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Sunday 15th & 16th March 2009
For a day or two now, Joes been getting the beginnings of a cold and last night he was up most of it with a runny nose and cough. He woke up feelin s***e, shaky and achy. Not good. We got on the bus at 10.30 to go to Taupo and stopped at a rabbit shearing farm. Very random. These mofos are the biggest rabbits Ive seen in my life. I'll upload the pictures of them. They have to beshaved otherwise they'll die. The place has been reported to the animal welfare people here but they're kept in good conditions even though it is kinda weird. We were meant to do our skydive here in Taupo but because of how Joe's feeling and the fact for the next two days it was cancelled due to the weather we couldn't. Our hostel for a couple of days there was called Rainbow Lodge and was a nice enough independent BBH hostel. Got our own shower and toilet for $110 for two nights which is pretty good. Cooked our own meal here for the first time which was yum but think Joe struggled with the kitchen arrangements. Was similar to being in halls for me though. Our second day here, we had a well needed lie in, had lunch then sauntered into town to see what there was to do. Cause of the cloudiness, water sports like paragliding were also out so we ended up going to this thing called Craters of the moon which is basically a long assed walk around this big piece of land that looks like its just had a fire put out cause smoke is seeping outta the earth and thats basicaly what it was. It was a thermal activity. Was cool to see but was kinda a long hour. Our shuttle guy though was funny as hell and some how had us looking out our windows convinced we'd see a koala bear until it dawned on us they're just in Oz lol. He says the Chinese fall for it everytime, sometimes going away still trying to catch sight of one. He took us to Huka falls which we'd already been to but it is a really beauiful water fall. Looked just like a big swimming pool. Kinda thought Joe could do with a swim.... but he was havin none of it :p Ended the night with a meal and a few drinks at an Irish bar in town and then onto another for a few with some of the guys from the bus.
Tuesday 17th March 2009
Got up early again and it was pissing down so it was a good call leaving Taupo that day. On the bus, there were a good few new people since we'd stayed for the two days rather than the one we'd been doing and low and behold there is a bunch of young, fanny, posh English private school boys who where there with trousers so low they're nearly tripping over them. Think they've been watching way to many Fresh Prince or something... or they've a contract for Calvin Klein which I totally doubt. So, yeah, we got seated with them. That was fun. It was almost like it was their own personal bus. Ugh. Anyway, arrived in River Valley and oh my god. A truck was waiting on us to load our bags onto, then we had to make our way down this steep hill where the hosel was right next to the river. We were ferried around like we were in school and told that our double room doesn't have a key cause "it's safe as hell here. don't need a key. i don't even have a key for my house" then in the middle of the night, we noticed the bar was all locked up. Hmmm, someones passport and valuables or drink.... hypocrites. The day after, we just chilled out and sorted out some hostel stuff cause you need to pre book way ahead for doubles. Unfortunetly, we were the last out the hostel, and had to walk up the hill in the scorching sun. EVIL! This hill, OH. MY. GOD. We were practically carrying eachother up it, it was so god damned steep. I'd kinda forgotten about that the day before. After much panting like I was in labour, we were on our way to Wellington in the afternoon.
Wednesday 18th March 2009
The bus journey to Wellington took over 4 hours, having stopped for lunch in a town called Bulls which tries to get Bulls into every sign they possibly can. Weird. First impressions, bloody windy and cold looking. We had planned to go up in the cable car up to the botanic gardens cause it has lovely views but the weather scunnered that. The museum was shut which sucked ass cause it had an earthquake simulator which I soooo wanted to go on. This museum cost $350,0000 probably worth seeing Id imagine. Sigh. So, after checking into Wellington YHA at 7pm, which was really nice we didnt know what to do with our sole night here. We were told you just get in, see the one or two things to do and get the hell outta there. So we walked. Eventually decided we wanted to treat ourselves to Chinese, so we found this place calld Majestic Chinese which apparently won some big award last year. It was $20 for chicken curry but unbeknowst to me, it didn't come with fried rice which was a further $16!! Thats like over £14 for a chicken bloody curry. I about choked. Ordered one between us which was plenty and I watched Joe attempt for ages to eat with his chop sticks which was quite funny hehe. In the meantime I gobbled up what I think was the tastiest Chinese I've had. Was yum. Came out, and it was pissing it down :( ah well, time for bed for another early bloody start.
Thursday 19th March 2009
Up to meet the bus for 7am to catch the ferry over to the south Island to go to Nelson. Took 3 hours, most of which I slept. Got here and its a really nice town. However, arrived at the hostel which from the outside looks really nice. However, the doubles are in this back house and its pretty kack. We can't wait to leave. We went in search of some food and ended up bloody lost. So much for Joes sense of direction to save hopeless me eh. Stayed out as long as we could from the hostel, had a few drinks in the bar and settled for ANOTHER early start.
