love/hate

today i loved: exploring auckland via google street maps. we planned the route from our hostel to the nearest supermarket and "walked it" in advance.

today i hated: this quote from nzbackpack.com
"who is the typical backpacker? you no longer need to carry a backpack to be a backpacker! being a backpacker is an attitude, not a stereotype."

not that i can really consider myself a "real" backpacker yet, considering that i've only really done a few weekend trips, but i'm still taking offense at the idea that you can be a backpacker without actually carrying the weight. in new zealand, it's popular to travel via backpacker buses, which, as far as i can tell, are just party buses for the 18-30 crowd who may or may not be doing any hiking.

i thought i'd leave you with a picture of a kiwi, new zealand's national bird, which i happen to think are adorable. images of kiwi birds, kiwi fruit, and the silver fern (the symbol of the national rugby team, the all-blacks) are found on everything that a tourist could possibly want to buy.




-rachel