The Adventures of Mona

Life Lessons learned in New Zealand Part 1

megsmiles — Sat, 18 May 2013 00:17:05 +0000

The world is your mattress.

Laundry triggers feelings of home which triggers feelings of peace. Proven.

No meal is ever as delicious as a peanut butter and jelly at the top of a mountain.

Traffic, road hazards, sheep, etc. Mother Nature’s way of saying SLOW DOWN.

When in doubt take a nap.

Smile at everyone, if they don’t smile back, keep smiling anyway.

Post Skype depression is only temporary. The mourning process speeds up significantly if you are able to hike to a secluded beach with turquoise water.

Take a shower every chance you get.

Not all countries have discovered the magic of Febreeze, bring it with you everywhere and share. (especially in a 5 person room after a day in the rain)

That 10 second rule for dropped food only applies in the US. In every other country it’s at least 2 hours.

Stop wearing shoes everywhere, your feet can handle it.

All you need in life can fit in a 65cu backpack. Seriously.

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Things I do not miss about New Zealand….

megsmiles — Fri, 17 May 2013 23:49:46 +0000

I’ve been back from New Zealand for 3 1/2 months now. And I am now only beginning to process the adventure I have been on. In true, sentimental, emotional fashion I figured this would be a perfect first post to highlight my transition back to the states. And on to the list…

1. 530 closing time for…. Everything. Pharmacy? Nope closed. Shopping? Nope closed. Coffee shop? Nope closed. Can’t wait for Walgreens and a 10pm curfew at Starbucks.

2. My wifi bill… I hate you New Zealand wifi. I hate you. You charge me way too much money to do nothing at all and then are way too kind when I have to call every week to top up my account. Wifi makes me feel like I have an unhealthy nicotine addiction. Actually, on second thought, keep on with the no wifi thing as long as SOMEONE e-mails my mom every few days and let’s her know I’m alive.

3. Fish and chips… I’m over it. And I’m over takeaway in general. I don’t want to takeaway to my house where I have to unwrap my soggy, cold chips from last week’s newspaper wrapping. I want you to serve me in a restaurant where there are lots of people. I want to people watch and talk with friends while I eat. Not watch Alpine Rescue in my undies.

4. Your street and town names… For once I want to sound like I’m not a three years old just learning to speak when I ask for directions

5. Assigned seating at movies… Why oh why did someone think this was a good idea?? And why is there a conspiracy surrounding single movie goers. Yes, I am at the movies alone. I am a backpacker! That doesn’t mean you need to try to set me up on a blind date by putting me by the only other single man. Especially when there are hundreds of open seats around us!

6. And on the topic of movie theaters… Looking down the row to see 15 people slurping ice cream cones is not my idea of a good time. Ice cream cones are not a movie theater food!

Honorable Mentions: Stepping in sheep poo and confusing clothing sizes

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An Unexpected Gift

megsmiles — Sat, 12 Jan 2013 07:04:41 +0000

I woke up early Friday morning dreading the long day of travel ahead of me, the eight hours of middle earth that I would swirl through. Car rides, bus rides, plane rides… If I’m by myself, I am an anxious, claustrophobic nutcase. But my thoughts shifted as I sunk into my seat on the bus and popped in my headphones. Looking out the window I couldn’t help but smile. And the more road we tackled, the happier I felt.

The bus ride that I was dreading at the beginning of the day became a gift.

One last sweep past the countryside I’ve called home for the past six months. The takeaway cafes sprouting up in the middle of farming fields, orchards of fish and chips and greasy noodles.

Barefooted kiwi kids biking in their togs, juggling ice cream cones and beach towels.

And trees, oh the trees. Giant plasticky Walmart looking pines and stumpy ones with octopus leaves. Beach umbrella trees and mock Japanese cherry blossoms. I love these trees.

And I love New Zealand.

Is it possible to feel homesick for a place before you leave? I think so, because I do.

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Jungle Fever

megsmiles — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 02:28:12 +0000

Shortly after seeing this man in the trees the skies opened up and gifted me with monsoon rains that threatened to strand me in the forest.

Coincidence?

I think not.

I know a sign from Mother Nature when I see one. It’s time to move on from Abel Tasman.

Next stop Taupo for a wedding and a reunion!!

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RMNP meets Fiji

megsmiles — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 07:07:32 +0000

Stepping outside this morning my senses were bombarded with sounds and smells from home. Colorado home. Hale Mauna. The mountain wind, birds, trees, crisp air, EVERYTHING screamed the cabin. it was heaven and just what I needed to get me ready for my long hike. I am staying right outside of Abel Tasman National Park and it took a quick five minute jaunt to make it to the water taxi.

Yes, water taxi. Sounds glamorous doesn’t it?

It seems to me that although Abel Tasman is one of New Zealand’s great walks, it isn’t really a track that needs to be completed all at once. With water taxi service you can get dropped of pretty much anywhere you like along the track and hike out to the entrance or to another point where they will swoop around and pick you up. I absolutely love it. Especially because the track outlines the edge of the coast and hits beach after beach after beach.

The scenery was breathtaking. It looked like someone had photoshopped the colors right before my eyes. Vibrant turquoise and green waters and bright orange sand. Truly an unforgettable place.

