Day 15: Back to Christchurch

Today we headed through the MacKenzie country, home to the sheep industry. A long trip back today, but I would say the highlights of these long bus journeys was definitely the scenery, but in very close second the songs that Barnaby and Brendon played along the way! For example, one day we pulled over for a photo op, and the spot where we stopped -- there was a film made there. Before we were able to get off the bus, they pressed 'play' and the song "the hills are alive, with the sound of music..." As the song played, the two of them ran out of the bus and into the open field, frolicking and skipping toward each other. It was too funny. Today Barnaby also gave some "song dedication" time for people to come up ... dedicate a song to someone else, explanations not necessary. There were some pretty damn funny songs played.

A lot of us were staying in different hotels, so the plan was to meet later out for dinner. I often wonder what it is about people that make you connect with some, and not others. It's funny how in 15 days you are able to form really great connections with people, but I also wonder which one of those connections will last, and which won't. It was definitely harder to say bye to some people, more than others.

I am truly amazed by how many people on this tour have opened up their homes to us and offered for us to stay with them. That being said, I would in a heart beat have the peeps I connected with stay with me, if they ever come to visit my neck of the woods.
Craig and Peter are going to be hosting us when we get to Sydney and Alfred has also said when we arrive is Aussie, to give him a ring. I hope I'll be able to see Lauren and Gemma before leaving Oz. It's amazing to know that when I get back home I will be able to say I have friends in all different areas of the world. My true life long friends are of course, back home, and connecting with others is amazing, but it also makes me appreciate my amazing relationships that await me when I get back.

Today: Thursday, February 4th, 2010

We are staying in this funky artsy hotel called "Hotel So"... the room is about the size of my bathroom and reminds me of a life size Barbie room, very contemporary with a lot of pink: pink ceiling, pink phone, funky "hana barbara" type bathroom.
Just lounged, worked out and caught up with my emails and talking to family and friends at home.
Met with my new "contiki friend" Kendra for dinner. We went to a restaurant that Brendon recommended and it was fabulous. The entrees were served on these stones that were 400 degrees and the meat actually cooked on the stone before you could eat it, which was a first "stone" meal I've experienced before.

A few things thoughts and things I've learned about myself in New Zealand:
1. I need to start caring less about what others think... and live in the moment.
2. This trip is about me, so I really need to make me happy, so I don't go home with
any regrets. This is hard for me, as I am a people pleaser and I always seem to put others first before myself, so I need to work on this one.
3. Why do we judge one another so quickly?
4. New Zealanders are such a genuine group of people!
5. It's okay to question myself every once and a while.


Well, New Zealand has been amazing.... I am off to Australia tomorrow! I'm hoping the weather is going to be HOT, HOT, HOT!