Finally, a few minutes to use the computer!
July 4, 2008
Last night, we went to bed early, but my parents woke me up at 11:00 PM! We drove to Dallas in the rental car, known as the “dork mobile”. (My family called our rental car that.) We hated that giant, maroon, Californian car. Anyways, I got SO tired that I fell asleep on the duffle bag. If you want MY advice, never fall asleep on a duffle bag, especially if it is filled with hiking boots. If you want to be comfortable, that’s good advice.
When we got to Dallas, we returned the Dork Mobile and went to the airport to get on the plane “United”. That flight was VERY exciting! First, there was a mechanical issue, then there was a medical issue and the plane was like a bouncy, covered roller coaster, meaning lots of turbulence. The views were incredible! We flew over southern Utah and saw Lake Powell and hundreds of canyons. I also saw mountains with snow still on their tops.
When we landed at the San Francisco airport we went exploring. It is a cavernous and sprawling place. We played games, read, drew, wrote and watched movies for a long time. Then we bought candy and went to wait for the plane. I am very excited to get to New Zealand.
My mom is very cold because the airport is freezing. She said, “On the plane, my first words are, ‘May I have a blanket?’”
July 6, 2008
We are in New Zealand! We rented a camper and drove to find food. We went into Auckland. Daddy needs more practice driving the camper van. Driving on the opposite side of the road is scary. Even the STEERING WHEEL is on the opposite side.
We finally found food at a STARBUCKS. We ate upstairs and watched people jump off the Sky Tower (securely fastened). I wanted to sky jump and sky walk. To sky walk is to walk on the outer ring of the sky tower. Unfortunately, I was too young.
Next we went to the gift shop. I saw a kiwi model (the bird) and was eager to get it. My parents said it would break and I had to see a kiwi first.
Then we went up to the Sky Tower. The views were AMAZING! I made a bungee rope for Pooh and he went bungee jumping in the café. Next we went to a grocery store.
Next we drove to Rotorua. We saw lots of sheep, cows, horses, deer and emu. We got to the campsite and ate dinner, made the beds and passed out.
July 7, 2008
After we woke up, we ate breakfast and took a nice, warm shower (as it was freezing outside). Then we drove to the Zorb place (Disappointment of the day): they were only doing water-filled zorb balls and here in New Zealand it is the MIDDLE of WINTER. No way Jose! No water-filled zorb balls.
Then we drove to the museum, Te Puia (meaning ‘the geysers’). It is a Maori Culture center. They have a traditional carving and weaving school. We went with a tour guide. There was lots of cool stuff. There was a fake volcano with the volcano god as a baby, but if you put your hand over the fake lava he got mad and turned into the grown up volcano god and roared at you and exploded everywhere.
Then we saw Maori weapons including a liver remover! Blech! Then we saw the instruments. We put our hand over each instrument and they made the sound of that instrument. We abandoned the tour guide because the group was too noisy and big.
On our way to the geysers we visited a traditional Maori village with a sleeping house and grilled fish. So we went to see the geysers. We saw many geysers and mud pools.
Next we went to the Kiwi house. Kiwis are nocturnal animals and flightless too. So, naturally, it was dark. But the kiwi we saw was fooled. We saw him walk out. He pecked the ground a couple of times, then shook his body, and then retreated to take refuge behind a rock.
Next we went to the gift shop. I bought a stuffed kiwi, a stationary set, two necklaces and a bookmark. Then we went to the Maori singing and dancing program at the meeting house. When the warrior came out with his spear and put down the fern our chief picked up the fern to show that we came in peace. Before we went in we took our shoes off. Kids sat in front. The Maori singers were WONDERFUL!
When the show was over, we got into our shoes and are still driving to the campsite. We have seen black swans and cows and sheep. Oh, and two more animals we saw: a wallaby and a tui (a tui is a black bird with greenish black wings and a white spot on their chest sticking up like a marshmallow). They are weird birds, but cool.
