I am no longer an unemployed vagrant. My phone interview yesterday paid off – I’ve got a job starting October 2nd in Ohakune. Never heard of the town? Ya, neither had I. It’s in the central part of the North Island – and it caters mostly to people heading to the nearby ski hills on Mt. Ruapehu. Ski season is still on down here and runs until the end of October, so I’m guessing the town is still busy. I’ll be working at the Ohakune Court Motel, doing reception and housekeeping for at least 4 weeks. 3 hours a day, and that covers my accommodation, internet and laundry. Any hours after that (and apparently there should be a decent amount), will be paid hours. Even if I don’t get paid hours very often, it will still be nice drawing some money.

While there, I think I might actually get to try snowboarding! I’m excited.

As for now, I’ve changed direction completely since I have a few days to kill, and headed north again. I’m trying to get to something that I couldn’t on a previous attempt – White Island. Tomorrow has a great forecast, so my fingers are crossed. Tonight though, I grab the air mattress again and camp near Rotorua. Off to set up my campground now, likely without internet reception, so I’ll be back in a few days. With updates and pictures of the past and next few eventful days. 🙂

I’ve got a couple hours to kill while waiting for new brakepads to be put on my car, and figured I should check in on my finances. So, how has the slower moving travelling impacted the budget so far? Pretty well actually.

In 2 months I’ve spent $4500NZD (roughly $3700CAD), for everything. That includes $2000 for my car alone, which I hopefully will be able to recoup most of the money for, so the actual ‘travel’ expenses has been a more reasonable $2500NZD, or roughly $50/day. That still is quite a bit higher than what I’d like to see (since it would come to over $18,000/year, when my ideal is closer to $12,000NZD), but a lot of that still includes initial costs that I paid out in Auckland – setting up cell phone ($40), setting up internet ($80), car insurance ($150), etc. After my first 10 days in Auckland, I’ve spent a much more reasonable $1500($30/day = $11,000!) . The highest consistent cost? Gas – around $650 worth so far. I’ve done nearly 3200km on my car already, so that adds up quickly. Adding in the, so far, expected maintenance (tires and brakes), it’s been well over $1K of car related expenses. Still, I wouldn’t hesitate to buy a car again given the option to go back and have the choice between my own car or using buses.  The car is just SO much more convenient to see everything, and the amount of hikes I’ve done along already number probably well over 25 that I never would have been able to do without access to a vehicle. New Zealand just begs to be explored – a car allows that.

Here’s a pretty pie chart, initial car cost removed:

When one buys a ‘Meatlovers Pizza’, one has certain expectations. For there to be various type of dead animal carcass on the pizza. And it to be devoid of any redeeming factors besides taste – namely, no veggies.

And I thought I was fairly diligent – I checked the label, I checked the packaging relatively closely. All in all, it looked like a tasty, CHEAP ($2.50) dinner/lunch to be heated in the oven. Excited to have tasty cheese bread and meat, I pre-heated the oven and opened the package. My senses were assaulted with the horrible, awful smell of…

Those that know me, know I absolutely ABHOR the retched things. Onions ruin the taste of everything they touch, scourge of the earth that they are. I hoped that the smell was just the packaging, but on very close inspection I noticed diced white onion covering the pizza. My dinner, ruined. I still ate the pizza, didn’t enjoy it, but I wasn’t about to waste $2.50. I had to wash the awful taste away with ice cream afterwards but even now, it still lingers. I’m now apprehensive about my ‘Hawaiian Pizza’ from the same company – if they hid mushrooms in the thing, I might just cry.

Canada played in their 2nd Rugby World Cup game yesterday, and while they showed resilience, they were still completely pounded into oblivion by the French. Rugby is very much a game with two tiers of teams, and is one of those sports that you very VERY rarely see an upset such as Canada overtaking a team like France. So while Canada can hold their heads (and beards) high for staying within reach of France after the 1st half, it very much was a game to simply get through and look forward to more reasonable competition – such as against Japan, in just over a weeks time.

Still, as a Canadian, it’s fun to cheer for them in spite of their lesser status in Rugby circles. They’ve played with a lot of heart so far and it’s good to see such support, even all the way down here in NZ. Lots of Canadian flags in stands. I do think that we should change our colours to lumber-jack plaid, some of the guys look exactly like lumberjacks in my mind. A great fit for Canada though as the hair isn’t just for show (it strikes fear into the hearts of other men) this guy was the MVP for Canada in their win against Tonga.

How would you enjoy the human equivalent of a grizzly bear, coming at you at full speed? Not very much at all I imagine…

Or two even.

The neighbours have a pair of Highland Cattle, which originate all the way from Scotland. These ones are still young, and are WAY too cute to eat. They are actually more pets than anything for the neighbours, who always had a dream of owning Highland Cattle – and now I’ve added it as a dream of mine as well! Some day, some day.

These ones came up and quite happily ate food from my hand, so you know they’ve been hand raised.