Paradiso Cinema

Last night a crew of us--like 15 people from our Stray bus went to see a picture show. The COOLEST Cinema I have ever been too. Very Bohemian! We watched Body of Lies with Russell Crowe and Leonardo DiCaprio. The Cinema plays older movies and is not a traditional cinema by any means. There are all kinds of old couches and chairs to sit on. There is an old VW Bug with comfy chairs inside. They sell homemade cookies at intermission. They also sell beer, wine, and dinner. A very cool business! It was a blast! Brillant idea. . .for a backpacker crowd!

Love It!

Jet Boating on the Wilkin River!

Franz Josef Glacier!

I had an amazing day today! I took a Helicopter up to the top of Franz Josef Glacier and hiked around for 2.5 hours. Amazing! Who would have that that I, coming from Minnesota, would ever be fascinated by snow and ice? Well, it is much better here, than the MN kind! It was so blue! The pictures do not do justice! Check em out http://www.kodakgallery.com/

ps: I heart fanny packs!

My Bone Carved Necklace--Carved by Me!

I am loving the South Island!! I arrived here on Friday the 21st--It was a gorgeous ferry fride. The ferry left Wellington at about 7am, and we made our way across the Cook Strait--only 19 miles, but it took nearly 3 hours, as we had to make our way through the Charolette Sound. Amazing! So many dips in the land, with water all around. So Green! So many mountains! This place is unreal.

We headed to Nelson, to spend 2 nights in the "sunniest" city in NZ. However, it rained the whole time! Just bad luck I guess. I guess you take the good with the bad when you travel for 4 months. Our hostel was really nice--pool, sauna, it was like club med for the backpacker. and it was only $20nz, which is like $11us. Our dollar is doing really well against the kiwi dollar. It is so cheap here! Love it!

On Saturday we headed to the market in town. Loads of cool stuff. I want to buy everything, but the one hitch. . . If I buy it I have to carry it around for the next 3.5 months. So it is easy to say no! Really nice market though.

A bunch of kids well, like 4 of them, and they were like 18, were at our hostel tonight. Ignorant! One of the German kids, was a complete wanker. The instant he found out I was American, he asked me who I voted for. (not the first time, by the way. probably the 12th) What?!? You don't ask that. Even if you know someone well, you don't ask that. Seriously! So I said, "What, you don't even know my name." He said, "Sorry, what's your name?" I replied, and he said, "Oh hi Jerilyn. So who did you vote for?"

It is amazing to me that people feel so strongly about American politics that they would put all poise aside to ask such a stupid question. Seriously! One of the other girls in their group, who was a Kiwi asked me if all Americans are like Paris Hilton. What?!? So I said, "Yes. Americans are super ditzy. Must of them don't even know that we share a border to Canada. And they think that chocolate milk comes from brown cows. yea, Americans are pretty ignorant." She said, "Yeah, that's what I thought. It seems like the whole lot of America knows nothing." What?! Seriously. I probably shouldn't feed into these stereotypes, but if you are that stupid to believe shit like that, then I guess you don't want/need to know the truth about anything other than your comfortable world.

ok. enough ranting. travelling is good. you learn so much about not only yourself, but the way the world views you. (well, the way the world backpacker views you anyway.)

On Sunday, we caught the Stray bus to Abel Tasman National park. A gorgeous national park on the west coast. However, it rained the ENTIRE time we were there. We read all day. Had a indoor BBQ at night and played drinking games, wishing the rain away!

Yesterday, was Jordan's (one of my new canadian pals) birthday. We had a very exciting day on the bus, as we made our way to Barrytown. The whole bus had 25 "challanges" for her to complete through out the day. There were many laughs as she kissed a stranger, got a photo with a cop, helped an old lady cross the street, and drink a beer from a shoe. It was good fun!

Barrytown, is a wee little village, with basically a pub and a hostel. So, a lot of crazyness takes place. After arriving, I headed out to carve my own necklace out of bone. It was so much fun! Very rewarding! (See photo above) It was very time consuming. My ADD was in full effect, as I just wanted it to be done. In the end, it was well worth it. One of a kind, made by me!

So, you might be wondering about the crazy glasses and crown in the above photo... Because there is nothing to do in Barrytown, everyone dresses up in crazy clothes and hangs out in the pub for a crazy dance party. It was so much fun! So yeah--the glasses may make it into some more random photos on my journey. Get ready!!

I am currently in Franz Josef. Tomorrow, I am headed into a helicopter to be dropped of on Franz Josef Glacier. It is gong to be incredible. I will post pics asap! Apparently the ice is blue, and there are all kinds of caves to explore. I didn't realize that glaciers can exsist in warmer climates. I always thought they were only in Antarctica. Who knew?!? It is going to be amazing; I cant wait!! Keep your fingers crossed for sunshine tomorrow! The rain has supposedly ended for now.

