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It was just before my alarm went off at 5.45am. It was horrible having to try to get up that early, but I still managed too. It was also hard having to try to be quiet while we got ready. We got dressed and headed down to the kitchen to make some breakfast, which was boring toast with vegemite for me. We bought down our massive bag of groceries with us and repacked it all, trying to fit as much as we could into one bag to minimise the look of the desperate backpackers that we really were.
We were quite disorganised this morning, which a lot of you are thinking, 'Oh, Amy? No, she's ALWAYS organised' Ha. In a fumble, we grabbed our stuff in the dark room to take it out into the hall that had lights. I scrabbled to put my sneakers on as we were running out of time before we had to go meet the bus. We quickly went downstairs where the guy on reception looked at us and said a bit rudely 'Ah, pillowcases guys?' UGH those stupid pillowcases. It was a rule in some places to take them off and bring them to reception to receive your $20 bond back, and this hostel didn't tell us that when we checked in, although it was on a sign in the room.
Kristy and I got back in that horrible, slow lift that was never in a hurry, to get back up to the 6th floor. We grabbed our pillowcase and headed back down, again. I got to reception, and a bit worked up about having to go back and get them, slammed the case on the counter and smiled sweetly at him as he looked at me a bit shocked. As he was signing me out, I was being a bit short with him, but in a nice tone. Not sure if that made up for it or not.. I handed my key in and got my $20 refund, then turned around to find Kristy searching frantically for her key! She had somehow misplaced it. We really didn't have any more time to waste, so she just said to keep the money. But he insisted he take it anyway.. Didn't I feel like an ass for being a bit mean to him.
After that we raced off down the road to get to YMA which was where the bus was going to pick us up. I got my ticket out, ready to go, but the bus was going to be late. All that rushing for nothing. There was a post-box close by, so i head off there to post a few cards. When I got back, the bus was pulling in! Perfect timing! I got my stuff and of course, I couldn't find the ticket I had just gotten ready earlier. Kristy got on first while I tried to search for it, and when I couldn't find it, had to pay for another one. Just as I was getting my money ready, I thought about my pockets! Why hadn't I checked there earlier? Cos it was one of days... But, for once, something went right and there was that sacred piece of paper that allowed me to board the bus!
The bus ride was short, and we got to the ferry terminal at a good time to check in. The guy who we got was an older gentleman, and he is about the only person who pronounced my last name correctly without actually knowing me. I was in disbelief as he started rattling off these famous people with my family name. I had never heard of any of them, but wouldn't mind if they left me a few million in the will for me.
We boarded the massive vessel and headed up to the bar, simply because that's where the tables and chairs were that were away from the horrible screaming children. This early in the morning, my head didn't want to hear that. It was pretty boring on the ferry, Emily and Ajah came and joined us, but Ajah slept most of the way and I was writing postcards and blogs. There wasn't much to see outside, just a whole lot of water. By the end of the trip I was feeling super sick.
We got to Picton and wondered around for a while, Emily decided to stay the night here and do a bus trip tomorrow, so we grabbed lunch at the pub while we waited for our bus arrive. It arrived early and left at exactly 1pm.
We drove down the coast, and it was so obvious this is a winery place, in the first 1 hour and 3 mins, we passed 5 wineries! Absolutely insane. I'd love to go wine tasting all along New Zealand. I ended up falling asleep for a while, but when I woke, we were on the coast line looking at the brilliant, blue ocean and pure white waves it was creating. We got a bit further on and the coast line was littered with SEALS! And baby seals! They were incredible to watch, and some were diving off the rocks into the sea. I would have loved to have looked at them closer!
We got to Kaikoura early, and across the road from the bus station was our accommodation. We checked in and THANK GOODNESS we were on the bottom floor! We settled in to our tiny room, and that's when I realised I'd left our cooler bag of groceries on the bus! We must have had some really good karma today, as the bus stopped here for its 30min break, so we were able to catch the bus before he left!
When we put that away, we went to explore this tiny, crappy town. There wasn't much to see, but we only went up one long street. There were young boys on bikes and scooters riding around the streets, swearing as much as they could before they had to go home to their parents, and adults outside smoking their lungs up. It reminded me of Laidley.. We checked out the bookstore, and I indulged, and bought a second hand book about a true story of a lady in Jordan who was in love with a Catholic. Now I just have to finish my 4 other books before I can start this one!
The sushi shop was closing soon, so everything was half price. I got a seafood sushi box for $5, and thought that was better than noodles. Although, I was a bit iffy on the quality, but here I am, 4 hours later and not hugging the toilet bowl.
Tonight is pretty quiet, we are both exhausted from the long day, and I've been reading most of the night. Tomorrow, if it's not raining (touch wood) we have a lot of walking planned!
- Random Trivia: Kaikoura loosely translates to 'eat crayfish'
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