Going Underground

Having not had a drink for 2 weeks now it was obviously critical that we found a new drug to course through our veins during our time in New Zealand and we have opted for the somewhat passe Adrenaline, or 'Ad' as it's referred to by hardened users.

Our first fix came courtesy of the Waitomo caves, or to be more specific Ruakuri cave. Following a short briefing we abseiled approximately 30 metres into the cave - attempting Rambo stylee jumps but failing miserably - and then started touring through the underground system. I should mention at this point that the group consisted of Matt and myself (slightly over excited and whooping every now and again) and the most miserable middle-aged Scottish couple who seemed determined to have an awful time from the outset. Of course this only heightened our enjoyment of the whole day and we threw in a few extra whoops just to overstate our case. Next we were attached to a flying fox and sent down in the pitch black to find some inner tubes waiting for us. We then positioned ourselves inside said tubes and jumped into the incredibly cold subterranean river that flow through Ruakuri cave - exciting, invigorating, daring or as Jimmy Krankie's miserable sister put it "just horrible"! We then floated through a long, glow-worm-covered passage which was spectacular and as we all turned off our headlamps we were able to lie back in our tubes, legs under each others arms to form a train, and float along under the hundreds and hundreds of glow worms that lit the ceiling above us. Getting out of our tubes we walked and swam the rest of the way, jumped of a small waterfall and then clambered our way back up through the cave and into daylight. A great day was had by all, sort of.

We were staying at a very lovely, basic and cheap campsite near to the caves which was run by an eccentric old fellow called Bill. Filling us in on the history of the area in very, very precise detail, he also informed us that the Queen got her dairy cows from a farmer just down the road. "Wow" we said and then Bill wrote down the name of the farm and the farmer on a scrap of paper so that I could write to Liz and tell her that I knew where she got her dairy cows from and that I'd been there. I've yet to pen that fascinating letter but I was assured that "She's very good at getting back to you", which amused me, thinking of all the trite that must turn up in her mail bag each morning.

Following our exertions in the cave we decided to take it easy for a couple of days and so we headed up to the Bay of Islands on the far north of the North Island. Here we boarded a sailing trip and cruised our way around the islands, snorkeled off a bay that we stopped at and looked out for dolphins as we cruised back after lunch. We were very lucky to find a pod of about 15 bottle nose, who we followed and who swam right around our boat. Unfortunately we couldn't get in and swim with them due to the harsh regulations - it could scare their young, make them sick and kill them or something - but they were great to watch nevertheless. By the time we docked though we were starting to get the jitters from withdrawal and so it was time to head off in search of another dealer and we heard that there was a great one in Taupo.

Being somewhat of an Aviaphobe (that's someone who has a fear of flying to the less etymologically gifted of you) I can think of nothing worse than getting into a small rickety plane, flying up to 12'000 feet, opening the door and then hurling myself out. So guess what we did yesterday? Indeed, it was the scariest thing but as my favourite self-help book states, "Feel the Fear and do it Anyway" - as an aside, it's also a favourite of Geri Haliwell's - I most certainly felt it, smelt it and dealt it all the way up through the clouds and until my legs were dangling out the door of the plane and I could see land below. I turned and smiled for the camera, turned and gave Matt a loving glance - only fair as it could have been my last - and then whoosh, my instructor had thrown us out and we were upside down and falling towards earth. It was THE MOST AMAZING experience and as we turned and floated, arms stretched out for about 40 seconds without a parachute it felt like we were gliding, or dare I say it, flying through the sky rather than falling. The views, the rush, the adrenaline were like nothing else and then as the parachute opened and we straightened up I realized that I was going to live and be able to recant a truly, utterly amazing experience. Matt had watched me fall from the plane and then he followed, I landed first and then watched as he came down and landed safely - such relief. We both loved it, as exciting as 4 minutes can ever get and certainly a big enough fix to last us our journey to the South Island where we are heading now, a place that we are told is even more beautiful than the North Island. Can't wait.

Vinegar Tits

After being stationary in Sydney for three weeks, we were both extremely excited to be hitting the road again. We have five weeks to explore New Zealand and intend to fit in both the North and South Islands. Our first stop was Christchurch, the only big city on the South Island, we landed there late Sunday night. Feeling a little bit lost without our Eric we headed to our backpackers - Jailhouse Accommodation. Now those of you in the know about Ed's unusual relationship with Prisoner Cell Block H will understand his reasoning in booking us into a converted historic Jail. Our room was a tiny cell with bunk beds and the original jail door. 'He used to bring me roses' was still being sung well after lights out!!

Our time in Christchurch and the South Island was actually short spent, we intend to spend the last three weeks of our trip in the South. So the next few days were taken up with organising transportation:

It ain't no Eric but the spelling mistake on the back made our day!

and getting to the North Island.

