Me in New Zealand wlth my Camera!!!

Nelson

Luging with Lucy

New Zealand.

Random views from New Zealand. And Lucy the flowers are lupins, not foxgloves.

Arty photos from Luce

Coats and cocktails (pics)

While in Queenstown we ventured into the ice bar for drinks. About minus 5 degrees! Even the glasses were made of ice (with something added to prevent tongues sticking to the rim -important to know). Obviously they can't wash them up afterwards so we got to smash them. Took Lucy several attempts.

In which we travel to Queenstown and discover the best burgers in the world.

This is just a stunningly beautiful place. I actually cannot stop taking photos, every view is better than the last.

Ferg Burger. (pic)

Possibly the best burger in the world- yes even better than LA's in-and-out burger.

Lucy in the best bed in the world

In which I am hoodwinked into glacier climbing.

I'd booked what I imagined as a nice trip into the Frans Josef Glacier on the advice of an Irish girl. Lucy declined on account of both heights and lack of balance, though I assured her that it would be a tourist geared stroll on icy yet ultimatly safe and gentle paths. I was totally misguided in this. (And also in my hopes of frequent snack and lunch stops).

What it actually involved was a 4km hike to the glacier, then we attached spikey things to our feet (crampets? crimpets? anybody?) and used pick axes to hack trecherous paths through crevices, leaped hurtling drops, and basicly hung onto life by a thread. Lucy would have died. There was a ridiculous moment as I balanced on an icy ledge, inches wide, hugging the glacier face with my pick axe embedded in the wall to one side and my frozen fingers gripping the guide rope on the other, when an israeli male member of the team took the opportunity to ask me my star sign. Never has anyone received such a withering stare as I gave that lunatic.

I arrived back at the hostel seriously exhaused and clinically dehydrated. Collapsed in the sauna to hear how Lucy had simply taken a hellicopter to the top. (She does think clearly). We went out for an absolutly delicious pizza but dehydration had taken it's toll- within quarter of a glass of wine the restaurant was spinning and I was hanging on my bar stool with both hands. Lucy had me tucked up in bed by 9pm!

Transalpine train

We took the transalpine train from christchurch to greymouth through the mountains. This is reputed to be one of the most beautiful train journeys in the world and it was very lovely, just slightly obscured by clouds. Still it's romantic to sit and have breakfast on a train while the countryside rolls by.

We had a very well informed journey. New Zealanders seemingly like to keep people abreast of progress, or the lack thereof, and every slightest halt was accompanied by a detailed explanation for the 30 second delay. (As opposed to brum where you can be stuck 200m outside New street station for 45minutes without the smallest crackle from the tanoy). They also saw fit to remind us quite seriously that disembarking at these points would be a hazard to our health due to the lack of a platform.

At Greymouth we continued by coach through some stunning scenery and snow capped mountains. The bus driver kept us entertained with a running commentary and even a relevant documentary on CD.

Fantastic hostel. We splurged on a twin room, the only privacy we've had in months! They had real beds, not bunks, and they were (next to my own bed) the most comfortable in the world. It's fortunate that we hadn't booked twins before since Luce and I are quite capable (and lazy enough) to lie in our beds reading, eating anzac cookies, and not leaving our room at all. We tried to offset the extra cost for the room by cooking our own dinner- not entirely a success as it occurred to us to chop the veg after we'd cooked it and misjudged the pasta and did enough for twenty.

To Christchurch

Time for my internal flight out of Wellington. The plane was unexpectedly small. Six windows each side. I climbed aboard and, unable to stand upright, stooped my way to my single file seat- row 2 with full view into the cockpit. Reflected that this was the sort of plane that vanishes over mountain ranges all the time. Plane had to be jump started on the ground first (twice). Apparently this is normal procedure but I was imagining myself in a cross between "I alone survived" and "Touching the Void." Had to remind myself firmly that I love flying.

Actually arrived safely and maneuvered my way to the relevant hostel where Luce and I were reunited. Shared a dorm with an old American gentleman who (for once)I can't fault. Hostel is laid back yet efficient. Plus they provide free clean towels- excellent as mine is probably a health risk, it's weeks since it saw detergent.

Christchurch is a miniature England. It's possible to punt along the River Avon, walk along Oxford and Hereford streets, listen to the bell ringing of the cathedral, catch a tram and make phone calls from red phone boxes. Feels like being dropped into some alternate universe where everything looks like home but isn't.

