Back to Christchurch

After Lake Tekapo, I journeyed back to Chirstchurch. It was strangely comforting to be back in a hostel where you know the routines and know where to go to get a good cup of tea!

Had a couple of days to be still again; something I'm appreciating a lot. Was lucky enough to catch the 'wizard' of Christchurch who is considered (by LP) a tourist attraction at Cathedral Square. Basically, he spends time talking at people about various topics. What he was saying was highly amusing and I was glad I got the chance to see him.


Also did lots of practical stuff like drinking beer on a Sunday afternoon and feeling decidedly squiffy on just the one - I really have become a terrible lightweight (sorry Jon!). Finally managed to confirm flight changes as, excitingly, I'm now heading to India after a briefly extended stay in NZ. Hurrah! Will catch up with Jon in Goa for a week and fully intend to use it for cultural pursuits such as beach time, sleeping, eating and shopping - well, it will be my last stop afterall and what can you see in a week?

Kat and I (Irish girl who lives in London) spent time chilling and visiting the Antartic Centre where we got to experience an Antartic blizzard (it was bloody freezing!)
and ride on the Hagglund - an all terrain vehicle that, much to my joy and surprise, floats as well.

On the Hagglund

It would seem that Kat and I have the 'great minds think alike' syndrome and we're pretty much following the same route up to Auckland, as well as flying out to Sydney on the same flight. She's therefore stuck with my good self for much of her remaining time in NZ. It'll be great to have some company for the flight, although she may not be able to say the same of me - remember the visit to the doctors for 'I really hate flying pills'? I fully intend to not care about being 20,000 feet in the air in a giant metal object. How do people do it? I just don't know.

We also invested in a fanatstic Indian meal, in honour of Helene's (fellow Magic bus traveller) last night.... What made it even tastier was the fact that we had managed to acquire $5 discount tickets each. I couldn't help but think it would be good practice for Goa too.

Helene and Nicola eat fudge at the Arts Factory

So after a few farewells and sleepless nights (shared with three French men one night who were so quiet and considerate when going to bed after me, then promptly fell asleep rapidly and snored like combustion engines ALL night - literally all three of them! God I miss my own bed) I set off for a place called Kaikoura which is further up on the East coast of the South Island.