tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86710547721260509442024-03-13T17:52:31.181-06:00Brooke in Wanderland Pole Dancer, Aerialist, Snowboarder, Scuba Diver, Mermaid, Mountain Whisperer. Animal Lover.
Born in Utah (USA) - Living in New Zealand Meow! I'll wander while you wonder?
#BrookeinWanderland
#TwistitLikeaGypsy
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger142125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8671054772126050944.post-32378518914919886262015-05-20T18:35:00.002-06:002015-05-20T18:36:06.657-06:00NEW BLOG!<div style="text-align: center;">
I HAVE SWITCHED MY BLOG OVER TO WORDPRESS... SO...</div>
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CHECK OUT:</div>
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<b>for the latest updates in brookenatures travels.<a href="http://brookenature.wordpress.com/">brookenature.wordpress.com </a></b></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8671054772126050944.post-53501912216417072122015-04-21T04:29:00.002-06:002015-04-21T17:10:13.491-06:00On the Road .. Again? <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Queenstown, it's been real, but it's time to peace out.... again.</span><br />
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Friday night, I had my pole performance in a burlesque show at Blue Kanu, Saturday morning, I was off and hitting the road, yet again. A friend brought me to Frankton and then I started hitching from there. I was picked up by a group of travelers heading to Dunedin to get some "medicine" and then dropped off in a terrible spot for hitching. I spent about an hour there, hanging out, walking a bit to try to find a better spot and was picked up by a guy in a truck who was able to bring me to a better spot. Once I got that far, I waited again and I got picked up by a group of 4 guys in there late 30's/early 40's who were drunk... so drunk and they had toilet paper hanging outside of the car as they were driving... a lot of it. All of them were drunk, except for the driver #safetyfirst. Although this hitchhike offer seemed skeptical, because, believe me, it definitely was, I decided to go for it and accept the ride. I was lucky enough to ride in the back middle seat, in the center of all the testosterone... #luckyme. </div>
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Anyways, I caught a ride with these guys #goodsouls and since they were already drinking, they had to pee. I sat in the middle seat with the driver in the car and watched as the guys stepped 3 meters from the car and peed in all different directions and thought to myself "Pole dancing in a burlesque show to hitch hiking with 4 middle aged dudes who are all peeing in different directions in my "Brooke bubble (extends to 3 meters of don't touch me)" alright #weird #butfunny." Anyways I made it safe and sound to Wanaka and then caught a ride with a guy from France who I met the day before when I hitched to Frankton. In our 10 minute conversation to Frankton it came up that I was headed up the west coast the next day and it was looking like he was too, so he offered me a ride and I said, possibly and then decided to take him up on that offer because -- hey, if a ride is offered and they don't seem #toocreepy then you should take it. He passed the #notcreepytest.</div>
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So... on to the next hitch. I get to Wanaka, meet up with my hitch from the day before and his friend (also from france) and we began our journey onward to the west coast of NZ. They wanted to work on there english so I became an english teacher as we drove and in return I learned french. Only, I don't remember much of the french... I should have written my french lesson down #fail. On a side note... French is so sexy, I mean, really. I thought pole dancing made me feel sexy, but I was wrong, speaking french makes me feel sexy. Imagine if I learn to speak french and continue to pole dance -- then I will feel really sexy - hahahaha - #ithinkimfunny #itsgoingtohappen. </div>
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Long story short, I was only going to hitch with them, camp a night, then move on, but when you find good company and you really have no where to be, why not chill a little. eh?<br />
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We went camping at the start of the copeland track, just before franz joseph where we got attacked by sandflies, stargazed and ate mystery food in the dark. Let me tell you about the mystery food real quick -- I believe it was noodles, cream of mushroom and chopped mushrooms (I chopped the mushrooms, so I know there was that). I don't really like mushrooms much, but I have learned to not be as picky of an eater since my diet is... shit. Yes it's shit. I eat terribly, I budget eat, I buy food on a budget and I try to eat oats with a smile on my face. They were good once, now, oats are just mush, I hate mush, but I eat mush, alot. Anyways on a side note, eating the mushrooms, pasta and cream of mushroom mystery surprise in the dark was such a foodgasm. My tastebuds were having an orgasm every bite which has led me to decide that... I really like mushrooms now. #foodiestatus #eatinthedark. I just wanted to inform everyone about that.<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">DISLAIMER: I WILL NEVER EAT BEANS -- I'm still claiming I'm allergic, unless I go to South America, which I will.</span><br />
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Later that night, it was dark, we were star gazing and we heard a helicopter. Our first reaction was to hide because we thought we had been caught. (We were camping in an area that was maybe okay for camping, but maybe not). So we attempted to hide for some reason before realizing we were being silly. The helicopter came down and stopped on the heli pad that was 30 meters from us and we watched it land and drop off a girl. We went over and chatted for a while and it appeared she had torn a tendon, the helicopter was going to get her family and then they were headed off in the helicopter to a hospital in Christchurch. So that was interesting... it was like I was in the hunger games or something cool like that. It's pitch black and you think you are alone and then bam, helicopter in the pitch blackness lands right by you. </div>
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Next day we headed into Franz Joseph and met up with a friend of mine from "Instameet." We all hung out and went on a hike that was suppose to lead to hot springs, and we saw the hot springs, across the river, but decided to turn back because it may be a little too risky, it was getting dark, etc. We got back and cooked indian food at my friends house before heading into town for a drink and then taking the boys to see glow worms. GLOW WORMS. Glow worms. That is probably one of the hardest things that these french guys learned in english because they had no idea what they were. Anyways, glow worms are cool, you should go see them if you get the chance. They are worms and they glow a nice green light on there bums. They hide in dark places and it's like a starry sky on the wall. #ooohyeah #glowwormlife.</div>
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Next we drove onward and split ways, they went onto Christchurch and I am now in Arthurs Pass National Park, sick with a cold, drinking tea, living off oats and eggs, wishing I had more groceries (no grocery store here really, but there is hiking) and that I wasn't sick. I was only going to stay one night, but when I woke up this morning I felt sick with a cold and it has conquered me. I have no motivation to move and decided I need to stop and take care of myself for a second. </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8671054772126050944.post-24662042686397441592015-04-16T16:35:00.003-06:002015-04-16T16:35:37.249-06:00First Snow - Wintumn?The first snow has fallen here in Queenstown and so I rolled out of bed, put on my boots and ran up into the mountains to pick up some fresh snow. Woot! I watched another snow storm come in stood at a viewpoint and then suddenly, it was snowing, so hard, big chunky, fluffy flakes of white - my favorite. So, that was magical, obviously. Now it's okay that it is absolutely freezing here because there is snow.<br />
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Yesterday I visited Arrowtown with a friend and we took some photos, with cameras and our brains. So many pretty colors, nature is currently in a rainbow frenzy here #hellocolors. Check out some of these shots, we even saw the sun for a second, that was nice.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8671054772126050944.post-43292104045108800832015-04-16T16:33:00.004-06:002015-04-16T16:33:58.080-06:00#InstameetWanaka<br />
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As some of you may know, I'm kind of a social media geek. It facinates me and I use to work in marketing and public relations for 3 years once upon a dream. So when I saw an instameet was happening in Wanaka (about an hour drive from Queenstown) I figured I had to go to it. I had nothing stopping me, since I'm unemployed and such, so I packed a bag, and started my trip over. I've been on a budget as you may have read in one of my recent posts "No money, no problem." So my option was to hitchhike to Wanaka. It took me 3 hitches to get over there, but I made it. I even got to cuddle with an 8 week old puppy for my last hitch and she was so adorable. #myheartmelted #ilovepuppies #imissmyanimalbabies</div>
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Meet Ginga:</div>
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Anyways once I got to Wanaka I went straight to the venue for the first "workshop" with Liz Carlson and then continued onto the the opening barbecue and met some other social media nerds. I loved it, it was great to meet some like minded people trying to follow there dreams, share there passion, etc. #biglove </div>
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I got some great pictures of #thatwanakatree when some of the people wanted to do an #inceptiontrain taking a picture of it. I love this picture...</div>
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The next day I went to two more workshops. The first was with Matt V about Hyperlapse and the second was with Chris Burkard. Thanks for the inspiration and motivation. So, now here I am, sitting here with all these new instagram accounts to look at and I'm drooling over these photos. I think I'm in for a big project soon and you want to know what it is?? </div>
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So goodbye Queenstown, I'm leaving you this weekend after I perform at the Burlesque show at Blue Kanu on Friday. </div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8671054772126050944.post-79372111330632548312015-04-09T23:33:00.001-06:002015-04-09T23:33:57.286-06:00Pole Dance Diaries - DunedinWhen I went to Dunedin, I had two goals, go to the beach and go to a pole dance studio. I looked up studios before I left and came across Vertical Aerial and Pole Dance, so I decided to stop by a practice time and work on my routine that I'm performing next week at the Burlesque show here in Queenstown.<br />
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I showed up and found a beautiful and artistic space. It had some of the highest poles I have ever seen, red drapes, black floors, and seats that would sit a small audience. It had a set up like a small theater, so I assume that is what it used to be. I think the best way to describe the studio space was spacious and artistic. It had the starving artist kind of feel, which I loved because as of late, I've felt like quite the "starving artist."<br />
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Wow! Right? It is interesting to see other pole and aerial studios while I travel and feel out the different vibes I get. I generally just use the space during practice times because of traveling on a small budget and I'm very happy with that. I have more self motivation here in New Zealand than I had in Utah, probably because I know if I don't push myself, no one will here. In Utah I had great and supportive circus monkey friends to help make me push myself - Miss you guys!<br />
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I found the vibe here to be a bit intense and I had mixed feelings about how I felt as a newcomer at the studio - it's always scary to go to a pole studio for the first time, even if you have poled before. This studio seems to focus strongly on strength and core moves, which is awesome -- that's what I'm better at. They had a grading criteria where you have to pass off moves to go to the next level. I don't know what the classes themselves are like, this is just what I got from talking to two instructors that were at the studio. Anyways, I just loved the studio space itself, it made me feel like a princess trapped in a tower. I mean, it's not often you get to play on poles this tall!!<br />
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<i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">"Dance is a way to find yourself and lose yourself ... at the same time."</span></b></i></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8671054772126050944.post-66988354734971087142015-04-07T21:21:00.000-06:002015-04-09T23:37:27.725-06:00Oh, Hello Dunedin<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">"Sometimes I get the urge to run to the ocean and dive into the waves like a mermaid... and so I do."</span></i><br />
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A couple days ago, I thought to myself, "I should go to Dunedin, I need a break from this beautiful black hole of Queenstown." So I decided I was going to attempt it on Friday last week, mentioned it to a couple friends and then it all magically worked out. I got a ride to Dunedin with a friends husband, stayed at my old roommates place in Dunedin and rode back with my old roommate to Queenstown because as it turned out, she needed a study break and was going to make a day trip. #thankyoulee #thankyouemily<br />
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I arrived in Dunedin on late and slowly fell into a slumber, the next day I was off to explore during the day while Emily studied for University. My first stop was the museum, I walked in and walked out because it was closed, next stop was the cadbury chocolate factory, I walked in and walked out without chocolate #healthychoice. I strolled on down to the center of town known as "the octagon" and then caught a bus to St. Claire for some beach time.<br />
<br />
I wandered around the boardwalk for a second and then changed into my togs (swimsuit) and headed for the beach. I spent some time playing with my camera and doing some time lapse videos and then went and dove into the water, exactly like a mermaid, but with legs. I love the ocean... it was cold though, like, alot, but you got used to it. I then started walking down the beach and someone mentioned there was a sea lion sleeping on the beach where the dunes ended. So I walked over and hung out there for... a while, possibly two or three hours. I ate my lunch and relaxed and then watched the sea lion waddle back into the ocean. I loved every second of it!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM5F47TjKVPCfIaTzUFDreyf2pt6BVqBirgj1lnzXqtZKeqS4zCmAzWRIHhIHJqN-9HpZfTF5ri5N-qNiGoeoO7avPr2ZiLywE1uINXQm9QMJd0qZMpocLEf6oLHPsjFMhz-SXi_L9XBU/s1600/IMG_20150407_233412.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM5F47TjKVPCfIaTzUFDreyf2pt6BVqBirgj1lnzXqtZKeqS4zCmAzWRIHhIHJqN-9HpZfTF5ri5N-qNiGoeoO7avPr2ZiLywE1uINXQm9QMJd0qZMpocLEf6oLHPsjFMhz-SXi_L9XBU/s1600/IMG_20150407_233412.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
You find when you travel that a lot of times things seem to work out. Don't get me wrong, you run into struggles, stress, and feeling like things are not working out, but you also run into good people, good luck, and great experiences too. The good things outweigh the bad with travel, unless you die, then maybe they don't. #rulenumber1dontdie<br />
<br />
Anyways, Dunedin was awesome. I went, I hung out with my old roommate, I swam in the ocean, hung out with a sea lion, ate pizza, and pole danced. Stay tuned for my post about the pole dance studio :)<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8671054772126050944.post-3834923319128764372015-04-05T03:14:00.000-06:002015-04-05T03:45:50.509-06:00No Money? No Problem.I've been a bit stressed out lately because...<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">My money has been going, going... nearly gone</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">$200... pay rent for the week $110 left</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Bank takes monthly fee... $105 left</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">I buy grocery essentials (milk, bread, eggs, carrots, apples)... $90 left...</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">I buy easter treats for my flatmates and I because I wanted to celebrate easter...$85 left...</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Rent money is due... and I have $85 left.... Rent cost $90 a week... Ooops. #worthit.</span><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>CROSSROADS</b><br />
So I'm at a point in my life, where I can't seem to find a job that I want. The picture and illusion I had in my head of me arriving in New Zealand and getting a job with a tour operator... is just not working out. Busking has been working out for the past 4 weeks and it's the only reason I didn't have to dig into my emergency money sooner, but busking is taking a toll on my body... it's very physically demanding. I'm at a crossroad of a sort and it's time to figure out what to do. New game plan... I have to dig into my emergency money (money from selling my car). It's not much, but it's enough to get me by. I'll start with a small segment of it and go from there. Then.. if I don't have a job after April 17th, I will be heading to the west coast of NZ to WWOOF at a hostel for a month until hits. WWOOFing refers to working on organic farms, but it is also loosely used as a term meaning work for accomodation which is what I will be doing if I don't have a job by April 17th. I do pole 4 times a week because I have a performance that I'm doing on April 17th. Stay tuned for a video of the performance or you can buy tickets to it and watch it in real life by contacting me via here.<br />
<br />
The show is April 17th at Blue Kanu at 10 PM and it's $65 -- be there or be a square. Watch me be #creepysexy #dreamscometrue.<br />
<br />
<b>GOODBYE CAR MONEY... HELLO LICENSE?</b><br />
I really really did not want to have to start digging into my spare funds (the money I got from selling my car in the USA). I was hoping to get a car for winter with that money once my NZ license gets approved and here -- which should be next week, but it's looking like that may not work out either #ohwell. I have not had a license for 3 months because I misplaced mine on a camping trip in Alexandra and it has been one...hell... of a process to get a physical license back. I have had to do an exemption form here in NZ, but I had to work with the USA to get it as well, but despite the stress and big pain the ass that it was, it will all worth it because soon I will finally have a driving license again. So that's that, hello driving license... goodbye emergency money....goodbye car money. #walkingworks<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>BACK TO CROSSROADS</b><br />
Okay Okay... So I'm at a point in my life where I can't find a job with a tour operator like I hoped and planned, my camelback is leaking water and will no longer hold any water and it has a rip in the backpack, my duffel bag zipper is broken, my money has nearly ran out in my NZ bank account and I just want to curl up in a ball and eat gummy jet planes and drink milo. #pityparty #rantover. So I have assigned myself a #CheerUpTrip and I'm going to hitchhike to Dunedin this week on an extreme budget.<br />
<br />
I'm unemployed, extremely low on money, and its time to step away from all the rejection letters for jobs I've gotten here in Queenstown. I want a changed of scenery for a second and it's time. I have all the free time in the world and if I stay in this beautiful black hole another second, I may scream and wither away into a fallen leaf in Lake Luna. I need to remind myself why I'm here. I love New Zealand and I mean I LOVE LOVE NEW ZEALAND, but it's been hard lately. I've been hard on myself, I've been sad, and I've been frustrated and this is not me. I'm not normally so bitter... and boring. I'm Brooke and I'm weird, I like to tell cat jokes and talk to strangers, I like to see new things and walk into the unknown sometimes. So this week I'm going to Dunedin, I'm the only person who can get me out of this rut and so I shall. Here I go... HEY. HO.<br />
#overandout #timetowanderabout #brookeinwanderland<br />
<br />
That being said, I'm not going to be a mooch, although I am on a tight budget, I also pride myself with being independant ... to an extent. It's kind of fun to put your trust in the greater good of people and if it works out great and if it doesn't then... bummer. On that note.. time to fly and maybe I can even find a pole dance studio? Yes? #findyourhappy<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8671054772126050944.post-43093027445167890012015-03-30T22:10:00.000-06:002015-03-30T22:10:11.878-06:00My Theme Song...Hmmm.<br />
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Not much has happened. I have been pole dancing because I have a performance coming up on April 17th -- Yeahhhha! I have been applying for jobs, going to interviews, getting rejected. I quite possibly have more than 50 letters of rejection in my email inbox. I have enough money to get by, thanks to busking. Life is quite interesting right now...<br />
<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Listen to my theme song... </span></div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILtDs0MmRHE"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Andy Grammer - Keep your head up</span></a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8671054772126050944.post-3655178032222405322015-03-12T22:14:00.002-06:002015-03-12T22:15:36.849-06:00The Job Search Continues:<br />
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As for the job search, I have had a handful of interviews and I’m waiting to hear from a couple companies at the moment. I have applied for countless amounts of jobs with tour operators here in Queenstown and it seems to be quite a struggle. If I settled for hospitality work, I know I could get one, but I moved here to work in tourism, to utilize my degree and to heal my soul. Why is this so hard? </div>
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I’m trying to keep my head up, despite the amount of times I’ve been close to getting the job (because I've gotten close). Kiwi's take priority over the transports (me -- people from other countries) and I get that, but I don't know how much more rejection I can handle. There are always winter jobs if all else fails, but I'm trying to step away from the snow industry and work with a new tourism operator selling a different kind of adventure tourism experience. No more rejection... please? #rejectionhurts #isitmyturnyet</div>
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I’m not settling for a hospo job (Food and beverage restaurant work/bartending, housekeeping). I did that when I moved to Queenstown because I had too. I had no money and I lost touch with who I was a bit, but I’m back. I know if I needed too, I could find some hospo work, but I moved to Queenstown to work with a tour operator and so… I’m on the road to making that happen. #patience. #fpatience.</div>
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<i><b>Everything happens for a reason.. right?</b></i></div>
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<i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Photo taken at the top of Ben Lomend Peak in Queenstown.. yesterday.</span></b></i><br />
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<i><b><br /></b></i><i><b>WHEN THE GOING GET'S ROUGH... KEEP GOING.</b></i></div>
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<i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b6d7a8; font-size: large;">Everything is not rainbows and unicorns ya'all.</span></b></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Note: I generally only post happy things on here because there are so many things in life to be happy about, but I still have ruts in the road. I'm currently in one of those ruts with this job hunt and being picky thing. It's not easy, it's not always fun, but it's not a huge problem either.. there are much bigger problems in the world than me not being able to find a job I want in this new life I'm trying to make. There are bigger issues happening in the world. I'm just grateful that I am healthy, have a shelter over my head and have a talent I can share to try to make money (busking with my aerial silk) until I find something.</span></i></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Got to keep my head up... hey oh... and take a step up... hey yo</b></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8671054772126050944.post-65874183370342662732015-03-12T21:24:00.000-06:002015-03-12T22:07:18.257-06:00and... Back to the Real World.. again.<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Pole dance camp has ended which means…. FML… I have to go
