Current mood:

tired

Fun in the sun
So I made it to Auckland as folks know since I have a helpful little elf (ok he's not little and he's not an elf - sue me) who passed on my message (thanks ornoth). I had a lovely 2 days in Paihia after a quick night in Auckland where I had Denny's for dinner, saw the skyline of the city from One Tree Hill (which doesn't have a tree by the way) and played pool with some new friends before an early evening back at the YHA to make ready for an early departure on Sunday. Arrived at noon in Paihia and went straight onto a boat for swimming with dolphins in the wild (Kiwi Experience books your seat for you as you ride up to Paihi). Was on the bay for 4 hours and we found dolphins (not a guarantee) and got to swim amongst them (a playful pod of 4). We were told not to try and touch as these are wild dolphins and they want to keep it that way which was ok with me. I'd have liked to touch but understood the reasons and as it was they came swimming under and in front of me but not within arms reach (I only know cause I was doing the superman snorkle swim where my arms are out in front of me). It was such a thrill. Unfortunately I missed some of my back when putting sunscreen on and it now looks rather lobsterish.

Today I got to do an all day sail on the bay on a catamaran and this time I asked someone to put sunscreen on my back and while it's still burned I think it's old burn and not new. After that I hopped back on the bus for a ride back to Auckland. Checked into the YHA about 30 mins ago and sought this out to check email really quick before going back for a shower and sleep because I have an early morning tomorrow heading to Whitianga (pronounced Fuahtanga I think). Don't know when I'll check in next. Right now I'm in a Korean or Japanese Internet cafe which is amusing as all the text is in kanji but it's windows so I know what I'm doing. I guess that is one benefit of a standard OS environment.

I feel out of touch with the real world. Heard about the shuttle explosion for the first time midday on the sail boat. I'm not listening to radios and watching TV so I am missing stuff but I was shocked and saddened to hear. But something about being in the bay on the bow of a sail boat while saying a silent prayer for those who died was right for me.

Well I'm off to shower the salt out of my hair and off my body as I'm somewhat crusty even now. Talk to you all again soon.