Luce and I went to explore (after an extended and hearty lunch) and headed off to the 'Gondolar' which is a cable car up into the hills. We arrived into thick cloud and couldn't see a thing which we found very amusing. We proceeded to take many photos of each other pointing into the white mass at various unseen landmarks.

Lucy's blagging skills came back (or else New Zealanders are very generous) and she procured us free tickets back up the gondolar for the next day in hope of better weather. (She also got us free tram rides and a discount on our accommodation!)

Back to the 'gondolar' the next day and the panoramic view was lovely and well worth the repeat trip. More photos.














As you can all see Lucy has solved the photo problems and I'm adding them all in everywhere! Lots added into November archive too! Also she's modified my blog so that it should be possible for people to comment! She is a star!!

Wellington

Arrived in Wellington after many hours of coach travel and checked into my hostel and a girls dorm! However the bathroom is shared with the boys- found myself brushing my teeth next to a different man every morn and evening, most disconcerting.

Set off to explore the city. Over-riding first impression was it's windiness. Now I've read in travel books that Wellington is windy but they really don't stress it forcibly enough. It is so brisk that I don't see how birds can find it tenable to remain- they should, by all the laws of physics, have been blown clear out over the harbour and off to the south. Had I been wearing baggier clothing this would have certainly been my fate!

Next day I had the idea of locating my mobile to search for the signal it lost in Taupo. Had missed 12 calls from lucy and numerous text messages announcing that she'd changed her plans, was catching a plane and arriving in Christchurch, New Zealand that day! Very exciting news! Although I'm quite content to wander around in my own little world, eating in restaurants and visiting gardens, I do start talking to myself and it is definitely better to be with a friend when that happens. And life is somewhat unpredictable (in a fun way) with Lucy.

Had a delirious rush arranging an internal flight for myself to Christchurch the next day. Emailed lucy to make it clear that there's to be no death-defying under water or through the air activities, of the sort we encountered in Australia, while she's here. We are not secret agents.

Spent the rest of my time in Wellington mooching through second hand book stores and the botanical gardens. I got the cable car (actually more of a steep train) up to the hills above the city and sat in the restaurant overlooking what is usually a stunning view but today was just cloud. An entertaining barman provided chocolate cheesecake and coffee (there's a man with the key to my heart) and I listened to Christmas carols before making my way over to the obsevatory for the planetarium showing. (Dark room with rotating display of the stars).

Volcano (or three) north island. (pic)

Lake Taupo

This was an unscheduled stop, just looked beautiful so I stopped for two nights. Lovely hostel with view of the lake and a girls dorm!! All very clean with toilet seats too!

Went for a long hike along the river and back and then went and relaxed in the spa. It's a volcanic area where you can go and sit in hot mineral pools. Which I did and spent the rest of the day relaxing on sun lounger reading. This is what I've missed in Australia all those extreme activities!

I have attempted to put some more photos on my blog however computers are stupid and this one will not co-operate at all. Have emailed Luce about this problem so watch this space.

Auckland

Left Laura and Lucy, which was emotional, and flew overnight to New Zealand arriving at 7am and checking into a random hostel. I booked this from Oz and it was rather run down to the extent that in the bathroom you had to locate the toilet seat, place it on the toilet and balance. Ridiculous. Also they had their own misgivings about shoes and we were obliged to leave them outside. (Actually I ignored this rule and was never caught). Another shared dorm, this time with a man who lay on the floor doing yoga each morning while we walked around him - Luce and Laura feel I am overly critical of the men we've met so I'll avoid the observations that spring to mind. There were several other girls in the dorm with me, fortunatly.

Spent two days in Auckland, pretty typical sprawling city but surrounded by water. Very happily did all the boring things: museums, Da Vinci machines exhibition, botanical gardens and walked miles. It was rather cold and damp after Australia. My lovely tan will have faded away by the time I fly home.

Lovely Girls (pic)

In which we swing through the trees with the greatest of ease

Next day we hired a car and took off into the rain forest. Had a fantastic day. We went swimming in a river in the forest actually in the rain! (Checked in a sensible manner whether there were crocodiles first).

Then we drove to Cape Tribulation which offered (apart from a lovely beach) the opportunity of 'jungle Surfing'. This involves wearing a harness, being attached to a zip wire and flying though the rainforest 30m high (somewhat like Tarzan) from tree to tree, at times even upside down. This was amazing and I recommend it highly. Luce found herself swept along and into this before she could really think. She had the sort of doubts about the integrity of the trees and the fastness of the cords that only someone scared of sleeping on the top bunk would entertain. Let me assure you, before you read her blog, that it was perfectly safe. The trees were solid and it is usual for them to sway in the wind a bit!! She still did every one of them, eyes shut and scared to pieces!!

