Nicks Big Adventure

My stay in Taurangs was nice. I have left to come to this cultural center because the clean up efforts have been suspended due to weather or whatever. I got to go to a cool Island and clean small bits of oil off the beach. the next day I got to go to the most effected beach, Papamoa. The sand did smell like oil but it was an unglamorous project. I had visions of picking up oiled birds, cleaning them off, and releasing them into the air as if they were white doves. Instead I was in a full tyvex suit and rubber boots, on my hands and knees sifting through hand fulls of the top 2 inches of sand and placing small gobs if oil the size of pinto beans into a plastic bag. Glamorous or not it did help and many of the locals were very appreciative. My hostel was fun and full of people from all over the world. French, Irish, English, Canadian, and the dreaded germans...... Slight of build, close knit, tidy, and inconsiderate. If they want to do something everyone else be damned. Most people staying at Loft 109 was working in the area to make a few bucks to keep their travels going. Maids, Fish packers, and kiwi fruit stackers were the majority of the bunch. Very freindly working folks whom I got along with. Everyone cooked in the kitchen so I tried my hand at an old go too, pasta and sauce. I was fancy yet simple which the french and germans liked. it was cheap so the rest thought it was a great dish. Onion, red bell pepper, mushrooms, and garlic. I even had some salami that was going to go bad so I cut it up and threw it in as well as some camabert cheese (Brie like) to finish the dish . As always I used a canned tomato sauce for the sauce portion. WARNING: Tomato sauce in NZ means Ketchup, no lie I made a beautiful base of vege and poured a can of ketchup on top, one taste and I almost cried...... I ate it and so did a few others, no complaints except for me. It was a good couple of days, I got to get some good perspective on my/everyone else's journeys. I said my farewells this morning and drove (slowly) to Rotorua. There is a portion of the forest that logging companies experimented with. Now there are Cali Costal Readwoods, Mint eucalyptus, Chinese pines, and Duglas Fir trees growing on a few thousand acres amongst native ferns. I stopped and had a hike and lunch it was nice. I also secured a spot for a few nights at a really nice and chill Hostel called crash house hostel. It has good music playing everywhere, wifi and big social areas. I haven't been greeted as before but whatever I haven't put myself out there. I just hope my bunkies are OK. Everyone Have a good night. I am gonna try and do some cool stuff as long as ti does not rain too much.  Pura Vida