Rainy Days

It rained all day yesterday. It has been raining all day today and it will probably continue to rain the rest of the day. When traveling, rain can really affect your plans. I use the word ‘plans’ loosely though. I normally don’t have plans but it does affect plans you may try to make. Yesterday, I spent the afternoon in a coffee shop and was able to skype with my family which was great! I then walked to a nearby thrift store. Just because I’m in New Zealand doesn’t mean you can keep me away from thrift store shopping! I went in with a purpose though. My goal was to find a belt. I came out with a belt, two tank tops, and a scarf. I walked back to the hostel and made soup, read, and watched part of a movie before going to the supermarket. I decided to spoil myself a bit by getting cheese, yogurt, and sausage which are somewhat pricy items. Other items I purchased include 3 apples, 1 avocados, 2 bananas, pita bread, nutella, chips, and eggs. Even though I had eaten under an hour beforehand, when I got back to the hostel all I wanted to do was eat the food I had just purchased. You know that feeling of getting new things and having it at your finger tips? It was that kind of feeling. Being the disciplined person that I am, I waited 10 minutes to eat some of the newly purchased items ;) I began with pita bread and nutella and then moved on to cheese and sausage. It was delightful. I then spent some time reading. I washed a few of my clothes in the shower that evening. Call me strange but sometimes that’s just the way things happen when you travel. If you ever travel cheaply for an extended amount of time, you will understand.

I saw Pringles in the store. They were expensive.
($3.69 US Dollars). I didn't buy any. Instead, I took a picture.



I woke up to it raining. I had a great breakfast of scrambled eggs with cheese and sausage and yogurt flavored with divine berries from Nelson. Seriously, divine berries. It sure tasted divine too! I could have probably eaten the whole container in one sitting but I told myself I had to leave some for tomorrow morning. Even though it was raining, I was determined to do something today. I didn’t want to sit around and be a bum. Looking like a hunchback because my backpack was tucked under my raincoat, I left the hostel. I stopped at the information center for a bit and then made my way to Lake Rotorua. There were a lot of sea gulls on the grass near the lake so I had a little fun and ran right through the center of them. The people watching probably thought I was crazy. I don’t care though. I continued on my way, walking on a path recommended by the guy at the hostel. It gave me a view of the lake before leading me on a pathway around some thermal pools (the reason why Rotorua smells like sulfur). I could see the steam rising from them before I could see them. As I got closer, I could feel the warmth as well. They were all enclosed by fences to discourage people from getting too close or going in. There was one area that they had enclosed in concrete and allowed you to put your feet in. It felt so wonderful. I sat there for a while before making my way back to the hostel and having soup and pita bread for lunch. I then made my way back to the café to get internet which is where I sit now.

The seagulls before I ran through the middle of them.

Thermal pools

Thermal pools

Want to go for a swim?

So hot is is bubbling.

Sticking my feet in one of the pools.
(Don't worry, I didn't grow a hunchback. It's just my backpack.)



Over the past two days, I have had the compelling desire to itch. Remember the bed bugs? I believe I am a victim of those terrible creatures. If not bed bugs, I don’t know what it could be. It began on my arms yesterday (mostly my left arm). I now have 20+ red dots on my arm. Although my arms still itch, today my back itches as well. ARG! No bueno!