Oct 2006

the maori concert was crazy, loads of maoris in grass skirts and stuff doing the haka and other dances and stuff, saw a maori village

check out the website
http://www.maoriculture.co.nz/Maori%20Village/Home

went on a mid night walk on sunday night at waitomo, also went cave diving which was nuts, climbing up waterfalls and abseiling through rocks which got very very narrow and then had to swim and push yourself through all sorts of small spaces - it was quality

i'm now in taupo, been in hot pools, they're like something out of a film the water is like bath water for temperature and there are a load of waterfalls you stand under

partying in taupo is quality as well, was out all night last night and gonna be going out in fancy dress tonight for halloween

Kia Ora! (greetings)

The kiwi bus is quality, i've already done sea kayaking and going to a maori hangi tonight where they're gonna do the haka and stuff!

first night was stuck in a dorm with germans and a couple, auckland generally has nothing there but the first day of the kiwi bus was great, sat down feeling nevous and this stunning dutch girl came and sat next to me - result, all the poeple are really friendly on my tour and up for getting drunk so evrythings all gravy

went to see where they filmed lord of the rings this morning, had a tiki tour through an old gold mine earlier going over rope bridges and stuff!

I'm getting used to staying overnight in airports, got into sydney wednesday night and realised i had to be back at the airport by 4 in the morning! so i decided to stay in the airport lounge, felt a bit weird though as they were even checking your tickets in there and they actually sent a few people away cos they were just looking for a place to crash for the evening.

It's now been 3 nights without a proper sleep so i'm feeling quite tired now but today my travels really begin cos i'm going to auckland where i'll be meeting up with the kiwi experience guys.

Flight over here took about 20 hours - by far the longest i've been on a plane before but got through it sleeping and watching films and stuff

Very impressed with the young ladies at sydney airport though, as each one walked past i was just praying one of them was waiting for me but sadly I was on my own to sleep with the other weirdos too tight to pay for a hotel for the night!

can't believe it, went out with mates monday before i go and got home to realise the flight was monday arriving tuesday rather than tuesday arriving wednesday, feel like a right plank.

luckily went straight to heathrow and managed to get my flight re-routed via singapore, missing out on a night in bangkok
(which is crying shame as i'll miss the ladyboys!) but spending a night in sydney on the way over.

It's Sunday night before I leave, I just need to sort out the final bits and pieces and then finally I'm off to see the world. The feeling is quite surreal I can't believe I am actually doing this now! Just been round my mates and saw 'The Hills have Eyes' and all my mates have been giving me stick saying that's what the outback will be like. Must admit quite nervous and excited at the same time, the first night in Bangkok could be a very interesting experience!

It's been raining tonight, can't get away from the british weather, had a really good send off from all groups of friends so thanks everyone for some great nights out.

I'm gonna be using this site as a way of letting everyone know how I'm getting on but if anyone wants to get in touch my personal
e-mail address will be dan_austin_pulp@yahoo.co.uk