Clearly, everyone else in New Zealand thought the same thing. I wrote once before about the [conveyer belt effect](http://adventuresofmona.com/2012/05/15/get-off-the-conveyer-belt/) at Wash Park in Denver. Same idea here. Seeing as I was hiking solo my pace was pretty quick. I found myself passing a group only to be squeezed behind another crowd. Stomp, stomp, stomp. Ants marching in a single file line. Agh.

I made it maybe 1km in “the pack” before I veered off and went to the cove pictured above. I cut through the bush and found myself face to face with the most beautiful bit of ocean I have ever seen. I stripped down to my togs (swimsuit for you Americans) and dove in. The moment was such bliss trying to write about it only diminishes it. Beyond words.

When I finally dried off and made my way back to the trail the ants were gone. I mozied the rest of the way and couldn’t have been happier. Once again, getting off the conveyer belt paid off.

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Megan’s Ark

megsmiles — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 22:24:20 +0000

Despite how it appears, I plan things… Or I try to. I woke up early this morning ready for the ferry to the South Island. I ate a healthy breakfast, showered, checked the news, googled my walking route. I went all out. So setting out for the 9 minute walk to my ferry and realizing I went to the wrong one was devastating. Then to find out my actual ferry was another 30 minute walk away was soul crushing.

I now know how all those animals felt rushing to the ark. The story is always told from Noah’s perspective. What about the animals?? They were racing for their lives! In my case it was a race against something much worse…travel failure. I couldn’t even see my “ark” in the distance I was so off course but every bum I questioned pointed me in one direction. I pulled my backpack tight, growled, shook my fist at the sky and ran/walk to fix my mistake.

To be quite honest, once I collapsed into my seat on the ferry all I wanted was a nap. It took me awhile to recoup but there is a happy ending… I’m lounging on the interislander listening to a man sing about Machu Picchu. In a few minutes there’s a magic show. Oh and did I mention the view’s pretty amazing too?

*Sha la la la sha la la la Machu Picchu sha la la sha la la….*

Wish you were here.

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Wellywood

megsmiles — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 05:24:40 +0000

I am officially laptop free! I have a few more posts that I am working on saved up but from here on out its iPhone photos for me.

Today’s photo of the day comes from the Wellington airport. Tomorrow it’s onto the South Island.

My time in New Zealand is quickly coming to a close. I’ll try to post a photo a day to document where I’m at and then once I’m back I will add in the real photos/stories.

Missing everyone a little more each day but also basking in the amazingness of this country.

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Just another Kiwi cafe

megsmiles — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 03:35:58 +0000

And by “just another” I mean one of the most charming, welcoming, quaint cafes I have ever stepped into….no matter the continent. I didn’t write down the name after we left and had a pity party thinking this little slice of heaven wouldn’t be recorded properly into my memory banks. I should’ve known better. Any place with this much charm has got to be famous. A quick google search and I found their website…

The Corogate Cafe… Tea parlor, antique shop, and throne room.

You can find it somewhere along SH25 between Auckland and Thames. You’ll know it by the British flags, Santa Claus, and vintage bicycles hanging from the rafters. When you walk in make sure to look up…..the ceiling is covered in puzzles.

Ask for Angela. She’s a Colorado lover and and collects all things Christmas. And she is the loveliest woman I have ever met.

See it for yourself!

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Fizzy Sugar Headaches

megsmiles — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 02:35:15 +0000

One time my friends and I went to a music festival on New Year’s Eve and drank so many cruisers our cheeks stuck together with fizzy sugar. To try to remedy the situation we went to every food cart in the complex and purchased the saltiest, most fattening food to try to balance it all out.

The photo above is the result.

But no need to worry! We were up and taking on the world by early afternoon…. After more pizza and chips of course.

Here are my minions making our hot water spa.

We didn’t get far (cruiser juice was still pumping through our veins)

Who needs a hot pool in the sand on a day like this anyways?

One more valiant attempt!!

We never finished. But we did rent scary movies!

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Coro Gold

megsmiles — Sun, 06 Jan 2013 21:15:42 +0000

Every year as I celebrate Christmas with my family I simultaneously ache at the thought of another New Years Eve fiasco birthday. Every year I tell myself I will stay in and relax. Drink hot chocolate and marshmallow fluff and cozy up by the fire. Turn off my cell phone and fall asleep before midnight.

Sounds lovely doesn’t it?

Well, every year I fail. And this year was no different.

BUT…. It was different. It wasn’t the blinding neon lights of Vegas or the sticky floors of the Denver pubs. It wasn’t fancy dresses and party hats. I didn’t eat a particularly delicious meal or lick the frosting off of an XL cupcake. Nothing about this birthday was anything like my previous twenty six years. And that is cause for celebration!

This birthday was filled with….

Friends, some of the best.

Marshmallow fluff clouds

Close ups

Muddy kiwi feet

Jiving

and congo lines,

Neighbors

Sunburns

Wrinkle analyzing

and dancing,

Grassy recliners

Sunglasses

And tambourines,

Explosions

pizza, waffles, quesadillas, and churros

And smiles to ring in 2013.

Not too bad, eh?

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