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Before you say it, I know I have now written a blog since december, BUT I have been keeping a handwritten diary as internet was sometimes in south america annoying.
OK, well right now I'm in New Zealand! I have to say it is awesome! I flew here from Rio on the 17th Feb straight from the Rio carnival. I flew via Sao Paulo, Santiago then to Auckland. As soon as I arrived in Auckland at 5am and loosing a whole day I knew NZ was different. I got to the YHA international hostel and got offered a foot rub from the dude behind the hostel desk. I was pretty exhausted so I was well up for that! Little did I know that the dude would then stalk me for 2 days!! Eas funny though as I pretty much had a local tour guide. I had the best chocolate cake in the world off Queens street and I came across 'Dominoes' pizza that had chocolate lava cakes (the same ones I have only seen way back in Florida and could eat them forever!) So I delved into Dominoes and had a million trillion calories. I went and saw Avatar in 3D at the imax and met up with Tom (friend for UK). He took me to the best japanease food place and had drinkies!
I'd signed up to get around NZ via one of the bus companies. There are several - Kiwi express - Stray - Intercity and Magic. Having been the Magic (radio station) voice in London - I thought it would be funny to go with them. A German girl in my dorm room was also on the Magic bus on the Friday morning so we went down and caught it right outside the hostel. A short cute dude called 'Thumper' was our driver. He was pretty funny and was trying so hard to get everyone to laugh.... Met a girl called 'di' from Canada and we hung out. After a few picture stops via LOTR Hobbiton we got to Routaura (or however you spell it). Went to a culture show that night with food and dance and random stick games. Afterward Di and I went to the local Lava bar (by her hostel). Thumper was there...and scrubbed up well ;o) I decided I quite liked him....
Next day back on the bus to Taupo met a girl called Hannah and cool guys Rhys and Stefano. Had a right laugh! Went to the famous Gloworm caves and I could not stop laughing as the tour guide spoke like he was speaking to 3year olds - really slow and patronizing. We got told off for taking photos.... Went also to an Angora rabbit place where the driver - Thumper's mum worked! Was strange seeing his mum! Checked out Hukka falls (lame compared to Iguazu) and a bungee. A dude was at the bungee in bra and knickers(he was on his stag weekend). I made the bus wait till the bra and knicker guy had gone and I met the stags friend (later to be found out is called Matt). Got into Taupo and sunbathed at the YHA. Had a huge drinking and dancing session too. I apprantly said at one point "I cannot stand - I need to go home" and then got up and left with Thumper! lol! funny. Very drunk.
Next day I was up early with a hangover and we headed to Wellington. I was mainly up early as someone was cooking toast and set the fire alarm off! doh! grrrr... Hannah and Rhys and Stefano stayed as they were going to do sme walking...booo. Di was still with me though so Di and I went to the Base bar in the evening...ended again with me drunk
Next morning I woke up and at 6am decided to sod getting my chinease visa and styaing in Wellington I went with Di on the ferry to the south island. Got Thumper to ring up and extend my pass and I was on the ferry at 8am. I love being random and free!! Got into Nelson - the sunshine capital of NZ. Had a new driver - Mark who was abit strange, but fun! Stayed 2 nights at Paradisco lodge. Had swimmingpool and sauna. nice! Cute rooms too. Next morning I was on a boat trip in Abel Tasman NP. I was on a sailing catarman. It was like a OAP boat as everyone else out of the 12 were past there 50's! Everybody else did another option of sailing and walking...walking is not in my vocab! People on the boat were really nice and friendly though! Met a couple from Toronto...those Canadians get everywhere!!! The boat went up the coast, via penguins, seals and apple shaped rocks! Awesome sunny weather. Stopped off for lunch for an hour on the beach. Beautiful. Once back at the hostel Hannah and Rhys had caught up with us as we'd been there 2 nights. Met girl in my room called Leoni. She lovely!
Greymouth next - nothing really here and miserable weather. Went on Monty's brewery tour. Had half hour to pull our own pints - got off our faces - leoni and derek (lovely!), rich too all there that were on the magic bus. After the tour we got free meal at local pub then went onto a bar. 3 local miners were there - chatting us tourists up! One dude was trying to chat me up but he then slipped up when i said to him if he'd like me to introduce the fit swedish girls i knew from the bus to them all....he said 'nah, i like a woman with something to hold onto' what?! 'you know a woman with curves - frumpy' FRUMPY?! WTF. dude in UK that is NOT a good thing. He said it was and I stuck my finger up at him. Highly offended, especially as I've now lost weight back to UK size 10. F*cker!
