tag:fiona2nz.blog.co.uk,2009-11-12:/Fiona's New Zealand trip, lasting from 3rd November, 2007 to 13th February 2008. MokoFeed2009-11-12T10:32:47+01:00tag:fiona2nz.blog.co.uk,2008-02-15:/2008/02/15/home~3730862/Fiona252008-02-15T11:41:21+01:002008-02-15T11:41:21+01:00 <p>I am home. After 3 and a half months in New Zealand, I am home.</p> <p>I am also totally disorientated!</p> <p>I saw a church on the ride back from the airport and my first thought was 'look at that amazing OLD building.' It was like I had never seen something old before. It was also a shock to see winter with people buttoned up in coats. In NZ, the children are just going back to school after their summer holiday.</p> <p>My flights back were extremely long and painful. But when I flew from Christchurch to Auckland I was put in the first class lounge as a treat, and there was a very good looking group of cricketers there(they were a regional NZ cricket team). I am afraid to say that I didn't flirt with a single one of them, however, because they were all very arrogant. But it was still fun to see them as I browsed the buffet.</p> <p>I feel very lucky to have experienced such an incredible treat of a trip. It was a much needed and special trip and it has done it's job of giving me a break from winter, putting some fun into my life after experiencing a lot of pain last year, and giving me time to make some decisions about the future. I now have 1000+ photos to sort through and put into albums, e-mails to write, people to visit and sleep to catch up on. Thank you for joining me on my travels. </p> <p>yawn. My dog is currently sitting on me. I don't think she will let me go away again for a good while yet. ;-) </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://fiona2nz.blog.co.uk/2008/02/15/home~3730862/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:fiona2nz.blog.co.uk,2008-02-10:/2008/02/10/400_dolphins~3708931/Fiona252008-02-10T23:09:43+01:002008-02-10T23:43:13+01:00 <p>Some fascinating facts about the Sperm whale. Did you know that it got it's name from the early whalers, because when they caught one and opened it up they found 2 1/2 tonnes of what they thought was semen in the whale's forehead. Can you imagine carrying 2 1/2 tonnes of semen in your forehead? ewwww. </p> <p>In actual fact what is held in the forehead of the sperm whale is OIL. And it's use is pretty incredible. When they are at the surface, breathing, they cool it down, and it turns solid, letting them sink down to the bottom of the sea to feed. Once down on the bottom, using blood vessels they heat it up so it liquefies, meaning they float up to the surface. Both actions use the minimum amount of effort. Isn't that incredible? An internal buoyancy system.</p> <p>As you can probably tell I have just been whalewatching.</p> <p>I very nearly missed the bus to Kaikoura, but I arrived there on Saturday, unfortunately in terrible pain because of the walking around trying to find the bus stop that everyone thought was in a different location, and because the bus driver thought he would ignore all the rules of the road and overtake every little thing. There was even a U turn in a main street in Christchurch at one point! The weather looked terrible when we arrived. There was a 3 metre swell on the sea and severe seasickness warnings for anyone going out. I tried to get myself on a whalewatching tour thinking the next day would be worse, but gave up as the pain got worse. (read unbearable)</p> <p>Sunday came around and miraculously was sunny. Amazingly I got myself on a morning tour - I was originally due to go out in the afternoon but everyone was saying the weather would be taking a turn for the worse.</p> <p>To cut a long story short I saw two very cool sperm whales floating on the surface taking in oxygen after an hour long dive, and even better, lots of dolphins. How many? </p> <p>5? No<br> 10? No<br> 100? No!!</p> <p>The crew counted 415 dolphins around our boat!</p> <p>It was just incredible and I got so many photos of them jumping in the air. They were the tiny Hector's dolphins, which are only found around the coast of New Zealand so it was even more magical. We spent ten minutes in their presence and it was just brilliant. They were all showing off like anything.</p> <p>I got the bus back yesterday evening and spent the rest of the day in terrible pain; the worst it's been on my trip, but I'm so glad I got to experience that. It was amazing. My bus ride back was equally hairraising, and very twisty. But I got a bus earlier than expected so I got back at 7pm instead of 11pm. </p> <p>I am glad to be back in this hostel - the one in Kaikoura was not so nice after this one here. I now have the job of squeezing everything into my suitcase for my flight to Auckland tomorrow. The flight home is on Wednesday. Because of the pain I am definitely looking forward to getting back, but what a trip it has been.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://fiona2nz.blog.co.uk/2008/02/10/400_dolphins~3708931/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:fiona2nz.blog.co.uk,2008-02-08:/2008/02/08/christchurch~3696098/Fiona252008-02-08T04:04:21+01:002008-02-08T04:04:21+01:00 <p>I have arrived in Christchurch. Well, at least I think I have. I hadn't seen one single sign anywhere saying 'Christchurch' so I'm having to guess that that is where I am.<br> I am in a really comfy cosy hostel, with lots of lavendar bedspreads and dvds to watch. (Muriel's Wedding last night). It is a perfect 'amost-last' hostel.<br> Today was great. I slept in because my drive yesterday wore me out. I then went to the Cathedral square and watched a singer called Flick Grater sing. I then listened to the Wizard speak (I will add a link later). He was talking about how you shouldn't follow God, money or nature but fairies. Quite right too I say.<br> I then went to the aquarium where I was deliriously happy for half an hour, it was GREAT. I saw the cutest Southern Pig fishes. Adorable. And rays, eels and sharks. And I also saw a KIWI!! It was so cool. The enclosure was kept in the dark so it looked like a little furry blob (like Cousin It from the Addams family) with a long white stick. It was fairly magical. 90% of kiwi chicks die in the wild. They are very rare and very shy.</p> <p>I also went round the cathedral (culture!!! finally! I almost wept with relief) and at chocolate cake in the botanical gardens. It sounds like I did a lot but it was all in my wheelchair, which made it a lot easier. I couldn't have done any of it walking. But my hands hurt now! </p> <p>I am off to Kaikoura tomorrow but the weather reports aren't good so whether I get to go out and see whales or not I don't know. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://fiona2nz.blog.co.uk/2008/02/08/christchurch~3696098/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:fiona2nz.blog.co.uk,2008-02-05:/2008/02/05/milford_spectacular~3681482/Fiona252008-02-05T09:17:36+01:002008-02-05T09:17:36+01:00 <p>Today was a bit of a special, unexpected day. More of that in a second.</p> <p>I have been feeling rubbish for the last week. However, a couple of days ago I made a good friend called Charlotte and that cheered me up. We spent two great days playing with a green chair. I should perhaps mention she was 18months old. Normally I don't play with chairs, even nice green ones. Last night I was sitting on a bean bag in front of the tv, feeling like I was about to cry I was in so much pain when she came up behind me and gave me a kiss on my cheek and shoved half a chewed caramel bisuit in my mouth. She was so cute. I am very broody now though!</p> <p>So - today. I woke up after a day in bed yesterday and remarkably felt a bit better than I have all week. It was a beautiful sunny day too and so I rang a company on the offchance they were operating. They are called Southern Alps Air and I rang them a lot last week seeing if their plane trip from Wanaka to Milford Sound was operating. Every day they didn't have the numbers and I kept keeping my fingers crossed that they wouldn't even as I rang because of how I felt. But I rang today, and they had someone in the office at that moment asking to go, so they said to drive down and as long as the weather didn't change we could go up.