23rd March 2009
Leaving Bangkok
Day167
Oh my God I'm so hungover. Check out of the guest house by 10am and went for a full English and a cup of tea to make myself feel better. Must leave Bangkok today - it's so hectic and too much for me right now. Apparently it's best to ignore all the tuk-tuk drivers and touts on the street when they talk to you or strike up a conversation, but I can't. It feels too rude (although here culturally it isn't) and right now I'm drained. Plus all the disabled and disfigured people begging in the streets, lying on the floors in busy areas and the feeling that everyone is trying to rip me off (tourists are walking cash machines - everyone wants a withdrawal). I need to move on.
I waited for a bus to the coach station after I had had my breakfast, but it was so hot and the bus never showed up so I took a taxi. There was so much traffic and I'm sure I turned green. The taxi man was amusing enough. He asked me to guess his age. He looked about 50 odd but I said I didn't know how old he was. He then told me he was 30 years old. There is no way he was 30! I'm sure he ripped me off but once I was at the coach station I didn't care and ran into the toilets to see my breakfast in reverse. It wasn't pretty.
Felt better and got the coach to Ayutthaya. It felt so good to be out of Bangkok. Once in Ayutthaya I got out my map and tried to work out where the hell I was when a man came up to me and asked if I needed help. I said no as I was sure he was trying to sell me something. A few minutes later he came back over and I accepted his offer of help and he pointed me in the right direction. Great! Not everyone is a scammer.
Got to the guest house and noticed one guy staring at me then he asked if I wanted to get some food from the market so off we went. His name was Toby and he was from Australia. He seemed nice but was a bit awkward and when he opened a bottle of water he managed to get most of it on himself. We planned to go out tomorrow and split the cost of a tuk-tuk.
Had a great night sleep on a mattress on the floor of a very cheap room that smelt very strongly of paint.
Showing posts with label march 2009. Show all posts
Showing posts with label march 2009. Show all posts
Thursday, 30 April 2009
Sunday, 19 April 2009
Day 166 How do those chairs spin?
22nd March 2009
No change and spinning chairs
Day 166
Well how cheeky is this - I went around some stalls today and bought a pair of socks. I bargained for them as they were 20 baht (40p) and the woman agreed on 15 baht (30p). So i hand over 20 baht and she hands me the socks and does not give me any change! I start to ask for my change when a guy on the next stall tells me she doesn't speak English. How very convenient! I was right chuffed with actually bargaining for something at first.
Anyway at night I went around Khoa San Road with Lucy and some of her friends. It's a shame she is going back to England soon as we get on really well. Had a great night out anyway - we noticed the stools in a bar would rotate when touching another stool and had this sort of mechanical stool thing going on. A bouncer walked past and Lucy pointed out the spinning chairs. Then one minute later these bouncers appeared with flash lights searching under the chairs and up the walls thinking we were up to something! They all got so paranoid!
Day 165 Bangkok
21st March 2009
Exploring Bangkok
Day 165
Went exploring today. Passed a man offering a tuk-tuk (motorbike-van-taxi contraption) for 5 baht (10p), which made me and another tuk-tuk driver laugh as these things are always scams when offered that cheap. Got speaking to a Official Tourist guy (99% sure he was official) who taught me some Thai words and got me a tuk-tuk and sent me on a tour of Bangkok and I saw big Buddhas and a marble palace then went to a tourist office to ask about bus times for north Thailand and the guy there got carried away and tried to sell me a trip for 1800 pounds and wrote out a plan. When I said no it was awkward.
The food here is so good and cheap. Had a lovely Thai meal then bought a Cornetto and fell asleep in my room.
Exploring Bangkok
Day 165
Went exploring today. Passed a man offering a tuk-tuk (motorbike-van-taxi contraption) for 5 baht (10p), which made me and another tuk-tuk driver laugh as these things are always scams when offered that cheap. Got speaking to a Official Tourist guy (99% sure he was official) who taught me some Thai words and got me a tuk-tuk and sent me on a tour of Bangkok and I saw big Buddhas and a marble palace then went to a tourist office to ask about bus times for north Thailand and the guy there got carried away and tried to sell me a trip for 1800 pounds and wrote out a plan. When I said no it was awkward.
