Still alive!

What? When you have a blog you’re supposed to update it occasionally? Ok sorry. We’ll work on that.

It’s hard to believe we’ve already been in New Zealand for a month! The last few weeks have been busy and a ton of fun (hence the lack of blog updates). As you probably already know, we have been cleaning in exchange for accommodation at the Saltwater Lodge in Paihia, but since that only takes up a couple of hours each morning, we then have the rest of the day to explore the town…

Our friend Rike got a job as a bartender and will
now be staying in Paihia for the summer.

Us, in our usual jovial moods. Hiking one of the
many scenic trails around the town.


At the top of the trail, looking out onto the Bay of Islands.

The beauty was all around us, we didn't
know which way to look.

Live music jam session every Sunday
night at The Beach House. Anyone can grab their
bongos or tambourines and join in.
We just watched.

Gareth. He manages the Saltwater Lodge where we live.
He couldn't "manage" to stop me taking this picture though.
I told him it would end up on our blog, and he now
looks forward to being famous amongst our family and friends.

Rachel on another scenic hike.


Rachel and I with friends Elisabeth and Rike, maybe
you recognize them by now?


Another candid and jovial photo.
We went to a house party at a co-worker of Rike's.

"Should we make funny faces?"

"No, just smile."

Gareth's wife Lucy asked us (and fellow cleaner Nina) to be
models for the new Saltwater Lodge brochure. Because we are both rather
short (and therefore unlikely candidates for modeling) we did not want
to pass on this once in a lifetime opportunity.
Note: It is the law to wear helmets when biking in New Zealand.

Working our magic.


Lucy rewarded our hard work with a bottle of wine,
straight from a vineyard in the Bay of Islands.

On a boat ready to go... PARASAILING.


Smiling like it's no big deal we're about to go 800 ft in
the air with only a cable attached to reel us back in.


Nervous laughter.




The view was awesome!


They dip your feet in the water, just to freak you out.




Still alive.
So much fun!

Along with all the parasailing and other fun activites, on Wednesday Rachel and I went with Rike and Elisabeth on a road trip to the farthest northern point of the North Island. It was an awesome day, but since we have so many pictures in this post, I think we’ll wait a day or two and update you on that adventure later. So thanks for reading/looking and check back soon!