</p> <p>I was definitely unsure about driving to Wanaka considering how bad I have been feeling, but I so wanted to see Milford Sound; supposedly one of the most beautiful places on earth, so I covered myself in great swathes of sticking plaster (including my neck, which was a painful place to rip it off of at the end of the day).</p> <p>I had the most brilliant drive down. I saw lake Pukaki, which has Mount Cook overlooking it. I was so excited, and had my music blaring so loudly I almost started jumping up and down out of excitement. Sometimes having a bad back saves me from embarrassing myself! I drove through absolutely gorgeous scenary and eventually got to Wanaka. There was one other woman (who I actually shared a room with in this hostel a week ago) and a family also waiting. We flew in a tiny, wobbly, old plane down to Milford Sound (I was petrified) and saw even more amazing sights. It was a bit hairy when we got to the Tasman sea - the breezes caught sight of us and decided to give us a good shake, but eventually we came in over Milford sound and landed.</p> <p>I then did a boat trip down the length of the sound. It was beautiful. Even better, some DOLPHINS (hurrah!) were swimming and came and swam alongside the boat for a good 15 minutes which was fantastic. There was a mother and calf and around 10 other adults, all beautiful. We also saw fur seals and a penguin, plus several waterfalls. Milford Sound is famous for sandflies, but I wasn't bitten by one! Amazing! I did see some though and they were giants.</p> <p>Finally we came back to where the plane was and flew back, passing lots of tents near a town called Glenorchy, which was the cast and crew of a new X Men film, which is filming out here at the moment. So cool!</p> <p>I was Sooooo pleased to get back on the ground - those little planes terrify me. But the views were worth it. I had a very tiring, very sore drive back but I am off to bed now with an orange and have all day to rest here. Hopefully a trip to the hot pools will sort me out.</p> <p>It was such a good day, and it so nearly didn't happen. I met several very grumpy tourists today, it did slightly dampen my spirits but they will soon be forgotten and I have so many photos and memories which will remain. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://fiona2nz.blog.co.uk/2008/02/05/milford_spectacular~3681482/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:fiona2nz.blog.co.uk,2008-02-03:/2008/02/03/astrophotography~3671473/Fiona252008-02-03T01:39:24+01:002008-02-03T01:42:10+01:00 <p>I had absolutely the most amazing night last night.</p> <p>After a day in bed feeling wiped out I met a guy called Fraser at 9.30 and we drove out to lake Alexandrina. I then had three hours of astrophotography. He has $60,000 worth of equipment in terms of telescopes and cameras, which I got to use.</p> <p>He set up the equipment and then showed me his very clever toy - it's a piece of software that knows exactly where all the stars, nebulas etc are. He tells it which one he wants to see and the telescope moves by itself until it has located the correct thing. It took about an hour to get each photo (I was out for three hours and completely froze my nuts off it was so cold) because we had to take several photos each time - with different exposures so they could be layered on the computer to get all the detail. We then edited them out there among the tussock grasses on his laptop with Photoshop; bringing out all the colours.</p> <p>It was incredible. I love astronomy and I love photography so what a great mix. I saw the southern cross, and photographed things like the orion nebula and the tarantula nebula. I am so pleased with the photos - I thought we would be photographing constellations and wouldn't pick up much detail. But the end result in each case was stunning.</p> <p>I am putting one photo here that I took - it's nowhere near one of the best but I want to save those to show them to people when I get home. And it's a big file, so I have no idea what will show up here. But it will give you an idea. My neck and elbow gave me a lot of trouble last night so I am off to the hot springs today. What a life! What a trip!! Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would experience a night like last night.</p> <p><a href="http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y45/lalaf/?action=view&current=DPP_0003.jpg"><img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y45/lalaf/DPP_0003.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p> <small> <a href="http://fiona2nz.blog.co.uk/2008/02/03/astrophotography~3671473/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:fiona2nz.blog.co.uk,2008-01-31:/2008/01/31/more_photos_for_you~3662161/Fiona252008-01-31T23:35:00+01:002008-01-31T23:35:00+01:00 <p>I am finally able to put a few more cut off photos on here. One is me by lake Rotoiti, one is lake tekapo, on is a view of the river coming into the lake (so pretty because of the silt) and one is the mountains from my plane. There is also one of me in the jet boat from the other day. I really wish they showed up properly but I don't know how to change that.</p> <p>I am wiped out. I feel like I have lead weights attached to my body and I'm so tired I can't do much other than lie in bed. My friendly, crazy roommate took me up to Mount John yesterday to see the views (I couldn't stop yawning, it was so funny) And today I have a massage and time to soak in the thermal pools that only opened on the 25th January. I am hoping that will help because I don't want to spend the rest of my time here in bed. It is a very real possibility at the moment.</p> <p>Anyway, it is beautiful weather here at the moment. It gets very very hot in this area.</p> <p><a href="http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y45/lalaf/?action=view&current=DSCF4508.jpg"><img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y45/lalaf/DSCF4508.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p><a href="http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y45/lalaf/?action=view&current=DSCF4855.jpg"><img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y45/lalaf/DSCF4855.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p><a href="http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y45/lalaf/?action=view&current=DSCF4920.jpg"><img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y45/lalaf/DSCF4920.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p><a href="http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y45/lalaf/?action=view&current=DSCF4881.jpg"><img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y45/lalaf/DSCF4881.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p><a href="http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y45/lalaf/?action=view&current=DSCF4811.jpg"><img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y45/lalaf/DSCF4811.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p> <small> <a href="http://fiona2nz.blog.co.uk/2008/01/31/more_photos_for_you~3662161/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:fiona2nz.blog.co.uk,2008-01-29:/2008/01/29/ouch_ouch_ouch~3651975/Fiona252008-01-29T22:45:32+01:002008-01-29T22:45:32+01:00 <p>I have pretty much just been sleeping since I got to Tekapo. My body is falling apart. My spine feels like it is disintegrating. I am getting sharp pains in my ribs if I take a deep breath and I have strained something in my neck. The only things still ok are my nicely plucked eyebrows.</p> <p>Yesterday after sleeping in the morning and afternoon and existing on only a crunchie for lunch, I got up and went into the lounge. There was a man there dressed suspiciously like a pilot. He asked me something and after repeating it several times (my brain is so tired) I realised what he was saying. It was 4.30 and there was a 50 minute flight to Mount Cook about to go and would I like to go for half price because they only had two people booked in so far. I had been planning on doing it later on in the week, which would have cost $280 (100 pounds) so to get it for $140 (50 pounds) sounded great. I woke up a bit, grabbed my stuff and got a lift out to the airport by said pilot.