Masterton to Auckland

July 29, 2009

This is the beginning of my journey back to the States. I woke up this morning, Raven had made breakfast and we got ready to leave for Wellington. She had an errand to run downtown so we were there much earlier than would otherwise be necessary. We drove to the Immigration office so that they could get permanent residence visas for their passports. We got into the office, sat there for a while waiting for our number to be called and I decided that I needed to get something from the car. I left Raven and went back downstairs chatting with this other girl on the way. She asked if I was immigrating to New Zealand. I said that I wasn’t but my friend was and she asked if I would want to move to New Zealand. I said I wouldn’t be opposed to it. LOL. On the way back from the car, I ran into Raven who was not happy. Apparently, in order to get the visas they need to fill out a form she didn’t know about. All the way to Wellington and all for naught. We went to give G the form that she would have to fill out, sat with her during her lunch hour and then headed over to Te Papa because I wanted to eat at One Red Dog and get their lamb salad one more time (OMG, it’s DELICIOUS). We found it and had that amazing salad and then headed out to the airport. Thank you, Raven, for being such an amazing host and making this trip so memorable!

I said goodbye to Raven and headed inside to see about getting my luggage to Auckland. I was worried because my luggage is within the limit for international but not domestic. Just like in the States, there is now a baggage fee for checking luggage and because I was not flying Air New Zealand to the States, only to Auckland, they wouldn’t waive the fee. Bastards. I checked my luggage and headed over to my gate. You don’t have to go through any security until you get to your gate and you’re boarding the plane. I thought those days were gone forever. We got on the plane, no problem. Flew to Wellington, no problem. Transfered to the International terminal no problem. Stored my suitcases overnight, no problem. Got on the shuttle to downtown, no problem. Checked into the backpacker... kept getting placed in a top bunk. The guy gave me four different keys before I got a room with a bottom bunk. If there are no other options, I can deal with it but there were other rooms available so I kept trying until I got the room I wanted. No one was in there yet so I took a bottom bunk, set down my stuff and headed out into Auckland. I decided on an easy evening so I went to the local movie theater, had dinner, book shopped and got a few last minute things before my flight the next day. I came back after the movie and there was another person asleep in the room. I grabbed my laptop and headed down to the main area. While I was online, I overheard this group of obnoxious backpackers, one of them American. The American was going on and on about how he doesn’t think that backpackers should allow people who are over 30 into them. Yes, us 30 somethings are really ruining his backpacker experience. *Grumble, snarl, young whippersnappers, growl* I was so annoyed and almost said something but then decided it wasn’t worth it. While fuming about this conversation, my laptop decided to give me the blue screen of death over and over again. I had it with that darn computer (I’m writing this from the States a few days late and I’m now typing on my new mac!!!). I paid to use the computers at the hostel and stayed up for a while before finally heading up to bed. My last night in New Zealand!