Time's Almost Up!

I can't believe how fast this trip has gone - but at the same time I can't believe all the things I've done in the past 2 weeks!

I've gotten to see a ton of things in Auckland - The City of Sails - thanks to my awesome kiwi tour guide, Debbie. She has proven that Garth Nutts ROCK the world over.

We got into Auckland Sunday afternoon, after a teary goodbye with my rellies at the airport. Didn't do anything but find dinner and unpack. We have an apartment here, which is very spacious, although the combination washer / dryer is completely beyond our comprehension.

Debbie picked mom and I up yesterday morrning and chauffered us all over the city. We saw beaches, mountains, cattle and sheep. She took us to a couple of high points in the city where we had amazing views - both in daylight and at night. She even took us to the grocery store so we didn't starve! Totally went above and beyond, and we had a ton of fun (well at least I did) playing the "do you have this, do you have that?" game and comparing what we called things and how things were in the states. She was really a trooper.

OH! And TOTAL bonus - I got my dress for the ACM's, and paid about $11.25 usd for it. Score!

Today mom and I went to the Zoo, which was fabulous, and I got to feed a giraffe. We shopped and I got the last of my souvenir shopping done. Tomorrow I head home, it's the day I get two Wednesdays. So it better be a good day!

Next time I talk to you it will be from LAX!

P.S. Filled up that 2gb memory card!

Headed to Auckland!

My last morning to wake up and have coffee by the ocean. This afternoon we're headed to Auckland for my last few days down under.

We took our leftover bread down and fed the sea gulls this morning - along with a ton of other birds that congregated once the word got out of what we were up to.

Debbie - I shall call you tonight!

Rain Rain Go Away!

I was supposed to climb Mt. Maunganui today. (And for the record, not only can I spell it, I can pronounce it too!) However, we've had hours worth of torrential rains, so it would be a muddy slippery mess. Buggar!

Our pavlova experiment went well, but we're going to try again tonight. Because you can never have too much pav. I've also aquired my Aunt's recipe for chocolate fudge cake, so I'm bringing back that, and some wine biscuits to make it. Another thing I'm bringing back - Pea, Pie & Pud. Yummy!

Toured a kiwi fruit farm yesterday, and got to see the packing plant where they were sorting and packing boxes to ship all over New Zealand. The area I'm staying in is called the Bay of Plenty. They have tons and tons of fruit that gets exported from here, from Tangelos to Avacados. I tried the feijoa Debbie - yummy! I liked it much better than the passion fruit. My dad and brother took a helicopter ride over the Bay of Plenty and said it was awesome.

We also got to play in the ocean a little yesterday. I think I preferred the beach in Dunedin, but we found lots of pretty shells, including a paua shell! I've bought a lot of paua jewlery on this trip.

I talked to Delaynie this morning, Gary pulled her out of school Friday at lunch time and took her out to lunch and to play glo-golf. I'm going to come home and she's going to be spoiled rotten.

Oh - I sent a bunch of postcards in Dunedin, the mail system here is SO confusing -- I wound up buying stamps for 2 different systems without knowing it. Either way, it's $1.50 to mail a postcard! So I'm not getting to send as many as I'd like. If anyone reading this gets one, you'll have to let me know when it arrived, and we'll see which mail system is faster. ;-)

Tomorrow afternoon we leave here and head to Auckland for our last few days.

Spotted: Kiwi Birds!

I saw my first kiwi birds today. We went to Te Puia (don't ask me how to pronounce it) which is in Rotorua (pronuounced like it looks) - home of the hot mud pools and geysers as well as a Maori cultural center. It was amazing!

A big geyser was blowing as we came up to it, the mud pools were just wild! My cousin Zoe and I decided next time we were bringing our suits and going into the hot mud spas. My parents had visited here before, and I really wanted to go, but didn't think I was going to get to. Turned out it was only 40 minutes up the road from where we were staying.

They also had a Kiwi House, which was home to 2 real live kiwi birds. They're nocturnal birds, so they have them in a darkened environment with lighting that reverses daylight hours, so that us loopies can see them in action. I was surprised at how big they were - about the size of a computer monitor. They were both digging holes when we went in, but one of them was kicking up dirt like my dogs! He/She turned right and looked at me - it was so funny! LONG pointy beak, black beady eyes. Every bit as cartooney as they are on the tourist merchandise. It was quite a treat to see one in real life.

There was a really interesting Maori performance too that we really enjoyed. After the performance a security guard walked right up to me and Zoe and handed me a feather, telling me it was from a real kiwi. I'm not sure, but that might mean we're going steady or something.

My dad and youngest brother Chris arrive tonight from Australia. I haven't seen them since Christmas, can't believe I had to go half way around the world to see them!