Cheers to you all. love ya!

Check it out!

New photos are up on www.kodakgallery.com

In Wellington--Headed to the South Island on Friday!

Hey all--- It has been awhile since I updated you, so I will try to remember what has happened since I last wrote! The above picture is our "Clique" as we like to call ourselves in front of our Stray bus.

I went Zorbing down a big hill--It was heaps of fun. They basically strap you into this large ball that is filled with air. You then roll down a hill. Reminds me of when my sister's hamster fell down the stairs in it's little hamster ball. Good Fun!!

We have been exploring some cool little cities. I have gone on some amazing walks to see some great views. It is absolutely breathtaking! I can't wait to get to the South Island, as I have heard it is even better! I am headed to Nelson (SI) on Friday, and then to Abel Tasmen National Park. I think I am going to go on a big kayak trip when I am there. I can't wait.

Everyday is so exciting and so new...It is hard to keep track of everything I have done.

Today we stopped in this little town that has a boot throwing contest every easter. The English call em Wellies, we call em rubber boots, and the Kiwis call em Gum Boots, and throw them through the air. Crazy little country this is! It was a lot of fun however!!

Well, I am off to explore Wellington. I am headed to the South island on Friday, and then will be back here in a couple weeks to start the job hunt. I have heard this is a great place to work. Time will tell. . .

Hugs and kisses---Jeri

PS --I rejoined Facebook. I guess it is the only way to keep in touch with all the cool people I am meeting here. and no Cole, I would not join a crazy Natzi Regime just cuz everyone else was!! Find me on Facebook--- jerilyn@zorbaz.com

Tree Hugging...It'z My New Thing...

My newest picz are now online. Same deal. http://www.kodakgallery.com/

my email: jerilyn@zorbaz.com

user name: zorbaz

click on the New Album. Click Slideshow (top right)

enjoy. . .

I have had a crazy few days since I last updated this page! I have been hanging out with a very fun group the last couple days. We spent Wednesday laying on the beach avoiding the nasty sand flies and working on our sunburn, er I mean tan. That Evening the 6 of us made pasta for dinner in our hostel and hung out and chatted. I really wish you could have heard the conversations. We are hanging out with this really load English dude Chris. He is hillarious, always joking about how the English just took over countries and put a flag down back in the day. "Look mate, we've got more land!" It was very funny!

Yesterday morning we headed to Waitomo caves to do a wee bit of caving. It. Was. Amazing! After squeezing into our already wet wetsuits, we headed through a herd of sheep to enter the cave. I was a bit nervous. They asked us if we were claustraphobic, I said no. But do I really know? Have I spent a lot of time under ground in a cave with a river running through it? No. Not at all actually! Anyway. . .We decended undergound about 20 meters and had to jump in the water. It was very cold!! Ridiculously cold actually! However, I was wearing a wetsuit, so it wasn't uber uncomfortable. We did some caving and blackwater rafting. It was great fun. I wish I could explain things a bit more vividely for you, but just take my word for it. We had to shimmy through some very small openings, not easy to do with wellies on! (Rubber boots for all the Americans out there.) We were underground for about two hours playing in the ground water that rushed through the cave. It was an experience of a lifetime!

After the caves we went to a shearing shed about 1/2 mile down the road. They were shearing Angora Rabitts!! It was very sad and funny at the same time. The rabbits were all cute and furry, but then we saw the one tied up being sheard. Poor thing! I have loads of pics, I am sure you will get a laugh or two!

In the evening we headed to a Maori Cultural dinner and show. It was quite fun. I will fill you in later, as my crew is headed out to go Zorbing---yes Zorbing. Its like a large Hamster ball that you ride in down a hill. And yes, Mo, I will go again when you come to visit! I will post a bunch of photos later on as well.

Love and miss you all!

The Tour Haz Begun. . .

I started my tour yesterday, and we have already done so much. We left Auckland and hiked to Cathedral Cove for a fun afternoon on the beach. My group is pretty cool. I have been hanging with 2 girls from Canada and a chick from Scotland. Last night we dug a hole in the sand and sat in a hot bath. It was so HOT!!! There were spots that were too hot to stand on. It is crazy that this much heat is coming up from the ground! Very fun.

Today was beautiful. We hung out on the beach. Hugged some big important tree. Had group BBQ. and are going down a big zip line tonight after it gets dark. So far, so good. A few of us are staying here tonight and getting on a new bus on Thursday, because this place is really cool. Big surfer town= hotties with surfboards!

