Just a picture incase you don't make it through all the text below :-)

New Zealand

A second home perhaps? I think if I were ever forced out of the US for anything or offered a job abroad I would go to New Zealand. I just got back (last Tuesday June 10th) from visiting the Kiwi's. I had an amazing time!

My trip began in Auckland where my friends picked my boyfriend and I up from the airport. First though I should start at the airport leaving Salt Lake City. Just as I was unloading my bags from the car at the airport drop off my boy friend told me he just talked to the other couple coming with us and they said our flight to LA was already delayed a half hour. I didn't think this was a big deal since we had about an hour and fifteen minutes between our connecting flights so we went in and hung out till it was time to leave. When the plane finally boarded at 8:00 we got to our seats and sat there for another fifteen minutes. Cutting it close!! It turns out the captain of our plane was coming late from Chicago and hadn't even landed yet. UGH! I believe we finally took off some time around 8:30pm. We landed in La at 10 and had a half hour to get over to the international terminal. Now if you know LAX at all you know that each terminal is a different building and that you have to go out of security all the way out of the building to the sidewalk where shuttles and cars pick you up and ride over to the other terminal. So when we rushed off the plane and asked the attendant the quickest way to get to Air New Zealand terminal was he gave us directions to go all the way outside hop on shuttle 5 or something and get off on the other side. He said he let Air New Zealand know we were coming and that they were going to try and wait for us. We got outside saw four shuttles (all the wrong one!) drive by and decided we didn't have time. We stopped a nice luggage man on the side walk and asked him again how to get there and he told us to cut through the parking structure and that it was just on the other side. So we ran over to the parking structure figured out how to get out of it and then crossed over into the other terminal. When we got to the ticket counter (we only had our orbitz itinerary) they told us the flight was closed and we couldn't get on. That we missed it because we were supposed to check in no later then 40 min before the flight. Then the gentleman just WALKED AWAY! I was kind of freaking out in shock... standing there going "sooooo what are we suppose to do now?!" went up to one of the other desk attendants and they started to help us but one of them told us to just wait till the guy got back. I guess he was on the phone trying to see if we could make the flight (t-30minutes till the flight takes off). He came back out asked us for our information passports etc. and printed us boarding tickets. THANK YOU GOD!!! Then one of the ladies escorted us through security and told us to run to our gate. It turns out after running through the airport, having a minor heart attack and going through security we got in our seats and had about 10 minutes to spare! Thank you Air New Zealand I love you! What a rush!

The flight from LA to NZ was 13 hours looooong. We arrived at 6:30am only to wait an hour to go through customs and find out our luggage didn't make it. I wasn't really surprised since we barely made the flight but it was still a bummer. So the air line handed us a "overnight kit" with your basics in it, toothbrush, toothpaste, brush, deodorant nail file and a men's XL white t-shirt. Told us to keep our receipts for the next 24 hours and that they would reimburse us $100 for any items we bought until our luggage came. Then we finally met our friends outside security.

Auckland was beautiful! For a metropolitan area it was very clean and even though I felt dirty from not having a change of clothes in 48 hours it was very fresh. That day we took what we had to Alesha's mom's house (our lovely local accommodations). Thanks Chrissy! I took a quick shower (a must!) and put my dirty clothes back on and then we headed out on the town. We first headed to the sky city tower parked and walked down to Queens St. Queens St. is the super touristy area with all the souvenir shops and trendy stores. I had a lot of fun looking around at the different stuff they had, just comparing retail in a new country :-). I stopped at a store I now love called Cotton All Over or something like that and purchased two pairs of under ware and some pajamas. Soo comfortable. That was about it for me. I had faith that our bags would arrive soon. That night Alesha's mom was nice enough to cook us some "lamb on the barbi!" and treat us to some New Zealand food. It was delicious.

