April 26 - 2:30 pm

Well, the time is almost here. In fifteen minutes I will walk to the bus stop. From there, I will go to the airport. I wish it was better weather here today. Gloomy, windy, and now rainy! No bueno. I think New Zealand is crying because I'm leaving. I'm sad too NZ..
Today was mellow. Got up and showered and packed. I ate the best kiwi I've ever tasted in my life! No wonder they call the people here Kiwis. Anyway, after breakfast I walked around but got frustrated with the cold and wind so I went to Starbucks. I spent some time watching rugby on tv, reading three months worth of modern Seinfeld tweets, and browsing the Internet.
I love New Zealand! And I'm so sad to go.. Bye bye dream life.

April 25 - 8 pm

Strangest feeling, this being my last night in New Zealand. After all the build up, dreaming about coming here, talking about doing it someday, a few times having plans fall through, and then an opportunity and perfect window of time opening up, and everything falling into place, making all of this possible. I don't know exactly when or why I developed an infatuation with New Zealand, but now that I've traveled almost every inch of the country, it seems even more alluring. And that there is so much more to see here. I hope I can come back again someday.
It's been hard traveling the past 8 weeks on my own. I knew it would be, but it was even harder than I thought. I hoped it might change me into more of an extrovert, but it actually just made me realize that I am an introvert, and that's just me. I have no problem talking to people. I just feel more comfortable in my solitude. That being said, I have missed my friends and family heaps and I can't wait to be back with my people in about 41 hours.
I very much enjoyed my last full day in Queenstown. It is ANZAC Day here - a national holiday in NZ, similar to our Veterans Day. So at 9 am I heard the faint sound of bagpipes getting closer and closer. There was a parade right outside my door! Not exactly a parade, just bagpipes and pretty much the whole town marching along with the bagpipers through town. All the shops were closed until 1 pm. I walked around by the lake and laid in the sun for a long while deciding what I wanted to do today. The weather was perfect. Mostly sunny, warm, fall day. I decided to hike up to the skyline gondola. It was a good climb, close to an hour to the top. Worth it for the view. And it saved me $26 for hiking instead of taking the gondola. It felt good to get one more big walk in before I have to sit on an airplane or in airports for 22 hours.
I had my last spaghetti meal here for dinner. And I've been going through my stuff, getting rid of food and junk that I've been carrying around all this time. I should have room for everything I'm bringing back! Barely!
I can't believe I leave tomorrow! It's not weird packing my stuff. I do that almost every single day, and move on to the next town. But this time I'm packing up for good! Leaving the country. Flying over the ocean, the equator, and the international date line! And I don't know when I'll be back!
When I think like that, it's hard to leave, but I'm ready.
Not sure what I'll do tomorrow morning. I have until 2:50 pm. Maybe I'll go bungy jumping again.
Ha, yeah right.
Time for the Mario kart competition in the tv room.

April 24 - 9 pm

It was so sunny and lovely in Wanaka today! And that made all the difference in my attitude. I had a fantastic morning walking around Lake Wanaka. So many people out on the beach and in the street. I could live in Wanaka. I kinda wish I would have rented a bike to ride around the town and the lake. They have lots of good cycle tracks. So when I come back someday..
But I had to leave Wanaka today to go back to Queenstown. Just two nights here before I go home. Just two more days! Really? Crazy. I'm staying in a nice hostel called Adventure Queenstown. I've heard there is a snorer in my room though, so I hope I can sleep through whatever happens tonight. I may have to get earplugs tomorrow if it's bad.

April 21 - 8:30 pm

Sunday night in Queenstown. Hanging at the hostel with the other lucky ones. We're going to watch a movie called Stolen Lives, I guess. But not for a few minutes. It was better weather today, so I spent some time outside, hiking Queenstown hill and then sitting by the wharf, people watching. And maybe eating another lamb Ferg pie..
My mom and dad got their puppy today. I wish I was home to meet the little golden doodle Wilson. Six days.

April 20 - 9:20 pm

Cold, windy day. It was hard to want to be outside, freezing, so I spent most of the day indoors. Library, hostel, etc. Finished reading my book. Watched movies with my hostelmates. But I did get out and do some souvenir shopping. I think I've been in every shop in Queenstown now. And purchased the few items that I could afford. Oh, and I got a lamb pie from Fergbaker, and I can confidently say that it is the best pie in New Zealand. I've had a few while I've been here, but none comes close to the Ferg pie. Mmmmm... Might need to go back for one next week! And let me just say that Fergburger is good, but I liked my Burgerfuel burger way better. Done. Glad I got that off my chest. Not sure what I'll do tomorrow. I'm hoping its nice weather!

April 19 - 2:45 pm

Queenstown is even more beautiful now than when I was last here. The fall colors are everywhere! Mostly yellow. Leaves falling off the trees. Spectacular. I got in to town after dark yesterday, so I stayed in and did laundry. I got up early though and have been wandering around town since about 9. It's nice being somewhere familiar, but I've been exploring areas I hadn't seen as well. The Queenstown Gardens were really nice. There was a craft market this morning that I found some goods at. It was sunny for a while, but it's turned cloudy and chilly. I think I can only handle one more week of this cold stuff. Then back to Utah, where it better be warming up!