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Sunday 5th May
I slept really well that night, I think the previous few nights of getting to sleep late had taken their toll. After snoozing my alarm quite a few times, I got up and showered. I had learnt my lesson from the previous time and let the shower warm up in its own time. Once dressed, bed made and packed I headed upstairs. Sue was already up. I had my breakfast as we chatted, I had some cereal, banana and toast. After chatting for a while with the TV on in the background, Sue offered me to make a sandwich for lunch. I made myself a ham, cheese and tomato sandwich and Sue gave me 2 cereal bars. I then went downstairs to strip my bed and I helped put them onto wash. I then watched some TV in the sitting room, it was programmes about Maori news. I sat here until in was nearly time to leave. We were going to leave just after 11am so we had plenty of time to make the bus. Sue gave me a cool bag and ice pack to keep my food cool. She also have me some milk, crumpets, noodles and biscuits. It was so generous, considering all she had done for me. I loaded my bags into the car. The rain from earlier in the morning had passed and the sun was now out and there was blue sky. Sue brought my packed lunch and had thrown in some of the mixed nuts in a bag (it looked like all the tub). We set off to Rotoura. I watched the lakes and houses pass by, it was such a beautiful area. It felt like a short drive back to the city. I was now getting used to the scenery as it passed by. We got into town with an hour to spare before the bus left, after a little investigating we found the hostel where I was meant to meet the bus. With this additional time, Sue drove around to the lake front to show we the water side. It was a busy hub with a market and circus all around. As we headed back towards the centre, I noted all the small shops and caves around. It really was geared as a tourist spot. We drove back around to the hostel and I said my goodbyes and got my bags. This was my last time of being with family or family friends until I was home. I asked in the hostel about the bus and they said it would be around the corner. I assumed as I was there before 12noon it would be locked as everyone would be around town. It was open with driver and passengers. I walked over to the driver who was watching his laptop and said I was joining. I then dumped my bags in the bottom and took a seat. There were a few people on the bus already and I said hi to those who made eye contact, but I had the feeling it wasn't like my old bus, but it was early days. I also think be combination of being tired and not feeling 100% (I had felt a little odd the last few days) didn't make the situation seem any better. I started eating my lunch as more and more people jumped on. As I sat I read my book, I was getting into reading at the moment. Slowly more people got on, I tried to talk to the girl behind me, but it felt like a struggle. The driver came up to me and said he forgot (his nickname was Pinky) that we were going swimming and there was nowhere to change so to go into the hostel (Base) and get changed. I did what I was told and grabbed my bikini from the bag under the bus and got changed.
Once back on the bus, it wasn't long before we got going. Pinky said about the afternoons plan and the plan for the next few days. As we drove I finished off my lunch and read a little of my books. I was just starting to settle to maybe have a nap after we had been on the road for about 40mins as we stopped at a mud pool. It was a massive pool of mud that was boiling away and plopping. We got back onto the bus and we continued 15mins down the road to the hot pool. We jumped off the bus, some were changing on the bus and we entered the hot pool. It was a pool of dirty yet hot water, the hot water was almost too hot at times. The water temperature same in waves, a flow of hot water would interchange with cold water. Initially I sat there near bus people, there were some others there too, and eventually I started talking to 2 people. We then moved over the the big group who were putting mud on their faces. We found our own mud or stone course and covered our face. It had a clay smell and felt funny as it dried. We sat in the pool for about 40mins. People moved around the pool to cool off once they had too much of the hot water. I stayed close to the people I had spoke to and tried to join in their conversations. The pool was shallow and there was stone, mud and debris at the bottom. It was really relaxing and the weather had even held off (as it was spitting a bit earlier). When it was time leave it was trying to rain again. You had to wash yourself down to try and remove any of bits and mud. He girls were given first dibs on changing on the bus before we jumped off and the boys got changed. It was a tricky challenge to try and change on the bus. Once we were all changed we were off again. I ate the second cereal bar and then laid back. It wasn't long before I was drifting into a snooze. We probably drove for about 30mins before Pinky came back on the microphone. Pinky was very different to Miss P. He didn't speak as smooth, but he was informative and seemed to be laid back telling jokes and winding people up.
