Deeper Down Under

It's been a while since my last update... hard to believe! It feels like my sisters just left a few days ago. I don't have as much to report this time... last week I went diving for the first time, and it was an exhilarating experience. It was scary at first, but after I was underwater, it didn't feel like my first time. I was very comfortable and so focused on the underwater world, I just wanted to stay down there. I saw a baby octopus, a baby eel (blech) and other great wildlife. It felt like a combination of skydiving (the weightlessness, ears hurting!) and caving (the nooks & crannies, crawling through tight spaces). What fun... here are some photos!

Beautiful Sunset in the Bay of Islands

Fresh Crayfish!

My Love for You is Like Diarrhea...

My sisters came and went.... how we had a BLAST, how happy I was to share my NZ experiences with them, and now, how I miss them so!!.... Here are some of the highlights of our road trip!!!

In the car

Waitangi lookout point (at the golf course)

Haruru Falls

Paihia!

Genuine smiles

My sister eating a fish heart - still beating!! So proud, and so glad it wasn't me...

Fresh sashimi, courtesy of the same fish... 

Morning of my birthday on"The Rock!"

My sister, fishing expert!

Dolphin sightings!

Hiking to the top of Roberton's Island

This time with the loves of my life next to me...

My birthday celebration!! 

Celebratory Seafood Platter!

Local musos :) 

Cheers!

Crown of glory :)

Which turns into a fireball! 

Gifts Galore!!

I got Girl Scout cookies in NZ before they were released in the US!!!

Unfortunately, at this point... my sisters and I started getting sick - very sick. We either caught a bug or got food poisoning. Lost a whole day as we suffered and tried to recover... but our love for each other is like diarrhea - can't hold it in! So on we went with our plans, like the troopers we are :)

The closest thing to Target in NZ

5 hour drive from Paihia to Coromandel!!

Digging for hot water... 

And who says hard work doesn't pay off? ;)

Kiwi territory!

Pulled over by NZ Police! :X He was nice enough to give me a warning...

In Rotorua

Mmm... Sacrilicious!

Hotel in Taupo!

Room with a View

Room Service!

Sunset by Lake Taupo

Picked up by a limo... too late for second-thoughts...

signing my life away...

to go SKYDIVING! wahhhhhh!

Suiting up... 

Help!

In the plane...

The best part: SURVIVING!

Not sure about the sister... :)

We did it!!

More excitement at Huka Falls!

On a Huka Jet! (Jet Boats were invented in NZ!)

Hi Honey!

Abseiling in a Waitomo Cave with glow-worms! My personal favorite part of the trip!!!

If you take good care of her, she'll take good care of you...

Last dinner together...

Happy 30th Birthday, Leslie! Just kidding, she's 29... :)

So sad to leave...

Until next time...

Thank you so much for visiting me, Leslie and Sirena! It was truly a memorable experience, and we packed a lot into 8-9 days. I hope you had fun here, and I hope you have since detached yourself from the toilet. Can't wait to see you again. Thanks for everything, I love you guys!