If you are on my page know you should know whats going on so far, if not here's a really quick brief...
I, along with five other people from OZ - Amy, UK - Dave, USA - Cara, Ireland - Roxy and Canada - Andre have managed to score ourselves a free all expenses paid haerenga or trip courtesy of Bebo, The Gap Year and Endemol UK...we get filmed along our way through the ups and downs of the entire trip and it is being broadcasted on the main page www.bebo.com/TheGapYear so basically is a trip of a lifetime
Got something to say? Feel free to drop me a comment...feel free to read the blogs, do the polls, share some aroha or love, whatever you want because this trip is OURS and lets have a FIESTA...
MEAN GAP YEAR MEAN
AOTEAROA - THE LAND OF THE LONG WHITE CLOUD - NEW ZEALAND
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He Manu i Tu Ke...Whangara Mai Tawhiti...TE TAIRAWHITI / EAST COAST...AOTEAROA!!!
Lewis Whaitiri's URL
http://www.bebo.com/LewisWhaitiriNZ
Member Since
April 2008
Lewis Whaitiri says:
"Maori language week...Kia kaha tatou ki te korero i te reo... " (1 day ago) me too!
He paku poroporoaki tenei ki te hunga kua huri ki tua o Te Arai i nga ra kua taha ake nei. Ahakoa kua ngaro korua ki te po, ko nga maharatanga, ko nga whakaarotanga ka puritia mo ake tonu atu. E te Kuia Arapera, ko nga taonga nau nei i ohaki ki a au, ka mau tonu mo nga uri whakatipu. E te hoa Kali, ko to ahua, ko to wairua, ko to manawa, koinei nga mea hai whakamaumahara moku i a koe. Moe mai korua ki te ringa kaha o te Atua. Hoki atu ki Hawaiki Nui, ki Hawaiki Roa, ki Hawaiki Pamamao. Moe mai korua i te Aio...a tona wa tatou tutaki ai ano...Toitu te whenua, Whatungarongaro te tangata...
He Poroporoaki ano...
Ki a koe te Kuia Heni, e kore nei koe e warewaretia. Ko o taonga, ko o mohiotanga, ko o korero ka puritia mo ake tonu atu...ahakoa koe kua ngaro i te tirohanga kanohi, ka maumahara matou i a koe mo ake, ara o uri o Rongowhakaata. Me kii kua toroa matou i o waewae, na tenei kua aheitia matou te tu ki runga i nga parae o to Manutuke...Tini whetu ki te rangi...ko koe ra tera kua tae atu ki nga tohunga o te waa kaenga...E te Kuia, e te Morehu, moe mai i to okiokinga!!!
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Well as you all know i am 100% representing my land, my home and my people...MAORI!!! if you do not know what a Maori is, it is the name of the indigenous peoples of NZ...and that is ME...
Ok so back home now, it is Maori Language Week...a week that raises awareness in our language. So i thought the way in which i can contribute is to put up a little something on here...i will also drop some words down so you can give it a go...
There are only 15 letters in the Maori alphabet...a e i o u h k m n p r t w ng wh
Vowels:
A - like ahh, E - as in the e in Wet, I - as in the english E, O - like awe, U - as in the oo of poo
Consanants:
NG - the nge in tounge, WH - pronunced like F, R - you have to roll your tounge
Some basic Maori (Mah-awe-ree) words and phrases:
Kia Ora (kee-ah awe-rrah) - Used to say Hello, but can also mean thank you...its all in the tone of your voice...
Kei te pehea (k teh pe-he-ah) - How are you?
Kei te pai (k teh pi-e) - I am good
Tena koe (teh-nah kaw-eh) - Nice to meet you
Au (ah-ew) - Me
Koe (kaw eh) - You
Whaea/Mama (fah-eh-ah/maa maa) - Mother
Matua/Papa (mah-two-ah/paa paa) - Father
Tungane (two-ngaah-ne) - Brother
Tuahine (two-ah-he-ne) - Sister
Aotearoa (ah-awe-teh-ah-rraw-ah) - New Zealand
So if you can say these than have a go at saying this...the longest Maori word out...
Which means - The place where Tamatea, the man with the big knees, who slid, climbed and swallowed mountains, known as landeater, played his flute to his loved one...
