Calgary
Rocky Mountains
Vancouver
Fiji
Hawaii
Auckland II
@English speakers:
I arrived in Auckland after lunch time. I went back to the YHA were i picked up my locked luggage and went back to the same room I was before. There I met Cecilia again. I sorted all my dirty salty sandy clothes out, packed all the stuff I had to send at home and went with a Ireland girl down to the city to the post office and for a drink in the harbor. After that I went for some shopping before i went back to the hostel for making laundry, showering and cooking dinner and eat with some girls from my room. After my laundry was done I had to repack my stuff for my first hiking safari with Hiking New Zealand which started the next morning.
@Deutsch Sprechende:
Ich landete in Auckland etwas nach dem Mittag. Ich ging zurück ins YHA Hostel, wo ich meinen grossen Rucksack wieder fasste, und in das gleiche Zimmer wie beim letzten Aufenthalt ging. Dort traff ich wieder auf Cecilia. Ich sortierte meine salzigen sandigen Kleider zur Wäsche aus, suchte alle Sachen, welche mit dem Paket nach Hause mussten zusammen und ging mit einer Irin in die Stadt zur Post und in den Hafen etwas trinken. Nach einigen Besorgungen ging ich zurück ins Hostel, setzte meine Wäsche an, duschte, kochte und ass mit ein paar Girls aus meinem Zimmer Abendessen. Nachdem meine Wäsche fertig war, musste ich meine Rucksacke umpacken für meine erste Wandertour mit Hiking New Zealand, welche am nächsten Morgen startete.
Fiji
@Deutsch Sprechende:
Dieser Blog werde ich nur auf English aufschalten. Ansonsten müsst ihr noch ewig darauf warten. Bin aber sicher ihr kommt mit meinem einfachen Englisch zurecht.
@English Speakers: On the 15th of December I went only with my small back bag and my camera to the airport in Auckland. My big one was locked in the YHA Hostel in Auckland. My flight to Nadi was at 2 pm. I was looking forward to a week in Fiji where I planned to do Island hopping with Awesome Adventures for 6 days. At the airport I had enough time to eat something and buy the Lonely Planet from Fiji and the book ‚Welcome to Paradise, Going to Hell‘. It is about surfing qnd surfers at the North Shore. At the gate I started to read…and I stopped only for taking pictures while take off, eating my chickenburger and taking pictures while landing in the plane. The book was amazing interesting. After the fast custom to enter Fiji I was reading again while waiting for my bag back. After the luggage scan and the ATM stop, I went to the pick up person from the Bamboo Hostel. As we arrived at the Hostel I couldn’t believe what I saw. The Hostel was directly at the beach. I made the registration in the 16 mixed bed dorm changed clothes (it was > 30°C) and went down to the bar at the beach. Until sunset I read in my book, then I ordered my beer and dinner and sat to some other peoples. So I met Ben (US), Claire (UK) and Henry (UK). We ate dinner together and spent some time with Henry until we went to our first Kawa Ceremony. We both didn’t have any idea whats going on and we did what the others tell us to do. A few bowls Kawa and songs later I went for a night walk at the beach, before i went to bed. I slept like a baby until my alarm rang. I was surprised because I didn’t expect that in a 16 bed dorm. At this moment I didn’t know it was because of the Kawa. I checked out and went to the corner where the Awesome Adventures Coach should pick me up. It was the first time I realized what Fiji Time means. Everything is a little bit slower and lazy in Fiji. With 15 minutes delay the coach arrived and we drove to the port Denerau. There I had to fix my booking for the Island Hopping. Unfortunately my Credit Card didn’t work anymore because I was on the limit and the money which Dad but on my Card didn’t arrive yet, because it was Sunday in Switzerland. So I couldn’t start my islands trip. I went back to the hostel, spoke with a staff there which said i should first eat breakfast and then think about what i will do now. I followed his advice. While i was sitting lazy and shirty around, Henry gave me accompany. He was wondering what I did back in the Hostel and I told him the whole story. After we figured out what he will do the next day and what i am going to do. I booked again a night in the Hostel in the 12 bed female dorm and we went for a walk a long the beach until we couldn’t get further. Back by the Hostel we ate lunch. Then we started to the other direction until we couldn’t get further. Back in the hostel I went for a shower