Travel blog

Hey,

Its been a few days since i last posted and xmas has been and gone. Been sooo busy the last few days since i left Auckland (Merry late xmas to everyone). Spent Xmas eve in Mercury Bay, the east coast off auckland. Been travelling with 4 other people (3 english and one german) since auckland and having a great time. Went to some wicked beaches there. Nearly got swept away in the sea thou....bit dangerous and cut all my back arms and legs up. im fine though. Xmas day i headed to Rotorua on the kiwi experience bus. We explored some awsome river and then had a bbq and swim at the hostel before going out for a few xmas drinks. Went white water rafting yesterday. Was unbelievably good fun. Went through 13 rapids and 3 waterfalls...one which was 7m....i was absolutly bricking it but got some great photos on a cd from it. After that we went to see a maori culture show...basically meeting the native maories (tatoo faced people) and they did some crazy dancing and scary face pulling (like the new zealand rugy team do before a game). Had a xmas roast dinner with them and saw some awsome live tribal music.

Today was quite interesting to say the least. Saw glaziers and lava pools which was awsome though stank of runny eggs. Then Went to see more maouri culture and me and a few other guys had to learn the traditional dance used by the ancient maori warrioirs before battle....and later had to perform this dance in from of about 200 people...was unexpected though pretty funny. After we went to Whitianga explored some ancient caves and saw thousands of glow worms. Now at a new hostel getting ready for a pizza. the weather is amazing at the moment.

Tommoro we are heading to Taupo further south of the north island and ....urm....basically signed up to do a 15000 ft sky dive. Cant wait...though a tad nervous. And the day after doing a 10 hour walk through some supposidly amazing land of some sort...so....yea pretty busy....but great fun.

I hope to post shortly...if i survive the sky dive...haha!!

x

Hey all!

Been in Aukland for a few days now and had a wicked time. Went to sum small island via ferry on the second day with one of my new aussie room mates. We climbed a huge hill and met a kiwi santa....totally worth it, lol! Also watched the film hostel at the hostel...wasnt a good idea.

Yesterday went to Rangatoto island...basically a volcanice island just off auckland. Was amazing. Took me two and a half hours to climb but got some awsome views. Got pretty badly sunburnt aswell but getting browner by the day. Met some cool English guy called tommy at the internet suit in the hostel and we went out to some bars with his mates and watched some live music and had a few beers.

Been hanging out with tommy today....went up the aukland sky tower...which is actually taller than the eifal tower. Got some great pics of the city and stood on a glass walk way 200mm high...never been so nervous in my life. We treked around for abit and found some park to which we were greeted by a group of japanese people who asked us to draw a picture for them which is going to be in an exhibition to do with world peace. I drew a surfure riding the waves of peace with the message "change the world" (Basically stole it from will smiths statement on the hollywood hand and footprint pavement.

Off to Witianga tommorow morning with the kiwi experience bus...looking forward to that. Also im changing my round the world ticket slightly but ill explain that when i know more about it.

Hope its not too cold in England...im sunburnt and sweating here.

Speak soon.

x

Kia Ora (Hello in NZ)

Just arrived...its now thursday morning here and i havnt slept since Monday (Mainly due to not sleeping at all on the overnight flight and skipping a day with the time difference... soooo tired right now. Its stupidly hot here, thou i cant really complain...dont really have to ask what the weathers like in England. My L.A tan is flaking thou so im gunna have to top it up while im here. Met a few new people before i left. Gunna be meeting up with a Japanese guy in Tokyo...he said he's gunna show me around the city ect. Also met another aussie guy that im gunna try and catch up with in Brisbourne.

Changed my plan in New Zealand slightly...gunna be departing Auckland on the kiwi experience bus on 24th instead of 27th (Heard its not soo great here from other travellers) so not sure where abouts in New Zealand i'l be for xmas. Anyway i'l keep u updated.

