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Hey all!
I know I have fallen behind on this but it is finished now. Enjoy!
15 & 16/1/2012:
I caught the Greyhound in the evening and didn't really sleep the whole way through to Sydney. When I got there it was lashing it down and I was not impressed. Luckily it didn't last long and after checking into Wake up I walked around the city to see the sights including the Opera house, Harbour bridge, Botanic gardens and Hyde park. I returned to the hostel and met my roommates before watching a film in the common room where I fell asleep. I returned to my room for an early night.
17/1/2012:
I enjoyed a lay in before checking out Manly bay. The ferry ride across gave a spectacular view of the City, Opera house and Harbour bridge. After a few hours on the beach I returned to the hostel without consuming any alcohol for at least 48 hours. I felt weird (soba) so had a few drinks in the room with Kevin, an 'eager,' Canadian. I was tired so declined his offer of a night out and watched Due date, I was laughing out loud so much that my roommates all thought I was mad!
18/1/2012:
After a lay in I went on the beach tour that the hostel put on which consisted of a bus to Coogee beach from which we walked to Bondi stopping a few times along the way. Later on I played drinking games with my roommates drinking the good old goon. It ruined me and I went to bed.
19/1/2012:
As I was hungover all day I decided the best thing I could do was watch the Die Hard Trilogy with a girl in my room. I met Ollie and Dean who I met in Bali for a few cheeky beers, it was good to catch up with the boys as it has been months since I had seen them. We exchanged numerous stories to fill us in on what had happened since Bali. I finished the day with Die Hard 4. I fell asleep during it as I was exhausted.
20/1/2012:
I had a final lay in in Sydney before checking out of the hostel and taking a walk around Darling Harbour and more of the City. I spent the afternoon catching up on various things before boarding the Greyhound in the evening. The drive to Melbourne was longer then Sydney at 14 hours and I had the seat by the toilet the whole way! There were no films on and I hardly slept a wink again!
21/12/2012:
I got into Melbourne at about 8am and my first impression was that the city had stunning architecture but that parts of it also looked very run down. I made a bit of an error by not booking a hostel as the Australian Tennis open was on and therefore I couldn't get a bed for hours. When I did eventually find a bed I ended up paying over the odds for a dive of a room. I was not impressed so decided to cheer myself up by taking a long walk around the city and spending some money. I bought a few cans of Jim Bean and met Liam, Doyle and Dennis for a few beers. It had been a few weeks since I had seen Liam and I knew he would cheer me up! We went pre drank in Bella's room above the bar before heading out for a somewhat unsuccessful night as we never really ended up getting into any bars.
22/12/2012:
I checked myself out of the worst hostel in the world and headed towards my new luxurious hostel/hotel. The walk was suppose to take ten minutes but it ended up taking well over an hour!? Maybe I was a little hungover. I rang the boys and Bella to see where they were and found out the boys had all crashed in her room and were back on it already. I fancied a cultural day but went to see the state of them. I was easily convinced to have a few more drinks but managed to stay soba for the whole day. After I quick nap I walked back to the hostel and watched a film in the cinema room before me and Bella cooked dinner. I finished the evening with another film and had a good nights sleep in an awesome hostel.
23/1/2012:
I awoke in a fantastic mood and decided to spend the day walking round the city and being cultural like I had intended the previous day. Melbourne and the outskirts are pretty impressive and metropolitan. I met up with Bella and the guys and we checked out Southbank and the Eureka tower. We had lunch on Collins St and beers on Elizabeth St before I returned to the hostel to sort out my stuff for my flight to New Zealand where I would see Alex and Cara again, something I was really looking forward to!
24/1/2012:
I flew to Auckland at 6am and hadn't slept since the previous day so was feeling a bit rough. I met Alex on Queen Street in the early afternoon and she walked me to the flat where I met Cara and the girls flatmates Stacey, Colin & Tom. She insisted we go to her work straight away for a beer so we all piled down there to met her colleagues and have a few beers. We drank until early evening before returning to he flat for a shower and pre drink as we were heading out for the night. We went to Danny Doolans quite late and I wasn't let in as I was in a singlet - bad times! Alex's workmate and flat mate Col sorted me out with some lost property and I was swiftly hustled in. We had a great night and returned in the early hours of the morning.
