Well I couldn't make the video work on my blog here, but it you would like to watch the Kaka Parrot at its feeder click here.

As for photos, those of you with facebook have seen a few. Those of you following along here, I finally had success! One is the view flying into Wellington, one is the fault lines of the techtonic plates, a colassal squid and the other 2 are from Zealandia where I'm returning tonight on a hike to look for kiwi and nocturnal parrots!

Weather is great, though today Windy Wellington is living up to its name adding a bit of a chill to the air. When you find a place sheltered from the wind though you'll find that temperatures are still in the high teens or low twenties.

This morning I went out before anything was open in search of a place that sells coffee and ended up hanging out on the warf watching the colleges having their dragon boat races. The spirit behind the groups was amazing and the power just impressive. I enjoyed my coffee and watched surrounded by a group of girls whose other team members were in a race. Impressive as it was I luckily can still hear out of both ears... I think. How fast? REAL FAST!

Next I found a market of new zealand artisans and while I wanted to buy everything I managed to resist. I did find some of the requested fabric for Mom to quilt with. It's awesome... I want the quilt that she makes with it :D

Thats all for now folks. I'll be on again later to let you know if I saw a kiwi. Tomorrow I move to the volunteer house and hopefully into a bed closer to the floor!

Day 1 (or 3 depending how you see it)

I am seriously fighting jet lag so please forgive me if this post is a little garbled and lacking the oh so awaited pictures. At home in waterloo this post is being made at 2:40, here in Wellington it is only 8:40pm on Thursday so I'm trying to hold off a bit before I go to sleep.

The flights were long but good and after making friends with a 60-something-year-old business man I had companionship and good advice as I went through customs and layovers. I did not get his name but the casual conversation never seemed to require an introduction. I know he is a specialised optomotrist from Michigan and as such actually had heard of Waterloo without me also mentioning Kitchener. I spent roughly 19hrs on planes and about 26hrs inside. When I transfered flights in Auckland I took advantage and walked to the domestic terminal.

Arriving looked amazing, with the skies slightly overcast we had to cut through the ice cream scoop clouds to see the green of the island below. Pulling up to the airport however were fields of cows (much to my dissapointment) so I have yet to see a sheep. I promise I will post pictures soon!

To pass my day I wandered aimlessly around the city fighting exhaustion and was a little put out to come across a Burger King, a McDonalds and a Starbucks within mere blocks of each other and the hostel. I don't know why but I just didn't expect them here. I took a walk along the warf and marveled at how athletic Kiwi's are. Everyone seemed to be running, swimming or biking along.

I also started to check out the museum (Te Papa?) and will revisit tomorrow to get the floors I missed while it was closing. For anyone with a tendency to worry, I wont be heading near Christchurch anytime in the near future. Everything is closed down that way and I will be on the North Island until at least March 29th.

Hope everyone back home is well, more adventures later.

11 Days!

Only 11 days! While I'm sure there are many other important things I should be doing in relation to my trip I'm on here being excited and nervous instead. I was on my volunteering website and found a calendar. So if I'm not on here and you wonder what I'm doing you can check for yourself!

http://www.globalvolunteernetwork.org/newzealand/schedule.php

That is all I have for now!