Hey Cow!!

Have you ever played 'Hey cow?'.
It involves driving past a heard of cows, shouting at the top of your lungs 'hey cow!', and trying to get them to look at you. The game is relatively pointless, unless you are lacking self-esteem and want someone/something to notice you.

But on that note, I went to Reporoa with mum yesterday to visit my brother, see where he works, and to say my farewells. He is a dairy farmer, and so we were lucky enough to be surrounded by hundreds of pooping and coughing cows.

Enjoy.

McD's hotcakes and yesterday's cooler Tauranga morning with my lovely, mini-friend Kirsten :) 

The beautiful sunset at my brother's house last night. 

Geared up and ready to go! And the sun rising while we follow behind Joe on the quad.

The second heard coming up the run to be milked! 

What can I say, besides the excretions, I love cows!

Joseph showing me the ropes...

Then showing us how it is done professionally. And mum's turn!

Yummy pie at this awesome cafe on our way home! These were the gimpiest cutlery ever.

Proof of the tornado-cloud that momentarily made my heart stop (I have an intense fear of tornadoes. No seriously, I have had about 4 nightmares with them involved this year).

Time is of the essence now in New Zealand for me, with just 5 nights to go in this beautiful country.

I still have to pack, see a few more friends, and do everything to avoid getting anxious about my flights and the dreaded farewells at the departure gates.

I just spent a lovely late-afternoon wander with Laura, testing out my new camera, and talking about how to tell the difference between male and female crabs.

Oh, my visa totally arrived today. One thing more to thank God for - lessened stress levels!

On Sunday I sucked up my fears and spoke at both the morning and evening services at my church, (the night time effort was much better I feel), and then I had a huge big cry with Britt. Ugh. I'm going to miss so many of you! But a year will go fast, right?

I know there are still a few people who I want to catch up with, but as time is short, I am not entirely sure I will be able to make promises for all of these friends of mine. So I appologise in advance if I have to cancel any catch-ups, or turn down any requests!

Two more posts and then a giveaway! :)

x

Drive home + Tongariro trip in January 2011

This is quite a long post, so bear with me!

Yesterday at 6.30am, we left Blenheim to catch an 8am boat, and to drive back to Tauranga. We stopped in Palmerston North, Whanganui, and Ratihi to see family and friends, and to visit my pop's grave. We didn't get home until 1am! The highlight of the trip was dinner at Burger King in Turangi at 10.30pm, when two drunk girls came in and sung their orders, and one wouldn't let the other eat until she had sung her a song! So hilarious, and they actually had the most beautiful voices. We couldn't stop laughing with them!

I found this awesome old Cadbury chocolates tin at the Picton Second Hand shop for $10! I love it!

The morning of our trip home - this is at about 5.30am yesterday.

The view from one of the portholes - leaving Marlborough Sounds on the Blueridge 'Strait Shipping' Ferry to Wellington.

The first two photos are of the South Island, and the last of the North.

Beautiful Mt Ruapehu. Looked so amazing at this time of night

Love it!

We had the priviledge of having this mountain to gaze upon for a good half-hour or so before the sun went down.

A blurry picture of Mt Ngarahoe... I still cannot believe that I climbed it this year! (See pictures below)

These next photos are from earlier in the year, but I just wanted to take a moment to remember the fun I had on the Youth Search and Rescue camp!

The first day of the YSAR camp at Tongariro National Park in January

Outdoor Pursuit Centre.

Joseph at the top of Mt Ngarahoe (day before the accident...)

Conquered this mountain!

A climbing collage...

...and another.

White water rafting! (I am in the purple helmet). I had to travel with Mad Dog our instructor, as I had injured my wrist the day before, so I struggled to hold the paddle for very long.

The day before the white-water rafting, we all went on the 42nd Traverse, a 42km mountain bike ride through the Tongariro National Park, and it was so intense! They extended it by a few kms just because they could haha. My gears on my bike screwed up about half way which resulted in many instances where words I would not otherwise use were spoken. And then of course, about 5mins from the finish, my brother's bike's front wheel came off as he was travelling around 50-60km/hr downhill on gravel, resulting in a trip to Waikato Hospital, concussion, loss of memories of the day, and plastic surgery to his face:

The day of the 42 Traverse + accident.

In hospital + visiting Joe for the first time (I continued to stay at the camp for a day after to participate in the rafting)

Our final camping location - with a long-drop without a door. So scary at night! And this is one of our native dragonflies! One of these landed on my helmet at OPC, and everyone told me to stay still and don't move without telling me what was on me - I was freaking out that there was a massive spider! When they told me it was just a dragonfly, it was such a relief.

Now it is home, sweet home, which means reality is back = I have so much to do! It is 6 weeks on Sunday coming that I leave to Kolkata, and I am getting so excited! I am also beginning to realise just what I am preparing myself for... and it can be quite daunting!

I have started to get a bit emotional when I think of the people I will miss here in NZ, like my family, my close friends and also NZ itself!

I'm dreading the airport farewells, and I just feel sorry for whoever has to sit next to me (I will most likely be sobbing away haha).

Just a quick thank you to a few people:

- to Sandy S, who I used to deliver papers to, for the kind donation I received in the mail yesterday

- to Jonathon W, as he has been where I am going, and is awesome at advice! You should look at his blog - he is going to America in just a couple of weeks to raise awareness about Invisible Children. His blog is here.

- to LIFE Church for a generous donation that is going to help me out dramatically. Please send some prayers its way!

- To Mai L for advice in regards to preparation - her and her husband are currently in India

- To Mark S from IS, for being such an amazing support, and for giving me all the information I could ask for!

- and to my friends/family, and anyone else who has made donations/pledges so far, and also been such a massive support in all of this! I appreciate it all so much.

Anyway, I hope you all have a fantastic few final days of 2011, I can't believe it is almost the new year!

x

Destination #1: Darjeeling

I have decided that every now and then I am going to do a post about some destinations and sites I wish to visit whilst in Asia next year.

First up, Darjeeling.

Look how amazing the mountains look.... source.

Beautiful children in celebrating the Holi festival - read the short story behind this photo here.

And of course, the thing that Darjeeling is famous for - tea!! source

Darjeeling Hill railway. source

Sunset or rise (not sure) over the city. source

Tea pickers! source

It is just so beautiful and breathtaking. source

To me, Darjeeling just seems so far removed from the India I will be living in, in Kolkata. Because of India's size, there is such diversity between different areas - and this is just one example!

Some quick facts about Darjeeling:

• The town and hill station of Darjeeling lies in northern West Bengal, India.
• Darjeeling stands at a height of 2134m (7053 ft) on a mountain ridge.
• Almost every year Darjeeling's temperature drops below freezing during the Winter season, from November to February. In Summer, Darjeeling is delightfully cool with the maximum temperature reaching about 20°C.
• The name is derived from its old name "Dorje Ling" which means "place of thunderbolt" and it was given the name after the creation of a shrine on its hilltop. Not only is it famous for its never ending beauty and fresh air, it is also renowned for the export of high quality tea in the world.
• After cold and summer season, there comes the spring season which is a blessing from the gods. During this period, this town enjoys its first season. The whole town becomes colourful with calm and cool clouds, and everybody loves to watch those magical moments.

x