Peace out!
30th Nov 2006South Island I am rubbish at updating my diary - so i`m gonna try and remember what we`ve done for the last month...again! Sorry that i`ve been so lame with this, it`s difficult to find the time and money to keep using the internet, especially as our budget is soooooo tight now, but i`ll explain about that ;0) So Kaikoura, yeah we ended up doing the dolphin swim and it was fantastic - it`s pretty muych guaranteed that you`ll see some dolphins but they an`t guarantee the size of the pod or how playful they will be, but lucky for us we found a pobd of about 400 dusky dolphins - so in our wetsuits etc we headed into the water to see if they were feeling friendly. They really are playful little buggers, all the time there were just dolphins whizzing past you this way and that way - you could even play little games with them, like swimming round in a cirle real fast whilst the dolphin swims around you, you have to keep eye contact with them it`s really funny! Then back on the boat, and we were really lucky to see some killer whales - about 5 or 6 of them, and up close to the boat too. Because the whales eat the dolphins, we were lucky to see the dolphins get into defense mode - and so they all did this thing called the horseshoe formation - where the whole pod form a giant horseshoe and all start swimming and leaping out of the water at the same time in the direction of the whales - it was an awesome sight to seem, we were lucky! Kaikoura was the first place that we slept in the car for the night - little did we know that it would later bcome a necessity because money had dwindled so much. Christchurch - the plan was to meet Cath and Ray the next day and to let them sleep off their jet lag, but it turns out they were having a wander around town, and so were we and we bumped into them in the street - weird! it was so cool to see them again, and just like old times - it totally felt like it hadn`t been 9 months since we`d seen each other - so we went for a few drinks and a catch-up. The next day we walked round the city and C & R bought a new digital camera. Mt Cook - we decided that the guys should see some real NZ scenery, so we drove the long old road to Mt Cook, but the views were defo worth it. Mt Cook and the rest of the snow capped montains are amazing. We checked into a little cabin and then went into the TINY town for a bite to eat in this really cool alpine lodge type place, we ended up going in there a couple of times, the views were amazing and it was really cosy. The next day, we did some glacial kayaking which was an experience - so in our couples we entered our kayaks and went paddling through the icy cold lake to the terminal face of a small glacier - it was really cool, we could have seen ice bergs but there were none that day, but it was still cool. Then suddenly the weather started to change and the winds picked up - it all got a little hairy, and it was really hard to paddle because of the current, unfortunately Cath and Ray ran into a bit of trouble and the guide had to go and rescue them but they got back to shopre safely. Our guide said that he would never have taken us out in those condidtions if he knew what they were gonna be like. I`ll never foget seeing C & R in the distance though, and Ray hitting Cath on the back of the head because she was exhausted and fed up of paddling...it was funny as!!! Oamaru - after the kayaking we headed to Oamaru which is famous for it`s blue and yellow eyed penguins. So we checked into our cabin and headed off to see if we could find some. We were waiting there forever and had almost given up on seeing any, when 2 little fellas waddled up past us all and then posed for ages together for all the tourists, it was really cool. Then we looked round the town and went to a lovely pub for more chit-chat. Dunedin - this is where we were going to stay with Caths Aunt and Uncle for a few days. We arrived at their place, but they had other guests there (Peter and Judy, in-laws), so we stayed at Jenny`s (Caths cousin) place - she had a really cool flat. That night we all went out for a meal at Speights Ale House, and I had the tastiest meal ever - lamb shanks, with mash potato...it was devine! everyone enjoyed their meal, and then me, Andy, Cath, Ray and Jenny went for a few drinks in one of the old bars that Martin (Caths brother) used to work in when he was in NZ. The next day we went to Cadbury World - a huge Cadbury`s factory, we got loads of free samples and got to see the chocolate making process, as well as a huge chocolate waterfall, it was yum. The day after that we were leaving, but we made a quick pit stop at the worlds steepest street - seriosly, I don`t know how anyone would have the balls to drive up it! Then we made another call into the alehouse for lunch and then headed on to our next stop. Alexandra - Cath`s Aunt and Uncle own a crib (holiday home) in Alex, so we headed there with them to stay the night before