Bye! x

Hi all....its been a little while since my last post. Im currently in Venice (L.A) and the internet is really expensive at this hostel. Been hanging out with a couple guys from Cambridge, England the last few days. Played Basket-ball, volley ball, football.
(American), 'SOCCER'...all on the beach. The weather has been amazing. Had a work out at the gym on the beach...everyone else there was clearly taking steroids.

Saw some crazy arabic guy in a thong playing electric guitar on roller skates yesterday....didnt suprise me thou as its full of weirdos in america. Oh yea ..and hobo robo..who needed money for batteries....that was a good one.

Watched 'I am Legend' at the cinema the other day. Was pretty good...not sure if its out in England yet...but worth watching.

Im off to New Zealand tommorow. Looking forward to it. Think ive had enough of america...too many freaks and homeless people. Anyway my time is up...speak soon. x

Had a hectic couple of days since u last heard from me. Went down to venice beach with 2 of my aussie roomates yesterday. Took about 2 hours on the bus. Was a good laugh, saw all the roller skaters and body builders on the beach. They actually have an outdoor gym on the beach...crazy! Full of nutters there though...its basically a freak show. We walked about 5 miles up to santa monica and went around the supposidly 'famous' pier (not sure why though, was pretty rubbish...just like brighton peir). Saw the red carpet ceremony for the new will smith film 'i am legend' today! So many people turned up and i some how managed to get right at the front. Saw Will Smith and Tom Cruise and shook there hands and everything....was pretty surreal. and yes tom cruise really is about 4 ft. unfortunately my camera battery died halfway through and didn't have my spares on me....doh!!

Found an awsome place to get breakfast the other day, ive had a banana pankake,apple and a fruit smoothie there for breakfast the last 3 days for only 3 pounds.

They were shooting a film outside our hostel last night, we tried getting in as extras but they had already cast.

The Aussie roomemates have gone to Mexico this morning though im gunna meet up with them in Melbourne where they live so that should be cool. They said they'll show me around.

Going to a new hostel Tommorow South L.A right by the beach where the 'O.C.' is filmed.

Im currently uploading my first batch of photos. so check em out!
www.flickr.com/photos/howardbaker

times up....speak soon!!

x

Went cluelessly gandering around hollywood today. and guess who i saw shopping in a mall.....lawrance fishbourne....u know morphious of matrix....walked right past me. Also saw some other actress from scary movie.

Went to see some bands play last night at a bar called knitting factory... so called LA's hottest new coming acts. Bands were amazing. Had my first pint, and accidently stole the barmans tip thinking it was mine that fell out of my wallet...oops...he wasnt too impressed.

Went universal studios today. spashed out 30 squid thou it was worth it. Saw the famous sets from loads of movies and stuff and went on a load a rides ect.....the usual!!

Couple new aussie roomies who seem like cool people, thou two annoying japanses roomates who snore/talk in there sleep.

Laters!! x

Went to universal studio's today with a random english guy from swindon. Just a 2 min ride on the metro. We were given free tickets to watch American gangster at the cinema..its ok but quite long. Hoping to see will smith monday and some other celebs as his new film 'i am legend' is being premiered at the cinema opposite my hostel. Everyone in hollywood seems to play guitar aswell.

I think im gunna head to san fransisco for a couple days next week as im gunna run out of things to do soon here and then im wanna stay at santa monica and venice where all the cool beaches are. aurevoir!!!

Finally arrived in LA yesterday after a 11 hour flight. The hostel im staying in is pretty awful and skanky but its only 8 quid a night and on the walk of fame street so cant complain. Currently sharing a room with a korean, dutch, czech, american and english guy, thou they all seem like pretty cool people. Just went to Frank Gehry's famous concert hall building...its amazing. did an audio tour. Just watched a band play in an outdoor park, pretty gd. Im now in the civic centre in downtown LA using free internet access, thou i only have 2 mins left. Keep you updated!!