Meal in Auckland at a lovely Italian with some of mum and dads oldest friends.. Granville and Liz
Saturday, December 08, 2007
Friday, December 07, 2007
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
I had every intention of finishing uploading my photos today but the net is ridiculously slow and its taking forever so that might have to wait… so I’ll just write the diary bit before I forget it all..! (3 second memory and all that!)
So in my Tuesday night Psychic group in Nelson my last “psychic message” had been “My god you lose your stuff don’t you?” and was told to sew my crystal into my clothes or I would lose it.. she then informed me to look after my stuff and she envisioned me being very good at losing things unless I was careful… she’s only seen me in group so not seen the clumsy good at losing things side of me…
So anyway… got off the plane and into a taxi and was half way to the hostel when I remembered I’d left an entire bag on the plane… she was super nice and dropped it by at the hostel for me the following day.. good start then…!
Was weird arriving at the backpackers and being a backpacker again… texted Rosie and told her I wanted to come home to Nelson!! But instead I booked myself on the Tongariro Crossing for the flowing day which meant a 5:35am pick up to get taken to the track!! Promptly left my breakfast outside the hotel which I had intended to drink and eat on the bus..
I had taken everything with me as the weather can change in seconds so had waterproof jackets and trousers and hats and sunscreen and a lot of food!! I was bloody lucky and didn’t need any of it (apart from the chocolate and 2 litres of water of course!!)
I was told the first bit was hardest and that if you found that bit hard don’t even attempt to climb Mount Doom as an extra bit of the walk (it being 17kms anyway I kinda new added extras weren’t for me..) but half way up the devils staircase I knew I definitely was not going to do any add ons.. I was very lucky and met a lovely guy called Ilan from Israel who kept me going reassuring me I could do it (and I huffed and puffed and swore profusely). And reassured me I could have a chocolate break soon…! Actually in the end he was bugging me for when we could have a food break next..!!
We had lunch by the lakes and had a really good time.. it was good to do the walk with someone too..!
All the bits of steam are from the hot sulphuric ground… loads of thermal activity.. and just to reassure me Mount Ruapehu had been very active lately.. the last eruption being last month..!
I was very proud of myself as I had been aiming for the last bus of the day which is at 4:30pm but instead was there at the end at 2:30pm!!! Where I collapsed on the grass and had a sleep (and got burnt)!
The last few hours of the track were downhill which was great after that horrendous uphill bit.. however by the end my toes were crushed at the end of my boots.. 3 days later they still hurt!! But when I took my boots off they were this strange deathly white colour and I was a bit worried they might fall off..
I came off relatively light with injuries.. only fell over 3 times so a few cuts but other than that all good… it was definitely one of the best walks in NZ!! Very glad I did it and could feel like I achieved something..
So obviously wasn’t up for much that night.. when I got back to the hostel all I wanted was shower and bed!!
I’d had a notice up in the hostel since I arrived asking anyone if they were driving to Auckland and that I was willing to share petrol costs but there was no response so went to the bus station in the morning and found myself a bus.
Some friends of mum and dads had emailed me and told me they were going to be in Auckland on the 5th so left a message at their hotel to say I would drop by later..
It was really nice to see them. I remember when I was teeny and Gran used to swing me round in the sky like a bird!! (he recounted stories of when I told him all the names on my “My little Ponies”. Anyway have obviously seen Gran and Liz since I was small so it was nice to catch up with them as they are really nice people! Weird though as I have never seen them without my parents being there!! Anyway, they took me out for a lovely little Italian meal in town where I had this gorgeous snapper fillet in yummy pasta sauce.. thought I’d better make the most of the local snapper again while I’m up in this area of NZ!! (that’s what I used to catch when I went to Great barrier Island..) I should mention it was pourindg down.. not a good welcome to NZ for gran and liz.. I hadnt seen rain in 2 months.. or a traffic jam so Auckland was a shock to me too!!
Then the following morning (today) I suddenly noticed that my bank card was going to run out this month and of course I’m off to Oz!! so went and had a breakdown in the bank where they told me it would be 5 working days till I got a new card… after almost crying they gave me a card without my name printed on which will last a couple of years so that’s a relief..
So got a ferry and here I am in Waiheke.. this cute little island off Auckland.. I’m staying in this really nice hostel with a pool and spa…so plan to chill out read my book and relax… I will upload the rest of my photos soon when I get a computer that lets me do it faster!!! (oh and realised I left my food in the hostel in Auckland... oops!)
So in my Tuesday night Psychic group in Nelson my last “psychic message” had been “My god you lose your stuff don’t you?” and was told to sew my crystal into my clothes or I would lose it.. she then informed me to look after my stuff and she envisioned me being very good at losing things unless I was careful… she’s only seen me in group so not seen the clumsy good at losing things side of me…
So anyway… got off the plane and into a taxi and was half way to the hostel when I remembered I’d left an entire bag on the plane… she was super nice and dropped it by at the hostel for me the following day.. good start then…!