</p> <p>I had the most fantastic flight. We went over Lake Tekapo which looks even more gorgeous from the air, especially where the river feeds into it. We also went over several huge glaciers, Mount Cook and the Mackenzie plains, where glaciers once deposited huge rocks. I have to say I was TERRIFIED in such a small aircraft. It was a fairly bumpy flight, but I got to sit next to the pilot which was so much fun. I had a much bigger window than the people consigned to the back. </p> <p>It was a magical, if unexpected end to the day. </p> <p>I have had two terrible snorers in my room, but thankfully they have gone today. I woke one up on the first night because it was so bad (up until then myself and another girl in the room had tried everything, banging the beds, shaking them, coughing. When one stopped snoring, the other started and we were going insane). Last night I located one ear plug so it was a night of shoving it in one ear and then when I wanted to turn over shoving it in the other one, which is not so good for dropping off to sleep.</p> <p>I am going to go to some outdoor hot pools today and hopefully get a massage. I can't upload photos on this computer, otherwise I would because I have taken so many. </p> <p>There was some idiot investment banker here last night, slagging off Lake Tekapo and expecting everyone to join in. Basically because there are no clubs in the area. He was so spoilt. The beauty of the lake just hadn't registered with him. He was so sleazy too. eurgh. Some travellers just astonish me. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://fiona2nz.blog.co.uk/2008/01/29/ouch_ouch_ouch~3651975/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:fiona2nz.blog.co.uk,2008-01-28:/2008/01/28/much_plucking~3642345/Fiona252008-01-28T04:59:58+01:002008-01-28T04:59:58+01:00 <p>I have arrived at the gorgeous Lake Tekapo.</p> <p>It was so frustrating this morning - perfect, perfect conditions for the hot air balloon. It would have gone up with me in it except the other people who were going to go dropped out, so there weren't enough numbers. I was so upset when I heard that because there wasn't a cloud in sight. I was slightly more annoyed to think that actually it was beyond me anyway - standing up for an hour. I struggle to stand long enough to shower. Who was I kidding?</p> <p>Anyway, I am going to more than make up for that here. I am going to go on every blooming helicopter flight there is here and spend as much money as I can. So there.</p> <p>The sky is the clearest here of anywhere in New Zealand. You can go star gazing at night (hurrah!). There are also boat cruises (hurrah!), hot springs (hurrah!) and a girl with tweezers in my room to sort my eyebrows out (hurrah!) </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://fiona2nz.blog.co.uk/2008/01/28/much_plucking~3642345/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:fiona2nz.blog.co.uk,2008-01-27:/2008/01/27/happy_birthday_to_me~3637558/Fiona252008-01-27T01:36:36+01:002008-01-27T09:28:11+01:00 <p>I am 26 today. My god I'm getting old!</p> <p>;-)</p> <p>I had cinamon waffles with maple syrup for lunch. I have passed on going to Christchurch for the day (much too sore) and the hot air balloon couldn't go up because of low cloud, but it is a lovely day now.</p> <p>I have really really enjoyed Methven. It is a really cool place. Tomorrow I drive onto Lake Tekapo and I can't wait to see it.</p> <p>I have been in NZ for 12 weeks now. A Japanese girl came up to me yesterday and said 'Are you Rob?' Apparently losing my tweezers and not plucking my eyebrows for weeks has made me look like a man. :-) </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://fiona2nz.blog.co.uk/2008/01/27/happy_birthday_to_me~3637558/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:fiona2nz.blog.co.uk,2008-01-26:/2008/01/26/jet_boating~3633679/Fiona252008-01-26T03:23:25+01:002008-01-26T03:23:25+01:00 <p>I have just had a wonderful half an hour jetboating at Rakaia gorge. The river there is turqouise and the scenary was absolutely stunning. We did 360 degree spins (yes I got wet!) and came terrifyingly close to the rocks. It was so much fun. There was one moment when it got bumpy and hurt my bones, but the rest of the time it was very smooth and comfortable - just terrifying!</p> <p>The day before yesterday I was a tourist and did a Lord of the Rings tour to Mount Sunday, where they filmed the Edoras scenes. We were in a Land Rover and were driven through rivers, and right up onto the mountain. I am thrilled to say I climbed the five minute walk right up to the top. The 'mountain' (actually a rock deposited by a glacier) was in the middle of a valley. It has to be one of the most beautiful places I have ever been and I'm so glad to have done the trip, which I only did because there was no hot air ballon flight that day (there has been low cloud every day). We had a champagne picnic for lunch and saw a dvd about the filming of the Edoras scenes, which you can see if you have a copy of the Two Towers (it's in the extras section). </p> <p>Tomorrow it will either be hot air ballooning (unlikely), the International Busking Festival in Christchurch (unlikely) or a day in bed (likely!). I am happy with whatever, it has been a great week. A little bit strange to think I will be 26 in a few hours.</p> <p>Two and half weeks till I get home. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://fiona2nz.blog.co.uk/2008/01/26/jet_boating~3633679/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:fiona2nz.blog.co.uk,2008-01-22:/2008/01/22/waitaha_people_and_methven~3618047/Fiona252008-01-22T23:44:15+01:002008-01-22T23:47:00+01:00 <p>I have arrived in Methven where it is very grey. I am really hoping it clears up because I want to go up in a hot air balloon for my birthday on Sunday, but the weather forecast isn't looking that good. It is strange to be in a big town after being in such small towns recently. I can't quite adjust at the moment.</p> <p>I have a vey nice hostel, except for the fact that it is made up of two buildings and both are identical inside and out leading to confusion as to where exactly I am! There is free internet access, lots of dvds, sky tv, books and lots of comfy sofas. Apart from one other woman, the only other guests are 10 men, who are all nice, except the whole lot of them got very drunk last night and one got aggressive and tried to break down the other woman's door and when he couldn't get in, came into my room at midnight (the door was locked but he broke it open, but don't worry, I'm fine, he walked straight back out again otherwise he would be missing several bodily parts by now). The manager is going to yell at him today.</p> <p>My drive from Arthur's Pass to here was stunning. The mountains were so beautiful and I drove over a very turquoise Rakaia gorge where they do jet boating. I also listened to Sir Edmund Hilary's funeral as I drove which was very moving. There have been screens up in all the major cities and I am quite near the Edmund Hilary centre at Mount Cook so the news showed a lot of footage from the ceremonies there.