Puking With Dolphins

Dolphin
Originally uploaded by Johnnie Shannon.

First the good news: it's stopped raining. Mostly anyway. Which is nice.

Over the last few days we've been staying with Mike, top bloke from the South America trip, and Jacquie (and her brother Andrew) has been around too. We've done heaps of things around Tauranga, which is a really, really great place to be. There's sea (good for beaches, boogie boarding), land (good for beaches, walking), hot spars (good for relaxing, relaxing), and there's a few good bars as well.

Also, there are boat trips out into the Bay of Plenty to try and see and swim with dolphins. Which is what Iona and I have been up to today. The morning dawned grey and murkey, as has been its wont recently. However, as soon as we were out on the water it cleared up to patches of blue sky pretty quickly, and the sea was absolutely perfect: calm, deep blue, with just a hint of a gentle swell.

Ahh, the gentle swell. This was just enough to make Iona feel a bit queasy. And then a bit nauseous. And then a bit like throwing up over the side. Which was a real shame, as by that time there were heaps of dolphins all around us. We're not allowed to be in the water while juveniles are around, so there was a fair amount of time just watching pods come up to frolic under the boat.

After a bit, we lost all the young ones (dolphins that is, not the kids on the boat) and so into the water it was. Iona had perked up a bit by now, so we were part of the first group. Swimming with dolphins isn't quite how I imagined it, as it consisted of being towed behind the boat, holding on to a metal bar. Whatever, we say loads of dolphins really close up, which was really great. I managed to wangle a second go as well, which was top. Iona also managed a second go, but more on the vomit stakes. Hey ho.

Trip back was lovely, sitting out on the bow in the sun: it really was an awesome morning out. Iona felt better as well, and the puking didn't spoil her day too much.

As you can see, I now have a new camera. Photos ahoy as usual on Flickr.

Kia Ora

Those of you who I have bored previously with details of my last trip to New Zealand will remember (or not as the case may be) that there was a fair bit of really crap weather. This time, though, it's exactly the bloody same. Bugger!

However, the forecast is for a bit better stuff, and Iona and I haven't been too bored yet. First day was really sunny actually, and we lounged around on the beach in Devonport, on North Shore, Auckland. We then thought it would be a good idea to lounge on beaches further north, in the Bay of Islands, and catch some dolphin watching at the same time. All would have been well, but the heavens opened (for the first time in three months aparently) and it pissed down. And hasn't stopped really.

So, yesterday we headed south for Auckland again, and we're just doing the sites now. Fingers crossed for a bit better weather in the days/weeks ahead.

In Paradise

After the hectic time I had in Easter Island, I needed somewhere to calm down and chill out. And so I find myself at Moorea Camping.

French Polynesia is expensive. Really expensive. Really, really expensive. Especially after being in South America for a few months. I mean, 6quids an hour for the internet. They are having a laugh eh? Still, there are upsides.

The camping ground where I'm staying is about the cheapest place to stay on any of the islands. Moorea (an island just off Taihiti) is fabulously beautiful, and the campsite is just on the beach. So, when dining, I can survey the turquoise lagoon, study the breakers on the reef about half a mile distant, and listen to the distant roar of thunder from a nearby tropical storm.

Not much to do here really. Have to keep reminding myself that for some people this would be a holiday of a lifetime, but to me, it's really just a bit of time killing until I get to NZ. Or, more to the point, I know NZ is great and all, but it's just a bit of time killing until I see Iona. Next Sunday.

Woo! Yay!

Let's Off Road

So, Easter Island eh. Rapa Nui. Loads of culture, Moais (that's those big head statue things to you), beautiful coastline, friendly people, really relaxed atomosphere. Yeah, whatever.

There's only one thing to do on Easter Island. Hire yourself a 4x4 and have some fun!

I've never actually driven one of these things before, and it's been about four months since I last drove anything. However, I soon got the knack back, and headed for the hills. Really, really good fun driving these things off road, going up some pretty hairy tracks and generally bashing the jeep about a bit. Good not having to worry that it was my car, bad worrying that I had no insurance. All was well that ended well, and returned car and self in good order.

Actually, the Maoi are a fantastic sight. Hard to believe that there are people who land on Easter Island and don't bother to take time (it only really takes a day) to see the sights. If you ever find yourself on the most isolated inhabited island in the world, give yourself a break and get off for a bit.

Top Ten South American Thangs

As my sojurn in South America draws to a close, I thought in best end-of-term school report stylee, I´d select the top ten places/things I´ve been/done over the last three months or so. And all you have to do is

click here ...

and read the insightful, erudite and informative descriptions I have handily placed there for you.

Easy huh?

Oh, and of course, Rio would have featured, but, as everyone seems to keep on reminding me, I´ve lost my camera. Tshhhh.

Happy New Year!

Well, I had an interesting night. Went over to Copacobana Beach at around 5, found the sun was still too hot so hung around a bar for a bit, watching some crazy street entertainment going on as well.

At about 8.30 we found out that some guys from another tour who we got on with really well were on the beach somewhere. Didn´t have top directions, but Chris and I decided to try and find them anyway. With around 1 million people on the beach at that time, you may have thought that would be a bit of an epic, but the directions were good enough and we got to them.

Just sat around a bit, chatting, and I eased up on the drinks front as well. Loads of people around us, bit of a sound system going on and three huge cruise ships out in the bay. Time passed really quickly, and come midnight, there was a ginormous fireworks display, that went on for about an hour. Apparently 2.5 million people watched 24 tons of fireworks get let off. Really impressive, with loads of "woooos" and "ahhhhhhs".

Towards the end of that, some of the guys decided to go for a swim. I didn´t, as I hadn´t bought swimmers, but a few minutes later I thought I´d go and take a few pics of them. Now, everyone is warned about taking precious stuff to the beach, and I just risked it. And lost. My camera got nicked out of my hand as I was taking a photo. I grabbed the guy, which was a really, really stupid thing to do. Only excuse is that I was a bit drunk. Anyhow, he didn´t like me holding on, so he bit my arm, which I considered a persuasive argument to let go. Before you ask, I´m fine: I had two doctor friends look at me and they both said I´d live.

Didn´t let that spoil the night by any means. Started raining shortly after, and we were all dancing in the rain. Cleared up, everyone was knackered, so thought we´d head off home. Unfortunately, so did the rest of Rio. Couldn´t get a taxi for love nor money, and busses were crammed to the brim. Got one in the end though, and ploughed back to where we are staying.

Memerable night!

So, there will be a distinct lack of photos for a while, which is a bit of a bugger, but hey, worse things happen eh?