Bungy!

It's my last day in Taupo.
And it's St Patricks Day.
Last weekend, as part of my staff party, I got to do the Bungy Swing at Taupo Bungy. http://www.taupobungy.co.nz/activities/water-touch-bungy
The staff were very nice and friendly.
And this weekend there was a special promotion for locals to do the full on Bungy jump for a third of the normal price.
It's a 154 foot fall into the Waikato river for a quick dunk.
There was no way I was gonna pass that up!
I didn't get any photos of me, so I swiped some from their website.
I got there early this morning, thinking it would be really crowded, but there was almost nobody there. Probably due to the fact that a storm is moving in. That, and lots of people were probably too busy drinking green beer.

Aerial view of the jumping platform and the river

I got harnessed up, got my ankles strapped in and strapped together.
Then I baby stepped my way to the edge of the platform.
I hesitated a little.
I'm not gonna lie.
The height was a little intimidating.

View of the cliffs and the river from the platform

But it was so much fun.

Just picture me instead,. But not as graceful, or cool, and I'm screaming

I gracefully, toppled over the edge and screamed the whole way down. I have a new theory. If you scream, you don't feel the butterflies as much when you're falling.
I will need to collect more data on this....

Stick figure theater presents: the Bungy jump

:O+<===============================================================

Aren't you glad I have some anonymous pictures to show, instead of just my artistic rendition?

I got dunked in the river, then bounced on the end of the line a bit.
I was screaming and laughing.

So much fun.
Afterwards, I went to my cafe to say goodbye and have a cup of coffee.
But when I got there, my boss bought me breakfast! Eggs Benny with hash browns. Nomnomnom.
So I spent my last morning in Taupo having brekky on the same exact patio I had brekky on my very first visit .
Full circle, man.
Who knew breakfast could be so deep?
Now I'm packing up my car and saying goodbye to all the awesome modern conveniences that come with living indoors.
I love you toiletkitchentelevisionwarmthcouchesfridgewashingmachineelectricityprivacy!
To get ready for a 6am wake up call so I can be on the whanganui river by 9.
It'll be 3 days on the river, just me and my kayak. And some rain. I'm really excited for this trip and for having the next month off to travel.

Staff Party,

The bar I work at, the Pub 'n' Grub, had a staff party on Friday.
The whole thing was a big mystery. The entire bar shut down for the day so we could party. It all started at 2, when we filed onto a chartered bus and drove to the first secret destination.

Party Bus!

I had my guesses, I thought we might be going to BBQ somewhere, or picnic... I was so wrong.
The first stop was at Rapids Jet, http://www.rapidsjet.com/

I'm so stoked!!!!!

So awesome!

Me and Helena

We all got on the jet boat, and ripped down the Waikato River,

All set for some jet boating excitement

It was all spins and jumps off the rapids. I swear I almost flew outta the boat.

Everyone was completely soaked at the end and my cheeks hurt from laughing so much. It was so fun!

The other boat jumping the rapids

I wish I had more photos but I needed both hands to hold onto the safety bar for the majority of the time. :)
We had time for some more beers, to counteract all our adrenaline, before it was back onto the bus and onto the next surprise.

We need refills!

My expectations had already been blown away. I was so happy I got to do the jet boat ride while I was in Taupo.

So when our bus pulled into the Taupo Bungy parking lot, the whole lot of us started cheering!

The Bungy platform over Waikato River

We all got to do the Bungy swing, so much fun! http://www.taupobungy.co.nz/activities/cliff-hanger
We walked in pairs out onto a platform high above the Waikato river.

My swing partner, Helena!, and I getting photo bombed by T.I.

Me, leaning over the platform, with the cliffs and river behind me

Then we got strapped into harnesses,

Jade and Courtney all strapped in

then strapped together (tandem swing) then connected to what is basically a Bungy/zip line/swing hybrid. Then we hung out past the platform.

Cam and Tess 

T.I. and Nicky about to take the plunge

And off we went.

Super butterfly tummy! 

It was siiiiiiiiick!
I screamed, a little, lol

The tiny blob in the bottom/middle of the pic are people on the swing

Next stop was the last of the night.
We got dropped off at the local motorcycle club for a private BBQ and open bar.

