12:35 p.m. - 2002-03-24
at the airport....
Hello all!!!
So, I have left New Zealand and have made my way to Aussie land (otherwise known as Australia). And I'm with SUE!!!
It was so amazing. She met me at the airport and we had a big, loud and happy reunion. As soon as I saw her, I let out a big squeel, and we ran to hug each other. Everyone in the airport was looking at us, but who cares, it was so nice to see someone familiar again. After the "how are you"s and the "It's so great to see you"s, we left for the hostel, while coming down off an extreme endorphine high. It was quite a nice feeling.
And that's my happy story.
My last days in Auckland were pretty good as well. On thursday, I again got heavily into my book and read all night. I had gone to see the "Lord of the Rings" movie again that day (it was the first time I'd been to a movie in a theatre by myself, and it wasn't that bad) so it just re-ignited my interest in the book. I have since finished it and would recommend it to anyone. It's a really great story. Anyhow, thursday wasn't terribly exciting.
On Friday, however, after a lazy day of shopping and the skytower (which definitely wasn't as exciting as the CN tower, but it was a good effort on their part) I met up with a couple of guys I had met in Taupo. It was kind of funny, actually. I was sitting outside the hostel waiting for one guy named Terry who was supposed to pick me up. There was some guy standing around, who I thought might be him, but I couldn't quite remember exactly what he looked like, so I just waited and read my book. Then a friend of mine came out and we started talking. I figured if he was having the same difficulty I was, then if he heard my voice he could decide if I was actually the Canadian girl he was waiting to meet. It worked, and so we managed to find each other.
We went back to his place to drink some wine and wait for the other guy, Terry, and his girlfriend. They arrived and back into the city we went. It was a really good night. We went to a casino, and Terry won some money playing Blackjack. At one point, he gave me a five dollar token to bet on, and I won, so he kept one and I kept the other. He said it was for the next time I was here, I would have something to bet with.
Then, we headed down to a pub and had a couple of drinks and danced. Kirk and his girlfriend went home early, and the bar was closing, so Terry and I went back to the casino. We chatted for a bit, and then I parted, but not before promising Terry to let him drive me to the airport the next day. He insisted, so what could I do?
The next day, I met up with Monique and Damian (the people I stayed with at the beginnning of the trip - John and Dave, they say hi) and had lunch. We went to this awesome little vegetarian place and had a delicious meal. We chatted and I told them all about my trip. Then they parted and Terry came to pick me up at the hostel and off to the airport I went.
And then the flight,for which there isn't much to tell. It was a flight, it was short. Although I did get a great seat, at the front of the cabin so I had extra leg room and no one in front of me.
And now, Sydney. I'm going to spend a couple of days looking around and catching up with Sue, and then off to Thailand. It should be fun.
It was kind of sad leaving NZ. First, because it's such a great country, and I totally want to go back (which I will). And second, because it is the beginning of the end of my travels. I will be in London in a week and a half. And while I am looking forward to it, it's going to be different.
However, all is good. The tour has taken a lot of me, and I need to be somewhere permanent for a while. I haven't spent more than 3 days in any one place (other than Singapore) so far, and it's getting to me. Next trip I take, I'm definitely going to take my time.
And that's me up to today. =)=)=)
