"This one time, at science camp... wait do you have camps like that here?" "Yeah, but I didn't get to go to science camp, I went to math camp instead..." "Wow, we were so cool..."

Well, back again.


The past few weeks of the term were characterized by hectic essay writing and cafe visits.


We had the Stage Off between the different Vic University hostels- our hostel didn't place, unfortunately, but we did get awarded best choreography. For those of you who don't know (since we don't have these in Canada), a stage off is where a school (or in this case, hostel) is given a theme, and they have to choreograph a piece up to 12 minutes long depicting that theme. Our theme was 'generations'. That was all we had to work with. We chose to do a sort of apocalyptic-type dance, basically alluding to the fact that capitalism and greed will lead to our own destruction, and we, as a species, don't seem to learn from our mistakes. Our mistakes also, coincidentally, impact the next generation.


A note about the performance (video below), it is super dark and difficult to see because the geniuses who set up the stage decided to just set the lighting on the stage. In the first act someone accidentally kicked over the lights, and they fell on to a girl in a wheel chair. She was alright, but the rest of the acts had to deal with almost no lighting. Hopefully you can make it out okay.


Oh, and another note- the hostel organising the event (and the lighting system)- Weir House- won the stage off. They also chose the judges. Now, I personally felt that another hostel should have won- not ours or Weir's- because they had the best costumes and interesting story line by far, but apparently the judges didn't think so. There was also this itsy bitsy little clause that says you have to use all original choreography- and not to nit pick, but I had seen some of Weir's choreo in a movie before- the same movie they got one of their song's from, in fact.


Not to, you know, point fingers or anything...

Here are some photos of my group from the stage off:

The 'Hundy Rips', as Tama would have us. From left to right (in back): Jess, Te, Maryna, Me, Liv, Becca, and Tama (in front).

'H' for Hundy Rips- please don't ask me what 'hundy' means, because I have no idea..

So that was that.


There was also a birthday party for one of the girls in my hostel- Olivia. We went to a pizza place called "Heaven's Pizza". FYI New Zealanders like their pizza. There is also a pizza place here called "Hell's Pizza". I have now tried both, and can tell you that if I had to choose a pizza afterlife, it would be in Hell's. Not that Heaven's Pizza wasn't okay, but Hell's is better.
here are some pictures from that night- great company by the way.

Stephen and I shared a gluten free pizza. He wasn't a fan of the leaves on top- so I ate them. He also happens to be my wonderful cafe buddy with whom the post title conversation was held.

Scott, Abi and I... No comment on what Scott's doing

Ahem... photo bomb

Rocco and I- it was his camera that took these great shots.

Awe. Too cute.

Hmmm.. other things that happened..


Well, Sara and I went out for dinner at a Mexican restaurant in Thorndon- a suburb-ish area of Wellington. This was courtesy of my father (thanks Dad!) and his mild obsession- and impulse buying tendencies- on a discount site called Groupon. Love ya Dad!


The food was great- it was more of a cafe than anything- very homey- and we were the only ones in there. It was called 'Mexican Fusion' and also had a lot of gluten free stuff- yay!


Neither Sara, nor I, were particularly photogenic that evening, but here's the best shot we got:

Just noticed the massive Coca Cola ad in the background- oh consumerism...

We went for dinner on a Thursday night- this detail is important because on Thursday night Sara was going to do the Tongariro Crossing with her flat mates and 2 others. Less that 24 hours later, I get a text from Sara saying that one of her flat mates has decided not to go, and there is a spot left in the car. After some deliberation, I decided to go for it.


This is how, after getting home around 3 o'clock in the morning from work, I ended up travelling with 4 other people all day Saturday to a place called National Park. Yes, it is a town called 'National Park'. Can't make this stuff up.


Here is a plethora of photos from the trip, which I'm hoping- with captions- will tell the story for me.

This is a town we passed along the way- it's name is Bulls. And the town is quite proud of this fact...

Cooking a yummy chickpea and veggie stir fry the night before our big hike... and Katie practicing her towel whipping skills.

The morning van drive to the start of the crossing- Alex and I still haven't really woken up, but Katie was rearing to go.

The group

Look out mountain, we're coming for you!

1 down, 18.4km to go..

  

The beginning-ish part of the trek.

Snack break before... duh duh duhhh the devil's staircase.

Soda Springs

Ice pick explorers

I believe this is part of the devil's staircase, but don't be fooled, the staircase is quite steep and long and rough on the ol' leg muscles!

Moonscape- on the south crater

Ice pick safety 101

Katie- perpetually happy American

Team Awesome strikes back!

At the top of the red crater- brrr!

Emerald Lakes- very sulfuric because Tongariro is actually a volcano, while also being a mountain. The smell was... less than pleasant

Our fearless leader Mae!

Twas quite the icy climb up the red crater- we had to stop in a semi-sheltered area (aka behind  metre high rocks) and put crampons on. The ice picks were great as well, for balance. I don't think we would have completed the crossing without either one, it would have been too dangerous. Not only was it very cold, icy and steep, but it was also super windy (gusts at least 60km/h). There were people who passed us who were only wearing hiking boots, and one kid (teenager-ish) was wearing shorts! Crazy Kiwis...

Blue Lake- self explanatory

Yeah, it was a good challenge

About 6km from the Ketetahi car park- and the finish- snack break!

The morning after- cue frantic packing to make it out of the room by the check out time

Beautiful Tawhai Falls- and a crazy person in the foreground...

Me- and the giants

Katie has the most expressive faces in all of her photos- this is one of my favourites

Tawhai Falls panoramic shot- so serene!

A little coffee break at Chateau Tongariro before the drive home.

So that was the trip! It was also the most exciting thing that has happened since my last post.


Here is a map of the crossing if you're eager beavers:

We started at Mangetepopo car park, and finished at Ketetahi car park. We spent that night at the same hostel in National Park, and had nachos for dinner. Andddd we also walked by Mount Doom (from Lord of the Rings)- which is Mount Ngauruhoe (pronounced  sort of like "Na-roo-hoe-ee"). Unfortunately, we did not find the ring of power along the way.

However, other fun things that have happened are....


-Cafe visits with Stephen- always fun man!


-Walks about town with another floormate, Scott- we hiked Mount Victoria, which is a great little hike in Wellington if you're around!


-Jamming more with Pique, Ahmed, Nan Mie and Alex (see previous photo shoot pictures)


-Going to a music video launch party with Pique- some really great music that night with some very local, chill people


That's about it so far, chaps!


OH WAIT!


There is one more thing... I don't know if any of you will appreciate this, but this is a part of my life I would like to share...


I was introduced to Glozell.


She is a video blogger on Youtube.


She is quite the interesting character.


This is the best video of hers that I've seen, and please don't think me cruel for laughing like a crazed hyena every time I see this- I'm sure most of you will understand.


Enjoy: