Quick Update on New Years Eve

Sam and I have left Hairy Berry and headed toward Wellington, which is where we are now. We took our time getting down here, stopping by places where LOTR was shot, like Matamata, known for its location of The Shire, and saw other places like Mount Doom and the Land of Mordor, along with parts of the Anduin River. I'd post pictures, but as you know, no camera, and I don't have the time to upload at the moment.

Stayed in Rotorua the first night, went to a hot spa, which was really nice and relaxing, except for the smell of rotten eggs because of the sulfur from the thermal areas in Rotorua. The next night was in Turangi, and the third in Ohakune. We went on some really great walks around Tongariro National Park (which is where Mount Doom is located). In Rotorua we also went luging, which is like go-carts, but better! You sit on these plastic luges, and basically zoom down a mountainside on a paved track, and the only way to slow down is to pull back on your handles. No pedals. We only went twice because it was really busy (I won the second race!), but Sam and I are definitely gonna do it again.

Now we're in Wellington for New Years. We were really stupid and didn't book any beds in advance, and so we started calling around a couple hours before arriving, and everywhere was completely booked (because everyone wants to celebrate in the city, of course). We lucked out on 4 beds in a backpacker called Rowena's Lodge, but only for yesterday night, and had to check out this morning. They now have 2 singles and a double, and we booked those even though they're more expensive (we won't find a bed anywhere else). I don't like sharing a double with Sam, because we both end up not sleeping well, so the two other guys took the double. They'll be drunk later on so it won't really matter. About 5 more people we met at Hairy Berry are now in Wellington, so we're gonna meet up with them in a couple hours for a New Years Eve Party/Dinner, then head out to the pubs. Should be a fun night, but I've decided that I don't like alcohol, especially beer. I'll have the occasional peach schnapps or fruity drink for big parties like tonight, but after my 21st birthday, I decided I won't really drink. I don't like it to begin with, and it sucks out so much money.

Anyway, I've got to update on what's happened the past couple weeks 'cause a lot of stuff went on, but I don't know when I'll get around to it. Have a look on my pbase album if you'd like pictures. Have a Happy New Years!