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Arrived in Tatapouri and decided immediately I wasn't leaving the next morning! The place was like a beach hut set on the seafront and our hostel was basically a private little house. The 2 guys who own it (both called Dean) were the best hosts you could aske for and to be completely honest for the 5 days were were there we got spoilt rotten - it's not suprising no one wants to leave the place!
Spent most of the time chilling out on the beach front, having BBQ's and marshmallow on the fire etc - was good to chill out after constantly being on the move for the last couple of weeks.
The guys do lots of things like shark cage diving (booked up unfortunately - dammit - not!), underwater filming for films, fishing, stingray feeding, surfing, rocksliding - there's always something going on so we just joined in whatever was happening at the time. Their boat had been (do you say 'off the sea'?) but they'd fixed it on the Saturday and we went fishing with them on the Sunday. On the way out Sarah and I spotted something in the sea - it was massive and I asked Dean what it was, getting excited & thinking it could be a whale "a rock Lianne" he said before everyone on the boat burst into fits of laughter - whoops! Anyway we got went further out to sea and settled down to fish when the radio started going off - we were trying to listen and we all heard 'Orca' at the same time - I was right, it wasn't a rock so had a smug 5 mins and then we gave up fishing to try and find them...
After about 5 minutes we spotted one, caught up with them and we followed the family of around 8 for a good 45 mins. Was amazing. Dean took a few photos and I video'd like crazy. Think they're going to put the photos on their website (although there are some sticky spots over them all where I dropped my camera into a glass of wine the night before....!). They came up really close and the largest one swam under the boat - I was waiting for him to boff us over but he re-appeared at the back, had a good look at us and went doen again. They were so close to shore but the bay is a haven for stingray so they some a couple of times a year for a few days along this coast to feed. Still can't believe how lucky we were!
Anyway, back to fishing. Sitting with my rod again and Dean spots some Dolphins in the distance. I'd been Dolphin spotting in The Bay of Islands so wasn't going to make him go out there until he said the pod was huge and we should go and have a look. Rod away again and when we got there we were surrounded by a pod of about 200 dolphins they reckoned - they were everywhere, swimming under the boat and all around. They're so fast the photos aren't that good but the video's fab so I'm going to try and get some stills from it at some point!
We then headed back to fish and I was determined to catch something - and I did, myself, I only got my hook caught in my foot! There are great whites in these seas and the guys have been diving for crayfish and come across 2 in the past year so the 'human bait' jokes didn't go down too well! Got it pulled out and eventually caught my own little fish! Was so pleased but after hearing all their fish bashing around in the box I wanted to let mine go and as it was small it was OK so I also watched it swim away!
In the afternoon we headed to 'rockslide' which is a wide waterfall covered in algae and a thin layer of water - you get on your boogie board and slide into the pool at the bottom! Was fun but a bit dangerous and one of our girls did end up being taken to hospital as she'd lent to far one way and crashed into the rocks. She was fine but she bruises easily and one side of her face just doubled in size instantly - looked nasty.
After that we went home and had a BBQ with the new arrivees and a catch up with those we'd met before.
If you're still awake Louise L/Laura - get this. I'm in my 'house' talking to one of the new arrivees - will have to do a script:
Him: I live in Bournemouth, where are you from?
Me: Bedfordshire
Him: My god - I was born in Luton
Me: I live in Dunstable!
Him: I did too, I just say Luton as no one knows it. How old are you?
Me: 25
Him: I'm 25!
Me: Where did you go to school?
Him: MILLVALE!!!!!!!
Hehehe - got my photos out of you girls and were talking about Dunny! He left in the 7th year I think to move to Bournemouth. His name's James Mullin if you remember him. He would have been in your year but he said he was really quiet and didn't get on well up here, Bournemouth sorted him out apparently! We were both freaked out! Small world....
Anyhew, spent the whole evening deciding whether to stay longer or leave but had the most amazing day I decided to leave on a high. Was sad going but if I'm in NZ for xmas I may go back for their xmas beach party...we'll see.
I've been in this cafe for hours now and can smell someones Dominos so I'm off for a feed. Thanks again for msgs - you're all keeping me smiling!! xxx
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