The food here is so good and cheap. Had a lovely Thai meal then bought a Cornetto and fell asleep in my room.
Saturday, 4 April 2009
Day 164 Bangkok
20th March 2009
Bangkok
Day 164
Landed in Bangkok at 11:30pm Thai time. Went to the prayer room to get some sleep but people were praying in there (obv). One guy was lying down and getting some kip but he looked Thai and suddenly I didn't think it was appropriate for me to go in there and try to get some sleep.
There were no more buses to the city so I slept in the departure lounge. It was noisy and cold and not nice on the steel chairs. Not a good nights sleep (3 hours sleep max). I woke up and opened my eyes and saw a monk on the seats opposite in bright orange robes.
At 5am I went to get my bus to the city centre but just missed it. A guy there that I asked said the next bus would be in 2 hours, but he could take me to a taxi. I declined as I wasn't sure if he was just saying this so he could get commission for the taxi, and guess what - another bus was there in 10 minutes.
Went to a guest house near the main strip of Khoa San Road in Bangkok. They passed me the keys for me to check the room before I decided to stay. To be honest I would not know what to expect and probably would have stayed anywhere with being so tired after my night in the airport combined with my lack of knowledge in knowing what a good room was, but I went to check anyway. There was no lift so I set off up the stairs to the first floor, then I realised the lady had said 'third floor' , not 'first'. So I trekked up 2 more flights of stairs.
The room was basically four walls with a metal frame bed, a window and a fan on the roof. I thought it was well cool, and only 4 quid! (Hostels in Oz had been up to 15 quid). Was jet lagged and couldn't sleep so went for a walk. It started raining so I went to a bar. There was one other person at the bar and we got chatting. She was from England too and also staying in the same hostel as me! Quite a coincidence in the most touristy and popular city in Thailand.
We (Lucy and I) decided to meet up later for some drinks in Khoa San Road. It was crazy! There were people everywhere. Bedlam. There was stalls selling foods and so many beggars sitting in the road, many of them disabled. I was shocked.
We picked a bar to sit at and sat on the seats near the front. Bad idea. So many people came up to us every few minutes and tried to sell us all sorts of things - bracelets, wooden frogs, etc. It was awkward, mostly because we weren't use to how to handle the situation. A 'no thank you' would not always work and the sellers would keep trying or just stand there. So we went to another bar that was on a balcony away from the street sellers. Problem was that the music in there was so loud that we could hardly talk.
On the walk back to our hostel we came across an elephant. It was a baby elephant in the street. Its owner was parading it around selling nuts to people so they could feed it. Random.
Bangkok is crazy.
Bangkok
Day 164
Landed in Bangkok at 11:30pm Thai time. Went to the prayer room to get some sleep but people were praying in there (obv). One guy was lying down and getting some kip but he looked Thai and suddenly I didn't think it was appropriate for me to go in there and try to get some sleep.
There were no more buses to the city so I slept in the departure lounge. It was noisy and cold and not nice on the steel chairs. Not a good nights sleep (3 hours sleep max). I woke up and opened my eyes and saw a monk on the seats opposite in bright orange robes.
At 5am I went to get my bus to the city centre but just missed it. A guy there that I asked said the next bus would be in 2 hours, but he could take me to a taxi. I declined as I wasn't sure if he was just saying this so he could get commission for the taxi, and guess what - another bus was there in 10 minutes.
Went to a guest house near the main strip of Khoa San Road in Bangkok. They passed me the keys for me to check the room before I decided to stay. To be honest I would not know what to expect and probably would have stayed anywhere with being so tired after my night in the airport combined with my lack of knowledge in knowing what a good room was, but I went to check anyway. There was no lift so I set off up the stairs to the first floor, then I realised the lady had said 'third floor' , not 'first'. So I trekked up 2 more flights of stairs.
The room was basically four walls with a metal frame bed, a window and a fan on the roof. I thought it was well cool, and only 4 quid! (Hostels in Oz had been up to 15 quid). Was jet lagged and couldn't sleep so went for a walk. It started raining so I went to a bar. There was one other person at the bar and we got chatting. She was from England too and also staying in the same hostel as me! Quite a coincidence in the most touristy and popular city in Thailand.
