It was so much fun to run in the hole in the rock and then try to run back out before if filled with water. We had to climb around to the bay and then walked to the gorgeous Honey Moon Cove for lunch. Running in the waves at honey moon cove and hiking up to the look out above was so much fun. The waves came up way above the rocks as the tide came in. Hiking up to the top of the cove was so much fun and such a gorgeous sight. I wish I could have sat up there all day and just take in the view. It was so spectacular. My pictures could never compare. The sight of the sea and the huge waves like nothing other. We even got wet on our hike down because the tide was coming in so fast. I stood on the rocks at them end of the lookout almost onto the sea. It was kinda scary being so close to the edge. I hiked back down and had a great picnic lunch with the other girls.
It was so much fun and Katie and I had such a great time hiking up to the bay and chatting during lunch. After having lunch we hiked up the other side of Honeymoon Cove through the jungle back to Piha. I love how you can be on the beach one minute, hike through a jungle, and be on another beach the next minute.Only in New Zealand. It is such an amazing experience. We hike back to Piha and the under 19 surf competition was going on so we got to watch some of that. Pretty sweet.
We walked over to the other side of Piha and hiked up the Lion rock, which was an old protective rock for the Maori people. It was a great hike and I felt like I should have been singing the Lion King song as I hiked. We hiked about 3/4 of the way up and then had to stop because the trail to the top was blocked off because it is so dangerous. We hiked back down and then drove to Karaie beach and falls.
It was a little bit of a hike to the beach on some hot hot black sand and through the Karaie river. Once we got there though it was a gorgeous expansive black sand beach with huge waves. Myself and most of the other girls ran and jumped in the huge waves. It was so much fun. One of the waves was so big it even came up and over and got all of our stuff on the beach wet. Oops. At least is was only my clothes that got wet, not my camera.
After seeing the beach, we hiked back to the parking lot and then took a little five minute hike down the jungle to the water fall. It was gorgeous. I swam in the pool at the bottom and under the water fall. It was so much fun. Christine, Jessica, and I even climbed up some of the waterfall. I just loved every minute of it and it was like being in a dream.
Afterwards I came home to wash all of my wet sandy stuff before going to a combined birthday celebration for Nancy, Anna, and Nicole all of which had their 21st birthday in February. We had a traditional New Zealand 21st for them with blowing out the candles before singing happy birthday, lots of food and cake, etc. It was a lot of fun and it was a surprise to Nicole because she didn't know we were throwing the party. It was great to see the look on her face when she found out and I think Dr. Jacobs had the most fun being a part of a surprise party. It was a pretty amazing day and all of my pictures from the beach and the falls are on facebook.
Update on the earthquake: One week ago today, a large earthquake hit Christchurch, New Zealand. The death toll has now risen to 154 making this the 2nd most damaging earthquake New Zealand has ever experienced. The flag has been risen at half staff ever since the quake and will continue to be so for a number of weeks to honor those that were lost in the quake. At 12:51 today, all of New Zealand stopped and stood for 2 min in silence to honor and remember those who have been and are being affected by the quake. All of the kids in our school participated in this and we had a prayer for those in Christchurch and sang the New Zealand national anthem as well at the assembly. I loved how New Zealand stood together for this. And even though I am only here for a few months, this disaster came close to my heart, because I now feel that New Zealand is my home and my land just as America is and my heart goes out to those affected by the earthquake just as it does for those that were affected by 9/11 ten years ago.
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