Sulfur City

Greetings from Rotorua, home of New Zealand's largest Maori population, thermal springs, geysers, and... that sulfur smell. It's really not bad at all and you get used to it after a day, and it's relieving to know that it's escaping from the Earth and not industrial pollution or anything like that.

Where I'm staying is aright across the street from a city park with lots and lots of bubbling pools. Some are the size of ponds with bridges going across them. Reall cool. I had a sort of surreal experience there. It was maybe a half hour until the sunset, and I found this little area with a roof over it and a man-made pool where you could sit on the edge and soak your feet, and that's exactly what I did. So I'm sitting here soaking, the sun is going down and suddenly no less that 30 Japanese tourists appear out of nowhere. It went from really quiet to really loud in about two seconds. I got a kick out of it, it's probably one of those things that you just had to be there.

I went to the Polynesian Spa the next day for a long soak. After all, this backpacking gig is hard work. That's quite a relaxing place right on the shores of Lake Rotorua. If I had a little more money and a ride, there are a lot more hot springs that I would like to check out in the area, but they all require an admission and none of them are that cheap. Maybe I'll come back for some more after I've made some money. It's Easter Weekend dn New Zealand has pretty much shut down. There's no bus service, many stores are closed, and most hotels/hostels are booked solid, so I'm gonna hang out for a few days. Plus the Jambalaya Festival takes place here this weekend, it's sort of a Caribbean/Pacific festival.


PHOTO: Yours truly in front of the Poutu Geyser.


PHOTO: A pool of scalding hot water.


PHOTO: Boiling mud.

Inking the formalities

I got a Kiwi bank account today. I also got a mobile phone today. The rates aren't very good, but incoming calls are always free. Hit me up if you want the number.

Sorry this post is so boring, I promise they will get better with cool pictures. Tomorrow I'm gonna get the hell out of Auckland. I think I'm going to go to Rotorua, lots of thermal activity there.

Clockwise!

As long as that flight was, it really wasn't bad at all. Air Tahiti Nui is a pleasure to fly. The cabin staff all have this casual eloquence to them that is really calming. Plus they give you socks, how cool is that!

The big news happened when I stopped in Tahiti for 2 hours. I when I flushed the toilet in the bathroom the water went clockwise! It was so beautiful! 25 years I had been waiting for that moment. It was so... like a clock.

I touched down in Auckland and cleared customs quickly. Auckland is pretty cool, there are 1.2 million people living the the greater area, making it the largest city in Polynesia. There's lots hustle and bustle and everybody is from everywhere else. And everybody smiles.

I bungy jumped off the Auckland Harbor Bridge today (thanks Jeff!). That was much fun. I wish I had a digital image to post, but I've only got a hard copy. I also went to the Backpackers Auto Market, that was fun. It's all travelers with the cars they bought trying to sell them before they leave the country. It's a fun place to mingle and talk. Auckland is lots of fun and I will probably stay for a few more days, but at the end of the day it's still a city, and that's not really why I'm here.

What does the future hold? Stay tuned...


PHOTO: The Auckland Bridge seen from Westhaven Marina. I jumped off that bridge!


PHOTO: My trusty ship in Tahiti.

1, 2, 3, Go!

All my personal belongings for the next year weigh in at 58 pounds. They fit in and on the side of a daypack and a HUGE backpack. Thelast few days have been hectic wrapping things up. It's also amazing how popular you become when you're going away; there have been all sorts of goodbyes and last hurrahs these last few days. There sure are alots of people that I love and care about here in Western NorthCarolina, I hope they're all still here and happy when I return.

Off to the airport I go. There will be no St. Partick's Day for me this year. I'm not kidding, it simply won't exist. I take off on March 16th and land on March 18th. The Internation Dateline is goingto rip me off of one of the biggest drinking days of the year. Oh well, maybe I'll find a leprechaun to toast crossing the equator with.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: UpliftingShows is pleased to announce that theyare the exclusive New Zealand booking agent for the Great Slide.


PHOTO: International departures at LAX.

Live by the sword, die by the sword

I've been working steady jobs for the last 4 years, but not anymore!

Saturday: I quit my job for the last 2.5 years. Bye bye exciting world of concert promotion.

Sunday: I ran up an $80 bar tab, mostly on Wild Turkey. I went to the Hank III / Assjack concert and broke my glasses in the moshpit. I remember approximately about 80% of the night, but the other 20% is kind of a mystery.

Monday: I moved out of my house and in with my parents. I also went to traffic court on Monday, I was hoping to have my speeding ticket thrown out, it was only for 9 over but it would have saved me $110. My eyes were bloodshot, my clothes were shabby, and I had rather poor command over the English language that day; I had to pay it.

Tuesday: My old job gave me a going away party with keg of Heineken. (Thanks!) That ended up being another complete piss up of a night that I barely remember.

Wednesday: I snuck into the YMCA to take a shower.

March 16th: I move to New Zealand with only a backpack, I plan on being a respectible member of society again at that point.

So for the next two weeks, I'm a complete drunken vagrant and loving it! Being unemployed rules!