The next day at 10am (right as I was waking up) our luggage arrived!! Yay! It came in on the next flight from LA and a courier delivered our bags to where we were staying. Then we headed out for Alesha's family beach house in Matarangi. They call it "the batch." It was a beautiful curvy ride around the coast and up the peninsula . The landscape was breath taking. We spent two nights there then headed out to a town in the middle of the North Island called Rotorua (not sure if thats correct spelling but thats how it sounds!) and went to a cultural experience for the local indigenous people, The Moari. It was pretty cool Polynesian dancing and dinner but it was interesting to see the difference between them and the Hawaii islanders. That night we stayed in Rotorua at a hostel. It was a new experience for me. I have never been in a hostel before but over all it wasn't bad we got our own room since there were six of us all together and it had it's own bathroom including a shower which I guess is amazing.
The next morning we got up bright and early and headed out to go to the Zorb. The Zorb is where you crawl in a giant plastic ball they throw in some water with you and then they push you off to start rolling down a giant hill. I didn't do it because it was very cold but Grant (my boyfriend) did. He said it was awesome. I am sure it was but I couldn't justify getting cold and rolling down a hill once for 45 dollars. Then we stopped at the Polynesian spa which was a bunch of pools heated up by the sulfer pots that were sporadically bubbling up all through the town. It was nice and relaxing but a bit stinky!! After that we headed home, back to Alesha's mom's house to rest up before Jordan and Alesha's wedding on Saturday. We got back and were treated to a Japanese dinner at one of Alesha's mate's house. They were having a little get together in her honor and were nice enough to invite us. It was great to meet all of her high school and college friends.

Friday! The day before the wedding we went bungy jumping off the Auckland Harbor Bridge. AHHHHH! Yes I jumped! Thank you very much. Everyone I have told that couldn't believe I did it. I really can't believe I did it either to tell you the truth it was the biggest rush I have ever had. First we checked in at at little shop at the bottom of the bridge they harnessed us up and sent us on our way walking up to the pod where you jump off in the middle of the bridge. It's under neath it so you can hear the cars rushing by above you and the ships sailing by below you. That part was a bit nerve racking for me they hook you up to the railing so you can't jump off or fall off the walk way. When you get to the top they have seats where they strap in your ankles and a area for your group to wait as you go one at a time. They put you in order of weight, most to least. I was second to last so I got to watch all my friends jump and then it was my turn. after getting the ankle straps on and waddling like a penguin out to the edge of the plat form is the scariest part. I wouldn't let go of the guy who escorted my out there. You had to look up and wave at the camera and the count down started. 5 4 3 2 1 and I jumped! No hesitation but I did start screaming right as I jumped off I didn't wait for the falling part. You'd be surprised how much free fall time you have. I kept going and was like Shit I am still falling! Then WOOSH! I sprang back up and fell again. After bouncing around a couple times I pulled the cord that released my ankles and let me sit up right in my harness. They pulled me back up to the pod and I was done but totally shaking from all the adrenaline. Talk about a life time experience. That was the only activity for the day. When we got back from jumping off I rested a little bit then went to the mall with Alesha and her Bride's maids to get a pedicure. It was a nice change to the constant on the go activities we had been doing.

Saturday was the highlight of the trip, Jordan and Alesha's wedding. The morning was slow, we got to relax take our time getting ready. Around 1 the boys started putting on their suits and doing there hair. I put my dress on and took pictures. At 2 the taxi came and took us to Beauford Gardens where the ceremony and reception were taking place. At 3:15 Alesha's limo pulled up with herself, her mom and her brides maids in it. They got out did a little adjusting and the ceremony started. I have to give them props, Jordan and Alesha wrote their own vows and they were beautiful!! I am not one for crying but the emotion was there you could feel the love they had for each other when they spoke them in front of everyone. It was the highlight of the whole vacation if you can believe it. I am so happy for them and I wish them all the best in the world. After the ceremony was dinner and dancing. The reception was a blast. Us American's showed the Kiwis that we know how to have fun, a.k.a we know how to make fools of our selves.

We spent a couple more days in Auckland after the wedding. We went to the zoo and then just repacked stuff up for the flight home. It was an amazing vacation. Alesha's family made me feel like part of the family and I couldn't be more thankful for their great hospitality. I can't wait to go back!

That was long! Thanks for reading!