Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
After an incredibly long walk to the bus stop I caught the bus to Akaroa. It was so nice to see the blue bay coming in to view over the mountains!
We arrived in the town - a small French looking bay - in the hot sunshine. On the way in I saw a hostel I hadn't seen in any books and I trundled along there. They had rooms over Xmas! Joy. But I would be the only one there as they had a cancellation, and it was expensive. Not so good.
I waited around to be picked up by the guys at the hostel I was staying at - Onuku Farm - and they took me up through the mountains, about 6km, to the farm hostel. The views were amazing over the bay and set in the mountains. There were hammocks and benches and a nice lounge and seating areas and lots of walks around the large farm. The staff were all so lovely and welcoming.
I walked to the swimming bay, which is pretty much a private bay, and sat there for the afternoon looking over the blue bay. In the evening I spoke to a nice pair of girls from the UK and they were also in my dorm, so that was nice.
The next day I did absolutely nothing apart from read and doss around and snooze and read... you get the idea. I decided to stay there for Christmas instead as it was so much nicer than the other place!
On Friday afternoon about 1pm I was sitting outside chatting to someone when we heard a loud rumble. I thought it was a train or truck, but then remembered we were up a mountain. We both looked at each other and said 'Earthquake!' and jumped up. Not really knowing what else to do. A few people came out of the hostel and we wondered around making sure everyone was alright. No damage to the property and nothing much disturbed. We then had several aftershocks that lasted all afternoon. We looked at a website - Christchurch Quake Map I think - and it maps all the quakes and the size and updates every few minutes. At 3pm we had another really strong quake, the shaking was really strong - a 6.1 it turns out - and the epicentres were just off the coast at Christchurch.
We had a few shakes the next morning too, one was another strong one. There were so many little ones that half the time you can't tell if you imagined it or not, or if it was someone walking past whilst you're sitting on the decking! But the peacocks usually cried when there was one, so that was a good indicator!
On Xmas eve I went back into Akaroa and did a wildlife cruise around the bay. We saw Hectors dolphins (he had his name stitched on the inside of them), seals, a blue penguin (well, the water was pretty cold) and some sea birds. So that was a nice xmas treat, instead of dashing round the shops with the crowds in the cold!
Xmas day was a very different experience, but really nice. There were about 30 people in the hostel - it also has a camp ground and van park so you hardly see any of these people! - and we all had a 'pot luck' dinner. Everyone cooked a dish and put it on the table and we all dug in. There was sooo much food, the highlight being crayfish salad and chocolate and banana crepes! We had a few drinks and everyone sat in the baking sun (30+ degrees) outside eating and drinking and listening to xmas songs. And not a brussel sprout in sight!!!
Boxing Day was hard. Another day of doing absolutely b***** all, walking to the bay, sunbathing, then walking back for more drinks and to sit outside playing cards.
Today (27th) I hitched a lift with a nice German girl to Kaikoura as it saved getting back to Christchurch, staying the night and another mammoth walk to the bus stop. We even stopped at a mall and outlet centre. Yes - I went to Westfield the day after Boxing Day - and it was soo quiet!
We are now in a hostel set back from the seafront with a nice mountain view, and with free heated pool, spa and sauna! I'm here until the 30th when I pick up my Magic Bus to Blenheim (not Oxfordshire).
So as far as Christmases' go, it was a good experience (though I didn't have ANYTHING to open, thanks everyone ;)) and it was nice not to have turkey sweating out my pores by the day after Boxing Day! And I got a suntan! But I'm quite looking forward to a chilly UK Xmas next year - WITH PRESENTS!!!!
Merry Belated Xmas everyone! p.s I have also put some pics on FB, as I couldn't do it on here xxxxxx
- comments
Dad Pleased you had a nice Christmas. Have missed you though. Love you xx
mum I finally caught up with your blog this morning. Thursday 29th Dec 2011, and went on face book to see all your photos. We went to Lee and Kerrys yesterday and saw most of the photos on their computer which is not so antiquated as ours and the screen is muuuch bigger. Have a good trip to Picton on your magic bus, does it stay on the road or fly over the mountains. I was good to speak to you this morning. Speak again the week-end. Love and miss you lots. Mum and Fred x x x