25th Apr 2008 - 14th May 2008North island - 2nd I have to admit I`m becoming a bit weary of writing this blog... I believe it was first because I had such an awesome time traveling with Deena and Leena after a "dry period" and didn`t want to waste precious party time on internet and afterwards because I`ve been living more than traveling. I`m still friends with Leena after being together 24/7 for over a month so actually instead of getting on each other`s nerves we`ve become pretty good friends by now. I can`t really say what it is because the only thing that comes to my mind is that we like the same kind of music. Our backgrounds are for example totally different except for the fact that she has spent a couple of years outside of Finland like I have. And neither of us really wants to go back... But as an example of our friendship: we`ve already survived a kind of a love triangle. girl liked boy, boy liked the other girl but then the other girl luckily didn`t like the boy as he liked her and the first girl soon realized she didn`t like the boy that much either so the girls ended up bitching about the stupid boy. Ok, he might not that stupid but he was really making a fool out of himself... So what now.. I managed to see everything I wanted to see on the north island. We went Black Water Rafting in Waitomo Caves, which was awesome. Then Leena I and got a week`s pass for a gym (our host sweettalked a girl at the gym to give them for free) and I bought shoes for sport. Very cool. Body combat and body pump and SAUNA!!!! The first time in the sauna I broke the rules by lying there naked. And decided I`d give in and wore bathers the next times. There weren`t any official complaints but still.. These Kiwis are really prude... What else.. Leena and I have been freezing our asses off!! I don`t know where you people get the idea but I`ve had many comments on my supposed tan. NON-existing!! I wear at least three layers of sweaters! And I bought a winter hat! And it`s not only the outside - the houses are so friggin cold that L and I walk around wrapped in blankets. And the crazy Kiwis walk around barefoot and with only t-shirts and shorts on. (Barefoot mostly in small places = on the countryside but I did see one today in Wellington.) They really are totally out of their minds! I swear this is not exaggerated! Oh and the worst part is that you can`t escape the cold. Or maybe if you`re staying in a house with a properly functioning shower. But most houses have only a small warm stream and no hot water. And I`ve stayed only in two warm houses in the whole NZ! The key word is: body heat! - maybe that`s why L and I have become so close.. ;-) All this complaining is not without consiquence: I`ve changed my tickets! In a week I`ll be in Australia, where it might not be warm enough to wear t-shirts but at least it`s slightly warmer than in this country resembling a freezer... And the cool thing is: I didn`t have to pay a single cent!!!! Normally I would have had to pay almost 190 euros! Gee... And before anybody comments on this.. NO, it was not because I`m a girl or something like that. The Qantas person was a woman! It was just because I was so damn nice and the lady was so absolutely friendly and awesome. To cut a long story short: I`ll be in Sydney in a week`s time!!!! :-D Until then I`ll be going to a Les Mills gym here in Wellington. For free! :-) I don`t know how we got that... ;-)I`ll also be meeting up with up with several CSers. Heaps of nice ones in Wellington. Not all Kiwis but some are. Oh apropos Kiwis.. I might not have had an Aussie experience but I did have a Kiwi one. ;-) Not a CSer! And that reminds me that I wanted to reflect a bit on the way I`m traveling. I have come to realize, that travelers normally are rather keen on... hmmm... experiences... It seems that most (non CS) travelers somehow freeze their emotional side and just take what ever comes along and don`t care much that it`s just a few days and the following week there`s somebody new. They harden themselves so they won`t get hurt. That`s really sad, I think. But couchsurfing has changed this totally. And I`m not sure I`d like it to be anything else than what I`m doing now. I might not be partying wild all the time but it`s just so great to meet so many locals that then become your friends. I think that`s way better than any random guys (or vice verca). The only downside lately has been that my car broke down...Right now when I need to get rid off it... Grrrr... BUT I`m also staying right in the center of Wellington. It`s awesome living in a city instead of countryside! I`m soooo happy! Just go outside and you`re in the middle of everything. And look outside of window and you see other buildings and people. Heaven after so much countryside and farms...So I`m off now to meet up with some CSers! :-)
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