So if there is something you would like to translate of say in Maori, drop a comment and will try and help you out...our language is quite metaphorical so expect something romantic in return LOL...
Ko te reo te ha, te Mauri o te Maoritanga - Language is the very life-breath of being Maori...
Well that is what it felt like, I had no option on Wednesday 16th i was off to the country side and back to the Cloud Forest to do some ecotourist volunteer project with some of the locals...
I had no idea what i was getting myself into. I mean if im being honest volunteer is not a word that comes across me quite that often, most probably because to survive back home you need money to pay for all you bills, students loans, taxes etc...so really we dont have any spare time to volunteer...So we met with our agent from I to I which is the company that takes care of these sorts of projects. She picked us up and took us to the bus stop where we would travel 2 1/2hrs by bus to the town of Nanegal, which is the small town that occupies below Santa Lucia...in a matter of moments we met Caroline, an English woman at heart but now had found herself settled in the small town Nanegal and also part of the community....brace yourself for a brief of Santa Lucia courtesy of http://www.santaluciaecuador.com
Santa Lucía Cloudforest Reserve and Ecolodge are in the foothills of the Andes in northwestern Ecuador , in the Choco Bioregion which is considered a ‘ hotspot ' for biodiversity . Community-owned and community-run , Santa Lucía is committed to conservation, responsible ecotourism and sustainable development . Santa Lucía Reserve has more than 380 species of birds including the White-faced Nunbird, Beautiful Jay, Plate-billed Mountain Toucan, Giant and Moustached Antpitta and hummingbirds. The reserve is home to at least 45 species of mammals including pumas and the Andean Spectacled Bear, as well as many reptiles, frogs and toads, cecilidades and butterflies. The rich plant life of the forest includes epiphytes such as orchids and bromeliads. Santa Lucía has a well established volunteering programme. Following on from our highly successful reforestation programme we are looking for volunteers to help with planting the endangered trees canelo and cedro; also for help with conservation monitoring, trail maintenance, agroforestry (coffee, sugar cane and bananas,) organic gardening, English teaching, environmental education and after school enrichment programmes.
Ok so that is a short of what i was getting into, but Maori boy didnt really look into it now did he, so as the week went by things came as a bit of a shock...the first thing was that we after the bus ride, it was on a truck for 45min, then a trek up a hill, about 2hrs covering about 600m upward...so by the time we arrived to the lodge all i wanted was a wash, a feed and sleep LOL...i was a bit iffy at first because according to Caroline, everyone spoke Spanish, she failed to tell me that there were other English speaking volunteers, so when we did arrive to meet the rest well things were fine...after a brief introduction and settling in, the clouds where down and so was the sun...time for bed!!!
The following day was well up at 7, breakfast at 7.30 and out by 8...this was no holiday mate, no way!!! First thing on the volunteer list was helping with building a new lodge. I was fine with that but when i found out that we had to carry planks of wood which each weighed about 40kg, lengthed about 10m, and had to carry it uphill well i was not a happy chappy...within moments i was sweating from top to toe and i just felt like collapsing, i mean i work in an office and anything this physically demanding you could imagine how i was feeling. One things for sure though, i was not going to give in!!! After about and hour and a bit of crating these f"·&$(%) up the hill, it was on to the next job. My hands, my back, my body was killing me but i knew i had to carry on. Next on the list was sanding, which required less physical work, but with sandust in the air and up your nose well...we shall leave it there...it was during this job that time flew, within moments it was 1pm and because a few of my buddies bailed on me, i felt like i couldnt finish until the other 5more planks we
Because Quito is such a big city if you were wanting to do something or see something the only way was if you were to take a tour, and so this was the plan...
We woke up on Monday morning at 8am and headed out on a day tour to Mindo river and also to the many attractions that Quito is well known for. First on the list was a volcanic crater...
Now i dont really remember much, all i can remember is that the crater was huge, and according to our guide the volcano erupts every 6000years i think and he did not know how long ago the last time it erupted hahaha...next minute there goes Lewis and Huw up up and away LOL along with the many other 500 locals that have now settled ON THE CRATER...what the? LOL...yeah apparently the land is fertile and good for farming...RIGHTY OH is all i have to say to that...back in the truck and off again...
