The wheels of the bus

My head is bouncing against the window of our orange bus. Being able to sleep on the bus sounded like a sound excuse when I was having my midnight cycling streaming last night. Reality is teaching me different though. I am tired as F, I am developing a pretty damn solid headache and although my night was only three hours long, sleep is not a thing I will get this morning. Whenever I manage to open my eyes a green and blue blur comes to me. I have to be honest it is one of the best blurs that I have ever seen in my life, but I can't really pay attention to it right now. I just want to drift away.

Totally against the odds I am about to reach the gates of dreamland when Big z (his name is Silas and he is of average hight. No reason to call him Big Z, but hey once the nickname is there you just keep using it) taps me on my right shoulder. He's holding the list with names on which I have to choose my hostel and activity for today. I tick some boxes, make sure I have some fish and chips for tonight and pass the list on. Life is good when other people do the hard work for you.

Speaking about life being good. It kind of facking is right now, excuse me for my language. I mean I know I just said that I had a chronic shortage of sleep, but let me give some solid counter arguments to make my point. Firstly, I am in the country that is according to the 100% legit Facebook test my favourite country. Besides that I've made some mint (yea from time to time I use British words. I gave in, they're cool) friends, am surrounded by an amazing landscape that is best described by the words "fifty shades of green" and last but not least when I look up I can spot my big brother two seats in front of me. You're feeling that? Quite a good situation, huh?!

So far, New Zealand has been one of those friends that always welcomes with you with open arms whenever you visit their home ground. The funny thing is that when I left for my trip I didn't even know I would visit this long lost friend. The plan of Australia and Asia was pretty solid, but then there are always big brothers to shake up your plans. He wanted to visit, was to late to catch up with me in Tasmania, but convinced me New Zealand was definitely worth seeing again (I was here for a month, six years ago) and before I knew it I had a ticket in and out of Aoteora.

And I have to admit. I'm pretty thankful for it to him. Australia was awesome for eleven months. The traveling with own cars, German boys, awesome Austrians, long haired Dutchies, Wicked Britties (yes, I just made that up) and Canadian Stroopwafels were totally awesome. But I needed something new. Like a lot of things do in life, the traveling life and rhythm in Australia became a regular thing. Sometimes it almost felt like a "going to school" routine I had in my younger days. I mean, not that I had any obligations or appointments or tests, but I just got used to it and the wow factor got less and less. It is hard to explain to someone who is not traveling, but a human being just needs some variation in life to stay happy and full of energy, and Australia didn't offer me that anymore.

Also the way of traveling caught up on me a little bit. I mean, it sounds awesome. Own car with bed, no idea where you end up at the end of the day when you hit the road in the morning, don't have to be anywhere at any time and literally being able to do whatever pops into my mind. A lot of people would drop all their stuff immediately to live this life, I'm pretty sure of that. But the thing is, the fact that you don't have to do anything becomes normal after a while as well. Actually, being able to do nothing is in my opinion such a lovely thing because most of the times you hàve to do something. The fact that you have been busy makes the feeling of not having to be busy twice as good. But if there is nothing you have to do, than what is the joy in always having to do nothing? Sounds cyptical, but it actually makes some sense. Besides that we had to make our own trip. That freedom of having the opportunity to go wherever you want whenever you want is lovely at the start, but costs a lot of energy along the line. Everyday you have to think of an activity because otherwise it feels like you spilled a precious day, everyday you have to make sure you find a proper camping spot, there are groceries to be done, dishes to be washed and more specific there is a tap to be find for that and on top of that you have to be social and cheerful all the time (or at least that is what others tend to think of travelers). This maybe sounds a little bit like a first world problem and I have to admit it is one as well, but still it feels crappy and costs tons of energy. It is different than the obligations like university or a proper job, but it is still not nice and feels kinda trapped.

So yea, I needed a new adventure. Something to tickle my senses, to give me a boost of energy and to make me enjoy traveling again.

And hell yea, New Zealand and the big brother and his enthusiasms of seeing all these things that are new and amazing to him gives me that energy. Add to that the fact that it has only been two weeks (and only four days with the brother) and this trip is gonna get me back in traveling vibes all the way.

The coming three weeks are going to be crazy. Seeing this big ass country in only 25 days. A rollercoaster (actually it is an orange bus, but I like this metafor) for sure, but one that I have been waiting for in line pretty damn long. Let's enjoy the ride, bitches. Let's stray this country. Let's drive that bus. Or actually I will let dumbledore drive. Let's just sit back and enjoy, because we have deserved that!

Kai, out!

P.s.: If you want to know more about that feeling of traveling I was speaking about. Or if you want a visible example of it to understand me better I would really recommend the docu/movie "Expedition Happiness" (You can find it on Netflix). By the way, watch it anyway, there is a insanely adorable doggy in there.