We (Lucy and I) decided to meet up later for some drinks in Khoa San Road. It was crazy! There were people everywhere. Bedlam. There was stalls selling foods and so many beggars sitting in the road, many of them disabled. I was shocked.
We picked a bar to sit at and sat on the seats near the front. Bad idea. So many people came up to us every few minutes and tried to sell us all sorts of things - bracelets, wooden frogs, etc. It was awkward, mostly because we weren't use to how to handle the situation. A 'no thank you' would not always work and the sellers would keep trying or just stand there. So we went to another bar that was on a balcony away from the street sellers. Problem was that the music in there was so loud that we could hardly talk.
On the walk back to our hostel we came across an elephant. It was a baby elephant in the street. Its owner was parading it around selling nuts to people so they could feed it. Random.
Bangkok is crazy.
Day 163 Bye NZ
19th March 2009
Bye NZ
Day 163
Have enjoyed my time in NZ (even through the 2 days of moaning). Have seen what life is like out here compared to the UK. It's so much more laid back. Work doesn't overflow into daily life and there are so many activities. Makes it seem stupid to get stressed out about work at home. Don't think I could live here though - I'd want something more going on, to live somewhere more vibrant.
Off to Thailand now bye!
P.S. Marianne did get back to the hostel.
Bye NZ
Day 163
Have enjoyed my time in NZ (even through the 2 days of moaning). Have seen what life is like out here compared to the UK. It's so much more laid back. Work doesn't overflow into daily life and there are so many activities. Makes it seem stupid to get stressed out about work at home. Don't think I could live here though - I'd want something more going on, to live somewhere more vibrant.
Off to Thailand now bye!
P.S. Marianne did get back to the hostel.
Day 162 Hungover
18th March 2009
Hungover
Day 162
Hungover. Went out with Marianne last night for St. Patricks Day (any excuse). Am a little worried as she did not come back last night and she should be back by now surely?
Booked the '$5 shuttle bus' to the airport. Guess how much it costs? $7 is the official price. So they said it has a $2 surcharge for petrol, but charged me $5. I don't get it.
Hungover
Day 162
Hungover. Went out with Marianne last night for St. Patricks Day (any excuse). Am a little worried as she did not come back last night and she should be back by now surely?
Booked the '$5 shuttle bus' to the airport. Guess how much it costs? $7 is the official price. So they said it has a $2 surcharge for petrol, but charged me $5. I don't get it.
Day 161 St. Patricks Day
17th March 2009
St. Patricks Day
Day 161
Leaving the beautiful Queenstown and heading up north to Christchurch, my last stop in NZ. Have chosen not to stay in the awful Base Hostel chain, like everyone usually does but am staying a little out of the way with a Swedish girl who doesn't want to stay at Base either.
So today is St. Patricks Day. Marianne and I are going out tonight to celebrate (well people usually guess I'm Irish so I might as well party with them). Just want to get to Thailand now. NZ is too much like home and I want something different - different culture, food, people.
St. Patricks Day
Day 161
Leaving the beautiful Queenstown and heading up north to Christchurch, my last stop in NZ. Have chosen not to stay in the awful Base Hostel chain, like everyone usually does but am staying a little out of the way with a Swedish girl who doesn't want to stay at Base either.
So today is St. Patricks Day. Marianne and I are going out tonight to celebrate (well people usually guess I'm Irish so I might as well party with them). Just want to get to Thailand now. NZ is too much like home and I want something different - different culture, food, people.
Day 160 Excitement
16th March 2009
Excitement
Day 160
Hannah and Helena left this morning. We are in Vietnam around the same time so hopefully will meet up again. Can't wait to go to Thailand in 3 days time! I get there at 11pm so have decided to sleep in the airport (have slept in Prague and Cairns airport before but this may be a little different). Usually get a bit nervous and worried before going to new countries but I am so happy and excited and I know it'll be fine.
Excitement
Day 160
Hannah and Helena left this morning. We are in Vietnam around the same time so hopefully will meet up again. Can't wait to go to Thailand in 3 days time! I get there at 11pm so have decided to sleep in the airport (have slept in Prague and Cairns airport before but this may be a little different). Usually get a bit nervous and worried before going to new countries but I am so happy and excited and I know it'll be fine.
