My 8 month trip is coming to an end. I have less than two weeks left in New Zealand before I head home for a few months. Gearing up to go home makes me think a lot about how much has gone on in my life since I left the country and where my life is going. I’ll tell you about my future plans in a bit, but for now I’d like to share some stuff that I’ve learned on this incredible journey:
10 Things I've Learned While Traveling 1. You’re going to look like a tourist. This was rule number one that I very quickly got over. If the large bags and accent doesn’t make it obvious, the camera hanging around your neck definitely does. And you know what? That’s okay. Because you ARE a tourist (as much as I hate to admit it). And if someone doesn’t like that, then that’s really their problem and not yours. Personally, I hate looking like a tourist. But really, it’s almost impossible not to look like one, so you might as well embrace it. Just make sure people don’t take advantage of you because of it.
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As promised, here is the adrenaline filled blog post. We’ll go in chronological order:
Zorbing Zorbing was first. Matt and I went zorbing at Zorb™, which is just north of Rotorua. New Zealand is the birthplace of zorbing so obviously it had to be done. In case you don’t know what Zorbing is (which, by the way, is really a crime), it basically getting into a blown-up ball with water in it by yourself or with your friends and being pushed down a hill so you can go really fast. Simple, really. At Zorb™, there are three tracks you can try. One that goes straight down the hill, one that winds its way down, and on that winds for a bit and then has a more steep, sudden drop. When you go with friends, the only option is to go on the straight one since it’s too dangerous to have limbs flying everywhere in the windy ones. After asking the attendant at the front desk about which one’s were the most fun, Matt and I decided to go down the straight one together and then each go by ourselves on the windy one without the steep drop (the attendant said that one was more fun than the other one). It was so fun. I could try to explain it to you, but really I’ll just let you watch the video. It’s way more fun. The past month has involved a lot of people coming to visit, which is SO FUN because then I get to have a great excuse to go on some pretty cool adventures.
Also, I got to be a pirate a few weeks ago at Dan’s little brother’s birthday party. Which was a pretty great adventure too :) The first visit was from Heather and Kira: Sam’s kayak coach, Heather, came out to visit with us as part of her 30th birthday trip through Australia and New Zealand. They got in a few days before and Sam went up north of Auckland with them for a day. When they got to Waihi Beach they came in for dinner at the Flat White while I was at work. It was awesome because then we got to play Heather our birthday song and bring her some cake! I realize I’ve never talked about the birthday song, so I will now seize the opportunity. I love our birthday song, but I don’t like being the one to deliver the cake. We play the birthday song and come out wearing this obnoxious cake with candles hat and then give them their cake and make them wear the hat. I hate it, but people seem to like it. You can have a listen here and imagine me walking out with a very fake smile on my face as the chorus starts. Don’t worry Heather, my smile for you was real. Okay, so I’m a little behind on my updates. But I’ve got some pretty great adventures and stories to tell you about my last three weekends!
The last weekend in January was spent out at Mount Maunganui with Sam, Jess and Dan as they were all competing at the Eastern Regional Championships for surf lifesaving. It was a huge competition, with a lot of different clubs there. This trip has been amazing so far, and it continues to impress. I’ve gone to some pretty neat places the last few weeks; it seems as though New Zealand has an endless supply of adventure time, even while having to fit around work! I still get that feeling of “wow, I can’t believe I live here? Is this still real?” at least once a week. It’s a pretty awesome feeling.
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Meet AnyaHi, Hola, Bonjour, Ciao!
I’m Anya Phillips, a data analyst and travel enthusiast who is always on the lookout for the next adventure! Categories
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