</p> <p>Because the internet is free and the weather poor, now is a good time to write about something fascinating that I learnt at Te Mahoerangi. When I came to New Zealand I thought that the indigenous people of this country were the Maori. However, at Te Mahoerangi I learnt about a much older people, a forgotten people, the Waitaha. </p> <p> Technically I think they have the same ethnic origins of the Maori, in that they came from islands all over the Pacific, but whereas the Maori came here in the last thousand years, the Waitaha people came here many many thousands of years ago. They were a peaceful people, healers and sculpters of the pounamu, or greenstone, and they passed on the most incredible oral history via sacred schools, where the brightest children were gathered (one of the recent pupils was drafted into the NZ army and learnt to speak and write Cantonese fluently in 2 weeks, such are their memory skills from being in these Waitaha schools for years). </p> <p> The Maori, warriors, killed a lot of the Waitaha when they arrived, but there are still Waitaha communities, mostly in the south of the south island. A man called Barry Brailsford has written a lot about them (eg Song of the Stone), including books of their creation myths which I got to read at Te Mahoerangi. Basically, when you hear Maori myths, they are mostly telling stories that have their roots in Waitaha stories. </p> <p>For example, you hear about an earth mother, Papanuaku, and her children (one of her grandchildren was supposedly Mahoerangi, and people made offerings at her mountain which is where Te Mahoerangi backpackers is situated and she was known for giving spiritual and physical healing in the legends). She is from a Waitaha legend, not a Maori one as is claimed. </p> <p>So, now you know. Not just the Maori of New Zealand, but the Waitaha (Y Ta Ha) too. Not many New Zealanders even know about them. It's really quite sad because their history and knowledge is so rich. The Maori in themselves are fascinating too, it's just that they are not the only ones who need remembering.</p> <p>That's your lesson for the day!</p> <p>I have been here 12 weeks now. I go home in 3. It doesn't quite feel real that I will be home soon. I am definitely very conscious of what I can't do at the moment. I am desperate, desperate to go off for 8 hour walks like other people are doing here, to go for 3 hour horse rides and sea kayaking trips and have as much fun as is humanly possible. I had a bit of a bad day yesterday wanting to do everything I can't. I was very down. But I feel better today and I'm trying to appreciate that just being here is great. I have had such a good time. But it is so unfair. I so want to be well. :-(</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://fiona2nz.blog.co.uk/2008/01/22/waitaha_people_and_methven~3618047/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:fiona2nz.blog.co.uk,2008-01-21:/2008/01/21/men~3607646/Fiona252008-01-21T02:34:23+01:002008-01-21T02:34:23+01:00 <p>sob sob </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://fiona2nz.blog.co.uk/2008/01/21/men~3607646/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:fiona2nz.blog.co.uk,2008-01-20:/2008/01/20/honestly~3603066/Fiona252008-01-20T02:00:43+01:002008-01-20T02:00:43+01:00 <p>Hostels!!</p> <p>I have had it up to here. Snorers, people who don't stop talking, people who are so rude they need bashing with books, and now Fate (or the manager) has decided to put the most gorgeous 32 year old marketing director called Peter into my room. It is torture. I managed at least to get a kiss out of him, which has remedied the situation somewhat, but can you ask for anything more difficult?</p> <p>;-)</p> <p>He leaves tomorrow. I think I am going to cry. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://fiona2nz.blog.co.uk/2008/01/20/honestly~3603066/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:fiona2nz.blog.co.uk,2008-01-18:/2008/01/18/assaulting_roommates~3598221/Fiona252008-01-18T22:38:44+01:002008-01-20T02:03:55+01:00 <p>Yes, it's me again! Yet more internet access. In fact there are 3 places here where I could use the internet. </p> <p>I am in Arthur's Pass, which is stunning, but the sun is very very strong and it's enough to give you a headache just standing outdoors for a couple of minutes.</p> <p>I left Maruia Springs yesterday (www.maruiasprings.co.nz) after my two days of bliss and drove 3 hours to get to here. It was gruelling and I was more than a little sore (aka grumpy) when I got here. The drive up was fairly terrifying but I got some great photos. My poor car wouldn't do more than 20km/h on the way up the hills. I am staying in a pretty hostel with a great lounge area where I intend to sit for the next few days, occasionally popping out to the one store where they serve incredible ice cream. I had two room mates last night - one was the most annoying person I've met in New Zealand. She was German and when she walked in the room I was lying down after my drive, feeling very sorry for myself. </p> <p>Her: Are you ill or just lazy?<br> Me: I'm tired. I had a long drive, and I have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome so I need to sleep a lot<br> Her: Oh, that's a good excuse for being lazy. (yawns) I'm tired too, I think I will tell people I have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome aswell.</p> <p>I almost thumped her. The south island has been fairly tough in that there is so much to do here - walking, kayaking, horse riding etc and I have really felt the fact that I can't do most of it. Her comment came at a bad time. I'm afraid to say that later that night I *accidently* dropped my book down onto her head from the top bunk while she was asleep. (actually it WAS an accident, just a very satisfying one!)</p> <p>fiona:1 Idiot:0</p> <p>I am feeling really really sore at the moment and it is proving tough to keep going, but it is so pretty here and there is no way I am cutting short my trip when there is still so much to see. I am going to grit my teeth for the last 3 or so weeks. I have taken so many pictures, which has been really fun..... I can't wait to see them all printed out at home.</p> <p>My time is just about to run out. Off to eat ice cream and read my latest book. And avoid a certain German girl who is hovering. She puts her foot in it with everything she says. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://fiona2nz.blog.co.uk/2008/01/18/assaulting_roommates~3598221/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:fiona2nz.blog.co.uk,2008-01-17:/2008/01/17/floating~3593068/Fiona252008-01-17T22:19:43+01:002008-01-17T22:19:43+01:00 <p>I find myself having internet access again! There is no phone here, no radio stations, no tv, and yet there is a computer! Extraordinary.</p> <p>I have had two absolutely amazing days. The first day I just soaked in the thermal pools under the stars, but yesterday was the best. I had a shiatsu massage that sorted out a lot of aches, and then I got into a private spa pool for half an hour (just BLISS). I then slept for 3 hours, I was so relaxed. I ended my day with an amazing supper - spaghetti with a lobster and cream sauce and lime and honey ice cream in strawberry soup. The scenary here is breathtaking. When you sit in the pools you have soaring tree covered mountains everywhere you look and the drive here was through bright green forest, with a river running by the side of the road. It was very wow.</p> <p>I move on today to Arthurs Pass and then onto Methven, where there *might* be internet access, I have no idea. But I just wanted to share my two amazing days. I feel all floaty and de-stressed and the good thing was that unlike how it would have been at the more famous, but busier Hanmer Springs, I had the pools totally to myself. It was great.</p> <p>mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://fiona2nz.blog.co.uk/2008/01/17/floating~3593068/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:fiona2nz.blog.co.uk,2008-01-15:/2008/01/15/st_arnaud~3578657/Fiona252008-01-15T06:14:08+01:002008-01-15T06:14:08+01:00 <p>I am surprised to be on here - the hotel turns out to have one computer. I tried to upload a photo of me at Lake Rotoiti, which is a few metres away from the hotel, but it didn't work out for some reason. Never mind.<br> It is very pretty here, but very remote. This morning there was such heavy cloud you wouldn't have known there were mountains. Thankfully the sun turned blue and I am in the right place.....in the mounains. I have been lazing about today but spent a couple of hours by the beautiful lake.<br> Tomorrow I leave for a spa hotel where I intend to be thoroughly massaged.