With another day left in Chile before we head to Argentina, we decide to head for Valparaiso, one of the lonely planet's top 6 list for Chile. A quaint beachside resort, population 276,000. On arrival we wonder why we have bothered! Loads of stray dogs and consequently the resulting poo! Grey, very foggy, run down buildings and loads of beggars. We struggle with the thought that it's just the absence of the sun letting this place down. Finally after a rest bi...

My first day in Santiago was effectively a repeat of the day before, we had Monday twice! Never good when you have a hangover. After finally giving in and getting my hair highlighted, I headed to the airport feeling a little more human to meet Shazza. 4 films, 2 meals and countless neck aches earlier (from falling asleep in dodgy positions) we arrive and it's still only lunchtime in Chile! Fighting my instincts to stay awake and beat the jet lag, I give in and g...

Boo hiss!!! It's almost time to leave NZ, it has been soo much fun I just don't want to, but the next chapter of my adventure starts here!! Giving back Johnny was sad, but waving goodbye to Todders, hopefully my new found friend for life was harder. Luckily Shazza was back in Auckland to soften to blow! So Todders and I checked into a private room, as we had soo much stuff we needed to spread out and sort and also because at heart even after spending somethin...

Whangamata - a sleepy beachside town, and dejavu. We ponder how we are going to amuse ourselves until bedtime. I seem to remember the same conversation when we arrived in Kaikoura, and the nights don't end all that differently! The litle pub is holding a Texas Holdem comp, so we both take our seats at the table and let the fun commence. Having joked with the locals that we have been funding our trip around NZ by cleaning up in Pub Poker Tournaments, we both make...

On receiving a text fom Darryl (David and Vivien's son), we hotfoot it to Tauranga. At this point I feel the need to quote my mum. "Well, it's just off the main road, so it should be easy to find". Tauranga is the fourth biggest place in NZ and we quickly realise that our one page map, with the North Island on one side and the South on the other, which has done us proud up till now, just wasn't going to cut it. So we stop at a garage to ask directions. As luck wo...