Canada´s calling!

22nd August
New Zealand - Canada

Here I am. In the plane, above the clouds, an hour away from Vancouver, Canada, waiting for my next adventure.

There is so much more to discover, more people to meet, new things to learn. I´m inquisitive, I´m curious, I´m adventurous, I´m enthusiastic. Keen for new roadtrips, new hikes, new places.

And finally my blog link makes sense again :-)

Leaving New Zealand wasn´t as difficult as I expected. Knowing that I´ll be back in less than six month has made it pretty easy. Though it acutally feels like I´m going on a holiday. A holiday from NZ to Canada. A holiday from home to another country. Life is great!

24th August
Ferry Vancouver - Vancouver Island

I couldn´t have asked for a better start in Canada. Allis, my Raglan sisters, mom picked me up from the airport. Such a kind, warm hearted, caring woman!

It was hot as, so we bought a Starbucks coffee and went for a little beach walk. Rosalind and Allis dad Brian took me out for dinner later. Sushi. I haven´t had suhsi for ages! Furthermore we bought heaps of fresh fruits, which I couldn´t effort during my travels in NZ. I was in heaven!



I didn´t even gave my body the chance to get a jet lag. We got up early on the next day and went for a hike with Rosalinds friend Nancy. 5 1/2 hours hiking up the hill, passing beautiful lakes and enjoying lunchtime with my friend the cheeky chipmunk. What a great day!

This morning Rosalind brought me to the ferry. She provided me with food and other bits and pieces. Such a mom :-))
With the offer to come back before I´m heading back to Germany, I hugged her and walked to the ferry.

Tofino is calling. Tomorrow I´ll stand on a surfboard and going to catch up with a friend I´ve met in Raglan. That´s gonna be a blast I can´t wait for 🌊🌊🌊

My Raglan farewell

5th August
Raglan

 

Back in Raglan, having the most beautiful winter day ever, just feels right.

 

Puppywalk with little Ocean

 
It´s like my soul feels grounded here, my mind opens, my heart calms down and my smile rises.
Everyone´s asking me about Rarotonga. It seems ages ago. The last weeks I literally saved money for Canada. I woofed in the Arrowtown Lodge, a lovely family owned bed&breakfast, and worked in a pizza restaurant. Now I´m a master in rolling the pizza dough

Three weeks ago I´ve moved to Okato, which is on the surf highway, 20 minutes away from New Plymouth. I took care of the adorable Ella and had such a good time with her and her parents Emilie and Francois. 

 

Mt. Taranaki

 

Besides I´m working in the Stony River Hotel, which is owned by a couple from Austria. It reminds me of my grandparents restaurant.
It sounds like a lot of work but because of the winter season I couldn´t get enough shifts. So living in Canada, without the opportunity of getting a job, will still gonna be a mission.

 
The farewell to Ella, Emilie and Francois didn´t feels like a real farewell though. I´ll be back in January anyway. Just because it is what I want. Back to New Zealand. Back to Okato. Back to Raglan.

 

When my friend Seth and I wanted to leave Raglan, I called Seth to tell him that I´m going to be a bit late (distracted by too many people at the Raglan Roast). His answer? No, no worries! Just come to the Backpackers, we´re going on a boat!” Totally confused I went back to the Backpackers. Seth and 3 other friends, we´ve only met this weekend, were already waiting on the car park. With them: A boat and heaps of beer. I love Raglan! And so did my last time in Raglan 2017 end. With amazing people on a boat during sunset and a jump into the hot tub after. 

 

 

I didn’t choose the Raglan life, the Raglan life chose me.

 

 

21st August
Auckland

~ When Raglan is meant to be...

 

...you try to get a ride from Okato to Auckland

...the only offer you get is driving to Hamilton (30 min. away from Raglan)
...a lovely couple is just texting you for a woofing place in Raglan in January and offers you to stay for a night before flighing to Canada
...the day you come back to Raglan for the very last time this year has 20 degrees
...you met randomly a good friend in his lunch break
...the best barista is working that day in the Raglan Roast
...you hitchhike and get a ride from Rags to Auckland to your hostel in once

#lifeisawesome

Between mountains and the ocean

21st of May 2017
Rarotonga

The first of my two weeks in Rarotonga already elapsed.

Opposite to what I expected I'm not just laying on the beach. Raro offers me heaps to do. Admittedly here's no actual surf instead the island presents me stunning mountains, which are looking like they filmed parts of the lion kind out here. Not that they're just looking magnificent, they presents me some spectacular hikes as well. My new local friends picked me up in the late morning, six of us did the hike together and ended it with a jump from a waterfall into the refreshing water. During the hike though, my face felt like it'll literally melt. Hiking in the tropics - definitely a tough affair!

 

Special thanks to my lovely friend Stelle, who organized the day and just being a great character XX

I believe we're here once
and what we do matters.
What do you believe?

22nd of May 2017
Rarotonga

When I left Germany, I was sure I'm afraid of the ocean. Sharks are really rarely at home, though I was always looking for them when I went for a swim in the north or baltic sea. But when I went for my first surf ever I didn't even think about sharks.

