For all those that have said they are jealous…don’t be:) Traveling can be a real bitch sometimes! The highs and lows are constant and everything changes in an instant. I’m in Auckland now and I wish I could tell you it’s fabulous but the truth is I just don’t know yet.
Leaving Fiji I asked at least 3 times what a taxi to the airport costs and was told 13 fijian dollars. When I got in the taxi I brought this up a couple of times and he kind of ignored me acting like he didn’t understand. Half way to the airport he told me the price was $15 and now he understood me. I told him they told me $13 and that if he was going to charge $15 he should tell the people at Bamboo that. We kind of got in to it a bit. At the airport he didn’t get out and let me struggle with my backpack. I was so mad that I through the crumpled up $15 dollars at him through his window and stormed off. All of this bad behavior on both our parts over what would translate to $1 in America. It just made me made that he was lying. Really if he needed a buck that bad all he had to do was ask, I would have given it to him.
Next I get to the airport and am stopped at the screening area. I forgot to puor the water out of my water bottle but they kept looking for something else scanning and rescanning everything in my little backpack. Turned out it was my little wine opener. Confiscated, it has been my first loss on the trip…I wish they had taken something heavier and after that I could have totally used a glass of wine…ironic:)
Then an elderly woman was sitting in my window seat. She would not look at me when I said excuse me and kept staring out MY window. After a minute I sat in the middle seat where I seem to be perpetually stuck. Later I realized she didn’t speak any English and I had to help her throughout the flight, mimicking drink, food, you have to wait etc. When we landed she practically plowed me over to get to her family that was in the row up ahead. I had to lay in two seats to let her pass me before she tried to crawl over my head. It was crazy but I chalked it up to fear and cultural differences.
Then I get to my hostel and found out I had booked the next night accidentally…yep brilliant:) Luckily they had room for me though. Upon waking I was lambasted by the lady in the bunk above me. She told me I snored and kept her up all night and that I had ruined her day in Auckland because she was so tired. I of course was very apologetic and telling her I usually don’t snore and it could be because I had been exhausted and the plane had stopped me all up. She just kept on berating me.Then I heard her int he kitchen making fun of me, mimicking a high voice and repeating what I said. Later she did apologize to me. I still wanted to punch her:)
Soooo…here I sit at Burger King trying to get free internet and of course it does not work here either….sooo frustrating. Internet is like gold here. My plan is to walk the several mile back to the hostel in the gray and drizzling rain and regroup. Somehow I have to find internet so I can make plans and get the hell out of here.
But just so you all know, I’m good. Really good! I know this is part of my travels and there will be highs and lows all along the way. Hopefully the rest of my stay in Auckland will be better!
Okay..that’s all for now…soulypositve being anything but:)
Pictures later…no internet, no time, no skills:) This one is from Fiji
Hang in there Sweetie!!! Not everyone is as nice as you. Get the worst over with now…then it’s smooth sailing!
Love, Roberto
I love you!!! So nice to always have someone in my corner. Hope you have a great day. Don’t worry about me, as you always say, “tough girl,” but yesterday I was just a girl;)
Thanks Cheryl;). Today is a new day day and once again I’m smiling. You are totally right!
Thanks for the update. Nice to hear what is going on with you. Sometimes chicken , sometimes feathers right.? Maybe on the next plane ride you will be the lady stealing the window seat. 🙂 Find you an Auckland wine opener to help get over the traveling learning curve. You will be our pro traveler by the time we get to India. Love you.
Hi Steph! Don’t you get pillows with chicken feathers? Oh yeah, that’s goose:) Actually I have a spare wine opener on my swiss army knife..priorities you know. Still looking for a place to chill out and have some wine…not there yet. I do hope I get expert at traveling, so far I am a neophyte and it shows:( If my plane ride is any indication of India we should all start meditating now because we will need to chillax! Love you…see Kyle in less than 3 weeks and you and Cid next. Will be so happy to see y’all…missing everyone!
Thanks Julie! Actually I couldn’t stand her negative energy so last night I slept outside on the yellow leather sofa…actually quite comfortable…today I find a new place to stay…definitely ready to get out of the big city though everyone else has been very nice. Without internet for more than 15minutes at a time it’s very hard to figure out what to do and I’m in a suburb….lessons learned!
