Kyle’s Blog

I spent this morning half ass familiarizing myself with the New Zealand website, trying to figure out the region I’d like to visit. I think I’ve narrowed the choices down to about three, but quite frankly I only remember one in particular that looks amazing. The location is on the south west side of the south island, and from what I read, it sounds very interesting. I have quite a bit to read up on, I wish I had a New Zealander companion or know-it-all (minus the snobbery) to tell me exactly where I should go based upon the activities I’d like to do. Personally I’d trust a local or fellow adventure seeker than a website that would do well to talk up the area. They have these “great walks” where you can hump 5 days, camp, and be surrounded by amazing scenery. I am, however, a firm believer in a “battle buddy” for two reasons:

1. To share the experience.

2. Not to break my leg on some random patch of slippery moss and be stranded in the middle of nowhere.

The only other issue deterring me from the area, and the “great walks” specifically is the fact that “they” say to book in advance. This of course means that it will undoubtedly be crowded, and I’m not sure how I feel about that. A part of me would love to get immersed in the surroundings in solitude and have that middle of nowhere feel away from everything and everyone. Another part would say, it would be really neat to hook up with another traveler(s) and have a totally awesome vacation with a complete stranger. The final part would be miserable being stuck with hawaiian shirt, black sock wearing, picture taking schmucks befouling my entire idea of what I want my vacation of a lifetime to be. So that’s about where I stand with that particular region. Granted I have around 5 to 7 months to figure it out, but I have a lot of high hopes for this adventure and don’t want to be let down due to poor research and logistics of the trip.

As I was browsing the NZ website, one of the regions had a guided tour for the area where they filmed the Lord of the Rings… the hobbit village specifically. I laughed to myself thinking of the ‘Flight of the Conchords’ and how Murray Hewitt’s office has the NZ poster that says “Lord of the Rings was filmed here”. I suppose you wouldn’t really find that funny at all if you haven’t seen that show. 

My parents, friends, and former co-workers have either tasked me with a birthday list and/or a care package list. At the risk of me receiving 10 jumbo bottles of Tapatio hot sauce…

Care Package:

1. Tapatio (even if I do get the big jug I can always donate it to the boat)

2. I would say good coffee (good coffee is not maxwell house, nor starbucks, but a local Seattle coffee house would be choice), but Ashley got me some awesome stuff that I am NOT planning on sharing with the rest of these jackals.

3. Cashews

4. A new set a tactical gloves, hatch perhaps, operators perhaps… MSK? Seattle guys? Eh? Eh? Send my Paraclete vest while you’re at it too!

5. Cool pictures of you people having fun and whatnot

6. Other random HEALTHY snackums

and now for the big one… BIRTHDAY LIST:

1. The latest H20 cd ‘Nothing to Prove’

2. This bag (for my NZ trip). PS if somebody knows how to turn a link into a simple plain english link that’d be awesome if you could tell me how http://www.thenorthface.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=10473&storeId=201&langId=-1&catalogId=10201&parent_category_rn=11748

3. A regular plain ol’ blue Dodgers t-shirt… nothing fancy, minimal logos (ie majestic, new era, etc). Oh yeah… medium.

4. A decent harmonica

5. Someone who would be foolish enough to trade my S&W 1911 for their Kimber ‘Desert Warrior’ 1911.

6. A hard plastic clear casing for a Apple Macbook. A shipmate recommended the protective casing for me… pretty dern good idea… I tend to smash things of importance.

Seriously though, don’t get me anything. My parents did request a list, so this is more for them. Not that I’d get 3 or 4 near 300 dollar multi-day packs, but just be safe and don’t get me anything, I really just enjoy making lists.