realize this has nothing to do with trip in NZ. but really though, my niece is adorable!

photos of past travels

yahoo so chris emailed me some pics. this first one is when we watched the sunrise at east cape. pretty remarkable

pic #2 is me on top of mt maunganui over looking an island and far past is the coramandel

#3 robinson crusoe's place! heh a killer hostel we camped in front of. thats the tent bex and erk lent to us!

East Cape adventures

heh its been awhile since ive given any updates...so about a week and a half ago i was heading over to Mt maunganui. I spent two nights there and pretty much laid on the beach :) and walked around. I met up with chris on the 2nd day and we did a gorgeous hike up the mount, sorry no pics, i had left my cam in the hostel. ooops chris and i drove then over and camped out near east cape, woke bright and early and HIKED up 755 steps to the lighthouse on the eastern most part of NZ. The sunrise was brilliant. we started to make our way back east and stayed in a hostel that had been described as robinson crusoe-esque...and that it was! like a large playhouse/treehouse. we got kayaks for free and meandered around for a bit. from there, after a few confusing text...i ended getting a job over in russell. Chris and i parted ways, sadly but will hopefully cross paths in the south island.
So Russell....its in the bay of islands and i am working a few hours a night as a runner for the waiters. i am enjoying it bc i get to chat it up with all the guests. the staff here is fun and tomorrow we are going up to cape reinga...where the tasman and pacific literally collide!here are some fotos from russell and the gables (where i work and live) the accommodations are great. m room is above the restaurant with a sea view....i can hear the waves crashing when i wake and go to bed. no complaints here. plus the food is great! ive never eaten better (altho chris andi somehow created some lovely dishes while camping!)....hope everyone is doing well....HAPPY ST PATTY'S DAY!!!!

what do you call a fish without any eyes?

fshhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

heh...

yesterday we went fishing at the kaipara. this harbor is thelargest in the souther hemi. i basicaly sat on the beach with rachel (bex' sister) and chatted it up. the rest of the gang (dad bro bro in law and erk) fished and caught about 6 full sizers. tday has been a nice one, hanging out here at the merrimans and getting some webber-net stuff taken care of. i got a few calls today from the US...heh my friends cnd family cannot carry a tune ;) haha just kidding, thank you for calling it made my heat feel warm to hear your voices. tonight we are having tacos and home made banana cream pie yum. well thats about it for now...
karin

baylys beach (b squared)

hello all,

so i got back from my first solo travels on friday. i went up north by a few hours to baylys beach. it is a remarkable setting in a small town of nearly 700 altho new developments are springing up. i spent first day chilling out and reading, and from then on out i was a busy lil bee. i helped aaron (he runs the hostel, is a chef, mows loawns,and does surf lessons...may as well be the mayor over there) mow lawns in exchange for a ride up to the lakes. there are 3 crystal clear lakes up there names the kai iwi lakes. it was the erfect thing to do after a hot sweaty day of mowing lawns. we drove the entire way back on the beach. its the longest drivable beach in nz. heh it was pretty awesome. next day chilled out and met another traveller, chris from UK. we did a dur lesson together. he stood up, i well, lets just say i will def. stand on my next attempt. i skipped out on my busride back to auckland and rode with chris. when he dropped me off the merriman fm. invited him in for a nice home made dinner! it was a great first trip...okay will postthis with photos and then write a new one about fishing.... tata