Winterreise Part 1

Jul 15, 2015 | Photos, The Great Journey, Trips

As last week was rather quiet on my blog, I would like to publish the travel report about the afore-mentioned road trip in the North Island piece by piece.

It all began with planning and thinking. The dicision between North and South Island was made, some travel companions couldn’t make it for different reasons and thus, it was us two in the end.

As you know, it is the hard-out winter these days and we didn’t get much encouraging words from the locals. It doesn’t snow much in the North Island, so we would get rain as the typical winter’s weather…

Our plan: To suss out the North Island and get just the most out of it. For for Celine this was the last opportunity to see the North Island in it’s whole beauty. We took it a good thing, both having seen the east coast already and leaving it out of the equation without harm…
We didn’t have a meticulous plan, just a list of things we would love to see and a direction. Northbound, that was. THe first two hostels we pre-booked and for the rest we decided upon mood, mode and the weather. 🙂
But I will write about it as if it was all planned. 🙂

 

 

 

 

That crisp Saturday morning we met in Wellington city. It wasn’t far to the car rental, so soon we found ourselves in front of our small but excellent ride. Luckily we thought about music CDs and the phone charger for the cigar lighter. Of only the latter had worked, we would’ve had a few less commotions on the way…

All bubbly with wanderlust we entered the car and went. Further and further away from Wellington beloved.
We were most sure about one thing: Without any doubt you will get to know each other very well on these trips as a pair. That’s to mention that we had many most delightful topics to discuss.

“STOP RIGHT HERE!” very often let the talking cease and meant that we were about to make one of the ca. 310 photo stops on the way. It goes down like this: You stop at the side of the road (make sure there’s enough space), jump out of the car, ferociously shoot some pictures, say your Ah!s and Oh!s and drive off.

The saturated green of winter will turn to brown in the soaring summer’s sun. One more reason to see the North Island in winter…

TO GLORY!!

This iconic gumboot sculpture in Taihape we found only by accident following roadsigns leading us to it.

First station was Tongariro National Park. Our hostel was situated in the little settlement named ‘National Park’. As excitedly as I talked about the rapidly changing landscape in the post ‘Outta da House!’ in January, we now had the chance to behold the phenomenon up close. The Tongariro area is not green and there are no meadows for the sheep, but the great mountains. Covered with snow and all majestical. We even saw a brown golf court. 😀

 

 

We certainly were puzzled by the sight of this military exercise. Why do tanks exist in New Zealand? 😀

Before we arrived at our destination, we had to adapt to the winterly street conditions. Because of landslides a section of the highway was closed and we took the scenic route as a detour.

So this is the equivalent to snow here, as it seems. Luckily, our way was altered this way but once…

Having arrived at the hostel, we had a simple backpacker’s dinner (spaghetti and tomato sauce from the jar) and also there were those Table Talkers… That is a simple collection of personal questions and we tried it: They are just perfect to get to know each other closer. 🙂

 

 

 

 

Thanks to the off-season we had a six-bed room to ourselves. 🙂

On the first day we had some splendid views on the side of the road, two glorious sculptures and many stunning panoramas of the Tongariro mountains and the national park itself. The nourishing travel atmosphere and long talks made for a healthy and dream-ridden sleep then…

Parcel

Jun 30, 2015 | The Great Journey, Updates

My first parcel has arrived! 😀

Even the postman must have noticed the levels of happiness, due to my cheering. 🙂

A little smushed, but all in all undamaged I took on this package of home and expertly opened it using my favourite pocket knife. Just the way my dad always did…

And what do great parents send their child? 🙂

  • Sweets. 🙂 Some if it is meant for the host family, which will make them happy! 🙂
  • Clothes. Some pieces were a little tight back then, but fit quite nicely nowadays. Besides that, they smell of home and are perfect for cushioning! 🙂
  • Personal things like my beloved dictionary, greeting cards (Thank you my dear ones, you made me happy! 🙂 ), birthday presents of technical matter and even a present to the household of the host family.

 

 

 

 

The next week I will spend with another au pair in the North Island, as the grandma comes for a visit for a whole week, so I get that time off! 😀 I bet it will be a most special time!

Milestones

Jun 20, 2015 | Photos, The Great Journey, Updates

At this point many thanks for all congratulations, my birthday far from home was a blast!

 

 

In other department I was blessed with success as well!
The Friday before last Friday I spent visiting the authorities focusing on applying for my visa extension, requesting the 18+ card and issuing my New Zealand driver’s licence.

A few words about the visa extension for anyone thinking about that option:
Main requirement is that you spend 3 months (12 weeks, one day per week will count) working in agriculture or horticulture (firm details on the official government website). So anything greenish up to processing food, monitoring canned goods won’t count anymore…
Your income has to be taxed and you have to collect your paychecks, as they are to be handed in alongside your application. I just got a scrap of paper from my employer with proof of all payment…

The ‘standard’ working holiday visa you apply for online and you have to carry a printed piece of paper next to your passport. The extension, however, is applied for on location only, so it is an offline process. Meaning, you go in there with all the paperwork, hand it over in person and in my case don’t wait longer than a week to get the confirmation email back. And you have to hand in your very passport. Thus, you are without one for a short time, which came out well in the end. In contrast to your printed out ‘E-Visa’ you receive an elegant sticker inside your passport and don’t have to carry a folded piece of paper anymore.

