This-and-thatland.

The first time I came to NZ, I instantly thought they had a funny design of houses. It did not all match the landscape and cities looked like they were a modern version of the wild west with only the framed fronts. Well, a year later and I'm thinking these people really have created their own look by not knowing what look to go for. It truly is a this-and-that land when it comes to pretty much anything from plants or animals to housing and fashion.

Today we visited the center of Wellington. It was hard to spot all the interesting details in the mixture of modern, old and down right bizarre. A building with graffiti and weird color paint might hold inside a comfortable cafe, and something that looks more like artwork gone wrong, is actually a university of design (coincidence? I think not). But in the mix of all this design madness, its hard not to fall in love with Welly and the whole NZ. The people, as far as I've got to know them, have been very polite, and I'm slowly breaking out of my shy Finnish shell. Lots of people actually think about what they wear, something I respect, and the choice of shops in a small city like this is quite amazing, though I might feel different If I'd lived here for some time.

Yes a truly lovely city and country in general. But something is still missing, and that is someone to share all this crazy craziness with. I do miss my friend Krista back home. I know she would appreciate all the comfy cafes that pop out from street corners, and the brilliant public transportation that partly works on electricity! (Although it's hardly brilliant anywhere out of Wellington.) Krista would also love the nature (She was with me last year, so I know this for sure.) And one of the things that makes me most sad, is the fact that I don't have her here now to share all this amount of skate parks (and the fun stuff that comes with it ;-)). Well for a part of her big birthday gift I'm going to make a small promise: Someday we will return with Krista and enjoy it all with time to enjoy it too.

Wow, I'm shaking like crazy right now. I'm torn by the fact that I only have one day to explore the wonders of wellington, and that day is already over. In one day, thanks to some of the wellingtonians, I have gained a lot more confidence, been inspired by their fashion, and been asked to hang out at a bar in a crazy pink dress (not gonna happen though). That crazy dress by the way, is something I bought from a cute little second hand shop held by a sweet short girl with a very loud friend. She was awfully nice, and I actually twirled in a dress in front of a shop keeper for the first time in my life. In respect to the loveliness, I did feel like buying the dress. And listen up Finbos: That's the way to sell something! Don't just annoy the people looking around, be friendly and fun, not just in a professional way.

Oh, there's so much here left for me to see, but tomorrow were hitting the road, and I have the feeling that this won't be the last time I'm going to have this feeling of losing out on something. Two weeks is strictly too little time to explore a place like this. In fact it makes me feel a bit lost, not know what to do in the little time that is given to me. Weird thing actually, because the first time I came, I saw this big billboard advertising the show Lost. That's about the only add I remember from New Zealand, and today as I was walking around Wellington, I suddenly saw an add for the new season of Lost and it instantly caught my attention. Hmm.. maybe the next time I come, the plane will crash and a magnetic field will stop me from leaving the country. However, unlike Jack and his mates, I sure wont be trying to get out ;).