Travel

Finally arriving in Auckland, New Zealand was crazy. I could never figure out quite what time it was back home or what the date was. I had been traveling for about 20 some odd hours but it felt like weeks. I felt really scrummy and like I had been dragged through a mud pit. I avoided mirrors the whole time. Luckily in Auckland, since it was so early there was hardly anyone in the airport. The flight from Chicago to LA was nearly the worst one. The girl seated next to me had no "flight manners." Her legs were all over the place, she took the arm rest between us, and she kept the windows shut! I couldn't see anything taking off or landing and it pissed me off. She also chose the exact moment I sat down and got my seat re-buckled to ask me to get up and let her out to use the restroom. She was reading Harry Potter and watching previews and interviews for Twilight. When her ipod died I thought she was going to cry. She bitched about it to me for about 15 minutes. Seriously, the flight was only 3 1/2 hours. I told her I only had the "old school" nano ipod that doesn't play video and she really seemed to take pity on me. I hid my face in my book and laughed. I read "Running with Scissors" by Anthony Burroughs. HILARIOUS book. I was cracking up right on the flight.

There was a lot of people on the plane to LA. It was a tight fit. I definitely couldn't throw any fits about personal space. People were likely to press their bodies right up against yours in the aisle to walk by without any reserve at all. I tried hard not to shiver and call whomever a "creeper".

LAX is completely intimidating. The airport is huge. I got told to go the wrong direction a few times and was thankful for the four hour layover. I gave up trying to find my gate and grudgingly bought a 10 dollar salad and some chips. (10 dollars?! Really!) I finally did find my gate and there were tons of people over there sitting and waiting. Two of the planes before mine were going to Hawaii. I was a little bit jealous until I remembered exactly what it was I was there for. There was an Ed Hardy shop across from my gate. I wondered in there to look at all the god awful clothing. Ed Hardy is so tacky and unflattering. I know it's very popular but I just don't get the trend. All of it is so busy. I guess I was making faces at the clothes because the sales person asked me if I were going to make a gross face at everything I looked at. Embarassed I slunk away.

The flight was not bad at all. I was originally sat next to two men. Quickly, it was recognized that we were not traveling together and three different flight attendants came over and told the two men they were welcome to move. I was certainly not going to complain. I was at the window and felt trapped. Plus, one of those men had some bad garlic breath and I could already imagine the headache I was going to get from it. I asked the third flight attendant (A very attractive male which I sort of found funny. I know it's a cliche but he fit it perfectly and he was gay as he told me) why the two men next to me got to move when on a flight of so many other people had to of been sitting next to people they didn't know. He said, "Well I may be gay but you are a very pretty American. New Zealanders love blonde Americans in their country." A bit creepy but yay for having my own asile! Who knew my American-ness and blonde hair would allow me such good luck. I got to lay down and sleep the whole time. I think I slept 7 hours of the flight. It was great. I also watched "Twilight" and enjoyed it more the second time than the first. I think the first time I was too distracted by horrible make up and special effects.

Like I said earlier we landed at 4:30 am in Auckland on Monday morning. I wandered about and played Nintendo DS to pass the time. The flight to Napier-Hastings was only 50 minutes and by then I felt like a seasoned flyer. It was strange that we got to walk out onto the runway and into the plane. The plane seemed teeny after the one from LA to Auckland. It shook a lot and made weird noises. Nobody else seemed bothered by it so I didn't get worried.

In Napier I met B and J at the airport. I was tired and had no energy so they probably didn't think I was as excited as I actually was to be there. It was about 65 and continued to warm up to about 75 by midday. New Zealand weather is odd. It's quite cold in the morning and gradually warms up. I would say the day is at it's warmest around 2 or 3. In Indiana we are going into summer and here summer is on its way out. It's so clear here though. I will post pictures as soon as I can.