and lied in the hammock while read in my book. After a few more capture i went to the front to Henry and we ate dinner together. After chatting and watching the fire show from the hostel staff i went to bed. The next morning startet like the last one… at the port I went again to the check in and…my credit card worked. I was very happy – my trip to the beautiful islands could start. So i bought my breakfast (biscuits and orange juice) and went on the top from the catamaran. After 30 minutes drive we arrived on the first island – the smallest of all. It looked beautiful. After around five hours drive and many more nice islands we arrived at the south end were i had to leave the boat. I closed my book and went down to dis empacking and board the small boat which brought me to the Nabua Lodge on the next island. Arrived on the island we had to walk trough the water on the beach to the lodge, where we get lunch. After lunch we went in the dorm and changed for the snorkeling tour to Blue Lagoon. Unfortunately is this reef quiet bad destroyed from all the boats and tourists. Back on our island I lied in the hammock and read the last captures from my book. After dinner and some dance lessons with the staff, we had a Kawa night. But this time with the whole ritual and some information about Kawa. Since then I know why I slept so well after my first Kawa evening. The next day started with the well known cave tour. We had an around 45 minutes bumpy boat ride to the caves. In the caves we could snorkel, climb around and the highlight dive in the other caves. It was scary to dive to the dark, if you don’t know how long to hold the breath and whats on the other end from the tunnel. But I survived and ended up in a other dark cave which was bigger than the first one. With a guide we snorkeled around and explored this cave. The dive back to the light was much easier. The afternoon I spent in the hammock until it started raining. Then we went to a little tea house nearby. In the evening we had a delicious barbecue and a Kawa evening again. The next morning was a lazy one, because it was raining and you can do nothing on these islands if the weather is like that. After lunch I had to leave to my next island stop. After I said Goodbye to all the Germans (8 on the first day, 6 on the second one) we went with the small boat to the big catamaran. With the usual delay (Fiji time 🙂 ) we drove south. On the ?? island i had to hop off in the small boat again to the lodge White Sandy Beach. I met a German couple (Jan & Fabienne) in the boat and a Dutch guy (Frank) at the lodge. The afternoon I spent with Fabienne chatting. The rainy evening we spent with beer, Bounty and Vodka chatting in the dark (after 10 pm there was no electricity). The next morning we spent with playing cards because it was raining again. After lunch I went snorkeling along the reef with Frank. It was a long distance we had to swim back until the beach. Good work out for me 🙂 In the late afternoon Leila and Jordi (in Australia living spainish guys) arrived. This afternoon I spent chatting first with Fabienne then with Leila. While dinner the staff told us, that there is no electricity because of a problem with the generator (they forget to fill up the fuel) and so there is also no water. So we couldnt wash our hands, couldnt shower and couldnt flush the toilet. For the first to points there was the ocean, for the third point…close the TOP. After the boys went to the resort nearby for buy Bounty and beer (our lodge ran also out of these two relevant things) we sat in the dark while chatting and waiting for the barn fire the staff said they will light up. An hour later we decided to go to the other resort because the staff wont make a barn fire and we wouldn’t sit in the dark the whole evening. In the other resort we were nearly the only ones. We had so much fun. A few hours later we went back to sleep. The next morning was hard for a few peoples 🙂 I spent the morning in the hammock reading and making neck less with the staff. At noon Frank left and after lunch Fabienne, Jan and I had to leave. We went with the small boat to the catamaran, which was late again, which drove south. After 3 to 4 hours on the catamaran chatting with Fabienne and playing with a little girl, I had to say Goodbye to the Couple and hop off on South Sea Island (the smallest one). There I went for a swim before dinner. After dinner I spent the time with the others on the island chatting. The next morning I walked around the