Friday, February 8, 2013
Granite, Westcoast
Heya everybody!
Jesus I'm having such a great time. I don't even know where to start. Made my way over from Christchurch to the farm I'm working on last Monday. It's so beautiful here. In Christchurch I felt like I was at home, just in the summer. But here I really feel like I'm on the other side of the world. I'm staying with a gentleman who grows all his own food hydroponically, so it's not a farm per se, but Iv been getting in some good old fashioned manual labor doing chores; painting the roof, cleaning gutters, learning about the hydroponic process. The house is right against a mountain covered in thick jungle, and across the street is the sapphire blue Tasman sea. He only has me working 5 hours a day, with lunch in between, so after three the day is mine. I climbed the mountain behind us, went off path so I could do some climbing... got pretty scraped up after I fell off a ledge, but I managed to make it to the top where I found an abandoned coal mine. Been enjoying a walk along the beach at night to watch the sunset, then usually head in to town to the pub where I've been meeting more great people. Crazy shit has been happening to me every day, you probably wouldn't believe me if I told you half of it, I'm still trying to believe some of it myself.
I'm doing great. Apart from some sunburn and some new bruises, I have nothing to complain about. I'm set up in my own caravan which is fully equipped with TV, movies, electricity, wifi, and my favorite, a queen sized bed. Iv been here about a week, but I'm starting to get pretty comfortable, so I'm going to head out in a few day to change the scenery. Earlier I mentioned I would be doing the Abel Tessman, which I was wrong about. It's called the Heaphy trek, which follows the coast up to the top of the island, and that should only take me about 5 days. Hopefully il meet up with Seany after that at Golden Bay, then take a ferry over to Wellington for a week of vacation.
You can send me packages or letter, which would be greatly appreciated, to the adress I posted on Facebook. Also while your there check out one of the commercial I helped make which helped fund this trip. If you look real, real hard you might even see me at the end of it. Time is moving at a perfect pace, I'm having so much fun it's flying by, but I'm also excited to get home and start my garden and apply for college, so that slows it down a bit.
Il try and post more frequently so I can remember to include som details... Apart from the climate one thing that reminds me I'm away from home is the birds and the sky. I've been noting some really cool creatures, Tui, Kea, Fantails, all of which have very exotic calls. The sky here is upside down, there's no man in the moon, but there is a rabit. Iv been finding some pretty cool constellations you can't see from the northern hemisphere, and you can't see the North Star here.
Sending loving vibes back home, hope you all weather that snowstorm alright :D
Call me beep me if you want to reach me,
Peace and love, Jake.
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Spent a week in Akaroa fishing,swimming,hiking, and partying with the girls from the hostel and Sean. Then Sean and I hitch hiked up to Arthurs pass, got there a day late so decided to back track instead of continuing on. Went through a cave with water up to our chests, had to swim under some rocks to get through. Spent a night at castle hill where we did some bouldering and hiking. Got back to Christchurch a few days early, chilled with people at the hostel I went to when I first got here.That night ended after Sean ran his mouth about two Irish guys grandmother and had to pull them off him. Hitch hiked with Sean back to Akaroa and said goodbye to my friends from the hostel there, made plans to meet back up in Wellington. Spent the last 3 days camping out in Christchurch, enjoying some Jake time; reading, writing,meditating.
Going to work on a farm tomorrow on the west coast for about 10 days, then hiking the Abel Tesman. After that il spend a week in Wellington with the ladies..... then explore the North Island and look at the universities they have there. Looking into a trip to Thailand for a few months with some of the people Iv met, but who knows!?
That's the jist of things, if you want to hear the deets email me or give me a call!
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Aya mates!
Had a pretty fantastic week...spent the first three days in Christchurch, where I met some pretty amazing people at the hostile. My first roommate was from Massachuesetts, and I met a German girl by the name of Hannah. We spent the last day together walking around the gardens and parks, visiting the Mauri museums and got a bit to eat at the out door mall.
Camped that night in a field outside the city, then hopped on a shuttle the next morning to surprise Seany Mctiege in Akaroa. Once I got there I spent the day asking people if they had seen the "blonde American boy", and eventually found out he worked on a tall ship called the fox 2. The best part of my trip so far was the look on his face when he got off the dock and saw me.
That night the family he's staying with, his dads cousin, fed me a great meal and welcomed me into their home. Sean and I couldn't wait til the next day, so we hiked up a mountain and spent the night laying under the stars in a sheep field. I've noticed there's some constellations we cant see in the northern hemisphere, and the man in the moon is upside down.That, and the birds, is the only thing that really makes me feel that I'm on the other side of the world.
I've been trying to walk at least 7-8 miles a day to build up my stamina, which has exhausted me every night so Iv been getting a good nights rest. I get a bit homesick when I wake up in the morning, but all I have to do is go into town and talk to the locals, still have yet to find an unpleasant person. Sean and I knocked on someone's door to let them know there computer was outside, and the two woman who lived there invited us in for drinks.