Was weird arriving at the backpackers and being a backpacker again… texted Rosie and told her I wanted to come home to Nelson!! But instead I booked myself on the Tongariro Crossing for the flowing day which meant a 5:35am pick up to get taken to the track!! Promptly left my breakfast outside the hotel which I had intended to drink and eat on the bus..
I had taken everything with me as the weather can change in seconds so had waterproof jackets and trousers and hats and sunscreen and a lot of food!! I was bloody lucky and didn’t need any of it (apart from the chocolate and 2 litres of water of course!!)
I was told the first bit was hardest and that if you found that bit hard don’t even attempt to climb Mount Doom as an extra bit of the walk (it being 17kms anyway I kinda new added extras weren’t for me..) but half way up the devils staircase I knew I definitely was not going to do any add ons.. I was very lucky and met a lovely guy called Ilan from Israel who kept me going reassuring me I could do it (and I huffed and puffed and swore profusely). And reassured me I could have a chocolate break soon…! Actually in the end he was bugging me for when we could have a food break next..!!
We had lunch by the lakes and had a really good time.. it was good to do the walk with someone too..!
All the bits of steam are from the hot sulphuric ground… loads of thermal activity.. and just to reassure me Mount Ruapehu had been very active lately.. the last eruption being last month..!
I was very proud of myself as I had been aiming for the last bus of the day which is at 4:30pm but instead was there at the end at 2:30pm!!! Where I collapsed on the grass and had a sleep (and got burnt)!
The last few hours of the track were downhill which was great after that horrendous uphill bit.. however by the end my toes were crushed at the end of my boots.. 3 days later they still hurt!! But when I took my boots off they were this strange deathly white colour and I was a bit worried they might fall off..
I came off relatively light with injuries.. only fell over 3 times so a few cuts but other than that all good… it was definitely one of the best walks in NZ!! Very glad I did it and could feel like I achieved something..
So obviously wasn’t up for much that night.. when I got back to the hostel all I wanted was shower and bed!!
I’d had a notice up in the hostel since I arrived asking anyone if they were driving to Auckland and that I was willing to share petrol costs but there was no response so went to the bus station in the morning and found myself a bus.
Some friends of mum and dads had emailed me and told me they were going to be in Auckland on the 5th so left a message at their hotel to say I would drop by later..
It was really nice to see them. I remember when I was teeny and Gran used to swing me round in the sky like a bird!! (he recounted stories of when I told him all the names on my “My little Ponies”. Anyway have obviously seen Gran and Liz since I was small so it was nice to catch up with them as they are really nice people! Weird though as I have never seen them without my parents being there!! Anyway, they took me out for a lovely little Italian meal in town where I had this gorgeous snapper fillet in yummy pasta sauce.. thought I’d better make the most of the local snapper again while I’m up in this area of NZ!! (that’s what I used to catch when I went to Great barrier Island..) I should mention it was pourindg down.. not a good welcome to NZ for gran and liz.. I hadnt seen rain in 2 months.. or a traffic jam so Auckland was a shock to me too!!
Then the following morning (today) I suddenly noticed that my bank card was going to run out this month and of course I’m off to Oz!! so went and had a breakdown in the bank where they told me it would be 5 working days till I got a new card… after almost crying they gave me a card without my name printed on which will last a couple of years so that’s a relief..
So got a ferry and here I am in Waiheke.. this cute little island off Auckland.. I’m staying in this really nice hostel with a pool and spa…so plan to chill out read my book and relax… I will upload the rest of my photos soon when I get a computer that lets me do it faster!!! (oh and realised I left my food in the hostel in Auckland... oops!)
Tuesday, December 04, 2007
My flight from Wellington to Taupo was about an 8 seater.. you couldnt stand and had to crawl.. crouch to seat!! and yes you could see the pilot from your seat... cool aye?!!and this next photo is in the first half hour on the Tongariro crossing.. (before I start wanting to cry half way though the devils staircase...!)
no time for more photos yet as I'll miss my bus to Auckland.. but will hopefully grab some time later or very soon anyway..!
Sunday, December 02, 2007
My Time has come!!
So... I fly out of Nelson today.. (OMG!!!!) Rosie is coming to pick me up to take me to the airport in just a couple of hours!!
I've had a great last few days..
It was my last day at Founders on Friday so they had a special morning tea and gave me presents and chocolate and made me wear a hat with corks on it!! (photos will be put on here soon!).