A few misc. notes:

I'm on dial up access at my cousins, and haven't had a lot of computer access over all since I've been here. I did NOT bring my laptop, and I'm really glad - it's bad enough all this airport hopping I've been doing, and there haven't been a lot of places I could have pulled it out and used it. Although I was in a McDonald's today that had wireless.

Because of that, I haven't been proof-reading and editing my blogs, just slamming them out. So all of you who compliment my writing are now getting a taste of the raw thing. I also haven't had a chance to read the comments.

I did buy a computer card for the hotel though, so hopefully in the next couple of days I will get a chance to get on fast access.

I think that's it for now. It's overcast here today, so no playing on the beach. Hoping it's brighter tomorrow.

Now, in a joy that only Carey and Debbie will fully understand - I have been to the Pack & Save and bought all the ingredients -- tonight we are making Pavlova!!!!!

Cousins, Cousins, Cousins!

We have arrived in Papamoa. I was sad to leave Dunedin, it was SO wonderful. We flew out this morning to Auckland, and caught what I'd call a "gooneybird" plane to Tauranga. 10 rows, 2 seats across, the flight attendant was also the co-pilot.

FINALLY got to meet my cousin Tania today. And her husband and two daughters and my Uncle Robert. My Aunt Patricia had been over for my wedding. We have a cottage here on the beach. Life is good.

More soon I hope. Oh my gosh, my photos are AMAZING.

Tomorrow we're going to Rotorua! yay!

I've Gone Back to School!

Greetings from the University of Otago!

I've snuck into the University after hours to blog, but before I get to that, I want to clarify something I put in my last post.

I said that the portion of the trip I was most excited about was my trip to Dunedin. My trip is divided into 3 sections -- Dunedin (my mom's hometown), Tauranga (where I'll meet up with my family) and Auckland (where I'm getting to meet Debbie!) Seeing everything in Dunedin was the thing that I really insisted upon doing if I was coming all the way over here. But the single most exciting THING to me is getting to meet my cousins Tania and her family. But as far as the trip as a whole, the Dunedin portion of the trip was my MUST DO.

So, my NZ impressions: Absolutely AMAZING. I can't even begin to tell you all the things we've done since I've arrived - I can't even believe it's only been a few days. I've tramped all over the Dunedin, went Shania Stalking in Wanaka, rode a gondola to the top of the mountain in Queenstown (where my parents honeymooned) and seen the most AMAZING scenery ever. OH - visited the home of the original Bungee Jump -- and no, I didn't jump.

The "oh wow" moment for me was going to the church my parents were married in. Having seen so many photos, but never imagining I would actually get to GO there, it was when we walked in there that the enormity of the trip I've undertaken completely overwhelmed me. Going there was worth every bit of anything I went through to get here.

I met my Great Aunt today who was just cute as a button. I've become addicted to "pies" - I've been eating them for every meal I can. These are not dessert pies, they've got meat and cheese and all kinds of different varieties, and they are yummy. I'm learning lots of new words too, like "loopies" (of which I am one).

Tomorrow I climb the Steepest Street in the WORLD - Baldwin Street. Assuming I survive that, I will be leaving Wednesday morning for Tauranga, where I'm going to meet a gaggle of rellies. (Those are relatives for you Yankees..)

By the way, it's 8:20 at night here. I haven't had any trouble with jet lag at all, the only thing is I'm tired earlier at night, and am wide awake at 5:30 in the morning.

I should have internet access again at some point after Thursday. Hope y'all are behaving yourself while I'm gone!

Kia Ora!

That's hello to you non-kiwi's. :-)

It's beautiful here. SOOO much to tell you all. I'm keeping a handwritten journal so I can go back and fill in the blanks.

Back to where I last left you... LAX. What an ugly airport. My friend Tara McNamara - who many of you remember from her days hosting CMT programming - came up and took me out for dinner. It was great to see her, and I had a delicious Louie Salad.

My trip over was fine. Long. Slept a little. Qantas was great. Watched "The Queen", which was interesting. Thought of you Moni - lots of Diana footage. Have you seen it? They fed us twice on the flight - dinner (at around Midnight Nashville time) and a really good hot breakfast. I spent a lot of time listening to Radio Q - the inflight radio. Their country channel is called "Big Country" which cracked me up... sounds like a channel that would air on our competitor. ;-)

The programming was really well produced - had a guest artist - and wouldn't you know it, his name was Garth. Garth Porter. The host was really good too, and an interesting mix of Australian and American music. About every 3rd song was American. Rodney Atkins, the Dixie Chicks, MG, and Dierks Bentley.

Right now I'm at the airport and need to give someone else the terminal. We're getting ready to fly to Dunedin - which is where my mom was born and raised. It's the part of the trip I'm most excited about!

I haven't learned yet how to say goodbye in Maori.

Greetings from Los Angeles !