back to the real world and find a job…again. I thought I already started over
because I did when I first moved out here to New Zealand, but then I decided to
quit my job, buy a plane ticket to Auckland and spend all my money traveling
before making it back to Queenstown to attend Pole Dance Camp. Well, now I’m
back where I started, poor, homeless, jobless, and with a jar of peanut butter
in Queenstown. #winning.</div>
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I floated between 3 friends houses for 2 weeks and
continuously applied for jobs. Met some great people along the way (one that
tends to stick in my mind) and I found a place to live in one of the cabins. I
share a room with a girl from Canada and a bed #itsnotweird #shescool. Here is
a photo of my family here at the cabin: Note - we are all 23 and older and very artistic as you can see.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXHx0nkmzrAwz8h_fZZaE_Ghc_NDiUgmLxyvcAOCuXdUQQ2q_R6uqVzKR0E3ydRe7F3qKBgiFHry2bzO_pLswDoPthEQYPS1WYDPBurlSPnq-JoYEW8FYnK2rGA5vp5caqnEkDCN94Aqo/s1600/dddd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXHx0nkmzrAwz8h_fZZaE_Ghc_NDiUgmLxyvcAOCuXdUQQ2q_R6uqVzKR0E3ydRe7F3qKBgiFHry2bzO_pLswDoPthEQYPS1WYDPBurlSPnq-JoYEW8FYnK2rGA5vp5caqnEkDCN94Aqo/s1600/dddd.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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<o:p><b>NEW HOME:</b> </o:p></div>
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We have 3 bedrooms, 4 beds, a bathroom that is probably one
of the grossest bathrooms I have ever seen (it’s covered in mold in the
shower), a living room with a couch and kitchen. I wrote a rhyme one night
about the couch once: “I really want to go to bed, but I’m going to sit on the
couch instead.” This must mean the couch is super comfy…eh.</div>
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<o:p><b>BUSKING:</b></o:p></div>
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I watched my bank account here in NZ sink to less than $100…
it was scary and considering I’m Fun-Employed until I find a job with a tour
operator I needed to find an alternative to making money. So… I got my busking
license and I borrowed a ladder from a local company and set up my aerial
hammock in the willow tree in town. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8wGTixXFPVLW_MRFkfKxgt-jy9XAYSE3ZmufehUG3bDlkDJW1gzV2J6B1PHFODHOMa721ycF9pjS3O2QB-vHWF37jbLr9UyIWQBytAq2H-UKCEuwhZ8csklzH_jj_rG4kGw1J8Wuv7CU/s1600/aerial+silk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8wGTixXFPVLW_MRFkfKxgt-jy9XAYSE3ZmufehUG3bDlkDJW1gzV2J6B1PHFODHOMa721ycF9pjS3O2QB-vHWF37jbLr9UyIWQBytAq2H-UKCEuwhZ8csklzH_jj_rG4kGw1J8Wuv7CU/s1600/aerial+silk.jpg" height="320" width="179" /></a></div>
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Busking basically means, sharing an artistic talent on the
streets for money. I have seen some people play music and sing, some do magic
shows, some do acro yoga, and some do silks/pole occasionally. Well, it’s my
time to try and do aerial hammock. For the record, I have only performed
hammock once in front of people and that was right before I moved away from
Utah in November. So it’s not like I was super excited to throw myself into the
wild world of busking and attempt to make money. This is a huge self motivation
thing, but on the plus side, I’m my boss, I do it when I want too and I do it
for me.</div>
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I made a sign that said, “Tricks for Tips,” bought some more
rock climbing webbing and borrowed a ladder to climb the willow tree and BAM, I
was ready to attempt busking. I made a few attempts at different methods of
trying to get money while busking and ended up settling into a mode where I
start my music, get in my hammock and when I get tired I simply get out of my
hammock, smile, pick up my sign and do a little dorky, awkward dance turn so
people see I am trying to make money doing this, then I hop back into my aerial
hammock and continue performing for as long as I can. It is exhausting, but as
long as there is people, I keep going, until I can’t. Then I take a break, lay
in the grass, read my book, or drink some water and people watch. </div>
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I generally stay out there for around 3-6 hours busking and
then I never count the money til I get home. I do this so I don’t get
disappointed from what I make since I only make tips when I busk. It’s a lot of
work to set up my aerial hammock (and it’s not the safest process getting it up
in the willow tree) and it’s taken me a lot of work to get where I am in aerial
hammock (people don’t always realize this when they see me busking though). I
don’t do it for the money though, I do need the money, but I’m just happy I
have a talent I can share that can assist me in trying to make money right now.
I enjoy sharing it in the eye of the public because it makes me feel pretty,
elegant, and graceful. Those are 3 things that don’t seem to come too easy for
me and when I get in my cloud swing, I fly, I feel freedom, I feel happy.
#nobodycanbringmedown</div>
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<o:p><b>IN THE MEANTIME: </b></o:p><br />
I go hiking in my free time and I do things that are free or little to no money. My friend's company, Water Sport World here in Queenstown bought a jetovator and so I went and tried that out as they test drove it. So basically, I was a test dummy, a very awesome test dummy. See the video of it here:<br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=EdD6BwU2GsA&app=desktop">https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=EdD6BwU2GsA&app=desktop</a><br />
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I went hiking on Ben Lomond Peak yesterday. It was my second attempt, because the first time I went I didn't give myself enough time since I left at 5 pm and it's a 5 hour plus hike... and it gets dark at 8:30 pm. This was from the first attempt up on the saddle.... I'm joining the #ToplessTours group of women I see on social media and letting the girls loose. If this offends you, it's cool, that's your problem. No one was close, no one was even on the mountain that night, it was just me wandering around the mountain tops with my top off... wild and free as can be. weeeeee. #getweird<br />
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So on the second time around, I gave myself plenty of time. My body felt shattered from busking the day before and walking to frankton the day before that, but I didn't care. I needed an adventure this week, so it was time for Ben Lomend Peak to be stood on. I walked, I sang, I tried reciting spanish from a book I brought with me, all the way up to the saddle. Then came the steep part, that was rough, my body was very angry with me, but I didn't care, I kept going and I made it up to the top. The view, the sunshine, me, my apple, my sports beans, my water, me, lying on the heated rock. I made it, now if I could get some good job vibes my way soon that would be nice. #Freedom #Ilovehiking </div>
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The Mountains were Calling... So obviously, I had to go ... and go I did.</div>
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One of my favorite things to find on hikes is fungus. It's weird, but they are so cool, especially when they come in bright red toadstools and orange mushroom bouquets!<br />
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<o:p><b>JOB SEARCH:</b></o:p>Just wait til you read how the job search is going. I have applied for countless numbers of tour operator jobs and it seems to be a struggle. It is easy to get a job if you settle in queenstown. There are tons of Hospitality work, but I'm capable of so much more.... ya know... stay tuned and check out the next post.</div>
<!--EndFragment-->Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8671054772126050944.post-80970268030526286242015-02-28T20:55:00.000-07:002015-03-12T21:11:11.514-06:00NZ Summer Pole Camp<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<b>February 20th - 23rd: NZ Pole Dance Camp</b></div>
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You know you have your priorities straight when you
hitchhike from Picton to Queenstown so you can attend Pole Dance Camp. Point
is, I made it to Queenstown the night before Pole Dance Camp started and boy,
was I ready to get my pole on. #holla. </div>
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I have never been to a pole dance camp before… I have been
to pole expo twice in Las Vegas and I had a blast, but I think I enjoyed the NZ
pole dance summer camp more than expo. The summer camp was held at Queenstown
Pole Dance Studio and it was a series of 4 days with 8 workshops and all
workshops were with a different instructor. The workshops that were held
include pole groves with Raha Star and Bobbi Gold, yoga with Anna Ashton,
Contemporary dance with Lee, core training with Alaine, and pole moves and
strength classes with Carlie Hunter, Andre Corey, and Amy. This summer camp
provided such a great variety of classes for me to take and it helped me step
out of my square and expand my horizon. #helloworld. </div>
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I’m at a point in my pole journey, where I tend to want to
focus on doing the harder moves, the strength moves more so than doing the flow
portion of pole which means, I probably have to work on my flow better since I
hate doing it. I got my time schedule, went in with an open mind and learned
some new strength moves, exotic dance moves, and some contemporary dance moves.
Watch out world, cause I’m about to let me body move. #makethemovementmove. </div>
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Raha, the owner of the Queenstown studio set up a instructor
showcase at one of the local fancy restaurants. We ate, drank and watched our
instructors dance the night away on the opening night of camp. It was a great
way to gain some inspiration from some of our #polecrushes and a great way to
get to know all the girls who had come from near and far to attend the nz pole
dance camp. At the end of all the workshops we also had a beach pole party and
set up some x-stages, ate pizza and watched the sunset. I love this, the camp
has around 100 people attending and it was so nice to get to know other
attendees, talk to the instructors, and be with like minded pole dancers from
the south pacific. Big thanks to Raha Star and all those who organized this
event. #biglove</div>
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When I say I enjoyed pole summer camp a bit more than expo,
let me explain a little as to why. At pole expo, you pay nearly $200 for an
entry fee to see vendors (and spend extra money at the vendors booth, cause
pole dance stuff is awesome), do some free workshops (but no free pole
workshops and all free workshops are in a very social location, sometimes making
it difficult to focus on the workshop). On top of that you pay $85 or more for
a pole class workshop that has 20 or more people in the classroom. I’m not
saying it’s a bad thing, I love pole expo and I am hoping to attend it again
this year as well. The people are amazing, the venue is incredible, and the
workshops and private lessons are always fun. It’s a road trip that I always
enjoy with my girls from Kairos Fitness and one that I hope to continue if at
all possible this year. All I’m saying is it would be nice if at least one pole
workshop was included in the entry fee for pole expo. </div>
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It’s like when you purchase an all inclusive cruise,
everything is included on the ship except for drinks. With pole expo, you need
to book the hotel for however many nights your staying and it’s best to book
the hotel where the expo is being held, the convenience is so worth it. Then
there is the expo pass fee, the fees for whichever workshops you would like to
take, and don’t forget about the vendors. No, you are not required to buy
anything from the vendors, but for me, I always stash away some money so I can
buy stuff from the vendors. I love pole and yoga clothes and if I could I would
run around in them all day. Generally I’m wearing them everyday anyways
underneath the big globby clothing I’m forced to wear in “normal society.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What I’m getting at is that buy things
from the vendors whether it’s clothing, equipment, or memberships is worth it.
