Sweet As.

Hi, sorry... I seemed to have fallen off the face of the earth.

Well, really I'm not so far off... hello from New Zealand... what seems like the edge of the world. I had heard how amazing New Zealand was, but you can only believe so much of what you hear... but, I can now say with certainty... New Zealand is magical.

But, first...

I ended my 4 month stint in Melbourne by having a few drinks with some of my close friends before heading off to Sydney and the East Coast. Arron wrote a blog post about this, saying he was now dreading his departure because he had been there for mine. He said I seemed distant and sad... I remember getting home that night at about 2am (having to leave for the airport at 3:30am!) and just thinking "this may be the last time I ever am here." How big is that? It could be the last time I ever see these people. Eat this food. Sit on this seat. etc...

I flew out of Melbourne at 6 that morning, arriving in Sydney bright and early to go meet my high school friend Lea, who had just flown in from America. We spent one day there, where I showed her the sights, and then we flew up to Cairns, which is the most north I ever made it to in Australia. The weather was muggy and cloudy, the beach was non existent (low tides and lots of mud), but we still had a good time. We met a very sleepy Arron, who had done what I had done the night before and not had any sleep. We rented a car a few days later and drove up north to the Daintree Rainforest (check "see a rainforest" off my list) and to Cape Tribulation. We didn't see any crocodiles, which they are famous for, but we did see lots of exotic birds and plants. A very gorgeous area and some of the most amazing beaches.

We then took an overnight bus down to Airlie Beach, which is home to the Whitsunday Islands. We were to take a 2 day/2 night sailing cruise to these islands (check "go sailing" off the list). I saw a beautiful sunset... dropped my camera in the ocean...saw whales and dolphins and sea turtles and sting rays wild in the ocean... sat/swam on Whitehaven beach, which is THE best beach I have ever been to. White sand and crystal clear blue waters. I also went snorekling on the great barrier reef (check "see great barrier reef" off list).

We ended the trip by spending one last night in Sydney... where, the next morning, I flew out to beautiful New Zealand. For about 5 years I have wanted to come here. Granted, it's only a 6 day stint, but it's enough to make me want to come back again and again. If you know me well, you know I have this "thing" for kiwis/kiwi culture... so, new life plan is to marry a New Zealander... yup, you heard me.

Anyways, I spent my first night in Christchurch, which was a vicitim to a 7.7 magnitude earthquake about a week and a half ago. They have experienced about 350 aftershocks since then, and I was peacefully eating my dinner on the night of the 12th, when my table and chair begain to shake. It only lasted about 4 seconds, but it was enough. It was about a 4.5 magnitude. Apparently there were 4 more overnight, which I slept straight through.

The next morning I made my way to Greymouth, NZ (west coast) and we drove through some of the most amazing scenery I have ever seen! Then down to Franz Josef (Glacier). I climbed the glacier the next day. I hiked up in my crampons and waterproof gear (it was pissing rain/hail!) and made my way through ice caves. Amazing! Although, I couldn't feel most of my extremities.

The next day I made my way down to Queenstown, where I am now. I hope to go to Milford Sound tomorrow, but apparently the road is closed due to fallen snow, and I will find out tomorrow morning if it is open. This is a ski town, for sure. It's nestled in between some of the most beautiful mountains! I leave for Christchurch on the 18th, then Sydney on the 19th... then to LA on the 20th. I am so near the end I don't even know what to think.

I'm excited for the next chaper of my life. So much has happened, but I believe so much more can happen in the future. I will write again soon.

Love,

Michaela