This past weekend took us on a spontaneous trip with one of our Kiwi friends. Inviting us to his parents home in Tauranga, the three of us girls got a home stay experience. Their property was water front, looking directly out to Mt. Maunganui. Facing north, we were able to see the sunrise as well as the sunset upon the water from their living room. It was a beautiful time as his parents were so accommodating and welcoming.
Leaving the house, we ventured over to the mount which took us 30 minutes to climb. While there was a track, the uphill incline is nothing to overshadow as well as the rugged rock climb nearing the top. From the top, the view was breathtaking. With a clear sky, the sun reflected upon the water which seemed to be outbound forever. The contrast of green and blue as the mount touched the shoreline never gets past me – I am amazed each new time I see it.
Sunday found Jen and I white water rafting on Kaituna River in Rotorua. The temperate rainforest, warm water, and its unusual character make this river a world famous destination. While it is ranked as a level 5 river, the largest obstacle we had to conquer was the 7 meter (22 ft) waterfall. To my surprise though, as soon as we began to descend down, the water just swallowed us until we drifted up at the bottom. I wasn’t prepared to drown in the raft like that… Though the most extreme part for me personally was the time we jumped out of the raft to go for a swim in a calm portion of the river. Our guide began to drift away with the raft purposefully so that we would then have to ride a rapid in the water. While that was fine, though again, the water just eats you up, I had trouble getting back to the raft. As I drifted by, Jen reached out and grabbed my life vest so that I could grasp the side of the raft. Unfortunately though, as we waited to come to reality as to what is happening and what we are to be doing, the raft is drifting as the guide begins pulling people up, pushing Jen and I into an area of underwater rocks. Still holding on to the raft, we scramble to figure out what to do as our legs are scraping along the tops of these rocks. Once the guide got to us, Jen was very concerned about me as she had ended up on top of my legs, pushing them more into the rocks. I came out alive, but my leg still holds cuts and bruises. The day was beautiful and the trip was exhilarating, so no complaints flowed from my mouth!
It is amazing to think that this is my life right now. Jen and I have moments where we say “Here we are again, swimming in the pool or laying on the beach, walking in a coastal forest – such a hard life we live”. I am so grateful for this time – it is truly a gift of rest that has been long needed and a treat of adventure that has been longed dreamt after.
This coming Thursday, Jen and I make a jump start on our two week teaching recess as we fly off to the South Island. We will be flying into Christchurch, renting a vehicle, and driving up the Island to explore all its wonders, ending in the south of the North Island in Wellington, NZ’s capitol. I am so very excited for this time of travel and adventure – and mainly to truly see and experience more of my host country, a land that will forever hold a piece of my heart.
Aroha Aotearoa!
No comments:
Post a Comment