ARRR I just spent ages writing this blog and then for some reason the internet closed. very annoying.

We arrived in Christchurch. I tried to book the 4 of us girls into YHA hostel which we'd heard was really nice but they were fully booked so we had to use Kiwis default hostel, Base. Never go to Base in the big cities. its rank/scummy/nasty/horrible. We pulled up outside a building covered in scaffolding. base has only been open for a week or so now since the earthquake due to structural/building damage and as we walk in the front door there is a big sign saying "This building is a dangerous building under sections 121 and 124 of the building act etcetc"..doesnt look promising! Us girls ended up in a 10 bed dorm with a tiny dirty window and just a depressing room in general. on my top bunk at the wall there is a big crack spreading out across the wall with plaster fallen off... dont particularly want to be here when there is another earthquake/aftershock! doesnt seem like the building will last... keep seeing other cracks around the place! oh well I only have tonight to go now anyway!

We didnt really do much the night we got here, we were too tired! We met Tina, Elin and Tom for a $5 chinese which was good then just went to bed! After enjoying a lovely lie in we had a plan to go to the beach but ended up wandering around the market which was in cathedral square (where our hostel is) and the girls then had to book/organise their trip to kaikoura so we spent a while sorting that out and eventually made it to Sumner beach around 2pmish. The beach is huge and lovely sand altho there was a lot of debris along the sand and we werent allowed in the water because of a sewage spillage or some kind of contamination.. nice! it was also very windy there and just lieing down for 5 minutes covered us from head to toe! we stayed for just over an hour and then got the bus back to town! it was nice to go out and see the beach... not like the beaches in sydney.. oh well! I had a wander round town and the shops on my own whilst the others went to shower, as they had more time in christchurch i wanted to try and do a bit more! We went to get a chinese in the evening but ended up with MckyDs! We then went to the cinema and saw 127 hours!! such a gross film! really good but really nasty!

In the morning the girls got up around 6 to get their 7am bus up to kaikoura. was really sad saying goodbye :( gonna miss them loads! we've been together for over 3 weeks 24/7! theyre like my NZ family! We ended up having to make it quick before we cried! I managed to get a little bit of sleep after that.. was weird being in the 10 bed dorm on my own!! literaly there was nobody else staying in the room! Anyway being on my own not gona stop me doing something! so i went for a wander round town and had a wander round the botanical gardens which was nice! I wandered back into a dif part of town and found a hairdressers that looked pretty cheap (and that was actually open!) had my roots done before i get to fiji... way expensive for wot they did..oh well at least they didnt destroy my hair..! haha then ended up jst lieing in the botanical gardens writing postcard and writing up my diary! was nice and chilled! this evening spent ages writing up blogs and sorting out stuf for fiji tomo!

Finally some people in my room!! met 2 english guys who are now in the bar, probs gona go join them in a bit! some irish girls and other british girls who all seem nice so that good!

So looks like New Zealand is over... :( I don't want to leave! Just like I didnt want to leave Sydney! I love it!! had the best time ever! Altho I'd like to come back i think next time I want to come back with a couple of friends and hire a campervan to drive round and actualy properly explore places and the national parks! Better get saving!!!

Fiji Here I Come!!!!!!!

(bit scared lol hope they let me in/give me a visa! and i hope i like diving and everyone on the project!)