Cave Abseiling and Rock, Papers, Scissors

Two days in Taupo turned into three and the day of our jump was cause for some serious celebration. Champagne, Ham and cheese toasties and some more champagne.

Out to a bar with some new friends, Rob, Katie's friend from skydiving, and our fellow jumper, Mark (who got an invite to come along to the Waitomo caves with us after, and only after, quoting "Finding Nemo" with us. (As I was repeating squirts assurances that "we're gunna have a great Jump today!")

They both come along with us to Waitomo the next morning and we check into Juno Lodge. We leave our friends at the somewhat dodgy hostel to continue on our next venture: abseiling 100m into a cave and hiking through the dark and out the other side.

We meet our super chill guide, Gavin, who would take just Kt and I around. We hike to the platform after suitingh up into yet another ridiculous outfit that Kt manages to look obnoxiously adorable in and I just look re-damn-diculous. My goofy smile is always on my side though.

100m is a long way down when you are swinging from a string. I ask one more time just to be sure, "so wait, you wnt me to let go?" But I have learned slowly to trust my nerves, my guts, my legs and my gear. (New found respect for carabeners for sure.) And down we go, gliding into the lost world waiting for us below. Definitely awesome and again, nothing to disappoint. Caving is a little crazy, roaming around underground with nothing but a headlamp guding you around rocks and waterfalls and cliffs and other scary things. Rocks in caves are super funky. We followed along the path with Gavin, our fearless leader, clicking our carabeners onto ropes to stay hooked on to something, anything. We passed through some pretty amazing glow worms that looked like stars along the nights sky.

This is about the same time that we learned that out way out would be up a 30m ladder. A ladder? I have a hard enough time on a steep staircase. But yes, up we must go. This is also where we learn that Gavin has to go up first to secure the line up top. What? We have to hook ourselves in? And climb up alone? After you? Leave us? In a cave? in the dark? A quick head count and it became quite clear, quite fast that one of us would have to be the last to go.

Clearly, the obvious choice to determine the outcome would solely be based on the result of a Rock, Papers, Scissors duel. As it had been in the past between Kt and I in the now very far away kitchen at Jedediah's to determine who would get stuck with the ever demanding and co-dependant tables that would undoubtedly and inevitable be "best friends" with the owner and /or executive chef. I always lost. But this time, this time, counted more than ever because losing didn't mean getting stuck with an entire table who wants their intense lobster cream sauce on the side and absolutely no salt, butter or oil on their seared halibut. This meant that one of us would be left in a cold, dark, wet and flat out scary cave somewhere under the ground, in the dark, in Waitomo, on the North Island in New Zealand. Alone. And did I mention in the dark?

Rock, Papers, Scissors says shoot: Me.

Rock, Papers, Scissors says shoot: Stale mate.

Rock, Papers, Scissors says shoot: Katie. Tied.

Think, Carolyn, think. Well, we are standing on a rock at the bottom of a cave, Gavins light has long faded and the rope to tie in is descending for one of us to start climbing the 30m ladder out.

Rock, Papers, Scissors say shoot: I throw rock, katie throws scissors. VICTORY! All those salads with extra goat cheese and filet mignons cooked somewhere between medium and medium rare were now hundreds of miles away. Climbing for what seemed like an eternity with shaking legs and white knuckles, sucking in air like I was about to go underwater, my faint head lamp eventually guided me to the top. Gavin was waiting for me there with his reassuring pulls on the rope uiding me up and out. The rope went down, and Katie made her way up as well.

After a "well that was terrifying" declaration from Haas and a quick last glance at some glow worms, we were ready to see the light of day. Ever rewarding, yet again, was the adventure, and me another step closer to defeating ever being scared of heights again.

New Zealand Sky diving and The Real Easter

Okay, so that "Easter Sunday" I was referring to was apparently not Easter Sunday at all. THIS Sunday is apparently Easter Sunday. Right. So alls well. I'm not really sure what day it is exactly, so I'll have to fill that in later. Right now I am in Kaikora writing this in my very comfy, very cozy, very well decorated room. 

