My Sister Is Far Away

My big sister has been to some really interesting places, for long periods of time, all on Sony's budget. She's a photographer, you see, and she's had assignments in places like Prague (for The Chronicles of Narnia), New York (for Spiderman), she's even been on a window-washing cart on the top of the tallest building in Los Angeles. See:

That's her in the middle.

Right now she's in New Zealand, one of the most isolated places on earth. This trip isn't for work, though. This is her first actual vacation in years. She's there, alone, for over a week...and I'm a little worried about her. She's an independent person, as well as tough and smart, so I don't think she'll do anything stupid...but it's a big world, and things happen. I'm excited for her too, though. I've experienced the excitement of being alone in a foreign city...it's thrilling, and I think everyone needs to try it sometime in their life. She's lonely though, which is something I've also experienced in a foreign city...the last place you want to suddenly realize you're lonely is oceans away from everyone you know and love.
Here's her latest update:

Day 1
1. 4hr. bus ride to Rotorua.
2. Geo-thermal lake-spa to unwind.
3. Hungi = traditional Maori buffet and cultural performance (not at all exploitative) with Phil, the 57-year-old married dude from Australia who offered to drive me around Rotorua the next day and then back to Auckland. When I declined, he admired my independent spirit but cautioned it could eventually impede me from meeting "mr. right". Thank you, "doctor" phil.

Day 2
1. Gondola ride, seafood buffet (I'm a total sucker for a good buffet, I have no idea why), and LUGE RIDES!!!
2. BUNGY JUMPING!!! I never thought I would do this and probably never will again, but at least my stubborn-ass can say I did it!
3. Jameson on the rocks x2 at a local Irish bar to "settle my nerves" as the bartender put it when I told her what I had just done. She also cautioned me about being out alone at night even in a quiet lake-town. I'm sure my parents would appreciate her advice even though she didn't warn me about jellyfish like they both did...
4. Impulse souvenir shopping
5. 1/2 bottle of "clearskin" pinot noir, take-away pizza and a quick mishap with some balsamic vinaigrette and my leather earth-boots.
6. Back to the geo-thermal spa pools with a live reggae band overheard from across the lake, as recommended by the adventure-tour-bus-driver.

Don't waste your time being lonely, Lee. You'll regret not enjoying yourself when you aren't lonely anymore, whenever that may be.

*She even has an IMDB page, which I just discovered while trying to remember what movies she's worked on!