25/1/2012:
I had a huge lay in to catch up on my sleep and then had a bit off a nothing day with Alex, Cara and Stacey watching films and chilling out - lush!
26/1/2012:
Alex went to work so me and the girls had a lay in, mooched around the city trying to sort my NZ travels out and met Alex for a quick drink at her work. In the evening we chilled out in the flat.
27/1/2012:
Again Alex was at work so again I slept in until midday before having a mooch around town. I ended up booking Kiwi experience as it was on offer at $609 for pretty much the whole country. We went to meet Alex for a cuppa before returning to the flat to chill out and have an early night as I was starting the Kiwi Experience the next day.
28/1/2012:
I got up at 6am as the Kiwi bus was at 7am! On the way to the Bay of Islands (top of the north island) we stopped a few times for a coffee and snack. The scenery was beautiful and we arrived in Paihai in the early evening. The driver, Jarrad, overheard me asking the tourist info centre about fishing and lent me his fishing rod and told me to go and sit on the pier. I had an unsuccessful few hours fishing with a lad called Dennis who tagged along before being approached by two Kiwi guys who ran a local tour. They didn't have many numbers so they offered us a free tour. We gladly accepted and spent a few hours sea Kayaking before heading up a river and jumping off to climb under a waterfall. After I fell of the boat messing around and looked like a right muppet. We returned to the hostel for 7pm for a bbq before having a few drinks with the guys and girls from my room. One of the lads from my room was a manc lad called Kieran, he had lots of banter and we spent the evening having a good laugh.
29/1/2012:
I woke up late, 6:40am, for the 7:10am bus to Cape Reinga (the most northerly point in New Zealand). We headed up to 90 mile beach (actually 90km beach) and climbed a sand dune before sandboarding back down it. The dune was steep and the walk was fairly exhausting - all fitness lost over the previous months travelling! We headed on to another beach for lunch before driving up to Cape Reinga to check out the coastline and lighthouse. After we headed to Awanui (I know) to see a Kakai tree factory before seeing the forest where they grow (this part was a little dull). All in all it was a good tour but a long day on the bus. I chatted with the driver, Ryan, who was a bit of a lad and two girls from Hampshire. On the way back we stopped for fish and chips which the driver said were the best in the world. I'll admit the fish was amazing but the chips were no comparison o the ones back home. We returned to the hostel for a fair few drinks. Me and Kieran got quite drunk and again ended up in hysterics!
30/1/2012:
I had a bit of a lay in but as soon as I was up got back on the beers and went for breakfast with Kieran and the hostel manager. I went for another fish on the wharf before heading back to the hostel for the bus back to Auckland. I met Alex off the bus and went with her for a few beers before returning to the flat for some food and drinks.
31/1/2012:
Alex had the day off so we all had a lay in and then headed down the viaduct for lunch at Jack Tars, the food there was awesome and the portions were huge. After we headed to Devonport to walk up Mount Victoria. Walking up was entertaining as the girls were squealing and sliding down (well for me anyway) was even more entertaining. Tthe view was pretty awesome and after we smashed a huge ice cream to reward ourselves for the hard work. We returned to the flat to chill out.
1/2/2012:
Alex had the day off work again so we decided to walk down to Mission Beach, the walk talk about 2 hours but provided great views. We had a lay in the sun followed by a beer at a Belgium bar which was overpriced and hardly had any good beer in stock. We got the bus back and went for a few pints at Alex's work. The girls stayed at O'hagans for a few more beers and I went back to the flat to chill out as I was wiped.
2/2/2012:
I had a lay in in the morning and spent the afternoon walking around town with Stacey and Cara. We went for a hot chocolate at Alex's work. In the evening we had a few beers at the flat and watched a few films.
3/2/2012:
I had another lay in before walking around town again and checking out a few tattoo places to get an idea of what tattoos me and Stacey wanted. We went to see Alex at work again before returning to the flat for a few drinks.
4/2/2012:
We chilled out in the flat in the morning before heading back into town for a bit of shopping and browsing at tattoos. Me, Stacey and Cara went for a night out and met the girls friends G and Caron. We had a big night and didn't get back till about 4am. I came home alone and woke up Alex - she wasn't happy. The girls also woke her up when they got in - again she wasn't happy!
