Heading to the Southland...

I am saying goodbye to this lovely green northern land and heading for the South Island tomorrow morning. I am quite excited to arrive in Queenstown "adventure capital of the world" but will be picked up by my new boss, Adam, and driven to Milford Sound. Over the past couple of weeks Milford has been built up in my mind as someplace other-worldly. Kiwi's that have traveled the world still say it is the most beautiful place they have seen. That is enough to keep me happy, even though I am finding the pace of Wellington quite enjoyable.

Wellington has a interesting vibe. Take the best parts of the best cities you have been to, put them together and you have Wellington. Funky cafes and restuarants line several main shopping streets,there are beautiful free museums lining the waterfront, there are playgrounds and art galleries every few feet and chic business people and artsy creative types dining on every corner. There is a beach within walking distance and a Mt.Victoria to climb giving you a 360 degree view of the greater Wellington area. Have a car and you will be in lush green farmland. A little further along and you will be hiking to a cliff overlooking the sea. Nightlife, daylife, good food, good people. What more could you ask for?

Am I keeping out of trouble? I would say yes, however did have my second run-in with the New Zealand police in the span of the 10 days I have been here. I met funny cute frenchman Ben in Taupo. On his way down to the south island he stopped again in Wellington to hang out with some of the other friends I have aquired. The next day, around 4 in the afternoon I recieved a text from him saying he was stuck in a car with a weird man named Jeff who had picked him up hitching and to call the police if I did not hear back. A while later I had not heard back. We could not reach him, nor could the police, but the tone of the messages were enough to make even the calmest of people worry. Turns out Ben is fine and the man was just a creep, but the police came to talk to me and find out if he was alright. Geesh! Embarrassing to have two cops barge into your hostel, inturrupting the common room to ask you to go to a quiet place to talk.

A few days ago a German girl was murdered who was hitchhiking alone. In the same week a German man and Australian man were mugged and beaten up in the streets. NZ is of course a safe place, but these incidents seem to have everyone on edge.I think I will be keeping my thumbs to myself. In any case, I don't have this driving on the left thing down yet. I would probably try to hitch myself right back to where I came from.

Cheers!