Then in the evening it was my leaving so for Tasman Street so we went to The Indian Cafe which is an award winning restaurant that I've been meaning to go to for ages! I wanted to have the buffet but its for a minimum of 2 people so I turned everyone elses meals into my buffet (they did ask if they had a choice.. but happily plonked a bit of their meals on my plate.. so much that I couldnt eat mine! so they pasked it up as a takeaway and I had dinner sorted for the next night! I was very restrained and stopped at 2 glasses of wine..
Then the following day it was my last day at Shortbread Cottage and I was a bit worried as there was no replacement for me.. but Cindy (Cinderella - cool name ay?!) came in looking for a bed and asking about jobs... so there was no room at the Shortbread (we've been fully booked for days now - high season is finally here!!) so I got her to stay at Gingerbread House for free and told her to make her way back in a couple of hours so I could train her up to start the next day!!!
Training someone up has never been so much fun!! I have never laughed so much in my life!!! and she said she was giggling to herself that night about it when she was tryingt o get to sleep! She hadnt any experience of working in a hostel so we did all sorts of fun roleplay (normally I hate role play but this was really entertaining)!! I was all sorts of didicult backpackers etc so she had practise asking all the normal questions asked..
Later I phoned Jimmy (the owner of the hostel) this is how the conversation went...!
Me: "Hi Jimmy, its Melissa.. Just thought I'd let you know I've employed a replacement for me, her names Cindy, I've trained her up and she's starting tomorrow"
Jimmy: "Oh....er... right... um... okay... cool... okay then.. thank you..."
Suddenly realised that yes I do walk around like I own the place... whoops.. to think I had low self esteem before I left England..!
LOL! Okay should actually watch myself that I cant get tooo big for my boots.. Mind you Jimmy came in the next day to meet her and was thanking me profusely for everything I've done and finding her so thankfully it didnt splat me in the face or anything..
but its such a shame that I only met Cindy now.. she and I get along really well and if I'd been staying I could imagine us being good friends.. but of course she is my replacement..
I hung around on the Sunday to check she was okay etc while I packed (and she helped my me giving her things that didnt fit in my backpack - and my isttign on it so it shut!!)
Theres alos been a great bump of individual travellers staying at the hostel so i've been talking nonstop for the entire week which has been great!! (I think I've been high on life too with the excitement of going so I've been even chattier than usual!)
Also popped out for lunch with Helen and the kids as it was Elliots 3rd birthday. I almost died of shock because who should walk in while we were having McDonalds? Ronald McDonald!!! I was probably more excited than the children!!!
Then we went to the christmas parade, which was a carnival coming through town with floats etc.. it was quite cool!!
Then it was suddenly 9pm and I was sitting on my bed basically not knowing what to do with myself.. I sat on my bed thinking well I could go to bed.. when Debby who was also sitting on her bed innocently said why dont we just go out for one drink... so we persuaded Deirdre to get out of bed and headed to the Maen fiddler where live music was playing.. of course we insisted that of course we would only have 1 drink.. I was actually good.. no drunked exploits.. I have put a limit on myself that 3 glasses is enough and that I have to stop there.. I stopped at 4 and dont have a hangover and didnt do naything hideous so thats good! I mean we were tipsy..Debby and I just giggled all the way home and I dread to think of what the poor lone guy still up having a cigarette outside the backpackers thought as we garbled nonsense to him.. it being a tiny world Debby (Armstrong) was 2 years above me in Worthing 6th form college and her brother was pparently the year below me!!
The Maen Fiddler was a really nice bar and the music was great but one of the bands was so floaty and quiet (though lovely) that this guy told us not to talk as he couldnt hear the music.. since they were on for nearly 2 hours not talking seemed a tad much (I mean bars are meant to be social places arent they?!! and by that time we were the noisy table - it wasnt just us 3 we had a few other friends we made in the bar and a random irish guy trying to buy us all drinks (which we accepted!). He was clearly on the pull and attempting to grab me every 10 seconds even though I kept removing his hand from my arse but he was harmless enough and entertaining (apart from when he sent the table and glasses flying and soaked us all in alcohol.. and there was broken glass all over the place! Anyway we ended up going to the Royal which was the only bar open at that time on a Sunday night which was funny as as soon as I went in I realised it was familiar (I suddenly remembered a very drunken night in there a year and a half ago when I left Nelson the last time - dejavu or what!!)
Anyway, so here I am.. all packed and ready to go and have just pooped into the library to return all my books on Australia.
I fly from Nelson to Wellington and then I have an hour or 2 at the airport before my next flight to Taupo.. hopefully this time tomorrow I should be well into the Tongariro Crossing (one of the 10 best 1 day hikes in the world apparently)!
I've had a great last few days..
It was my last day at Founders on Friday so they had a special morning tea and gave me presents and chocolate and made me wear a hat with corks on it!! (photos will be put on here soon!).