Day 159 Good day
15th March 2009
Good Day
Day 159
Lie in! Fergburger. Day on the waterfront watching an extreme parachute skill event. Night in watching films and eating sweets with the girls. What a good day.
Good Day
Day 159
Lie in! Fergburger. Day on the waterfront watching an extreme parachute skill event. Night in watching films and eating sweets with the girls. What a good day.
Day 158 Bungee!
14th March 2009
Bungee!
Day 158
Up and off to the bungee site this morning. I was calm and looking forward to it. Got a little over-thinking on the way there. Not about being scared but was wondering if this is the best thing I'll ever do and how will I match it after. If this is the most thrilling and daring thing I ever do then what's left?
Got to the bungee site and quickly forgot about these thoughts once my
harness was fitted. We got a gondola to the jump station that was suspended over 200 metres above a river by some wires.
They attached the bungee cords to my feet and led me to the edge. All I heard was the '3-2-1' count and I jumped off the worlds 3rd highest bungee jump. 134 metres of freefall! The fall was crazy - just the feeling of falling through the air at such a speed, screaming and laughing like a madman.
The whole thing was over in a minute and I was hauled back to the top.
I celebrated with a Fergburger (the best burgers in NZ, if not the world) and went out partying around Queenstown at night with the girls from my room.
All in all I'd say the bungee jump is the biggest rush and most exciting thing I have ever done.
Bungee!
Day 158
Up and off to the bungee site this morning. I was calm and looking forward to it. Got a little over-thinking on the way there. Not about being scared but was wondering if this is the best thing I'll ever do and how will I match it after. If this is the most thrilling and daring thing I ever do then what's left?
Got to the bungee site and quickly forgot about these thoughts once my
harness was fitted. We got a gondola to the jump station that was suspended over 200 metres above a river by some wires.They attached the bungee cords to my feet and led me to the edge. All I heard was the '3-2-1' count and I jumped off the worlds 3rd highest bungee jump. 134 metres of freefall! The fall was crazy - just the feeling of falling through the air at such a speed, screaming and laughing like a madman.
The whole thing was over in a minute and I was hauled back to the top.
I celebrated with a Fergburger (the best burgers in NZ, if not the world) and went out partying around Queenstown at night with the girls from my room.
All in all I'd say the bungee jump is the biggest rush and most exciting thing I have ever done.
Friday, 27 March 2009
Day 156 QUEENSTOWN
12th March 2009
QUEENSTOWN
Day 156
Everyone I have met who has been to New Zealand says their favourite place is Queenstown. I thought it might be good but never expected it to match the hype, but I was wrong - it's great!
We have managed to get a four bed private room with en suite somehow. Helena, Hannah, Marianne and I have a bath in the en suite, a TV in the room and packs of coffee and milo (chocolate drink)!.
We stayed in tonight watching films and eating sweets that we got from the British Sweet Shop (mmm... minstrels).
QUEENSTOWN
Day 156
Everyone I have met who has been to New Zealand says their favourite place is Queenstown. I thought it might be good but never expected it to match the hype, but I was wrong - it's great!
We have managed to get a four bed private room with en suite somehow. Helena, Hannah, Marianne and I have a bath in the en suite, a TV in the room and packs of coffee and milo (chocolate drink)!.
We stayed in tonight watching films and eating sweets that we got from the British Sweet Shop (mmm... minstrels).
Day 155 Face masks
11th March 2009
Pamper Day
Day 155
Today we left Franz Josef and came to Wanaka. Helana, Hannah and I paid an extra 1 dollar and were upgraded to the girls only dorm called the sanctuary! Got a complimentary towel, moisturiser, tea, coffee and glass of bubbly. Spent the night reading magazines, washing hair (they even had a blow dryer), doing face masks, drinking tea and painting nails.
Well good!
Pamper Day
Day 155
Today we left Franz Josef and came to Wanaka. Helana, Hannah and I paid an extra 1 dollar and were upgraded to the girls only dorm called the sanctuary! Got a complimentary towel, moisturiser, tea, coffee and glass of bubbly. Spent the night reading magazines, washing hair (they even had a blow dryer), doing face masks, drinking tea and painting nails.
Well good!