Friday 20th March 2009
Up early and out the door for 7am to be picked up by Wilsons coaches for the hour or so ride through to Abel Tasman. We'd booked privately through this company cause it was a 2 hour kayak in the morning, a wee boat cruise over to the park and then they leave you to your own devices to do what you want then pick you up on the boat again and shuttle you to your hostel. All for $150 which is pretty damned good. The trip offered by the kiwi bus was crap and dearer in comparison. Anyway, woke up that morning and it was SO freezing. Honestly, Joe will vouch for me lol. We got to Abel Tasman and I wasnt looking forward to kayaking at all. Thankfully all the gear was dry enough from overnight so it was like dressing with wet clothes. After instruction, we got it and went. Luckily for Joe and I a lot of the group were older which made us look good hehe. The kayaking, though a bit trying on the old arms and back, was quite nice. We went over to Split Apple Rock and took some braw photos and then headed on back for the cruise which was braw then stranded on the beach for an hour. This beach was gorgeous. Lush green sea everywhere and golden sand. We didnt have any time to do any walks but by then we'd been up most of the day and were pretty knackered. After being stranded on the beach, we came back to the s***ty hostel and Joe cooked which was loooovely.
Saturday 21st March 2009
Been gone a month now! Can you believe it? Feel it has mostly went quite quickly. Well,New Zealand anyway with Joe. Today, we got up bright and early and left that dump behind in Nelson and headed for Westport, a town that really doesn't have much in it but has the usual pitt stop for a good few activities, of which are on offer pretty much every stop so we weren't fussed for any of them. Keeping ourcash for the glacier walk,milford sound, and queenstown. On the bus, our new driver made us speed date which was basically the person on the outside row (joe) had to get up and move back one and get to know the person they're sat next to for 3 minutes. Joe was not keen on this lol. Had to practically force him but it was good fun for the first 5 people or so then it got to being like bloody de ja vu. There's a weird girl on the bus from Isreal whom we think is taking drugs. She joked seriously in front of everyone she'd murdered someone and drank their bloody... as you do. On the way, we stopped off at Nelson Lakes National Park next to Lake Rotoiti which was pretty damned nice for a picnic lunch. A couple of the guys felt the need to jump into the freezing cold water... when I say jump I mean hobble into the water like old men scared of the cold and eels. I was cold bloody looking at them. Numptys. Just before Nelson we stopped off for some yum ice cream then we were taken to our BBH hostel called Trippinn which is really nice and homely. When we arrived we had the run of the place, done some food shopping, cooked it and ate it outside whilst having quite a few stong voddies in the sun. 'Twas good. Wee bit drunk the now hehe and waiting for me washing to finish. Ah the joys eh. Heading to Lake Mahinapua tomorrow which is another of the pointless stops for the night which I think is more to bring money to the owner than anything else. The place isnt even in my guide book. Hmmm. Get in, get out maybe. We'll see.
Sunday 22nd March 2009
Well, one good reason to head towards Lake Mahinapua, is the drive there which is supposedly the 8th best drive in the world and well, it was pretty damned beautiful. We had a scortching day for it as well. First thing, we stopped off and did an hours coastal walk which was lovely. After stopping for munchies we were on our way to the Lake. One of the girls sat in front of us was being sick due to one too many last night. 'Twas niiiiice. Hmm. The psycho girl who we've nicknamed "crazy" demanded the same seat as yesterday, and as the girls are scared of her, she got it. I would've told her where to go. She is crazy as hell though. She apparently bumped paying for her dorm last night by runnning up the stairs whilst everyone was checking in, dumping her stuff in one of the girls rooms and then hunting to dorms for a spare bed which she found in one of the boys room. Cheeky biatch. Anyway, enough of her, Lake Mahinapua. When we arrived it was happy hour and the sun was shining so we lay out in the sun and had a few oh and had a steak buffet dinner for $10 which was sweet. Even I'll chew on that mum and dad for $10 hehe. That's pretty much all you can say about this place. Pretty much sweet F A to do here.
Monday 23rd March 2009
Yesterday, we arrived in Fran Josef and it was another scorcher of a day. We've been lucky. Wasn't feeling to shaby though. Felt wee bit ill but it passed. Got here and theres a gorgeous view on the Glacier. It's a tiny town which centres around the glaciers and tourism. First up, we picked one of the three pubs and enjoyed a lovely lunch then set about the drink. Got pretty drunk there then came back and joined everyone in the tv room to watch some movies whilst getting pissed which is what we did. Bloody joe and his heavy hand....
Tuesday 24th March 2009
Today, we enjoyed a lie in woooohoooo! and got ourselves ready for visiting the glacier. We'd decided rather than being one of the silly gits who wanna save some money by hiking up the glacier all day and then back again, we'd shell out the money to get the helicopter to take us to the good bit of the glacier and then we hiked for 2 hours before getting the helicopter back. Up there initially, its pretty cold like. But, soon enough the guides cutting away some steps for you or you dont have them and you're trying to find your own way across and believe me when I say it was bloody hard work. I was scared I was gonna do me ankles in. Was quite scary at times as well. Joe had to push me up part of this steep it of ice hehe. Attractive. We had to also slide through some ice caves which was fun but got a soaked arse. But, we made it in one piece however and it was pretty impressive. Got to see some of the ice breaking off as well. Freaky sound it makes. Good day out and knackered now and thats just 2 hours worth lol. Joe's in the hot tub and I'm catching up with my blog and writing in my diary which has been totally neglected. Gonna cook some dinner tonight with a few voddies (ill try and pour seeing as Joe has no limit) but just a few cause we're bloody up at 6am tomorrow to head to Wanaka.
Love ya all and miss ya xxxx
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