island (10 minutes) and then I left for the Sea Spray Sailing Tour. We went with a sailing boat to the next island which is well known from the movie Cast Away. It was amazing. I went snorkeling and wandered around the white beach with the amazing blue ocean in front. After a barbecue lunch on board we went to the island nearby to see the village. Then we drove back. It was an amazing day on the boat. After we left the Sea Spray I had to leave directly to mainland with the catamaran. The days lying in the hammock, reading, snorkeling and chatting on the islands was over. At the port Denerau I met Chris and Dom (Germans I met in the Nabua Lodge) again and I took them to the Bamboo Hostel, what we arranged when I left them on the Nabua Lodge. There I met Ben again which was a big surprise, because I thought he already left back home. He spent the rest of his time until he had to leave with us. I ate dinner with the Germans and spent the evening chatting with them. We went to bed early and so I had to say Goodbye again. The next morning I went to the airport in Nadi and flew back to Auckland. After 8 days back in civilization with (warm) showers, durable electricity, network and WiFi. How amazing can that be 🙂
Auckland I
@English Speakers:
After a more then 9 hours flight with less than 2 hours sleep I arrived in the early morning of the 11 of December in Auckland. I took the bus to the town, where I hopped of near by the YHA Hostel International. After a short walk along a f*** steep road i arrived at the Hostel, checked in and went straight to bed. In the late afternoon, with some hours sleep more, I went for a shower and down to the Maritime Museum, where I met Clio, Domino/Luki and Kurt & Fränzi Binggeli. Some Swiss friends, who were in Auckland too. We went for a beer and everyone told from his experience since the start of their trip. It was very interesting. Later we went for dinner and after that in an Irish Pub. There we had a lot of fun. Thank you guys for celebrating my birthday in Auckland – It was great!!
The next morning I slept in, before I checked my emails. I get an email from the kite camp I planned to do in Auckland. They wrote that I couldn’t go, because the camp was full before my money arrived. I was f*** angry, because everything was already arranged. So I made new researches about the possible activities in Auckland. I would have nearly two weeks there… After a few hours and not more ideas what to do, i met some girls from my room in the dinning room. We decided to go to Devonport the day after. After that I went for a walk to the harbor, where I picked up some booklets from the information center and made further researches in the sun. On the way back to the hostel I did some shopping.
The next day I spent with the girls in Devonport, where we walked a little round loop to have some nice views. We had a great time together. After I was get my hair cut by an Korean guy back in Auckland, I went back to the hostel, where we I met the girls again for preparing and eating dinner together and have a nice chat.
The next day I slept in, before I went for a walk through the parks from Auckland. The sun was shinning and it was so nice, that I decided to write diary in the shade of a palm tree in the big park near the museum. After that I visited the small botanic garden in the park, before I went back to the hostel to pack my bags.
The next morning I had to leave New Zealand already, because of my new plans…to fly to Fiji for a few days holidays 🙂
@Deutsch Sprechende:
Nach einem mehr als 9 Studnen Flug mit weniger als 2 Stunden Schlaf bin ich am fruehen Morgen des 11. Dezembers in Auckland gelandet. Ich bin mit dem Flughafenbus in die Stadt gefahren, wo ich in der Naehe des YHA Hostel International ausgestiegen bin. Nach einem kurzen Fussmarsch entlang einer extrem steilen Strasse, bin ich im Hostel angekommen. Dort habe ich eingecheckt und bin direkt ins Bett. Am spaeten Nachmittag, nach einigen Stunden mehr Schlaf, duschte ich mich und machte mich auf den Weg zum Maritime Museum, wo ich mich mit Clio, Domino/Luki und Kurt & Fraenzi Binggeli verabredet hatte. Wir gingen zusammen etwas trinken und jeder erzaehlte von seinen bisherigen Erfahrungen und Erlebnisse auf der bisherigen Reise. Es war mega interessant den anderen zu zu hoeren. Spaeter gingen wir zusammen essen und dann endeten wir im Irish Pub, wo wir jede Menge Spass hatten. Ich danke euch Vieren, dass ihr mit mir meinen Geburtstag in Auckland gefeiert habt – es war super!!!
