Abel Tasman to bungee-jump in Taupo

Not much happened on Friday, but on Saturday we went from Kaiteriteri on the boat-trip. It was with Wilson’s Experince and the boat was quite big. We spent most of the time upstairs on the deck but it was quite windy. The view over Abel Tasmans coast was magnificent anyways. Blue-green waters and gold-colored sand beaches. We saw some fur-seals and some Gannets ( http://www.gannets.com/pages/gann.html ) but our hopes was to see some dolphins during the 5 hour boat-ride. That didn’t happen but we met some really nice people.

We met Rongomai, a Maori-woman, who had tattoo’s around her mouth and she told us what they stood for. The two parallel-lines above her mouth shows that she is the oldest sister and the tattoo below her mouth shows what clan she is a part of.
She also told us the Maori-story about the Split Apple Rock (http://www.landco.com/splitapple/) that we passed with the boat. It is said that there was a fight between the God of the Forest and the God of the water about the rock. They both wanted it and when the fought one of the gods tried to hit the other but missed and splitt the rock. Well they are still fighting about who gets the bigger half of it. 🙂
She was very fun to talk to and she really appreciated that we had learned the greeting in Maori – Kia Ora (means hi and thank you).
Most of the people went of the boat for a while to do a walk but we stayed put to just enjoy the views (being a bit lazy :p).

On Sunday we drove to Nelson and in Richmond (which is on the way there) we stopped at a Swedish Art Glass Shop. It’s owned by a Swedish couple that learned the glass-blowing art at Orrefors in Sweden and now they have been living in NZ for about 30 years.
Unfortunately they were not there but we got a guided tour by a sweet lady called Erika and she showed us how to make a glass-bead with decoration on it. Both me and A-M became very interested and I think I will have a closer look on it when I get home. Glass is like fudge when being warmed up. Very cool!
http://new.jewelrysupply.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=394_27

After this we drove to the information-center in Nelson and spent a few hours at a cafe, drinking coffee and writing diary. When we came out to the car another Spaceship drove by. It was Neil with a danish couple in it, Rikke and Johnny. We sat in our car and talked for a few hours and they were heading the same way as us so we decided to travel a few days together.
We drove out of town and parked for the night, talking the evening away. 🙂

On Monday we started our tour out in Marlborough Sounds and it was magnificent sights. Every bay we passed had blue-green water and the houses out there are both big and expensive. We stopped at a few places before coming to Kenepuru Head, and there we stopped to have lunch. We also got company by a whole family of Wekas ( http://www.doc.govt.nz/Conservation/001~Plants-and-Animals/001~Native-Animals/Weka.asp ). One of them even got on the table to see if he could get some food.
Before we left we gave them so overdone kiwis (the fruit, not the people :p) and they loved that. Party for the birds. 🙂
We started to drive back and stopped on the way to take a swim. It was darn cold, but now I have taken a dip in the Tasman sea as well. 🙂
Tuesday (1 of November already!) we drove to Picton, because Rikke and Johnny was taking the ferry the day after that. We spent the day in Picton with cafe,mini-golf and just walking around in the quite cosy city.
In the evening we had to part with this great couple but I hope to see them in Auckland before flying to Thailand next week.
We spent the next day on a camp-site in Picton and then at 10 on Thursday (3rd of Nov) we had to leave the south island…It felt sad because this means that our trip around NZ is soon over.

On Friday we drove all the way from Wellington to Taupo because this is the place to do cheaper activities. I could hardly sleep knowing that I was going up early the next morning doing a bungee-jump.
Well now it’s done! I did the 47 meter jump. I sat there trying not to think about what I was about to do and got the rubber-thing attached to my feet. Of nervousness I asked them with a grin if they had any accidents lately. How smart! 😉
I took the small steps to the edge, looked down at the river and waved to A-M that stood on a ledge a bit away from the platform I stood on. They guy there told me that he would count to 3 and then I should shout bungee and take a big leap form the platform. On 2 I was jumping, because I knew that if I waited I might still stand there.
The feeling I got when leaving the solid ground and falling free in the air was the most scary thing i felt in my whole life I think. I couldn’t scream, I just made a gasp and it wasn’t until I felt the rubber-band I could enjoy it. Before then I just thought ”what the heck was I thinking?”. I had totally no control the first part and that really frightened me. I am very proud I did it, don’t get my wrong, but I will never ever do it again. I am also very happy that I didn’t do the 134 meter one in Queenstown. :p
After this though, the sky-dive tomorrow (if the weather permits it) from 12000 feet will be no biggie. :p
The whole day today I relived the jump by the way. Talk about getting value for your money. Hehe! (I got photos and video of it as well)
A-M by the way is happy she never did it but I will try to get her to sky-dive with me.
It’s a tandem-jump and will be a totally different thing from this (I hope!).
Will let you know how it went in the next diary.

Big hugs to you all!