The truck stopped and well we made it to the Equator Monument. When you think monument you think grand...well this thing was not one of the sort. By the looks of things, the locals or anyone just didnt care at all. There was tagging on it, left over rubbish by someone and i even saw a patch that looked like someone made a little fire. How monumental is that...but then as i have recently found out, the mark of the equator line that who ever put down before was actually wrong, but that is only what i have heard, so maybe that is why it has been left to rot. One thing we did see that was interesting though were chooks that fight. Apparently this is the common way of gambling for these people, to get chicks fired up and throw them into rings and let them fight the hell out of one another LOL...and you could see it on one of the chooks who looked like its feathers had been ripped off from a fight...so too long and we were off again...
The next stop was at Mariposario around by the Mindo river where butterlies are the main topic. Its like this place farms them, well yeah i think that is what they do, from the eggs to the caterpillars, to the butterflies. If you are into them well this is your heaven!!! They are everywhere you look. Theyve got them all in this greenhouse type thing with their own trees and plants and little stream. When i say this is butterly heaven...IT IS!!! There were so many types i lost count but although it was pretty it did seem that it could turn into a movie...The Return of the Butterfly LOL...only because there were hundreds of them flying around you and they just whipp pass so fast that you cant see them coming...i tell you one day it is going to be the return LOL...
Next on the tour was the Nambillo Waterfall...one of the four waterfalls around the Cloud Forest in Quito. We arrived to the stop where we were told by our guide that he wasnt coming with us...we had to spend 2hrs all up to trek, have a look, a short swim, and trek back to the truck, so in saying that piss off and let me have a sleep hahaha...so there we were crossing the canopy on a wire cart to the other side and off on a 30min trek to the Nambillo Waterfall, all downhill, remembering also that we had to trek back up...so we made it and well we were the only ones there and i cant really say that i was blown aways because it just looked like a normal waterfall to me, nothing to grand. So we jump in for all of ten minutes because the water was MATAOTAO or freezing cold and headed back to the truck. Within minutes we were off again LOL...
The last stop on our tour which was not scheduled but we did it anyway was a trip to the Equator Museum. It was here that we looked over and saw another Equator monument, which looked GRAND, so maybe they did just ditch the other one LOL...and back to the museum, well i think it was more about some of the indigenous people that lived there more than anything else because that is what the guide spoke more about, and the animals, and the houses, and the tombs, and the clothes, and the food, and their daily lives. However we did end up seeing THE LINE!!! Yes THE EQUA
Great blog, Lewis - it's brilliant to be able to represent your heritage and culture to such a big audience like this.
Now... teach me some swear words!
Lewis Whaitiri says, "Maori language week...Kia kaha tatou ki te korero i te reo... " me too!
Well done for getting over your moans and getting on with it. It's hard to volunteer, but it makes a huge difference to the communities involved. Sounds like you saw the positives in all it afterwards.
NMRN
hay bro, stay at a back packers called the secret garden in quito, i liked there aye and met heapd of kool people. Its not the flashest but is busy which is the koolest, it has a kool atmosphere.
Hey people this is a shameles plug, but its for a good cause. Basically there is a project called Platform 2. Platform2 is a global volunteering scheme for 18-25 year olds in the UK who wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford to volunteer in a developing country.
and they are looking for people to...
couldn't stop laughing when I saw you fall up that hill brother sorry but from my POV it was flippin hilarious. Glad to see you had such a great time up in the clouds
Appart from that hows the travels going mate?
Sharing the love and the smiles
2 hours ago
M.I.B Maka Inbrizzy
bit ova random blog just ddnt know if dat gap year thing was real
chur kuzzy rep da MAORIDOM ova there
Makarini Mohi is da name ne way...
lookin at goin on bit ov a OE azwell wers da meanest places so far on your bit ova tiki tour..
