The lovely land of NZ

Trip Start Nov 01, 2005
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Trip End Nov 2006


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Wednesday, July 5, 2006

So, after a rather boring trip to NZ and no plane food or fil-em which i was most gutted about i arrived in NZ. I gathered my bags, they arrived and didn't end up in another land like i always fear and i got ready to go through customs. Now i've been watching border patrol (oz tv show) and know how fussy they are about bringing things into the country, especially wood carved items. I was wearing a ring made of wood, so declared it walked through and when i was questioned the guy was properly taking the mickey out me, he made me hand him my ring and then pretended to find a parasite in it and studied it closely! He then called another person over and they checked it, then they started laughing and told me that i didn't have to declare my ring, but hey they had a laugh at my expense, i explained that i'd seen border control and wasn't risking a $200 fine! They just laughed alot and walked me to the bag scanner! Better to be safe than sorry i say!

So back to the backpack and looking like the hunchback of notredamn under the weight of it i waded my way to the taxi rank, man it was cold... like icey cold and i could see signs of snow! Ace!

I arrived at the backpackers where naomi had booked me a room and was greeted by a loud receptionist who shouted are you kate... yes i replied, your mates in the bar , what a surprise, she is irish and already on the sauce! Marvellous to see the old girl, we took my stuff to my room and i joined her in the bar! We weren't tired so explored christchurch for a bit, it reminds me a lot of cambridge and then finally went to bed at 2am. first views
first views

Today we got up at 6 as we believed we were getting a train at 6.45am but it seems the humorous receptionist had lied to us, we hadn't got till get it til 7.30am, so we drank tea and i made naomi watch the footie.... what was the score in the end?? We got a bus to a station then got a train to Greymouth, the train route is in the top 5 in the world and was amazing and pretty pleasing to the eye! We went along through mountain ranges full of snow, glaciers and frozen lakes, it was beautiful! I got camera happy but then the 2 hour time difference jeg lag started to hit me.....BIG, a wee sleep later i was all go! We got to greymouth, and to our backpackers, which is so weird, it's like staying at your nan's house but with out your nan being there, if that makes sense, it's dead oldy worldy! But there is free tea - yipee!

So tonight we are off on the brewery tour, i'll let you know how that goes and it's the young farmer competition so we may also take a butchers at that. This place really reminds me of maryport, it's tiny with a few wee places! But surrounded by mountains so very picturesqe! Tomo we get a bus to san joseph.... but for now i'm off to explore! Gosh it's cold here, my hands are nearly frozen in the typing position!

One more thing....happy birthday jesmond, beth and cal, i hope you have fantastic days!

I haven't got much more to say, oh apart from they don't understand zebra crossing here, that or they get good points for hitting travllers as we have nearly been hit by a car on a zebra crossing on 2 seperate occassions! I'm off now, hope everyone's all good... I'll write a better entry tomo when i have more to tell you! Plus i'll update all those other entries! Take Care, x x x
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