Thanks Debbie! That is a great reply…I will definitely use it:) Really 98% of the people have been wonderful and kind. I can’t believe I let one ass ruin my day…I guess that is my lesson to learn. Using my journal and writing lots! Love to all the bookclub ladies. Joan and the ladies gave me an amazing send off…wish you could have been there.
Love you, sweet Leigh Ann! I bet you’ll get more and more street smart as you go! Give that old bitch in the bunk above a pair of ear plugs and tell her to get a life!
Hi Sylvia! I definitely have to get some more street smarts (and here I though I was so brilliant:) and toughen up….I can’t let every grump ruin my day. I think this will be one of my major lessons…breathe and let it go.
Hi! Nice to hear from you….hope all is well with you. Yes, I love my new smile…and you know what I went through to get it:) I still need two more crowns. Where are you now? Are you lucky enough to be in Mexico? We will miss it this year…but next year hopefully our timing will work and we’ll get to see you!
Good thing they took your wine opener away so you didn’t use it on the chicken lady and the meanie at the hostel. Karma will catch up 🙂 Keep on Truckin. Loved the pics from Fiji keep posting when you can. Love you!
Thanks Mandy! I know, don’t you just love karma? I want to post pictures on this website but haven’t yet figured that out. I meet with Kyle on the 17th and maybe he can help. I have planned for this trip for 8 years and once here, realized I did no planning only day dreaming….but still, I’m here! Miss you and miss you’re editing.
Hi mom,
Haha getting ripped off by taxi drivers must be a Peters thing because that happened to me and Garrett but it was more then a buck. Don’t let those things get you down. Could you imagine if dad was there snoring? That lady ears would probably have fallen out her butt and she never be able to sleep again. If she doesn’t like the situation she can move on. Just like you should. Hope tomorrow is better miss you, have fun.
Love,
Riley.
Hi Riley! You are absolutely right. That is exactly what I thought about. You’re dad’s snoring would have sent her over the edge. I hope she gets that at her next stop (hmmm, now who’s petty:) Actually things have gotten much better. I’ve done a two day upgrade, now I’m waaay over budget and may have to come home next week (just kidding). Don’t tell your dad this but I would give anything to hear his snoring. Love you, Love you, Love you. Happy Thanksgiving. Tell Pilar not to stress over it and give Leo lots of hugs for me while he’s there.
A yeah…that is one of the weirdest comments I have ever heard and…yep, that’s my boy! Makes a momma proud:)
You are a funny boy…contrary to family opinion, I’m sure you get that from me:) Love you bunches Riley! Don’t you, your dad and Garrett make Pilar crazy…we need her. Happy Thanksgiving! Miss y’all.
You’re learning quickly! Everyone who gas traveled much has taxi stories. Always agree on price with driver before getting into the car and that means before luggage goes in. But that is the fun of it, make it all a game. Hang tight if it were all roses everyday they would start to stink instead of smell lovely.
Hi Mike! Yeah, the road can be a harsh mistress:) All is better now though…for TODAY! You’re right though…I love games! So, I’m going to play on.
I am getting an education for sure:) I hope by the time I get home I remember how to act…may require a finishing school.Hope all is well Joan, thanks again for everything. So blessed to have such good friends.
Yep, that’s what family and friends are for. I can’t tell you how loved I feel and it helps me get to the next point in my travels. So far one bad day so not bad:) Give that baby a hug for me!
Hi Debbie! How are you? I did find wine and I upgraded last night…totally blowing my budget but hope to recoup in Asia. Lori told me some friends had planted a tree in Queenstown in Greg’s honour. I am going to try and find it when I get there. She said it was in some park and would have a name tag…if I find it I will send pictures. Take care!
Hi Cid! Really with a couple of exceptions everyone has been wonderful to me. I guess the awful ones remind you to really appreciate the good ones, right? Love you bunches…we better get a guide in India:)
Trust me, if we do nothing but sit in one place and watch people for two weeks it will be fascinating. I am now the Queen of traveling errors, but I do think India will be a whole different animal. You’re right we’ll figure it out and it will be AWESOME!
Missing you and all that cooking too…oddly enough:) (Not you, the cooking:) Robert said he gave Deon keys for Mexico. Hope you both have a wonderful time. In the meantime I’ll be Africa dreaming. Can’t wait to see you there