5/2/2012:
All of us were hungover and therefore we had a film day and ate Nacho's and Pizza. I bought Alex one to apologise. She had a few beers at work before she came home and threw a bit of an understandable wobbler. We found out in the morning that she was steaming when she had a go - ha ha ha!
6/2/2012:
Today was the day that I was supposed to do my skydive so I got up early in anticipation. I was very nervous. I got a call from the place to tell me it was cancelled due to adverse weather conditions - gutted. As I was leaving the next day I would not be able to do it until my return to Auckland in March. We therefore had a chill out day and waited for Alex to get back before going for sushi for a farewell dinner as I was leaving to go on the Kiwi Experience the next day. After the meal Alex and Cara went out for a few beers and me and Stacey went back to the flat to chill out.
7/2/2012:
Today was the first proper day of my Kiwi Experience tour. I said goodbye to the girls (although they were fairly unresponsive due to being hanging) and headed for the bus. I got chatting to a few people on the bus on the way to Hot Water Beach. We stopped along the way for a coffee and snack but were in a hurry to get to the beach so we could have a go at digging our own hot pools. As soon as we got there we all piled down to the beach. Our attempts were somewhat unsuccessful and most of us sat in 6 inches of luke warm water. I met Allie and Alex and we headed back up to our accommodation for a few beers. We had some dinner, had a few more drinks and played cards before going to bed.
8/2/2012:
I awoke fairly early as my roommates were leaving and I was staying an extra day. I said goodbye to the friends I had met the previous day and grabbed my ticket of the driver. After some breakfast I headed to the beach to spend most of the day sunbathing and reading. I headed back to the accommodation in the early evening and met my new roommates. I had dinner and a few beers with the newbies before having a relatively early night.
9/2/2012:
We awoke early as we had to leave for Waitomo at 7:30, we stopped on the way in Paereo which is home to the L&P drink. After a bottle and quick lunch stop we headed on to Waitomo. In Waitomo me and Vicky went on a cave walk instead of the more adventurous cave activities as these were expensive and I was saving my money for even more extreme stuff. The walk was a bit dull, again I swear never to enter a cave again. We returned to the hostel and I met some farmers from Bristol who were working in New Zealand. It was one of the lads birthday's so we all headed out to the local bar, Curly's, for drinks. The birthday lad, Andy, got smashed (ofcourse due to us) and we had a pretty great night. I made a fair few good friends and spent the night chatting with them.
10/2/2012:
We had a bit of a lay in before the bus to Rotorua at 10:30am. On the way we stopped at a fruit market to stock up on cheap goodness. After dropping our bags at the hostel and booking our Maori experience tours we headed up the hills to go luging. This cost $40 which was amazing value as you got a cable car to the top of the hill for spectacular views and then 5 rides down the 5km luge track. Our driver sorted us out and made sure that about 40 of us raced abreast down the track. This was dangerous as a few people got quite hurt - one of them being me! I was thrown out the luge in a crash and took the skin of my knee and under my armpit. We headed back to the hostel to get changed for the Maori experience. The Maori experience was fantastic and they put on a great show. The buffet they cooked was amazing and probably was the most hearty meal I have had travelling. After seeing all of the warriors tattoos I decided that I was defiantly going to try and get one the next day. We returned to the hostel late evening and I went to bed as I was shattered.
11/2/2012:
Rotorua has a distinct smell of rotten eggs due to sulphur escaping from thin earth's crust. However, you do get used to it after a few days. I awoke early to say goodbye (again) to the friends I had already met. I choose to stay because I had loads of time to kill before I was leaving New Zealand. I decided I was going to try and get a Maori tattoo so I headed out in search of a good tattoo shop and with the help of reception found one quickly. After I quick chat with the guy I decided to go through with it. He spent about an hour and a half designing it and it took about another three hours for him to get it on my skin. It was painful in places but not as bad as I thought it would be. It turned out very well and I was extremely happy with it. However, it did mean that I had to keep it out of the sun and water for two weeks. I returned to the room to chill out for a few hours and met my new roommates. I heard a twang in their accent and realised they were the other half of the farmer boys I had met. After a quick chat and a few beers we all headed out to the hostel bar for a top night!
