950km (580mi) in 6 Days

Sam and I have finally started that FlyingKiwi trip we've had planned since before we left the US. We started on Monday, but it was kind of a bad start because Ashley's car broke down as she was driving to the pick-up point, and we only just made it onto the bus. I felt bad just leaving her like that to deal with poor Jellybean (the car), but I know she understands that we had to take off. At least she had a couple of other people to help her out with the car. I'm really gonna miss that group: Ashley, Sojung, and Martin. We had a good couple of days in Auckland. Hopefully I'll be able to meet up with them later on after our adventure tour.

Anyway, now that FlyingKiwi has started, Sam and I are almost constantly on the road. We travel a long way each day, and I don't mind just traveling by bus over the country. It's very comfortable; we read, sleep, listen to music, snack, etc while the bus goes all over the island. It's very peaceful. We've gone on a bike ride, gone swimming, went to thermal pools, saw some waterfalls, etc. But the best thing we've done so far is a Waka Tour (a waka is a maori war canoe). We learned how to row, do a war chant/expression, and got to witness and be a part of a spiritual ceremony right in the maori guide's marae (a sacred meeting place). It was so fascinating. Most maori haven't stuck to their roots, but there are some groups that keep to their old traditions, wearing traditional clothes, speaking maori as their first language, still performing their sacred rites, and we got to see that on this tour.

There are plenty of walks and bike rides available during the course of the trip, and when we first signed up for this tour, Sam and I planned on doing a lot of that, but to be honest, it's so nice just sitting back and relaxing, not having to worry about transport, accommodation, or food, and just taking it day by day. It's also pretty interesting having to put up and take down our tents every evening and morning. Aside from that, I've been getting a lot of time to think. Lots of things to think about. I'm running out of time, so I'll write a blog about that later.

Other things:

- In about an hour, Sam and I are off to our skydiving. 15,000m (almost 50,000ft)!! Woot!

- It's been over a week since I've been online (it's hard to get internet access because we're constantly on the move). I'm on AIM right now, and I'm kind of sad that no one's online, but I guess it's not a good time, since it's Friday evening back in Chicago, haha. Oh well.

- Christie, I loved that book you sent me. It's been giving me a lot to think about, reflect on, and even pray about. Thanks so much. You don't even know how much I needed it. (By the way, Sam really likes that book you sent him, too).

Sorry if this blog was really random and incoherent. Hope you guys are taking care of yourselves!

|| edit ||
[10:23am Sunday, Jan. 20]

Nevermind. The skydiving had to be canceled because the wind was so strong. 30 knots, the guy said. Dang it. Sam and I were so looking forward to it! I guess we'll have to wait until we reach another spot later on in this tour.

I'm organizing more pictures on my pbase, so go take a look. There aren't any pictures yet from the tour we've been on, but there'll be some from the trip Sam and I took down to Wellington with Alex and Stuart.