It’s always nice to do something nice for yourself and for me, pole expo is
where I put myself first and buy myself nice yoga clothes that I will wear
forever and ever. </div>
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All in all, I loved pole dance camp, I loved the
semi-private lesson that me and the twinsies took with Carlie Hunter, I loved
the showcase, the beach party, and the pole jam at the end of camp where I
could barely move because of #toomuchpole. Such a fun event and so glad I was
able to attend it. #imisspolecamp.</div>
<!--EndFragment-->Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8671054772126050944.post-43119500619201885432015-02-24T21:08:00.000-07:002015-03-12T21:08:59.705-06:00Feeling GratefulThroughout my hitchhiking experience on the South Island I just wanted to give a shout out to all the people who picked me up. Thank you all for the rides, the easy going car talk, and for the willingness to pick up a complete stranger. It feels good to put my trust in other people and to see it end well. I hate how so many people in the world have became so untrusting of others due to other peoples experiences with people. People are good. Some are bad, but a lot of them.. are good.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8671054772126050944.post-3017255944377561602015-02-24T16:50:00.001-07:002015-03-12T20:57:04.895-06:00Why Hitch Hike?<br />
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<b>Why do I hitchhike? </b></div>
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Hitchhiking is known to ... not be safe and you know what, sometimes that is true. Sometimes, it's not safe to eat food off the floor either, but you do it anyways. </div>
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That being said, I chose to hitch hike for three reasons:</div>
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1. I'm extremely low on money and it seems more worth it to me, to not pay for a bus.</div>
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2. I'm curious, so many people have completely closed off there brains to putting trust in complete strangers... There are good people out there ... and I was a little curious to see what good people I would find.</div>
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3. Science: Due to my curiousity I have came up with my own theories and hypothesis to see who will/won't pick me up. I would call this hitchhiking thing... a complete science fair project. That being said, I really did not like science growing up, but I do like people and it is both horrifying and rewarding to throw myself into a situation of the unknown and put my trust in human kind. </div>
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That being said, I'm not stupid. I have a way to protect myself in these situations (2 ways actually).</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8671054772126050944.post-75085539176908302015-02-24T16:45:00.002-07:002015-02-24T16:45:25.746-07:00Happy Galentines Day<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>BE MINE?? </b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaVz_XHeJPjcJLD6hYnlysrx-GORkiCnFTF1FpLfsSCrDcEMToLE5K2kXz6rXEl-ol7ajdxC_hBGOzjNSVZoLfW2Ur8Q4qd39qPvaEWZIZhoedUi-R0Sq2uXMQFAfWyFPqFqAw-gSBVpU/s1600/IMG_2582.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaVz_XHeJPjcJLD6hYnlysrx-GORkiCnFTF1FpLfsSCrDcEMToLE5K2kXz6rXEl-ol7ajdxC_hBGOzjNSVZoLfW2Ur8Q4qd39qPvaEWZIZhoedUi-R0Sq2uXMQFAfWyFPqFqAw-gSBVpU/s1600/IMG_2582.JPG" height="200" width="150" /></a></span></b></div>
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<b>HAPPY GAL-ENTINES DAY</b><br />
Feb. 14 - Well what is known as valentines day to most -- turned into galentines day for me and cindy. We went on the cutest date ever. Woke up, went kayaking to fishermans island and pretended we were stuck on an island like when we lived in Fiji. It sounds silly, because it is silly, but it was fun -- a wee bit chilly, but fun. We saw waves, and penguin rocks, and ocean things and island things (I'm very detailed here) and then we ate lunch and paddled on back. I think we are what a person would call "advanced kayakers" now because we came back through the waves and attempted surfing them with the kayak. We didn't flip over, so we must be good at it, right?<br />
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We finished off the night with a fancy dinner of ground hamburger, cooked carrots and potatoes smashed into a tortilla. It is what I would call these days - gourmet - and also it was fancy because me and Cindy's mom had a glass of wine with it. If you know of any guys who want to be "Swooned" by Brooke -- just tell them about my fancy dinner dates and my tarp tent accomodation with Cindy over Valentines -- that will get them.<br />
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<b>HAPPY BIRTHDAY SISSY</b><br />
Feb. 15 - It's my baby sisters birthday today and although I gave her a promo video of aging, a skype call, and a birthday song via skype -- give her a shout out, she is sweet, adorable and 13 now.<br />
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THIS SISTER --->>(LEFT)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNUL4N9zV18Qgfn6sP_9dJmgCkXPH-3sRfNj6namFBhEddt1TxncH3pB0qqHW-upGnkZ61LMw1oZV9wN9LT4qyGsjMjPRn7xbW_WaRTi29mTqcr7fivzc3vczLhS4HejXD4an8x9xvVz8/s1600/IMG_9634_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNUL4N9zV18Qgfn6sP_9dJmgCkXPH-3sRfNj6namFBhEddt1TxncH3pB0qqHW-upGnkZ61LMw1oZV9wN9LT4qyGsjMjPRn7xbW_WaRTi29mTqcr7fivzc3vczLhS4HejXD4an8x9xvVz8/s1600/IMG_9634_2.JPG" height="320" style="cursor: move;" width="222" /></a></div>
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<b>SAVE THE WHALES:</b><br />
In the evening of Valentines, we got word that the whales were stranded up at Golden Bay. We did our best the next morning to make it up there and try to volunteer and help save the whales, but the whales that could be saved, got saved and the rest... were not so lucky. Thanks to everyone who helped the whales out and volunteered -- you're amazing. <br />
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<b>LETS RELAX -- FOR HOURS.</b><br />
Me and Cindy were quite tired... and feeling lazy so we went to a rock climbing camp ground and then headed over to a spa in Takaka. We then relaxed for.... 4 hours of spa time and then headed back to our campground and crawled into our sleeping quarters (her in the van -- me in my tarp tent).<br />
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BACK TO NELSON<br />
Feb. 16 - All good things come to an end... Cindy, Kathleen and I went onward to Nelson and camped at Mai Tai Campground for the night. Cindy and I did a wander to the center of New Zealand and then chased sheep around for a bit (in a loving way). I may have pretended I'm a sheepherder and started singing, but you will never know because there is no videos of me singing "come my sheep," in a chanting kind of way. We relaxed and wandered around and then the next day they dropped me off at the bus station and I began my voyage on down to Queenstown. I took a bus to Richmond and then well... it was time to let the hitchhiking begin.<br />
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<b><br /></b>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8671054772126050944.post-25246421760271380932015-02-23T22:58:00.002-07:002015-02-23T22:58:20.553-07:00Sailing back to the SouthIt's summer here, but I feel like it's more of a continuous fall/spring. The weather is cooler because we are pretty far south and the ocean water is pretty cold too -- like California temperature, but cooler.<br />
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Anyways... enough about the weather.<br />
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<u><b>REUNITED & SAILING SOUTH:</b></u><br />
The day has come that I say goodbye to my dear Emily and Sara and sail to the south island again to meet up with Cindy! Yay! Emily was sweet enough to get me to the ferry and then I got on board with a front row indoor view at the front of the ship. A lady sat down right across from me and had her back to me... and when she turned around .... guesss who it was..... MOM... Jk, but it was my adopted parents sitting across from me -- Karen and Frank from Wisconsin. They are traveling around NZ for about 6 weeks and I ran into them up in Bay of Islands when I did a tour. We realized that we knew eachother in a stare of 3 minutes where it was mumbles and speechless smiles/nods -- seriously, it was quite funny our reaction when me and Karen realized we knew eachother! I love this small world brings people together. We sat there and reunited about what has happened the past 3 weeks since we last saw eachother and we were shortly joined my a guy from Belgium (Marcus) who turned into there adopted son soon after.<br />
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<i>(Family Photos Coming) </i></div>
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<b>HITCH - HIKING ROUND 1</b><br />
After a great boat ride reuniting with each other, we went out to lunch and then Frank and Karen dropped us off on the side of the road so we could hitchhike to Nelson #sorrymom. We got picked up by a young couple from Germany and went in the direction of Nelson and then when they got to there destination, we hopped out and quickly hitched a ride with a lad from NZ in a business suit. Turns out this guy use to be in the Olympics for paddling in 1998 and 1994. So that's neat... now he loves to mountain bike and he is a financial advisor, living the life in Nelson! Yess!<br />
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<b>HITCH HIKE EVALUATION:</b><br />
<b><i>HH #1:</i></b><br />
<i>Hitchhikers: Me & Marcus (age 24/25)</i><br />
<i>Wait Time: 10 minutes</i><br />
<i>Gender: 1 Male/1 Female</i><br />
<i>Age Range: 18-24</i><br />
<i>Car type: Van</i><br />
<i>From where: Germany</i><br />
<i>Hitchhike from: Picton to Havelock (1 hour)</i><br />
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<b><i>HH #2:</i></b><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i>Hitchhikers: Me & Marcus (age 24/25)</i></span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i>Wait Time: 3 minutes</i></span></i><br />
<i>Gender: Male</i><br />
<i>Age Range: 34-40</i><br />
<i>Car: Sports Car</i><br />
<i>From where: Nelson, NZ</i><br />
<i>Hitchhike location: Havelock - Nelson (1 hour)</i><br />
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<b>NELSON:</b><br />
Once I got to Nelson, I looked at my bank account... it was getting low. It looks like hitchhiking around NZ til I get back to Queenstown is going to be what I do. I will offer to buy coffee for rides though... and tell my cat jokes too. The next thing I did was text my friend Wulf, because I realized that paying $30 for a hostel... was just not going to work out. Turns out, Wulf's momma lives in Nelson and she was more than willing to host me and share her fresh made wine and cookies with me! Thanks Nina!<br />
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The next day I wandered to the beach and then made plans to meet up with Cindy in Motueka at last. I caught a bus this time, because it was $14 and that was worth it, because hitchhiking from my location would have been very stressful and I probably wouldn't have got picked up because it was rush hour and I needed to get to the other side of the city to get a good hitch. Ufff -- so bus it is.<br />
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<b>REUNITED WITH CINDY: </b><br />
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My bus slowly rolled in and I text Cindy in hopes of surprising her. She was still at Subway so I rush over with my backpack and swing open the door to see her eating food. Yayyyy! </div>