Nettie Norman
hey min, yea man tangi season ova hea alrite. i heard about tapungas nan. i been txtn lisas phn bt gtn no reps. poor tapunga. ea so u wnt wana go on da asuka nxt year aye snce u goin on1 already. haha. yea im gna start goin bk in 2 take those lil shits cos i want us 2 do wel in 1st div nxt year. dnt wana jst compete lol. gta b n it 2 win haha. hungas mungas lol. anyways min beboing off a cel is hoha so im gna go nw. gt bk 2 u wen i gt 2 a pc lol. take care min frm min xoxoxo
Nissa - Skinny
HAHAAHHAHAA dont you EVERRR scream like a little girl again sweet.. voted for your chocolate ass... send the money to the kids now..i owe wiremu down the road monies for the kids school lunches last week.
so what did the butterflys taste like?! glad you're having fun galavanting all over the continents.
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1 day ago
Jamie
kia ora bro
i waas born in nz too....were bout u from ??
i lived in a little town called beachlands in east auckland,
u no it ??
talk soon man
have fun
Charlie Chan
Lewis - who is that crazy guy in the safari outfit you met on the mountain? He looks like a true legend! What's his story mate?
1 day ago
Sonny Golly
Kia ora Tama good to hear that you are in the best of health & enjoying wot you alwayz wanted to do travel,seems like everyone is missing you bac home.
Yea it was so wonderful to spend some leisure time with Leis wen she got here I had abit of a tangi with her,she is gona be tall & still the same 'got any taaras dad'She spent some time with Rty Tui & her cousins,Tama Whetu,Orfu & Chas they went ito Brissy to a Rage.
Wog & Philly got engaged on Saturday & man talk about alot of kiwis at the party damn truckies,it was a good nite for all who were invited.
Went to the Woodridge RSL to watch Bobbys dad sing too much & met Rty Penny,Mahanga & one of her girlz with the young fella who perfomed with you at the super 12,hey are living here now.
Well son you take care & look after yourself & be safe love you always ...Dad Mum & Pookz
1 day ago
Karangawai
cheeee lewis, what a awesome vid was laughing wen i saw you drunk lol and when you jumped into the water all by your lonesome......... bluddy maori he he he well just thought id stop by, watch your new vid and say hi..... go hard and have lots more fun - Karangawai
2 days ago
Matai Smith
Oh neaty bei I was wondering if you could watch it and obviously yes! Ka pai you.
I'm in Wellington all week then back Friday to pick up Lere and Jere me ta raua pepi....lol lol jokes.
Okay bei talk soon.
XXX MIN
2 days ago
Charline Whaitiri
hey hey,
oooh your life at present sounds ssoooo interesting.....
ooohh have one for me please.........oh and here's some luff love.....
thinkn of you.........
arohanui......
charlinaaaaaa...........
.xxxx
Well last week was really interesting. Aunty Henis tangi was quite beautiful. She was a real special Nanny aye. And we are going to miss her influence, and her connection to the old world. Never mind... we can try and emulate her though aye. The send off was beautiful. Jeres was awesome. You were missed lew, but we know your doing some wonderful things over there. Go hard! We're proud of you.
Far... Ive got an ex-gf from ecuador... lol hehehe
Anyway bey.... keep safe.
Ka nui te aroha
2 days ago
Paora
bei hada dream u came bak nd i got 2 pairs of tiger stripped g strings, hahahahahahahahah lolz
This Batty Guy.
Lol u mean a long lost brother ahaha hvnt seen u since the ymp n ngatapa game lol..im gud jus wrkng x) long damn hourz 2 knda killng me ahaha..18wkz 2 go im due novembr 23rd..im feelng the pain ahaha mostly frm my yoga 4 pregnancy clas im so owta shape lol..n yup learnt my lesson if i evntuali wna sibblng 4my son ima adopt ahaha..n wel if u ddnt d.lete me az a contact thn u cud of seen my page earlier hmmm? Lol.. Nope im at uncle titusz n nah nanz nt oppng nemoa ddnt i tel u she learnt her lesson her opp died awhle bk shez stl mourning hm *roll eyes* ..lyf is prity gud at the mo.. Awwww ecuador ur so lucky im jealous y cudnt i hav bin the boy n u the pregnant gurl bahahaha.. Misng u heapz 2 n ur nephew jus gav a kick proli sayng hi my lng lost uncle il HOPEFULI get 2 meet 1 day lol..u take care k n hopefuli hear frm ya lucky booty agen soon
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