Am naechsten Morgen schlief ich etwas laenger 🙂 Danach pruefte ich meine Mails, wobei ich eines vom Kite Camp in Auckland vorfand, welches ich geplant hatte zu besuchen. Diese schrieben mir, dass ich nicht am Camp teilnehmen kann, da dieses voll wahr, bevor mein Geld bei Ihnen auf dem Konto ankam. Ich war unglaublich sauer darueber, vor allem weil bereits alles entsprechend geplant war. Ich startete somit mit Recherchen ueber allfaellige Alternativen von Aktivitaeten in Auckland. Ich hatte ja beinahe 2 Wochen Zeit bis zu meiner naechsten gebuchten Tour. Ein paar Stunden und Ideen spaeter, traff ich auf ein paar Maedels aus meinem Zimmer. Wir verabredeten uns, dass wir am naechsten Tag zusammen Devonport besichtigen gehen. Spaeter ging ich dann noch zum Hafen, wo ich ein paar Informationsblaetter vom Infocenter holte und mich in der Sonne ueber weitere Aktivitaeten in Auckland informierte. Auf dem Weg zurueck ins Hostel endete ich mit Shoppen in diversen Laeden.
Der naechste Tag verbrachte ich, wie abgemacht, mit den Girls in Devonport, wo wir einen kleinen Round Loop machten und so zu schoenen Aussichtspunkten kamen. Wir hatten eine super Zeit zusammen. Nach dem ich mir zurueck in Auckland die Haare von einem Koreaner habe schneiden lassen, ging ich ins Hostel, wo ich mich mit den Girls zum gemeinsamen Abendessen kochen und essen verarbredet hatte. Wir hatten einen tollen Abend.
Am naechsten Tag schlief ich aus, bevor ich mich fuer die Erkundung von zweier Parks Aucklands entschied. Das Wetter war so schoen, dass ich spontan im Schatten einer Palme im grossen Park, in der Naehe des Museums, Tagebuch zu schrieb. Danach bin ich noch durch den kleinen botanischen Garten geschlendert, bevor ich zurueck zum Hostel ging, um meine Rucksaecke zu packen.
Am naechsten Morgen verliess ich Neuseeland schon wieder, aufgrund meiner neuen Plaene…ich hatte einen Flug nach Fiji gebucht, wo ich ein paar Tage Ferien machen werde 🙂
Hawaii DE
Uuups… Die Zeit war schon wieder schneller als ich. Ich versprach euch etwas über meine Zentralamerikatour zu schreiben, doch ich habe dies in Hawaii ganz vergessen. Mittlerweile bin ich bereits wieder in Neuseeland und habe schon einige Wandertouren hinter mir… Doch zuerst von vorne – Hawaiii…
Nach einer Nacht mit wenig Schlaf (war wohl etwas nervös für meine erste Surfsstunde) und einem ausgiebigen Frühstück, ging es um 8 am, nach brasilianischer Zeit, los Richtung Puena Point, 5 Autominuten vom Camp entfernt. Dort hiess es Longboard satteln und runter zum Strand gehen. Nach ca. 10 – 15 Minuten Einführung und Trockenübungen (Wort wörtlich), schickte mich Edison in die Wellen. Von da an hiess es paddeln… Mit den stetigen Anweisungen von Edison lernte ich über die Wellen nach draussen zu paddeln. Edison dirigierte mich zum richtigen Platz und wartete auf das nächste Set von Wellen, welches für mich eine geeignete Welle bringen wird. Als es dann soweit war, brachte er mich in die richtige Position und schubste mich zur richtigen Zeit in die Welle. Ich versuchte auf dem Board aufzustehen und fiel innert Sekunden ins Wasser. Ich paddelte wieder raus zu Edison, er sagte mir was ich zu korrigieren habe und schubste mich in die nächste Welle. So ging es einige Versuche weiter, wobei Edison mir mit der Zeit folgte, um mich wieder raus ziehen zu können, da die Arme zu Beginn doch arg schnell müde werden, bis ich beim ca. 5. Versuch