USA Day 9. Griffith Observatory

We took it a bit easier today as I had some feet that were feeling rather sorry for themselves! We didn't waste the day though as once the midday sun had pasted and it wasn't quite so scorching we set out on a little walk up to Griffith Park. We did look into catching a bus or a metro but they just didn't really go up that way. As it was it was a really nice walk!

We looked into (for quite a while) alternatives for doing the hour long walk, but the metro doesn't go up that way and the only time a bus ever runs to the Park is on the weekends. As it was, it was a really nice walk that had a couple of lovely views along the way up 

I definitely didn't force Damien to let me take this pic :D

The view on the way up out over LA

And when we finally reached the top and saw the domes of the Observatory up close

We had a walk around the base, taking in the views (and the art deco architecture) in daylight before the sunset where the landscape would completely change 

I really loved the view from the Observatory - you can really get a bit of an idea of how sprawling Los Angeles actually is, it seems to just carry on endlessly on the flat plane

I also might have got a bit giddy about getting to see the hollywood sign!

Our Subway picnic :p 

I really loved the picnic spot out over the lawns and Hollywood hills - the timing was also perfect so that it wasn't too hot to enjoy sitting outside but it wasn't cold either!

Afterwards we decided to head inside the Observatory itself since Damien wanted to see a view bits inside, and a couple of the exhibits were actually quite interesting 

Out of all the different scientifically interesting sections they had, the one that got me excited was this little screen. It's a heat sensor/detector thingy that shows the temperature of whatever is in front of the camera! I was just fascinated by it and Damien might have had to drag me away so the children behind me could have a go… This pic is of Damien's sunburn that's gone past red all the way to white!

And to show the difference in temperature between my hands and Damiens, mine is the yellow one and Damien's is red! What was really cool was once he let go of my hand the screen showed red impressions on my skin where his hands had warmed mine up!

There was also this coil thing, that I really should find the name of that was used or sending electricity wirelessly, and looked pretty cool when it was turned on!

 The downstairs space exhibits were really interesting and I'll probably include more photos later.

The  interactive section where you could find out your weight on the various planets, so how the gravity varies from planet to planet was pretty cool too. 

But as soon as I noticed the sunset I dragged Damien outside to watch the sunset over the hills! There's just something about sunsets that I absolutely love and the one over LA has got to be one of my favourites, it was all red with touches of orange

Once the sun was down the view over LA really became amazing! I completely adore this photo and it captures the moment perfectly!

And to finish off, a little picture of me, looking slightly scary because of the flash! 

Today was really lovely, I can only hope tomorrow is just as good!!

Movie Evenings

So this last week we've all realised how little time we have with each other so every night this week me and Anna have gone round to Hanne's to spend the evening with her, Tiffany and Centaine

 Centaine has an amazing selection of Disney DVDs so we've been spending the evenings reminiscing and watching out favourite childhood films! Anastaia was a winter - we spent half the film singing alone! The best bit was Anna knows the songs in Swedish, and Hanne in Flemish so when we were all singing along there were there different languages going on

we baked a ton of cookies which were scrumptious 

 Another night we shared dinner together - we had soup for starter and then risotto for main!

 We went along to Hamilton Night Market since I only have one more Saturday left here! How crazy is that?? We all stocked up on yummy asian food, I got a giant Churro, and some vegetable dumplings, Hanne got japanese 'balls' and some canadian chips, Anna got a massage and some curry and Centaine got a fancy Japanese crepe which was a masterpiece!

 Me and Anna split a traditional Hangi - it's buried underground with traditional native branches and cooked for wish hours. I had the vegetables and Anna got the meat. Oh and we had it with 'fried bread' which was slightly sweet and is traditional too. It was surprisingly yummy and I'm glad I got to try it!

 Hanne left me with this beautiful photo from one night!

 And then last night was a particularly cold one and George popped around. We were laughing that Anna looked homeless with her hat and blanket it. Not that George looked much better!

Also Facebook translate changed Hanne's status, from Centaine to JOHN! Needless to say we've been calling her John ever since. We've also booked a meal for when Anna and Hanne get back to say goodbye! Trying to make the most of everything, despite having to spend days in the library getting my essays done!

Facing the inevitable

It kind of just really ‘hit’ me last night – I’m leaving New Zealand. In a number of days no less.

And all the amazing people I’ve met here will be left behind. Yes, I’ve luckily become close with a lot of Europeans, which is great, but there’s a very high chance I’ll never see some of my Kiwi friends again. I don’t know if I’ll ever come back to NZ, life being what it is and flights being so expensive.

I’ll never walk that ridiculously steep hill to the management building again, or bemoan by shoes as I’m forced to tread over muddy grass every morning, or wile away the hours with amazing friends watching the sunset over the lake at momento’s, or marveling at how ridiculously clear the night sky is here (even when your in the middle of the city). I’ve never been more grateful for the fantastic opportunities I’ve been able to have, and I’ve also never been so thankfully I’m one of the last ones to leave NZ – I plan on dragging out every last minute I have the fortune to be granted in New Zealand.

