Rotorua, Tongrariro Crossing, Vinyards in Martinborough and Meeting Orlando Bloom

11/12/2011

Hey Guys, 

On Monday morning we walked into town to get a car fort he next six days for going down to Wellington.

After we fitted my mums bike and my unicycle into the car (it really just fitted, so the car was perfect for us), we said „Goodbye“ to Helen and Richard and made our way to Rotorua.

We made lunch at the lake in Hamilton and met Steffan, Tim and Glenn again for a couple of minutes.

In Rotorua we went to the Maori Village Whakarewarewa, which is in a thermal active area. The water coming out of the ground is boiling, so they cook their foot in there. 

It was really interesting to see how the Maori live - they've all their old traditions, but they also use cars, tv etc. I think a lot of people never thought about that...

On Wednesday we (or well... my mum) drove us to a campground near to the Tongariro Crossing, which is on the other side of Lake Taupo. 

We woke up at 6am on Thursday, because the bus to the start of the Crossing picked us up at 7am. The weather was such beautiful. We were really lucky because the people who went the day before just had rain and couldn't see anything of the landscape. 
The first two hours of walking were really easy and everyone from the bus was close together. 
Later on we had one steep hill, which was just with gravel. So it started to be difficult, so people began to separate from each other. 
From the top of this hill we had a wonderful few onto the blue lakes and all the mountains (Mt Ruhapehu etc.) around.

We went down again, but it wasn't easy again, because the gravel was 
After 6,5h of walking we arrived to the car park, where our bus back to the camp ground came 1,5h later. It was really a nice walk, but I think I wouldn't do it if there isn't such a nice weather. 

On Friday we didn't really know where to go, because we had to be in Martinborough for meeting my hostfamily and her friends on Saturday, so we decided to go to Wanganui. It's a small town at the West Coast. We actually just stayed a night and drove down to Martinborough the next day.
Before we went to the Vinyards my mum and me stopped at a National Park to see a Kiwi.
Afterwards we met my hostfamily in Martinborough, which was wonderful. We had a lot of fun together!

We went back to Johnsonville on Sunday, where we had a big "Hairdressing Xmas Party". 

Later on we went to the Airport to meet Marie again, who was flying back to Germany that day. 
It was really sad to see her leaving. I knew that in about one month I would stay there as well with my whole luggage. 
The really good thing was: we met Orlando Bloom. He was just checking in next to Marie and first we talked about the pink bags he had with him until one girl said: "Oh my god, I think it's Orlando Bloom!" And it was him. 
So we were really lucky to be there... 

After that we went a bit around Wellington, because it would be the last time that we had the car. 

And then we just went into bed ;)
Cyah,
Sophie

Hamilton and seeing your Mum after more than 4 months

4/12/2011

Hey,

I can’t really believe that it is already Decembre! Christmas isn’t far away anymore.
Anyway:
The next three days in Hamilton have been really nice! I went on a Minitrip with Glenn, Andrew (that’s his brother) and his dad on Sunday. Andrew has a red Mini so we went on a tour with a few other Minidrivers.
It was quiet fun, although the motor is kinda loud and the car is such small (well… it‘s a mini).

On Monday I went Unicycling at a roundabout and I learned three new tricks (I actually can’t remember which ones, because they were quiet easy) from Isaac.
It was a lot of fun with all those guys – a bit to hot for doing tricks, so we just sat down for a while and Glenn had fun with my camera doing stupid pictures (on one Tim looks like a girl…).

We went to the beach the next day. It was black sand, so it was too hot for going without shoes, although the sun was between the clouds (that’s why it was too cold to go into the sea – what a shame).
In the afternoon we went to Chris for a BBQ. He has a cute kitten called Sam so we played the whole time with him and watched some “Big Bang Theory” – Episodes.

