Border patrol and zombie travel~~ No Worries! Hi New Zealand, my name is Bri.

      It was an exciting decision, but one you knew all along was coming. Sitting at the Internet cafe in Bali deciding what was on the agenda for tomorrow and feeling the pull inside for New Zealand, I bought another plane ticket. And that was it, the next evening at midnight I said goodbye to Anna who was then on her way home to Ashland, OR.
      After a 7 hours flight I arrive in Brisbane, Australia. I have an 8hr layover so I must exit formerly and go through OZ customs just to stay in the airport. Before we get off the plane they send quarantine doctors through the plane to scan us and make sure we are "clean". Then they line you up and have search dogs sniff you out. Apparently I smelled good, so I was set aside for questioning and special search of my bags. I neglected to declare a package of tea and my Djembe drum out of  mistaken ignorance. The Aussies give me a firm reprehending, a written warning and lots of eye rolling then they send me on my way ;/.
      Thinking I'm in the home stretch, I get set aside once more with flight cancellations to Wellington. All 91 passengers are asked to wait 3 hours then redirect to Auckland and then wait another 3-4 hours for flights to Wellington. It's one of those situations that seem really horrible, but really it brings a group of perfect strangers together and builds a sort of camaraderie. I made friends with this nice Aussie lady and sort of teamed up with her through the chaos. We share stories all night long and  watch each others bags in the airport. I also make friends with a nice German boy who is heading to similar places as me, he is on hiking adventures on the south island and we both are excited to get out there. I love these slow but beautiful moments in travel, where by normal standards you should be pissed off and grumpy. But really you're fine and you make new friends and see the beauty and stillness of uncertainty.
       After catching up on 48 hours without sleep, I wake up in a cute college with signs for Reiki, Aromatherapy and massage out front. this is my first Couch Surfin spot in NZ. Christine my host is a lovely lady and is excited to plug me into the healing/ yoga community in NZ. While at her place I also make friends with two other traveler girls; Flora from France and Lena from Germany. We explore Wellington together and have a fun night watching the drunk local boys try to dance
and beat their horrible pick up lines off with a stick. It's a fact ladies- NZ is full of cuties, but they are very goofy as well.
       I feel an instant light-hearted bliss rush over me in this beautiful land. Something about the air and the flowers. The deep blue sea contrasted to the gold and green mountain peaks. It settles my mind just staring out at the beauty, and I'm excited for what my time here will have to offer. I'm settling in for a few days at my Friend Alistair's families house. And waiting for my holiday work visa to come through so I can head on down to Nelson on the South Island for a bit to teach yoga and hopefully explore some new terrain, including fun  rivers and perfect beaches! But for now~ it's Wellington Te Amo!