Well hello again! It seems that you have come back for more gossip on my goings on and travels! Well I wouldn’t want to disappoint you, so here is my next update…

On the 10th December we (Pat, Welshy, Chris, Jen, Kate, and I) headed to Dunedin on the Kiwi Experience’s ‘Bottom Bus’. As usual we stopped off on the way for comfort breaks and photo sessions, but we finally got to the ‘Edinburgh’ of the South Island! I immediately warmed to Dunedin, with its old buildings and dare I say it, English feel! There we all trekked up the worlds steepest hill (Guinness Book of World Records official fact!)

That night Jen and I went out for dinner, which was quite nice, and then we went on an organised ghost walk! The walk was ok, although I didn’t get scared and when I was nearly feeling a little on edge in a huge cemetery in the pitch black, a dude in hessian and a mask jumped out of a bush and ruined it all for me (I could have done so much better, if I do say so myself!).

The next morning Pat, Welshy, Chris and I said farewell to Jennie and Kate as they were staying in Dunedin for a few more days and the goodbye wasn’t too bad as we knew we would meet up again in Queenstown before departing for Christchurch. That day we drove to Curio Bay, to see more sights of beach, rocks, and seals. It was quite a good sightseeing experience, and later in the day we stopped for the night in Invercargill, where we spent the night in the Speight’s Ale House.

The next day we journeyed to Te Anau, a lovely little lakeside town in the south. On the way there we stopped at a shell carving factory and I crafted a necklace to give to Jen when we next met up. After that we visited a sheep farm, where we were given tuition on sheep shearing and how to get sheep in many differing vulnerable positions!

At the end of the day we arrived in Te Anau and I found little there to amuse myself, other then sitting by the lake for three hours with Pat, taking photos of the excellent sunset!

The next day we travelled to the renowned Milford Sound! The drive there was very pretty with sheer mountains on either side of the road, and waterfalls everywhere! We also stopped at a place called the Chasm, which were rocks that reminded me of the film ‘Pitch Black’! I was glad we didn’t stay overnight! We also passed through the Homer Tunnel which was a cool experience. When we arrived at Milford Sound, we took the cruise through the Sound and to where it meets the ocean. On the cruise we saw a few dolphins and seals, and we stopped off at the Undersea Observatory to look at coral life. It was all interesting but I feel that Milford Sound may be a little hyped up by people. That night we drove all the way back to Queenstown.

The next day Pat left for Christchurch for a few days before he was due to leave NZ for OZ. It was sad to see him go, and I felt rather guilty that I didn’t see him off on his coach, but I was hung over from drinking too much the night previous!

I went for a walk around the lake and towards the end of my walk I stumbled into Queenstown Bowling Club! There they were preparing for their Xmas party and I joined in their Xmas Shootout! I got well beaten as I couldn’t get used to the southern hemisphere bowling green! They were quite welcoming though and I enjoyed it. Over the next couple of days I also spent a total of around eighteen hours on the internet, uploading all my photos to the site, which was fun… NOT!!!

Welshy, Chris, Rob Steele (man of steel) and I went up the mountain and went luging, which was good fun. After that Welshy cooked an awesome curry, and we all headed to another Speight’s Ale House!

On Saturday 16th we chilled out and in the evening Jennie and Kate arrived from their Milford trip, and it was great to see Jen again! We all went out for the night before retiring to our rooms, where I managed to get NO sleep at all :o)

Early the next morning (still no sleep) we all got onto the Kiwi bus to Christchurch. It was a long eight hour journey and I felt like s***!!! Discovered that I had succumbed to a crappy cold!

Anyway, after a long trip we made it into Christchurch and we met back up with Pat before he had to leave for a 5am flight to OZ, nice… NOT!

Again saying goodbyes was poo! Although I think I may try and get to Oz earlier than I had planned and meet up with Pat, we shall see.

Jen and Kate also headed off to Jen’s cousins where they are staying, so again I had to say farewell to them, which again sucked! I found that after getting no sleep and having a cold, I was quite an emotional wreck by the end of the night!

Anyway, today I woke up around half nine, after actually getting some much needed sleep. My cold is taking hold but I can deal with it! I went for a walk in Cathedral Square and watched all the street entertainers there, which was quite funny, and I also help a juggler juggle his balls :o)

I later met up with Mette, Jen and Kate, and we all went to the ‘Science Alive’ museum where we played with loads of scientific bits and pieces, and also partook in a game of ‘Glow in the Dark Mini Golf’! It was good fun, even though you couldn’t see where you were putting :o) Later Jen and Kate left for home and I said my farewells to Mette as she is heading back home to Scandinavia tonight! I’m tired of goodbyes.

And so I have spent the night writing this postcard and I intend to go to the hostel bar and have a pint, and then maybe go to bed. I still need to sort out what I am doing for Christmas, and although I have several ideas, I have not yet sorted it!

Anyway, again we are all up to date with what’s going on and I shall bid you all goodnight… until the next time…

Baity, aka John, aka Jersey.