The morning of the Wednesday was really boring: we watched some Unicycle videos (again!) and just talked a lot. Then we went to Chris (again) and watched the “Big Bang Theory” (again!). Anyway: it was fun ;)
Then we met Ashleigh in the Westfield Mall. She does Unicycling as well, but isn’t really good in doing tricks yet. I bought some chocolate for Glenn and his family, because it was just wonderful to stay at their place! And I bought another one for Helen and Richard in Auckland where I stayed the next few night.

We walked home, had something to eat (sandwiches – if someone wants to know) and get my stuff into the car. Glenn and his Mum dropped me off at the bus station. My bus arrived just a few minutes later, so it was time to say “Good bye”.
It didn’t take long until we were in Auckland (just 1,5h), where Helen picked me up from the bus station. It was nice to see her and Richard after one and a half year, when they’ve been visiting us through the warmshowerlist. And that was even on the other side of the world.

After a nice breakfast with Helen on Thursday morning, I took my unicycle to ride to an Outlet Shopping Centre called „Dress Smart“, which is about 10km from where Helen and Richard live. The cycleway next to the motorway was really nice, although it was a bit hilly sometimes.
I bought a lot of stuff in this shop and I don’t know anymore how I managed to take it the whole 10km back again. I think I’ve just been wearing heaps of the stuff (oh, yeah, it was really hot!).

On Friday I walked the 5km into town and just had a look around (especially into the Rugby World Cups Stores, because they had huge sales, so the All Blacks T-Shirt were much cheaper).
From Newmarket, where I walked as well, I took the train back.

The next day was really interesting: my Mum came from Germany to travel around New Zealand with me. It was a bit weird to see her after about 4 months again and not even in Germany.
Helen and me cycled to the airport in the morning (I had Richards old bike), so after we met her, we said: „Well… you have to cycle 20km home now.“ But she was happy with that.
On our way back we went into an Icebreaker – Outlet, because they sell the Merino – T – Shirt, which are really expensive abroad.
After we stayed a bit with Helen and Richard (and talked heaps), my Mum and me went into town. We walked a lot through the city and came back to them a bit late, because the buses weren’t going really

On Sunday we just went into town again – nothing interesting (Auckland isn’t interesting at all…).

Cyah guys!

Sophie

P.S.: Sorry, that there are no pictures, but I can't upload them yet. I'll do it when I'm back in Germany... 

Writing in English… / Birthdays and Travelling north

27/11/2011

Okay guys:

Für alle Deutschen: von jetzt werde ich in Englisch schreiben, damit auch die Kiwis was verstehen… Tut mir Leid für alle die nicht so gut in Englisch sind – vielleicht hilft Google-Übersetzer ja (etwas…).

So, lucky for all Kiwis and Internationals, I’ll write in Englisch now…

Last Sunday a lot of my friends came to „my“ houseto celebrate mine and Alkas birthday, although my birthday was actually one day later, but because oft he Exams weh ad to do it one day earlier.

Laura, Michelle (that’s her hostsister) made german „Maultaschen“ with Spinach.

Later on Danielle, Marie, Ana, Heather, Alka and Sarah came. Ana and Marie made me a cake, which was such delicious and so lovely!

It was really nice with everyone and we watched heaps of movies (again).

Laura and Marie have been the only ones that stayed the night, because the others had exams at the next day or something else to do. But it was so nice just to speak about Germany and New Zealand (and the difference) with people who are in the same situation. In the middle of the night (just after 12pm in the night in NZ) I skyped with a german friend. It was a bit weird, that I wasn’t

My actual birthday was really boring. The weather in the morning was very bad (and I thought it would be summer). But anyway: it was nice just to relax.

In the night I went swimming in the Jville pool with another german friend – Louisa.

On Tuesday and Wednesday I just packed my whole stuff to go to a trip upper north to see my mum.

When I wasn’t washing stuff I was meeting friends.

On Thursday Lisa brought me down to the Bus Station in Johnsonville from where my bus went to Taupo. I met Dean, who is another unicyclist, there.