Day 154 No glacier for me thanks
10th March 2009
Skipping the glacier
Day 154
Chilled out with Hannah and Helena today. Most people went to do the glacier hike because they say "I want to do the glacier hike because I don't know when I'll have the chance to do one again". Well to be honest I have never wanted to do one and don't think I ever will.
Today it was raining. Most people got back around 8pm ish, soaking wet and not very happy. When I asked how it was, the 2 replies were either "cold" or "wet".
Skipping the glacier
Day 154
Chilled out with Hannah and Helena today. Most people went to do the glacier hike because they say "I want to do the glacier hike because I don't know when I'll have the chance to do one again". Well to be honest I have never wanted to do one and don't think I ever will.
Today it was raining. Most people got back around 8pm ish, soaking wet and not very happy. When I asked how it was, the 2 replies were either "cold" or "wet".
Day 153 To the Glacier
9th March 2009
Glacey
Day 153
So I was a power ranger last night. Had a right good time at the party. Drunk a little (not paraletic!) and ended up partying on the beach and going for a dip in the sea. Today we drove to Franz Josef, the place with the glacier.
Glacey
Day 153
So I was a power ranger last night. Had a right good time at the party. Drunk a little (not paraletic!) and ended up partying on the beach and going for a dip in the sea. Today we drove to Franz Josef, the place with the glacier.
Tuesday, 24 March 2009
Day 152 Go, go Power Rangers
8th March 2009
POW!
Day 152
Feeling in a slightly better mood today, which isn't hard. So looking forward to Thailand now - something different and cheap. Can't wait to get to south-east Asia and book some tours and go to some classes. And then there's the massages! Ah I could do with a back massage now. Anyway, I'm at a place called Lake Manihipua today and have met some girls from my bus. It's a fancy dress party tonight and the theme is 'P'. Everyone must go as something beginning with the letter 'P'. The girls I met, Hannah and Helena, and I have decided to go as Power Rangers. POW!
POW!
Day 152
Feeling in a slightly better mood today, which isn't hard. So looking forward to Thailand now - something different and cheap. Can't wait to get to south-east Asia and book some tours and go to some classes. And then there's the massages! Ah I could do with a back massage now. Anyway, I'm at a place called Lake Manihipua today and have met some girls from my bus. It's a fancy dress party tonight and the theme is 'P'. Everyone must go as something beginning with the letter 'P'. The girls I met, Hannah and Helena, and I have decided to go as Power Rangers. POW!
Day 151 Moaning
7th March 2009
Moan moan moan
Day 151
Got V festival tickets sorted last night for me and Tania! It's going to be so cool. Oasis and The Killers are headlining.
That's the good news.
I am on a right downer today. I have had enough and it's only 9:30am. Today isn't going to be good. I want to get out of New Zealand. Same old shit every day and night. Money decreasing, chance of getting on the PGCE course decreasing, I've had enough. Just noticed that I've been away for 5 months today. What a way to commemorate the occasion by having a rant and being depressed. God awful bus, every night surrounded by teenagers whose sole mission, every night, is to get as drunk as possible. EVERY NIGHT! Then being woken up all the time. Lying in bed trying to cover my ears then when I get up in the morning I try to be so quiet - it's all bull shit.
12 days left in NZ - enough to throw myself off a ledge (bungee jump).
Later...
We had a stop by a lake and I ended up chatting to some people who were not on the bus but who had been camping in the area for the past few days. Oh I was so glad to speak to some normal people. They were so normal and nice! When I got to the next destination, I met a girl at the hostel who wasn't from my bus either and chatted to her for a while. She had been hitch-hiking around NZ and it was so good to have a conversation with someone that did not centre around alcohol.
Moan moan moan
Day 151
Got V festival tickets sorted last night for me and Tania! It's going to be so cool. Oasis and The Killers are headlining.
That's the good news.
I am on a right downer today. I have had enough and it's only 9:30am. Today isn't going to be good. I want to get out of New Zealand. Same old shit every day and night. Money decreasing, chance of getting on the PGCE course decreasing, I've had enough. Just noticed that I've been away for 5 months today. What a way to commemorate the occasion by having a rant and being depressed. God awful bus, every night surrounded by teenagers whose sole mission, every night, is to get as drunk as possible. EVERY NIGHT! Then being woken up all the time. Lying in bed trying to cover my ears then when I get up in the morning I try to be so quiet - it's all bull shit.