das erste Mal auf dem Brett stehen blieb und mit der Welle Richtung Strand unterwegs war. Ich glaube, dass war der Moment, wo ich wusste, dass mir das Surfen gefällt! Das Gefühl auf der Welle zu reiten war super! Es ging dann die nächsten ca. 2h mit mal stehen, mal runterfallen weiter. Am Ende war ich völlig erledigt, obwohl mich Edison immer wieder mal gezogen hat und mir so das Paddeln so erleichtert hat. Jupiii, ich hatte die erste Surfstunde mit aufgeschürften Füssen, Knien und Händen, aber überglücklich überstanden. Am Nachmittag ging ich mit Sophie & Christian vom Camp ins Waimea Valley. Dort hat es einen Weg durch einen botanischen Garten und einem Wasserfall am Ende. Wobei dieser aufgrund des vorangegangenen Regens extrem braun war und in meinen Augen nichts Spezielles (habe wohl schon zuviele Wasserfälle zum Vergleichen ;-)). Nach dem vielen Grün, gingen wir zum Waimea Beach, wo wir den herumwirbelnden Leuten in den grossen Wellen zu schauen konnten.
Am nächsten Tag stürmte und regnete es in Strömen. Unsere Surfstunde wurde auf den Mittag verschoben. Ich habe den ganzen Morgen den Van Triple Crown Contest am Sunset Beach auf meinem Laptop verfolgt. Die Surfstunde wurde dann aufgrund des anhaltenden Regens auf 2 pm verschoben. Es regnete noch immer als wir nach Puena Point fuhren, doch der Wind hatte nach gelassen. Der Regen war zwar kalt, doch das Wasser schön warm. Wir waren so gut wie alleine draussen, was für mich perfekt war. Ich stand an diesem Tag beinahe jede Welle, in welche mich Edison rein schubste. Ich bekam dank den stetigen Tipps von Edison langsam ein wenig ein Gefühl für das Brett und die Wellen. Das Gefühl eine Welle zu reiten ist der Hammer!! Den Abend verbrachte ich gemütlich in meinem zu Hause und ging früh zu Bett. Am nächsten Morgen war die Stunde wieder auf 8 am angesetzt. Edison fuhr mit uns zu Laniakea. Einem Surf Spot weiter nördlich an der North Shore, welcher stärkere Wellen hatte. Dies bedeutete mehr paddeln für raus und v.a. den Stand auf dem Board festigen. Doch dieser Spot zeigte mir auch auf, was es bedeutet in einem Set von Wellen stecken zu bleiben und die Waschmaschine zu erleben. Ich lernte in dieser Stunde u.a. wie ich mich in solchen Wellen zu verhalten habe und dass man immer hinter dem Board sein muss, da mein Board als ich diese Regel nicht befolgte nach meinem auftauchen aus der Welle mitten auf meinem Kopf landete. Ich war froh in dieser Stunde Edison jeweils in meiner Nähe zu wissen, da ich mich so sicher fühlte. Ich wusste, dass wenn wirklich irgendwas passiert, er zur Stelle sein wird. So hatte ich auch keine Angst immer und immer wieder zu versuchen diese stärkeren Wellen zu stehen. Dies gelang mir dann auch ein paar Mal – jupiii. Nach ca. 1.5 h war ich dann aber total erledigt und ich spürte meine Arme ziemlich übel, aber ich war glücklich! Und hatte definitiv eine neue Leidenschaft – das Surfen!! Jeden Tag machte ich dank den stetigen Anweisungen von Edison mehr Fortschritte, stand immer grössere und stärkere Wellen (wobei wir noch immer von 1-3 ft Hawaiian Reef Break Waves sprechen) und hatte immer wie mehr Freude. Ich konnte von immer wie weiter im Meer bis zum Strand auf einer Welle reiten. Ein unglaubliches Gefühl!! Meine besten Rides war meine letzte Welle an meinem vorletzten Tag und die Wellen vom letzten Tag. In diesem Zuge habe ich Edison für die super Ausbildung zu danken!!