We went a bit unicycling while some BMX guys did some flips from a ramp onto an airbag.

On Friday I went into “town” (alone – cause Dean had a Physicsexam), but it was quiet nice, although it was a bit windy.

At about lunchtime I went to the unicycle workshop, where a few people tried to learn unicycling. I met the Hamilton guys, Dean, Boffy, Ken… there again.

They built a little trials parcours as well, so we did some Flatland and Street.

On Saturday we went to the skate park and some guys went swimming at the little harbour. We stayed the night in Warrens house, which wasn’t really comfortable (I had to sleep on the ground ;)).

On Sunday morning I went to Hamilton with Glenn and Liam. I was really tired so I nearly felt asleep for the whole trip.

Cyah!

(and because this post is really, really late…) HAVE A NICE CHRISTMAS and A HAPPY NEW YEAR – especially because I probably don’t have internet for a few day/weeks, wathever…

Bisous,

Sophie

Second Week of Alternative Programme

20.November.2011

Am Montag ging es dann mit der Schule zum „Weta-Workshop“ und etwas in die Umgebung von Wellington. Im „Weta-Workshop“ wird gezeigt, wie neuseeländische Filme gemacht wurden, unter anderem auch Herr der Ringe.

Außer einem kleinen Museum (mit wirklich sehr süßen Geschöpfen!) und einem ca. 15min Film gab es leider nicht viel zu sehen. Trotzdem war es sehr interessant.

Ist er nicht süß?

Danach ging es auf einen kleinen Berg gleich neben dem Flughafen, von dem man wirklich eine sehr schöne Aussicht auf den Hafen und die Stadt hatte – besonders weil das Wetter wirklich sehr schön war!

Danach wurden die, die wollten, zur Cuba Street gefahren, damit wir noch etwas Zeit in der Stadt verbringen konnten. Dort aßen einige dann erst einmal Sushi…

Später ging ich dann noch mit Laura an die Waterfront, wo wir das schöne Wetter genossen.

Dienstags blieben wir dann in der Schule und machten Trailer aus dem Filmmaterial, das wir aus der letzten Woche hatten. Es machte wirklich Spaß und wir konnten das Ganze auch auf CD brennen, sodass jetzt noch alle eine Erinnerung davon haben.

Am Mittwoch sollte ich eigentlich auf einen Mount Kaukau – Walk gehen, allerdings verabredete ich mich mit Chris, damit wir noch ein letztes Mal zusammen Einrad fahren konnten. Leider war das Wetter sehr schlecht und nach einem langem Hin-und-Her per SMS blieb ich deshalb am Ende doch fast den ganzen Tag zu Hause.

Donnerstag: Es ging in das Museum of Wellington was weitaus interessanter war, als es sich zuerst anhörte.

Wir erfuhren einiges darüber wie alles entstand und wie es sich entwickelte. Das Musuem ist im alten Gebäudes des Wellington Harbours, wo früher überwiegend Männer gearbeitet haben bzw. die Macht hatten.

1.     Waren sie meistens reich und 2. Gab es bis 1989 nur eine Frau im Komitee. Kurz danach wurde das Harbour Board  allerdings auch schon aufgelöst.

 Zumindest gingen Marie, Laura, Ana und ich danach noch zum Reading und brachten Ana etwas Deutsch bei (sie wollte größenteils die Schimpfwörter lernen ;)), während sie uns in Portugiesisch unterrichtete.

Freitag war dann wohl der (bisher) traurigste Tag der Woche: das letzte Mal, das wir uns alle so zusammen sehen würden.

In der Schule kochten wir dann internationale Gerichte: Ana machte mal wieder ihr portugiesisches Schoko-zeugs (Name vergessen…), was wirklich sehr lecker ist!

Laura und ich machten Apfelpfannkuchen und andere Deutsche machten Kaiserschmarrn.

