Rhythm and Vines Day Two

Do believe the Hype...I touched Flava Flav!!!!

Our Cool Crew in Front of a Cool Van!

A really cool part of this festival is that it is in the middle of a vineyard--We are surrounded by grape fields! Kinda like the corn fields at our festivals at home!

Yes, Effa and I did try to eat them!

Rhythm and Vines Day One

And the rain turned to mud... The jandels (Kiwi speak for flip flops) were too slippery!

Effa, me, and Tom lovin' the rain!

Franz Ferdinand!

"The Hole"

So today, I got a little crafty! This is "The Hole" --a really cool place we chill in at our hostel! It is a firepit. Notice the chimney on the left hand side. Amazing--keeps the smoke out of our face! I decided that we needed the name on the outside, so I painted it this afternoon!

Our hostel crew on the way to the pre-festival last night. And yes, we had way too many people in the back of the "Ute." (Kiwi speak for truck, or aka Utility vehicle)

The Pet Sheep!

We filmed this video only 10 minutes before we headed out to the pre-festival party. This "pet" sheep lives in the backyard of our hostel...yes, only in New Zealand!

The Hammock!

So yeah, this is what I have been doing for the last week or so. I have found a new love: The Hammock! I can't seem to muster up the energy to get out once I am in. Today, in fact, I think I was in the hammock for a good 23 hours! I had to finally come in after this photo as it was getting too dark to read...

For those of you who have never stayed in a hostel, I will try to paint a picture of what it is like. There are only like 12 backpackers here at the moment. It is a lovely hostel, very homey. The couple that owns it are retired and this seems to be their hobby. (I think they got a little lonely after their kids moved out) The hostel is basically a building in their backyard. There are about 12 bunkbeds upstairs, and on the main floor there is a kitchen and tv room. This place is great. Kinda feels like a tree house! There are always people hanging out. There are 2 English guys that have been living/working/surfing here for the last year. The wall that faces the beach on the ground floor is actually removable (rolls up-kinda like the walls in the Cowabunga bar at Zorbaz) so we open it during the day. It's pretty cool. Obviously, every hostel has it's own personality, I like this one! Maybe that's why I am staying for nearly 2 weeks! I will be here until January 3rdish...I think anyway!

We had a great Christmas. Ray and Avon (the owners) had a bunch of their family and friends over. We all hung out in the sun and chilled on the hammocks. We had a HUGE bbq--ham, sausages, hamburgers, salad, pasta and heaps of other food. For desert Avon made Pavlova--a very traditional Kiwi desert. Yum-o! We spent the evening playing drinking games and chatting. It was a great Christmas. I was nervous that Christmas was going to be very lonely--but it turned out to be a great day! Plus, Avon got us all presents and wrapped them and put them under the tree. How nice!! I didn't think Santa was going to find me!

One Monday I am headed to a 3 day festival at a nearby vineyard. There will be roughly 30,000 people there. Franz Ferdinand and Public Enemy are in the line-up along with like 100 other bands--Rachel and I are volunteering at the festival (we get our tickets free!) I am looking forward to it. I am not sure what my job will be there, but it will be cool to be part of it! It will be nice to have some "work" to do--doing nothing all day is tiring! It really is a rough life!

Until the next post...

I'm Dreaming of a White Sand Christmas...

I hope you all have a fantastic Holiday Season!!

Sorry the video is sideways; I can't figure out how to turn it. However, I offer you 3 solutions:

1. Turn your computer monitor on it's side.
2. Lie on the floor on your left side or
3. Deal with it!

Enjoy... Love and miss you all! xoxo

The East Cape

I look like I was Photo-shoped in this one!


Bananas!!!


Look at that Vertical!


A super long wharf, that is no longer used for shipping


Christmas on the beach!

Change of plans...

Hello Hello! I finally spotted the very rare and almost extinct Brown Kiwi bird. (Ok, it was at the zoo, but still!) They are sneaky little birds. They lost their ability to fly many, many years ago because there were no predators in New Zealand. However, the crazy English brought a bunch of things here, like possums and cats and rats, so there are many native New Zealand birds in jeopardy. Ok, enough science for you all! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I have changed my plans slightly. As it seems that the poor economy is a growing concern around the world, the restaurants don't seem to be hiring in New Zealand. Or maybe it's just too close to Christmas. Regardless of the reason, I have decided to just keep playin' rather than work. So that being said, I am leaving Wellington tomorrow and headed up to travel the East Cape and then the far north (Bay of Islands and 90 mile beach.) I think I am then going to a 3 day camping/festival for the New Year with the Irish crew I have met. It should be a blast! I believe I am then going to Fiji for a few weeks. (mom, dad, don't freak out. I will let you know the details as soon as I know, as I know you worry!) I am really craving the beach at the moment, so I think I may head to a tropical paradise for a bit, before my friend Karissa comes to visit me in New Zealand. We will then travel around here for 2 weeks. It is going to be a blast!-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I will keep you posted about my adventures travelling the East Cape and the far north very soon...

