2nd December

Christmas shopping cards signed sealed delivered! Ferry to Picton was deffinatly worth it. As we came into south island - stunning views and loads of bright green pretty mini islands, in the brightest blue sea you've ever seen. Picton seems a tiny little town surrounded by massive cliffs and mountains. The hostel seems cool with free chocolate pudding and a jacuzzi which we plan to fully take advantage of. Next day we walked down the high street and to the little beach where there was a brass band and christmas fair. Really hot afternoon listened to music and saw father christmas! After dinner we were in our dorm then we heard a really loud rumbling, sounded like a train going past or a plane flying really low overhead. Then the shaking got stronger and hugh tried to walk forward and couldn't keep his balance! Laura Grabbed on to the door frame "s*** hugh, were having an earthquake" If you try to walk it felt like you were walking on ice or jelly, you could feel the ground literally wobbling beneath your feet! It lasted about 10 seconds & was terrifying but kinda exciting! Hostel man said there will be after shocks. Apparently it was a 5.7, 18 miles away in the cooke straight (in the sea) and 30 miles underground. We've decided that as we havn't really got a route planned other than to get to Queenstown by 11th/12th that we will hitch heading south along the east coast. So we'll see where we end up tomorrow!

Next day, it was raining as we had planned to hitch to kaikora. Nice friendly local guy picked us up and took us all the way there, after some wandering in the rain finally found somewhere to stay. It was pretty rubbish weather the next day aswell.

5th

we went for a walk up to the seal colony to see all 5 of the seals lol.. on the way tried a crayfish sandwich at a stall YUMMO favey fishy Fo'sho. next day - as we are both hitching today in the rain and feeling ill and sniffley we thought we'd treat outselves to a cooked breakky. Sang christmas songs with our little thumbs out, half an hour later a creepy looking guy picked us up, he was pretty hard to make convertaion with but he took us all the way to christchurch. Got out at the airport, guy at the i-site told us there was no accomadation in the whole of christchurch - great... he said to ask around so we did. there was nothing, feeling pretty stressed and coldand wet found jailhouse backpackers were they kindly let us use there phoen to call al the hostels in the area. they were all booked up. looking like we were going to have to sit in 24hr mcdonalds all night.. got hold of a hostel with one luxery expensive room left incl sky tv, ensuit and kitchenette not bad so had a treat after the disaster day complete with cinese takeaway.

7th - checked in to jailhouse, which is a converted prison from the 1800's we are staying in a cell. we walked through christchurch saw alot of the devistation from the earthquake it is really sad. booked bus for early tommorro to queenstown, excited!