Eines ist bereits ziemlich schnell klar gewesen – ich gehe wieder nach Hawaii, auf Oahu, nach Haleiwa, ins Camp um noch besser zu werden und meiner neuen Leidenschaft nach zu gehen.
Surfen war aber nicht alles was wir gemacht haben. Am Montagnachmittag gingen wir drei Richtung den Stairs to Heaven wandern. Es war eine gemütliche Wanderung, leider ohne die Treppe zum Himmel zu finden, aber trotzdem schön. Den Dienstagnachmittag verbrachte ich mit Sophie in Pearl Harbour. Die Denkmale sind gut gemacht und zeigen sehr deutlich auf, was am 07. Dezember 1941 passierte. Ich war während den Besuchen sehr still und nachdenklich, da bei dieser Attacke über 2000 Menschen getötet wurden. Der Mittwoch Abend war einer der Highlights unserer Ausflüge. Jenni brachte uns zum Story & Talk mit Greg Long in der Surferbar im Turtlebay Resort. Das Interview und der anschliessende Film mit/über den Most Decorated Big Wave Surfer war sehr interessant und beklemmend zugleich. Greg wäre vor einigen Monaten beinahe in den Wellen ertrunken. Nach dem Film und bevor wir wieder ins Camp zurück fuhren, packte ich die Gelegenheit und liess ein Foto von mir und Greg schiessen. Am Donnerstag Nachmittag gingen wir alle zusammen an die Opening Ceremony from Eddie Aikau Contest. Dieser Big Wave Contest ist Eddie Aikau gewidmet, welcher Lifeguard und Big Wave Surfer war. Die Eröffnung findet am Waimea Bay statt und am Contest können nur ausgewählte Surfer teilnehmen. Diese Reihen sich im Kreis mit ihren Surfboards auf, werden ‚gesegnet‘ und alle einzeln vorgestellt. Danach paddeln die Surfer raus ins Meer und halten eine weitere Zeremonie sitzend auf ihren Surfbretter. Der Contest selber wird zwischen dem Eröffnungstag und Ende Februar stattfinden, wenn die Wellen über 20 ft Hawaiian betragen. Dieses Jahr war speziell, dass die Hokule’a mit der ehemaligen Crew vorfuhr. Dies ist das Schiff, dass in Seenot geriet und Eddie mit seinem Surfboard los paddelte um Hilfe zu holen. Die Crew wurde gerettet, doch Eddie blieb verschollen. Auch die bisher grösste Meeressuche Hawaii’s blieb erfolglos… Bevor wir zur Yogastunde mussten, lernten wir noch Carlos Burle kennen, da er mit Edison befreundet ist.
