KE - Wellington

Hello my lovely followers...So I'm still trying to catch up on my travel FAILblog haha. Leaving River Valley was a very early start to begin the looong drive down to Welly! We have a few stop offs on the way but to be honest it was a long day, filled by sudoko puzzles and sleep!

By the time we arrive in Wellington it's late, so what better to do than to all head out! As a backpacker there are quite often 2for1 deals on, this is good when we're all strapped for cash!

Above is just a little picture of me and my two best friends on Kiwi bus, Nicole from Canada on the left, and Charlie from England on the right.

Unfortunately, it was a Sunday night so really there wasn't much open with regards to bars or clubs..but we always have a good night anyway! As some people were staying longer than one night in Wellington, we had to say a couple of goodbyes. But thankfully they were more 'See you soon' because of the big reunion ahead in Queenstown! :D ...reminds me of Dear John, a beautiful movie!

 The next morning was another very early start with the bus leaving Wellington at 7.30am in order to catch our ferry over to Picton on the south island!

Up early enough to see the beautiful sunrise over Wellington's harbour.

Charlie and I were feeling a bit tired on it this morning, but perked right up when our bus driver Matty suprised us two with bacon and hash brown butties..mmmm, made us feel far better!

The sun is rising higher over the 3 hour boat journey!

The beautiful entry into Marlborough Sounds...The entry to the mesmerizing south island!

KE - River Valley

Ok so I am still alive, I am just completely behind on my blogging! It's because a lot of the time I'm either somewhere with limited internet..or I simply have no time! I'm having the best time just loving life on Kiwi Experience doing so many new things!

If you read my last post you'll see that I was in Taupo. Well next stop was a beautiful place called River Valley. It is in the middle of absolute nowhere! The windiest roads I've ever been on led you downhill into the valley where a beautiful homey hostel awaited us. So instead of your usual hostel with a communal kitchen,where you can't really socialise, this place had a lovely lounge room, biig open fire in the middle and sofas around the bar. Totally a chill out place.

The main reason why we go to the middle of nowhere is for the white water rafting..said to be the best place in New Zealand to do it! I had suuch an amazing time. We did Grade 5 which is the hardest you can do without being a guide or having some kind of training.

So we went down some prettyyy steep rapids, really rough that you had to hold on for dear life or else you'd fall out! However, before it even got at all rough, my friend Charlie and I fell out. It was so sudden and we didn't expect it at all! We think maybe our feet weren't wedged in enough but we both fell out and the current began to sweep us away..so our guide had to hold out his paddle to me,and i held mine out to Charlie and had to hold on to her! Then the guide just grabbed us, one in each arm, and pulled us back into the boat! It was so cold so we were shocked for a little while, but it really was hilarous. Wish we got a photo of it!

Also we all jumped off a 9m ledge into the water, really high and really cold! 

I'm really far behind in my blogging but I'll hopefully get caught up. I'll be in Queenstown for six days so I'll take out some time to get my blog back together! Have done soo much since River Valley I'm excited to tell you all about it! :D

KE - Day 1&2

Hey everyone! So I am currently on my Kiwi Experience...which basically means I am living on a bus for the next 3-4 weeks! Only started it on Wednesday and have already done so much!

So on the first day in Rotorua I did what is called 'The Swoop' where you basically swing towards the ground, super fast and from super high! They put you in what looks like a sleeping bag! 

This photo isn't me but it will give you an idea of what it's like. It is so much higher when you're up there about the pull the cord to swing down!! But so much fun!

Later that day we headed over to a place called Waitomo where the glow worm caves are. I chose to do the 3 hour black water rafting. This was A-Maze! So we get our very attractive wetsuits on...cave booties and helmet. Making our way into the cave it was so dark,taking a while for our eyes to adjust to using the torches on our helmets. So I have to say I kiiinda felt like Indiana Jones for all of 3 hours..climbing our way through rocks, jumping off waterfalls backwards in an underground cave, it was pretty awesome!! I really loved it..also towards the end they made you turn out your light so that you found your way out of the cave in the darkness,floating along in your tube! Although if you looked up, you could see glow worms all along the roof of the cave, so they acted as a guide to find your way out!