</p> <p>I am Exhausted! Plus my hands are bothering me from driving. They never have before but before I came out here I wasn't driving much. I will definitely be strapping them up before driving tomorrow.</p> <p>must dash. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://fiona2nz.blog.co.uk/2008/01/15/st_arnaud~3578657/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:fiona2nz.blog.co.uk,2008-01-13:/2008/01/13/photos_photos_photos~3568614/Fiona252008-01-13T03:03:10+01:002008-01-13T03:06:49+01:00 <p>Here are some photos of Te Mahoerangi for you. I am also attempting to attach a small video of the bay. I hope you like it! The photos all get cut and squashed a bit on here. It was so beautiful there:</p> <p><a href="http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y45/lalaf/?action=view&current=DSCF4188.jpg"><img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y45/lalaf/DSCF4188.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p><a href="http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y45/lalaf/?action=view&current=DSCF4198.jpg"><img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y45/lalaf/DSCF4198.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p><a href="http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y45/lalaf/?action=view&current=DSCF4263.jpg"><img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y45/lalaf/DSCF4263.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p><a href="http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y45/lalaf/?action=view&current=DSCF4304.jpg"><img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y45/lalaf/DSCF4304.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p><a href="http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y45/lalaf/?action=view&current=DSCF4349.jpg"><img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y45/lalaf/DSCF4349.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p><a href="http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y45/lalaf/?action=view&current=DSCF4376.jpg"><img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y45/lalaf/DSCF4376.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p><a href="http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y45/lalaf/?action=view&current=DSCF4402.jpg"><img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y45/lalaf/DSCF4402.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p> <p>The one where I'm on the quad bike - you can see my terrible sandfly bites on my legs. I got EATEN. We had just been to see the eel, Herbert.</p> <p>At the moment I am in Picton. I went to an aquarium yesterday and saw some cool seahorses. (I love aquariums. Put me in one and I don't stop smiling) I have also done some shopping and picked up my hire car. It is even smarter than the last one. It's a Nissan Sunny. The last one was a Pulsar. The office here actually showed me round it and checked I knew how to drive an automatic, which didn't happen in Auckland. They also gave me a free book on driving around NZ with lots of nice photos in it. It has been a little strange driving a car again, so I've been going along slowly. I had an amazing ice cream sundae in the sun today - the weather is glorious, and I also had some strawberries which I have been craving out in the Sounds.</p> <p>From here on I won't have access to the internet again for a bit. I am Going Forth into the mountains. The places I will be visiting are St Arnaud, Maruia Springs, Arthur's Pass, Methven, Lake Tekapo and Christchurch, if you want to google any of them (I recommend looking up Lake Tekapo in particular on Google to see some photos of the amazing colour of the lake. It is turquoise.) There is a slim chance that I will come across a hostel with internet access, but my guide book doesn't seem to think I will. So, check back in a bit and until then take care.</p> <p>Two links to the video, in case one doesn't work. (I hope you can see it!)</p> <p><a href="http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y45/lalaf/?action=view&current=DSCF4240.flv">http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y45/lalaf/?action=view&current=DSCF4240.flv</a> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://fiona2nz.blog.co.uk/2008/01/13/photos_photos_photos~3568614/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:fiona2nz.blog.co.uk,2008-01-11:/2008/01/11/back_to_civilisation~3559437/Fiona252008-01-11T02:06:25+01:002008-01-11T02:06:25+01:00 <p>I am in Picton and am very happy to be here. The sun is shining, the internet is working - there are BOOKS and FOOD and PEOPLE here. Hallelujah! I have had a great month out in the sounds. If you want to see where I was staying, you can visit it at <a href="http://www.nydiatrack.org.nz">www.nydiatrack.org.nz</a> It is called Te Mahoerangi. It is a very special place, with lovely people.</p> <p>I got the boat this morning at 9.30. The water was glassy and I have never seen the mountains looking prettier. I then got the bus to Picton (well, just - it went straight past the bus stop without stopping and the agent had to ring and shout a bit for it to come back). There was such a cute roly-poly pudding of a baby sitting next to me with huge brown eyes and a tattoed Maori guy ahead of me (full facial tattooes which denote who your father and mother was and how many people you have killed etc). When I got to Picton the bus didn't stop in the right place, so I was struggling up the hill with both my suitcase and wheelchair. A lovely couple in a car stopped and gave me a lift up the hill. They were pretty amazed with how much stuff I had and when the man said 'oh, come and stay with us for the night,' his wife went 'MAX, don't ask her that!!!' She later apologised and said they were about to leave and she had tidied everything, but I just thought it was funny. The man couldn't believe I would be travelling alone with a wheelchair, he kept staring at me and whispering 'amazing' as if I had two heads or something.</p> <p>I had passionfruit cheesecake for lunch, yum. Tomorrow I pick up my hire car and will visit the aquarium. I will be relaxing other than that because my ribs flared up yesterday morning at 5am and I am in a lot of pain.</p> <p>The radio is on in the kitchen and I hear Sir Edmund Hilary has just died.</p> <p>A public GOOD LUCK to my lovely friend Sarah who has gone off to be brilliant at Columbia University. So proud. :-) </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://fiona2nz.blog.co.uk/2008/01/11/back_to_civilisation~3559437/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:fiona2nz.blog.co.uk,2008-01-06:/2008/01/06/paradise~3535136/Fiona252008-01-06T08:26:02+01:002008-01-06T08:26:02+01:00 <p>this is not an official post. You have to pretend you aren't reading it because I don't get proper internet access back until this Friday the 11th. (so I can't reply to e-mails till then)</p> <p>But, just to say I have had a magical time here in the Marlborough sounds. Once I leave I will post the website of the hostel where I'm staying so you can all see it and see just what an amazing spot I've been in. It's an eco-lodge.... I only have candles to read by at night (although it isn't getting dark until 9.30pm, woo hoo) and all the food I'm eating is fresh and just caught, snapper, mussels, wild pork, wild turkey. It is such a different life out here. We get one mail boat a week and unfortunately I haven't even got my Christmas presents yet - I have put in an order of fresh fruit once a week which arrives on said boat and I am definitely looking forward to getting back to civilisation and having such things as supermarkets where you can choose whatever you want to eat. I can't imagine it at the moment. You can only eat what you have here, and the other day I had a craving for strawberries. It's a case of TOUGH, you have to wait a week. How many people live like that nowadays?