Am Freitag nach der Surfsstunde fuhr Edison mit Chung & mir die Surferstrände der North Shore ab und erklärte uns was die Unterschiede zwischen den Stränden ist. Am späten Nachmittag lernte Jenni uns Girls das Stand Up Paddling. Wir sind den Strom auf- und abwärts gepaddelt und haben viele Schildkröten am Ufer und im Wasser gesehen. Am Abend trafen wir uns alle zum BBQ bei Jenni. Auch Carlos, Roberto, Camilla und ihre Eltern (alles gute Freunde von Edison) waren dabei. Es war ein super gemütlicher Abend. Am Samstag Nachmittag ging ich u.a. mit Chung Kaffee trinken und shoppen. Dies war ein teurer Nachmittag aber fun pur 🙂
Am Sonntag surften wir erst am Nachmittag und danach hiess es für mich packen, da ich ja bereits am Montag Abend weiter nach Auckland flog. Am Montag ging ich aber ja noch einmal surfen und hatte eine super Zeit in den Wellen, auch wenn ich müde war, da ich in der Nacht nicht viel geschlafen hatte… der Abschied, die Ungewissheit wann ich wieder nach Hawaii komme und die Ungewissheit was mich in Neuseeland erwartet nagte an mir… nach der Surfstunde musste ich in aller Eile duschen, meine restlichen Sachen packen, von Edison & Carlos Abschied nehmen und dann fuhr Jenni mit Chung und mir um die ganze Insel. Sie zeigte uns weitere Surfstrände, Lookouts etc. Es war eine super Tour – ein riesen Dank an Jenni!! Für mich endete die Tour am Flughafen in Honolulu, wo mich Jenni absetzte und ich einige Zeit später schweren Herzens ins Flugzeug der Air New Zealand nach Auckland stieg.
Ich möchte an dieser Stelle Jenni und Edison noch einmal ganz herzlich für die super Zeit im Surfcamp danken!! Es war der Hammer!!
Hawaii EN
Uuups… I am too slow against the time. I said I will write about my central America tour, but I forgot it in Hawaii. And now I am again in New Zealand and was already on a few hiking trips… But I will start at the front – Hawaii…
After a night with less sleep (I was maybe nervous for my first surf lesson) and a big breakfast, we met us at 8 am Brasilian time (Sorry Edison 🙂 ) and went to Puena Point, which takes 5 minutes by car. We took our longboards and went down to the beach. Edison sent me out in the waves after 10 – 15 minutes introduction and practicing on the beach. From this point on I had to paddle… I learned how to paddle out in the waves with the constant briefing from Edison. He said were I have to stay until there is a wave for me. He waited until a good set came in, turned me in the right position and by the right time he pushed me in the wave. I tried to stand up on the board and felt in the water a few seconds later. I paddled back to Edison, he said what I had to correct and he pushed me in the next wave. For a while it goes on like that and Edison started to follow me to pull me back out, because my arms got very tired. Around the 5. try I could stand up on the board for the first time. I rode the wave in direct direction to the beach. I think this was the moment where I realized how much I like surfing! The feeling to ride my first wave was amazing! The next to hours went on with sometimes fall down sometimes stay the waves. At the end I was totally tired, even if Edison pulled me out back in the sea from time to time to help me with the paddling. Jupiii, I was very happy to rode my first surf lesson out, only with a few excoriation on my feet, knees and hands. In the afternoon I went with Sophie & Christian from the camp to the Waimea Valley. There is a way trough a botanic garden up to a waterfall. The waterfall was brown because of the heavy rain the days before and nothing special in my mind (maybe I have to much waterfalls to compare ;-)). After all that green we went down to the Waimea Beach, where we watched all the people struggle in the Waves. The next day it was a storm with heavy rain and wind taking place and we had to switch our lesson to noon. I watched the whole morning the Van Triple Crown Contest at Sunset Beach on my laptop. The lesson was switch to 2 pm, because the wind didn’t stop. It was still raining when we drove down to Puena Point, but the wind was less. The rain was cold, but the water still warm and nice. There were only a few people out, which was perfect for me. At this day I nearly stood every wave, in which Edison pushed me in. Due to the constant tip from Edison I slowly get a feeling for the board and the waves. The feeling to ride waves is amazing!! The evening i spent comfy at home and went to bed early. The next morning we had lesson at 8 am. We went to Lanikea, which is an other sport more north at the North Shore which has stronger waves. This meant that I had to paddle harder to get out and to learn to fix the stand on my board. On this spot I also had the experience how it feels to stock in waves and feel like in a wash machine. In this lesson I learned how to act in such waves and that I always have to stay behind the board. Because I didn’t follow this rule my board was landing on my head when I popped up once. I was happy to know Edison around me in this lesson, so i felt save. I knew if i really have a problem in the water, he will be there and take me out. This was the reason, why I didn’t have fear to get in these stronger waves again and again and again, until I stood the waves a few times. After 1.5 hours I was really tired and I felt my arms really badly, but I was happy. And I had definitely a new passion – surfing!! Because of the constant briefing from Edison I made progress every day. I stood bigger and stronger waves (we still speak from 1- 3 ft Hawaiian reef break waves) and I got more excited every day. I could stand waves from further out until the beach. An incredible feeling!! My best rides I had on my second last day my last wave and the waves from my last day. At this place I have to say a big thank you to Edison, who made such a good job to learn me how to surf!!
