RIDING NEW ZEALAND'S STRAY BUS

Writer's tour of the world hits the home of the Kiwis

Recuperation was in order after the Great Gonzo Blowout, so I hitched a ride through the South Island aboard a Stray Bus -- a backpacker shuttle that services the whole country. Forty-eight hours later, I was dressed in drag and surrounded by a dozen half-naked girls wearing black garbage bags and little else. Recuperation, my friends, takes many forms.

I had spent a forgettable night in Wellington before crossing the Cook Strait in a storm, connecting with my fellow Strays, a mixed group of primarily English and Germans. Like myself, they were mostly travelling solo, otherwise they probably would have rented one of those cheap camper vans you find in Oz and NZ, colorfully decorated and graffiti'd with slogans like "Are you stoned too?" or "Jesus says 'Let's Party!' " Amen.

The hop-on hop off concept is designed to ease the pain of making decisions. With an iPod pushing out tunes, the driver/guide Wozza rattled off facts and trivia with genuine enthusiasm. This is beautiful country after all... www.canada.com

By Robin Esrock, canada.com - 28th February 2006