Rotorua, New Zealand

Well, I finally left Raglan. It took some doing but I'm back on the road and in good spirits. I had an almost private coach yesterday from Raglan, just me and one girl on the bus, and she was with the bus driver. So, we made up our own plan for the day which involved getting the best breakfast I've had in NZ in Hamilton (Flapjack's, across the street from the Kathmandu shop on the main street), and going to hot springs to soak for the afternoon.

As expected, Rotorua has given me vivid flashbacks of Iceland as the smell almost identical with the sulfur smell all over the place. I'm headed on today, it's time to pick up the pace a bit and I'm headed to Taupo then from there down to Wellington. I've got under a month left on my visa in NZ right now, which doesn't feel like much time at all. I may be able to get an extension on that, in case I run short of time, but we'll see. The summer is definitely drawing to a close here though, there's a chill in the night air these days.

I stayed in a bed for the first time in over a month last night. I checked into the Base hostel and got a 4 person dorm room to myself. Luxury! I hung out with a few guys in the hostel last night, including Brian, a guy from CA who I didn't really meet at Solscape earlier this week. I may try and jump in his car for the ride from Taupo to Wellington, but we'll figure that one out later.

It's hard to believe that I've finally left Raglan. While I didn't have the best last week there, I was a bit down in the dumps (raise your hand if you already knew I was a moody son of a bitch). I picked back up, but was feeling rather introverted for my final few days there. I will miss it like crazy though, I met some amazing people during my sojourn there, some of whom I definitely think I will meet up with again. Well, breakfast calls, and then I have to pack for my bus down to Taupo, no longer private, I think, there are 20 people due to get on it today. Sigh, so much for the private coach.