12/2/2012:
We awoke hungover and were nearly late for our early bus to Taupo. We stopped on the way for a walk (and a coffee as we were feeling a little rough!). We continued our journey and stopped again to see a few of the many rapids and waterfalls. When we got into Taupo we met up with the other farmers and went fishing on the lake. There were ten of us so we chartered a boat which cost about $45 each. In two hours fishing we only caught one fish between us - an expensive trout! This was never even eaten as the boys decided to throw it in the shower when Johny was in it. In the evening we went out and met up with some friends we had met previously. We had a fairly big night.
13/2/2012:
I was hungover for most of the day so laid in until after lunchtime. I was going to do a national park walk but my knee hurt so I didn't bother, good job as it rained all day. Instead I caught up on speaking to people back home and had a lazy day until the evening when I met the farmers for a pub crawl. There was hardly anyone else on the pub crawl but we still had a cracking night.
14/2/2012:
I had a lay in until ten and then moved into a room with a Josh, one of the farmers, that was going home. The rest of the boys had moved on to the next town. We had a walk around town, grabbed some food and enjoyed a few beers and a chat. We went to the base bar for the valentines night they were hosting and played some pool before meeting other people we knew on the kiwi bus. The main event of the night was the man auction for which I was entered and fetched $50 (which was 3rd out of ten - that will do!) We smashed a few more drinks which destroyed Josh but ended up hitting the hay before midnight.
15/2/2012:
I awoke early as I had been put on the waiting list for the bus even though I had already been confirmed. The bus was full but the driver let me sit on the floor for about half an hour until a seat freed up. We headed on to River Valley and it rained most of the way but cleared up a little by the time we got there. I had a quick fish because I couldn't swim due to the tattoo but caught nothing. I had a few beers and played cards with the guys of the bus. I had a fairly early night and headed up to the "orgy room", the orgy room was a room full of unseperated bunk beds so about 16 people all slept next to each other. It was pretty unique and we had some good banter before bed.
16/2/2012:
We got a lay in before boarding the bus to Wellington. The Kiwi experience office had messed up again and therefore once again I had to sit on the floor for the duration of the day. It was a long slog to Wellington and we didn't get there until 7:30pm. Once there me and a two girls I had met before, Jess & Bee, went to the shop to grab some food and drink. We had a few drinks in the room before heading to the base bar for a night out. We had a great night as there were lots of familiar faces out including the farmers. Both of the girls were smashed and hilarious, I don't know what time I got to bed but it was late.
17/2/2012:
We awoke early as we had to leave Wellington and catch to catch the ferry to the South Island. A few people felt rough, I felt ok as was probably still a little drunk. I seem to even remember taking a bite of the previous nights cheeseburger - rank! The ferry took three hours to arrive in Picton, the girls slept for the entire crossing but I admired the views (and then watched tv). After boarding the bus we stopped in Nelson for lunch re-boarded the bus for Kaiteriteri. We arrived late in the afternoon and had a beer as it was a beautiful day. In the evening I watched the Inbetweeners movie with the farmers as I hadn't seen it. It was AMAZING! I couldn't stop laughing and cringing.
18/2/2012:
I was staying in Kaiteriteri for an extra day so had a lay in until Jess set the fire alarm off making sausages and got me out of bed. I saw of some of the guys on the bus in the afternoon before spending the remainder of the day with Jess and Bee on the beach and taking a wonder round the rocks for a fish. After me, the girls and the farmers had a few beers before bed.
19/2/2012:
We had a lay in before our afternoon departure for Westport. We stopped a few times along the way and got to Westport in the late afternoon so we simply had a few beers on the park before dinner, drinks and a few films.
20/2/2012:
We lest Westport mid morning heading for Lake Manhipua and the famous poo party! We stopped a few times on the way for a walk, where we saw a few seals, and to stock up on fancy dress gear, food and drinks. We arrived late afternoon and had a drink before jumping in the lake. After another beer we had dinner which was cooked by the bus drivers and the accommodation owner, Les. Les was a mardy old git but in all fairness to him had been cooking dinner and putting up with travelers every day for the last 20+ years! The food was great and me and the farmer boys had more steak. The drivers made us help wash up, we agreed to stay in their good graces, and were rewarded with a vile shot! We had a few more beers before getting into our fancy dress. The theme was old people so I aptly chose Gandalf. I covered myself in talcon powder, draped myself in bed sheets and had one of the farmers found me a massive stick. It looked mint. We had an amazing night with lots of laughs as everyone was in the party mood.