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Last time I saw Cindy was only in September 2014, but when she left -- my forever long relationship was coming to a close and I was all sad poopy face :'( - so it was very much needed for us to reunite ... when I am doing better and in a happier place than I was when she left. Anyways -- REUNITED -- Yay! Us three (Me, Cindy and her Mom) drove on to the Abel Tasman National Park and found a campsite and then got all settled. Cindy and her mom slept in the van... and I slept in my tarp tent that I got from REI for $8 before I left. A tent would make sense in terms of camping, but I was perfectly happy sleeping in my tarp tent instead. It made me feel -- like "Wander Woman", it made me feel like a "cave women," and it made me get more in touch with nature. (If you know me, you know I think I'm funny when I say that... and clever... because I am).<br />
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My home:</div>
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<i>"You're never homeless ... if you have a tarp tent." - Brooke</i></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8671054772126050944.post-28971241526761728772015-02-19T01:03:00.001-07:002015-02-23T23:13:26.709-07:00Colossal Squid and Circus Play makes Wellington a Perfect Place<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><b>Feb. 9 - 12</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><b>Wellington -- a Windy City</b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">It started raining... and pouring as the bus roared into Wellington. I was tired, hungry and so eager to see my tribal sisters! As the bus slowed into the parking space at the bus station in Welly, I got out, grabbed my bags and took four steps before the doors to Mcdonalds open and Sara and Emily welcomed me with open arms, french fries, and a soda. So good to see these girls!! We drove around to get some tea at this cute place and then went to a gymnastics place to pick up Emily's boyfriend. As soon as we walked into the gymnastics place, my eyes opened with aweee! It was beautiful and it made me feel like I should probably move to Wellington because they were very circus friendly. I miss circus life or circus wannabe life in Utah #kairosfamily.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><b>Dreams do come true:</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">We all cuddled when we got home and relaxed before falling asleep and then the next day Emily and I went to the Te Papa Museum. This means... That I finally got to meet the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Colossal Squid</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> in Te Papa. The one, the only colossol squid on display and the one and only colossal squid that has been caught in the deep sea of Antartica. I watched a documentary in 2008 and when I visited here in 2010, I tried to meet the squid, but I was shunned because the museum was closing. I always said I would be back and see it... and I finally did. Oh Happy Day... Feb. 10 will now and forever more be.... our anniversary colossal squid... just saying. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;">After the museum madness Emily went to teach yoga and I went to Cuba Street to pole dance. I found a studio online called Body Electric Pole Studio and decided to give it a whirl. What started with me attending open pole, turned into me attending a pole grooves and intermediate class. My body was so sore still from the Tongariro Crossing, but how could I say no to more pole. I miss pole, it completes me so I stayed and played more pole. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I made up a short little freestyle to my favorite song at the moment -- click below to watch :)</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byqyW6nt-LQ&feature=youtu.be">Click here to watch me Dance. Dance. Dance at Body Electric Pole</a></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;">I got to the gymnastics place and felt absolutely ravished, but I wanted to play and so I went in and started working on my back handsprings for the first time... in a long time. I did it with froggy legs and well, I'm pretty happy with that. #HighFiveSelf I want to live here and play circus all the time. weeeeeee.... I'm tempted.. I'm not going to lie! </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><b>AND THEN:</b></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;">Emily and I </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">woke up feeling rather lazy the next day -- Feb. 12 -- but once we did, we drove over to Breaker Bay and walked along the beach and then joined her loverboy at a cute little restaurant called "The Gypsy Kitchen." This place was adorable. They cook... whatever the feel like cooking out of organic ingredients and then they sell it ... for whatever price they feel like selling it for. They say the price on the spot generally and have a very lovely area to sit in as well. On a side note -- I just found out on these places opened in Queenstown -- goodbye money... not that I have much left (hahaha -- seriously though).</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Evening came by and Sara came and joined forces with us and we went to do the Kiwi thing since we had a nice sunny day with little to no wind in Welly. We got fish and chips and went down to the wharf where there was a playground. Such good company... and such a good sunset... and such a good playground.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"> Tomorrow I leave Wellington and it's bitter sweet, I feel like me, Sara and Emily have been friends for ages and I know I'll see them again, but I felt at home a bit in Wellington with them. I even got to do my laundry at Emily's and she let me leave my clothes in the dryer all day... because it made me feel like I was at home for a bit. That was a good feeling ... not going to lie.. tomorrow -- on the road again. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><br /></span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8671054772126050944.post-60581191857487310312015-02-19T00:03:00.001-07:002015-02-24T01:10:09.755-07:00 Okahune to Mt. Doom<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><b><u>Tongariro Crossing:</u></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Feb. 7 - </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Today I woke up bright and early to hike the tongariro crossing. I decided early on the drive there that I must hike Mt. Ngauruhoe (Mt. Doom from Lord of the Rings) even tho it would be a massive time crunch! I started the hike casually talking to people because it was a busy day on the trail. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> When I got to the base of Mt. Doom I went into power mode and ditched all potential friends because I was on a mission. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I must get to the top of this volcano as soon as possible so I can catch my bus and finish the trail.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> Like any steep slope, you can imagine it sucked going up, walk three steps, slide down one (it was that steep), but eventually in about an hours time, I made it to the top. I decided to walk the full top ridges over there connecting with the volcano rim and it was pretty neat. The rock was warm, not cause of the sun, but because it is an active volcano. "HEY YO! This volcano was interesting because it had the hot/cold sensation. Like I said earlier, the volcano was warm in some areas, where as other areas had </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">these jagged cuts of ice layering the rocks on the top portion in and around the volcano. #crazy.</span><br />
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And then... the emerald lakes. ahhhhh. glorious.</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">The hike continued and there was 3 volcanic pools later on and they were all of the pretty colors (Blue, Teal, Turquoise). We were walking on active volcanic land throughout the end of the hike and I soon I realized that the trail signs said three and a half hours left.... and I had 2 and a half hours to make it to the end of the trail in time to catch my bus. I started jogging through a maze of people and then I had to run the last 45 minutes of the trail in hopes of making it in time. I barely made it, 7 blisters later, shoes full of sand, sweaty face, and dehydrated. I really hate running, but when you spend $45 for a bus then you don't want to risk getting stranded, having to spend more money for a pick up, or sitting around in the middle of no where hoping for a pick up. This hike was prettty. I like it, if you get the chance to do it, I highly recommend it and if you dare climb Mt. Ngauruhoe, I highly recommend it. Volcanoes are ... so neat... unless they erupt when you're on them, in which case you may die... and thats not so neat.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><b><u>WWOOFING</u></b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Feb. 8 - </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Slept in and wwoofed again at Station Lodge. WWOOFing is volunteer work. Generally, it means, "Willing Workers on Organic Farms," however, other tourism and hospitality jobs occasionally have trade work in housekeeping, gardening, or diners as well. In my case, station lodge had just had a wwoofer move on and I was short on money (it runs out fast)! I asked if they needed any assistance in trade for accommodation and I was in luck. Normally you have to commit a couple weeks, but I was in luck and did a 3 hour shift each day in exchange for accomodation.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><b><u>Relax?? Or Not</u></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Feb. 8 - My plan was to relax, but </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I ended up meeting up with a friend and learning how to drive stick. We went up and took a look at a ski resort Mt. Rapehu, I think, and then he offered to teach me how to drive and since... I have never done it because no one wanted to teach me. I figured yes yes yes. I'm really good at it, when I focus and I almost want a car that is Manuel now (almost). </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Feb. 9 - </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I woke up and packed, sad day and then met up with farmer friend and got a light snack and coffee. I'm taking a bus to wellington today and meetig up with my tribe girls Emily and Sara in welly tonight, but kinda sad to be leaving ohakune...(bitter-sweet). </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Made it to Wellington and I was reunited with Emily and Sara again!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #76a5af;"><b>I like Sunflowers: They are my Favorite.</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #76a5af;"><b>Feb. 3</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #76a5af;">Well I'm at a place called "Scott's Place" and it has a nice little zen garden. Got a ride into town and swam in the ocean at ngarunui beach in raglan... I like this place.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #76a5af;"><b>Feb. 4</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #76a5af;">Went to town and hitchhiker to solscape to see an old co-worker. This resort was neat because it had teepees and earth domes. I could work here. I also lost my phone and I went back to try and find it and got lucky. Someone turned it into i site. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #76a5af;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT9rMiisWGWu5cqwN-wKbIzhCZNc6OKN1l16s1PdrRV68WdDYDd4Vmp9A0PFeCQt4-EtEOoNY_rCAMlxldavzxf7SVy9zMHHAriLN5vrF9Ci7R-poPzAoie3uO6xEhcRfcnHpB7cwhu3g/s1600/IMG_2228.