So far, so good! I forgot how long that flight to LA is... I was bored silly. Thankfully the next leg of my flight has on-demand movies in the seats. I sat in front of Bon Jovi's manager on the Nashville - LA leg. Got to hear all about the CMT Awards post-party, a clinic in NJ that Jon supports, and their rehearsals for Live Earth.

Having dinner tonight with my friend Tara and her munchkins. It's currently 10am in Auckland. I'm wearing a watch set to kiwi time wondering how on earth my body is ever going to adjust.

Survivor: New Zealand

Can I really live for 2 weeks in a foreign country on everything I have in this luggage? Keep it right here to find out!

If you're a first time visitor, go back and read the first entry before going any futher. Then come along on the journey with me - you won't need ANY luggage!

I leave Nashville in 2 1/2 hours. Hope to talk to you from Los Angeles.

$3.85

I've been studying my NZ money. This is what $3.85 looks like in New Zealand. Technically, though, it's only worth $3.80, because apparently they've done away with the "nickel" and don't use anything smaller than a "dime."

I have no idea what any of these coins are called, but the 20 cent piece with the tiki on it is my favorite.

35 lbs!

That's what my bathroom scale says my suitcase weighs. Which means I have room for more Mt. Dew! Yay me!

I'm completely overwhelmed with things to do before I go. Which means I have no time to blog. Must make a To Do list.

48 hours from now I'll be in the air over the Pacific Ocean!!!!

I'm packed!

Ok, mostly packed. I have absolutely no idea if I have enough clothes. Shoes are my problem spot. But I must have sandals for the beach, right? Right. Taking those, wearing my tennis shoes, no more room for shoes in my luggage. Sandals with the casual dresses, no matter what Mother Nature does to me! I'm going to be boot-less for 2 weeks.

I don't know if I've mentioned it or not, but Quantas has given me a 44lb weight limit of checked luggage. Which is the same limit that I have on Air NZ to trapse around the country. I'm taking a large duffle bag on wheels (from Country in the Rockies) to check in, and a tote bag and the biggest purse I could get away with as carry ons. I'm planning on wearing a sweatshirt AND a jacket on the plane - of course, if I get to the airport and I'm over the weight limit, I may wind up adding a few more layers. I'm going to look completely ridiculous running around LAX, but I need warm clothes - it's fall there! How on earth to people go there in the winter?

Still have to pick up my thyroid medicine at the pharmacy and then all I have left to pack is my makeup. I thought the folks at church tomorrow would prefer it if I waited another day to pack that.

Word from Oz!

My parents are safe and sound in Sydney. I'm going crazy in Nashville.

I have a conference with Delaynie's teacher tomorrow morning to go over what will be going on while I'm gone. My friends at Country Weekly are supplying me with reading material for the trip, and I'm lining up my cleaning lady to work extra hours while I'm gone. I've got Delaynie's costume for her play (this weekend) all ready to go, and I even got my license plates (which expire while I'm gone) renewed.

6 days, 14 hours, 43 mintues and 41 seconds until liftoff.

On their way!

My parents are on their way to Australia! I leave a week from today. 7 days, 4 hours, 59 minutes and 18 seconds from right NOW to be precise.

Things are shaping up nicely. I have accomodations in Auckland thanks Debbie, who kindly answered a zillion questions about her hometown and made sure I didn't wind up in a hotel next to a strip club. All of our flights around the country are booked, AND I'm half packed.

The only things on my list for the next 7 days are to schedule 20 more days of music logs and get them mixed, edit 2 shows, lay out a project to keep my intern occupied while I'm gone, organize our home calendar, and oh yeah... I'm having a garage sale Saturday.

No worries. Right? Did I mention my husband has jury duty next week? Or that my daughter has a school project due Monday (which is done) and another due the Friday I get back (which isn't)? No worries.

Travel Advice from Keith Urban

I work in country radio. I live in Nashville. Therefore, I have access to a lot of country music stars as part of my daily work.

Yesterday morning I was part of a "Round Robin" with Keith Urban. A dozen reporters in the room around a table, asking questions. We each got to ask him three questions. He talked quite a bit throughout the hour about not only his upcoming World Tour, but also how he'll be "traversing" back and forth to Australia every two weeks while his wife is shooting a movie there.

So... on my last question, I told him I was headed for New Zealand, and asked if with all of his world travel he had any words of wisdom for dealing with jet lag. He gave me three tips:

- Drink lots of water
- Get plenty of sleep
- Never take a nap after 5pm in whatever country you're in

He also said he plans to own Quantas airlines by November with all of his frequent flyer miles.

The Countdown Has Begun!

I found this cool thing to put on my desktop, where I can countdown to any given event, and set the clock for any time zone of my choosing.

It is currently 2:30pm in Auckland, which means I am 14 days, 15 hours, 30 minutes and 7 seconds away from my flight out of Nashville taking off.

Umm... question #68 for Carey or anyone else who knows the answer....

Is NZ all the same time zone?