The First Goodbye

I am getting unsettled, I feel conflicted about the prospect of coming home. I don't feel ready to leave New Zealand, there is so much that I want to so, so much I still want to see, the people and the land have so much to offer. I have enjoyed my stay here, more then I can express in words or any other medium. There are many parts of home that I miss, lots of little pieces which I will gladly welcome, but I feel like I am closing a chapter of my life. I know I will start a new one and begin again, I am trying to console myself.

Moving on to more pleasant topics the picture above is not actually a mountain, but the largest of three volcanoes in the national park just outside of Taupo. The volcano is home to not one but three ski fields, as they are called here, it is a beautiful but humbling sight. In the mid nineties this volcano erupted, I don't believe that anyone was injured but the industry of the surrounding area was greatly disrupted.

Talking of volcanoes, Auckland, where I am right now, is home to 69 dormant or dead volcanoes. I don't think I could live in a city surrounded so completely but it does make for some good walking. Lots of hills.

I am jumping around with this post, my thoughts are running wild. In two days I will be heading to the international airport to begin my journey home, the first leg includes a 12 hour flight to LA. Then a three hour stopover to clear customs and change terminals, let me advise any travels to avoid LA like the plague, while it isn't the worst airport, it is far from the best. A maze of terminals and confused travelers await, I believe there are 9 terminals in total. Then three hours to Vancouver to clear another set of customs, I wonder how much chocolate one is aloud to bring into the country. :D

I will be spending a day and night in Vancouver so I can recover from my 18 hour roller coaster and then the next day fly direct to Toronto to greet the G20 summit as they stream out of my city. Thank you to Trinette who will be picking me up! With coffee no less, it will be a welcome site to see someone I know at the airport.

Well, I will be writing once more in Vancouver I believe, see you all soon!!