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT9rMiisWGWu5cqwN-wKbIzhCZNc6OKN1l16s1PdrRV68WdDYDd4Vmp9A0PFeCQt4-EtEOoNY_rCAMlxldavzxf7SVy9zMHHAriLN5vrF9Ci7R-poPzAoie3uO6xEhcRfcnHpB7cwhu3g/s1600/IMG_2228.JPG" height="150" style="cursor: move;" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN1pV16-nQTgCjfD-3JzsQ96pWV8-TnyTHgIWX1fbGU0CLxgSbGbdP__3akX3OB7kZ9A6tPlBz594rUlndQ5BIUXY7UqTXHpI9n-7X2jcWmGy80P0fQ6unPwc0_TJAWjQLr6kDYnk0tsU/s1600/IMG_2234.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN1pV16-nQTgCjfD-3JzsQ96pWV8-TnyTHgIWX1fbGU0CLxgSbGbdP__3akX3OB7kZ9A6tPlBz594rUlndQ5BIUXY7UqTXHpI9n-7X2jcWmGy80P0fQ6unPwc0_TJAWjQLr6kDYnk0tsU/s1600/IMG_2234.JPG" height="150" style="cursor: move;" width="200" /></a></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #76a5af;"><b>Feb. 5</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #76a5af;">Happy two month anniversary self, I've been in nz for 2 months.</span> </div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #76a5af;">I decided attempt to surf today. I did catch a wave and I did stand up and actually surf. I also got out and paddled thru the surge and... Oh my hell, the waves, the ocean was a powerful force. I later got abandoned by my ride which was fine because they I got to be free. I swam in the ocean and laughed as the current tried to pull me out, it was quite the workout I later found someone to hitch with to ohakuna that night... So I hitchhiked with this stranger and he was cool at first and then got creepy... Not into it... At all. Lesson learned. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #76a5af;"><b>Feb. 6</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #76a5af;">After dealing with creepy guy and getting close to no sleep. I got dropped off at the library in ohakuna at 5 am with all my things. It was raining, pouring and dark so I skyped Lucy with the library's wifi. Thank god for that cause it was freaking cold. Bah! I then got a hot coffee at 8 when the shop opened and made it to a hostel where I wwoofed for my accommodation. Tomorrow I hike the best hike in nz, the tongariro trail and then up Mt. Doom... Dun.dun.dun. On a side note .. Happy waitingi day nz.</span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8671054772126050944.post-3836707330420121952015-02-11T11:57:00.000-07:002015-02-24T00:23:19.481-07:00Finding myself and my tribe<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;"><br />
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<b><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Jan. 28</span></u></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">I met up with Natalie and we drove to lake taupo and met all my girls for wanderlust. I had not met Natalie or any of the other girls in my cabin, but we got connected through the volunteer page for wanderlust. I was able to catch a ride with Natalie from Auckland and got to spend a nice car ride talking about our lives and making pit stops to buy avocados and blueberries off the streets. Once we arrived at our cabin, the rest of the girls started to filter in. I got excited and nervous, 6 girls, different backgrounds, different perspectives and personalities... This is going to be interesting and exciting.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;"> I heard there were natural hot springs and I was determined to go to them. I walked around recruiting people from my cabin and campsite to go to this hot spring I had never been too and I had no idea where it was either. I got about 6 of there's to join me and we found the hot springs. They were free, natural, hot, cold, warm and had small waterfalls that fell into a river. That led to hot waterfalls falling into hot water that merged into colder water into cold water in a river. One body of water merged with the hot cold, and warm sensation. Seriously, the most perfect hot spring I have ever been in...we sat there as the sunset and eventually went back to our room with our new cabin mates. What we didn't know was that the next day, we would become a tribe, we would unite so much over the next couple days, and have a new seed of life planted in our souls. </span></div>
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<u><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Jan. 29</span></b></u></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">I went in early morning to do my first volunteer shift and met some other volunteers. We got our nice shirts and of course, I redesigned mine, goodbye tshirt and hello beautiful tank top with slits in the back and new anklets. I quite enjoyed my shift working registration, I got to meet a lot of attendees and volunteers and then I went and wandered around the event when my shift was done. I saw my friend working the sign in at the hula hoop workshop after my shift and ran to ask to join in. Jamie... I felt your spirit there with me all the way from Utah! The workshop was with Deanne Love and it was so fun. I have self taught myself some hula hoop moves, but never taken a class. It was so fun to learn and play hula hoop for over an hour. I feel freedom, I feel love, and I feel friendship when I hula. I have a new hula goal too... I want to hula the hoop from my knees up and over my boobs #circusgoals #getweird. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;"><b><u>Jan. 30</u></b> </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">I volunteered for wanderlust and registered more attendees. I'm loving meeting all these new people and the other volunteers I have met are awesome! I signed in people for a workshop and sat and listened to part of it. It was about the meaning of love. Later I went to an acro yoga class and a meditation and cleansing class. Then, me and Blair went to do a pick up..for some of the artists. We had no idea who it was but hey, we were keen, we got to drive and so that's always fun. We pulled up to Huka Falls Reaort and guess who it was. Only two of my favorite people from Medicine for the people, Chase and Justin. It was great cause they got in and actually remembered me, I'm flattered guys, cause I know you meet so many people on your travels. Anyways, so good to see these two again. I met Chase in Aug. 2012 while I was living in Alaska and I met Justin in August 2014 when they played in Jackson Hole. It's always good to cross paths with people you have met before and it was a beautiful thing to run into these guys again! We stopped at Huka Falls on the drive back and then Blair and I went to find food and I attempted and roller skating class. It went good, but I got a little bored going around in circles time after time. I decided to leave the festival early around six and go back to cook some food at the campsite and I logged into the Internet to find out, Cindy is coming to NZ in 5 days... WHAT!! Yes!!! This night ended with being lazy,going for a skinny dip and showering before falling into a deep slumber. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix4ht44VAUW1eIpMtlGo-crLIjL9NPfhnrXPmeyIrKeFwOLrOsh7KHPKxgNaiL-KvjVNSsQHzXCQstGAmpv9vZ7gfDnUFSuxbtKFNtTpOt0MU3n-xg6fvMynB6Uord0FrXDp95cnWT4e0/s1600/med3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix4ht44VAUW1eIpMtlGo-crLIjL9NPfhnrXPmeyIrKeFwOLrOsh7KHPKxgNaiL-KvjVNSsQHzXCQstGAmpv9vZ7gfDnUFSuxbtKFNtTpOt0MU3n-xg6fvMynB6Uord0FrXDp95cnWT4e0/s1600/med3.jpg" height="200" width="112" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4zFFbpjISN3PHYGMajUPi6DE3Zzd56hCZ8TjOHgNtehctcemy48lk0CpaR7S_llsZZAFWalXSopaQkFsXwLylnmIQVvp1C7rOs228CqhhFFwXv6p1HQ2XPlz_Gy28RpJ8HYGRFuG3JiA/s1600/med2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4zFFbpjISN3PHYGMajUPi6DE3Zzd56hCZ8TjOHgNtehctcemy48lk0CpaR7S_llsZZAFWalXSopaQkFsXwLylnmIQVvp1C7rOs228CqhhFFwXv6p1HQ2XPlz_Gy28RpJ8HYGRFuG3JiA/s1600/med2.jpg" height="200" width="112" /></a></span></div>
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<b><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Jan. 31</span></u></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Today is the day. I woke up and volunteered again and then skipped off to find a tree to hang my silk in... Mission accomplished, I found a tree, borrowed a ladder, and played shapes on my silk in the Forest by myself. It was beautiful, I even got to share it with a couple people who snuck back. Later medicine for the people played and chase borrowed my tambourine again for the show. Bluebird is a star! I danced the night away, sat in the Forrest and I got my first ever hula hoop bruises thanks to deanne loves hula class. I tried a handstand class as well and guess what... I can hold a handstand for like...ten seconds.. That's like 70 hours in dog years #beimpressed. Today was my last day volunteering for the festival and now everything I do I get to truly enjoy and suck in. So when it came to be music time in the eve, it was perfect. Medicine for the people and Xavier Rudd both put on awesome shows and it was a very beautiful venue as well. Today was perfect.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Feb. 1</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Kicked off with an acro yoga class, then I went to listen to a workshop by Xavier Rudd..... He is the most beautiful man... I went to meet him and I was like.... Hi..... Then I'm pretty sure my jaw dropped and I mumbled can I get a picture .... I feel so lame... I can't even say the words I want too because I looked into his eyes and was speechless uffff... But I got a picture ... Maybe I'll use it as my Christmas card this year #creepy or not.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;"> After that class... And a beautiful photo of me and Xavier, I went to a bringing sexy back class.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">What started as a fun and energizing class, led to a sad and lonely feeling... They said to merge our movements on the ground and be free so I did and I couldn't stop or else I would cry. I missed .., feeling connected someone on a intimate and emotional level, I felt very alone. I saw a girl crying in child's pose and I went and hugged her and I started crying. I feel her pain and I feel my pain, it hurts, so I let it hurt. Sometimes you need to feel the emotions and just.. Let it out... So I did... Like a baby... Then I stopped and composed myself.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;"> Class continued and I ended up doing a demo in front of class that ended with massive giggles, but after class I broke down and started crying. I feel, half empty.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">The next class I went to was about starting a revolution. We danced with our eyes open and then closed our eyes. It was freeing, it was powerful, and it helped me feel stronger. At the end each person stood in the middle and yelled out what they were going to improve on. I stood back and thought what am I going to improve on, I don't know. I had one thousand ideas flutter thru my brain and then my friend Blair pushed me In the middle and I yelled... Self love .. Learn how to trust myself again... And I started crying immediately after... Saying that outloud was hard, because I realized I need to try to love myself again. I do love myself, but not like I use to... I don't believe in myself like I use too.... Now it's time to gain that back again. I feel free, I feel emotional, and I feel a bit refreshed. This festival has been incredible and I love my tribe of girls, me, Muriel, Natalie, Sara, Britt, Ana, Emily, Katie, Blair. Such incredible people and we are going to change the world. I feel refreshed and rejuvenated. I feel like I can let go of some things now and take ten steps forward.. Or even a hundred steps forward. I needed this...</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Feb. 2</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Woke up, said some "see you laters" and packed. I was planning on going to the Tongariro Crossing and ended up in raglan couch surfing. It was raining... And plans changed. I'm sleeping in a tent now with a giant panda bear... He is nice and furry and warm. I'm at this place called Scott's Place in Waitetuna and I think I will stay here a night... Or two... Or three.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;"><i>"I want to be where the people are, I want to see, want to see them dancing..."</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;"><i>-Little Mermaid</i></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8671054772126050944.post-63279734935802822322015-02-09T13:13:00.002-07:002015-02-24T00:14:07.649-07:00Wanderlust<br />
