Rotorua and Wiatomo Caves

Ok so I didn't post the other day because it was a small fortune to use the internet at the hostel. I have basically been hauling ass down the north island, a little faster then I would like, but I really have no option right now. There is a Grand Prix race in Taupo and every city in a 50 mile radius is booked. Luckily because I am on the Kiwi bus, they set aside a block of rooms for us in advance so i am guaranteed at least one night stay. So I went through Roto yesterday and this morning when we left we went to see the geothermal pools and geysers. I think it's pretty much like Yellowstone Park. So that was very interesting... pretty amazing that the Earth has to let out all that steam you know? We had a Maori tour guide who was hilarious and made learning about the boring facts of geothermal activity pretty interesting. I took alot of cool shots. I can't find a computer that I can download to yet, I may go get a cd burned and load pics that way.

So In Roto I met up with some new people, Sarah is still with me and I befriended a guy named Dave who thought I was Canadian... last night I mentioned something about Philly and he was like wait a damn second, you're an 'effin Yank? Hilarious. I ran into Kristen from Auckland and another guy i met in Auckland named Conroy. Conroy hopped on my bus today. He is very cool... kind of looks like Sang (for those of you that know who Sang is) So Sarah (who I still have trouble understanding) Dave, Conroy and I are all bunked together. oh, and we lucked out and they ran out of dorms, so they upgraded up for free to a "chalet" aka a apartment with our own bathroom and kitchen...aww yeah!

This afternoon I went to the glow worm caves with Dave and Conroy and did this insane tour through these caves. We swam, rode innertubes through the channels underground, climbed the walls, it was incredible... Expensive, but totally worth it. When the hell am I ever going to go 65-100 meters under the ground and swim you know? The water was so cold that we had to wear wetsuits to keep warm. And they gave us these crazy miner helmets and all. I abseiled into the cave (not sure if i spelled that right) which means I was connecting to a rope and I lowered myself down into this hole in the ground. When I got to the bottom and looked up there was this liiiiitle tiny circle of sunlight. I'm surprised I didnt freak out because I'm not all about being in dark confined areas, but I was ok. So the guide took us all underground through these caverns and we saw all these glow worms that look like stars in the sky. We climbed two waterfalls, jumped off one and we had to scale the walls to get through some parts. It was a pretty crazy experience. I got done and was like oh-my-god, i can't believe I just did that! Our group only had 5 people and we were pretty ahead of schedule, so the guide took us on the lower grade tour (cheaper and less fun) for free... so we basically got 2 tours for one price which was pretty "sweet as"... sweet as is this saying here... everyone and their mother says it. so you're like oh we're going on another tour? Sweet as! Or like, what we're been upgraded to a chalet? Sweet as! hahaha ya'll probably think i'm crazy!

ok, so a few things:

1. there are more Canadians here then sheep. They are everywhere. In fact, I've met more Canadians than NZers.
2. I went to put on my white flip-flops yesterday and realized that I brought two left feet. Awesome. That's what I get for owning 40 pairs of flip-flops.
3. My bus stopped in Hobbit-town yesterday. Yeah.... freakin HOBBIT-TOWN!!!
4. I've been eating so much tunafish i think I am becoming one (and yes Richard, tuna without mayo....bleck)

I miss you all so much! Thank you for keeping up with me and my trek (the 5 of you that are reading...hahaha) I just finalized plans for Fiji tonite! And Mamma Dukes Evangelist is gearing up to rock Sydney with me in another month and a half. Feel free to email me (thanks Dana!) Tomorrow I am doing something that rhymes with shmydiving.... and in another day or two I am going on a 12 hour trek into the Tongariro Mountains where Lord of the rings was filmed (holla!)

ok, my internet is running out. Will write tomorrow maybe if there is time.

NZ time: Saturday January 20th, 10:30pm... so is it like 3:30am in Philly? I hate doing math! Lata!!!