New Zealand here I am!!

Hi followers,

I’ve been far away for long again.

My year is ended with the leaving of Sydney and amazing people and the departure to New Zealand, where I arrived the 1st od December.

The weather over here has been a bit crazy and quite grey and rainy for all these weeks.

My first two weeks and a half have been in Auckland, where, not sure about what I was going to do, I tried to look for a job, had two trials, then not decided to take the chance of a job proposed  from both the restaurants, I worked casually at three events and then left and moved south to Taupo. After being there, I moved up north in the middle of Northland, in Waipapa, close to Kerikeri and to Kerikeri.

Auckland is the city of sails, as it is called. It is impressive how many boats are anchored in the marina, around the Viaduct basin or on the north shores of the city. Everywhere there are boats and sailing is a must do activity during the day. Around sunset time, depending on conditions and wind, a lot of sailing boats and small yachts are out in the ocean. The city seen by the water is quite nice, not too big and not too high. The CBD in Auckland may be busy during the day, with a lot of pedestrians, but during the night gets quite chilled and desolate.

I can’t say I enjoy the city too much, it was too rainy and windy for the summer I was expected to encounter. I loved the suburb of Mount Eden, Ponsonby and the Viaduct walk through the bridge to Silo park and to the Marina.

Decided to move to Taupo for few days of work, I took Manabus, one of the cheapest company in the north island of New Zealand at the moment, because new and is trying to grow the business. The travel time was around 4.45 hours and went through Hamilton, then Rotorua to Taupo. Taupo is a nice town on the side of lake Taupo, the atmosphere there is really relaxed and people are quite friendly. Out on a night, I was suppose to meet a new friend and an italian friend, while we ended up to be in 5 at the end.

I experienced some retail work there, as Craig was opening his new shop and I went over there to help out. I spent some nice days there, being hosted by Craig and Denise. If you want to know them, have a look at Craig’s blog: http://cwoofing.blogspot.co.nz They are really good people!!

In the free time I had the change to sightsee town, walking around as I like doing, assisting a bungee jumping adventure from an austrian traveller just met and walking through the thermal park until Huka Falls, then back to town.

The bus to my new destination was then at 1.30am from Taupo to Auckland, where I had to change to reach Kerikeri and arrived there at 12. I booked my bus through Intercity.

In Kerikeri I got picked up from Roger, german fellow and family that hosted me for a week in exchange of some hours of work. The week has gone so fast, I met new travellers there, almost all of them Frenchies, but from cool places, like Tahiti and Martinique, except lady Beth, a funny crazy girl from UK. We are all helpxers, that is what people that use the website helpx.net are called and what travellers do when they want to get in touch with local, travelling on a budget and helping out.

The experience over Roger’s place was quite memorable, with a wonderful Christmas eve celebrating with international people and with a barbecue on the beach on Christmas Day, as kiwi do! Sweet as ;)

My next destination was supposedly a Maori family, that I was really willing to get in touch with, because I wish I could learn and know more about the culture. Unfortunately though they weren’t able to host me and I’m now at Murray and Sue’s place, still in Kerikeri. I arrived Monday, thanks to the Martinique's couple that helped me out, and I could already see the enthusiasm that Sue and Murray SUSCITARE in them. Sue and Murray travelled a lot themselves and have a beautiful family. They are so open and so warm in welcoming people to their place. I felt such a beautiful atmosphere here at their place.

Kerikeri is the Maori name for the town where Sue and Murray liveand means ‘dig, dig’ and it known as the horticultural centre of Northland; while Waipapa, where Roger lives means ‘place of water’ and has two nice spots with waterfalls and little creeks to visit and enjoy: Charlie’s Rock and Rainbow Falls.

2014 is already finished and the new year has started pretty good, with the one of a kind party house, beautiful view over a valley and a fully relaxing day, with a visit at the Ngawhai Hot Springs in the warm and sunny afternoon.

Weather is finally good, after a month of rain New Zealand is lately showing me some nice blue skies and sun :) life is pretty sweet when sun shines! eheh

My mood is better and I started to meet some cool kiwis and nice travellers!