12 days left in NZ - enough to throw myself off a ledge (bungee jump).
Later...
We had a stop by a lake and I ended up chatting to some people who were not on the bus but who had been camping in the area for the past few days. Oh I was so glad to speak to some normal people. They were so normal and nice! When I got to the next destination, I met a girl at the hostel who wasn't from my bus either and chatted to her for a while. She had been hitch-hiking around NZ and it was so good to have a conversation with someone that did not centre around alcohol.
Day 150 Ferry Drama
6th March 2009
How hard is it to get on a coach?
Day 150
So my coach that picks me up from the hostel and goes to the ferry terminal for the ferry to the south island leaves at 7:15am... or so I thought. I got outside the hostel at 7:15am to see it drive past me. Ok so maybe I got there a little after 7:15 and I remember the driver yesterday saying they leave Wellington at 7:15 even thought I thought he was just saying that to get me there 15 minutes early (like they usually do) and I thought the actual time the coach would leave was 7:30 am. By these calculations I was about 10 minutes early for the coach. It just worried me that the coach had just driven past me and that there was no one else around waiting for a coach, well there was no one else around at all!
Getting slightly worried, I went into the hostel and asked what time the coach usually leaves. The girl behind the desk said she didn't know, but she had just seen a coach drive past. To save face, I said that it was just going to get petrol (which I hoped) even though I obviously had no idea and I had just asked about it and now I was acting like I knew what was going on to avoid the embarassment of knowing that she was thinking I had missed the coach. It was very bizarre.
I went back outside and was extremely aware that I was on my own. My ticket for the ferry, which I had bought last night, said final check in time was 7:40am. It was now 7:30am. Not bothered about losing face anymore I went back to the receptionist and asked her to call me a taxi. The taxi was at the hostel in 5 minutes, although it felt I had been waiting a lot longer. The taxi man said it would take 10 minutes to get to the ferry terminal.
I told him about how I'd been at the hostel on time and how the coach had driven straight past me and now I may miss the ferry. He seemed to be listening (a taxi driver skill?), but did not seem to share the same outrage at the coach driver as I did.
In the end, I got to the terminal and onto the ferry and was still fuming so marched over to the phones and tried to call the coach office to inform them that I had been stranded and forgotten. I frantically pressed the buttons but found that none of the phones worked, which looking back was definately a good thing as when I had calmed down I admitted to myself that the coach hadn't left early but it was I who had been late and missed the coach.
How hard is it to get on a coach?
Day 150
So my coach that picks me up from the hostel and goes to the ferry terminal for the ferry to the south island leaves at 7:15am... or so I thought. I got outside the hostel at 7:15am to see it drive past me. Ok so maybe I got there a little after 7:15 and I remember the driver yesterday saying they leave Wellington at 7:15 even thought I thought he was just saying that to get me there 15 minutes early (like they usually do) and I thought the actual time the coach would leave was 7:30 am. By these calculations I was about 10 minutes early for the coach. It just worried me that the coach had just driven past me and that there was no one else around waiting for a coach, well there was no one else around at all!
Getting slightly worried, I went into the hostel and asked what time the coach usually leaves. The girl behind the desk said she didn't know, but she had just seen a coach drive past. To save face, I said that it was just going to get petrol (which I hoped) even though I obviously had no idea and I had just asked about it and now I was acting like I knew what was going on to avoid the embarassment of knowing that she was thinking I had missed the coach. It was very bizarre.
I went back outside and was extremely aware that I was on my own. My ticket for the ferry, which I had bought last night, said final check in time was 7:40am. It was now 7:30am. Not bothered about losing face anymore I went back to the receptionist and asked her to call me a taxi. The taxi was at the hostel in 5 minutes, although it felt I had been waiting a lot longer. The taxi man said it would take 10 minutes to get to the ferry terminal.
I told him about how I'd been at the hostel on time and how the coach had driven straight past me and now I may miss the ferry. He seemed to be listening (a taxi driver skill?), but did not seem to share the same outrage at the coach driver as I did.
