4^th January, 2016

I awoke at 5.15am to see that the sun was starting to rise.  Steve murmured something about staying in bed, so I decided to say in too…. only to think “bugger it I'm awake now….” - so I got up 15mins later and raced down to the shore with my camera in hand.

The wind had basically stopped roaring (YAY) – I shot our palm tree but from the opposite direction  - it rose to the LHS and set on the RHS.   It was a pretty sunrise.  Lots of clouds in the sky and the colour was very pretty.   I was very glad to have seen in this new day!

My headache was still there and getting worse, so I popped some pills, had a shake and went back to bed by 6.30am, where we slept until 8.15am.  

Down by the pool by 8.45am and we had a late breakfast – same as yesterday only better servings, and we then booked us a scooter hire.

They came and got us within 20mins and dropped us off at the hire shop.  There were only 3 couples in front of us, but it seemed that was a HUGE QUEUE…. That took over 1 ½ hours to get to us!  OMG – island time!  Lol  (Pick up at 10.30am and bike by midday!)

We eventually got our scooter – a 125cc with loads of storage for $151 for 11 days.   (we are only using it for 10 days, but because we are dropping it back late on the 10^th day they charge us for 1 extra day).

It was funny sitting in the Scooter Hire place for such a long time to watch their promo-video of the Island and various businesses…  gosh the advertising is B.A.D.  I mean really cheesy!  Cringe worthy even.  I can see what the chef last night was saying.     Even the Little Poly are using photos that were professionally taken years ago – using and “re-using” the same images over and over.   I mean, its a good investment, but surely you'd update at some stage?

Steve drove us back to the hotel where we loaded up on sunscreen,  (we'll, one of us did).  and then we headed out to see the sights!

I felt free as a bird!!  It has been so long since I've been on a bike I had forgotten what it feels like – even if I was only a pillion!   “I'm the King Of the World” - I kept saying and flinging my arms out wide as we drove down the road!!  ha ha ha ha – Steve kept wondering what the heck was going on!

No helmets either… only thongs, shorts and barely a singlet on – absolute freedom.  Top speed of 40km p/hr – man we were flying!!  lol

We headed out of the hotel and turned left….and dove back towards the airport. We went past the big Saturday markets where one stand was open – WAFFLES!!   So we had to stop – and we had Waffles & Ice-Cream with chocolate sauce for lunch!  We shared our waffles with the local chickens and their chicks who roam the island free-range.    The waffles were AWESOME BRO!!!!

We then thought there would be a plane landing the same time as we did at 1.40pm, so we went to the “Jet Blast” area at the airport – the runway is right on the ocean.  We were there with a heap of other tourists….waiting…. Waiting…. Waiting.    We were there for over an hour, and then I said to Steve – let's go.    No plane came….. we landed the day before at 1.40m and we waited from 1.20pm until 2.30m in the heat and sun of the day…. No plane.

We've decided we will get the plan schedule and work out when the planes land … it would make an awesome photo or video!

We drove around looking at some of the beaches and we found “Black Rock”.  A big black rock right on the beach near the airport…. Could be a nice sunset photo – something different to a palm tree.   Steve isn't convinced, but there is only that or a tree!  Lol   He might think differently in the coming days once he is over the palm tree.  I think the rock has lots of texture and I love the symmetry of it. 

We stopped off at a grocery store on the way back, and had a Tip Top Ice-cream!  YUMMY - $3 for 2 scoops (cheap compared to NZ prices)….I had Boysenberry and Caramel – YUM and Steve had Vanilla (surprise surprise and Choc-Orange).    Vegetables are expensive $9.80 for 1 NZ Cabbage!!  $14 per kilo for tomatoes!!  Everything is imported in, so everything is expensive.  Except alcohol – that seemed on par to what we'd pay.  Like $4 for a Barcardi Breezer.   $6.50 for a Scotch n Cola.

Milk is also expensive, same with Coke etc -  $8 for 1.5litres.

Packets of chips - $5.80.  Shapes are $4.90 per box.  Sweet Biscuits are on average $6 per packet. 

We drove back to the hotel where we quickly grabbed our blow-up chair and mattress and headed off to the beach.  The wind was back big time, so it wasn't long before we were blown 4 miles down the beach and we had to walk back… so we abandoned that and went snorkeling again.

I was having a ball, but Steve wasn't.  Seems his mustache isn't giving him a waterproof seal, so the water keeps getting in his mask. So he abandoned the snorkel and he grabbed a Kayak and we both kayaked out close to the outer reef.  The water is pristine out here and the visibility is amazing!  I jumped in and snorkeled around.  Steve stayed close with the Kayak and we were out there for a good hour or more.

I saw bigger fish and I also saw tiny reefs with teeny tiny tropical fish with their babies!  It was amazing & it was fantastic!!!  I only regretted not having a waterproof camera with me!