Despite having a month left, my days with some friends are limited - people are dropping like flies, packing up their rooms and heading onto their next escapade. Up until last night it all just felt a little surreal but, the more I think about it, the more I realize I’m just not ready to leave such a beautiful and welcoming country. I’m not ready to say goodbye to the life I’ve made for myself here. And I’m certainly not ready to face the reality of this year being over and potentially never stepping foot here again.

But then, you’re never really ready for life. The best adventures come when you’re assuredly not ready for them, you just have to embrace the moment and learn to roll with it!

007 Leaving Party

It's completely crazy to think we're having leaving parties already! it's most definitely not OK! I still have 34 and a half days left in New Zealand… not that's I'm counting and attempting to treasure every last minute here or anything.. Regardless of it feeling premature Friday evening was Orchard Park's Leaving Party, it was 007 James Bond themed so everyone really went all out - I should have taken some photos of what some of the other girls were wearing as everyone looked gorgeous! 

 Me and Anna went round to Hanne's to get ready with Tiffany, Shelby and Centaine for a few hours and it was so fun and girly! I ended up doing Anna and Hanne's make up and we all played dress up trying on about 100 different dresses before we settled!

 I was definitely coerced into wearing my outfit!

 It was a super fun evening, we all got a 'little' tipsy and had a complete ball! George's braces were also a star attraction the evening

 In between munching on vegetarian lasagne Anna got up to do her speech that Brett had asked her to do on behalf of all us inter nation students who were leaving. Needless to say a few people got a little emotional - it's truly crazy to think my time here is nearly up. I just can't comprehend how quickly time has flown while I've been out here - I swear I only got off the plane a few months ago, an entire year as certainly not passed!!

At the end of each Semester Orchard Park take a group photo and this year my camera got the honour! Orchard Park really has turned into a little family, and it's kinda weird to think I know every single person in this photo and i'd call almost all of them friends!

 To stop ourselves getting too emotional we headed back to Hanne's cottage where the evening progressed in a very dignified manner - as the photo above clearly demonstrates

Copious amounts of singstar continued into the early hours until our lovely RA's turned up and told us to turn it down, before doing an obligatory song themselves!

It was an amazing night- one I'm definitely going to remember. It's just not sunk in that's it's probably the last time we're all going to be in the same country since from monday onwards people are heading home once their exams are done - scary!

21st Birthday!

Just a quick post summarising my amazing 21st Birthday in New Zealand! 

I was truly spoilt, and it was a really fun, relaxed day (well aside from the exam I had half way through)

All my cards and presents!

I've moaned a little bit this last week that it just didn't feel like my birthday since it was getting so much colder and my birthday is usually in summer. But New Zealand didn't let me down - the 4th was absolutely beautiful and definitely the hottest and sunniest day we've had in about a month!

This is a photo of the lake with all the gorgeous orange and golden leaves

I never got round to ordering a cake so I was a little worried when my birthday got round but then I actually ended up 2! My lovely flatmates surprised me in the morning with this cake and they sang happy birthday to me in Swedish!

And then as soon as I got back from my exam George popped around with this lovely homemade cake!  And another giant badge to go with the one mum sent! The best bit was definitely the letter which explained everything that was wrong with the cake and how it 'symbolised' my life e.g. he put too much cocoa in it so it'll be really rich, unlike me after this year abroad!

 After my exam me and a couple of friends went to Momento to have a few drinks and to chat while the sun set, we also made sure to take a few photos since we realised we have barely any of the three of us!

 This is Anna (the one from Sweden), myself (of course) and Hanne (from Belgium)

Some of the yummy mango margaritas we got!

 Also took a few photos with my lovely flatmates - Anna (Sweden), Me, and Anna (Norwegian)

 The trees are such a pretty background to the photos too!

 We also couldn't resist doing the classic 'throwing leaves into the air' photo thing, although we kind of failed since you can't see my face - was fun though!

Me and Hanne sipping on our drinks 

I had such a lovely day, and then Hanne popped around in the evening after we finished up having drinks and told me she was 'taking me somewhere'. Once she got me outside she blindfolded me, turned me around, and then led me off - telling me after walking me into a bush, that she was taking me to a haunted house! Long story short her, anna and tiffany had me convinced as I was well and truly lost! When they finally took off my blindfolds I was in Hanne's cottage and they'd arranged a Wine and Cheeseboard evening!

Cheese is really expensive out here so I haven't had any in a few months, which is annoying when you're a vegetarian! Everything was delicious, the 5 types of cheeses, the New Zealand white wine, the New Zealand cider and the grapes too. We also bonded over musicals all night!

It was a great birthday, just what I wanted before all the exams that are coming up!