Well dear readers, it's the end of an era.
I'd better catch you up with my wee 4 day trip first I guess. I really enjoyed it. The Maori cultural performance was amazing; really really good. Lots of history as well as singing and dancing. If you're ever in the area, I highly recommend it!
I did the dolphin and isalnd boat tour the next day as the weather was good. However, we crashed into a sandbank just over an hour in and had to go straight back to port. I did get to see some dolphins though, although they were running away from all the people swimming after them! I think I would too...
I skipped the trip up to the northernmost tip as it was actually 11 hours on a coach there and back and it seemed a bit much. Instead I went over the harbour in a boat to Russell, which is the original capital of NZ, where all the sailors landed initially in the early 1800s. Apparently it was refered to as the 'hell hole' of the Pacific. I guess there were some unsavoury characters there! There is a famous flagpole there where the British flag was raised and then cut down again 4 times by a Maori leader (or someone did it for him anyway), Hone Heke. It has New Zealand's oldest church (built in 1836) and also some of NZ's oldest graves. It had a real sense of history which is lacking in a lot of NZ. It's also a really pretty little seaside village and a I really loved it there, I'd like to go back and take Adam.
On the way back to Auckland we saw some enormous golden sand dunes. I had been told about them, but I never expected they would be as big as they are! Photos of everything will be a while - I forgot my camera unfortunately, but did buy an instant one, which is yet to be developed. Also I saw an ancient Kaori tree (pronounced Cowrie), it was enormous and the Maori believe it to be an important spiritual tree (the species, not one tree in particular - especially the really old, big ones). This was called Tane Mahuta and was about 2 and a half thousand years old.
The next few days were spent chilling out with Adam. We did quite a long bike ride on Saturday, and played board games yesterday, plus I cooked a Sunday Roast (pork with crackling - my favourite!). I packed everything up (leaving about 10 bags with a very patient Adam).
This morning Adam came to the airport with me and we had breakfast together before he walked me to my gate. I was biting my lip by then and trying really hard not to cry. It didn't work, and the tears came as he hugged me goodbye.
It's a very strange feeling. Firstly it's very hard to leave Adam, I shall miss him more than I realise even, I think. One good thing is I don't feel worried about the time apart... I mean, I'm not feeling worried that we will drift apart or meet other people. Perhaps that's wrong of me... but anyway, there it is. I feel very secure about him and it's just that I'll miss him.
But more than that, I shall miss Wellington, I shall miss New Zealand, I shall miss feeling settled and content and rooted somewhere. I feel anxious about South America having read a lot of cautionary literature yesterday from my tour group... they advise bringing things like a medical kit and a swiss army knife, they insist on you handing over two copies of your insurance and passport and new passport photos. They talked a lot about security and muggings and things. It's got me feeling quite nervous. And also, there's snakes and massive spiders in the Amazon Jungle... But then there is the excitment of getting back to the UK. But even that is mixed with the unsettled feeling of knowing I will be there without a home of my own, for the first time in many years. That everything will change very soon after my arrival with the arrival of a new family member. That I need to make the most of the few short weeks there and cannot get too settled or comfortable or attached, as I'll be leaving again.
So, I am at the airport in Auckland mulling all of this over. I have plenty of time for that as I arrived at 12pm for a 16.40 flight (a bit early in case of any delays flying up from Wellington) only to find that it has been delayed to 22.15. That, my dear friends and family is a very long wait indeed. I am almost wishing for the flight now (11.5 hours in itself) so I can have my own seat, and sleep if I want, or watch films.
Santiago is 16 hours behind. I arrive 4.5 hours before I left, which is rather strange!
Anyway. I guess that's all for now. It just all feels a bit strange, you know?
xxx
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