Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
Well, I'm back in Christchurch and back in Hotel So - leaving for Sydney tomorrow. And in true well-planned style, I've just booked a hotel in Sydney and bought a guide book tonight - some quick reading to do methinks.
Being back in the same hotel has somehow made me feel like I'm going home rather than to a new country - I'm actually about halfway through my trip. I've only had a quick flick through the guidebook, but I reckon a trip to Newcastle and a wineries tour (which I've missed out on here in NZ) could be on the cards - I might actually be able to spend a whole week in Sydney without too much problem. I'm seeing Ben on Sunday, I've got Sharon's brother to contact (thank you Sharon), and I might get the chance to meet up with one of my ex-Draeger colleagues as well - all good for my extrovert side.
And my extrovert / sociable side has been neglected in NZ - I've only stayed 2 nights in the same place once, so it's been perpetual motion - 2000 kilometres driving in just over a week. So when I saw a hitch-hiker today, I decided to give him a lift and have some company for the 5 hour drive back to Christchurch.
Now obviously picking up a hitcher can be dangerous anywhere - luckily the Rough Guide gives some good advice for both hitchers and hitchees. So, after I'd finished trepanning Bradley, we had an interesting conversation which made up for the fact that, for once, the scenery was a letdown. If / when I come back, I might go round the island the other way just to get that leg out of the way...
Anyway, I'd assumed that Bradley was a student because of his skateboard and skate attire. It turned out that he was 'between things' at the moment, and was going north to visit his ex-girlfriend and baby daughter. He reckons he's totted up around NZ$40,000 in driving offence-related fines, all of which he's paid off in community service. He has also 'rolled' with some gangsta types - but fret not family and Louise, he was pretty harmless. In fact, I think he was more scared of me (and grateful for the lift) - he was astonished that I had Eminem on my ipod and asked if I was a former gangsta who had gone 'low key'! All in all, good company for a long drive, and it was good to get an insight into a local's (somewhat alternative) lifestyle.
Tonight I splashed out on a meal to celebrate my last night here. When I say splashed out, I had a starter, a fantastic beef fillet, two beers and a glass of lovely NZ wine for about 28 quid - so it was expensive but comparatively cheap to the UK - unless I've got my exchange rates wrong, in which case I'm stuffed budget-wise...
I asked if I could get a small portion of pasta to start, but was told I couldn't because 'the portions are pre-measured' (frozen, right?) So I just ordered some bread and dips. When it turned up, there were 4 different types of bread - but together they were the equivalent of a whole loaf. I asked how many people this starter normally served - "1 if they're hungry, but usually 3 or 4". It might have been helpful to mention that when I ordered it... Never mind, I've brought enough bread away with me for breakfast and lunch tomorrow. As they would say on The Apprentice, that's some good sandwiches, but lacking in innards. What's happening in the Apprentice? No, don't tell me, hopefully it's all recording for me at home.
I should get the chance to wander round Christchurch in daylight tomorrow - it's pitch black just after 5pm here. And then to Oz - g'day y'all.
- comments