Steve tried to get me to jump back into the Kayak, but that wasn't happening!  Lol    So alas, I swam back into shore.  It wasn't too far, and to be honest, I am at home when I am in the sea, so I really enjoyed it.   I might not get to swim all that often, but I am a fairly strong swimmer and that never leaves me.  (besides, I have a lot of work to do to work off the food I consumed in NZ with Geri – and the NZ Dairy!) so the more exercise the better!

The wind had really returned with a vengeance, so we decided to shower and rinse off, and have a nice drink on the day bed, when it got all too much for Steve and he went off for a nanna-nap (….he's snoring soundly as I type this).   He didn't put sunscreen on his face at all today (....by the looks of things.....) as he looks like a raccoon – a red one!  Poor boy.  He's been concerned about ensuring I don't cook to death that he's forgotten himself.  I'll have to make sure I take better care of him tomorrow and I will plaster the sunscreen all over him. I just hope he doesn't have sun-stroke and feel ill tonight… I'll have to make sure he drinks plenty of water before he goes to bed – which is like getting blood from a stone, but I'll be firm with him!

We got our wireless internet voucher today too…. 150 Meg for 3 days…. which is basically the loading of Facebook.  So we wont be posting our blog with photos as that will be our limit right there, and we can't really look at Facebook either.  Oh well, we'll just have to make do.

I've just made myself 2 cocktails…. Consisting of the Kaluha, Malibu and the Cool Swan Irish Cream – OMFG – sensational I have to tell you!!  Typing is proving more difficult – too many spelling mistakes I am spending more time correcting what I am typing, than typing!!  LOL  First world problems!!   lol  I am feeling happy though!  Ha ha ha  I might have to drink more when I get back home!

Steve wanted to eat out somewhere different tonight, so he could have something other than Steak n chips (although tonight is the Public Holiday and most places are closed) I don't like his chances…...and he is still snoring.  It is 5.50pm now and if we don't get seated by 6pm where ever we are going, there'll be no sunset photos – not that it will be the end of the world – because there is always tomorrow.   So do I wake him or let him sleep???    This is the dilemma!

Oh and I have to give a huge SHOUT OUT to Geri – Thank You for the ProTopic cream – it has radially cleared up my heat rash and Poly-Oral Dermatitis – it's amazing – thank you so much! Xxx

I am about to head outside to see what the clouds are doing and to see if we should hang around for a sunset shoot tonight or just find dinner.  I can see at this late hour we'll be eating here at the little Poly again and we'll do something different tomorrow when everything is open for trade again!  :)  I might be too pissed to be a pillion on a bike at this stage of the day! Lol    Ahhh there is always tomorrow…..and the roosters will be sure to “cock-a-doodle-do” at 4am like they have done every morning since we've arrived.   (I might get another sunrise shoot in!)

I am off to dream about what business I can do whilst still living on the Island…. Photography…. Jet-Boat Hire….  Coconut “anything”…. Hmm…. So many ideas, so little time (or money) to make things happen.  Maybe I could get people buying Corian and then I'd have to come here to train them and audit etc… yeah – I might have to work on that (cut out the NZ Distributor) LOL

I still think Wanaka is the best place to be.   We must work on that….  Ha ha ha – pipe dreams...

P.S. - Steve has stopped snoring and is now in a very deep sleep….I can't wake him – I feel bad. 

OK – Steve was awake (so he reckons, sitting up staring at me for 15mins he says) …  the time is now 7.05pm and the sun was setting in the evening sky. Not the best sunset we thought as there was a huge bank of clouds hanging just above the horizon, but very quickly the sun dipped behind to showcase crespular rays top and bottom (damn – if only we were out there with the good cameras). 

We jumped on the scooter and drove off in search of food.  About 15mins down the road we found VIAMA – a Take Away Pizza place – but with a restaurant right on the beach out the back  We were lucky enough to get a table right on the beach so we could watch the sun setting – it was lovely.  We should have taken our shoes off, as it was very relaxed and dining was on the sand - this was our view.

Steve had a scotch fillet with chips and an egg with Peppercorn Sauce (he was a very happy boy) – it was lovely and tender.  $32.00    I had the Mahi Mahi fish of the Day with vegetables and a side salad (courtesy of Steve) $29.00, and our Coke & Sprite were $4 each. 

We had a guest for dinner – the local restaurant dog – a Lab.  He was quite funny and very obedient.  Steve of course had to feed him (even though we were told on a few occasions NEVER to feed the local dogs…) - so he made a friend for life.  The Lab decided to sleep by our feet during dinner – it was very cute I have to say.

We checked out the take away pizza menu – thank god there is a “meat lovers” on there for Steve – not cheap at $22 each.  Mostly gourmet type pizzas, but I am sure he will make do.

We ate our gorgeous dinner and then we drove back in the dark on the scooter back to out room.   Another perfect day in paradise has come to an end.  I wonder what tomorrow has in store for us – especially now that ALL the shops will be open – no more public holidays!  :)

Nighty night peeps….!!!!