I couldnt stand it anymore, i had to get out. Dunedin was giving me cabin fever. I had a long weekend coming up so i was off. My plan was to drive to Gore and catch up with Rhonda, a stafford st neighbour from years ago. And I knew right from the start it was going to be a trip that would be enlightening. The drive there was great. I felt so free, and the stress just started to drop from my shoulders. I was very excited, i was going to be joining in on a drumming workshop. I'm not sure but i think the man's name was David, and he was exactly like i imagined. A little hippy, easy living fellow, that didnt seem to be caught up in todays hassles with life. We learnt all about the drums (bongo drums), a little on sharkra's, and then we sat down in an ole shed, and played. The shed was decorated with blankets and tye dyed scarves hanging from the walls, lots of candles and tree branches were stacked around the walls also to give it that sense of nature. Hay bales were set up for us to sit on, and there was no door so we had an open view to the bonfire that was set up, ready to be set alight that night. After the workshop we had a bbq for dinner, and sat round with a drink in hand, played the drums, sang and watched the bonfire go up in flames. What a wonderful experience, i would not have thought i would be doing that if i had of been told. I wasnt up late, i was buggered so i took myself off to bed reasonable early, who knows what the next day would hold. I woke up with a stinking headache, the smoke from the fire's had been quite hard to escape from and it had done my head in. I got to sit down with Rhonda that morning and have a good catch up, it was so great. I had tossed up wether or not to head home, but decided if i wasted such a beautiful weekend i would be kicking myself. So i jumped on her computer and checked out Stewert Island. Too expensive. So after much dicussion, i said my good byes and headed for Te Anau, And what a beautiful, peaceful place that is. I loved it! I booked myself on a boat trip across lake Te Anau and over to see the glow worm caves. With time to kill before the trip i headed off to the backpackers around the corner and got myself a bed for the night. After sending an email off to Mike to let him know where i was, it was time to walk down and catch the boat for my tour. Oh My God, it is so beautiful there. Just gorgeous. The boat trip was great, the glowworms were great and i was really enjoying myself. I walked down and got a pizza for dinner, then sat in my dorm talking with a traveller from the Netherlands. The next day i had to head home, i wish i could have stayed longer. But the drive home was beautiful, Lake Manapouri especially, WOW... I drove down to Invercargill then back up thru the Catlins and home. I was buggered. But what a wonderful weekend, it was just what i needed.
