The Beautiful Outdoors

Thursday, I went whale watching with the company Whale Watch Kaikoura. We saw three sperm whales on the surface. Despite their size, the whales aren’t very easy to spot because they only appear as shiny, gray slivers on the surface of the water. You really only see a hump and water spurting from the blowhole. It was interesting to see but not the most exciting thing in the world. I suppose I thought I’d see the entire whale, even though that wasn’t a very practical assumption. Whales usually don’t rise completely out of the water unless they’re jumping. I did watch the whales dive back under but I still only saw their tails and not much else.

We also spotted dusky dolphins, and they are fun and exciting to see. They came right up to the boat, and as they are very entertaining animals, performed jumps and flips. We were out on the water for almost three hours and that was enough for me. The boat was moving fast through large swells and I started to feel sick by the end of the trip – not exactly like I wanted to throw up but just not right or balanced. My equilibrium was definitely off. I don’t know if my seasickness is now an on-going affliction or a passing one – I hope only passing.

I went swimming with dolphins yesterday, and it was one of the best experiences I’ve had so far while I’ve been in New Zealand. It was absolutely amazing how close they came to me. I think they were as interested in me as I was in them. At first, I was having problems with my mask because water kept seeping in and going up my nose. My guide said it was likely because I was smiling which makes the mask lose suction. I switched masks and from then on kept a straight face when possible, but it’s hard not to crack a smile or break into laughter when a dolphin is swimming right beside you. They were close enough to touch and I could have if they weren’t so quick.

To incite the dolphins to take interest in you, you’re supposed to make noises, swim in circles, and dive underwater. If that doesn’t work, at least the crew is entertained watching you make a fool of yourself. To me, I just sounded like a dying otter but making noises seemed to work majority of the time. One dolphin kept coming back to me and swimming in circles, as if testing me to see if I could keep up. I could tell it was the same one over and over because he had a mark just above one of his eyes. It was amazing to experience the dolphins in their natural environment and watch them that close. They are such beautiful animals, and I feel privileged that I was able to interact with them in such a way.

Laura, my English roommate during my time at Dusky Lodge in Kaikoura, and I had an addition to our room yesterday. Laura and I got along well and it had been just us since Wednesday morning, so I was surprised to see another bag propped against the bed when I returned from breakfast. The new roommate seemed nice enough, though she only spoke three words to me in total, but she stared in the mirror more than anyone I’ve seen. I watched her silently, almost inquisitively throughout the day as she stood in front of the mirror tying and re-tying her ponytail, each time pulling her bangs forward and then standing back in scrutiny. I thought it looked the same each time but apparently she found some flaw and pulled the elastic from its hold to try again. I felt like pointing out that she was staying at a backpacker’s hostel not at some hotel holding a beauty pageant convention. Nobody looks good at a hostel and for the most part no one tries to. I’ve put on makeup once since I’ve been away and that was back in Auckland. I even noticed last night, as I lay in bed listening to music, that she undressed facing the mirror, and for our benefit I’m sure, wore only boy shorts which she pranced around the room in, though her figure isn’t what I’d call svelte. I was in a t-shirt and flannel pants and Laura, likewise. I couldn’t help but laugh and then hide my face in my notebook as if I was reading something funny. After she finished prancing, I watched her clamber to the top bunk and do crunches as she removed her makeup. A mattress isn’t the best surface for back support while crunching, but once again I remained silent. She was a strange duck let me tell you. I decided then that I might start to like staying in dorms, if only to observe everyone else’s strange idiosyncrasies.

I arrived in Hanmer Springs today from Kaikoura. I had planned on only staying one night, but I was so smitten with the adorable, thermal resort town that I decided to stay two nights instead. Maybe it was the beautiful weather illuminating the town in such an appealing way or the fantastic smoked chicken, cranberry, and brie sandwich I had for lunch (which by the way is my new favorite combination that I highly recommend you try), but I’m ready to set up camp here. I’ve decided to hang out today and enjoy the gorgeous spring sun and possibly make my way down to the Hanmer Springs Thermal Resort tonight to dip into the heated mineral pools. Either way I’m carefree at the moment and enjoying my lack of a plan.