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I moved to New Zealand on a bit of a whim. With a heart that had been shattered, self esteem that had hit rock bottom and a feeling of... Indecisiveness, I bought a plane ticket and moved here. I'm not writing those depressing words to make you feel sorry for me, I'm writing them to give you a perspective of where my heart and soul was before I moved to NZ. My heart was broken, my soul was torn, my mind was confused, my body felt lost. </div>
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As soon as I moved here I got a job, I hated it, but I got a job. I went in with a bad attitude because I chose to and I eventually left when I felt like I had enough money to restart again. Three days after I quit I saw one of the musicians I follow was in New Zealand and I thought, "are they playing a show in NZ? Naw way, I already looked that up before I moved here... But then I looked it up again and saw that, indeed this musician and the band she plays with, Medicine for the People with were coming to NZ for a yoga festival... And another musician I follow, Xavier Rudd was also coming. Gasp. It's a sign, I must go see them, my soul needs this, my heart needs this, I need this.</div>
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I looked up tickets, and I died a little, nearly $600 and its on the north island. That is a lot of money and it's not including accommodation, food, etc. I didn't have that much money, but I wanted to make it work. I felt hopeless cause I am, pretty poor, but then I saw they needed volunteers. I applied and three days later found out I got accepted. At this point, I thought okay looks like I'm going to this festival... I booked a ticket to Auckland one way on jan. 22nd, I worked my last day on jan. 23, and I flew to Auckland on jan. 24. Nothing like a spontaneous trip somewhere ... I felt excited... I felt wanderlust which is ideal because the festival is called wanderlust.<br />
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Photo by: People Seen</div>
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Taken at: Wanderlust NZ</div>
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-size: x-small;"><b>Wanderlust: a strong desire to travel; strong longing for or impulse toward wandering.</b></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8671054772126050944.post-32545265832109897122015-01-28T17:56:00.000-07:002015-02-07T19:10:25.941-07:00Bay of islands<div style="text-align: center;">
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<b><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">What started out as a day in Queenstown, ended with a night of homelessness in Paihia. </span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Note: Travel plans do not always work out... No plans do not always work out. #winning</span></i></b></div>
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<b>January 24th</b><br />
Today I flew from Queenstown to Auckland and in my head, I thought I would be staying the night in Auckland. I arrived in Auckland, grabbed a sandwich from subway and made my way to a YHA Hostel. I was going to stay the night, but then I asked..."Is there any reason I should stay in Auckland tonight? Is there an event I need to go to, etc?" They replied with, "Unless you're into the city and nightlife, maybe not." Then I said, "Okay is there still a bus headed to Bay of Islands?" They replied with yes, and so I asked to get booked on it. An hour later, I was on a bus headed to somewhere in the Bay of Islands called Whangarai (pronounced - Fung-a-ray). I arrived in Whangarai, got off the bus and asked the bus driver where a hostel was and he looked at me blankly. He told me I should get back on the bus and go to Paihia because it was much more touristy. Since it was 7 pm at this point, I figured I would listen and got on the bus to ride to Paihia.<br />
On the way there, it came to my attention that there may not be any room in hostels because it was a public holiday weekend (175th anniversary for Auckland). On the way there, I texted some friends to get phone numbers for hostels and began calling to see if there was any vacancy in Paihia for hostels... there was not and on top of that, my phone ran out of credit so I had to stop making calls. OOPS. So I came up with a quick backup plan of -- if all fails -- I must find a campground and use my emergency tarp tent and sleeping bag and pray it didn't rain. Thank goodness I brought my sleeping bag -- it was a big debate between sleeping bag/aerial silk and then I decided I needed to bring my sleeping bag and silk even though it completely filled my entire hiking backpack.<br />
I got off the bus and met a friendly guy from the Netherlands (friendly, like a little brother you creep). I got this vibe that he didn't have a place booked either and I told him all the hostels were booked and said I was going to a campground if he wanted to join. I heard some sketchy stories about the area, so I figured, 2 is better than one and hey sometimes it's nice to have a guy around so other guys leave you alone #truestory. He joined, we found a campground that was shut down, but people were there, he borrowed a sleeping bag from the camp ground attendant who lived right by the area and we slept under the stars and listened to the waves crash. Not a bad way to start this trip out...<br />
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<b>January 25th</b><br />
I woke up to the sun shining down on me and slowly packed up camp. My new netherlands friend and I considered renting a car together to drive up north, but hey, everything was booked. Meanwhile we made friends with a group of Maori people camping by us and we both tried sea urchin for the first time... lets just say, it's not my favorite breakfast, but I'm very proud of myself for trying it #selfhighfive.<br />
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We both split and made our way to our hostels and then joined up later to go to action world. I was determined to go to Action World because, they had a flying trapeze and... get this... it only cost $21 to get in and play on the trapeze and all the other fun circus things like monkey bars, a tight rope (up high too), a wobbly ladder, a slide, a trampoline, a rock wall -- Kairos Family, you would be in heaven --I know I was. As soon as I got there, I was so glad that my new friend had come with me because... there were kids playing on these action world circus toys, no adults, the adults were just watching.<br />
We started playing circus immediately and did the obstacles we had to pass off before going on the flying trapeze and then we flew. I have tried flying trapeze once in my life and loved it. I had a harness and it was super safe because it was a summer camp I use to work at in Pennsylvania. I didn't have to wear a harness here, I knew the risks, but it was worth the risk. My main goal was to swing from one trapeze to the next and flip and guess what I did it and it horrified me!! Seriously, one of the most thrilling and scariest things I have done. I had to fully let go and trust my body to go where it needed to go and trust my hands to catch me and trust my body to not flail into the bars, etc. I love flying trapeze #circusfreakforever.<br />
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We later booked a boat over to an island called Otehei Bay. We roamed around the area and found rock natural rock pools in the ocean and then on the walk back, I discovered the coolest starfish in the world on shore. I didn't touch it because it was moving faster than I have ever seen a starfish move (which was still slow), but I did make a movie. That starfish can be named patrick after the starfish in spongebob square pants.<br />
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<b>January 26th</b><br />
Today I woke up nice and early and roamed to meet up with some new friends from the day before. We were driving up to Kaeo to meet a bus company called Harrison's. We were going to see 90 mile beach (which is not actually 90 miles), go sand boarding, and do a short walk to Cape Reinga which is one of the most northern points in NZ. That tour could possibly be the best $50 I have spent and did I mention it included lunch and good company. I met an awesome couple from Wisconsin and I am hoping to reunite with them when they get to the South Island.<br />
On a side note, tour ended, we drove back to Paihia and I decided if I was going to Scuba Dive, which I really wanted to do, but I had not really planned or booked anything then I needed to get to Tutukaka or Whangarai tonight. Words can not describe how stressful of a process this was, but all ended well. I made it to the hostel just outside of Whangarai at 8:27pm -- they closed at 8:30 and they had been very firm on that when I spoke to them (It was very stressful because I had to find a ride and such to get there and there were no more buses leaving Paihia). I also managed to book my dive with Yukon Dive last minute and everything magically worked out. Tomorrow I scuba dive Port Knights Island.<br />
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<b>January 27th</b><br />
Two months ago I left my home in Utah and 4 months ago a part of me died. Today I choose life, I generally choose life when I wake up in the morning and I was lucky enough to Scuba Dive at Port Knights Island just off of Tutukaka. I got to see colorful coral shadowed with kelp forests, an eagle ray, and some pretty large sized nudibranches. Weeee... I love scuba diving and getting in touch with mermaid brooke. On a side note... I think my camera is broken, it won't turn on and it appears water has leaked... that's sad.<br />
My shuttle came to get me after and I met this lovely girl named Jan-Et from Switzerland. I also booked the same bus she was on to get to Auckland so, we were in for spending some good quality time together after our dive. Lucky for me, we clicked and had quite alot in common. We got groceries together and did it ultra backpacker style -- grab a cart, through our big old backpacks in them, and roll around buying the typical things -- bread, peanut butter, granola bars, apples, bananas and then ran to catch the bus.<br />
We ended the night in Auckland going out to dinner with another friend, Lena, she had met earlier in travels. It feels so good to focus on the here and the now. I definitely hope to cross paths with these girls again! Over and out -- tomorrow I am off to Wanderlust and tonight I got to sleep like a beast, much needed.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8671054772126050944.post-32707710913078007312015-01-23T05:10:00.000-07:002015-01-23T05:10:28.900-07:00Off to WanderlustLife just doesn't seem to slow down. I just worked my last day at a local restaurant here in Queenstown and now, I am free. I was a waitress for about 6 weeks, put my two week notice in after 4 weeks, and today after getting thrown in the lake by my co-workers, I am free. FREEDOM. Shortest job of my life!<br />