Anyway. Having a blast. Thursday we are going Black Water rafting, which is tubing in an underground river in total darkness. Should be a great time!

Wagamama Anyone?

To all of the folks from home who visited me in London:

Remember Wagamama?!? I totally had dinner there tonight. Brilliant...

Auckland and Rangitoto Island

So, last night I was sitting at a bus stop after dinner and this gent asked me for direction. What?!? I don't even know where I am going!

It is amazing how getting out of my comfort zone can be so enlightening. You don't even realize how comfortable life is, until you are in a completely foreign environment. Getting from point A to B, now requires thought and planning. Unlike at home, life abroad isn't second nature. Love it!

Yesterday I took a ferry to Rangitoto Island. It was gorgeous! It is a volcanic Island that just popped out of the ocean 600 years ago. Imagine standing on an island that used to be part of the earth's core only a few years ago! I was shocked to see trees on the island. How can they grow on lava rock? How did the seeds get there? The Answer: Birds. Life and the entire ecosystem are pretty amazing. Everything has to be just right.

After climbing to the top, (stopping to catch my breath!) I enjoyed the spectacular views. When you look at such amazing things, you really feel a bit insignificant. It puts everything into perspective. Don't take life too seriously. Easy to say while I am here. Maybe, this is why I travel. It balances out my very serious and focused work life at home. I get a little of both. Because we all know that in order to succeed professionally, you MUST take it very seriously and be very focused. I guess, one could live this Hippy lifestyle always, but that is just not me. I will enjoy it for the time being. It is a great place to visit. . .

I had dinner at a cute little Italian place last night called Prego. I am a sucker for woodfired pizza! I enjoyed a caprese salad and a margarita za, while chatting with the bartender about New Zealand. (It was election night, and apparently the polls are showing that NZ may follow America's lead.) It appears that I, being an American, am looked at in a more positive light, because Obama was elected. I have seen/heard ugly things about Americans under the Bush Administration while I was in London. Does this mean I no longer have to "pretend" to be Canadian?

If you would like to check out my photos, logon to http://www.kodakgallery.com/ and sign in.

username: jerilyn@zorbaz.com

password: zorbaz

Click on New Zealand Album>Click Slideshow (top Right)

I Am Here!!!

I survived the trecherously long day of travelling! The flight across the Pacific was 14 hours, but it went well (despite my uncontrollable ADD and difficulty with being still and quite for more than 12.5 minutes.) I watched a movie, they fed us some dinner, and I actually slept for about 8 hours! Over-seas flights are much more enjoyable than the typical flight within the States. I drank a couple glasses of wine and popped some benadryl; I was out! Before I knew it, they were serving breakfast. As we were descending from the 40,000 ft we were travelling at for the past 14 hours, I began to see the ocean with multiple islands in the distance. New Zealand looks so beautiful from up there. It's so green! There are pastures of green grass intertwined with winding green hills and trees. It was amazing! I landed here at about 7am today (which is Friday.)

It didn't take me long to become a "Kiwi Citizen." I opened a checking account, got my Tax ID number, and a Cell phone all within a couple hours on dry land. All incoming calls and texts are free to my phone, I only pay outgoing usage. So, go ahead, text and call away all you want!! However, some text messages get lost in outerspace, as there is a different system here, so if I dont get back to you--try sending it again! Be sure you dial the entire number with the country code: 011-64-27-238-6179 You may be able to get a cheap calling card from Wal-Mart or something---It will probably be spendy to call from your cell phone. I got a calling card, and it is only $0.10NZ a minute= $0.06US If this is actually true, that is super cheap!

I am going to stay in Auckland until Monday, then I am headed to see this great country. I booked a 30-35 day bus trip around the country starting on Monday morning. The bus trip is very similar to the one I did in Australia. I can get off anywhere I want and a new bus comes through every other day. This is nice, because sometimes you want to stay longer in an area, or you just want to switch up the people you are travelling with. I am travelling with a company called "Stray," and their motto is "Get Further of the Beaten Track." I can't wait! We will be doing all kinds of crazy things from an overnight Maori Cultural stay to Dune Surfing to Swimming in Hot Pools--where the "Hotness" comes up from the center of the earth--as there are many volcanos (both active and inactive) in New Zealand.

I promise this Blog will get more interesting as I dive head first into the amazingness of this place! I can't wait to take you along!

That's all for now...Be sure to stay in touch!

On My Way. . .

I am off and running to New "Z"-Land! Just in the midst of my long day of travelling. Headed to LA next. I will arrive in Auckland at Noon on Thursday Minnesota time. I will write again once I am settled!