Australia & New Zealand Adventure Part VI: West Coast of North Island, Bay of Islands and back to Melbourne

Yes, I am finally back in the world of sun, heat,heat, no rain, lovely sun, more heat, and yes!..shortswith NO gloves, hats, shivering at night and rivers ofwater in the tent (last letter....)

Oh I love it here, yes I do, I love it!

Not that our last week in New Zealand didn't have somedistinctive, somewhat wet, yes, memories....

As soon as we arrived back in the North Island, itseemed the gods were just not with us at all, and itpoured from the heavens the way it only does inBiblical tales. In fact, on arrival in the Bay ofIslands (supposedly famous for white beaches lappedwith crystal clear blue waters) we slammed right intoa cyclone, complete with horizontal rain. Trudgingthrough mud and puddles with 3 packs on our backs tothe youth hostel we all but fell over laughing ourheads off - it was that or cry! After a month on theroad, I needed serious re-humanizing. For those ofyou not familiar with re-humanization, it basicallyinvolves the warming of the body with numerous hotshowers, the wearing of comfy slippers and loungeyclothes, hours spent in reckless comfort watchingfeel-good soppy movies, and reading, writing journalsand eating yummy comfort food full of chocolate,caramel and copious amounts of tea....Yes,re-humanization is as important as sex. (oops...did Isay that out loud?)

Actually, we ditched the bus and spent our last fewdays enjoying the above mentioned process. The sunpeeped out on the last day; but I already had plansfor my day....Yes! it was the oscars, New Zealandstyle. Those of you who know me well enough willrealize that this event is as close as I get to beingreligious these days. I broke into a posh motel, puton my biggest smile, and asked to "borrow" theirlounge to watch SKY. It was great, complete with allnecessary products for the continuing re-humanizationeffort, with added alcohol just for fun. Every thingwas great until Sean Penn won for Best Actor, and Igot so excited that management had to shush me becauseI was disturbing some of the guests....whoops!

Back at the hostel it was discovered to my joy (sheerin nature complete with streaming tears) that therewas a karaoke contest to be held that night! Well, mypeeps, did I enter? I THINK SO. I sang about eightsongs! It was fantastic, even the DJ took a liking tome and asked me to sing with him. And I won...whichis always nice, right? Free drinks all around thatnight.... I met a fabulous gay man called Tim thatnight from Hobart. I just loved him instantly and westayed up half the night singing through the entirescore of Phantom of the Opera in the hostel car park.

Too much fun.

ANYWAY, we took a bus back to Auckland, hopped on abus, hopped on a plane, hopped in my friend Phil's carand before we knew it, we were in Melbourne!

Now, I know there is a huge rivalry between Melbourneand Sydney - so i was most curious to discover whatthe fuel behind the fire might be.As it turned out,I'm sorry, there really is no competition - Sydney isso WHERE ITS AT! However, in M's defense, it reallyis a completely different city with a totallydifferent vibe, and I loved it all the same. G and Iwere spoiled rotten by Phil (whom I met at my hostelin Rome in September) who even gave up his own roomfor us. More re-humanizing ensued for the next fourdays.

Giovanna and I putzed around the city for a few daysstopping every few hours for the obligatory espressobeverage and cake....We met up with a few people wehad met in NZ and had a wonderful time. Highlights ofmy time in Melbourne include a wonderful day out withPhil in the Dandenongs - a national park of toweringmountain ash trees, beautiful. The afternoon washighlighted with a totally scrummy stop at the Englishtea room "Miss Marple's" where I suffered self-inducedsugar coma (my ass has also been suffering from theside-effects of previous bouts of this condition).

Yesterday was the start of the Mooma Water Festival inMelbourne. It was FABULOUS and TOTALLY AWESOME DUDE!

I went to a sand sculpting competition, watched awater skiing competition and listened to an open airconcert that focused on world music. There was agroup from Croatia who only used strings and aclarinet, and they were completely hilarious!

Fireworks at such a close range I felt sure my clotheswould catch fire ended the splendid evening....

Giovanna and I left this morning at a ridiculous hourof the O Hundred variety. We are taking a 3 day tourto Adelaide along the Great Ocean Road; another updatewill follow in a few days, no doubt.

Loving it here, missing home though, and all of you!

Anita

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