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Kate,Jo and Bronagh Get Around
Hey everyone,
Well we're warning you all now, this is gonna be a long one cos it's been so long!
Ok, from the start. We lasted a grand total of 3 days at the vineyard working as grape pickers. On day 3 our Indian boss told us to get in his car quick cos the police were "circling the area" So we got outta there quick before we got extradited from NZ and the Indian man was charged thousands for each of us.
Job number 2. Cleaners. This time we didn't need a visa cos we weren't getting paid, just getting free accommodation at our hostel. After a very competitive game of rock, paper, scissors it was decided that Jo would be cleaning the bathrooms (toenails everywhere) and Bronagh the kitchen. It was only an hour of work a day so we still had loads of free time. Laura and Claire couldn't last without us in the North Island so came back down to stay with us in Motueka. They leave on the 23rd for South America. Kate also came up from Kaikoura so the 5 of us watched plenty of DVDs and were just really lazy.
The hostel we've been staying in is brilliant and we feel really at home there. We have met so many great people and got to know them really well cos everyone who stays in Motueka stays there for ages cos like us they're broke and it's the place to work. There's a big fire outside and a BBQ so we go out there loads. We've met a couple of Brazilian guys, Maycol and Wilson who one night when we were having a BBQ made us eat chicken hearts. Its was like how you'd imagine an eyeball to taste, they were really small and chewy. Ugh. But anyway, they play the guitar and bongos so we all sit about the fire at night toasting marshmallows and having a wee singsong.
On 2nd we ventured out of Motueka for a week of birthday celebrations in Queenstown and within an hour we had already been involved in a 3 car pile up! It was a bit worse than our last car crash, this time with 2 police cars, a man being taken away in an ambulance and a firebrigade! Not to worry but, we were able to drive off as if nothing had happened while the man in the second car was treated for whiplash and the guy in the third car was charged with careless driving. We arrived in Kaikoura to collect Kate with a caved in boot which was unable to shut and a warning to hold on to her rucksack when we were going up hills. She had yet to experience Claires driving.
We eventually arrived in Dunedin which was a complete detour from Queenstown but had a chocolate factory so it was worth the effort. We went on the tour and got loadsa free stuff and the best bit by far was when a tonne of liquid chocolate fell from the top of a huge tower. The whole place smelt of melted chocolate. Unbelievable. We also seen the world's steepest street while we were there, but unfortunately we were unable to drive up it due to our boot situation!
So next stop was Queenstown. It was Lauras birthday on the thursday and Bronaghs on the saturday so we were all up for a bit of a boogie. Which we did. Alot. Queenstown is kinda like party central in New Zealand, always bunged full of travellers. On Thursday night we had a party in our wee hostel room. We have become very patriotic during our travels so we treated Claire and Laura to some top quality Irish Dancing. It all ended in tears (of laughter) as Jo did a spectacular high kick and landed flat on her back. Brilliant. After a few rounds of Snap (we've started getting very competitive, Claire even has scars on her hands from other snappers fingernails - she's the biggest threat), we decided to go out. We nearly didn't make it to the bar though, cos on the way Jo stood on Bronaghs jeans and the two of us ended up in a heap on the floor. It was very funny, Jo says Bronagh needs to trim the end of her jeans. Bronagh says Jo needs to watch where shes going. It was a great night.
The next day was a bit of a lazy day, but in the evening we went out for a big meal in a Mexican. Bronaghs ended up paying for two meals though (apparently chicken on its own costs the same as a full chicken fajita meal. Grrr.).
So on Saturday it was Bronaghs Birthday. She was woken up by the beautiful voices of Jo and Kate singing Happy Birthday, with a chocolate cake. There was balloons everywhere and lots of pressies. Kate and Jo named the day "Bronaghs Day of Luxury", it was lovely. There was lots of chocolate, crisps and all the things she loves. But after the initial birthday excitement, happiness turned to pure dread...
It was the day of the bungee jump. Yuck. Nevis Bungee is the 2nd highest in the world - 134m / 440ft tall. Its suspended on wires in the middle of a canyon, and you have to get a cable car out to it. Kate, Jo and Bronagh all went out to the little pod in all their harnesses, but Kate and Jo didn't know if they were gonna do it or not, so went as Spectators. When we got out there, it was horrible. Bronagh began wondering if she could do it too. The first person to do it backed out at the ledge, so that wasn't a good sign. Bronagh was the last jumper, and the only one of the three to do it (big chickens). Everyone sang Happy Birthday and then she was gone. After the first few seconds of I'M GOING TO DIE panicking, it was really amazing. Very cool.
In the afternoon, Bronagh went for a massage (Kate and Jos treat). When she came out they had a caramel Sundae waiting for her. Mmmmm. That night we had another party in the hostel, with more Irish Dancing, and didn't end up going out until 1.30am (Bronagh did much better than her 11pm bedtime on her 18th) and didn't make it to bed until about 5am. It was brilliant.
So we're back in Motueka now, after spending all our money. We're back in our hostel and have started new jobs. We are now Kiwi graders. It is the most boring job there could ever be - we all see kiwis when we close our eyes at night. We have to sort hundreds of kiwis, which go past on a conveyor belt, into 3 groups, depending on how they look. But the place we work for is really nice - we have uniforms and everything. (Blue shirts and hairnets, its a good look). Its good to be back in Mot, and we'll be here for a couple of weeks before we start travelling again.
We'll be in touch again soon. Think of us everytime you eat a kiwi......
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