(I'm convinced one need look no further than 'The Lion King' soundtrack for all wisdom in life)(and also for amazing into-the-mountains-we-go road trip sing alongs).
In what has come as no suprise to anyone, I am yet again no-fixed-addressing out here in the big wide world. I managed a whole four months of summer back home in Aus, and it was probably only two weeks into this that my mother found me perched on the couch with the South America Lonely Planet clutched in my hands and a somewhat guilty look on my face. The rest of that time disappeared into a blur of sleep deprivation and extreme gratitude for my mother's production of bulk salads as I buckled down to work two jobs over the busy tourist season, coming out the other side with no skin left on my fingers and definitely no glowing summer tan (loss) but the funds to take off again for at least the rest of the year (win).
For those who have browsed through my New Zealand blog entries, the photo gallery at the end of this entry is probably quite familiar- yes, I am back in the land of the long white cloud. 2018's meanderings have been crafted around touching base with dear friends from adventures past, whom I haven't seen from as recently as a spring goodbye in Moscow last year, to as long ago as when university finished up in Auckland five years back. I've started out in New Zealand, and next week will make my way to the United States and Canada, before Costa Rica and Guatemala to finish up the year.
What a totally different feel this trip already has to my move to Moscow, which saw me sobbing and holding onto my mother for dear life (I feel no shame)(but somewhat guilty for the emotional trauma this inflicted sorry Mum), telling myself over and over that I was making the right move for career and life yada yada. This time, there were no tears, and instead of arriving to airport detention (visa issues - need I say more), I arrived to a huge hug from a friend from Bali surfing days and Cocos sunsets, the lovely lovely Chris. What followed has been a multisports adventure of absolute awesomeness (extreme physical exertion = holiday in my book), with surfing on the South Coast, hiking around the home base of Wanaka, blasting around alpine lakes on Chris's kite gear (she really is the hostess with the mostess), long chats over much tea and delicious food and just really enjoying ourselves. I took a weekend off from all these fun times to visit a friend from Melbourne Uni days, who I was on exchange with in Auckland and has now permanently relocated to NZ (and acquired the local accent too). Rose's partner was away working, so we had a girl's weekend that looked a lot like the 'girls on tour' hijinks Chris and I had been up to- we went rock climbing, mountain biking, swimming, and canyoning, all in two days and with multiple breaks for snacks. What a treat for me- especially after a summer of work and not even being able to find anyone at home to go on the AquaPark with me (an inflatable obstacle course on Lake Mulwala), it has been amazing to have these awesome ladies to play with who also think that swimming across glacial white water to hike/climb up vertical forest paths and then abseil down waterfalls sounds likes a great day out.
It has also been really interesting to see how the South Island has changed- Wanaka is so much busier than when I was here 4 years ago, and driving up the west coast the damage that the recent cyclones has left in their wake is all too obvious as the road works lengthen your journey painfully. The little spot on Lake Hawea I went kitesurfing alone last time I was here is now constantly thronged with campers, and many of the hiking trails that used to be tiny little single tracks are now heavily trafficked and wide landscaped gravel paths. It will be interesting to see how both of these facets of life in New Zealand continue to change as more years trundle by (increased tourist flow and increased instances of nature-going-wild). It is still amazing though how quickly you can leave the crowds behind, and this weekend we intend to do exactly that- Chris's partner is a glider pilot and based a little further to the east of Wanaka, amidst lakes with super consistent strong wind (I'm sold), long rolling hills and apparently amazing sunrises. We're heading up there to camp and kite (windsurf for those two) and hike and eat and laugh and it will be a great way to finish up my time in NZ, before the States (California, specifically) beckons mid next week.
Stay tuned for American musings to come (and if anyone has any idea how this whole tipping thing works please send immediate instructions).
Peace,
Lucy.
In what has come as no suprise to anyone, I am yet again no-fixed-addressing out here in the big wide world. I managed a whole four months of summer back home in Aus, and it was probably only two weeks into this that my mother found me perched on the couch with the South America Lonely Planet clutched in my hands and a somewhat guilty look on my face. The rest of that time disappeared into a blur of sleep deprivation and extreme gratitude for my mother's production of bulk salads as I buckled down to work two jobs over the busy tourist season, coming out the other side with no skin left on my fingers and definitely no glowing summer tan (loss) but the funds to take off again for at least the rest of the year (win).
For those who have browsed through my New Zealand blog entries, the photo gallery at the end of this entry is probably quite familiar- yes, I am back in the land of the long white cloud. 2018's meanderings have been crafted around touching base with dear friends from adventures past, whom I haven't seen from as recently as a spring goodbye in Moscow last year, to as long ago as when university finished up in Auckland five years back. I've started out in New Zealand, and next week will make my way to the United States and Canada, before Costa Rica and Guatemala to finish up the year.
What a totally different feel this trip already has to my move to Moscow, which saw me sobbing and holding onto my mother for dear life (I feel no shame)(but somewhat guilty for the emotional trauma this inflicted sorry Mum), telling myself over and over that I was making the right move for career and life yada yada. This time, there were no tears, and instead of arriving to airport detention (visa issues - need I say more), I arrived to a huge hug from a friend from Bali surfing days and Cocos sunsets, the lovely lovely Chris. What followed has been a multisports adventure of absolute awesomeness (extreme physical exertion = holiday in my book), with surfing on the South Coast, hiking around the home base of Wanaka, blasting around alpine lakes on Chris's kite gear (she really is the hostess with the mostess), long chats over much tea and delicious food and just really enjoying ourselves. I took a weekend off from all these fun times to visit a friend from Melbourne Uni days, who I was on exchange with in Auckland and has now permanently relocated to NZ (and acquired the local accent too). Rose's partner was away working, so we had a girl's weekend that looked a lot like the 'girls on tour' hijinks Chris and I had been up to- we went rock climbing, mountain biking, swimming, and canyoning, all in two days and with multiple breaks for snacks. What a treat for me- especially after a summer of work and not even being able to find anyone at home to go on the AquaPark with me (an inflatable obstacle course on Lake Mulwala), it has been amazing to have these awesome ladies to play with who also think that swimming across glacial white water to hike/climb up vertical forest paths and then abseil down waterfalls sounds likes a great day out.
It has also been really interesting to see how the South Island has changed- Wanaka is so much busier than when I was here 4 years ago, and driving up the west coast the damage that the recent cyclones has left in their wake is all too obvious as the road works lengthen your journey painfully. The little spot on Lake Hawea I went kitesurfing alone last time I was here is now constantly thronged with campers, and many of the hiking trails that used to be tiny little single tracks are now heavily trafficked and wide landscaped gravel paths. It will be interesting to see how both of these facets of life in New Zealand continue to change as more years trundle by (increased tourist flow and increased instances of nature-going-wild). It is still amazing though how quickly you can leave the crowds behind, and this weekend we intend to do exactly that- Chris's partner is a glider pilot and based a little further to the east of Wanaka, amidst lakes with super consistent strong wind (I'm sold), long rolling hills and apparently amazing sunrises. We're heading up there to camp and kite (windsurf for those two) and hike and eat and laugh and it will be a great way to finish up my time in NZ, before the States (California, specifically) beckons mid next week.
Stay tuned for American musings to come (and if anyone has any idea how this whole tipping thing works please send immediate instructions).
Peace,
Lucy.
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