Christmas and all that craziness....

Firstly, I say the obligatory "Merry Christmas" to all my friends and whanau who have tuned into my blog over the year (as scarce as it has been). This will be my last post before I head off to kaikoura for a New Years family reunion then straight to Waiouru for the NZ Army TF Commissioning course. It'll be tough and I'm hoping my body doesn't pack out because its always a possibility with the injuries I've had this year. It's going to be wild and I'm looking forward to the challenge.

I leave you with this thought from Bono (thanks to Uncle Steve):

“a child born in straw poverty, in shit and straw … a child …the poetry … unknowable love, unknowable power, describes itself as the most vulnerable… love , needs to find form, intimacy needs to be whispered. To me it makes sense. It’s actually logical. It’s pure logic. Love has to become an action or something concrete. It would have to happen. There must be an incarnation. Love must be made flesh.”

Photos and stories will be rampant at the end of february when I return.

Peace.

swimming in circles

After a few injuries setting me back in my running ambitions I decided to take up swimming and a couple of weeks ago I thought the Auckland harbour swim would be a great little challenge. I didn't think it was such a great idea as I got into the water at Stanley bay but I gave it a go anyway! I swam in large zigzags across the harbour (it was meant to be straight but i was slightly disorientated) along with 1200 other swimmers. Great event which I would love to do again, perhaps swimming a bit more direct to the shore. I just got sent a charming photo of me running up with finishing ramp, I was swaying like a drunken sailor after jumping out of the water!

Pinnacles

I've heard about this tramp so many times and being the tramper I am it was criminal to not do it so on Sunday of labour weekend I latched onto a group going down from Auckland and did it. Apart from all the Aucklanders everywhere it was beautiful. It was incredibly windy up the top, we were clinging to the rocks to stay on - all good fun. In my view it was a bit of a tame tramp - short distance with wide tracks and lush hut facilities. If you're not much of a tramper or bushlover then its a great little excursion. A couple images courtesy of Mark Hoyle:

Can't plug this enough

If you haven't seen the dvd: invisible children then I would recommend you watch it before anything else - It'll open up your heart and mind to the real stories of thousands of kids in Uganda. I have cried everytime I've seen it and I'm not a movie crying kind of girl (honest).

If you can't borrow it then get it here.

a bit of rock hugging... and climbing

Saturday I hitched a ride with a few friends down to Wharepapa South for some climbing. I'm new to the rock climbing scene as I'm usually at indoor walls so it was fun to learn the ropes, haha im sorry, of setting up a climb outside. We climbed a few crags at Froggatt Edge and Bayleys Road. I'm busting to get back there and learn how to lead climb.

Ruapehu magic

Thursday 0530 alarm buzzes, we drove down to the Mountain in anticipation as the sun rose to reveal the clearest blue sky yet this winter. Richard and I arrived at the end of the Bruce road at the base of the Whakapapa ski field around 11am. We changed into our gears feeling the heat of the sun would prevent the need for jackets and gloves... The air was so crisp and we began heading up the ski slopes with our crampons on tightly (possibly too tight after rubbing raw ankles!) and the snow began to melt as our sweat dripped down heavy after reaching the top of... the first lift!



















To cut a long story short after 4 hours we scrambled over the rim of the crater, taking a slightly steeper route than the norm but in good spirits as we took in the most beautiful view and moon-walked across the thick snow inside the crater. We enjoyed a chilled speights and cook up for lunch by the crater lake and boarded down just in time to catch a stunning sunset with Mt Taranaki in the background. It had to be one of the best days of my life, magnificent mountains and the weather was perfecto :) I'm considering climbing Mt Taranaki next, once I've recovered some sleep after a chilly night in my car. If you have done Taranaki have you got any tips for the amateur walker like me?

diamonds

I just watched the music video to a kanye west tune I've got on cd and its pretty powerful - watch Diamonds from Sierra Leone on youtube . Its on a similar theme to the film that came out last year - Blood Diamond. If you haven't seen that movie it's a must, great acting and so real it will cut you.

I haven't been blogging much lately. Not that I haven't had stuff to blog on because I've been having a pretty adventurous life lately... lots of fun in the snow and up mountains. I will post some more photos soon. Peace out.

Deep South Travels

It's taken some time I know but I've finally got the photos form my South Island trip uploaded. 2 weeks ago my brother and I drove down all the way to Wanaka (and Dunedin) via National Park, Wellington, Blenheim and Christchurch. It was really nice spending some bro-sis time together after a few years and we discovered a new passion together - wine tasting. Here's a few photos featuring a glistening reflective Lake Wanaka and the surrounding peaks. If you've never visited Wanaka it is a MUST!

Click my flickr badge on the right side for more photos. We couldn't resist a jump off the Kawerau Bridge in Queenstown so we took the plunge and bungy jumped with a water touch, it was freakin' awesome, Nathanael let out the loudest man-scream I've ever heard and I didn't want the jump to finish it was that good!

bed appreciation

I want to post a big shout out of thanks: "THANKS" to all the wonderful friends who gifted money , time and muscle to the making and moving of my bed. Special mention to the builders and designers - Dave & Cam. It was a gift from a number of friends for my 22nd birthday and I love it! In fact I sleep on it every night I love it that much. Photo will follow as soon as I find where I packed my camera in my room shift this weekend. My new bedroom has a fireplace, thats gold on a cold winter night. There will be plenty of marshmallows to be had, roasted to perfection - beat that McCains.

I read a quote this morning:

"I was born not knowing and have had only a little time to change that here and there."