Stalactites and stalacmites, preetty cool!

The glow worms!

The next day we arrived in Taupo. I had arranged to do a bungee jump but the weather wasn't so good so it was cancelled..so instead we went to these natural hot pools that lead down to the Waikato river..in the rain! It was so nice,really warm too despite the rain.

Ok so this obviously isn't a picture of me..I didn't bring my camera to this part so as not to get it damaged so thank you google for showing what it looks like! Now imagine about 20 of us crammed in here!

So I'm in Taupo for one more night, and next it's on to River Valley.

So far so good :)

Elle's 21st, Hair Colours & NOTD

This weekend we had a few people around before going out for a night out for Elle's 21st as the main big celebration after us going to Auckland. It was a very fun night, dramatic and eventful but sure that's what makes it interesting and funny the next day!

Elle and I wore similar styled dresses so we would be twins!

These are our glittery nails..mine the hot pink, Elle's with the dark tips. Loving this and it's still on chip-free from friday. A hot pink shade of OPI with Katy Perry's OPI glitter polish over the top and voila!

In other news I coloured my hair on Thursday. I'm naturally a brunette but I have had blonde hair in my time. Over the past year or two I've dyed my hair quite a lot,always wanting to go blonder. I've put in a couple of pics of me over the past year.

Throughout my childhood I had a fringe and this time last year I took a notion to get another one! So on the left is with a full fringe and the right, a couple of months later growing into a side fringe.

On the left I had a bit of a home-dye accident where it went a gingery shade. When going blonde I know it's always safer to get it done professionally but I thought, meh it can't hurt! Well..it did! However, I actually grew to love being a 'strawberry blonde'! On New Years Day 2011 I dyed my hair brunette for the first time in absolute years. New Year new me eh? So on the right is a picture of me right before I came to New Zealand at the end of March when I re-coloured it darker...a reddy brown.

 And here we have the product of Thursday's colouring...I used nice 'n' easy foam hair colouring. I was very happy with how it is applied..So easy to do on your own! As for the colour...it's dark! I do like it though. I used the dark brown shade because I did want it dark. I am happy with the result..Elle and I look even more like twins now with our dark hair!

Recently I've been thinking about getting another full fringe.. Now that you've seen my blonde fringe what do you guys reckon? Yay or nay?!

Auckland, Shopping & Elle

My bank balance is a little sore right now. I mean, 4 days spent in Auckland with a shopaholic by the name Elle and it would be! However, I am not complaining because I have some lovely new things to show you all.

Side note: I can't actually afford to shop here..I wish!!

Ok well first off we have our little Mac haul...

I started off with the intentions of buying "just a wee blusher"..but oh my current favourite lipstick was running out. Oh a primer? I've never tried that before..Ok I'll take that too. Oh look a pump for my foundation (I bought it during my last trip to auckland but I didn't know it had no pump!). So my Mac collection is starting to grow!

One thing that has been bothering me lately is the skin around my eyes...

My eyes are normally just..normal. Although lately they've been getting pretty sensitive and dry to the point where when i put on my makeup it looks awwwful. No matter how much I moisturise by the way. I'd just been using regular facial moisturiser but bought a neutrogena eye cream because I figured it was a good brand to start by.

But (yes, unfortunately a 'but') it made the skin around my eyes sting so much and it didn't make much of a difference to the dryness. So I mentioned to the girl who was helping us in Mac..she was very good and gave me 2 samples of eye creams and a moisture concealer too! She also recommended I go to another counter and ask for a sample so I got a clinique one..so I could see if it stung my eyes too.

So the Mac moisture lush was good, didn't sting, and did improve the dryness. I was using it morning and night and a couple of days later, a good improvement.

