new zealand - north island
well, i'm here in NZ and it's actually been awesome. If only anne were still accompanying me it'd be absolutely awesome b/c I get lonely sometimes and I've determined I am supremely annoyed by most people. but i went black water tubing in a cave filled with glowworms and the guide was really cool (and HUGE!!!) and let me go again for free on the next trip! and I witnessed angora rabbit shearing which is perhaps the most ridiculous thing ever. those rabbits are so big and fluffy and then they stretch them out and tie them down and shave off all their hair. i guess you'd really have to be there. i went to a "Maori cultural experience" which consisted of being bussed to this reconstructed village and really enthusiastic people dancing and singing and a delicious buffet! and yesterday I went white water rafting. It was my first time, but I've decided i want to be a river guide. we went over a 7m waterfall and luckily our raft didn't flip over - we were just completely submerged. the raft behind us though did flip upside down. today i went to a geothermal reserve and saw a geyser and boiling mud and craters and crazily colored pools. it's been amazing weather until today (like t-shirt weather). today cold and rainy though. i hope it clears tomorrow. i went on a starch detox diet and excluding the buffet succeeded in not eating ANY bread products or pasta, rice, cake, etc. for 4.5 days. that is definitely a record for Lisa Maas, who I don't think had even gone .25 days before without eating starch. it was broken today, however, b/c I spotted Baker's Delight, which is home to the notorious Boston Bun and I couldn't resist, especially on such a lousy-weather afternoon. ok- internet is really pricey here - so more updates later.