Arrival in Tauranga

Of course, it went wrong.
The bus was 30 minutes late, so I would have missed the connecting bus. But luckily, that one was also delayed - by a whole two hours!
And so I stood there, in the dark, in the cold, with a handful of other backpackers in Rotorua, waiting. And waiting. Eventually, I started talking to some Chinese people and a Maori girl. It happens.
The Chinese people will be working on a kiwi farm in Te Puke. The girl is visiting her family there, she actually studies in Hamilton.
Eventually, the bus arrived and we all fell into the seats (warm!). I continued to chat with Reese (aka the Maori girl), and she told me a lot about her culture. In the end, we exchanged numbers, you never know.
And finally, I arrived in Tauranga. My Couchsurfing place was very close to the bus station, so I didn't have to walk much.
And this Couchsurfing place needs to be described:
I am currently living in the Wharf Community in Tauranga. It's a shared apartment of three women, supported by the Christian community. There is room for four more guests. As a Couchsurfer, I get free accommodation, bathroom, and food in the first week. It's amazing. I have landed in heaven.
The three of them are super crazy (at the moment they are partying in a bar, dressed as clowns), but somehow cute. I have found a new home.
Every Thursday, the community has a potluck where everyone brings a dish and we have a big buffet. That means the place was packed when I arrived with all my stuff. But I didn't care about the people, I just emptied the buffet. After that, I just wanted to sleep, but I managed to make some small talk.
This shared apartment cannot be described, it just needs to be experienced. I am definitely very happy that I can stay here for a while.
The next day, I wanted to look for a job. At the same time, I explored the city center of Tauranga. There isn't much to see there, only the beach promenade is beautiful. The sun was shining again, which added to the positive vibes.
I applied to numerous restaurants and cafes, let's see what comes out of it. On a spontaneous decision, I also sent applications to a construction company and some other company that I still don't quite know what it does. But they are hiring people...
After a quick lunch break (have I mentioned the free food yet? The fridge is filled with delicious stuff!), I wanted to tick off a highlight of the area: Mount Maunganui.
Referred to as 'The Mount' by everyone, the mountain stands 232m tall. The Maori call it 'Mauao' (caught by the morning sun) and there is a legend around it:
Once, this mountain had no name. The nameless one was in love with the mountain Puwhena, but she had given her heart to the boss mountain Otanewainuku. Desperate, the nameless one decided to drown himself. He called the Patupaiarehe (fairies) to carry him towards the ocean. But as soon as they touched the first rays of the sun, they turned into dust and the nameless one was trapped - but at least he got a name.
Nowadays, the Mount is a tourist attraction and there is a long shopping street in front of it. It also seems to be the natural gym for the residents - the mountain is climbed not only by hikers but also by walkers and even joggers.
To get there, you have to leave Tauranga CBD and enter the district of Mt Maunganui; about 20 minutes by car and just under two hours on foot. Now guess what I chose.
Arriving there, I wasn't cold, perfect conditions for a mountain climb. There are several paths to the summit, please spare me from writing out the names. It took me about half an hour, joggers probably a bit less.
At the top, there was a wonderful view of the east coast of the Bay of Plenty. The neighborhood unfolded in front of me, and I could even see Whale Island. I spent at least 30 minutes admiring the view from the summit (and resting my calves a bit).
Once I got back down, I strolled along the beach a bit when it suddenly started raining. And by 'suddenly', I mean 'suddenly'. Within a few minutes, clouds appeared, and I quickly sought shelter at a food truck (where, by the way, a German backpacker works).
But as quickly as the rain came, it was also gone. And so, the beach walk continued, although the mood wasn't as good anymore. Plus, it was getting late and I was getting tired. But there was still something that lured me: the sunset from the summit.
So, I went up another 232m, my calves protested. And up there, I realized that we were not even looking towards the west.
Great.
Completely demotivated, I started the descent and the way back. I took the bus. It had to be done.
Back in the community, there was a hearty dinner before the others headed to the bar (dressed up...). I decided to have a relaxed evening, wash my hair, and write this entry.
I am curious about what I will do tomorrow - hopefully, it will involve a job. At this point, I am getting a little desperate...