Marangai, Marangai go away!

Wednesday June 22nd 10:30am

Marangai is the Maori word for rain and there has been plenty of it.

I left the City Garden Lodge Saturday morning with my pack trying to make it to the bus stop in order to catch my bus to the Bay of Islands. Halfway up the hill of course i realized i forgot a few things back at the hostel so had to run back down. Did i mention it was raining? Luckily the bus into downtown came as soon as I got back up there and i made it just in time to catch the intercity up to Paihia

The rain cleared up by that afternoon and I spent the rest of the day exploring the treaty house and grounds in Whatarangai. Saturday evening watched the Lions kick some butt at rugby at one of the local bars, caught a bit of Dan's one man band show at the Beach House and called it a night. Sunday was spent touring the bay of islands by boat and catching a glimpse of some dolphins feeding in the area. Unfortunately the water was a bit too choppy and the weather too cold for us to get in. Went across to Russell for the rest of the afternoon and enjoyed a nice walk up to Flagship hill where the flagpole had been cut down a total of 4 times by maori chiefs in protest against the british rule. The view was breathtaking, from all around you could nothing but islands and beatutiful clear waters. I tried but my pics don't really do it justice.

Monday made my way down to Waitomo hoping to be able to try my hand at some black water rafting and abseiling while checking out the glowworm caves. No such luck. It rained all day, i some how caught myself a cold, running a fever and having a sore throat. And to top it off I woke up in the middle of the night with my arm and hand itching... "no f*$king way, tell me this isn't happening".... i turn on the light and start looking at my pillow, flip it over and what do i find - a fat bed bug!!! i catch the thing in a coffee mug and spend the rest of the evening on the couch in the lounge.

In the morning its still raining so i decide to cancel the water rafting and instead catch a morning tour of the glowworm caves so i can then catch the bus to rotorua. I walk into reception, hand her the mug with the bed bug and tell her that 'i'll be checking out today instead of tomorrow can i have my money back, thanks.'