</p> <p>The staff are all really nice and I have met all sorts of nice guests. I almost got a Christmas kiss from a very handsome Austrian who I might well have fallen for had he done so, but alas I found out at the last minute that he had a girlfriend (rat!). </p> <p>I went swimming in a swimming hole the other day (freezing! but sandflies forced me underwater), I have been taken up on a quadbike to see a pet eel (the path was barely big enough for two people let alone a bike and there was a very steep drop down to the sea on one side, it was so terrifying) and I have done masses of writing. There is luckily a great library here too so I have done a lot of reading...... items to choose from include 'Land Rover International magazine' and 'Pig Hunter' with lots of pictures of dead boar spilling blood down hunters arms (typical Kiwis, they catch them then give them a piggy back home (no pun intended))</p> <p>We have had days of 32 degrees and torrential rain. I have had days of happiness and days of terrible pain - my tiredness meant I dislocated a rib the day before I got here, plus got a bad virus so I am clearly pushing things, but there will be time to rest when I get home no doubt. </p> <p>I am missing my dog, my friends, the INTERNET but definitely not the winter. Being here in Spring/summer has done wonders for me.</p> <p>must go, after all, am not really online (perhaps it's those elves I've been looking for). love to all xxxx </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://fiona2nz.blog.co.uk/2008/01/06/paradise~3535136/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:fiona2nz.blog.co.uk,2007-12-10:/2007/12/11/warkworth~3425494/Fiona252007-12-11T00:51:08+01:002007-12-11T00:51:08+01:00 <p>My last night was really great. I went to a bar with a group of people to celebrate someone's birthday and there was some great live music. It was really fun.</p> <p>Said goodbye to my Frenchman on the Saturday (he insisted on posing lying on his car for a photo). He wanted to come with me but doesn't have enough money. I then had a longggg three hour drive down to Pakiri Beach, which is an hour and a half from Auckland. It's a beautiful spot, it's just been incredibly grey and rainy, so it's hard to enjoy it. I seem to be in a little cabin with walls made of cardboard and a ceiling made of polystyrene. I have been feeling appalling the last couple of days.... my fibromyalgia has really caught up with me. I have felt exhausted and have slept and slept. I have felt sick, dizzy and generally really sore. I feel much better today. It was a half hour drive to come and use the internet, but it was worth it because I think this is going to be the last time I get to do so before mid January when I leave my Marlborough Sounds hostel.</p> <p>Am currently in a library. The librarian is rather conservative but she just spoke to a mature lady customer 'no that's a soft porn novel dear, the hard core sexy stuff you want is on that shelf at the back.' I kid you not.</p> <p>Going to have some lunch by the river here in Warkworth, it's prettier here than I remember. Tomorrow I get to meet the guy I was going to meet originally in Auckland (we rescheduled). He is a bit of a hero of mine, a famous psychologist and author and he wrote a couple of books that is relevant to my book research, so it should be fantastic. Not looking forward to seeing grey Auckland though. I have to return to the sports shop where I got my tent to see if they will buy it back from me. They should do but I don't know quite where I'm going to dump it if they don't. Poor George, I've used him now I'm dumping him.</p> <p>So, if I don't get online again, have a fantabulous Christmas and New Year. If your relatives are getting on your nerves, write me a letter. It will definitely be appreciated because I'm staying somewhere very isolated. The mail is only delivered twice a week by boat. My parents have my address. Lots of love to everyone. Make sure you check back in in January for more scandalous stories.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://fiona2nz.blog.co.uk/2007/12/11/warkworth~3425494/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:fiona2nz.blog.co.uk,2007-12-07:/2007/12/07/last_day~3407246/Fiona252007-12-07T04:39:58+01:002007-12-07T04:39:58+01:00 <p>My last full day here at Haruru. I have had a great time. Feeling a little unwell today, I've been in bed all day, but I am going out for someone's birthday tonight. I have about a 3 hour drive tomorrow which will be hard, but then I'm resting for 4 days on a beach. Hopefully the weather will have cleared because it is still raining, just not as hard. Listening to terrible music in the bar here, on a rubbish computer. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://fiona2nz.blog.co.uk/2007/12/07/last_day~3407246/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:fiona2nz.blog.co.uk,2007-12-06:/2007/12/06/raining_kiwis~3402151/Fiona252007-12-06T04:53:59+01:002007-12-06T04:53:59+01:00 <p>It is well and truly pouring with rain. It has been since yesterday morning. All the other campers (all in campervans) have chickened out and left but being such a hardy camper, I have stayed. I have ducks swimming round my tent!<br> Nah, it's not quite that bad. Not yet. But there were some huge floods in February and being right on the river, it has been a little scary. I'm just getting very wet feet everytime I step outside.<br> I was on the beach on Tuesday, it's such a contrast. There are a few signs of Christmas, but thankfully not that many. It's much more understated here......so far. On the 13th I fly down to the South Island and I can't wait. I'm enjoying spending a last few days with Quentin, who has decided he wants to be a car airbag in his next life, because 'they don't do anything but sleep and only have to work once'. Lazy man. We ate at a Thai restaurant last night and the other day he leant me a film to watch on his laptop.<br> Not much else to report. From the 13th, for a month, I don't think I'm going to have internet access. But hopefully up to then I will. It looks like it's going to be raining until at least monday. :-(</p> <p>sunnier days.........<br> <a href="http://photobucket.com"><img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y45/lalaf/DSCF4105.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"></a><br> <a href="http://photobucket.com"><img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y45/lalaf/DSCF4111.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"></a><br> <a href="http://photobucket.com"><img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y45/lalaf/DSCF4055.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"></a></p> <p> <small> <a href="http://fiona2nz.blog.co.uk/2007/12/06/raining_kiwis~3402151/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:fiona2nz.blog.co.uk,2007-12-03:/2007/12/03/dolphin_dreams~3386320/Fiona252007-12-03T04:32:36+01:002007-12-03T04:32:36+01:00 <p>I am very very very very very pleased to be able to say I swam with five dolphins today!!! After 5 grey days, we had some sun. I had a free trip having not seen any on Friday which was even better. It took about 2 hours to locate them, but in the end they were in a lovely shallow blue bay, which meant easy swimming. They were sleeping, so we just watched them for a bit and once they woke up we jumped in and swam. I went in without a wetsuit so I could manage and it was actually pretty warm (about 20 degrees). It was hard to see anything, but I did get a couple of swims alongside them. Mostly they weren't that interested in playing and swam around gently. It was still very cool though. All around was the sound of singing, muffled by snorkels, as people tried to get them to interact. One gave a lovely belly roll and stretched out after his sleep.</p> <p>Dolphins were one of the reason I came here, so I'm thrilled to have been able to do this. I met some nice people, including two girls on a gap year. We stopped at Urupakapaka island for hot chocolate and showers and tonight I'm going out with Quentin. It was a GOOOD day.</p> <p>Enjoy my photos from the last few days!<br> <a href="http://photobucket.com"><img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y45/lalaf/DSCF4095.