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.
Showing posts with label new zealand. Show all posts
Showing posts with label new zealand. Show all posts
Saturday, 4 April 2009
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.
Day 157 Milford Sounds
13th March 2009
Milford Sounds
Day 157
Up at 7am to get the coach to Milford Sounds. It's fantastic! Absolutely amazing - waterfalls, seals, mountains, beautiful
Milford Sounds
Day 157
Up at 7am to get the coach to Milford Sounds. It's fantastic! Absolutely amazing - waterfalls, seals, mountains, beautiful
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.
Day 146 Dude where's my memory?
2nd March 2009
Blank
Day 146
At a place called River Valley now. Thinking that yesterday morning I was probably still a bit drunk from the night before, but I did feel great all day and talked to so many different people. I've got a bit of a niggling feeling that I did something bad on Friday night. All I can remember is being in a bar on some guys back who was dressed as a fairy, then sitting on some chairs having a drunken conversation with someone then being in reception and asking where I could get some chips. That is all. The great new group of people that were so friendly and chatty with me on Friday day are no longer friendly and chatty which makes me feel confused, slightly amused but curious.
I told a Swedish girl I'm here with about it and she thought it was funny as I did. It's fine really, but I would like to know what actually happened.
Blank
Day 146
At a place called River Valley now. Thinking that yesterday morning I was probably still a bit drunk from the night before, but I did feel great all day and talked to so many different people. I've got a bit of a niggling feeling that I did something bad on Friday night. All I can remember is being in a bar on some guys back who was dressed as a fairy, then sitting on some chairs having a drunken conversation with someone then being in reception and asking where I could get some chips. That is all. The great new group of people that were so friendly and chatty with me on Friday day are no longer friendly and chatty which makes me feel confused, slightly amused but curious.
I told a Swedish girl I'm here with about it and she thought it was funny as I did. It's fine really, but I would like to know what actually happened.
Saturday, 21 March 2009
Day 145 SKYDIVE
1st March 2009
Flying (well, falling actually)
Day 145
Hungover this morning - all that goon and beer combined with whatever I ate last night plus forgetting to brush my teeth before bed resulted in not the nicest smelling breath this morning. Ew. Oh well at least I don't have a big dirty lovebite on my neck.
No time to feel ill though. Had a shower and was singing. Happy this morning and went for a skydive!!! It was fantastic. Got ace pictures and a video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svealuwP4W0 (click this for the video)
Flying (well, falling actually)
Day 145
Hungover this morning - all that goon and beer combined with whatever I ate last night plus forgetting to brush my teeth before bed resulted in not the nicest smelling breath this morning. Ew. Oh well at least I don't have a big dirty lovebite on my neck.
No time to feel ill though. Had a shower and was singing. Happy this morning and went for a skydive!!! It was fantastic. Got ace pictures and a video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svealuwP4W0 (click this for the video)
Day 144 Free drinks competition
28th February 2009
Free drinks?
Day 144
Leaving Karen's today. It's been good staying with the family for 3 weeks, but now it's time to go.
Got on the Kiwi Experience bus in Waitomo and met some really cool people. Went to Taupo and to the bar and got drunk for the first time in weeks (The drinking games and goon was a little excessive)! At the bar they needed volunteers for a competition to win free alcohol at the bar, which is stupid really as the people who volunteer for the competition are the ones who have drunk way too much anyway. So I volunteered. Standing in front of everyone was 3 guys and 3 girls - (me being one of the girls obv). Then the announcement was made that it was a lovebite competition and whichever guy gave a girl the best lovebite would win the pair some free drinks. Lovely.
So I started pulling my face and was asked if I wanted to be part of the competition. I decided against it as I'd prefer to pay for my drinks than walk around with a big dirty lovebite for the next week. So I walked over to my new friends and thought they would be in support of my decision, but they all seemed pissed off and didn't get it! No one seems bothered about morals or anything that gets in the way of free drinks. Maybe I'm getting old?...
Free drinks?
Day 144
Leaving Karen's today. It's been good staying with the family for 3 weeks, but now it's time to go.
Got on the Kiwi Experience bus in Waitomo and met some really cool people. Went to Taupo and to the bar and got drunk for the first time in weeks (The drinking games and goon was a little excessive)! At the bar they needed volunteers for a competition to win free alcohol at the bar, which is stupid really as the people who volunteer for the competition are the ones who have drunk way too much anyway. So I volunteered. Standing in front of everyone was 3 guys and 3 girls - (me being one of the girls obv). Then the announcement was made that it was a lovebite competition and whichever guy gave a girl the best lovebite would win the pair some free drinks. Lovely.
So I started pulling my face and was asked if I wanted to be part of the competition. I decided against it as I'd prefer to pay for my drinks than walk around with a big dirty lovebite for the next week. So I walked over to my new friends and thought they would be in support of my decision, but they all seemed pissed off and didn't get it! No one seems bothered about morals or anything that gets in the way of free drinks. Maybe I'm getting old?...
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