This will be the first time onboard with KIWI, doing my Awesome Top Bit. The very first person that I come in contact is Jarrade, our driver for the day. He is a fun person with a smiley face always. I started off the journey at 7.10am and along the way, there were several stops. Honestly, I don’t remember if we had any sigh-seeing, haha… but we arrived at Pipi Patch Base at Paihia around 1pm. I did not plan anything for the afternoon, just feel like laze around and enjoy the layback time. I only remember I had a nap which, when I woke up is already almost time for the BBQ dinner I had order from the reception. Well, the dinner wasn’t too bad, there was a steak, a sausage, a grilled potato and vegetable salads plus a pin of Export Gold (is actually a beer). Well, people that knows me, know that I don’t take beef, correct? But, I started to taste beef when I am here. Hmmm, I kind of like it but for sure when I am back home, beef will not eaten at home, is religious…Oh, not forgetting I met a new friend from Austria, Heike.
Day 2, we depart for the Dolphins Cruise-Hole in the Rock.
This is a 4hours tour which I really hope to see my favorite dolphins and swim with them; else if I had to wait till Kaikoura, the freezing water is not something that is fun to be deal with. Unlucky is the word to describe for the cruise, no dolphins were sought and really I only get to see HOLE IN THE ROCK… Ya, a BIG hole in the rock. Sigh, what a trip… I was really disappointed but no choice… the trip end about 1pm where I decide to stop at Russell Island for a short walk and explored. Nothing much in particular, seems layback and I settle my lunch there-Chicken Pasta with bacon and mushroom-NZD16… Not cheap isn’t it… but I am too hungry to think otherwise…
When we got back to Pipi Patch, the 3 of us is getting kind of bored, so we played a game called TWISTER. I’ve not played this game before but have seen how funny it can get. From the photo you can see we are all twisted…
Day3 is a day trip to Cape Regina. On the way we stop by a place called Puketi Kauri Forest, where some of the trees are awfully huge and old. I think I had some photo to show but I need to find it.
After which, if I remember correctly we drove to our next destination where the light house is. The weather got a bit bad as it start to drizzle. This light house is located at a place where the Tasman Sea will meet with the Pacific Ocean. From a rock description it says, “Te Rerenga Wairua (Cape Regina) marks the separation of the Tasman Sea from the Pacific Ocean. For Maori, these turbulent waters are where the male sea, Te Moana ta Pukapuka o Tawhaki meets the female sea Te Tai o Whitireia. The whirlpools where the current clash are like those that dance in the wake of a waka (canoe). They represent the coming together of the male and female- and the creation of life.” This is meaningful isn’t it?
I did saw those waves clashing into each other, and think about what it had written, is somewhat beautiful. By the time when I got onto the bus, I am literally wet from head to toe. Next we were drove to a place where we are supposed to do the sand surfing. This is actually heaps of fun but due to the weather, I only manage to do it twice. Instead of calling it sand surfing, I think I should rename it to “mud surfing”. My 2nd surf wasn’t too good as towards the end, I actually roll down instead of surfing down, so I am actually pretty dirty, but is alright.90Mile Beach is the one that follows. Is really amazing and I really adore the sea. We were driven to a point where we can pick clams on the shore. I started digging and have fun out of it. My photo tells everything.
After all the digging, the driver showed us how it eat it life. The initial sight was kind of gross. We hit 2 shells together till one of the shell breaks into pieces, then we dig out their “fresh” and eat it. Honestly, it is really tasty, though I am not sure if they are in pain but is really tasty. I had a few of it, and it reminds me of eating sashimi. The trip end when we grab our dinner ( is actually only about 4pm) at a fish and chip located at Mangonui, a small little town… pretty tasty too…Day4 is the day where we were departed back to Auckland. The bus only leave at 3pm and initially we plan to get the voucher again to do the dolphin cruise but is raining all day. We are STUCK at the hostel. So the next things we realize is DVD Movie marathon-Big Daddy and Mr Deed by Adam Sandler, then the 3rd one, I suddenly cannot recalled. Haha. Really getting old…and guess what, we watch another movie on the bus, The Wedding Crasher.
Upon returning to ACB, we hurried to the supermarket-FoodTown as we were all very hungry. The dorm that we stayed in, wasn’t fantastic but still alright for me. In the dorm there were 2 very funny youngster, Charlotte and Eillster(I think I got the boy name wrong). The girl is 19 from London and the boy is also 19 from England. Charlotte is basically complaining about the not grown-up boy about not being able to make his own bed, not able to cook and even do his laundry. 2 funny fellow that I met… And this mark the end of my Awesome Top Bit Trip.
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