Me again!

Just thought I'd let you know I caught up on a few of my old journal entries.  If any of you would like to read about my travels on the East Cape just go back to August 14th.  I have a few more I will update in the coming days. 

I just got my palms and tarot cards read by a gypsy and it was pretty scary.  I have lines drawn in pen all over my palms.  She said I'm going to live until I'm 99 or 100, have lots of money, be well renowed for something, have 3 kids, marry in my late 20s or early 30s and have a lot of luck.  I have a great sense of humor and will travel a lot.  She said I will definitely get a job in Melbourne and have fun like a baby in the sun (haha) and that a man from Canada will come to visit me but that he will have competition as someone else will have fallen in love with me!  She warned me to stay away from people that drink too much (hello Australians - just kidding)!

Hey,

I've been in New Zealand exactly one month today and was actually supposed to fly to Australia today.  Luckily I've extended my flight a bit so I have some more time to explore the north.  I'm in the big city of Auckland.  I've learned a few interesting facts about this city:

-per capita it is the most spread out city in the world as far as land mass is concerned

-almost 1/3rd of New Zealanders live here

-20-25% of the people here have access to some kind of water vessel (from a canoe to a yacht)

-there are 50+ volcanic cones all around the city

-the biggest population of polynesians lives here

I'm staying in base backpackers right off of Queen's street (one of the main downtown streets).  After I arrived yesterday I decided to go up the skytower.  It's obviously a really great view of the area.  Auckland is kind of cool because there is water everywhere and little islands.  I watched the sunset and then went out for dinner with Hannah and Sarah (girls I just keep running into - I think I've said goodbye to them at least 4 times now).  As it was their last night in NZ we decided to splurge a bit and went to a nice Italian restaurant. 

Today I did a free city tour that took us over the harbour bridge, on a few volcanic cones and to Devonport.  I think I'll go wander around the Viaduct Harbour later this afternoon.  There was just a big parade - "Boobs on Bikes" but I didn't see any.  Tomorrow I am making my way up to the Bay of Islands.

Later