Slice of Heaven!

This is my ode to the North Island!! We have had such a great time discovering the North Island of New Zealand and though we are now down at the southernmost point of the south island (well, basically), I thought I would update the blog with memories from the beach-clad north! 

Highlights of the North Island

The good:

1. staying in a crazy posh place up North on an estuary and learning to wakeboard, and riding on a 'sea legs' boat (the kind that you drive into the water and then pull up the legs so it goes from 'car' to boat, so awesome!)

Didn't quite get the timing right on the camera, but we thought it was a funny pic anyway.

Going for a walk on the estuary in search of golf balls, after a few rounds on the "driving range". Tough life!

2. catching fresh snapper off the rocks and frying it up for dinner, up in a secluded bare bones cabin in Hihi (pronounced hee hee - awesome city/town names here!).  We headed up there with Chris' university crew, and had lots of campfires and crazy adventures over a few days.

Chris caught the first fish by spear fishing!! Unfortunately it wasn't an edible one... no matter, you always need more bait!

The crew,.. what a spot!

3. beaches beaches beaches - obviously being a country that is also an island NZ has a lot of coastline, but the nice part is there are heaps of beaches to hit! I have so many pictures of beaches and they start to look the same after a while... My favorite however was Maitai Bay, up on the KariKari peninsula. Such a beautiful secluded beach with shell-less sand and clear almost turquoise blue waters - a slice of heaven for sure!

My only concern is the strained look on Chris' face... maybe I need to lay off the ice cream!

In the Bay of Islands, one of the many diverse beaches we have sun bathed on in the last few weeks!

After dinner (and ice cream) in Mission Bay, the closest beach to downtown Aucks!

4. Spending a rainy day soaking in the natural hot springs, where a steaming hot water waterfall meets up with a fast flowing river and you can sit under the bridge drinking beer and having a soak.  Pretty cool! This was in Taupo, one of the few non-coastal cities in NZ, where we splurged and spent the night in an actual hotel room!! Cush!

Relaxing in the 'jets' section of the hot pools... soo good!

5. Having one of Chris' best buds hook us up with free drinks and free meals at his bar, a cheap and easy way to catch up with Chris' friends (thanks Ben)!

6. Not having to work (sorry, I had to throw that in there!)

The bad:

1. The mayo here is disgusting.  Thankfully most stores sell Hellman's, 

2. I do not understand the obsession over meat pies - also disgusting! Although I did have a butter chicken pie and it was delicious! I also do plan on going to a homemade pie shop recommended in the lonely planet, maybe my opinion will be swayed in the other direction...? Stay tuned!

3. I have never had so many mosquito bites on my legs and slept for about two hours total last night due to my itchy legs bringing me close to insanity.

4. I love Vancouver for its smoking prohibitions! So many people smoke and are allowed to smoke in restaurants and public places. I feel lucky to live where we live! 

5. I've seen the lowest plumber's crack ever.  A guy with nothing on under his jeans was carrying something and his pants were completely below his butt cheeks. I almost got a glimpse of frontal from behind, and not in a good way!

The ugly/weird:

1. Chris' buddy dislocating his big toe so badly that it tore completely through the skin (while turning on grass to save a soccer ball from rolling down a hill- freak accident!) and then getting to see seven stitches put in at the local hospital

2. Two days later, Chris' friend got a fish hook in the chin that was lodged in so well that he ended up at the same hospital (we weren't there to experience that!)

3. I have seen on two separate occasions a Maori (NZ first nations) person sitting on a bean bag on top of the hood of their car at the beach, with the car doors open and music blasting...?

4. Trying to learn the rules and to enjoy watching a game of cricket.  We may go to a live match (only if its a one-dayer though!) and I'll hold off on forming opinions until then...

5. Chris trying to break a stick in half for a campfire but instead of breaking it away from his face he broke it towards, resulting in a stick in the face and a very attractive gash on his nose.. what's up with Kiwis and their injuries!? (**Important note: Chris is not usually so ridiculous, this would definitely qualify as a drunken injury**)

Check out Chris' nose, he did quite the number on it!

Kiwi-isms that I want to remember and someone may be interested in:

Sayings: Kia Ora! Wanna chip bro? You're such an egg/hard case/freshie! Chur bro! Sweet as!

That's brilliant! 

Food: Four Square, Meat pies, 

Wheet Bix, Coconut Slab, Moro gold stix, kiwiberries

Bird names: morepork, kea, kiwi, mynah, tui, kakapo

Weird town names: whakapapa (keep in mind "wh" is pronounced like the letter "f") , waipu, papatoetoe, Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateapokaiwhenuakitanatahu

Overall first impressions of New Zealand: the people are awesome and protectively proud of their country.  Deservedly so, because it is absolutely beautiful! What New Zealand has that other places don't is that it is small so there is a lot to offer in a compact little space.  They also have so many amazing beaches to choose from, seeing as practically the whole country is coastline! I'm not a fan of the sand flies and the mosquitoes last night were out in full force, but the other nice thing (which could also be interpreted as quite an odd thing) is that there is no large wildlife at all.  Let's just say that when we were up north and grilled up all that fish, we all went to bed without thinking of disposing of the remnants (tin foil with half-eaten fish, you get the picture) beforehand.  When we woke up in the morning it was untouched.  To them this may seem like NBD, but to me it was crazy! No wildlife (well, other than lots and lots of birds!). All in all, the sights have been absolutely beautiful and my only wish is that the weather would get better so we can find some more beautiful beaches!

Until next time.... bro ;)