"Second star on the right, and straight on 'til morning..."

So long, Neverland... you brought me back to life, by allowing me to enjoy your beautiful country while letting me act like I was 5-years-old again.

'Maori Princess Treasure Hunt' was not a "success" by US standards. But in terms of "the journey"... the trail was completely flooded out due to heaps of rain the area had received the past 48 hours, we walked in 3 feet of water fully clothed at one point, and also slid down a makeshift 30 foot mudslide, so as you can tell it was hilarious.

Then we went to the Clifden Caves (my second time) and looked at Planet Earth glow worms inches from our faces.

I will post pictures once I get back to home turf.

And now I will traverse half the globe in 25 minutes...literally (with the time changes). That's about right if I were really traveling Peter Pan speed, right?


Then in five days I'm headed to Hawaii. Visitors most certainly welcome!


(Oh, and as for a book update, I bought a Tom Clancy novel the size of my head. Perfect.)

Will bushwhack for treasure

Ahh I've missed this (interesting choice of music). Although I won't ever work in fashion, I got on Google Reader today for the first time in many many weeks and it's good to know that the 1st world carries on in style...

Tomorrow, I'm off with some of my hooligan friends in search of a secret Maori Princess burial site... on an island...in the middle of a lake. I wasn't going to go at first because of all the sandflies in that region and not to mention bushwhacking through the forest, but HOW OFTEN does one get to go on a sort of treasure hunt in a foreign country? That's what I thought.

Apparently we are trash bagging our clothes and swimming across to the island.


This is so much cooler than Legends of the Hidden Temple circa 1997.


It's going to be epic, even if it's an epic fail. I'm stoked.


Oh and just for giggles, today I took a couple hour bike ride because I was bored, had the iPod going with some rap and r&b, the rain was lightly sprinkling, the sheep were grazing. The usual.

And at one point when I thought no one was around I started singing "Bad Romance" a la Miranda Sings. And then out of nowhere an older lady passed me. Uhh?

And that song is not even one that sounds cool when you try to sing it normally, so it was just a big FAIL!

And the cool factor ante is upped again

The funniest town name exists in Neverland.


Nightcaps, New Zealand.

Nightcaps.

Isn't that hilarious?


There is also Athol... and Alexandra (aww).

I know I'm homesick when...

I have the burning desire to cut my hair Peter Pan short.


No pun intended, actually (and you all know how I love intending puns!).

I remember wanting to do this around this time two years ago in Spain.

Que extrano!!!

6 impossible thoughts before breakfast

Nothing about today was bad.

1) Woke up, finished The Cove on my laptop while I ate some Scroggin bar for breakfast. Yup. Don't worry, I pounded all 200 grams within 12 hours...



2) Rode our bikes to the beach.

3) Listened to music on the way and at the beach (Tell Me Baby and Say Hey I Love You were multiple repeaters)

4) Starbucks. The southernmost Starbucks in the world, my little haven.

5) Seeing Alice in Wonderland (LOVE) and Valentine's Day (my first movie hop, I felt like a rebellious 15 year old mall rat)

6) Hilarious photo session in the movie theater bathroom as we waited between movies. Oh wow.


Such a happy little corner of the world.

The GAGA stars aligned today...

Check out GAGA Dollars.

And this new Miranda video...not my favorite, but a noble effort. I would like the 'Haters' shirt.


Neverland is spectacular as always. I'm very lucky.

Cheers!
xo

Want to see pictures of me acting like I'm 12 in New Zealand?

A series of photos and stories regarding my camping are UP!

Go here.

It's been so wonderful so far.

The other day when I video chatted my mom she said that I look about 8 years old, so relaxed, so happy...

It truly is like childhood...like Neverland.

Cheers!

I camp. I'm a camper.

Just consider me Bob Wiley, camping-style.

Remember how I'm in Neverland? Kia Ora.

How are you guys?

Cheers!

Hello from down under

Kia Ora, friends!

I realize I dropped off the face of the planet the last few weeks blogging wise, but I was too busy having fun to do much of anything else!

After I finished my finals, I snowboarded in Park City for a couple days, went to Paris*, then Kauai with my family and cousins, and now...I'm in New Zealand!

It's so beautiful- I literally started chuckling as I walked out of the airport because it looks and feels like the English countryside mixed with Hawaii.

Today we did THIS.

And tonight we're doing THIS, which I'm assuming is like a Hawaiian luau, but Maori.

The people are awesome.

The accent is awesome- we imitate is as much as we can, when locals are not around haha.

Lots of people don't wear shoes- awesome. I made a joke in my currently-rubbish-status NZ accent about how stores should put up signs that say "No Shirt, No Shoes- Preferred."

I saw a sweet tree house today, awesome.

I'm totally out of my element in this Chaco-and-fleece world I've immersed myself in, but I'm growing partial to being granola!

Thank you for all your emails and notes, I love you all and only wish you were all here with me!

Cheers!

("Cheeahs" in a Kiwi accent ;) )

Pixie Dust Personified

So remember how I've been calling New Zealand 'Neverland' since April?

Oh yeah, no big deal,

but I found out my NZ roommate was PETER PAN for Halloween.


If this is not the pixie dust on top of this holiday in the sun (and rain, apparently), then I don't know what is!

To sue or surf?

You know, maybe I should do law school after all. Because lawyers seem to be the only ones these days cashing in (although, probably on credit) on those trying to deny the Great Recession.

CNN: "Alumna sues college because she can't find a job"

(hilarious and tragic in so many ways)

This is precisely the reason why in efforts to stave off the impending bleak job outlook, I picked up a minor at my university and am running off to Neverland in January.

Because I, technically a part of yesterday's class of '09, am enrolled at the most inexpensive university in the country (I think) which affords me that privilege.