Bottom line: Who completes their 12 weeks by every trick in the book, can easily apply for the extension. 3 extra months are a hundred percent worth it! 😉 Oh, and the fee for the extension is a whopping 165 dollars, though it should feel fair for what you get…

 

 

 

 

As I stay for more than one year in New Zealand, I have to carry a New Zealand driver’s licence. That one you can apply for in one of the AA centre (New Zealand Automobile Association).
You fill out a charming questionaire, state some details from both your driver’s licences and the passport and pay a small fee. The passport photograph and some copies of your documents they take on site. I was issued a temporary driver’s licence and very soon I saved an envelope that was not entirely soft from the rain from the leaky postbox:

 

 

The integral parts are still legible. 😀

 

 

As on said Friday I had taken on both obstacles, I went for requesting the 18+ card as well.
This card is a simple proof of age, when you go buy some wine for your cooking. 😛 They are as strict as rigid in the shops here… So when you do not want to carry you bulky passport everywhere, this card is quite the replacement.
But I was taken aback, as I just left my passport, which is necessary to show in order to get your card done, at the immigration office only a few minutes ago and went out of the post office empty-handed.

But when I held the driver’s licence in my hands, I also held a very absolutely legitimate photo ID and that was all I needed. Besides, this is the more badass 18+ card, as you are able to drive on it in Germany too. Getting pulled over might even be fun then. 😀
Ultimately, the 18+ card would’ve cost me ana additional 35 dollars. Now I am not mad at all… 🙂

Yesterday I went for some entertainment which was brought to me by a young choir (regarding the average age and ensemble existence) from Wellington. Next to wonderful music the did something special in the end: They broke the classic formation for the last 3 songs and surrounded the listeners. The concert was about captivity,detemination and resistance and music predominantly coming from concentration camps. It was impressive!

My first singing lessons I also have completed and there shall be many to follow. I have learned many things about myself and among them that singing is one of my greatest passions…

June 15, 2015

Jun 15, 2015 | The Great Journey, Thoughts, Updates

Thus, the sun rises upon this day, the day my birthday is being celebrated.

Admittedly, out the kitchen window it looks different from at the sea, but the sun is the sun…
Nevertheless I received congratulations, more presents I have ever wished for and also a posh birthday hat. Not to forget mentioning the birthday serenade on the saxophone! 😀
The day is one without the load of laundry and dinner will be simple. At night the final episode of the current Game of Thrones season is going to be out and my all-new merino sweater keeps me snug and warm, combined with the new wool socks. That is important in winter. Rumors of a birthday cake began to rise in the whispers, as kids a no suitable secret keepers… 🙂

In the background I let my new CD play, the soundtrack of ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’, which I bought at a laughable price in the city. That was after we had some incredibly delicious coffee at the ‘Flight Coffee Hangar’. All in all, a day lacking clouds and also wind is something hard to come by in Wellington at this time of the year. Good times!

In the past 24h I had 6 Skype dates, which calls for a new record. And I am not even sure that’s all… I am always happy to see the lovely, loving faces! 😉

South Island, Take One

Jun 4, 2015 | Photos, The Great Journey, Trips

Despite my plans to travel the South Island later, I have spent last weekend there. And it was fantastic!

The framework:

  • 5 people, all of them au pairs, 2 of them boys
  • a rental station wagon, no USB or AUX connection
  • a holiday home (called ‘bach’ in New Zealand) right at the Mahakipawa Arm of the Mahau Sound
  • friday night to monday night as the Queen’s birthday is a holiday here

The ferry is a popular connection between both islands. A little swaying, but we were blessed with calm waters…

There are many of these ‘batches’ in New Zealand. Out little cottage was utterly cosy and well equipped.

The view upon the Mahau Sound. The entire northern side of the South Island is riddled with those.

On Sunday we went on an adventurous road trip west coast bound, in order to see the famous Pancake Rocks. Adventurous because of 5 grown up people inside one car.

Sailboat near Nelson

Some rest stops have nicer views, some less nice ones…

The tranquil appearance of the west coast turn sour with all the sandflies (fruit fly like mosquitos, varying in size). But some prices you are willing to pay…

After a long time with many guessing games and black stories (a card game, originally), we finally arrived at the destination: Punakaiki.

The Pancake Rocks are a stunning sight you might not want to miss.

One fateful morning I, as with many things for the first time, tried to make some scrambled eggs. 4 eggs by 5 persons is not quite much, should anyone look for this answer.

The water behind the cottage did look a lot more interesting up close. Also, it is another feeling, afloat like that.

On our last day we visited the Pelorus River. Once again awesome to behold, once again natural wilderness.
I would like to point out that some scenes for the Hobbit movies were filmed at this very location. (Just imagine 13 dwarves in the river inside barrels…)

This fantail was pretty photogenic, but as all the birds of that feather as quick as can be. Please marvel at only a few of many hundred pictures.

I’d make a movie right here, too. 🙂

The grand prize question: What is this?

The even grander prize question: WHAT IS THIS??

The travel fellowship. (Thank you for the pic, Henry.)

Looking back at the South Island, I can confirm it differs quite much from the North Island. While green round hills dominate the landscape of the North Island, the South Island features bigger, browner and more ‘edgy’ rises.
It all has a wilder and more forceful impression and I was surprised to see sub-tropical flora give in to coniferous forest after a short car drive. Settlements and gas stations also tend to be a lot further away from each other…

The weekend was a superb taste for my next journey there. And I hope to get such nice people again, whom you could sing some rounds with on long car rides… 😉