Then I went scuba diving!

Actually my biggest concern was the air pressure in my ears. But once in the water I was just amazed by all those coloured fhishes and how brave I was. I really impressed myself and fuckin' loved diving.

Later on that day I had this big argument with the hostel about not being allowed ANYMORE to use the washing mashine, because someone screwed it the day before. Even if I'm paying only 16$ a night - I'm here for 12 nights and need to do my laundry on one point. And that point is right now. I argued that they can't advertise it on their webpage and then change the rules. Instead of admitting it, they sent me to a laundromat - while it was raining af, 15 minutes away and 6$ per load. No fucking way!
Hungry as I was, I got really upset and pissed off about it.

Whilest I cooked some lunch, listened to music and soothed myself, I observed that I haven't been angry for a loooong time. Furthermore I noticed how often I had been upset in the past - before travelling.

Again I'm glad I decided to go travelling all these amazing, different countries with their great, open minded and relaxed mentality. I have noticed how much I like the person I have become. I remained calm and relaxed without losing my active, bubbly nature. 

Travelling is enhancing me, growing me, making me into a better person. And up to now I can't imagine that I ever wanna stop travelling.

I'm a slow walker, but I never walk back.

 

The isolation caught me

16th of May 2017
Rarotonga, Cook Islands

After I have spent four amazing Raglan days with my wonderful and bubbly friends, I wasn't sure how I'm feeling about being alone on the Cook Islands. I knew there's no WiFi - what I'll kind of enjoy.

I rented a room over Airbnb and was excited to get the Island shown by a local. Unfortunately she got stuck in NZ for some medical treatment. I was picked up by her neighbours. Peter waited for me at the exit of the airport with a necklace made of flowers. Whilest I waited for my luggage, an old man, wearing a flower printed shirt and a hat covered with flowers, was playing guitar and singin a song in Maori. Later on I read that he've sung to almost every visitor arriving here for the last 35 years.

When Peter brought me to my new home, he explained to me, that Chrissy probably won't make it back before I leave. I'm having a house for myself and should make myself at home.

Exhausted of half sleeping at the airport the last night, I only unpacked my backpack and went for a little walk. To that point I wasn't really taken a back by Rarotonga. The beach close to my house was rocky and was greeted immediately by the shallow, not as green or blue as I expected, water. So there was actually no beach. Tired and hungry I went back to the house. I cooked some pasta, felt asleep when it was still bright outside and woke up eventually. I forgot to set my date and time when I arrived so I had no idea when I actually left the house on the next day.

Before I went to town I did a stopover at Peters and Marks house. "The hot water and the stove isn't working" I told Mark. "And..." I paused, not sure if I should tell him, "...there's a lizard in the living room". "You're in the tropics, sweety." was his simple answer. Fair enough! They're actually quite cute, though it's weird to live with them.

I rented a bike and drove almost 16km (half war of the Island). At the end I treated myself with a coconut cocktail. So far I didn't find a paradise beach. Sweating and exhausted again I came back to the house.

Appropriate to my current life I started reading "Wild - A Journey From Lost To Found". Way too early I felt asleep again and slept for 13 hours. It was cloudy and windy but warm when I woke up. I read a bit, completed my New Zealand maps and did my laundry. I went to the market and bought some fresh, cheap, local fruits.

When I brought back my bike and saw two people my age working in the bikeshop, I decided I had enough of the isolated life (yeah, I could bear it for 2 days). I need people around me. I started a simple conversation and got invited for some drinks with them after work. Tom picked me up with his scooter and showed me - finally - some really nice beaches. He dropped me off at th brewery where I met Steele, the girl who's working at the bike shop again. Chatty as I am, I got along well with her friends and partner. After an hour we made plans to hike on the weekend. Moreover her partner Jerry offered me to go snorkling with him. Awesome!

Once again I just can recommend to travel alone, be open minded, walk with open eyes and became friends with locals.

When Steele dropped me off at home she told me how excited she is to show me the Island. So am I!

We fell in Love
Right by the Ocean
Made all our Plans
Down in the Sand

Besides I learned that a lizard in Maori is called Moko. On that note pō pai - good night

Choose happy!

2nd April 2017
Oamaru

#butfirstcoffee

Already April - I can't believe it. Time flies by...

I took the chance in Whangamata and earned some money. During the daytimes I worked in the Barista Cafe and in the Palms Tavern the night shifts. It was a lot of fun working with all these locals together!
Thank you all for this experience and for accepting me so fast and for that short period as a complete team member!

Marie and the Maori Crew

 

Coffee Lovers

Certainly I spent my last days on the north island in Raglan.

I catched my first green wave in my new wetsuit, had heaps of good laughs and too much coffee at the Raglan Roast.



Imagine this
Another world
Another place where magic exists
- Be A Kid - Twin Atlantic

Back in Christchurch I slept for two days before I wanted to make my way down the east coast for picking up my car in Orepuki. Just a look on workaway.com and I found the lovely couple Helen and Mark from Oamaru. Famous for the blue penguin colony I wanted to make a stopover anyway.

xmas feelings, xmas hoodie!

