I'm excited. Very, very excited.
I've put off writing a post for quite a while, I've been working away at a couple of 'Top 10's' I've been making - based on both man-made and natural destinations. It's been taking me a while - a lot longer than desired to be honest, so I thought I'd break it up with a quick post explaining just how excited I am at the moment for the year to come.
I'm writing this on a Friday night - the first proper night in I've had in a while (like, oh my god, such a socialite), so it's given me a bit of time to reflect on what has happened in the last few weeks and what is coming up for the second half of this year.
As I mentioned in a previous post, I had realised that coming back to New Zealand really wasn't such an awful thing, quite the contrary infact. I've actually had an amazing past couple of months here and I'm loving being back here. Don't get me wrong, I have every desire to depart for Australia at the end of July as that is my ultimate means to travelling - my sole goal for the foreseeable future. However, after gladly receiving my citizenship and with my passport currently in the mail, I am very, very happy to call New Zealand home. Sure, not my first home, but a home nevertheless. It's astoundingly beautiful, the people are friendly and it's incredibly laid-back. Something I didn't experience in Sydney. I loved the new experience of it all, the people I met, the buzz of being in a highly-social environment... but then I got over the downer of moving somewhat forcefully back to New Zealand and into your old family room, complete with no vehicular access. I've come to the conclusion I much, much prefer New Zealand. It also seems that literally everybody I met who had travelled to New Zealand as well as Australia agreed with this point.
Sure, I'm comparing this to Sydney, the hustle and bustle city of Australia with the flashy attitude, but I think it still holds true to the rest. I shall be supporting New Zealand all the way to the final of the RWC. That is, until England topple them in the final. Yes, yes.
Anywho, I've addressed most of those points before so I shall hurry along. What is in store now? Well now that I am officially a New Zealand citizen (this honestly brings such a huge smile to my face whilst writing that, who'd have thought?), it seems like it's opened up a world of options, possibly through the fact I have now acquired what I came back for and can look forward to the future rather than play the waiting game.
In the next month or so remaining in New Zealand, there is the IFF to look forward to, packed with the usual treats of documentaries and Asian cinema (by looking at the stubs of years past, you could say it's a bit of a trend of mine), along with this I get to see Loadstar. Yes, yes, yes. Indeed the 16th of July shall be a good one. I fear I shall be without quality Drum & Bass for a fair while so it cannot be missed. Outside of that? Just cherishing the remaining time here with the friends I hold dearest - the ones I realised I missed considerably!
Once I bid farewell to New Zealand, it's back to Sydney. I'm definitely looking forward to getting back to earning AU $. Hearing how much the hard work of the friend I left with has paid off is getting me incredibly anxious to get back! What's best about it all though? I get to experience the Australian winter. At ease with the cool temperatures rather than the stifling hot and uncomfortable summer days I've experienced so far. Keep the humidity and heat for Asia please! I have been considering a move to Perth in search of cheaper accommodation and potentially higher pay but we shall see. Needless to say, it would be highly advantageous to reap the benefits of retail work in the Sydney CBD over the Christmas and New Year period. Why hello there benjamins, good to meet you.
As for the rest of the year? It's all about saving, I've done my time with wizard staffs, goon pong and Mardi Gras. It's time to hit the goals and make my way to Ha Long Bay... and beyond.
This blog is a true example of how much travel plans can change for people. This unexpected New Zealand stint sure has put a dent in them, either way. The goal of Asia still remains and I am honestly itching to get there. Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, China, Korea, Taiwan, Japan, India... ahhhh I cannot wait and the excitement is hitting overload.
2011 has shaped into an incredible year already, and I still have 6 more months of memories to come. Much love to all those who have made it so.
Stoked.
