An ordinary month................

It is time to write something. It's been 3 months since I've arrived and a little update from my side would be nice. So after sorting out first things in Auckland, setting my self up a bit I left for a little road trip. Plan was to get fast to south Island and spent some time there. Didn't work out that way in the end, but little more about that later.....

So here it is my month and some of things which I did in this time :)

In order to avoid driving on boring highway I took detour to west coast. First proper stop was in Whanganui. Nice little town with a few old buildings and river. Like it :)

Here is one of the old buildings :)

Then was Wellington, capital city. Windy as ........., but I had really good time hosted by friend of a friend of a friend :P

I even gave a hug to an old native tree :) 600 years old :D

First swim in the ocean. In the winter time.......... PRETTY COLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Actually it was damn cold !!!!!!

After short time in Wellington I took ferry and started "roadtrippin' " on South Island.
Every single person by far was telling that North Island is nothing compare to South. Expectation pretty high though.

It has started pretty well with was some stunning roads in Milford Sounds. I've tried few roads around the world, but I must admit that landscapes here are just epic.....

Near Kaikoura I found little spot with waterfall and baby seals playing around. I could actually touch them and play a bit. That is not happening daily......

I've seen some sunsets literally out of my window :) First nights sleeping in my van as well turned out to be awesome. Every breakfast in different spot, every dinner in different place but at the same time at home ;)
Yes, hard to say and imagine it but I call a van my home already :) What's more, I like it :)

As I arrive here in the time where most of the people leave it must be a certain reason for it. It is. Winter. Couple of years brake from winter sports in a way which I used to have them, so time to change it. Priority hang around mountains and snow :D
First mountain town, Methven with Mt. Hutt. I tried to stay around and catch some job. Didn't work in the way I wanted, but nice people around and good contacts for future. Although standards are totally different from Europe, which I will hopefully explain in future....

Another "camping" spot on South Island. This time of the year offers plenty of privacy and not many people around :)
But sometimes you meet people, so it is nice to ask them for a picture :)

Hello. Slawek, the little traveler in New Zealand :)

Situations changes really fast and only after one week on South Island I got a job opportunity back on North Island. So, without hesitating for long time I drove all the way back, paid the ferry again and changed basically all plan.
Opportunity arose in Ohakune under Mt Ruapehu. Didn't consider it seriously before, but life can surprise :)
So, again in Wellington after ferry with Laura again. Another good time. I visited Te Papa Museum, feed native birds in Zelandia, went for a concert and much more......

Hello Birds !!

There was another colony of seals. This time big ones, so not much playing around with them :P
If you think that your bed is uncomfortable, try "seal" way :)

Here is Wellington from one of the hills. Isn't that a nice view?

So, Ohakune. The place where I am going to spend next couple of weeks.
I am at the moment Ski Technician at ski shop in the town. New experience and looking at skiing from different perspective. Looking forward and actually pretty excited with skiing in New Zealand :D
It started very, very active. With "Kiwi" experience full noise.

I even got to pretend a deer :D

And after butcher it :D

There was also a paintball game where I received a head shot, but I still feel that my team won the game :D

So here I am. This was more less my month in short cut. Until skiing season is finished I am going to work few hours in the shop, ski till the dark and learn about "kiwi way of living". Small town, every one knows each other, one grossery shop around, one liquor shop, few bars and restaurants for tourists.
Is it a first step before coming back to "big city life" or is it first step towards nature and stepping back from civilization? Will see, but definietly it is a good life lesson.
As the locals says: " If you can ski Ruapehu, you can ski anywhere in the world" :)

An ordinary month. Make it worth !!