But first - skydiving - was - amazing. "By far the most amazing thing I have ever done" as I quote myself saying as soon as I had a minute to get myself together after Alan (my master dive instructor) pulled the shoot. Amidst mountains and forests, Lake Taupo and panoramic views of the North Island I had to just give up completely to what was around me. Which was nothing really. Just me, Alan, and some serious gear that would eventually carry me safely to the ground. The only thing I was able to muster up was a defeated hands up in the air and a deep breath, exhaling nothing but the two words I would come to love, "New Zealand."

Of course that was after jumping from 15,000 feet and plummeting 200 km/hr in a 65 second free fall through the sky. Sensory over load to say the least and there was little to disappoint. Insane rush, adrenaline, good stuff. But, hey, thats just me. Some of us were apparently more reluctant to plummet to the earth than others, ah hem, Katie Haas. After a slight cloud delay of an hour and conformation came that it was a go, Katie was bad then... never mind waiting for our pick up / signing some waivers / suiting up and getting a 12 second run down of how its gunna go down. 

About 27 lbs of almonds and semi-permanent wrinkles left between her eyebrows later, we were up and traveling to 15,000 feet. Phil, Katie's master dive instructor gives me a poke and points to Kt who, at this point is strapped in and in tears, gives me a shaking motion to inform me he can feel her shaking like a little leaf. 

Me, well I'm all sorts of goofy smiles and really glad she's not chickening out. (plus, i found out after some inquiries that i am not too short to be an instructor after all) And literally just like that we're sliding towards an increasingly windy and terrifying open door. And out we go. Katie first, then me, down and out through a gut wrenching, breath holding, no going back now, DROP. A tap on my shoulder from Alan to open my arms and perhaps my eyes and it's nothing but air. An incredible free fall. And a shoot.

There is really nothing like that feeling, and as expensive as it was, as things of that nature usually are, it was worth every penny. The views from the blue sky above and Lake Taupo were glorious. Refreshing. Totally freeing, if freeing is a word. That's what the view was. And, of course, just like that, and usually just like any moment as euphoric as this, my feet were back on the ground. 

New Zealand April 5th 2009

So, New Zealand!

Today was by far the most interesting Easter I have ever had (although those Easter Egg hunts at Moms would get pretty intense.) This has by far been my most adventurous trip ever and Katie and I have hit the ground running. (Surprise, surprise) This is extreme coming from our relaxing 3 month hiatus in Cali. And it's only been 3 days. Let's begin. We said goodbye to Bren in LA on March 31 (reluctantly. wish he was here more each day) and landed in Auckland April 2nd. at 5am. Rented a car. Drove into the city of Auckland. Had breakfast. Got a phone card. Changed money ($1000 USD = $1680 NZD) and headed North for the Bay of Islands. 

It took about 3 hours which was (surprisingly) ample time to get accustomed to driving on the left hand side of the road on the right side of the car. (Which is a sharp, snazzy looking white 4 door 1997 Nissan Pulsar) So we're good to go as long as we remind each other to make "little lefts" & "wide rights" and to use the signal instead of the wind shield wipers.

Okay so, North Island. Check into The Pepper Tree Hostel in Waitangi after a quick look around the small town. Showers are always nice, as is some vino. NZ Sauv Blanc, naturally. Met some people there and headed to a local joint for possibly THE best burger I have ever had. With bacon, lettuce, tomato, and cheese AND beets AND an egg. Sweet as. 

The next morning we took advantage of the free kayaks our hostel provided and hit the Bay. Gorgeous day, water, rocks, islands. Very cool. Returned our kayaks. Headed back down south through Wangarei to see some falls. Short little side hike brought us to some pretty veiws. Refueled at a "Real Ice Creamier" for some Mags that I used to eat and love in Italy. (Vanilla ice cream dipped in chocolate, dipped in caramel, then, that's right, dipped in chocolate again) That got us good to go until Rotorua where we checked into Hot Rock Hostel next to the Lava Bar. We were alarmingly out numbered by boys here which was a little bizarre. 

The next morning I replaced my usual coffee with some white water rafting to wake me up. Our guide, Nigel, was freakin awesome and showed us our way through, wet suits and such. Some Maori prayers for a safe journey and for letting us pass through, pretty much their burial grounds in caves. we went down some pretty cool Class 5 rapids including a 21m waterfall. Jumped out a bit to float down the river, then hopped back in for some 'surfing.' Pics are priceless. BUT if you did need to put a price on it, it's about $30NZD. ha. 