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After you graduate from University, you think you're a grown up, you think you've made it in life, you think you are going to get awesome jobs ... and maybe you will... and maybe you won't. I, for one, did not think I would be waitressing at the age of 25, but here I am living in Queenstown and waitressing at 25, again. I haven't done that since I was 21, but hey, you got to start somewhere or in my case, you have to suck it up and take what you can get. Considering I arrived in Queenstown just before Christmas came, the pickings were slim and I needed to suck it up and apply for jobs that were... not my top pick.... hence waitressing. It wasn't all bad though, turns out my co-workers were pretty close to awesome and it was sad to say goodbye to that job for that reason.<br />
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That being said, Sunday I magically saw one of my favorite musical artists was in New Zealand, I looked up if they had a show and .. they did .. at a festival called Wanderlust in Taupo. I thought to myself, "Hmmm, could I make it up to Taupo for this?" Then I looked up tickets... and died.. $595. No way in Hell I could afford that. However, turns out they were still looking for volunteers for Wanderlust, so, on Monday I applied to be a volunteer at Wanderlust and Tuesday, I found out I got accepted. Yesterday I bought a plane ticket to Auckland and now I'm #FunEmployed again and off to explore, volunteer, do yoga and other stuff I'm sure.<br />
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Do you want to hear my plan for this trip???? It's super detailed...<br />
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<li>Buy a plane ticket to Auckland or Wellington, check.</li>
<li>Hitch a ride to Bay of Islands and stay there for a couple days</li>
<li>Hitch a ride to Lake Taupo and go to Wanderlust </li>
<li>Hitch back to Queenstown... not sure when yet, but before Feb 23rd when Pole Camp starts.</li>
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So, as you can see, I'm quite the planner. I'm kind of freaking out a little, but so excited for this random trip that is about to happen. It needs to happen. It's going to happen in 5.4.3.2.1..................ahhhhhhhh<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Note: That when I talk about waitressing above, I'm not trying to speak down to people who waitress. I, simply, did not come to Queenstown to waitress, I came here to work in the tourism industry with a tour operator and I still plan on making that happen. I just came at one of the absolute worst times to find a job in the tourism industry so I had to accept other jobs that I was not to fond of. No disrespect to waitresses though.. Fo' Real.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8671054772126050944.post-23847119890409157812015-01-15T19:36:00.000-07:002015-01-15T20:01:57.732-07:00Brooke in Wanderland: NZ 1<br />
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Remember the travel videos I use to make while I was in Fiji -- Bula Mi Fiji? </div>
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Well...</div>
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Prepare yourself for the first episode of my New Zealand Travel Videos...</div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Brooke in Wanderland - New Zealand #1</span></b> </div>
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is up and rolling...rolling... rolling...</div>
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Watch it here:</div>
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I am Brooke in Wanderland<br />
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Well.. I said I was going to move away... and I did. I still find it hard to believe that I am here in New Zealand. It doesn't feel real, but it is...</div>
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On that note</div>
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<b>Follow your dreams... and make shit happen.</b></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8671054772126050944.post-6876817082518618372015-01-15T18:54:00.001-07:002015-01-15T18:55:10.977-07:00Stepping into the Unknown:<div style="text-align: center;">
I'm taking a step into the unknown...</div>
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Put in my two weeks at my job<br />
and for my house<br />
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I'm moving on... and I'm moving out</div>
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I have my reasons, but I may be freaking out a little bit on the inside.</div>
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I do think this is for the best for me. Do what makes YOU happy.</div>
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Still Freaking Out.</div>
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[on the inside]</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8671054772126050944.post-88123302460110753062015-01-10T17:25:00.000-07:002015-01-10T17:34:11.462-07:00Get Out and Live<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
WORK & SUCH:</div>
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It's not all bad when you work with good company and have sunsets like this outside of your work... </div>
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Below is just some of the dream team...</div>
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SYLVAN LAKE:<br />
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After doing my first pole performance out here with QT Dance I made a couple friends. One of which who likes to go on hiking adventures, snowboard etc -- #soulsisters. My friend Mel and I drove up to Sylvan Lake just past Glenorchy and did the loop track and relaxed by the lake, so peaceful!</div>
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Nothing like some good trees to wander through...</div>
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RED NECK SWIMMING POOLS:</div>
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After Hiking around Sylvan Lake with Mel, I got dropped off at the after effects of a horse race and hung out and went camping with some friends. I wanted to explore the area a little and got introduced to ... what I would call ... a red neck swimming pool. I have mixed feelings about this... because if given the opportunity... I feel like my friend Lacey back home would be into this. Right?</div>
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CAMPING:</div>
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I have missed camping quite a bit. I love being outside and staring at the stars wondering what the world is going to bring. It was nice to escape Queenstown and go to Alexandra with friends for some fresh air... we even managed to have a fire... which is kind of rare I feel. Fire, moonlight... and a wild pig that scared the bejeezes out of me.</div>
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Campfires</div>
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Cliff Jumping</div>
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Nothing like taking a break from this super touristy town. Although Queenstown is beautiful.. it can get absolutely crazy here and can be very overwhelming!</div>
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MY FIRST WINE TOUR:<br />
I was lucky enough to get to go do the Gibson Valley Wine Tour through my work and ... watch out world because I think I'm going to become a Wine-o! I got all edu-macated on wine and tasted about 10 different wines. Maybe... I got a little wine drunk off of it too because maybe... I am kind of sort of a lightweight because I don't generally drink. Wine is wonderful.<br />
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Why is wine so wonderful... it's an art really. Whenever you drink wine, you drink art.</div>
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And the wine with the cheese platter ... was a little slice of heaven.</div>
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Watch out world... I'm super classy now.</div>
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MILFORD SOUND:</div>
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When I left New Zealand 4 years ago there were two things I wished I had done and I didn't because I was too low on money and time. One of those things was Milford Sound and yesterday I was able to go and see this place. I got to run go frolicking through the high grasses and stand in the wildflowers...</div>
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I found beautiful waterfalls and rivers galore...</div>
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I got to be one with the wildflowers...</div>
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and I had good company too.... the 3 stooges yo. #BroHoes</div>
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After driving up and through some of Milford Sound we did a boat tour and well, it was super pretty. It actually reminded quite a lot of the Alaska and taking boats between Sitka, Juneau and Skagway when I lived out there. I love it when things link together. It is a small world after all...<br />
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Majestic Cliff views and Seals... sitting on rocks... like pieces of poop </div>
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(quote I heard from someone else on the boat).</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTzQzYUWihh-Szn6uAJVS7O_qVCjlmjyG7lfef297ZSB2snbkD7pzAbDdIcjfN5-EpvhJPLJ6GZMZkQvZwPYiH1UV0U2X31QvogkDoHl5UFCnKza35F1dCFLIMqk7t7Pa1fmsUMXwdbBE/s1600/IMG_1699.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTzQzYUWihh-Szn6uAJVS7O_qVCjlmjyG7lfef297ZSB2snbkD7pzAbDdIcjfN5-EpvhJPLJ6GZMZkQvZwPYiH1UV0U2X31QvogkDoHl5UFCnKza35F1dCFLIMqk7t7Pa1fmsUMXwdbBE/s1600/IMG_1699.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnbRa4UAgt7716qjJvD3ye3VgGxOxGhKJiGhfDwB-c_9hjcil7XlBgdeohHZG_uxAPUZ18PWFthzEfE9N4BWQCFtEd-r8xe1j5GKQOZQ2b9SNtpQUbS_0YEantQDMZ1SYHtH6coKwk5iQ/s1600/IMG_1715.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnbRa4UAgt7716qjJvD3ye3VgGxOxGhKJiGhfDwB-c_9hjcil7XlBgdeohHZG_uxAPUZ18PWFthzEfE9N4BWQCFtEd-r8xe1j5GKQOZQ2b9SNtpQUbS_0YEantQDMZ1SYHtH6coKwk5iQ/s1600/IMG_1715.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
On the way home we stopped at a place called the chasm... and found clear blue water! It was so pretty I knew I had to jump in... so I did... and then I couldn't breathe because it was so cold. I sadly and coldly got out of the water and took a deep breathe. Why can't this be a hot spring... I love hot springs!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7gqAang2mfsGP04bAkcr7KVMnVpipzIeiWUfhXK4LeKPTdolZ_is7muGBxP7oLiwgXu1b5ADdLxLh5752_DqktV4JNpTihJqvz6twuhf8ltX5W8j2lRGS2r5u1nw2rVGxdVpU8qWHlqw/s1600/IMG_1761.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7gqAang2mfsGP04bAkcr7KVMnVpipzIeiWUfhXK4LeKPTdolZ_is7muGBxP7oLiwgXu1b5ADdLxLh5752_DqktV4JNpTihJqvz6twuhf8ltX5W8j2lRGS2r5u1nw2rVGxdVpU8qWHlqw/s1600/IMG_1761.JPG" height="200" style="cursor: move;" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj5S79f8dtq99ZgQmnucQSZ3BTWyBS4QG0xNfxMMbQg7nBxSwI4CPnvD_CuOL_leaNnj1R8BEFUC0SwDMMw0CpDNZSFy8vs3He2IFKIvmGaMzLwp9P9thHJOEAFzq3jXmSGHfwAOCC1_g/s1600/IMG_1764.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj5S79f8dtq99ZgQmnucQSZ3BTWyBS4QG0xNfxMMbQg7nBxSwI4CPnvD_CuOL_leaNnj1R8BEFUC0SwDMMw0CpDNZSFy8vs3He2IFKIvmGaMzLwp9P9thHJOEAFzq3jXmSGHfwAOCC1_g/s1600/IMG_1764.JPG" height="200" width="150" /></a></div>
Last, but not least, I became a bird whisperer for a couple minutes while we waited to drive through the one way tunnel. Say hello to my parrot friends.. there were 3 of them... and we had bird like conversations.. I love encountering wildlife!<br />
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That's all of now... hey. oh. let's go.</div>
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