My hair 911 and some New Zealand observations

So right before bed last night I realized that my hair clay stuff was missing. Fuuuuck. I'm impatiently waiting for my hair to grow back and the last thing I need is for it to look worse than I already feel it does. I figured out what happened...when we got to the movies last night (we saw "The Other Guys") I went to grab some shoes and my toiletries fell out of the van. Apparently the hair product took off and I didn't notice. So this a.m we swung by the same parking lot. After looking under an entire row of cars, looking like a fool I'm sure squat-thrusting my way down the row, I was out of luck. I told Evan I was just going to run in and get "something." Well, isn't it just my luck that the 1st place in the mall had my exact product!?! Apparently Fudge products are made in Australia and quite common here in NZ as well. Phew! I followed up my mini-miracle with acquiring "The Time Traveler's Wife" to read (none of my friends' recommended books were in stock) AND got a cappuccino for the road. Score.

So the weather is finally decent now that we're on the north island. I was actually too warm at some points today as we drove from Wellington to Egmont National Park. It was a loooong drive but not too bad.

I've noticed 1 thing here in NZ that I keep forgetting to write about: political ads. In the states most political signs just have the candidate's name and maybe slogan. If any pic or image of the candidate is used they always look incredible, trustworthy, together. Here in NZ, almost all political signs have pictures of the candidate. The other difference? The candidates look like they just finished hiking on a windy day or shearing sheep in the field. I don't get it. Maybe in NZ it's the "farmer-next-door" who wins elections? It's just struck me, and Evan, as odd this entire trip.

Something I've noticed in our 24 hours on the north island: Maori people. The Maori are native New Zealanders and I would compare their appearance most to south pacific islanders. We saw virtually none on the south island. Up here there are many. Despite the country's attempt to use Maori words and incorporate their tradition into the country's history I have noticed that the Maori are like "minorities" or the under-priviledged in the states. At the nice sidewalk cafe we had lunch at today there were zero Maori eating there. Instead, I saw some playing music for money down the street and working at gas stations and small corner shops and I heard a radio report of a rape by a man who is "Maori or south pacific islander." Additionally, there seems to be an obesity issue among the Maoris which is common in the states among those who cannot afford quality food. So make of it what you will...this was just my social observation for the day.

Tomorrow we're doing a morning hike on Mt. Taranaki and then driving up to Waitomo Caves so we can absail, black water raft and see glow worms the nest day. Oh, and did I mention I'm sky diving in Taupo? October 9th is the day which, to me at least, is fitting. I'll dedicate my jump to Jason...5 years since his accident.