It's the final countdown!

Oooops!  Apparently I haven't updated the blog in quite some time...

Since I wrote last I made it safely to Oxford, said goodbyes to Laura and Julica and was sent off at the airport with the most gorgeous sunset courtesy of God and Joanna (she drove me)...I arrived in Auckland and met up with Lindsay (my penpal since we were 7 from England) and her friend Jo.

From Auckland we rented a car and drove up to the Bay of Islands which was absolutely stunning and didn't disappoint even after 7 years of dreaming of coming here.  We visited Waitangi where the Maori and Pakehas (white people) signed the treaty, went on a boat cruise and saw dolphins, enjoyed some stone-cooked kebabs, started the cider tally on my cast, and got a bit of brain overload from all the information we learned.


We made our way south and then east to the Coromandel peninsula after a stop to see the largest Kauri tree, Tane Mahuta and to eat some delicious pizza at Pizza Barn in Waipu (pronounced why-poo...hehe).  Visited beautiful beaches on the Coromandel and enjoyed meeting Lindsay's netball team mate Karen who we stayed with.  Did a little hike outside Te Aroha and then soaked in the spa and ate more delicious pizza and drank more cider.

Left Te Aroha yesterday and stopped in Hobbiton on the way to Rotorua.  Went to a Maori traditional presentation last night which included a delicious hangi (meal cooked over stones), haka (war dance) and other Maori stuff.  Today went to see a geyser and geothermal pools/.  It's crazy how steam just randomly comes up from the ground here and there is bubbling mud in places.  Jo and Lindsay went white water rafting this afternoon while I got my stitches out and got a new hand-sized cast which is much nicer.

Tomorrow off to Taupo.

Prayer requests for continued safe travels, healing in my thumb, and preparation for the journey home.