It's by Richard Feynman who I know nothing about but I like his quote. The more I learn in this thing called life the more I realise I don't know. I think thats a healthy frame of mind, as soon as I think I know rather a lot I'm walking a dangerous line to arrogant ignorance and I don't fancy that. I'm back to study now. One exam to go and then its time to enjoy the winter break.

the Tongariro crossing, another NZ masterpiece

Last weekend 6 of us drove down to National Park to hike the Tongariro Crossing. On the Thursday before the weekend there were gale-force winds and rain, we took the risk and the morning we arrived at the start of the tramp it was clear skies as far as the eye could see. We could even see Mt Taranaki from the summit! The walk climbed up some steep rocks in the first couple of hours and then levelled out as we crossed the South Crater below Ngauruhoe. There was a bite to the wind but the sun was still shining so it didn't bite too hard!

We took the side track up to the Tongariro summit along some dodgy shifty shint (I think thats the name for that gravel!). We made it in half the allowed time so we stopped for lunch at the top taking in the magnificent views. Trying out our navigation skills we made our own tracks to the North Crater where we made some very strange undiginfied bird and ape sounds to explore the acoustics of the crater which echoed.

It was such a good walk I would really encourage anyone to do it, you can take your time and still do it in a day although you need to pick a clear day if you want to appreciate the views we got to see.

The photos show a few of us on the walk. The station wagon is a demonstration of how I can compact into a boot packed full of gear within 20cm squared, well it felt like that!









Click on the photos for a big 100% size image. soak up those sun rays, feel the wind biting your fingers

Goodbyes

I hate goodbyes. On Saturday I drove out to the airport to say goodbye to Cameron who flew to Japan to live and travel with his girlfriend, Michelle. I know they are going to have the time of their life travelling around Europe and elsewhere together. Here's a few photos of Cam I just uploaded...

- Cameron going for a 'surf', read on for the full story...
- Dave and Cameron
- Cameron playing on the chessboard he made (did you take that heavy thing on the plane?)

Over a month ago we decided we would go for a pre-work surf on a tuesday morning and Cameron could use his new board. We left at some crazy hour (4.30am) and headed out to Piha. It was windy as hell and the rain was thundering down on the van, we kept driving! We got there to discover that it was still pitch black and a real storm had been whipped up, so we decided to wait till there was some light. Once we got out to the surf well, there wasn't any! Its the flattest I've ever seen Piha ever! I went for a swim in the rain and didn't even bother taking my board out... it was all worth it though just for the randomness of it all!

The life and times

Ahh, to be a student. I rewarded myself with a wee sleep in this morning. What for? Err. I've made it to Tuesday, thats a feat in itself surely? I'm really not that lazy!

I spent the weekend at the Navy base in Devonport watching JOIST (Junior Officers Inter Service Tournament)- I think thats what it stands for anyways. It was great to catch up with my fellow officer cadets from Waiouru training and I even played a quarter of netball (my first game in 15years!). Saturday night I enjoyed the priviledge of cheap drinks at the bar, where a night out costs a quarter the price of a night out in Auckland (go Government subsidies).

I watch Tsotsi last night as I've been meaning to for a while. I'd give it ***** top ratings, It's got some wicked music to it and the story really brings you in to it. It's about a South African boy who lives in the slums and gets himself into more trouble than he knows what to do with... see the trailer now It's won a tonne of foreign festival awards now and well deserved too. If you've seen it tell me what you thought.

Tuesday afternoon

I'm liking Daughtry today:



have a listen

Pancakes

It's morning. I've just cooked myself some of my best pancakes yet, I put cinnamon in the mixture as my special ingredient... adds a bit of spice. sorry i had to :o

As part of my morning routine I've been catching up on the world news on http://news.bbc.co.uk/. I'm disheartened to read about the Zimbabwe protest that got ugly, the opposition leader has been beaten up by the national police, what a champion. He came out saying

"For the struggle, I think it's an inspiration to everyone. There is no freedom without struggle, and there is no freedom without sacrifice"

What an insane time we live in, some countries seem to have gained enormous rights for their citizens and others are still living in a time of political and humanitarian oppression. I'm going to keep my eye on Zimbabwe and see how this develops. I hope and pray that their freedom will be won.
Back to my coffee. I'm drinking gotta love it

A new part of my life

I've just returned from 6 weeks in sunny Waiouru, it was sunny too... sometimes too sunny as the DPM top I wore would be sticking to the sweat on my back, charming I know.

I've just completed my initial offier training which has taught me the basics of the nz army soldiering skills. It was an intense time and there were days running up some big hill that I didn't know if I would make it to the end but I did and now I'm inspired to take on my next year of training with my local Auckland Unit alongside my ongoing University studies. Coming back to Auckland was a strange feeling, life here is so relaxed and slower, I had to watch I didn't swing my arms marching down broadway!

I'm not finding the transition too difficult however, I've once again mastered the art of sleeping in and layering my bedroom floor with clothes.

The photo was taken on my marchout day before the parade. 17 Feb 07

oh summer.

Happy New Year readers! When the sun has decided to display it's glory i have been there with bells on... and I have the photos to prove it (go to my flicker badge for more). I spent New Years Eve at Hahei beach, raindancing on the beach and 4-wheel driving with friends through tracks around Tairua. What an wild experience, we took the angle-meter off the scale on the truck! I did a spot more diving on New Years morning and saw a sting ray and some beatiful fish, God didn't leave beauty and originality out of any bit of creation. Here's a few photos from the coromandel. 1. me underwater 2. pohutakawa 3. Jo and I amongst it all.
I've got 4 days left to make the most of my summer freedom before I head off to initial officer training in Waiouru for 7 weeks of a completely different lifestyle!