21/2/2012:
We had an early start and pretty much everyone felt rough and slept on the bus. We stopped at a museum on the way (raccoon!? I think but cannot be sure) but hardly anyone went in. After we headed on to Franz Josef and arrived early afternoon to it teaming it down. We booked our glacier walk and headed to our accommodation. After a quick rest we headed to the hot pools to wind down. After dinner I had a cheeky pint but then had an early night as I felt destroyed!
22/2/2012:
Me, Bennett and Pat were up early for the glacier walk, luckily the weather was a lot better than the previous day so we wouldn't get soaked. We arrived at the centre for 9 and started the walk at 10. The whole walk lasted until about 5pm so it was a long day, but what a day it was. We were in the top group so the pace was fast. We clambered through numerous cracks, caves and crevices and cut our own patch through the glacier. I fell over a few times and earned an apt new nickname - Bambi, this stuck for the rest of my time in New Zealand! At the top of the glacier, a fair few kilometers up we posed for a few funny photo's before making our way back down the glacier for a hot drink and venison pie. When we got back to the digs I slept for a few hours before gong for a few beers with the boys. Wednesday was a party night so we ended up having a fair few, there were several power cuts during the night and we ended up drinking and chatting in the dark but no one cared!
23/2/2012:
We awoke early to leave for Wanaka, I was hungover… again, my time in New Zealand was starting to have a certain theme to it! I blame the farmers! We spent pretty much the whole day traveling and were wiped when we got to Wanaka so just watched a film. In the evening we had a few beers in the bar and played bar games before a relatively early night.
24/2/2012:
We had a slight lay in before jumping on the bus to puzzleland, this was a bit lame but we still managed to have a laugh. After we made our way to what everyone had been waiting for - QUEENSTOWN! On the way in we stopped at the original A J Hackett bungy site, booked our jumps and watched some of the bus face their fears! We had a group photo in Queenstown before heading to our hostel. Everyone was in an awesome mood so we grabbed a few beers to get us warmed up for a night out. We explored the town and hit base bar and World bar, a bar where all your cocktails come in tea pots. We had become close as a large group so being out together was extremely fun and messy!
25/2/2012:
The morning went very slowly! We were a tad hungover but what was worse was the anticipation for the Nevis bungy jump in the afternoon, 134m of sheer hell! All of us were starting to become extremely nervous! We passed time until heading to the A J Hackett shop and eventually ended up heading to the jump early in the afternoon. The drive up seemed to take forever, when we got there we saw the jump and the cable car across the canyon to get there - oh dear! After harnessing up it was own turn and we gingerly made our way across to the jumping platform, a glass box. Pretty much as soon as we were inside we were further harnessed up and it was announced that I was first in our group - great! The guy chucked me in the seat that looked like a gynecologists chair and strapped me up. Before I night I was at the edge posing for a photo. You barely get time to look down and before I knew it the countdown had begun... 3..2.. and I jumped, prematurely but hey. It was amazing, I can't even remember if my eyes were open but it was amazing and easier than I thought. The rest of the farmers successfully jumped and then we headed across to the canyon swing for a blast on that as well. After we were all on such a high so it was perfect that the Kiwi crawl was that night! The Kiwi crawl consisted of a bar crawl and fancy dress. The theme was school clothes so we went as school rugby players. We had an amazing night and got up to all sorts of madness, enough said!
26/2/2012:
Me and the boys woke up feeling like death, we checked out as I had to move to base to use up my pass. We bummed about for a bit before deciding to rent a car and drive to Milford sounds for the day and spend the night there. It was a beautiful day and a beautiful drive. The car rental company gave us a brand new 2.5l v6 Subaru, I was the only one allowed to drive, AMAZING! The views were spectacular and we stopped many times for photos. We arrived early evening and had dinner in the only pub before hitting the hay.
