I slept in a bit the next day because I could, and my plan was to walk up to the natural hot pools. I took my time getting breakfast, getting ready etc. It was another nice day in Taupo, a few clouds but the sun was out and it was around 15 degrees or so. As I sat in my room gathering up my stuff and a dickin around on the computer I thought to myself, well isn't this something, I am going to go sit in these hot pools and then go on a sunset sail on the lake. What a day to have! Then I realized that I have had countless amazing days like that here in New Zeland. I realized that this time in my life right now is the best its ever been. I have always said that because of the Moreeeny curse I have been waiting for Karma to come back around. This day I thought, it has, this is it. This is how Karma is paying you back, and I recognized at that moment that I was truly happy. What a liberating and wonderful feeling to realize that you are truly happy and living the best life you can live.
Okay, enough with the epiphany stuff, back to the hot pools. I walked up, took the long way, and got to the park just before lunch. I walked down to the bridge where the pools are, and it was so cool! There were 2 hot waterfalls that emptied into little pools bordering the Waikata river. I stuck my toes in first and the water was for reals hot, and wonderful. I had my bathing suit on so I stripped down and hopped in the pools. I was also lucky because they weren't busy at all. At first I was the only person there and then 2 German fellas showed up before too long. I sat and enjoyed the thermal water and let the waterfall massage my shoulders. It was amazing that the water was so hot and so natural, amazing! After sitting for a while I towelled off and changed into my dry clothes and then enjoyed some lunch in the park over looking the river. It was a great way to spend an afternoon. Then I had to walk back to the hostel, get changed and head down to the water to meet David for our sail.
I decided to take the short way back to the hostel on the way back and it nearly didn't pay off. I was walking along the main road and I turned down a side street. I honestly thought that everywhere in Taupo was safe because it is so small and lovely. It only has one set of traffic lights and about 25, 000 people in total. So I never gave any thought about cutting through side streets and things, I had a map so I knew that the roads I was taking led to where I wanted to go. Unfortunately it doesn't say on the map “This is the Ghetto.” So I was walking along with my camera in my hand and on my left side two young guys came out of a side street. One of them was tall and big and had a full face tattoo ( as gruff as that sounds to people in Canada it is actually more common then you would think among the Maori here) and the other had a black hoodie on with his hood up. He had a small patch on the front of the sweater and a large one on the back that, I now know, is a gang patch. You know when you see someone and they just give you a bad feeling? These guys gave me the heebs. I automatically took my camera slipped it in my pocket and zipped it up. As I approached they split up. The bigger tattooed guy went behind a fence that ran parallel to the sidewalk I was about to be walking on and the smaller hooded guy turned and was walking on the grass beside the sidewalk about 2.5 meters in front of me. I thought, okay this is good, as long as you are in front of me I can see what you're about to do and re-act. Then, he stopped walking. He stopped and was facing the road with his back to the sidewalk. The voice of my mother rang through my head and I thought, “As long as you walk like you are going to kick someones ass it will be less likely they will kick yours.” I had actually thought of this when I first saw them and got freaked. I had no choice but to walk past him, other wise I would show my fear. So I held me shoulders back, head up and didn't slow my gait. I did turn my head and could see the tattooed guy waiting behind the fence. As I passed the smaller hooded guy he reached down, pulled up his pant leg, and pulled something out of his sock! Yea! I am quite sure he was not pulling a stick of chewing gum from his sock!! Then, as I passed him he pulled it out, and got behind me about a meter behind me. Even though I was sure a dribble was running down my leg I knew how important it was for me to remain calm and not show my fear at all. So I kept walking for a few seconds then quickly looked both ways and crossed the road. I did this for two reasons, first, to possibly get away from him and second, to see if he was indeed going to follow me. He turned and walked up to the street corner and stepped onto the street (this meant he was actually after me). Then about a half a block up I noticed a woman getting something out of her car. I spotted her and made these ol giraffe legs work in my favour, I took long strides and b-lined it for her. After stepping into the street the young fella saw what I saw, and turned and headed back the way he came. I didn't stop to talk tot he woman, I did not pass go, I did not collect 200 dollars, I jogged back to the hostel and thanked my lucky stars that didn't turn out differently. It takes a lot to rattle me, but I was crapping myself thinking that these two were going to rob me, stab me, beat me up who knows! Since it was the day time I don't think they would have stabbed me or killed me, but certainly they would have stolen anything of value I had on me and ruffed me up.
After changing my clothes I went down to meet Dave at the marina for the sail. Still a bit freak I asked him, “Do you guys have crime in Taupo?” He said they certainly did, they had a bad area of town and actually had 2 powerful gangs living there. He named them and one of them was the name I saw on the young fellas patch on his hoodie! I was shocked, they only have one set of traffic lights but two gangs! Go figure! I have purposely not used the name of the gang in this because I have seen enough Sons of Anarchy to know it may not be the wisest thing to post defamatory things online and name names. So we will just leave it as an anonymous gang.
Dave and I went out on the boat and sailed around. The sunset was okay, but not as good as the first trip I went on with that boat, and it was freezing on the way back. I had put my scary experience behind me and continued on loving Taupo and loving life. I love the people (besides the scary ones) in Taupo, I love the place, I love the lake I really love it there and it makes me happy to be there.
I ended up spending two weeks in Taupo and helping Dave out a bit on the boat, going sailing, hanging out and really enjoying my time before I start work. I know I have been slacking on the blogs but not too much has been happening. I am spending my days hanging out with friends, meeting new peeps, etc. I went to a rugby game, went to a great show in Ponsonby by I don't really feel like writing much about any of it. I will write another before I start work on Monday.
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