Just before we arrived in Taupo, we visited a waterfall. It was only a small smalls but the water had glimpse of blue water and the white water created was so clean. The first stop was a lookout and we took some snaps. We then drove around closer to the falls, it had started spitting as we spotted initially. We got out the bus and saw the falls at the level they fell and we could see the water on the approach to the fall. It was following so fast and powerful for its small area. Having seen the Victoria Falls this seemed very small and as the rain became heavier I didn't spend too long seeing them. I took some photos and headed back to the bus as the heavens open and I got drenched. Now I was tired, wet, cold and not feeling great. I was grumpy. I tried to dry myself off slightly with my towel that was on the seat in front of me attempting to dry. Luckily the drive to that town centre and hostel was short.
We jumped out the bus and pilled into reception. They gave us a brief outline of the hostel and the prices for rooms. There was only a few places in the 16 bed dorms which were the cheapest, as $25. I jumped into life when the talk was over and got a cheap room. I dumped my coat and day bag in the room and grabbed a bottom bunk. I then went about and got my big bag out the bus. I unpacked my little bag onto my bed and slowly people started coming into the room too. The two Swiss girls from my first bus happened to be in the beds next to me. I was so nice to see some friendly faces and have a chat. I was getting ready to go to the supermarket Pak N' Save to pick up some bits. Although Sue had given me some bits I needed some fruit, cereal bars to get me through the next few days. I had hardly eaten any fruit or veg since getting of the bus, so I needed to stock up. One of be girls from the bus was also going so we walked and chatted on the way to the shop. The rain had stopped although there was still a chill in the air. I grabbed some money out on the way. Around the shop I got some apples, banana, kiwi (seeing them grow made me want some), carrots, onion, mushroom, nuts, cereal bar, cooked ham and chicken and yoghurt (which I wasn't going to buy but the girl I was with said it wasn't too expensive, so decided to treat myself). I went through the self-check out and cheated as normal when scanning things through. I had lost the girl I came with, and after waiting a while I headed back alone.
Once back I sorted through my food bags and cool bag a d even sorted lunch for tomorrow. I'd eaten so badly the last 4 days, when I say badly the food was amazing just so much of it and often rich and far to yummy. I then sat in the common area and wrote a birthday card for the next month (I had brought it and didn't know what the South American post was like). I was opposite the 2 Swiss girls and we chatted as I wrote and they ate. I made a cup of tea and this helped me fe a little better. Once I had finished writing, looked at how far behind I was on my diary and chatted to an English guy sat next to me, I decided to cook dinner. It was having noodles, with onion, mushrooms, chicken and salad.
It took a while to cook as the kitchen was getting full. But soon I was eating away. After that I had some dried apricots with some yoghurt. The yoghurt was so cool and smooth, I hadn't had it for so long. I sat and joined in the conversation at the table I was sitting on before but there were more girls from our bus on it. Once I was washed up I went to use the computer. We were given 1 hour free Internet for our stay, and we would get 3 20min sessions vouchers for their computers. I got 20mins and just checked emails and Facebook. I just had a email from Kath and a message from Kate. I also looked into flowers for Sue and emailed the parents. Once I was done with my time, there wasn't too much else I needed to do, so thought I'd use my other session in the morning.
I left the computer and sat with the 2 Swiss girls (hey kindly offered to share their sofa). I sat and wrote in my diary and read my book. The evening slipped away. I made myself a cup of tea and had 2 ginger biscuits Sue gave me, I was determined to show control with them (unlike failed attempts with previous biscuits). Others from our group were playing cards, I didn't have the energy to join. I still wasn't feeling 100%, and I was more than happy to listen to the music, see the rugby on the screens and either read or write on my phone. Just after 10pm I got changed into bed and carried on reading and writing snuggled up in bed as it was a little chilly. Just after 11.30pm, when I drifted to sleep.
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