I guess I can deal with the zoobies a little while longer.

It's the price to pay for being silly enough to finagle a way, in a landlocked USA university, to put international surfing expeditions on my transcript.

Hang loose!

A

To write, or not to write?

All this contentment has given me a lot of time to think about writing a book about my sojourn to New Zealand next year, where I will explore not only the majestic countryside but also the various themes of my life.

So naturally, I've had to calm myself down and make points of reference to some of the travel books I've read, so I can gauge how much of myself I would decide to weave into my potential travel piece and create something unique.

In a Sunburned Country- A travel book in its purest form, written by NY-Times acclaimed author Bryson who goes to Australia for the sake of travel writing. Although I appreciated his extensive research on the country and sense of humor, I found my urgency to experience Australia decrease (he spent too much time in the Outback), realizing Australia's real draw is the ocean (Great Barrier Reef and surfing 'mecca' Brisbane).

A Year in Provence- ethnographic account of an older, semi-retired couple who pack up their life in England and experience every European’s dream of living full-time in the countryside of Provence, France. However, they majority of the way they spend their days is not traveling to nearby chateaus or taking walks along the beach in Marseille, but reconstructing an old farmhouse they have purchased and interacting with their neighbors—pandering to universal themes of home ownership and community, not necessarily travel.
A TV Mini-series was produced, 1993.

Japanland: In Search of Wa- An American documentary filmmaker with day-job burnout and judo hobby, who spends a year in Japan scrappily forging her way around the terrain finding experience, joy and ultimately, peace with herself. I think this was my favorite of the four I mention here, because the author was an extremely compelling writer, personable and funny, who more often than not, left the reader to draw the more emotional conclusions. The adventures Karin Muller finds herself on are unforgettable: filming the Tamagawa cult in desolate mountains of which even the Japan Tourist Information Center has no knowledge, following a homeless man in Osaka, and also studying what fuels the traditions of sumo wrestling, geisha-dom, and the national pachinko addiction.

Eat, Pray, Love- A soul-searching adventure by Elizabeth Gilbert through Italy, India, and Bali that touched mostly on retreat, renewal, and re-learning how to give and receive love. I read this almost two years ago, and the most poignant thoughts that come to mind were a) her eating not one, but two crusty-soft pizzas in Naples (Eat), b) meditating in an Indian ashram and reaching a level of serenity never experienced before (Pray), and c) indulging in an outdoor shower in Bali (as well as the boyfriend she picks up there). And of the four, interesting to note this the only one with a highly anticipated movie deal starring Julia Roberts.

Gilbert (Eat, Pray, Love) spoke on creativity in a recent TED conference. And I just love how raw, candid, funny and happily at ease she is about her creative process, that it gives me hope that I'm still in the right (write?) place. It is quite inspiring...

"[The belief that] creativity and suffering are somehow inherently interlinked...[that] artistry, in the end, will ultimately lead to anguish...is odious."

Don't miss her closing segment (starting at 15:38) how the creativity of expression is a glimpse of God.




Maybe I'm just grandiose and doe-eyed with all my thought processes of "The world is my oyster! I can be anything I want to be! I'm going to go soak up life for all it's infinite worth!" so I welcome your suggestions. Would you read a book about New Zealand, authored by yours truly?
(Doubtful sentiments also welcomed.)

Thank you in advance.

Ewe should come!

I am so un-containably excited for Neverland...

that I make up Never-words like uncontainably!


look at the full Flickr photostream HERE.

via Cup of Jo

"Just a dream and the wind to carry me"

Just like Bob....

we did some sailing today...

(I'd take the wind over no wind; rough waters over stagnant too)

Read RayRay's post for our wind-blown epiphanies.

I leave you with the brilliant words of Chris Cross's song "Sailing"...
I actually prefer NSYNC's rendition.

(I deem this my 'quest for Neverland' theme song.)

"It's not far down to paradise

At least it's not for me
And if the wind is right you can sail away
And find tranquility
The canvas can do miracles
Just you wait and see
Believe me

It's not far to never never land
No reason to pretend
And if the wind is right you can find the joy
Of innocence again
The canvas can do miracles
Just you wait and see
Believe me

Sailing
Takes me away
To where I've always heard it could be
Just a dream and the wind to carry me
And soon I will be free

Fantasy
It gets the best of me
When I'm sailing
All caught up in the reverie
Every word is a symphony
Won't you believe me

It's not far back to sanity
At least it's not for me
And when the wind is right you can sail away
And find serenity
The canvas can do miracles
Just you wait and see
Believe me"

Keeping up with the Kiwis

(and Maoris)

Come January I will be here...

Also known as New Zealand also known as a Never Neverland on Earth!

I'm pretty much stoked out of my mind that I'll be getting college credit for taking outdoor recreation courses..... YES....the last time I received school credit to surf was senior year of high school- it's about time my chosen undergraduate university follow suit ;)

(My spiritual bond with the ocean merits volumes of more writing...)

All these Peter Pan themes lately and the fact that I'm finally (after a recommendation six years ago, I'm embarrassed to say) halfway through reading The Alchemist... has me thinking about seeking out the many Neverlands of this life (with the traveling/exploring element serving as both a reality and a metaphor) and finding a Peter to accompany me on the journey.

But Peter Pan or not, it won't hold me down from achieving.

Is it so selfish, grandiose or romantic that I don't want to compromise and actually want to achieve goals, wishes and dreams? Really see them to fruition?

I don't think so. My inner combination of wanderlust and pragmatism realizes that an extraordinary outcome requires an extraordinary effort.

I'm not just 'up for the challenge'... it's been lovingly and tryingly ingrained in me that I will do it.

With love,

Wendy the future Kiwi