Eat, Drink, and Be Merry

"Tripping Billies" by Dave Matthews Band just came on while shuffling my songs. It's the song of Waiheke, really. I eat beautiful local food, drink all I want (don't get your knickers in a twist, I'm legal here), and feel as if I exude merriness. The "you, me, and all our friends" part is probably my favorite part, because it's so easy to make friends here. The local hostel is right around the corner, and most nights I hang out on the bean bag chairs outside the hostel talking to strangers. I've met Kiwis, Scots, Mexicans, Canadians, Argentinians, a French guy, and an Indian guy, ages 19 to 50. This place is just so cool.

Yesterday was the Onetangi Beach Races, a Rotary fundraiser attended by most of the island community. It consisted of wheelbarrow races, tractor races, horse races, sandcastle building contests, and a stretch of road consumed by street market vendors selling food, clothes, drinks, hair wraps, more food...everything Waiheke. I had a fabulous time manning the Rotary booth with Kristen, my wwoof host, selling water and ice cream and candy. I even got (or sort of inconspicuously took) a stuffed doggy I named Waiheke, or Wai for short, which means water in Maori.

Wai is now my official New Zealand travel buddy. We're best friends.