27/2/2012:
We had a deserved lay in and then boarded the Milford sounds cruise. The scenery was amazing and we spent a few hours admiring the views. On the drive back we stopped off for a few walks. The drive back was just as incredible as the drive down, the weather was amazing and we played some great music as well as having some awesome banter. When we got back we grabbed a Fergburger, they really are that massive and ate it around the lake with a few beers. I went back to base and chilled out with Sarah and Hemma who I had met previously before going to my room and meeting my crazy Canadian roommates. I had an early night as was wiped.
28/2/2012:
I awoke early to say goodbye to my farmer friends! Me and Sarah had a drive around outer Queenstown and then I dropped the car off. After me and Sarah chilled on the beach and then had a few drinks in the room. I introduced Sarah to the Canadians and went on a night out with them and the remaining farmers who flukeily checked into my room. The Canadian girls were mad and kept trying to rip off and steal my clothes. Me and Andy snuck off to World bar but went to bed soon after.
29/2/2012:
Today was the day I was leaving Queenstown, I was quite glad as the last few days had taken their toll on my body. It was a long day on the road and I got to Christchurch at about 5pm. The bus driver, Bods, was a dick! I chilled in the room all night to give my body and mind a break, it was just what I needed.
1/3/2012:
I had a lay in before a walk around Christchurch which was beautiful despite the fact everyone tried to convince me not to go. The middle of the city centre was extremely damaged but the surrounding area was not too bad. The shops had re-opened using shipping containers, they looked awesome. Despite the obvious devastation there was a really good atmosphere in the air and street performers everywhere to lift the mood. I was cautious about missing the bus so I got to what I believed was the pick up point extra early. The bus drove straight past me on the opposite side of the round so I had to get a taxi to the next pick up point. Kiwi refused to pay for this even though it was their fault! Ah well! We spent the rest of the afternoon on the bus travelling to Kaikoura. The Kaikoura hostel was cosy and we arrived to a log fire - just what was needed as it was cold. I had a few beers with the guys on my bus before a relatively early night.
2/3/2012:
We had a lay in before walking down to Dolphin encounters to book the wild dolphin swimming. I chilled out and read for a few hours before walking back to dolphin encounters. The dolphin swimming was fantastic as the dolphins were truly wild. The boat chucked us in the water when we say a pod of dolphins and then moved us on to the next one when they swam past. If you sang and splashed in the water the dolphins would play and swim around you. It was awesome although a little cold even though we were in wetsuits. On the way back to shore we had a cup of hot chocolate to warm up while watching the dolphins backflip and lark about. For dinner I had some freshly caught shark which someone had going spare and a few beers. Before bed we had a few more drinks and played poker.
3/3/2012:
I was supposed to head back up to Wellington today but the ferry was cancelled due to bad weather so the bus was also cancelled and we were stuck in Kaikoura for at least one more night. The weather was awful so we stayed in all day and watched Summer heights high and films all day before a few beers and an early night.
4/3/2012:
I was on the waiting list for the bus but luckily got on. We headed back up to Picton for the ferry, this was delayed so I played cards with some of the guys I had known for a while. The ferry crossing was rough but I was fine, others weren't so fine! We arrived in the Wellington base late on in the night and I was shattered so had an early night.
5/3/2012:
We had an early start for the bus to Taupo and arrived in the afternoon. In Taupo me and a few of the guys headed to the lake side where we had a dip in the natural hot pools and a sunbathe. I met a few of the people from my room, a few of the girls turned out to be from Leicester so I had a chat with them. Later me and some of the guys I knew from the bus went to the bar for a few drinks and a round of beer pong. I split a drink all over a girl and looked like a right d*** - great!
6/3/2012:
We had another early start to get the bus back to Auckland, the bus driver, Lauren, was pretty cool and we had a laugh on the way back up. I arrived in Auckland late in the afternoon and headed straight back to the flat to me Stacey and Colin and also Gaz and George who I had not met yet. We had a good chat about what I had been up to before I fell asleep early as I was wiped!
7/3/2012:
Today was the day I was supposed to do my skydive (again) but it was cancelled (again). Instead me and Stacey went for a walk around town and went for a coffee and play on the internet before returning to the flat and chilling out with a few beers and a film.