In the end, I got to the terminal and onto the ferry and was still fuming so marched over to the phones and tried to call the coach office to inform them that I had been stranded and forgotten. I frantically pressed the buttons but found that none of the phones worked, which looking back was definately a good thing as when I had calmed down I admitted to myself that the coach hadn't left early but it was I who had been late and missed the coach.
Day 149 Te Papa Museum
5th March 2009
A museum is still a museum
Day 149
Got up and went to Te Papa Museum, New Zealand's best and interactive experience apparently. Everyone raves on about how good it is and how 'you'll need at least a whole day there'. I was in and out in 2 hours. It was OK and all but maybe it was bigged up too much.
A museum is still a museum
Day 149
Got up and went to Te Papa Museum, New Zealand's best and interactive experience apparently. Everyone raves on about how good it is and how 'you'll need at least a whole day there'. I was in and out in 2 hours. It was OK and all but maybe it was bigged up too much.
Day 148 Hostels, urgh
4th March 2009
Hostel life
Day 148
Was woken up at 2:30am by a fire alarm. Everyone in the hostel had to go down the fire escape (5 floors for me) and wait outside until the firemen said it was OK to go back inside. It was quite random seeing everyone in their pyjamas and some still pissed up, including this guy who's birthday it had been. His friends had to carry him down the fire escape and he had pen all over his face from where they'd been writing on him.
It didn't take long until we could go back to our rooms (up 5 floors). Apparently someone had set off the fire alarm. Very clever.
Got back to sleep only to be woken up by 3 girls in the room returning from their night out and turning on the light. They began reminiscing, loudly, about how liberating they found it when they participated in the bar game that involved them stripping off in front of the whole bar for a free drink (I doubt they'll feel liberated in the morning. How quickly it changes to embarassment). They eventually went to sleep.
In the morning the sounds of a pneumatic drill on the streets below rung in my ears even though the room was far up and the windows were closed. Unfortunately they didn't shut properly. Oh the joys of staying in a hostel!
Hostel life
Day 148
Was woken up at 2:30am by a fire alarm. Everyone in the hostel had to go down the fire escape (5 floors for me) and wait outside until the firemen said it was OK to go back inside. It was quite random seeing everyone in their pyjamas and some still pissed up, including this guy who's birthday it had been. His friends had to carry him down the fire escape and he had pen all over his face from where they'd been writing on him.
It didn't take long until we could go back to our rooms (up 5 floors). Apparently someone had set off the fire alarm. Very clever.
Got back to sleep only to be woken up by 3 girls in the room returning from their night out and turning on the light. They began reminiscing, loudly, about how liberating they found it when they participated in the bar game that involved them stripping off in front of the whole bar for a free drink (I doubt they'll feel liberated in the morning. How quickly it changes to embarassment). They eventually went to sleep.
In the morning the sounds of a pneumatic drill on the streets below rung in my ears even though the room was far up and the windows were closed. Unfortunately they didn't shut properly. Oh the joys of staying in a hostel!
Day 147 Purr
3rd March 2009
Forest
Day 147
I woke up early this morning - 2am early. It was due to the purr-ing sound quite loud and at first I thought some wild animal had got in the room through the window. Bravely, I opened my eyes to see what it was. It was the 'Forest', the hostels cat and he was walking over everyone's beds. It jumped on my bed and I moved my legs out of the way. It lay down, curled up in a ball and fell asleep. So I spent the night with a cat in my bed, with my legs dangling off the edge.
Forest was still in my bed after I'd got up in the morning, having a lie in. Later in the day when I was reading my book he walked past me. I stretched out to stroke him and he avoided me. Charming!
Well later on today I'm off to Wellington, New Zealand's capital city and am rather excited about it.
Forest
Day 147
I woke up early this morning - 2am early. It was due to the purr-ing sound quite loud and at first I thought some wild animal had got in the room through the window. Bravely, I opened my eyes to see what it was. It was the 'Forest', the hostels cat and he was walking over everyone's beds. It jumped on my bed and I moved my legs out of the way. It lay down, curled up in a ball and fell asleep. So I spent the night with a cat in my bed, with my legs dangling off the edge.
Forest was still in my bed after I'd got up in the morning, having a lie in. Later in the day when I was reading my book he walked past me. I stretched out to stroke him and he avoided me. Charming!
Well later on today I'm off to Wellington, New Zealand's capital city and am rather excited about it.
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