Last night, we went to bed early, but my parents woke me up at 11:00 PM! We drove to Dallas in the rental car, known as the “dork mobile”. (My family called our rental car that.) We hated that giant, maroon, Californian car. Anyways, I got SO tired that I fell asleep on the duffle bag. If you want MY advice, never fall asleep on a duffle bag, especially if it is filled with hiking boots. If you want to be comfortable, that’s good advice.
When we got to Dallas, we returned the Dork Mobile and went to the airport to get on the plane “United”. That flight was VERY exciting! First, there was a mechanical issue, then there was a medical issue and the plane was like a bouncy, covered roller coaster, meaning lots of turbulence. The views were incredible! We flew over southern Utah and saw Lake Powell and hundreds of canyons. I also saw mountains with snow still on their tops.
When we landed at the San Francisco airport we went exploring. It is a cavernous and sprawling place. We played games, read, drew, wrote and watched movies for a long time. Then we bought candy and went to wait for the plane. I am very excited to get to New Zealand.
My mom is very cold because the airport is freezing. She said, “On the plane, my first words are, ‘May I have a blanket?’”
July 6, 2008
We are in New Zealand! We rented a camper and drove to find food. We went into Auckland. Daddy needs more practice driving the camper van. Driving on the opposite side of the road is scary. Even the STEERING WHEEL is on the opposite side.
We finally found food at a STARBUCKS. We ate upstairs and watched people jump off the Sky Tower (securely fastened). I wanted to sky jump and sky walk. To sky walk is to walk on the outer ring of the sky tower. Unfortunately, I was too young.
Next we went to the gift shop. I saw a kiwi model (the bird) and was eager to get it. My parents said it would break and I had to see a kiwi first.
Then we went up to the Sky Tower. The views were AMAZING! I made a bungee rope for Pooh and he went bungee jumping in the café. Next we went to a grocery store.
Next we drove to Rotorua. We saw lots of sheep, cows, horses, deer and emu. We got to the campsite and ate dinner, made the beds and passed out.
July 7, 2008
After we woke up, we ate breakfast and took a nice, warm shower (as it was freezing outside). Then we drove to the Zorb place (Disappointment of the day): they were only doing water-filled zorb balls and here in New Zealand it is the MIDDLE of WINTER. No way Jose! No water-filled zorb balls.
Then we drove to the museum, Te Puia (meaning ‘the geysers’). It is a Maori Culture center. They have a traditional carving and weaving school. We went with a tour guide. There was lots of cool stuff. There was a fake volcano with the volcano god as a baby, but if you put your hand over the fake lava he got mad and turned into the grown up volcano god and roared at you and exploded everywhere.
Then we saw Maori weapons including a liver remover! Blech! Then we saw the instruments. We put our hand over each instrument and they made the sound of that instrument. We abandoned the tour guide because the group was too noisy and big.
On our way to the geysers we visited a traditional Maori village with a sleeping house and grilled fish. So we went to see the geysers. We saw many geysers and mud pools.
Next we went to the Kiwi house. Kiwis are nocturnal animals and flightless too. So, naturally, it was dark. But the kiwi we saw was fooled. We saw him walk out. He pecked the ground a couple of times, then shook his body, and then retreated to take refuge behind a rock.
Next we went to the gift shop. I bought a stuffed kiwi, a stationary set, two necklaces and a bookmark. Then we went to the Maori singing and dancing program at the meeting house. When the warrior came out with his spear and put down the fern our chief picked up the fern to show that we came in peace. Before we went in we took our shoes off. Kids sat in front. The Maori singers were WONDERFUL!
When the show was over, we got into our shoes and are still driving to the campsite. We have seen black swans and cows and sheep. Oh, and two more animals we saw: a wallaby and a tui (a tui is a black bird with greenish black wings and a white spot on their chest sticking up like a marshmallow). They are weird birds, but cool.
Comments
loads of love
Grandma Q
Love, Aunt Nancy and Uncle David and the girls
love,
uncle daryl
We love reading all about your adventure...especially the car rides on the left side of the road! What was your favorite animal so far? You have so many to choose from.
Love you lots,
Aunt Nancy and Uncle Dave