Am Samstag traf ich mich gegen 11 mit Laura am Courtenay Place, damit wir den Bus zum Flughafen nehmen konnten, um Natsu verabschieden zu können, wo ich auch Meena und Chacha das letzte Mal sehen würde.

Es war ziemlich traurig zu wissen, dass man ihn und auch die Anderen, vielleicht nie wieder sehen würde. Irgendwie schafften wir es dann aber doch uns „Goodbye“ zu sagen…

Später fuhr ich dann noch zum Frank-Kitts-Park, da dort jeden Samstag ein Markt ist und ich bisher nicht dort war (nebenbei war es auch mein letzter Tag in Wellington, deshalb musste ich dort praktisch hin).

Danach ging es dann zu Alka, wo wir uns eine Menge Filme ansahen – Fluch der Karibik etc.  Dabei waren auch wieder Marie, Zandra, Heather und Sarah.

So, das war der letzte deutsche Eintrag, demnächt gibt’s nur englischen Text…

Cyah!

Sophie

Alternative programme

13.November.2011

Hey Guys!

Da für die meisten Internationals oder zumindest für die meisten Deutschen keine Schule mehr war, gibt es für uns zwei Wochen "alternative programme".
Am Montag ging es dann also zum Parliament und in die
Das Beehive (dt. Bienenstock) ist ziemlich hässlich und gleich eher einem Bohrmaschinenkopf:

... während die alten Parlamentsgebäude wohl die mit schönsten Häuser von Neuseeland sind.
(Das Foto ist nicht von mir.)
Auch die neue Kathedrale gleicht eher einem lieblosen hingestellten Bauklotz, währen die Alte noch aus Holz ist und wesentlich gemütlicher aussieht:

 Am Dienstag ging es dann etwa 15min von Johnsonville entfernt in einen High ropes Course - wäre der dolle Wind nicht gewesen, wäre es sicher noch lustiger geworden...

Das sind Luzia und ich in ca. 12m Höhe.

Danach ging es endlich in die Nähe von Masterton - Mittwoch, Donnerstag und Freitag waren somit recht spannend.
Mit einem Schulvan und einem Auto einer PE-Lehrerin fuhren wir also alle zusammen (Begleitet von zwei PE-Lehrerinnen) auf einen Campingplatz, wo wir für zwei Nächte in Mini-Häusern übernachteten.
Am Mittowch ging es also noch zu einem Nationals Park bei Mt. Bruce, wo wir unter anderem auch Kiwis sahen (der Versuch sie ohne Blitz zu fotografieren scheiterte leider kläglich - mit Blitz geht nicht...).

Auf der Fahrt nach Masterton...

Das Etwas in der Mitte soll einen Kiwi darstellen...

Im Nationals Park.... Er hat sich praktisch gar nicht bewegt - eine halbe Stunde lang. 

Eelfeeting - eine Ratte war auch dabei. 

Da das Wetter am Donnerstag nicht besonders freundlich war und deshalb der eigentlich Plan - nämlich  Water Rafting - wortwörtlich in Wasser fiel (der Fluss war durch den Regen etwas zu voll), gingen wir deshalb Caving. Zu Deutsch Höhlenklettern hört sich vielleicht ganz harmlos an, sieht am Ende allerdings eher nach Höhlenkriechen aus:

(das Foto ist nicht von mir, aber so sah es ungefähr aus - nur mit etwas weniger Wasser)

Wir waren also am Ende ganz schön dreckig und der Rückweg durch Kuhscheiße hat unseren Zustand nicht besonders verbessert (ich glaube manche waren auch vorher schon halb-seelisch gestört).

Den restlichen Tag verbrachten wir dann auf dem Campingplatz und vergnügten uns mit dem Rugbyball oder spielten Karten, also wirklich nicht besonders interessant (zumal keiner von uns Rugby spielen kann).

Am Freitag ging es dann zurück nach Wellington. 

Wochenende war nicht spannend... Mal wieder - safür war zu viel Regen. 

Cyah!