After that we are starving so we hunted down some ham & cheese toasties and (OH! a flat white which I discover after trying very unsuccessfully to order a cup of coffee to the clerks dismay and utter confusement that they don't have 'just coffee'. Right. A flat white will do.) Fueled up with still wet bathing suits and headed to look for some thermal pools down south towards Taupo. 

In search for Kerosene Creek we found some really relaxing hot springs that naturally really warm in a gorgeous area. Supposedly $12 but we disagreed and paid $0. Changed in the bathroom and headed to Lake Taupo. Checked into Black Currant hostel and hit up some more waterfalls and some moon craters. The land here is truly amazing and alive. Besides the fact that it is actually active volcanic land, the mud pools sputter like crazy and the geothermal pools pump out stinky sulfur smoke everywhere. really cool. As far as you can see there are rolling hills, sheep, cows, sheep, smoke, sheep, and now, Lake Taupo. We decide to go on a hike so stopped at a pak n' save for some oatmeal breakfast, trail mix, apples, oranges, a homemade chicken and cheese sangwhich and tap water lol. gotta love my camel back. Got some italian we we're craving for dinner (Pasta Arrabiata and pizza) before crashing for our 5:45 am wake up. That was this morning. (It also happens to be day light savings, Fall Back :)

We took a bus to the Tangariro Crossing for a 19.4 kilometer trek as far up as 1900 k altitude. It was breathtaking. Active Volcano, "Mt Doom" followed us along as we traveled up "Devils staircase." No "fluffy bunny way" this Easter. Made our way up and over the red crater to the Emerald Lakes and the Blue Lake. The Emerald lakes are truly emerald green with a mix of some serious volatile stuff. Gorgeous. Deadly. Def worth my feet killing me. Stopped for lunch at the Blue Lake which, I know sounds cheesy, but looked like the Eiffel Tower when it would light up with all those sparkly lights. The lake sparkled like it was lit with a million volts of electricity. And nothing is around. Nothing.

Made our way up & over & through some pretty amazing trails, very peaceful with gorgeous views of the volcano, mtns, the lakes, and some smoking thermal pools. The land is actually hot. Passed a river and some waterfalls. Caught the bus at 3pm. a 7hr trek. totally awesome. caught the sunset on the way home, cooked up some comfort food (sausage and peppers and a salad) some vino and some gin rumi made the night good to go. 

Tomorrow's agenda is to head back up to Waitomo for a night to check out the caves there. Abseiling down into some caves with glow worms is on the agenda but not before we skydive 15,000 feet out of a plane over Lake Taupo. Yee-hah!! I'm pretty psyched for sure. Wish Bren was here cause tho he'd be loving every second of it. Next time.

So. So far, so good. Started out kayaking the Bay of Islands, and trekking some falls one day to white water rafting and thermo pools the next, to a 19.4k/7hr hike through volcanos, craters, lakes, rivers, and waterfalls today, to sky diving tmrw to abseiling the next. Not too freakin shabby. 

It's a big world and I'm pretty small. But as long as I have a breath in my body, I am going to do whatever it takes to cover as much as it as I can, and New Zealand has made it better than ever. Traveling has never been this extreme.

Let's do this!

Whatever way I managed to come across this appetite for the many things in life I love to devour (food, wine, travel, writing, food-wine-travel writing) there has yet to be a way to sedate the hunger. And I certainly won't be the one to deny the cravings. 

As most of my travels have been inspired in some way, shape or form, by food, this one stood out as slightly different. My most recent trip to New Zealand was one of pure adventure. Okay, okay, the Sauv Blancs of Marlborough and the Pinots from Otago snuck their way on my top 5 things to do before skydiving, white water rafting, cave abseiling, kayaking and hiking but hey, like I said, the hunger, I can't deny it.  

So, because the trip was not totally inspired by my obsession with all things edible, it stands out from prior escapades. However, I will start with this particular trip because it was the first time in my life, (thanks to Katie H. my travel partner in crime) that I ever thought of publishing my travel journals. 

So I guess it wasn't all that surprising that I find myself, yet again, depleting my bank account for my ever increasing and expensive habit. Justifying  my spending of 2 and half years of savings that I worked 6 days a week to attain. And all with a click of a button. LA to NZ March 31 to April 28, 2009. Let the devouring begin.