Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
Greymouth
I was only staying in Greymouth over night so that i could catch the tranzalpine train the flooing day. Lets just say that this was very fortunate as they named it very aptly. Apparently it was named after one of the NZ Prime minsiters, but as far as i can see the place is grey, has no charcter, and is where the river meets the sea. The only good thing going for it is that it bring in the toursits as it is where the Tranzalpine train terminates.
Noahs Ark
Once i had hopped off the Thai tour bus i was gutted to see that the magic bus was parked outside. You see Magic Bus = teens + booze = noise + angry sam. Not a good equation. But as it turned out luck was on my side for a change and i had 3 girls off the bus in my dorm who all wanted an early night; how sensible. The Hostel itself was really nice and old. Fitting with the title of Noahs Ark, each dorm room ws amde up in a differnt theme. We had the sheep room, wher ther was a colourful mural on the walls. Other more costly rooms such as the pig room (all pink and piges everwhere) and lion ( lots of fur cushions etc) were a lot cooler tho.
That night the hostel seemed dead so i guees the others went out. i had my tea and then we watched a film on the massive wide screen tv, with surround sound i may add, sprawled acorss sofas in the lounge with a log fire. By 9:30 i was ready for bed. So irresponsible adults had the tv blaring out and i had to come down and tell them off as it was coming throught the roof. At one point i actually started thinking that maybe i was in the tv. I am getting old i know.
The next morn i got up to goose around Greymouth before the train. Ther was little pooint in this tho as it was much like St Aufual. There was a nice building by the clock with art stuff in it. They also have a lots of shop with the sacred jade in them but that was so commercialised. I went up to have a look at the clock tower and the view over the river but when i got to the top i was glad that i would never have to come here again.
Tranzalpine train trip
Whe i arrived at the station to chaeck in i was surprised to see Emily. She was catching a bus out of the dump to. She a been sat on the beach for the day before carving driftwood into pendats like they do with the traditional Maori one. She gave me one that was a fish hook at it was well cool. We said hi and bye and i got excited about going on the train. As you have prob heard in ems journal the trip takes you throught the southern alps and over to the east coast and Christchurch.
When i got on the train i had a table to myself. I think i was squealing at that point. We must have got a good carrage as it was spacious, only had a few seats and had the cafe right next to us. As soon as the deisel train set off ran down the 3 carrages to get out on the viewing platform. It was empaty for ages and i couldt get why people had paid good money to not enjoy the train. Anyway it was so cool to have an open air carrage. As we hammered along i could reeal the cold air and the speed, and the wind in my hair. It was so the best train trip i had even had from the beginning. As we left Greymouth the train took us four hours throught forest, past the curious Pukeko birds in marshes, over icy rivers, past mountains, throught tunnels, past lakes, sheep and houses, through Arthour Pass 737m above sea level, over plains, past massive amazing river gorges so big you cant even imagine - or see as my camera batteries had ran out by this point) and throught to sunset. It was the best.
When i arrived in Christchurch i found my hostel as we a bit narkey as the Rugby was on and eveyone was going to be b*****ed. I went to bead early and got woken up by some girls coming in at three and i thougth it was morning. When i did get up early for my bus you could still hear the piss heads over the roadi nthe 24 hour bar. Thank god i was heading for the quiet seaside town of Akaroa, as my last stop for peace, quiet and relaxation.
- comments