February

4

Fly to Sydney via Seoul (hey, that's what happens with a frequent flyer ticket!)

Happy Birthday, Ali and Michael

5

Crossed the Equator!
Arrive Sydney, fly to Auckland.

Happy Birthday, Judith

6

Auckland, NZ

visited the harbor, walked Queen St., saw the Parnell Rose Garden, Auckland Domain, and accidently saw a lovely theater because it was called Town Hall and I thought I would go in to talk gov't!

7

Met Shelby and her new beau, Joel, in Auckland

went to Mt. Eden (old volcano), Muriwai Beach (black sand from lava), and 2 wineries. Fell "in love" for the first time.

8

Rotorua

visit KSG classmate Whaimutu Dewes and family

Kuirau Park, Ohinemutu, Maori Concert & Hangi

9

Rotorua

Lake walk, Rotorua Museum, Orchid Garden, Water Organ, Polynesian Spa (taking the waters)

Happy Birthday, Wayan and Andrew B.

10

Rotorua

Whakarewarewa (thermal and cultural site)

11

Catch ride to Wellington

12

Wellington, Parliament; take ferry to Picton in the South Island

Happy Birthday, Dee, Linda, and Wendy

13

Picton; tried to get rental car, failed to get rental car

Kept speaking Spanish to French people; they pretended to understand

14

Hiked a part of the Queen Charlotte Track on the Marlborough Sound with Carole's Dutch twin and Israeli man

Bus to Nelson

15

Kayak trip in Abel Tasman Nat'l Park; fell "in love" (hereinafter abbreviated as FIL) for the second time; camped out, learned how to find south using the Southern Cross

16

Kayak trip in Abel Tasman Park; hiked to and stayed at Arawoa

17

Hiking in Abel Tasman Park; back to Nelson

18

Uncomfortable bus to Greymouth, back problems emerge

Happy Birthday, Greg

19

Punakaiki to see Pancake Rocks; back still a mess

20

More comfortable bus to Arthur's Pass, hiking despite back troubles; used up 5th life (see story)

21

Bus to Christchurch; visit Cathedral Square and hear the Wizard spout off; stay with first Servas host; back doesn't heal

22

Spend day at Christchurch Hospital learning how superior NZ's health care is to ours (story to come)

23

Praising codeine and super-strength ibuprofen in Christchurch

24

Jenny joins me in Christchurch, sightseeing at Cathedral Square

Sick of frequent face breakouts, and in a wave of amnesia, I apply benzoyl peroxide all over my face and go out into the sun.

Happy Birthday, Marilyn

25

Ailment of the Week: wake up with major sunburn and bad reaction to benzoyl peroxide on denuded face -- ouch!

Christchurch: sightseeing at Canterbury Museum, Arts Centre, Botantic Gardens

Lake Tekapo

Happy Birthday, Norman and George Harrison (my favorite Beatle)

26

hike Mt. John in Tekapo, drive to Mt. Cook

face is beet red and aching, but seems to be clearing up?!

27

Explore Tasman Glacier and hike near Mt. Cook

face turns to consistency of leather

28

Mountain biking (for the first time) around fabulous Lake Wanaka

face performs it's own version of a chemical peel

Bonus Ailment of the Week: chip filling off tooth during semi-annual flossing

1

Drive to Fox Glacier via Haast Pass in pouring rain

face frightens small children

2

Hike to Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers, get bitten by sand flies at Gillepsie's Beach

finally remember that I packed aloe for skin conditions such as this and apply to grateful face, which now appears to have some re-emerging pimples no doubt due to the moisturizer I had to put on it in order to open mouth without cracking skin

3

Lake Matheson, drive Haast Pass in the sunlight, mini hikes to waterfalls, back to Wanaka.

face begins to heal, but still can't smile or yawn without pain