moving on to Queenstown. The house itself is amazing and they have loads of land. So we went for a walk with them, and took their dogs Thor and Erin and thedn we had a nice dinner of spag bol. The next day they took us for another walk up to see a huge clock set into the side of a mountain, and then we had a windy lunch outside and said our goodbyes before heading to the next stop. Queenstown - this really is a cool town, it`s so laid-back and pretty, and there is so much to do. So we stayed 2 nights in a hostel called Southern Laughter. We took a ride up on the gondola to check out the views of Queenstown, and while you`re up there you can so some luging - racing around a concrete track on like a sledge with wheels. Them bad boys went pretty fast, we had 3 goes each - in between times catching the free ski lift back up to the top, it was fun! Andy thinks he`s Michael Shumacher but I did win him in one race ha ha. Andy was gonna do a bungy in QT But the biggest ones you couldn`t bring spectators to watch as they were way out in the sticks, and expensive - so he had to allow it :0( The first night we went out and had a bit of a boogie, it was nice to have a dance partner again. The next day we milled about, checked out the shops and then went for a gorgeous meal in the evening in this wicked pizzeria - and we had a few bevvies and then headed back to the hostel. The next day it was time to say bye to C & R, so Caths had a go in Bob (our little car, which we love) and she drove us to the coach stop around the corner - and did a mighty fine job of it. It was sad to see them go, and we felt a little lost without them. Milford Sound - Then we had a dilemma, Milford is where you are meant to get on a boat and cruise around the sound checking out all the beautiful sights, but we couldn`t afford the boat trip...but...the drive there is meant to be almost as spectacular but it`s a hell of a way. In the end we did it, and the scenery was defo worth it - really amazing. Fiordland National Park is beautiful. We made some stops to check out scenery and went through a really cool long tunnel cut through the mountain - but on the way back through it it was pretty scary, cos it was later and the signals turn off after a certain time in the evening, so it was just me and Andy and this huge dark tunnel that is only lit by cats eyes and water is dripping down on the inside...it`s really creepy. But we made it to ourcampsite, managed to fob off the park warden and camped for free in our car. Wanaka - this place is like a small Queenstown but not as atmospheric I thought. We went to a place called Puzzling World on the way, which is a really cool place with optical illusion rooms and holograms and all those cool sorts of things, they also have a huge wooden outdoor maze designed for adults. So me and And thought we`d take up the challenge, you had to reach all four courners and then find your way out, so we split up - and both found all four corners, a little later Andy found his way back out, but me being the twat that I am, got completely lost in the maze! seriously, I was in there for an hour longer than him, I could not find the exit for love nor money. In the end Andy had to come in to try and rescue me, then we both couldn`t find the way out so we had to use the emergency exit ha ha. Haast - waste of pace town really, there`s nothing there of interest, it`s a pretty drive along the haast pass from Wanaka to Haast, but the town itself is plops! It pissed it down the whole time that we were there so we couldn`t even get out of the car to do some walks. so we sat in the car, and sat in the car...until we made sandwiches in the car, and then slept in the car. This was the beginning of big time budgetdom for us and would set the standard for the way we are living now. Fox Glacier - we basically couldn`t decide whether we wanted to do a guided walk of the foz or Franz glacier, so we went to fox anyways to check it out. It was pissing it down still, and not letting up for even a second, we wanted to do the hour walk to see the terminal face of this massive glacier but it was raining so we popped to the lookout and then back into the car again. I think this day was really the low point for the both of us, it was still raining, we couldn`t afford to eat out or really do anything (because we decided to climb the Franz Glacier) so we sat in the car, gettin bored and bored and even more bored and the rain was just coming down and had no intentions of stopping. the next morning, after sleeping in a car park, we wanted to use the holiday park next door`s showers - so we got up early, reception was shut and so we used them, on the way out however some blonde bint of a woman spotted us and made us pay $28 for the use of their not-so-great showers, she got lippy with Andy though and he told her to shut-up, I was in the car so missed it - but good on him, he should have given her a slap for putting us even more into