8/3/2012:
Again the skydive was cancelled so me and Stacey headed to O'Hagans for a coffee and the net, we chilled there for most of the day before going back to the flat for more beers and films.
9/3/2012:
Finally some good weather! The skydive was on, luckily the nerves were mild as I had had to wait for so long. Stacey came with me and we had about an hour drive before getting to the airstrip. I had to wait about an hour for my jump but the wait was worth it. I got a little nervous on the way up but by go time I was ready. I chucked my legs out the plane and they were instantly flung back. Before I knew it we were freefalling. It was amazing and I screamed like a girl and swore the whole way down. This lead to the video being censored - dam! I was pumped after so me and Stacey got dressed and headed down to the viaduct for a few beers. We ended up drinking all afternoon and getting a load of free drinks - sweet! We were back by 11 as we were pretty smashed. I fell straight to sleep!
10/3/2012:
I awoke fairly early but was also fairly hungover! After packing and bringing myself round with tea and toast I said goodbye to the guys and headed to the airport. The flight was fairly easy and I got to Fiji in the early evening. Flukeily two people I met on the Kiwi experience bus were on the same flight as me and were staying in the same accommodation. The hostel was adequate but nothing special. I had a few drinks with the guys and watched the rugby before going ot bed.
11/3/2012:
I awoke early for breakfast and a swim. It was boiling so I had a pretty good sunbathe before getting a taxi to another resort, smugglers cove, which everyone I met had raved about. The hostel was really nice and was right on the beach. I spent the day reading and sunbathing before meeting Ali, a friend from the Kiwi bus, in the evening. I booked my Feejee Experience for the next day as I wanted to see a bit of culture as well as paradise. We met Sam and Regan and shared a beer or two with them over dinner. The food was great! The staff put on a traditional fire dance I was encouraged to get involved by dancing around and looking like a pratt! I had a midnight dip in the sea before bed.
12/3/2012:
We arose early for breakfast and were talked into buying a coconut of a local, they were ok but we were tricked into it a little. The tour guides came to pick us up in a 4x4 as they were only 3 people booked onto the tour as it was low season. Nonetheless we still had a tour guide and a driver and we were in a brand new car so it was pretty comfortable. We stopped in Nadi town for an hour or so for a bit of a shop before heading onto a beach for a swim and a snorkel. On the way to the hotel we sandboarded down a dune, the sand was too hot and I burned my feet. After we headed onto a really nice resort and jumped in the pool to cool down with a beer. After a few hours of relaxing we attended a cava ceremony to welcome us. Cava is a local rot which is crushed and dissolved in water. It is then drunk and suppose to give hallucinogenic effects, all it did was make my tongue numb but if you have enough its suppose to work. After we met the tour guides for dinner. I had tuna steak which was incredible! We had some drinks and a few local cocktails which were awesome. I moved onto the local drink, bounty, which is a 58% dark rum. It tastes awesome but blows your head off. Later on I entered a crab race, we had to bid for crabs and then they raced from the middle of a circle to the edge. I won $90 and was chuffed! After a few (now free) drinks I headed to bed.
13/3/2012:
We awoke early for breakfast and headed on to our activity for the day which was a trek through the rainforest. The walk was fairly easy but it was really slippery and I nearly fell over several times. Near the end we climbed up several waterfalls and bathed in them. I was leaping of them and messing around and fell on Ali whilst climbing one, she wasn't impressed! We had a good chat with the tour guys, Jerry & Eliza, and got to know them really well as there was only 3 of us on the tour. After the trek we headed to our next resort which was incredible. It was pure luxury in absolute paradise. We had lunch in the restaurant and I had Kakonda, a local cured fish dish, which was beautiful. After we laid around the pool and had a few beers and a cheeky nap in the sun. We had some pre dinner cocktails before dinner and a drink. We all went to bed fairly early as we were tired.
