The best part of living in that awful cooperative community in Australia was my roommate, Jess. A twenty-six year old former Mormon from Arizona. Her and I were a lot alike and shared the same interests in health and sustainability. She was a very smart and pretty master Yoga instructor and masseuse who knew a lot of the conspiracy theory of the United States government. I loved her and we spent hours cooking and talking and gossiping about the degenerates of the area. She maintained the organic garden while I edited spiritual books. Having lived in New Zealand for the past three years, she inspired a last minute, one month trip to the country. Unfortunately, I did not get a chance to visit her in the South island; however, my time in Auckland proved to be somewhat eventful and relaxing. I even visited sky tower and contemplated skydiving.
Aside from the $300 fee that I incurred upon entry for "smuggling" lemons into the country; and au pairing for an overly-emotional recently divorced British mother and her less-than-nice daughter, everything else went swimmingly well. I joined a gym where I used the hot tub and sauna numerous afternoons a week and also did Zumba and Yoga in the evenings. One afternoon while picking up said child from school, there were about twenty pairs of shoes lined up in front of a classroom. In my naivete, I asked, "What's going in on there, Karate or something?" She simply replied, "Lost property." Another barefoot country!
On a week holiday, I went North to Paihia where it was warmer and prettier. I walked along the beach, though it was too cold to get in, taste-tested the ales, which Australia maintains superiority in, and met a few backpackers who were interesting to talk to, but who I'll probably never see or speak to again. I even wore my hair out one evening.
A short ferry ride across from Paihia put me on a quaint little island town with a fantastic chocolate cafe. Reminding me of the movie Chocolat, the South American owner topped the drinks with chili pepper, giving it an aromatic and sensual flavor that made the tongue tingle, toes curl and belly happy. I'll have another, please!
On a week holiday, I went North to Paihia where it was warmer and prettier. I walked along the beach, though it was too cold to get in, taste-tested the ales, which Australia maintains superiority in, and met a few backpackers who were interesting to talk to, but who I'll probably never see or speak to again. I even wore my hair out one evening.
A short ferry ride across from Paihia put me on a quaint little island town with a fantastic chocolate cafe. Reminding me of the movie Chocolat, the South American owner topped the drinks with chili pepper, giving it an aromatic and sensual flavor that made the tongue tingle, toes curl and belly happy. I'll have another, please!
Overall, three months in Oceania was a unique journey. I would like to travel to that region again in 2017, during the warmer season and experience more of what it has to offer.
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