We had a new man in our dorm that night. Shocked us by arriving and immediately stripping to his underwear. Not at all good. He would have benefited immensely from pyjamas.

My last day! The girls had a surprise for me. I haven't mentioned but on our arrival in Cairns Lucy's eyes lit up at the sight of another Shangri-La hotel. It was an unfulfilled mission. So on my last evening a couple of hours before my flight I found myself bundled into the back of a Taxi by Laura and Lucy with a driver sworn to secrecy. Ten minutes later we were outside the hotel(in thongs/flipflops)and I was wondering how many Shangri-La's I was destined to be ejected from when they let us in! We found ourselves toasting our travels with martinis and margaritas in the hallowed bar! At last! It was the perfect end to everything before parting ways. Lucy and Laura were off to Melbourne and the "Neighbours" tour while I left For Auckland.

Cocktails at the Shangri-La

Jungel surfing (pic)

This is jungle surfing upside down

In which Lucy nearly meets a watery end.

We decided to go once more into the scuba diving breach (dear friends) and booked a trip the next day. Many reasons for this step after all I've said against such doings:
1)We were at the great barrier reef and didn't want to miss it,
2)Even Luce had enrolled on an introductory dive
3)I only needed to complete two more open sea dives to become a fully certified diver! A skill I intend to neglect thoroughly but it would earn me a very cool scuba diver ID card which I'd like to accidentally flash at people from my wallet.

Yet again I overdosed myself with anti-emetics and ginger, sat with my teeth gritted and my hands clenched, and set out to sea. Arrived at the reef: sea still as a pond, clearer than a swimming pool and warm to boot! Such an easy environment to dive in! Plus very beautiful, obviously. I was the only learner so I had the instructor to myself. Once I'd run through the relevant skills (eg.pretending to lose my air regulator/mask etc on the bottom of the ocean and scurrying about looking for them and other such dire emergencies) we were able to explore. So I have to confess that although still un-natural, diving isn't all horror, there are some amazing sights to be had.

Lucy had an unfortunate moment climbing out of the small boat onto the main boat. She had one foot safely in each, both stable, no rocking or movement from either. There was no reason for what followed. She looked up and smiled and in a gravity-defying instant moved both feet simultaneously not into any of the boats but into the thin air above the water. Both 'WHY?' and 'HOW?' later sprang to mind, in the mean time the quick hands of the crew meant she landed on her side on the main boat with only her little ankles (she claims it was her calves) dangling over the water. Drama over you might think but not so. In attempting to push herself up on her arms she instead achieved pushing herself backwards off the flat surface of the deck and into the open sea between the two boats. She was rescued in an undignified tangle of legs and arms. (Please read her Blog for her take on it).

Arrived back to blessed dry land without sickness and decided to have a 'barbie'.
There are actual free electric barbecue cooking stoves dotted carelessly around the lagoon and anyone can use them. (I'm sure they would be a law suit waiting to happen in Britain). I will add photos at some point!

Scuba angels (pic)

It is not possible to emerge from the sea quite as glamourously as hollywood has led us to believe.

Barbie at Cairns (pic)

Great barbeque but we just nipped to supermarket for supplies and forgot we'd need utensils!

And so to Cairns

After the utter humiliation with Clint it was more than time to move on. Plus we'd gained a strange room mate who I suspected of being a closet psychopath. (Actually have no evidence, and the only concrete thing I have against him is the public clipping of his toenails in our bedroom).

I'm afraid we had Wilson for breakfast before catching the greyhound to Cairns, our last stop. He was delicious.

We'd booked one night at a girls hostel where (the 'lonely planet' guide assured us) we would be names and not numbers. This was undoubtedly true but when it comes to the landlady popping into your room first thing in the morning to ask how you've slept, you may feel a bit of anonymity goes a long way.

We checked into a hugh resort type hostel for the next few nights,where we were happy numbers in air-con heaven. Shared another four bed dorm, this time with an American man. He seemed the most normal of all our male roomies, though I couldn't help but notice that he had more toiletries than me- all stacked in a formidable metropolis around the sink. No room for us girls to lay our humble toothbrushes. (Never a good sign in a man- after soap, razor, deodorant and perhaps aftershave what more could they need?)

Cairns (pic)

We are a menace!

This isn't the photo I was expecting!!