Winter sneaked in and we spend good days in front of the fire, baking, feeding the goats, chooping wood or just reading a book. With a local friend I'm going to Queenstown and Wanaka for a weekend road trip.


Afterwards I'll live a couple days with Helens son, he's a barista and is keen to teach me the basics. I appreciate all these little things I got teach and can learn during travelling so much. I make my own necklaces, can play two songs on a ukulele, baking my own grain bread and soon I might be able to brew coffee.
And in-between I improve my surfing skills every week.

Choose ↠ Happy

A week of craziness

25th February 2017
Whangamata

I don't know how I can describe the last few days. It happened incredible much of crazy, funny things I would've never dreamed about.

Instead of driving up the east coast after leaving the Menpes family, which I lived with for a month, I just booked a flight from Christchurch to Auckland. Particularly to catch up with David again, a guy from Dresden I met on Stewart Island. Because he is leaving New Zealand today and I wanted to see the Coromandel in summer anyway, we met each other in Whangamata.

I hitchhiked all the way from Auckland and he from Taupo. Without any plans and only a tent with us we started our journey.

Hitchhiking deluxe

I arrived a few hours earlier than David. It were 28 degrees and for the first time since Raglan I liked a place immediately. After I spent too much money in new shorts, the shop owner told me about a rock festival end of March. I just decided that I wanna stay and work in Whangamata and probably intentionally missing my flight back to the south island in two weeks. I popped in a few cafes and restaurants and got some contact details. During waiting for Davids arrival I met a guy at the beach, who offers us to build our tent in his garden for the night. Sweet as!

On the next day we drove to Hahei and walked to the beautiful Cathedral Code. The waves were massive but it was absolutely worth it to jump into the water. Afterwards we got a ride to the Purangi Winery, where I wanted to go anyway. We had a jug of cider and a delicious pizza and in exchange we could sleep on their camp ground for free. For sure one of my best days in New Zealand so far. On the next day we hitchhiked to the unknown Otama Beach. To swing at an empty beach on a hot summer day makes the day even more perfect.

Cathedral Cove

Otama Beach

On our way to Coromandel Town Seff, a benevolent family father, took us with him and offered us after only two sentences to overnight in his caravan. No tent building today, yay!

The way up north we went with Maurizio. He is depending on his wheelchair for 20 years. This year he fulfilled his dream and travels through Australia and New Zealand by himself. It was a pleasure to met this strong, spirited characater, who showed me again that you can do anything and that there are no excuses for not to travel.

Fletcher Bay with David and Maurizio

When we came back to Coromandel Town we got a ride with a man from Germany, who moved with his five kids and his wife from spain to New Zealand a few years ago. It's absolutely crazy, how many different people and stories I've met and heard already during my time here in Oceania.

We slept the night in a garden of an old couple in Thames and I had to decide if I wanna go to Raglan and join Daivd on his way to Auckland or if I should go back to Whangamata. I rang Andy, he gave us a ride out of town when we were in Whangamata a week ago, for asking if I could tent in his garden. And then the unbelievable happened: He told me he's not at home for the night but we're welcome to stay at his place. He told me where I can find the keys, gave me the wifi password and offered me to usw the washing mashine and the kayaks. We only spent five minutes with each other! Anyway...Because David got super jealous we hitchhiked a last time together and made David the greatest last day in New Zealand with kayaking to Hauturu Island.

Kayak professionals

A huge thanks to David for that amazing week!

Review Raglan and current stay Orepuki

When I heard my brother's song "All The Things" for the first time, I immediately had all those Raglan memories in my head. Inspired by his words, all my videos fit together like a puzzle to a perfect Raglan day. "Best day ever. Everyday".
Please click "Raglan 2016" and enjoy some minutes of a perfect life! :)

Raglan 2016

Check out my brothers facebook page: Malvin Meven Sounds

19th January 2017
Orepuki

After travelling together with my parents for 12 days, they dropped me off in Orepuki. Mom and Dad arrived on the 4th of January in Christchurch. After a few days in Chch we have driven through the Arthurs Pass and along down the westcoast of the south island. Unfortunately the weather was a big mess almost every day. I really hoping for them they'll see the sun more often on the north island.

It's have been only 12 days but we've seen more together than some children with their parents in their whole life. Glaciers, waterfalls and incredible mountains. Thank you for taking the time, stop working, come all the way to New Zealand and discover the world together with me! I love you!

 

My highlight in this time was definitely my skydive in Wanaka. I really enjoyed every second of it and wasn't nervous at all, just super excited.

Now I'm living with the Menpes family in Orepuki for at leat three weeks. They own a huge sheep farm, having two gorgeous kids and doing horse treks with guests. It's pretty nice to settle down for a little while, having a bedroom for myself, a real bed (not just a mattress in the car ;)) and delicious meals. I feel very welcome here in the middle of nowhere :)

Doggie Su

Beach ride with Amir

Farm ride

Cheers
Moewiii