the pits of depression. So there I am, bummed that we`ve been charged all this extra money for a shower - then I go and open the car door onto the car door of an expensive stuck up Englishman`s car, luckilly there was no damage, but when Andy got back from the phone box I was having a cry - it was a bad few days, but there has to be some in a year I suppose! Franz Josef - so we headed to Franz Josef to hopefully do the guided glacier walk, and guess what...it was still bucketing it down, the rain does nothing for a place let me tell you - it was making us depressed and the lack of money for actual shelter (not the car) or food was really hitting us hard. But sod it, we booked to do the half day guided walk, and accepted that we`d get rained on, but as soon as we got to the place the rain stopped and actually it turned into a nice day. So we got all geared up for the glaciwer walk in waterpoof trousers, jackets, big boots, hats and gloves...and got in the bus to drive to the walking point. There were 39 in our group, quite a lot but it was ok. We walked an hour to get to the terminal face, the glacier itself is absolutely enormous! Once at the base, we got split into 3 groups, we were in 1 cos we`re the best ha ha, then we attached our talons (ice spikes for our boots) and headed up some rock to the start if the ice. Just before that a huge chunk of the ice fell off (about the size of a car) which was cool to see and we were in no danger. Basically, they`ve cut ice steps up the glacier so we jsut followed all these up holding onto a landline in case we fell. We went through a cool ice chasm and ate our sarnies at the top. It was a good trip, and nice to be out of the car, and for it not to be raining. That night, we camped in a department of conservation campsite d- we were meant to pay in the camp fees box, but we allowed it - but it was soooooo cold that night that perhaps it was our punishment. Oh yeah, we pinched some bowls and stuff out of a hostel and a few other things (...desperate times and all that)..and i`m sure that all the rain etc was our punishment! Oh, and an Alpine parrot had a nibble at our bread and cheese in the night, again...more punishment! Charleston - we were gonna stay in Greymouth, but we allowed cos it was raining and dull and grey...and just plain boring! so we checked out a nearby national park (Paparoa) and visited the pancake rocks and blowholes before driving on to Charleston where we found a place to park up and sleep, and it pissed it down in the night...suprise suprise. Abel Tasman National Park - the next day we headed to Marahau in the national park, we got there pretty late, so found a car park and was gonna stay there, but a warden came round and moved us on...bastard! we heard him telling some others that they could drive up the road and park on one of the lay-bys so we figured we`d do the same. We found one, on the edge of a windy cliff and surrounded by forest. We stayed there about an hour, then decided that we could easily be the next backpacker murder victims, so we headed back into town and parked in front of a backpackers! The next day we booked to do a half day sea kayaking trip, it involved a 3 hour walk to a place called Watering Cove, then Kayaking back. The walk was cool, the views of the beaches were amazing - it was warm, and the beaches looked like they would not be out of place in Thailand or somewhere. We got to the cove on time, then met our lovely kayak guide who had a pretty bad stutter (bless him), we kayaked about for what felt like only an hour and a half and then it was time to catch the water taxi back to Marahau, we both decided that it was a waste of money and a rip-off, bums! That night we drove to Motueka and slept in the car park at the back of The Warehouse (a cheap superstore that sells everything)! Nelson - we wandered around the town, Andy had a filling done cos he chipped one of his back teeth, and we treated ourselves to a couple of drinks...before we go insane! Then we stayed back in Picton before today catching the ferry to Wellington which is where we are now. We watched Bride and Prejudice on the ferry which is funny, and really cheesy, and we saw loads of Albatross birds circling behind us on the ferry which was amazing! So that`s all for now, we`re doing fine. We`re both looking forward to Fiji and America now, we have booked into LA for one night, and then we`re gonna catch the Greyhound bus to San Francisco to stay 4 nights, and the last 3 nights we will think some more about and then we`ll be home. On the 5th of this month, we`re meeting Rach in Auckland to spend a few days with her, will be fun - but our budget doesn`t really allow for fun at this point, so we`ll have to do loads of free stuff and just enjoy each others company. Till next time peoples, peace out... Debs & Andy xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
|
| 3118 Words | This page has been read 54 times | View Printable Version |