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Articles Tagged ‘New Zealand’

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Brand new home

Monday, February 6th, 2012

I’ve got a brand new blog all about life in New Zealand (yes, Andy and I moved to New Zealand… yes, we’re still together… yes, we got married. We’ve got so much to catch up on). Come and join me over there at http://thisupsidedownlife.blogspot.co.nz/

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Taupo – Chicken

Thursday, November 23rd, 2006

A couple of months ago, I’d got an email from my friend Lisa, letting me know she was planning to be in New Zealand at the same time I was. This was outstandingly good news. Lisa and I met when we did our TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) course, we clicked immediately, and only afterwards discovered that we more or less worked at the same place (in the same building anyway, and for related employers), and were both there by stealth, planning to leave soon but not having told our employer yet. Cue lots of lovely ‘secret squirrel’ emails and after-work emergency powwows when we were on the verge of handing in our notice and leaving. Lisa subsequently escaped to Spain, and I came off to see the world. Family events took Leese back to the UK, but her and her brother decided before long to come off and see what New Zealand had to offer.

I was on the Cook Islands when they got here, but by the time I’d got back, Leese had got herself a job managing a backpackers’ hostel in Taupo. I’d always planned to go there anyway; now it seemed the perfect way to round off my New Zealand time. I was desperately in need of an old friend, after my news about Fr Xavier, so the timing couldn’t have been better.

And it was wonderful! We had a great big hug when we saw each other, and I got to meet Lisa’s brother, Ki, as well. They were both working that afternoon so I settled down to a busy time of watching DVDs and reading. Oh, it’s a hard life. That evening, I had dinner with them and we began the long-awaited catch up, starting a non-stop conversation that would last four days!

Lisa had the next couple of days off, and we had a lovely old time, going for (gentle!) walks and exploring the area, good for both of us – me to get to see the place, and Leese so she can recommend things for the people staying at the hostel. We also both got to wear rather fetching raincoats, as it was raining, and took some lovely photos, in which we both look rather spesh.

I want that one

The first afternoon, I was completely amazed that Ki had built himself a bedroom in part of the living room in just a day, and was more than happy to earn my keep and help paint the walls. All those many, many, MANY coats that my bathroom took (Sarah – once again I salute you for your help!) were good practice.

We spent more hours wandering through town, in the art gallery, and up at the gorgeous botanical gardens (I’d recommend these for sure for anyone visiting Taupo) – Spring was a lovely time of year to visit these as all the blooms were at their finest. One night, as a thankyou to them for their fabulous hospitality, I cooked them a roast chicken dinner (my first in a good while), they ate it all and nobody died so hopefully it was ok!

One of the reasons for coming to Taupo was that I’d intended to do a skydive. It’s the cheapest there in all of New Zealand. The first couple of days, though, it was impossible due to the bad weather. On my third day, though, it was a beautifully sunny day. I woke up, thought about doing a skydive, and just felt sick. I don’t know why. Maybe I’d had too much time to think about it? I’d always intended to do one in New Zealand, and now, when I could, I dídn’t want to. I wasn’t prepared to spend that much money on something I didn’t 100% want to do (especially something that I can do back at home, should the mood strike me). Reading that back, I sound like I’m trying to justify my decision, and to be honest, I’m still a bit mystified by it now, but, hey ho. Onwards and upwards.

And so the time came for me to leave New Zealand, and head on to my final continent, and another challenge. So, after a fond farewell to Leese (in which she managed to wreck a car… but that’s another story!), I was heading for Auckland to the airport. South America was waiting.

Posted in New Zealand, Travel | 11 Comments »

Rotorua – Eggy

Thursday, November 23rd, 2006
Rotorua is famous for a few things throughout New Zealand.  It has one of the highest concentrated Maori populations, and so is a good place to find out some more about Maori history, culture and traditions; it has lots and ... [Continue reading this entry]

Posted in New Zealand, Travel | 1 Comment »

Pahia – Dolphin Friendly

Tuesday, November 14th, 2006
So, back in New Zealand, I began my two-week exploration of the North Island. After an admin-y couple of days in Auckland, where I was rejoicing in liberally available and liberally priced internet (or so it seemed after the ... [Continue reading this entry]

Posted in New Zealand, Travel | 6 Comments »

Wellington – Bore Da

Wednesday, October 4th, 2006
Before Andy and I said goodbye in Brisbane (oh, don't, I'll start crying again...), we'd given each other loads and loads of hints on what to see, what to do, where to stay, where not to stay, and so on, ... [Continue reading this entry]

Posted in New Zealand, Travel | 1 Comment »

Queenstown – Scuppered

Wednesday, October 4th, 2006
I didn't really know what to expect on arrival in Queenstown. I'd heard it was the adventure capital of New Zealand, the home of the Bungee Jump (yeah, thanks for inflicting that on the world, guys), and close to ... [Continue reading this entry]

Posted in New Zealand, Travel | 1 Comment »

Franz Josef – Ice Queen

Wednesday, October 4th, 2006

It was really sad to say goodbye to Sheila (even knowing I'd be back later on in my travels), but I was also excited.  I would be leaving Christchurch on the Tranzalpine train, which goes from Christchurch in the east ... [Continue reading this entry]

Posted in New Zealand, Travel | 1 Comment »

Christchurch – Sonic Boom

Wednesday, October 4th, 2006
After a lovely, homely couple of days at Sheila's house during which I caught up on my long overdue Australia blogs and drank a literally endless supply of tea, Sheila set about showing me round this lovely part of the ... [Continue reading this entry]

Posted in New Zealand, Travel | 2 Comments »

Christchurch – Feels like home

Tuesday, September 26th, 2006
My family is huge.  Simply huge.  Or, to be more accurate, the amount of people from my family who I know is huge - the actual family is probably only the same size as everyone else's; what makes us unique ... [Continue reading this entry]

Posted in New Zealand, Travel | 7 Comments »