Then in the evening it was my leaving so for Tasman Street so we went to The Indian Cafe which is an award winning restaurant that I've been meaning to go to for ages! I wanted to have the buffet but its for a minimum of 2 people so I turned everyone elses meals into my buffet (they did ask if they had a choice.. but happily plonked a bit of their meals on my plate.. so much that I couldnt eat mine! so they pasked it up as a takeaway and I had dinner sorted for the next night! I was very restrained and stopped at 2 glasses of wine..
Then the following day it was my last day at Shortbread Cottage and I was a bit worried as there was no replacement for me.. but Cindy (Cinderella - cool name ay?!) came in looking for a bed and asking about jobs... so there was no room at the Shortbread (we've been fully booked for days now - high season is finally here!!) so I got her to stay at Gingerbread House for free and told her to make her way back in a couple of hours so I could train her up to start the next day!!!
Training someone up has never been so much fun!! I have never laughed so much in my life!!! and she said she was giggling to herself that night about it when she was tryingt o get to sleep! She hadnt any experience of working in a hostel so we did all sorts of fun roleplay (normally I hate role play but this was really entertaining)!! I was all sorts of didicult backpackers etc so she had practise asking all the normal questions asked..
Later I phoned Jimmy (the owner of the hostel) this is how the conversation went...!
Me: "Hi Jimmy, its Melissa.. Just thought I'd let you know I've employed a replacement for me, her names Cindy, I've trained her up and she's starting tomorrow"
Jimmy: "Oh....er... right... um... okay... cool... okay then.. thank you..."
Suddenly realised that yes I do walk around like I own the place... whoops.. to think I had low self esteem before I left England..!
LOL! Okay should actually watch myself that I cant get tooo big for my boots.. Mind you Jimmy came in the next day to meet her and was thanking me profusely for everything I've done and finding her so thankfully it didnt splat me in the face or anything..
but its such a shame that I only met Cindy now.. she and I get along really well and if I'd been staying I could imagine us being good friends.. but of course she is my replacement..
I hung around on the Sunday to check she was okay etc while I packed (and she helped my me giving her things that didnt fit in my backpack - and my isttign on it so it shut!!)
Theres alos been a great bump of individual travellers staying at the hostel so i've been talking nonstop for the entire week which has been great!! (I think I've been high on life too with the excitement of going so I've been even chattier than usual!)
Also popped out for lunch with Helen and the kids as it was Elliots 3rd birthday. I almost died of shock because who should walk in while we were having McDonalds? Ronald McDonald!!! I was probably more excited than the children!!!
Then we went to the christmas parade, which was a carnival coming through town with floats etc.. it was quite cool!!
Then it was suddenly 9pm and I was sitting on my bed basically not knowing what to do with myself.. I sat on my bed thinking well I could go to bed.. when Debby who was also sitting on her bed innocently said why dont we just go out for one drink... so we persuaded Deirdre to get out of bed and headed to the Maen fiddler where live music was playing.. of course we insisted that of course we would only have 1 drink.. I was actually good.. no drunked exploits.. I have put a limit on myself that 3 glasses is enough and that I have to stop there.. I stopped at 4 and dont have a hangover and didnt do naything hideous so thats good! I mean we were tipsy..Debby and I just giggled all the way home and I dread to think of what the poor lone guy still up having a cigarette outside the backpackers thought as we garbled nonsense to him.. it being a tiny world Debby (Armstrong) was 2 years above me in Worthing 6th form college and her brother was pparently the year below me!!
The Maen Fiddler was a really nice bar and the music was great but one of the bands was so floaty and quiet (though lovely) that this guy told us not to talk as he couldnt hear the music.. since they were on for nearly 2 hours not talking seemed a tad much (I mean bars are meant to be social places arent they?!! and by that time we were the noisy table - it wasnt just us 3 we had a few other friends we made in the bar and a random irish guy trying to buy us all drinks (which we accepted!). He was clearly on the pull and attempting to grab me every 10 seconds even though I kept removing his hand from my arse but he was harmless enough and entertaining (apart from when he sent the table and glasses flying and soaked us all in alcohol.. and there was broken glass all over the place! Anyway we ended up going to the Royal which was the only bar open at that time on a Sunday night which was funny as as soon as I went in I realised it was familiar (I suddenly remembered a very drunken night in there a year and a half ago when I left Nelson the last time - dejavu or what!!)
Anyway, so here I am.. all packed and ready to go and have just pooped into the library to return all my books on Australia.
I fly from Nelson to Wellington and then I have an hour or 2 at the airport before my next flight to Taupo.. hopefully this time tomorrow I should be well into the Tongariro Crossing (one of the 10 best 1 day hikes in the world apparently)!
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