My plans to go to the Fiordlands National Park were put on hold this weekend. For the first time since I have been in NZ I got a bug. Nothing big, but my energy was really low and I was very congested. Not exactly backpacking material.

I laid really low and tried to sleep as much as possible. I went to an all you can eat buffet with my Kiwi buddies James and Willie. They couldn't believe how much I could consume for a small guy. I put down about 20 plus pieces of sushi, fish and chips, nachos, salad, noodles and topped it off with apple pie and icecream for dessert. It was only 8NZD! We are making it a weekly ritual.

Willie plays Rugby for Otago which is semi-professional as they do get paid. James just graduated with honors in nutrition and muscle development, so he is a strength and conditioning coach for the players.

I am trying to get as far ahead as possible this week in school so I can somehow fit the Fiordlands rainforest into my plans by skipping class. This upcoming weekend I am hiking Mt. Cook, the tallest peak in NZ. Apparently there are a ton of avalanches and glaciers you can see from the top! I cannot wait.

I just finished posting photos and videos of my weekend in Kaikoura. Without question the best weekend I have had in New Zealand. Five kids total packed into a white Toyota Camry and made the trip six hours up the east coast of NZ.

Matthew, my roommate from Poland and I are planning to travel together every weekend until we leave. I am really looking forward to all the adventures ahead of us.

We left Dunedin at about 1 and arrived in Kaikoura after dark about 815 Friday night. Matthew and I slept in a tent and the other three crashed in the car (budget accommodation at its finest). We literally slept off a bridge on the side of the road.

Dustin, another kid on the trip, and I, woke up early so we could swim with dolphins. There were between 500-1000 wild dolphins just off the peninsula. It felt like a dream come true. I cannot remember ever enjoying myself constantly for a three hour period as much as I did. I probably won't again until I see Lebron in the NBA Finals or the 2012 Olympics in London.

I was completely surrounded by these mystical mammals and didn't even care that the water was freezing. We finished swimming at around noon with a full day ahead of us.

The rest of the group picked us up, and we went on a hike about 20 minutes outside of Kaikoura north along the coastline. At the end of the hike there were at least 30 baby seals in a pool of fresh water under a waterfall. Apparently a mother had made the journey from the ocean to find an area where predators would not get the babies. They were so cute, friendly and fascinating to watch.

We went to a bar and got drinks and pizza and burgers for dinner. Because it is winter now in NZ, days are short and night falls around 530. It was raining so we packed everyone in the car and got a terrible nights sleep. Everyone was laughing and enjoying themselves so much none of it mattered.

We woke up around 645 this morning to a beautiful sunny day. We ate breakfast (leftover pizza, peanutbutter and banana sandwiches) and headed toward the ocean. The group went on a 3 hour hike along the coast on top of some cliffs. At the tail end, we were walking along the road to get back to the car, and I stuck my thumb out as a joke to hitch hike. It would have only been another 45 min walk. Literally ten seconds later, a van pulled over. The chances of ANYONE picking up five hitch hikers is slim. But for the very first car that passes to pull over within ten seconds is impossible. It happened.

The rest of the day was spent driving home and stopping at rest stops.

I am hoping to go to the Fiordlands next weekend and Mt Cook the following, I will let everyone know what happens.

I apologize in advance for brief blogs that lack description. I don't have time to be as detailed as I'd like

So I have officially been absolutely horrendous about blog postings. It has been over three weeks since my last entry.

The first two weeks back in Dunedin were extremely low-key and I was trying to cut back on expenses a little after excessive spending in Australia/Fiji.

Last weekend was J Day, a national holiday to celebrate the legalization of marajuana. The entire Octagon was flooded with smoke and liberals advocating for greenness.

Sorry this is so short, but I am swamped with school that I need to complete before I leave this weekend. I am going to Kaikoura, a beautiful coastal town about 6 hours north Dunedin. I am jam-packing a car full of 5 kids and spending the night either in the car, or in tents.

Really looking forward to the journey because Dunedin can get boring after a while. Swimming with dolphins in the middle of the ocean Saturday morning and while watching, followed by hiking in the afternoon.

I have also been writing a ton for FanHuddle which inhibits my motivation on this blog.

I'll be sure to check in after the weekend and get better at keeping this updated for the remainder of my study abroad.