Our first 48 hours

First and second day IN THE BOOKS!  We got to Auckland at 5am and just hit the ground running.  Thankfully, other than the lengthy line at biosecurity, we got through the airport quickly.  Our shuttle was waiting with a little sign reading, "Eastern Illinois University."  It's kind of fun to see that when you come out of biosecurity.

Once we reached the hostel, I was given a very pleasant surprise.  Our rooms were all ready to go, even though it was only 6:45!  We got everyone settled and showered and started our day.

First stop: ATM.  Have to make sure everyone had some cash on hand for souvenirs and food!  Then we walked to the Domain and Winter garden and finished up at the Auckland War Museum.  Although these are all really cool things to see and the museum is fascinating, they are also ways to keep everyone awake.  We made a deal that everyone would do their absolute best to stay awake until at the very earliest 8pm.  This morning was an early bus ride, but if they were up and wide awake at 3am, they're going to end up with jetlag.  So forcing yourself to stay awake, even though a bed is the only thing on your mind, makes the transition to this time zone so much easier. (To give you an idea of the difference, it's 10:17pm on Tuesday here and 5:17am on Tuesday in Chicago).

Everyone really enjoyed the activities for the day and then we set them loose on Auckland to see whatever they like.  AJ and I went to the grocery store to get breakfast shenanigans for everyone and then I just kept talking to her to keep her up.  She got zero sleep on any flights, so she was right around 48 hours with no sleep when we finally went to bed.

This morning came early, got up at 5:30am to get ready to leave.  We walked about 4-5 city blocks to our bus station and it was a nice brisk way to wake up.  Unfortunately, we found out the bus was picking us up at our hostel......would have been nice to know that!  Short bus ride to Waitomo and then we were headed deep down in a cave.

Waitomo is a beautiful cave system in the northern island.  Inside this particular cave resides over 40,000 glow worms.  They use bioluminescence to make their butts glow in order to attract insects.  These insects get stuck in the saliva/slime they let out as their fishing line.  The cave was a hit and then we were back on the bus for 2.5 hours to the hostel.

The first thing you notice about Rotorua is the smell.  Rotten eggs.  Rotorua is the most geothermal active area in the country.  No one even owns a hot water heater, it's naturally heated by the earth!  Anyway, when you get into town you start noticing the rotten egg smell seeping into the bus.  Then you get out and smell it a little stronger....then you walk toward the lake and it's a slap in the face!  Tomorrow night we're going to the Polynesian Spa for a dip in the hot pools.

Tonight's activity was Mitai, the Maori cultural village.  We see a performance and learn about the Maori culture, eat a traditional hangi (meal cooked on hot stones in a pit in the ground) and then did a night hike around their property to see more glow worms.  Everyone loved it and were fascinated with the Maori people and, of course, they thought the food was spectacular.

I'm already enjoying myself on this program and doing my best to be in the moment instead of worrying about what we're doing tomorrow or the next day (other than basic logistical planning..).  It's cool having AJ here, I have been talking her ear off for 4 years about NZ and AUS, never in a million years did I think we'd be here together.  It's fun to show her the stuff we do on this program.  And the extras....like the wedges and sweet chili sauce we had at the pig and whistle :)

My partner in crime is already passing out, so I must bid farewell and shut down my computer. Tomorrow we're visiting the Agrodome for the Sheep Show and Farm Tour.  If you get a chance to look at it, here's a link: http://www.agrodome.co.nz/  So for now, pai po (good night in Maori)