Went out on the Fox 2 and got to explore the harbor and swim with some dolphins, which was sick. Yesterday Sean and I hiked to the top of purple peak, which is the crest of the crater of the volcano were in. You can see for miles and see the ocean on one side and the bay down below. Sean and I are planning a trek up into the Alps. As it stands wel be leaving Tuesday on a 6 day hike along avalanche peak.
Iv been amazed with the perspective iv gained while being here. It feels awesome to be out of GB and waking up every morning knowing I'm going to experience something completely new and meet new people. I'm learning a lot about my self, and with each mountain I climb I gain more confidence( and muscle ;) )
Had a pretty fantastic week...spent the first three days in Christchurch, where I met some pretty amazing people at the hostile. My first roommate was from Massachuesetts, and I met a German girl by the name of Hannah. We spent the last day together walking around the gardens and parks, visiting the Mauri museums and got a bit to eat at the out door mall.
Camped that night in a field outside the city, then hopped on a shuttle the next morning to surprise Seany Mctiege in Akaroa. Once I got there I spent the day asking people if they had seen the "blonde American boy", and eventually found out he worked on a tall ship called the fox 2. The best part of my trip so far was the look on his face when he got off the dock and saw me.
That night the family he's staying with, his dads cousin, fed me a great meal and welcomed me into their home. Sean and I couldn't wait til the next day, so we hiked up a mountain and spent the night laying under the stars in a sheep field. I've noticed there's some constellations we cant see in the northern hemisphere, and the man in the moon is upside down.That, and the birds, is the only thing that really makes me feel that I'm on the other side of the world.
I've been trying to walk at least 7-8 miles a day to build up my stamina, which has exhausted me every night so Iv been getting a good nights rest. I get a bit homesick when I wake up in the morning, but all I have to do is go into town and talk to the locals, still have yet to find an unpleasant person. Sean and I knocked on someone's door to let them know there computer was outside, and the two woman who lived there invited us in for drinks.
Went out on the Fox 2 and got to explore the harbor and swim with some dolphins, which was sick. Yesterday Sean and I hiked to the top of purple peak, which is the crest of the crater of the volcano were in. You can see for miles and see the ocean on one side and the bay down below. Sean and I are planning a trek up into the Alps. As it stands wel be leaving Tuesday on a 6 day hike along avalanche peak.
Iv been amazed with the perspective iv gained while being here. It feels awesome to be out of GB and waking up every morning knowing I'm going to experience something completely new and meet new people. I'm learning a lot about my self, and with each mountain I climb I gain more confidence( and muscle ;) )
Friday, January 11, 2013
First Day
Well rested after two days of travel. The 18 hour time difference matches up perfectly with my internal clock, waking up at 10am = 4pm in the States. The trips a but of a blur, stopped at the beach in CA to kill a 9 hour layover. Got (too) drunk on the ride over to Fiji, tiny seat but met some really cool people sitting next to me. Fiji Gold has to be the best beer I've had out of my limited repertoire.
Got through security again at the airport in Christchurch. NewZealand security is called the Aviation Security Council, an acronym I think is more suiting for the TSA. Immediately noticed how nice everyone is here, even the security guard was joking with me, and I have yet to meet an unpleasant person
Checked into Kiwibasecamp (hostile) around 5, then went and explored the city for a few hours. It's recovering from a severe earthquake that hit last year, but that's lead to some innovative ways of rebuilding. Ive seen a lot of places made out of shipping containers, and even a bar made entirely out of stacked wooden pallets.
Spent todayday walking around the city, laying on the beach and walking around the massive botanic garden in the middle of the city. The combination of my flight, realizing where I am, the weather, the scenery and my enchanting walk through the gardens has lead to the best day I've ever had. Meeting up with Sean Mctiegue tomorrow, then off to the mountains for a few weeks of hiking before I start WWOOFING. Couldn't be more excited for what's to come.
Got through security again at the airport in Christchurch. NewZealand security is called the Aviation Security Council, an acronym I think is more suiting for the TSA. Immediately noticed how nice everyone is here, even the security guard was joking with me, and I have yet to meet an unpleasant person
Checked into Kiwibasecamp (hostile) around 5, then went and explored the city for a few hours. It's recovering from a severe earthquake that hit last year, but that's lead to some innovative ways of rebuilding. Ive seen a lot of places made out of shipping containers, and even a bar made entirely out of stacked wooden pallets.
Spent todayday walking around the city, laying on the beach and walking around the massive botanic garden in the middle of the city. The combination of my flight, realizing where I am, the weather, the scenery and my enchanting walk through the gardens has lead to the best day I've ever had. Meeting up with Sean Mctiegue tomorrow, then off to the mountains for a few weeks of hiking before I start WWOOFING. Couldn't be more excited for what's to come.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)