Got it Just Don't Get It

Trip Start Aug 23, 2007
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Trip End Jul 17, 2008


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Flag of New Zealand  ,
Friday, October 26, 2007

OK, I'm way behind so here's the run down of events.  Christchurch was great.  Walked through their lovely botanical gardens, went punting on the Avon (cheers to the the English), strolled around the art galleries, visited the Canterbury Museum to see the history of Christchurch, visited the Antarctic Museum and the a wildlife park that showcased New Zealand wildlife like kiwis, and you're bored!!   Overall, Christchurch was a beautiful city that gave me a chance to reenergize for the rest of New Zealand.  I was lucky to meet a nice girl outside the hostel and hung out with her for a couple of days.  And then I was off on the Stray bus. 
  Stray is a company, like Oz Experience, that allows you to hop on and off, but caters to an older crowd.  I spoke to several people about the company before booking, because I didn't want to end up on a party bus or involved in a company whose clientele is obviously the 20 something set.  Our first stop was Kaikoura, a tiny town north of Christchurch which exists for tourists.  I was booked into a mixed dorm after specifically asking for a female dorm and quickly realized I was the only woman.  I am so over the mixed dorm thing.  So, I went down to the reception and asked to get out of it.  They were fully booked, but the sympathetic girl at the counter offered to let me stay in her room.  In the end, the evening was civilized. 
  Upon arriving in Kaikoura, I signed up to go swimming with the Dusky dolphins that love to play with humans and are plentiful in this area.  So, we saw a film about what to expect and how to attract dolphins, got dressed up in wet suits and sized for flippers, headed onto a bus to the marina, boarded a boat and headed out in search of the large Dusky pod.  No luck!!  The weather turned ugly, winds swept up and the swells became high, not a dolphin in sight.  I sat in my wet suit and wondered why I paid 130 dollars for this.  Fortunately they gave us a full refund.  And that was Kaikoura.
  Trying to make lemonade, I headed out for some Pinot Noir and met a great couple from Oz who were celebrating their 40th birthdays.  We had a great time on that deck!
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