Sunday, October 30, 2005

The Hobbit Hole Internet Cafe

So I write from the hobbit hole internet cafe. Woo hoo - in Matamata aka The Shire. Very shirefic indeed. I cannot upload picutres because I this computer is running windows 98. I did get some good pictures of Hobbiton tho. Eva hooked me up with a free tour which would have been $50. Was pretty sweet.

ok, was able to upload:
Image hosted by Photobucket.com Hobbiton

Image hosted by Photobucket.com Hobbit sticks head out of Bag End.

Image hosted by Photobucket.com From inside Bag End.

Image hosted by Photobucket.com
The Party Tree

So to bring you up to date, let's see... went see kayaking a couple days ago where we enjoyed hot chocolate, mochachino, cafe lattes and any other frappachino drink you can think of on the beach. The kayak guides brought it along. Was pretty fun but the guides wouldn't let us try to ride the waves in without assistance because someone's kayak flipped when trying to with the guide assisting. The kayaks are long and narrow so you have to go perfecty straight to do it, but I think we would have managed.

Image hosted by Photobucket.com At Mercury Bay after sipping a Mochaccino on the beach.

Also went for a short walk where there were these rickety bridges that we got wobbling and bouncing pretty good. Alas, until I find a computer where I can upload you'll just have to use your imaginations. :/



I arrived in Matamata on Saturday and Eva has been a wonderful host and she and her friend and I hung out at a lake where I decided to try and climb this really tall narrow tree and nearly got myself into trouble. Was prolly the most technical and challenging tree I've attempted to climb but I wasn't really ever terrified, just a bit afraid at times. There were a lot more dead branches than I thought there'd be, and many branches that had leaves on them behaved like dead branches (broke really easily) Not having medical insurance definitely affects the level of risks I was willing to take. Was contemplating tryin to get to the top of the tree but settled with 2/3 way up. Took awhile to get down - to plot my course as it were. I have no pics of that but I did bring my video camera up the tree with me.

Burned my fingers on the burner this morning testing if it was on. Thought it was off. Seared the flesh on my fingers bad. Was worried I wouldn't be able to do much with them for the next couple days. Pretty nasty burn. But I put them under cold water for 20 minutes and then kept reapplying Weleda burn ointment and I'm amazed at how fast my fingers have healed. Barely feel the burn at all anymore - typing on this keyboard with no problem at all. Tip of my left pointer was burned the worst. So... THANKS MOM! cause I almost didn't bother bringing all your remedies. Glad I did.

I can't take anymore pictures because my card is full and I have no way to upload. Eva and her friend Katarina both don't have computers. Not good. Will have to figure something out soon!

I had no way to get back to Matamata from Eva's place. Eva and Katarina are working on Stud farms which are farms for raising race horses which can sell for as much as half a million dollars or more. Got a tour of the stud farm on the back of a little four wheeler steered by Eva. So anyway, I had no way of getting back to town from her place this morning because she was at work all day. Decided to try and walk but realized I didn't even know the way. A car started to drive by just as I had left the driveway of Eva's place and so I stuck out my thumb and gave a "please stop and pick me up?" kinda look and the guy pulled over and asked if I was going to Matamata. Very sweet. Yes, Kiwis and people in general are very friendly here. He offered to give me a ride back in 2 hours or so which is good because otherwise I'd have to find my way back, which wouldn't be much fun. I offered him money but he refused. I was quite surprised at my luck there.

Tomorrow I leave on the Kiwi Experience bus again. Next up is Zorbing which I'll talk of later and louge run - which I hear is pretty fun in the town of Rotorua. Lots of crazy fun things to do there. 40mph go carts too. Yes, bungee jumnping (not sure about sky diving) but I want to save those for Queenstown where they are extra awesome to do because of the height and views. I may be meeting up with Katarina in a week or so (man, those German girls sure are cuuuuute!) Well, I think that's it for updating of the last few days. Internet in the small towns costs an arm and a leg and a small fortune (okay, $3 for 20 minutes, but still - will have taken 3 hours to compress all the photos and email them home....) Hopefully pics with the next update! Love ya all! Thanks for reading the pictureless blog that isn't so pictureless now.

6 comments:

Daniel Schmolze said...

Yeah, that hat is cool. You look like a young Communist, or an independant film director. Keep up the good work with the posting, 'tis entertaining stuff.

Anonymous said...

hey ben and dan, i picked out the hat.
jason,
its so great to read about your trip. it sounds so great. wow you were at the shire. how cool is that. shawn just got back from filming in new york and the first thing he did when he went on line was go to your site. we love you so much.
alethea and shawn dufraine

Anonymous said...

Hi Jason,
Those are great pictures. So glad you had burn cream, and used it! The party tree looks great and it is not too difficult to imagine the shire in spite of the hobbit holes not having doors!
Keep blogging and find a photo shop that can put your photos on cd's you can then send to us.
Love Dad

Anonymous said...

Jak not sure why you didn't get my comment thar I wrote prior to this one. Great stuff, I won't be as wory as before. Where will you be on Your B'day. love CPR----

Anonymous said...

hi'jakie,itsoundsas if you are having a ball'andbeing very good about telling us about your adventures. keep it upwe love to hrear from you. nonny and fa

Anonymous said...

Jake, we are having fun following your adventure.thanks for the rant. ran into fran tonight in whole foods and thought of you, of course.