Once didn’t take a long time to come up – I will go back to Hawaii, on Oahu, to Haleiwa, to the camp to getting better.
We didn’t only surf in the camp. On Monday afternoon we went hiking on the trail to the Stairs of Heaven. We didn’t found the stairs, but the hike was fun and nice anyway. On Tuesday I went to Pearl Harbour with Sophie. It was a thoughtful afternoon with the memories what happened at the 7 of December in 1941. On Wednesday evening we had our highlights from our trips. Jenni took us to the Story & Talk with Greg Long in the Surferbar at Turtlebay Resort. The interview and the following movie with/about the most decorated big wave surfer was really interesting and oppressive together. Greg nearly drown a few month ago. After the film and before we left, I took the chance to take a pictures with Greg 🙂 In the afternoon of the next day we went to the Opening Ceremony from the Eddie Aikau. This big wave contest is addict to Eddie Aikau, who was Lifeguard and big wave surfer. The opening ceremony took place at Waimea Beach. There are only select surfer who have the chance to surf on the Eddie’s. They stood in a circle with their boards and every one got ‚bless‘ and introduced. Afterwards they all paddle out to have an other ceremony out in the sea sitting on their boards. The contest itself will take place between the opening day and the end of February, if the waves are bigger than 20 ft Hawaiian. The last Eddie’s took place in 2009, where Greg won. This year it was special because the Hokulea, the double-hulled voyaging canoe whose fate intertwined with Eddie 35 years ago, with the crew was there. Eddie started to paddle out with his surfboard as soon as the ship get in troubles. The crew got saved, Eddie remain lost. Even the biggest search on the sea didn’t help to find Eddie… Before we went to our yoga class, we met Carlos Burle, a good friend from Edison. On Friday after class drove Edison with Chung and me along the surf spots at the north shore and explained us what the different between the spots are. In the late afternoon we learned Stand Up Paddling on the river with Jenni. We paddled up and down on the river and we saw a lot of turtles at the bank and in the water. In the evening we all met us for a BBQ in Jenni’s house. Carlos, Roberto, Camilla and their parents (all good friends from Edison) were also there. It was a great comfy evening. On Saturday afternoon I went for a coffee and some shopping with Chung. It was an expensive afternoon, but we had a lots of fun 🙂 On Sunday we surfed in the afternoon and after I had to pack all my stuff, because I had to leave on Monday evening to Auckland. On Monday I went for my last surf lesson and I had a great time on the waves, even if I was tired, because I didn’t sleep much at night… The leave, the suspense when I will have the chance to go back to Hawaii and the suspense what will come up for me in New Zealand preys on my mind… After the class I had a shower, packed the rest of my stuff, said goodbye to Edison & Carlos in a hurry, because Jenni went for a Island Tour with Chung and me. She showed us all surf spots, lookouts and many things more. It was a great tour – a big thank you for Jenni! For me the tour ended at the airport in Honolulu, where Jenni dropped me off. I few hours later I went with a heavy heart on board from the Air New Zealand aircraft with direction Auckland.
At this point I will say heartily thank you to Jenni and Edison for the great time at the surf camp!! It was amazing!! Thank you so much guys!!!