E noho rā Aotearoa (Goodbye New Zealand)

Well, it has nearly been a solid 12 months in the land of the Long White Cloud. Unfortunately all great things must come to an end. So, I'm continuing my hop, skip and jump onward to Down Under: Australia!

For another 12 solid months I'll continue driving on the left, enjoy public holidays for everything British AND see a Koala and Kangaroo! I tell ya what, Walt, dreams really do come true.

Of course I have to make a few detours through the Pacific Island countries of Vanuatu (population 245,000) and New Caledonia (population 250,000) via my first ever cruise! FYI: If this becomes a Carnival repeat, I'm hunkering down on one of these islands for a few months. I'll be departing Easter Sunday for 10 nights at sea and island hopping - still have not found "Mystery Island" (if Google Maps can't find it, nothing can). Can anyone say Best. Easter. Ever.? I certainly do hope the Easter Bunny can hop on water.

Getting On with thanks

 
Of course I have to thank every one I've met along the way - every interaction has shaped me in to what I am as I sit and write this. That's as soapy as I am getting: I really just needed drinking mates!

;-)

It's been wonderful meeting people in the flat, at the shopping centre, in the pub and on the street. It's been great seeing and speaking with you from 1 night to 12 months. Of course our relationship will now morph in to Facebook and Gmail with a dash of Skype and FaceTime. In any case thanks for the memories and sharing all those drinks!

Oh geez, Emmes.

Amar, try again.

Sneaking in to toilets together, eh Michaela.

What drunk took this photo?!

Remember the stag?!

Bringing back a classic :-)

Even Landlord John knows to bust a move, aye Angelo

The sober cab LOST the car, so Kurt lost his pants.

One last BBQ at the flat.

Amazing how many inappropriate photos one can dig up, especially when looking for inappropriate photos (and no, I will not post them all). 

Top 5

This is hard to do, but here's my try:

1. Surviving  the Auckland earthquake on St Paddy's Day
2. Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
3. Bay of Islands
4. Westpac 2012 Christmas party
5. Mum, Dad & Aunty Sue coming for their short visit

Getting on with my tune

After breaking bread and saying thanks, I must keep on keeping on.  After the cruise I will of course be raking in those Australian Dollars to keep up with my ambitious life. Plus, I still have this obsession with colourful money so I need as much of it as possible.

Such a fitting tune.

It is now time to pack my smile and cackling laugh to cross the ditch. Here I come Oz:

E noho rā Aotearoa (Goodbye New Zealand)
:D