Our first stop was Tongariro National Park - home to the famous Tongariro Crossing - New Zealand's best one day walk. The crossing circumnavigates Mount Ngauruhoe, an active volcano best known for its cameo as Mordor's Mount Doom in the Lord of the Rings films. Waking at 5am, I'm still flinching as I write that, we set off on the most spectacular walk we've ever done. Taking seven hours to complete, we climbed the side of a mountain to walk in the clouds, then round the rim of a volcano and finally down to beautiful lakes created by volcanic craters. These photos just don't do it justice.

Me and my Ed took our roles as Sam and Frodo very seriously N.B. We don't want any ring references thank you Jake.

In an adrenalin infused state, Ed then drove us on to Rotorua, to experience Maori culture and geothermal activity!

Known as the Sulphur City, Rotorua lies on a fault line making it an active volcanic area. Here we visited a Maori village and saw the Haka being performed. This is the tribal dance used by the Maori to frighten their foe before battle. Today it is most famously used by the New Zealand rugby team before every match. The Maori singing and dancing was great, although we must admit to getting even more enjoyment because of the little girl at the front who forgot all the words and moves halfway through. We also have video evidence of her attempting to join in with some poi swinging and failing miserably - very funny.

After soaking the night away in a mineral spa under the stars we set off the next day to visit Waiotapu - a compact thermal area with lots of unusual volcanic activity, including a champagne pool, bubbling mud, mineral terraces and a spouting geyser. I must admit it was actually pretty incredible - again photo's just don't do it justice.

Being a country famed for its outdoor activities we are now heading to Waitomo Caves to abseil into black depths and jump off a waterfall. The boozesome twosome have also made a momentous decision and decided to join in with the healthy New Zealand outlook. We are jumping on the wagon for a month of no alcohol. One week in and desperate for a beer!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Matt and I spent Christmas and New Year in Sydney and whilst it was very different basking in the sun over the yuletide season we kept it fairly traditional - roast turkey on Christmas day, turkey curry on boxing day and far too much drink on New Year's Eve!

We have been staying at Lesley's flat again and got up on Christmas day to see if Santa had come. Luckily for us he had and I got very excited about opening my stocking which was filled with goodies - well if you can count a pair of pants and a Pez as goodies that is! We then started drinking (that's what you do on Christmas day isn't it?) and took a stroll along the coast and onto Bondi beach. It wasn't as hot as other days have been which was actually really nice, it made it feel a bit more like home. We went back and set up the dinner table and I started cooking our meal. We ate so much that we couldn't even face a pudding which, as many of you will know, is very unlike Matt and I. We had a really lovely day and finished it off with a game of Scrabble - I won but as I said to the others, "it's the taking part that counts".

From Boxing day to New Year we spent most of our time on the beach and only visited the sales once. We then met up with a friend from back home, Annalise, who we were seeing in the new year with. Annalise's sister was having a party on her terrace that just happened to overlook Sydney Harbour so we got a prime spot away from all the crowds to watch the spectacle happen. After a few glasses of fizz, a couple of Pimms, one or two Moscow Mules and a cold bottle of beer (or six) we counted down to midnight and watched for fifteen minutes as the Harbour Bridge lit up with an amazing display of fireworks. The party then carried on until the earlier hours but I won't bore you with all the details, well I might if I could remember them, but I'm assured that we all had a fantastic night.

Before arriving in Sydney for Christmas we spent a week in Melbourne which was brilliant. As you know we sold Eric as soon as we got there which was very sad but we quickly found a new love, it was Melbourne. Our favourite city so far, full of small funky bars, lovely little restaurants, great CAKE SHOPS and a very European air that made us feel at home instantly. We spent the week checking out all these little bars, clubs and cake shops and of course, we had to pay a visit to Ramsay street too.

I preferred this street to Ramsay street myself.

Going the whole hog we also went along to the 'Neighbours Night' which involved a pub full of 18-21 year olds getting very drunk and screaming their heads off when a man dressed up as Bouncer the dog - the real Bouncer died 7 years ago as any real fan would know - ran among them. Matt and I obviously felt far too old for it all and decided to leave just after the 'snogging contest' got under way. We couldn't resist a few photos with the 'megastars' (as they were referred to) before we left though. Matt made a classic faux pas by shaking hands with Alan Fletcher and saying "Nice to meet you Karl". Very uncool.

Is it just me or does Matt look like he could be related to Dr. Karl?

Melbourne was great and we look forward to going back there, when that will be we are not too sure yet. We have about six weeks of travelling left before we have to decide where we will go for work and as yet we are still not sure. Now though we are off to New Zealand for a month so we'll worry about work once we get back.