November 1st, 2008

Today we are proud owners of a Nissan minivan with seats that fold up in the back to leave lots of room and go flat in the front to make a perfect surface for a blow up bed.  We went to a car market.  Kinda like a swapmeat for cars. Some were super junky.  A lot had been converted so that the back seats were taken out and replaced with lifted wood frames and mattresses.  This would be nice, however, there are three of us, so this made seating a challenge, and we didn't really want to get someone's super used junky mattress. So, we went with a regular van that we can convert however we want. The guy was asking NZ$3300. The boys talked him down to NZ$2900 plus we insisted on the NZ$130 car inspection that checked the engine, the car history, driving test, everything, plus the NZ$10 change of ownership (that you do while waiting in line at the post office...trip out!) That comes to roughly NZ$1013.33 per person. Now, with a rate of .63 to the dollar...that's about $640 per person!  AWESOME!! :)  

And our party officially begins!  Tomorrow we are heading out!  Bye bye hostels!! WE ARE SO SICK OF THEM!  Four nights in a hostels and we're already stir crazy.  We want out of Auckland too.  It's not that great.  It's nice, I guess. But we've gotten to know the central areas like the back of our hands and we're tired of it. We could spend a little money and explore the islands around here by ferry, but we'd rather save the money to get out and go explore!  

We will be heading north first.  It's still pretty chilly here, so we want to stay as far north as possible until the summer season kicks in in a month or so.  So we'll head north to the Bay if Islands, I can't wait to swim with dolphins. There are a lot of B&Bs looking for cleaning staff and gardeners at the moment, so we'll probably head up there and then pick up some odd jobs before heading somewhere else. 

I did take pictures of the car and us buying it, but I don't have the camera on me now, so I will post them later...or tomorrow. :)

We do have a cell phone now too.  I'll post that when I post the pictures!!

Ari has been writing a private blog, and he'll post it when he's ready.  So don't think he's forgotten you!  

We miss everyone, but we're super excited to get going and see what we have heard is an amazing country! :)

xoxo

Alissa

October 30, 2008

Today we went on a free tour of the city and areas around. It included a walk under a local bridge.  This also meant walking out to a bungee pod...Mitch and I jumped. :)  Then we went to a little town that is the naval port in Auckland and we went to their old naval defense hill where they had disappearing canons and we got to explore old tunnels and caves. It was amazing!  I leave you with pictures. There's one of me hanging on the bungee, I felt like I was floating...it was amazing.

Alissa

Picture

I tried to add this picture yesterday, but I had problems so I'm trying again today.

xoxo

Alissa

HELLO NEW ZEALAND!!! WE HAVE ARRIVED!!!

We arrived in New Zealand at 4:00am on October 29th, 2008...I missed Tuesday the 28th this year...it does not exist on our calendars. :)

We very easily got through customs, although I got sniffed out by a fruit sniffing dog for having had a blueberry bar...thanks to my mother for making me take it for sustenance on the plane. :)  it was yummy, though.   ;-D

The hostel is very nice and has a place to store luggage, so at 6am we started wandering Auckland. Brisk, but really nice to walk around in! Orientation just ended and now we are off to get out Tax ID numbers, open our bank accounts, get sim cards for our phones, and then to tonight's happy hour where you get free pizza with your first pint. :)

Oh, and after orientation, here's our to do list:

swim with dolphins

black water rafting

white water rafting

bungee jumping

sky diving

WWOOFING (look it up)

fruit picking

canoeing

visiting the Maori people

scuba diving up near the north tip

surfing on the west coast

(most of the above mentioned things come along with payments in one way or another if we can work our magic!!)

There is much more, but that's the short version.

Tonight the boys (accountants that they are) plan on created the excel documents and flow charts to create budgets for various scenarios for achieving all this.  I told them I'd be doing my homework. ;-D  Sweet as!  (no!  not ass!)

TATA!

I'll have Ari do a post of his own tonight too!

Alissa

Today is the day!!!

Today at 4pm we will all arrive at the airport. Mitch, Ari, and myself.  To head out on the new adventure that is New Zealand!

I'm totally excited, a little nervous, and really ready to just get on the plane and get going already!!! :)

So, welcome to our blog!  We will try to update as often as possible, but feel free to leave us messages and comments and use this as a way to keep in touch!

I will try to add pictures and such as well so that everyone can see what we are doing!

xoxo

Alissa