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"></a><br> <a href="http://photobucket.com"><img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y45/lalaf/DSCF3960.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"></a><br> <a href="http://photobucket.com"><img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y45/lalaf/DSCF3951.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"></a><br> <a href="http://photobucket.com"><img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y45/lalaf/DSCF4094.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"></a><br> <a href="http://photobucket.com"><img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y45/lalaf/DSCF4084.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"></a><br> <a href="http://photobucket.com"><img src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y45/lalaf/DSCF4100.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"></a> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://fiona2nz.blog.co.uk/2007/12/03/dolphin_dreams~3386320/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:fiona2nz.blog.co.uk,2007-12-01:/2007/12/01/kiwi_poo~3377532/Fiona252007-12-01T01:45:27+01:002007-12-01T01:45:27+01:00 <p><img src="http://data3.blog.de/media/829/2182829_6c57f82575_s.jpg" alt="DSCF3965" vspace="5" hspace="5"></p> <p>this photo is from my trip to Waitangi, where the treaty between the Maoris and the English was signed. I had a great time. There was a cultural performance and a tour around the grounds which included whizzing very fast down a gravel slope in my wheelchair going 'weeeeeee'. I stopped at one point to take a photo and a very kind man came up behind me and took off with me, saying enthusiastically 'I'll push you'. I had to shout at him to stop and explain that I wanted to be still in order to take my picture which had been so nicely lined up!! He was so embarrassed.</p> <p>The maori performance was great, I really enjoyed it - the songs were so beautiful. I have a bit of video of them, but I don't think I have enough space to upload any more media. I bought a really cool book on Maori astronomy there.</p> <p>Yesterday I went out for a dolphin swim.....well that was the plan, there were no dolphins. I get to go again for free next week though. I have 7 more days here, so lots of time to do it. It's a bit grey at the moment and I'm in a hell of a lot of pain, so most of that time will be spent on the beach I think. I'm struggling rather a lot, it's fair to say, both with the pain and with having to lie down every day when I want to be out doing things, but there isn't much choice other than to be patient and wait it out. I want to get up in a helicopter this week - everyone else gets to walk up the hills and see the view, so this will be my way of doing it. Quentin thinks I should cover my bones in concrete to make me better. I just fear he has some weird fantasty about covering girls in concrete. ;-)</p> <p>It's so hard- I honestly forget there is anything wrong with me sometimes. The other day I was looking at a brochure for going horse riding and I spent a good 5 minutes trying to choose between the trip that went up the volcano and the one that ends in the sea, before remembering it would bloody hurt to sit on a horse for more than one minute.</p> <p>Off to buy some presents. There really isn't that much to buy out here. I was trying to find some food that was authentically kiwi to send home - and there's just nothing. It's all brands or imported stuff. There is the chocolate that they name 'kiwi poo' but I don't think that counts.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://fiona2nz.blog.co.uk/2007/12/01/kiwi_poo~3377532/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:fiona2nz.blog.co.uk,2007-11-25:/2007/11/25/more_photos~3352168/Fiona252007-11-25T23:47:35+01:002007-11-25T23:47:35+01:00 <p>some more photos....</p> <p><img src="http://data3.blog.de/media/146/2171146_0c7145eb51_s.jpg" alt="DSCF3683" vspace="5" hspace="5"><img src="http://data3.blog.de/media/147/2171147_2f3af927a6_s.jpg" alt="DSCF3693" vspace="5" hspace="5"><img src="http://data3.blog.de/media/148/2171148_5c9bead577_s.jpg" alt="DSCF3725" vspace="5" hspace="5"><img src="http://data3.blog.de/media/153/2171153_a4137d3d61_m.jpg" alt="DSCF3776" vspace="5" hspace="5"><img src="http://data3.blog.de/media/154/2171154_c004e31366_m.jpg" alt="DSCF3782" vspace="5" hspace="5"><img src="http://data3.blog.de/media/155/2171155_6559264d77_m.jpg" alt="DSCF3788" vspace="5" hspace="5"><img src="http://data3.blog.de/media/156/2171156_31caa69ec1_m.jpg" alt="DSCF3806" vspace="5" hspace="5"><img src="http://data3.blog.de/media/157/2171157_b5617a8f35_m.jpg" alt="DSCF3825" vspace="5" hspace="5"><img src="http://data3.blog.de/media/158/2171158_dd392930f2_m.jpg" alt="DSCF3835" vspace="5" hspace="5"><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/dscf3864/2171159" title="DSCF3864"><img src="http://data3.blog.de/media/159/2171159_95b0a55ce4_s.jpg" alt="DSCF3864" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/media/photo/dscf3871/2171160" title="DSCF3871"><img src="http://data3.blog.de/media/160/2171160_b6ba0176f9_s.jpg" alt="DSCF3871" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://fiona2nz.blog.co.uk/2007/11/25/more_photos~3352168/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:fiona2nz.blog.co.uk,2007-11-25:/2007/11/25/photos~3352085/Fiona252007-11-25T23:21:13+01:002007-11-25T23:21:13+01:00 <p>some photos today. I am back in paihia and feel much better for it. My last night at the last campsite was horrendous - there was a huge storm with thunder and lightning - the wind was so strong some of the tent pegs were pulled out the ground. It was so wet and windy. Thankfully it is sunny here. I am going to do the odd trip and get on with some more writing.</p> <p>Enjoy!</p> <p><img src="http://data3.blog.de/media/108/2171108_3f3fea9820_s.jpg" alt="DSCF3897" vspace="5" hspace="5"><img src="http://data3.blog.de/media/109/2171109_20d5fdb027_s.jpg" alt="DSCF3898" vspace="5" hspace="5"><img src="http://data3.blog.de/media/110/2171110_61c3ddcf4e_s.jpg" alt="DSCF3925" vspace="5" hspace="5"></p> <p> <small> <a href="http://fiona2nz.blog.co.uk/2007/11/25/photos~3352085/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:fiona2nz.blog.co.uk,2007-11-22:/2007/11/23/tauranga_bay~3338801/Fiona252007-11-23T00:45:24+01:002007-11-23T00:47:37+01:00 <p>Well, after a blissful week in paihia, I drove an hour north to my next campsite in Tauranga bay. I have now made a change in my plans. Having booked to be here for 3 weeks, I am now heading back down to Paihia. The owners here are having a baby and have left their mother in law in charge. She is very unfriendly, unhelpful and rude. I had prearranged to have someone put my tent up but she said no one could do it - and then made two other guests do it. Getting any info from her has been like pulling teeth. There are only a few other guests around, most of whom are pretty unfriendly too, although I did have a nice supper with a Kiwi couple last night; we ate freshly caught snapper which was delicious, and watched the sun go down over the beach (the sun had a huge halo round it). Whangaroa harbour, the nearest town is also deserted and too quiet. It is pretty just as the campsite is pretty but that doesn't seem to be enough to make it any good here. </p> <p>It was a beautiful day yesterday. I went for a short walk down the beach to rock pools covered in muscles (supper tonight). I've come to a local hostel which has the only internet in the area - the next place is an hour away. I have started my book, which is extremely exciting.... I am bursting with ideas and would love to write the whole thing in 24 hrs (so not going to happen!) I am keeping everything crossed that I will see dolphins before I go but so far nothing. Once I am back in Paihia I will do a dolphin trip or two plus a helicopter trip if possible, so I can see the views that other people can walk to see. (donations to: Parsonage Farmhouse......... ;-)</p> <p>The sky is full of grey clouds today so I can't take any photos. Hopefully the sun will be back tomorrow becuase I do want to take some photos before I go. </p> <p>My feet are getting eaten alive by sandflies. Plus I have blisters and sun burn on them. They aren't happy. I'm dipping them in cool water every now and again because no creams are working. Plus the only reading material at the campsite is Mills and Boon. Oh dear God. </p> <p>Yeah yeah, you are in the middle of winter and it's dark and cold and you've got Gordon Brown in charge. But I have to read Mills and Boon people! My brain is turning to mush. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://fiona2nz.blog.co.uk/2007/11/23/tauranga_bay~3338801/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:fiona2nz.blog.co.uk,2007-11-18:/2007/11/18/bay_of_islands~3317391/Fiona252007-11-18T23:45:19+01:002007-11-18T23:45:19+01:00 <p>I have just had two AMAZING days on a boat. To see the trip I went on, go to <a href="http://www.rocktheboat.co.nz">www.rocktheboat.co.nz</a> It was as great as it sounds. The people were really nice, we did a shooting competition, we fished (someone caught a shark which was released), we had a barbecue, we went to the most amazing deserted beach and snorkelled and saw some cool fish (although the water was freezing - 16 degrees!) I came out pink, it was SO cold. Some people dived for mussels and sea urchins, which we all ate - the mussels here are enormous, I couldn't believe the size of them.</p> <p>There were also some muslim women aboard, and they bought their shisha (god I can't spell that word) - so we sat around and smoked all evening and listened to middle eastern music, it was so cool. When snorkelling, they had to wear wetsuits over their clothes and wear swimming caps, I felt sorry for them (although they were probably warmer than the rest of us)</p> <p>My camp site is so pretty. I have met a lovely man, aka tent-putter-upper Quentin. He is funny and having supper just by a waterfall is lovely. He brings me pineapple juice in the mornings and picks me fresh oranges from a tree. :-) He has a very nice French accent too. It is nice to have a little holiday fling.</p> <p>I leave on Wednesday, for a lovely deserted beach up north and I can't wait. The owner of the camp site where I'm staying is a mean, grumpy, horrible man but at least he isn't around much. He has had the police out a couple of times to accuse his staff of things they haven't done and he gets through a chef every 3 weeks, which is a shame because the one he sacked 2 days ago was a very good cook.</p> <p>Physically I am struggling. A lot. There are times when I want to cry and go home, when my body hurts so much. But emotionally it is fantastic being here. I feel like a big weight has lifted. It is a real treat knowing I have a few months of this. Plus the sun is SHINING! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://fiona2nz.blog.co.uk/2007/11/18/bay_of_islands~3317391/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:fiona2nz.blog.co.uk,2007-11-15:/2007/11/15/paihia~3298482/Fiona252007-11-15T02:52:26+01:002007-11-15T02:52:26+01:00 <p>I have arrived in Paihia. I spent the last three nights in Whangerei and had a good time but left exhausted and very sore. I was staying in a little campsite, but in a hut so not outdoors. The day after I arrived I went out on a boat trip to the Poor Knights Islands. It was a fun trip, I met lots of great people and saw the largest sea cave in the world. I went snorkelling once but to be honest it was too much. The wet suit restricted me to the point that it hurt all my joints to swim and after 20 mins I had to get out because the pain was bad and I was exhausted. Everyone else got to be in for about an hour and a half. I was compromising by snorkelling rather than diving and thought I'd be ok, but evidently not. But hey at least I can still snorkel in a swimming pool, where you see......nothing. </p> <p>Some of the divers saw stingrays and moray eels. I didn't see much - but there were thousands of little non-stinging jellyfish which looked like a cloud of ghosts in the water. They were so pretty, they looked like mushrooms. We also saw a fur seal on the rocks having a nice scratch. </p> <p>Yesterday I had a lovely lunch in a restaurant in Whangerei Town Basin. Then I drove up a mountain and admired the view, and stopped off at the waterfalls. By that point my back was screaming so I lay down the rest of the day.</p> <p>It was a beautiful, stunning, gorgeous drive up here. Mountains, bush, rivers. Paihia, despite it's reputation for being horrible, is really nice. I am in a rather empty campsite by Haruru falls. A French guy called Quentin just took 2 1/2 hours to put my tent up, he went soooo slowly, but he was a nice guy so I just let him take his time. My tent looks great up and I can't wait to have my first night there. I just went out to lunch and had a yummy chicken salad. I am still in Paihia (the falls are nearer Waitangi) just buying postcards and to come online, because it is slow and expensive at the campsite, plus the owner is verrrry grumpy. </p> <p>I am so pleased to be here. Physically I feel like I'm dropping. It's too much. My body wants to stop, but mentally it is the best thing ever for me to be out there, so I'm just dragging my body around with me. The sun is out, I'm by the beach, and I'm off on a boat trip on Saturday, overnight. Dolphins!!!</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://fiona2nz.blog.co.uk/2007/11/15/paihia~3298482/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:fiona2nz.blog.co.uk,2007-11-12:/2007/11/12/whangerei~3282684/Fiona252007-11-12T03:27:23+01:002007-11-12T03:27:23+01:00 <p> I have made it to Whangerei and am staying in a small but pretty camp park.</p> <p>Yesterday I drove 1 1/2 hours to Goat Island marine reserve and stayed in the Goat Island Campsite. It was absolute heaven. There were hills and valleys, forest and beautiful blue sea. I had a bit of a meltdown there though - it was in the middle of nowhere and because the driving had hurt me I felt pretty vulnerable and worried about how my pain is going to stand up to travelling. I was pretty homesick too. I think it was just exhaustion though because after a rest I went and sat with a lovely Dutch couple and we drank wine as the sun went down. I then sat round a huge log fire with some of the other travellers (although it was really empty there) and had a nice chat with an English woman who is here with her 2 year old and partner and working her way round for 4 months.<br> The campsite was just undescribably gorgeous - so I wish I had felt better and could appreciate it more, but I've got myself together now.</p> <p>I was a very long drive here - about 2 hours which for me is pretty hard. I've been lying down for a while. Whangerei itself is not very nice, kind of like Uckfield, but there is amazing snorkelling here so I'm hoping to go on an organised trip tomorrow. The drive here was really pretty - lots of mountains covered in forest and a view over to Bream Bay. This is definitely nicer than Auckland! I haven't come across anywhere I could live yet though. It rained a bit as I set out but it's back to blue skies now. I loved listening to the NZ radio station as I came over. There was an advert for 'Sussex Mens' Clothing,' but for Orewha, and one saying 'Get some poo on your shoe' which was for a farming show. I've seen lots of cows so far, one goat, but no sheep!</p> <p>There is a pool here, and I think I will go out for supper because I'm v tired. This trip is proving hard in the way I thought it would be hard - ie I need more care than I'm getting - but so far people have been very helpful and lots of people at Bamber House (hostel in Auckland) did washing up for me and shopping. </p> <p>The internet is pretty expensive here, so I might not get back on till the day I leave. Off to look at brochures! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://fiona2nz.blog.co.uk/2007/11/12/whangerei~3282684/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>