Welcome to N-Zed
The welcome I’ve received into the lovely country of New Zealand couldn’t have been any better. I arrived late the night of the 4th, early morning the 5th, where I was picked up by Danny. I met Danny and Shane via couchsurfer.com a week before leaving S.E. Asia and I can’t think of any greater fortune than to have stumbled across these two. They live in a comfortable little home just outside the city center of Christchurch where they generously set me up with a spare bed. Aside from putting me up, they’ve helped with just about everything and anything I could pick their brains about. We’ve had an extremely great time this last week making dinners(they’ve managed to stuff me like a blimp) and having late night chats over some local wines and beers. Sometimes things fall into place and that’s exactly what’s been happening since I arrived here.
I never realized that a whole country could be one giant campground!!! I’m serious, no joking here. Square mileage of NZ isn’t too much smaller than CA: 103,738 to 163,696 sq miles. The population here is just about 4 million with 3/4 of it on the north island. To put that in perspective, there’s 36.5 million in California. Unlike home, the Kiwi’s aren’t over developing every piece of gorgeous land with cookie cutter homes and strip malls. Camping is free almost everywhere on the island and it’s extremely common to just pull off the road next to a river or stream and set up camp.
With this sort of camping in mind I didn’t want to be on a bus/train, anything tourist schedule. The other day I purchased a 1989 toyota Lite Ace. It looks like a quart of milk tipped onto four wheels with a motor in it. The back is gutted and has a bed raised a couple feet on a wood frame with storage space underneath. This is the ultimate camping van, about 2/3 the size of my bus, maybe a bit smaller actually.
Tomorrow I’m off for the lovely green of New Zealand…sadly waving goodbye to my friends, though we’ve already made plans to meet up in a couple weekends.
March 9, 2008 at 11:05 pm
this looks soooooo very cool, i want you to bring the little toy home with you, your mom and i love it, you will have all the comforts of home, we love you, mom and grams.
March 10, 2008 at 2:55 pm
I have to say you definately kick A$$! cant wait to hear bout your new adventures!
March 10, 2008 at 8:45 pm
you are so awesome daniel! i love you! hugs!!!
March 10, 2008 at 11:28 pm
ARE YOU CRAZY? BRING IT BY FOR A FREE OIL CHANGE
March 11, 2008 at 1:35 am
I love the van and I’m so way jealous! Enjoy the warm weather!
March 13, 2008 at 4:49 am
The words ‘jealous, envious, excited’ yeah, they don’t even begin to express how much I wish I could be doing what you’re doing. The milk carton is BAD ASS. i would happily trade in my truck for a rolling milk carton in NZ. Hope to see more posts soon.
March 29, 2008 at 4:32 am
How is it driving on the other side? There’s a double meaning in that….
Anyways, we are all getting on very well here at the dunes. This is going to be a great group. We don’t need you anymore.
Just kidding. Come back anytime.
April 1, 2008 at 2:10 am
Hi Dan,
Your not-so-tech-wise Nana forgot that you have a web-site and we’ve been waiting, waiting, waiting to hear for you by email! Duh!!
A call to your Mom finally set us straight and here we are. First of all, how do you plan to get your “milk bottle on wheels” home? would love to take a ride in it. If you sell it, save the money to buy gas here!!
Your adventures are without a doubt beyond belief. You can publish this as a memoir and be another Hemingway.
More importantly, we’re happy to hear all is well. Stay safe and flourish.
Hugs, Nana and Papa
April 11, 2008 at 2:49 pm
do you think that we could make the car seaworthy? tie her up to the dock here, and open a B&B ? love you.big G
May 9, 2008 at 4:23 am
I love that van!!! Why don’t they sell those here? I can’t wait to see you with Amber’s baby….This time you have a kid on your shoulders…Kids love you…Loui ( the dog) misses sleeping with you. You are having too many enviable experiences.
Cindy
fellow Loui sitter