Why is it that, when separated from something/someone/somewhere, we crave the small things that bring us closer to it? Yet, when we’re suddenly brought closer to said thing, a feeling of wanting distance comes over us?

For example, there have been a few Sundays over the course of my trip in which I’ve wanted nothing more than to head home for a couple of hours, just so I could munch my way through a big home cooked dinner with my family, followed by a nice long nap in my own bed. It’s never even felt like a homesick kind of craving, merely just one of those things I take for granted at home. Yet now, as the prospect of going home looms ever near, I feel like Sunday roasts are worth sacrificing if only I could stay away a few weeks longer.

Not wishing to cause offence of course; I have things incredibly good at home. Great friends, great family, a university placement awaiting me and lots of good times ahead I’m sure…it’s just the ‘travel bug’ hitting me in full force. Being back in Auckland is strange as most people I meet here are just beginning their trips, keen and excited, albeit a little apprehensive…and here I am, ready to fly out. It’s strange to think back to 5 months ago when my trip was first beginning. Yes I was excited…incredibly excited infact, right up until the morning of departure when nerves hit me full force, nearly knocking me off my feet. Yes i did the unthinkable, cried as I bode farewell to my brother, cried when leaving the parents at the airport and only stopped crying when I sat down with a vodka in the airport ‘Spoons (blame the parents I say!)

And now? Well, for starters, now I’ve cried enough for the next 5 years and have no tears left in me. But mainly, my fears aren’t gone…the next trip will petrify me just as much…but at least I know I can do it and more than that, I want to do it. A better way to explain it I suppose is, side stepping a little, if I do another bungy (which I plan to), I’ll still be just as terrified before the jump as I was the first time (a drop is still a drop after all)…but at least next time round, I’ll know I’ve done it before, so can do it again, forgetting all the fear and just enjoying the ride.

Last week I said my goodbyes to one of my good friends out here; a Swedish girl I’ve spent the last 2 and half months with. A chance meet on New Years Eve ended in a great friendship. This is what I’m going to miss about travelling. In two days I’ll be saying two more goodbyes; one to another good friend who has been with myself and the Sweed for a month and a half, and the next to a country I’ve loved every minute of.

I’ve spent my last week taking to the road with a friend in a little red car we as good as destroyed. The little thing wasn’t made for speed, nor was it made for the unsealed, curvy, hilly roads of the NZ coastline. We pushed it to it’s limits however and it survived the trip (although we’re thanking our lucky stars we paid a bit more for extra coverage on insurance!) It was a memorable week, if not for the gorgeous views and vast stretches of beach, then for the shacks we stayed in and the ‘compost toilets’ we were required to use (don’t ask!)

Despite a few mishaps in navigation (for which the blame was cruelly placed on me just because I was the one with the map…pfft!) we had a smooth trip and I was incredibly sad to be leaving the cows, sheep and rickety roads as we headed back into the city. I feel as though I’ve seen all I can see of NZ and yet I’m not quite ready to be saying bye bye. Of course, it’s on the list of places to return to…

I’m heading off to San Francisco next and am looking forward to a different place to explore. Thanks to my brother, I have free accomodation and this is just as well as I’ve blown my budget well out the window. They say money isn’t the key to happiness and yes, I agree. Yet, if it were not for the pennies I wouldn’t have been able to do half the things I’ve done. Yes yes, you can’t put a price on friendship and all that jazz, and yes it’s the people that have made my trip not the material things…but then you need the cash if you want to jump off a bridge or out of a plane (with the intent of surviving anyways…) and these things have made my time as much as anything free. Trust me, the money is more than neccessary. Next time round I’m going to have to actually do a bit of work (if I can remember what ‘work’ is!)

For the minute though, I’ll settle for my final lazy day in New Zealand. Was up with the sun this morning to watch the Ireland vs. Wales rugby in the local Irish pub, which was absolute chaos (unsurprsingly). Managed to start my morning with a pint though, so despite not knowing anything about rugby, I was quite happy cheering at the right moments and otherwise sitting on my bar stool in my own happy bubble. How I’ll miss this place…

Don’t get me wrong, I’m very excited to be going home. I miss my family and friends as much as anyone does out here, but I would love to head back for a week or so, see everybody, and then head off again. Already I have a large list of future destinations which, not surprisingly, I want to visit as soon as possible.

Yes I have my whole life for more exploration, but the world is a pretty big place and I need to get a head start…