day is it?" I said "27th"... "oh! It's my birthday!" After writing this I am off to the shops for cards and cake.

So far it is true - NZ is definately a beautiful place. Sweet!!