The patio of the Lake Taupo Riders club

Grubbing down, Everyman for themself!

Brenda, the owner, on the left. Such an awesome boss!

Hamming it up

We all grubbed on burgers and then got down to the serious business of drinking.

Let the drinking games commence

Drinking games galore. These games are not for the faint of heart.

This game involved wearing a box on your head, bwahahaha

I don't even know why they call them games, it should just be called Drink Everything, NOW.

Thumb on the table, Box Head!

I had a great time. And took lots of pictures until my camera battery died.

Showing some drunk love

 Which is probably for the best since by the end of the night, there was crazy dancing, and throwing people onto the pool table,  and all sorts of shenanigans.

Linda's boys taught me how to do some Maori weaving with flax leaves

I'm so proud of my woven flowers 

I had so much fun! I felt really, really fortunate to be able to do all these awesome things with such fun people.

The beginning of the end, commence countdown to ridiculousness

Travelling to Taupo

So last I lefts ya....
I was leaving Devonport for newer locales.
I got to Raglan Saturday and stayed 4 days. I really liked the town, it was smallish with a very surf/local feel.

Now that's a black sand beach!

Apparently, I was swimming with friends...

Lazy beach day

Not for these guys! 2 dozen kite surfers where the river and ocean met. I WILL kite surf. 

I stayed at the holiday park and spent most of my time walking around on the beach, with the exception of one day when it rained most of the time.

Using my $5 fishing sunglasses to depolarize. 

You can drive on all the beaches here. I want my truck!

Raglan Beach

The park is situated on a little isthmus with the beach on one half and a river on the other. There's also a little airport next to it. Where I saw this guy takeoff.

I WILL do this. I will fly. 

I had a very chill time there, but my funds are running low and I need something constructive to do with my days. I'm too much trouble with all this free time...

Sunset on Raglan beach

I feel like I owe someone beautiful sunsets. I have a surplus. 

So I ran down to Waitomo Caves and handed out some resumes but unfortunately most people had finished hiring for the summer/peak season.
I was feeling some pressure to be gainfully employed. Like yesterday.
So I didn't sight-see, mosey, explore, or nothin'.
I took off like a girl on a mission. Drove into central north island and checked into the holiday park at Taupo. I passed through it on my way north from Queenstown. Taupo's a pretty large place, I figured I could find work here no problem. In fact, I was thinking of it as my safety, a huge town and centrally located for exploring. A place I could spend the next few months.
I walked around the town center and looked in all the windows for a help wanted sign. I saw 2. One for an "experienced barista" another for the Pita Pit. Basically a fast food joint. The Subway of pitas. Im not quite ready to work fast food. I'd hoped I closed that door 15 years ago.
Oh, and one clothing store, ugh, and they told me to bring in my résumé.
I have no retail, customer service, food service experience to speak of.
Oh, dejection!
I was feeling desperate! I almost applied for the university tech job in the carbon-dating lab in Hamilton... Noooooooooooooooooooo.............

I'm not gonna lie, that night I was worried about my ability to find work.
"This might be harder then I thought!" thinks me. After all, I'd been looking for a whopping 24 hours!
Next day I decided to stop being a naysayer, think positive and start pounding the pavement.
This time with feeling!
I walked around for a few hours in the morning and just asked half the bars/cafes/restaurants if they were hiring. Then when they asked me for a resume....I totally Kenobi'd them!
"These aren't the droids you're looking for"

I said "sure, I got a CV. But you don't need it because even though I have zero experience, it's only because my last job was so technical and specialized. So all you need to do is give me a try and see how awesomely mindblowingly great I do "x" job for you."
I started work at the Taste cafe the next day. I should be grabbing some shifts at the bar next door starting in January. Ungh!
I celebrated by walking along this gorgeous river

Huka Falls walkway

Jet boating! Sweeeeeeet

to the Huka falls.

Huka Falls

The next day after work, I walked along lake Taupo (trying to shed some lbs and enjoy the scenery to boot)

Lake Taupo

Today, I think I lined up a place to live for the next few months.
Shame on me for doubting. *wrist slap*
My wifi here is dark ages style, so pics tomorrow.