New Zealand

New Zealand is bloody expensive!!!  The average price of a meal out is $20 and a t-shirt $50.  If you are planning on visiting NZ be prepared to shell out some dough!

Driving on the left side of the road is a little challenging.  For the first few days, I played a few games of chicken before realizing that I was still in North American driving mode.  Thankfully there isn’t many cars on the road here.  Actually most of the traffic on the roads are camper vans and other tourists learning the rules of the road as well.

Other than the price of things here NZ is a little strange.  Once you get past the fact that the entire North Island and a good portion of the South Island have been totally clear cut from all it’s timber, it’s beauty starts to come through.  However it does look like a large scale diorama.  Instead of replanting native trees, they brought in pine trees because they have shorter growth cycles, and planted them in perfect little rows. Where they didn’t replant has become pastures for the numerous cows and sheep.  So most of NZ looks like a fifties move set.  Too perfect and not enough ruggedness.   The South Island is were most of the parks are and still have maintained it’s natural beauty.

One thing I have really learned about myself is how much I love the ocean!  I know that wherever I live it will have to be near it.  Preferably an island.  I went sailing for the first time and LOVED IT!!  For some reason I didn’t  think I would.  My God, the freedom of being on open water is phenomenal!!

-------

My initial goal for NZ was to volunteer for accommodation and food.  However, a woman I met in Hawaii, Carolyn, emailed me saying she was coming to NZ and wanted to know if I wanted to travel with her.  She is quite lovely and the two of us get along really well.  She is a photographer doing a project on areas effected by climate change.  Her project is called the Witness Tree. 

It’s been wonderful traveling with someone.  Again, I’m finding that I’m never really alone and always meeting people to hang out with.  The one down side to this is I haven’t been meditating and taking time out for personal space.  I’m really noticing the affects of this.  I’m feeling good for the most part.  Integrating the constant flow of change is a little challenging.

I’m able to stay present and aware and magical things happening have resulted from this.  However my energy level is a little low.  Not so much physically, although I do find that I’m pretty wiped out at the end of each day.  I feel that in some ways I’m either holding myself back from fully engaging in the world around me or just so busy integrating all that is happening that anything else is just too much.  I’m having a good time, and loving seeing the sights but there still feels like something is missing. Yet I know nothing is missing at all. 

I’m still discovering who I am and what I’m about.  Constantly pushing beyond comfortable boundaries and pushing myself in ways that I never needed to before.  Yet, I feel more and more comfortable traveling.  Even India doesn’t seem as frightening because I know I’ll end up travelling with someone or a group of people.  And even if I don’t I feel I can handle the pressures that traveling brings.

Letting go of being in constant contact with home is also getting easier.  I thought it would be easy to connect with people more frequently.  I’m realizing what a privileged system we have in North America for communications.  NZ gets their internet from Australia from and underwater cable.  The cable is to small and limits the bandwidth and the amount of data one can use.  So internet here is very, very expensive. No free café’s anywhere.  Hostels charge $10 a day or $4 for half and hour. 

  

Even if I had regular internet access, I know that I still wouldn’t be online often.  The whole idea behind traveling is to get out there!  To meet new people and move forward in life.  Not that I’m leaving my friends permanently, but, with moving on, contact between friends and family becomes less and less.  I’m still here for everyone and I know people back home are still there for me.  My heart is full of their love and therefore I and they haven’t really gone anywhere.  It makes it hard to be present and learn new things though when I’m constantly thinking of staying in contact.   I will also say that I’ve been terrible at sending post cards.  I buy them then get busy then tired to send them…  I am thinking of all you though!

Once again I’m grateful for this blog so I can share my experiences with everyone.  So I apologize for not staying in contact more personally with some of you. 

My Godmother asked me if traveling was what I hoped it would be.  It’s a great question.  The answer to that is yes and no.  Traveling in the way that I am, is both stressful and relaxing.  It’s lonely and connective.  It’s not as romantic as I thought it would be.  It’s exhilarating, engrossing and exciting, and yet keeping up with all the information and experiences leaves me often overwhelmed and tired.  Integrating everything takes it toll on me and yet I don’t want it to stop.  I haven’t been journaling or taking notes as much as I would like because it feels like its way to much.  However, I’m already forgetting some of the places I’ve been to because there is just sooooo much to take in.  I’m learning though as I go and doing my best to incorporate some practices that will be of benefit (like taking notes). 

I now have a system for packing!!!  YEAY!!  Even with all the info that people gave me for packing, it really is a personal journey.  One thing that I will pass on is buy dry bags and different sized ones.  They are great for compressing clothing and will keep them dry in very humid climates.  Plus you can use them for day bags at the beach.  Thumbs up to Carolyn for getting me on to them!

Anyway today is a beautiful day and I must get outside!  My love to you all.  Photos of NZ will be posted soon!