Next day onto Franz Joesph. Gutted as it pisssssed with rain the helicopter flights were not going in the afternoon (where I couldve seen mt cook and Foz glacier at the same time!) doh! Instead I booked a massage and went to the hot pools! good choice! Met a dude in the hot pools who was from Kent and now out here doing glacier hikes! Nice! He said best thing he ever did. We went for a drink afterwards.....
Queenstown was next!! via Lake wanaka. Wish I had a night there now as the lake was just astounding. There was a model of a hand on the shore. I took dirty photos with it! ;o)Anyways Queenstown - It was like a ski village without the snow right now and just breath taking. It was surrounded by the Remarkable mountains. So chilled, sun out and beautiful lakes.....had a 3hr convo on the phone with Thumper into the night.
Next morning I was off to Milford Sound. It is apprantly one of the top 10 most beautiful places on earth....my bus left at 8am - got to MS at just before 2pm and had 1hr40min boat ride on the sound. Don't get me wrong, the seals on teh rocks, the glaciers, the mountains, the clear water, waterfalls and sun were amazing BUT it was a 5hr coach ride - 1hr.40min boat ride then 5hours back......not sure how worth it it was for 1hr40min boat ride. ..... saw Italian job remake though on the way back on the coach. Got back into Queenstown and Leoni and the boys ahd caught up with me! hurrah! had drinks then got thrown out of hostel as its shhhh time after 10.30pm. rude!
Walked around the next morning and chilled by the water. Was flying back to Wellington to sort visas first thing Monday morning. Got back to Wellington after a painless 40min get to airport b4 flight - straight check in and fly off...I could get used to this! Plane was propella plane though and kept freaking me out with its noises.... got to Wellington and met up with Thumper! More drinks were had in the Base bar....
Monday morning I decided to pop to Napier with Thumper to check out the prison there where I saw a tour guide job advertised. Got to Napier and went upto the prison with all my heavey bags. Very steep hill as well ...grrrr. Got there and I felt creeped out. I know its a prison, but seriously my free accomodation with the job was in one of the cells. The cell had a light in it that could only be turned on rom outside the cell. Plus it was next to the cemetry and a creep statue of a former inmate was there outside the cell. Another bad point was the showers.....they were the olf inamte showers obviously, very open and if I had not finished showering by 9.30am it would be likely that tourists wil be on a tour and taking pictures of my naked ass. Hmmm help! what have I done! I said I'd stay overnight to see what it was like......anyways I met the only other person staying at the prison. His name was Graham from the UK. using his laptop I quickly booked a bus for the morning to go back to Wellington. WE walked into town together and that also freaked me out. Napier had an earthquake in 1931 I think and it got flattened. It got rebuilt ALL of it art deco. The town had an odd vibe and was soooo stuck in art deco it was creepy and very 'Truman show' like (if you know what I mean). Had some drinks to make me feel better. Thumper joined us and took the p*ss by doing zombie impressions. 2 hours later he helped me escape from prison by using a truck, grabbing my stuff and paying for a night in the hostel he was at! I just couldnt stay at the prison it was freaky...no lights in the corridors, creepy statues and noo....no way.
Next morning I was on a bus back to wellington to sort out my visa for my trip to china on thursday. Got to YHA, booked in and walked up to the Chinease Embassy. I rang up last week to check I could get a next day visa and the woman said yes and they open 9 to 4pm with 1hour lunch at midday. I was at the embassy at 2pm. However the woman at the desk said it was not possible. WFT?! The lady on the phone regretted to tell me that 1to4pm you can only PICK up visas NOT give in paperwork. bull*hit. absolute bull*hit. I guess I aint going to China on Thursday then!!! grrr......
So I've been thinking of a new plan....checked internet for jobs and looked for radio stations. Decided to put passport to vietnam embassy to join my trip later on in Hong Kong. Won't be done till Tuesday, so I'll stay in Welly till then! Went on a Lord Of the Rings tour with Graham - very fun! Also shopped, sunbathed, drunk - pub crawl on Friday night with new dorm mates from germany.....Dennis (german guy) literally threw me out of my dorm bed and told me we were gong out!! ok....... $25 free shots and 5hrs later I was a mess back in my hostel bed! nice! Dennis then tried to jump me in my bed...the same bed he threw me out of earlier! I love hostels. You meet so many random people...the othe day I wole up and stood on someones head who'd run into theroom fell on a fan and cuddled it then passed out! love it! Met up with Matt (guy from stag weekend as he a Welly boy!) he took me for lunch, also met up with my old boss for a few drinks. He randomly found out through facebook that I was here in Welly and he'd just moved here! was odd! but cool!
Sunday now and that meant Thumper was back in town....... Tuesday pick up visa and fly to Auckland to meet Vic!
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