 I was in a pharmacy looking to find an eye mask of some sort to also moisturise my eyes..they didn't have any but the girl did give me a sample of a different clinique moisturiser,and it's basically the size of a regular eye cream! Very happy with it so far. Also trying the garnier roll on with a concealer in it. Very happy with it also! Let the moisturise mission continue....

Anyone else had problems like these in particular the eye area?? Or am I just a mutant?!

Just some more things I picked up! 

OPI was buy the base coat get the top coat free..I'm also on a mission to strengthen my nails. They used to grow so long and strong, now they peel, eek!

So as I mentioned in my last post..I am 6 foot 1. Now..imagine me in these! I wanted a pair of these, something different than high heels. Super comfy to walk in with the wedge. Love!

I got these green tailored trousers from Glassons, along with the brown and gold belt in the photo above. I also bought a dark grey leather jacket. I tried on the black and they only had medium..the smaller grey fitted better. I planned on getting black but when I saw the grey on,it seemed less harsh..so I'm happy!

We went up to the top of the sky tower aswell. Super high and actually so much fun. We took loads of pictures up here..pretending to fall and such!

So anyway I had a perfect weekend away with Elle..a million laughs, cinema, shopping, good food, finding our way around the big city..perfecto!

Stylish Blogger Award

I logged onto my account as usual today and got a lovely suprise :)

I was awarded this by the beautiful Hannah Michelle. I'm still quite new to this blogging, but Hannah Michelle was one of my very first followers, and her blog is one of my top favourites! So definitely check her out if you haven't already!

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1. Thank and link back to the person who sent the award

2. Share 7 things about yourself

3. Award recently discovered bloggers

4. Contact these bloggers and tell them about the award

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Seven things about myself..hmm...

1. I am just slightly short of 6 foot 1. Tall right? I was always one of the tallest girls in the year group going up through school. I used to hate it.. Now I love being tall :)

2. I really want a husky.

3. I am going to university in Glasgow, Scotland in September (getting in was my reason for taking a gap year)...but I really don't want to leave NZ then.

3. I can be very quiet and shy when I first meet people. I can take a while warming up to someone, it's nothing against the person it's just me. But once you get to know me you may have a hard time of shutting me up, as my family, best friends and boyfriend know all too well :D

4. I am addicted to facebook. I still go on when I know there'll be nothing there. I guess it's stemmed from procrastinating at exam time when I think to myself 'Ok maybe something has changed..I'll just go ahead and check'. 30 mins later..revision what?

5. I speak French. I'm not 100% fluent but I did it for 7 years. So I'd get by :)

6. I'm gonna be a doctor. Yikes.

7. My laugh changes..all the time. Sometimes I come out with a laugh I didn't even know I had! But i love love laughing :)

Now to award other girlies:

Elle, my New Zealand sister and best friend, the very one who introduced me to blogging!

Becka, I love her style, even the top bar on her blog is pretty cool.

Vonnie, she's got some great health and beauty tips.

Hope you enjoyed my facts about me..now you know me slightly better!

Sunshine? Check!

So another beautiful sunny day in New Zealand...

Checklist:

Camera? Check.

I got this camera for christmas and I love it. It's got a touchscreen and so many functions that I love experimenting with. I don't go anywhere without my camera over here.

Sun & Blue Skies? Check.

Favourite Tunes? Check.

I love love love Rihanna. Her music and she herself are beautiful. I'm going to her concert in Belfast on 30th September and I can't wait!

I'm starting to really like Nicki Minaj lately. She's not necessarily everybody's cup of tea but she really captured my attention with her song 'Moment 4 Life' and today I watched the video for 'Super Bass' and loved it! She's so different and colourful!

Ice Cold Drink? Check.

Sunnies? Check.

So yeah I had a lovely day today. Sunny warm days always make me smile...

Just a couple other pictures I took today:

Love these autumn colours.

...That's all for now :)