Day 4. Taupo

Dave went fishing today, so I took this opportunity to sleep in and read email while relaxing on the deck with coffee. Then Hea Min came by to give me some lunch - it is just like home here, except without Hea Min, who I suppose really makes the place. After lunch I drove alone (!) to check out Taupo’s claim to fame, the Huka Falls on a roaring bright turquoise river running though town. Then, while driving on the small road from Huka Falls to the river dam downstream, along comes a car heading toward me in MY LANE (the left lane!). I was not in the wrong lane, though I had to think about it since I was driving by myself and still not completely used to being on the wrong side of the road. So I decide I am in fact in the correct lane, and by this time he really should have realized he is in the wrong lane, but he still doesn’t get over. So I had to move over and pass him on the right. I couldn’t even believe it; the whole thing seemed like a dream. I don’t know if he was a drunken American or what, but good-god I cant believe that happened to me within ten minutes of my driving in another country. I did finally make it to the dam in time for the four-o’clock unleashing where bright turquoise water rushes down over the rocks of the river bed, which is beautiful and relaxing so I calmed down there a little bit before making my way back. Walking back to the car two young girls from Holland asked me to take them into town, so I did. I was actually kind of scared this was their racket and were going to jump me, but they were so tiny I figured I could probably take them both. We went to dinner that night in Taupo and then to an Irish Pub for St. Patrick’s day. Im really going to miss this place, I have a feeling Chalet Eiger will be the best of our stay…