14/3/2012:
We awoke early for breakfast and set off to a town to buy stationary for the kids in the traditional village we were visiting today. We arrived at around lunch time and stopped outside the village to change into traditional attire, a sarong. I was made chief as I was the only male in the group. As chief I had to sit next to the chief of the village and be part of the welcome ceremony. We were welcomed with a cava ceremony before lunch. After we went floated down the river on traditional rafts and had a swim in the river. We finished the visit by singing and dancing with the locals and saying goodbye. The village was basic and very prehistoric but the people there seemed to be very happy and have a good quality of life. Next we drove around Suva, the capital city, for a tour and headed to our last resort of the Feejee experience. The resort was again nice and we sat in the pool messing about with Jerry and Eliza and having a few drinks. Later we had dinner and drinks and I made my own awesome cocktail - The Fiji Frolic.
15/3/2012:
Today we got a little bit of a lay in as we were heading back to Nadi and Smugglers Cove. Alex, Cara & Stacey had arrived in the previous days so I would be meeting them to go Island hopping. On the way back we headed to an Indian village for a curry, stopped for a few photos and bathed in mud pools and hot pools. We had a few beers on the way back and said our goodbyes to Jerry and Eliza. We got back to Nadi in the evening and met the girls. It was good to see them again and we shared dinner and drinks.
16/3/2012:
We awoke early and booked our island hoping with the travel desk at the hostel, the lady Ase was awesome and gave us a good deal. We headed to the supermarket to stock up on cash and supplies before boarding the speedboat to Beachcomber Island. The ride took about 45 minutes and the sea was fairly calm. The sun was out and the scenery was beautiful. The island was tiny and consisted of only one resort, it was that small that you could have walked around it in ten minutes. We had a few beers and a sunbathe before a fantastic buffet lunch. After we went back to the beach for more sun and a swim. The resort put on afternoon tea with muffins so we had some of them before some more beers.In the evening we had another fantastic buffet dinner and had a few drinks and played cards.
17/3/2012:
We awoke to an amazing buffet breakfast before spending the whole day chilling out on the beach with only brief breaks for lunch and snorkeling. In the evening I chilled out in a hammock before happy hour drinks and dinner. I had Kakonda again, love that stuff, before having a few beers and playing cards. The barmaid, Ace, gave me extra large portions of my favorite rum - Bounty!
18/3/2012:
Again we awoke for a fantastic breakfast before spending the whole day on the beach as it was scorching hot. We watched the sunset before dinner and drinks. I bought Ace a drink to say thanks for looking after us and in return she bought me and the girls a huge jug of beer - what an amazing woman!
19/3/2012:
We awoke early as we were moving onto Manna Island, we were all hungover! The boat ride to Manna was short and it was again boiling hot. The accommodation was not as luxurious as Beachcomber but it was quiet and relaxed. We had lunch before chilling out on Survivor beach. It was so hot that I had to have a few beers in the shade before dinner and drinks. I had an early night as I was wiped and was leaving to go home the next day.
20/3/2012:
We awoke and had breakfast, once again it was boiling! We sunbathed and chilled in the sea before my transfer back to Nadi at noon. I said my goodbyes to the girls and headed off. I had some food and then was pretty much waiting around to go home, once you know you are on your way back you kind off just want to get home. I headed to the airport in the evening and had an extremely long haul home. I was subject to a security check at the airport, cheers Dad, and got drugs and explosives tested. Luckily I passed! The flight to LA was about ten hours and I slept, drank and watched films throughout. Because Of the time difference I landed in LA before I left Fiji. This felt very odd and I was shattered. After being subject to an even more intrusive security check and rub down I boarded the flight to Heathrow and slept through most of the 10 hour flight.
21/3/2012:
I arrived back in the UK at around 10am. It felt good to be home! My bottle of Bounty had broke in one of my bags (not happy) and I caught the tube back to St. Pancres smelling like a severely alcoholic traveler, pretty spot on really. I was in first class as it was cheap and caught all sorts of odd looks being a backpacker in first class. Al picked me up at the train station and by 4pm I WAS HOME and it was all over!
So I'm back… and it's good to be back. Over the last 2 weeks I have caught up with pretty much all of my family and friends. It is so good to see everyone but I promised myself that I would be good and healthy. No chance… all you lot want to do is go for meals and beers - cheers! It is slightly odd being back and not being a 'traveler' but I am slowly coming back to reality. I am on the job hunt so if anyone reading this wants to pay me an obscene amount of money to do very little then please please get in touch!
Finally I would like to thank the many people I met during my travels, it would not have been the same without you!
Aaron X x
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