Final few days in NZ

When I got back to Auckland from Waiheke, I headed straight out again for the evening to catch up with my 2 friends from my job at Auckland University. it was really nice to see them both again and have a catch up. we had a nice meal together. When I got back to Ponsonby after, we headed off down the high street to the Crib for beer and some music.

The next evening, I did something else I'd been meaning to do during my last year in Auckland, I went to a rugby match. It was a good match - Auckland blues vs Canterbury. We had good seats... very good views to see all those nice muscly rugby players doing their stretches before the match... mmm... When we went in, we were given flags to support the Blues. The blues mascot was riding around on a segway - hooray!

The next day it was a really hot day, I was hoping to do some sunbathing, but it was just too warm to be outside. In the evening, me, Holly and John and Stuart and Gemma all headed out to our favourite Ponsonby restaurant, Thai Me Up for a delicious last meal before heading off to the Chinese lantern festival in Albert Park. I was glad I was able to see this again, this was the first thing I saw when I arrived in New Zealand, now they held the festival the weekend before so I got to see it twice within the year. We got to Albert Park just as it was getting dark so we could see all the lanterns. We had a good walk round and met some more people from the hostel/ There was a stage with some dancers and singing acts throughout the evening, we watched some girls doing a dance with umbrellas, I like the traditional Chinese dances, it's so gentle and graceful.

The next day was my last day in New Zealand :( I met up with my old friend Talia for coffee in cafe Cezanne on the high street and for my last evening, I had a very kiwi evening. I had fish and chips, drank the last of my cans of Tui beer and watched the Black Sheep. Its a hilarious kiwi film, a bit like Shaun of the Dead, but with Zombie sheep instead of humans - hilarious!

I had such a brilliant year in New Zealand, writing this in Australia, I'm still homesick for New Zealand! I did love the people, the scenery, the way of life, everything. I'm very sad I've left there, but it was a truly brilliant year of my life and I'm looking forward to going back to see it again sometime.