The Acrobatic Dusky Dolpins!!!

Lotza new photoz up...I had an AMAZING time!!

Dolphins!!!!

I will be swimming with these guys tomorrow morning!!! I can't wait! I have always wanted to do it, but never made it happen. Tomorrow is the day. Keep your fingers crossed for good weather, as it is weather dependant! I will definately be updating my blog after this amazing experience. There are apparently pods of like 200 where I am going. Sweet As! (It's what the Kiwi's say for cool!)

I am then off to Wellington, good ol' Welly, to try and find a job. Wish me luck, as it is a bit close to Christmas, which is very busy on the tourism side here! I miss you all...

xoxo Jerilyn

The Non-Exsistant Customer Service Abroad

Please bear in mind, when I blog...it's about things that obviously affected me in some way--whether small or big. They are merely a glimpse at a moment that I had away...not really my complete view on the subject.

Also, I am having an amazing time, don't get me wrong. Just want to share with you the backwards logic of some things abroad. Travelling only increases my American pride. America rocks! I can say that for many reasons. Reason #1:

After being away for over a month, living the backpacker life, (cooking most meals in the hostel kitchen) I decided to go out for a nice dinner. Working in the hospitality industry, there is nothing more enjoyable than going out for a nice diner and being waited on. (because we do it for a living, it's just nice to sit back and be served. yeah?!?)

Anyway. After travelling a bit myself, America is really the only place you go to "dine" out. When I first worked abroad in London, I was shocked to learn that it was rude to clear an empty plate if others were still eating. OK. It's a cultural thing. Leave dirty plates until everyone is done eating. Get it. Don't bring the check until it is asked for. get it. (or you look rude--trying to rush guests out the door.)

When I worked in Oz, the same rules applied. Service in a restaurant means: take the order, bring the food, and bring the check when asked.

It's just so different. Not wrong, just different. When I go out, I want to be waited on. Treated like royalty to some extent, yeah? You are waiting on me right?!

Since I have been away, I have met many travellers in the Hospitality industry. They all say, "I don't understand why you tip so much in America." Well, it's because we have high standards for the service which we receive. If service staff is not incentivized, (ie tips) why would they offer good service, or got the extra mile? Maybe that is why there is a lack of good service abroad. It's human nature; if people have nothing to gain personally, why would they apply themselves?

ok--enough whinning---America is great! I love it! The people that speak ill-y about it are just envious. So, take my word for it. We live in an amazing country.

Now please, don't take these words and think that you don't need/or want to travel, cuz America is the shit! Do travel. Increase your pride. It is an amazing experience. Even BAD service in a restaurant, is GREAT experience. Love it. Do it. Travel...

The Sea Lion!!

Lotza new pics on kodakgallery.com

check em out!

New Picz. . .

You can now leave me comments, without having a blogger account. Just click comment. Choose anonymous to post your comment. I love hearing from you all back home. don't be shy. . .

I hope I am not boring you. There are a bunch of photos. . . www.kodakgallery.com

Cruizin' to Milford Sound

This place is great! I spent the last 2 days in the Adventure Capital of NZ, Queenstown. I did very little on the Scary Adventure side, because I am CHICKEN!! I was gonna bungy. I got scared. I was gonna do the Cannon Swing. I got Scared. I am back in Queenstown in a few days, so hopefully I can get some courage! I bought a Bungy Jump sweatshirt, 'cuz it was cute; however, I don't want to be the girl that buys the shirt and doesn't do it, so I better muster up some courage soon! No one wants to be That Girl!

I did go down the Luge in Queenstown. It was a bit scary, but nothing like jumping off a bridge! We sat in these little luge things with wheels and handle bars--It was a big time! We rode the Gondola up and enjoyed an amazing view of The Remarkables (Mountain Range near Queenstown) There were about 12 of us from our bus, so we enjoyed bumping into each other as we raced down the Luge!

After the Luge, we went to a cultural show--The Maori people doing the Haka. It was alright--A bit commercial, but fun none the less!

Today I said bye to Jordan and Karen (they are headed North, and I am going South)--wow I have to meet people again! It has been very nice not having to apply myself! Actually, tomorrow I am meeting up with a group of Irish Folk that I met a few days ago. Jordan and I plan on travelling Central America next winter, I hope that pans out! They are great people.

Today I went on a cruize around Milford Sound. Beautiful! I saw some Fur Seals and 1 Penguin. It was hilarious--There were a bunch of Asians on our boat--and I am sure you are familiar with the stereotype that they love to take photos? Well, stereotypes are often times true, and boy do they love their camaras! Everywhere I have travelled, I have seen hoards of Asians with there camaras glued to the window of a massive tour bus. They love the photos! I am sure the Digital Camara completely changed their lives! Anyway. . . Back to the penguin. So our captain sees 1 little penguin, moves the boat near it, and they all went running. like 100 of them. I almost got trampled as they madly snapped away! It was hilarious. I got a great shot of an Asian dude taking a picture. It made me laugh. I will post it here!

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I missed you all!

The Moment

My favorite picture of the day!