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Raglan rocks !!!! Back at one of my favourite places in New Zealand, went surfing yesterday, summer full on, way to go ! It's raining now, so time for an update.
Decided to leave Wellington about a week ago. Iben got back from Hastings on Saturday and took the ferry to Picton with the other girls on Sunday, while I hopped on a bus to Auckland instead. Last couple of days in Wellington the weather was really good, so got sunburned again (the sun is so strong with that hole in the ozonlayer, you can't even be in the sun for half an hour without sunscreen). Ow, and I cooked a groupmeal, apparently something was wrong with the leftover rice I used, and we were all kinda sick the next day...oops. Watched too many DVD's, so time for a change. Long ride to Auckland on Nana's bus, left at 6.45 and got into Auckland at about 17.00. Booked a dorm room at ACB again, and spent the week in the library, free internet. Made a list of all the jobs I wanted to apply for, and got about 15 letters out. Went for some runs along the harbour, long time ago that I could run as long as I do now.
Met up with one of the girls of my Stray trip down South, met up before in Wellington as well. Cooked dinner together, her friend wanted to show her car, and found out it got towed away, mm, not good. Expensive mistake.... They are going to cruise around for a while.
Spent a day deciding what to pack in my backpack, and what to store at ACB. So I ended up with a way too heavy backpack, but I don't have a clue when I'm getting back in Auckland, and when I go tramping I'll leave all my normal clothes in a hostel anyway. Allready decided it is shorts and jandals weather from now on, but still have to carry my Goretex jacket, rainproof trousers, mountainboots and sleeping bag around. And all my other stuff, laptop, nice clothes, etcetera...haha.
Running is perfect to think about stuff, so my last day in Auckland I decided to email all the YMCA's in New Zealand, and a Christian Holiday Camp close to Wellington that Karlyn mentioned before. Asking about volunteering positions over summer. In about a month it's summer holidays for 6 weeks, and apparently that's a bad time to apply for jobs. And a bad (coz crowded) time for tramping, so might be cool to have something useful to do, like volunteering at a summer camp. And apparently they like my CV, because my mailbox is full of enthusiastic responses ! Both the Christian Holiday Camp and the YMCA (both close to Wellington) want to talk to me about a long term volunteer position, so I'm heading towards Welly again. Don't know when I could start, otherwise I'll cross over to the South Island to do some tramps. And have to start thinking bout where I want to be at Christmas. That's gonna be weird, Xmas in summer. And all those Santa's and classic winterstyle decorations in all the shops don't seem to make any sense ! But BBQ on a beach, watching the sunset at Xmas eve, mmm, sounds good !
Booked on the Stray bus again, left Auckland on Saturday on Seagulls bus, one of the new drivers (who was doing his training tip on Bagginz bus, who was following us on the South Island). He's cool as, and we had a great group of people. Went to Hot Water Beach again, in full summer conditions this time, and walked to Cathedral Cove in the afternoon. Enjoyed BBQ and some cardgames. I already planned to hop off in Raglan for some days, but it was actually hard to leave that nice group, it's always cool that you can get that group feeling in just two days in a Stray bus. But driving along amazing scenery the last two days also reminded me why I want to live in New Zealand, and when the sun came out yesterday while in the ocean on a surfboard, having a great time with all the other people on a board, that's just awesome.
Will head towards Maketu on Thursday if there's a spare seat in the bus, for a cultural night in a Maori marae. Then off to Taupo, hopefully able to do the Tongariro crossing, National park and back to Wellington. So three more days in Raglan, planning to do some more surfing, and some bushwalks, and chilling at the best hostel there is ! Could easily stay here a lot longer, as soon as you arrive in Raglan you just feel the relaxed vibes...... Won't see Karlyn for a while, he's doing double lap on the South Island. But he know's somebody who worked at the Chistian Camp, and apparently it's a very cool place. So we'll see ! Don't miss the Netherlands, do miss YOU all though. But might get into some cool stuff over here, and being in the outdoor education business might get me into contact with people who could help me out with a paid job as well. Will keep u updated, internet here is slow and expensive, but will be better in Welly. Love, Marlieke
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