On-the-Road Tales

Obviously requesting a window seat at the ticket counter was too late but she decided not to tell me. Probably better so I did not dwell on the fact until I boarded and was seated in the center of the center row. Nothing like being in between a heinekin pounding german mumbling to himself and a restless leg syndrome-snorer for 12 plus hours. Good things they had lots of movies to keep me occupied in between climbing over people to stretch and combat Economy class DVT.

We landed at the new airport in Bangkok around 2200 and must have walked a mile to get to luggage. Since I was arriving so late into a foreign world and leaving early the next morning, I cheated my ‘meet the people’ type philosophy of travelling and stayed at the airport Novotel. Oh my word – this was one smoking establishment. Maybe I was so impressed because I just spent 3 weeks in mixed dorms sharing a bathroom with 30 people but it was nice and only cost 6 nights worth of hostels in NZ. But 115$ for a 5 star is something I can deal with, at least for a night

On the bus once again for the long haul to Christchurch. Stopped for some volcano views along the way but otherwise straight on through arriving at Base Backpackers situated in the evening, dead centre in Cathedral Square. Explored around town via tram and did usual ‘before I leave a main city’ errands. The next morning, I picked up the shuttle to the airport and jumped a 1.5 hour flight to Auckland back up north. 3 hours later I was boarding an A340-600 to Bangkok.

So my 3 weeks in NZ has come to a close. Far too short a stay than the country demands but nonetheless a great introduction. The people are friendly. It is a backpacker haven, never having to pay more than 20$ or so for a dormbed though food was not so cheap and I would not give their cuisine great marks. Transport easy, Kiwi bus experiences and all. The scenery and nature are down right stunning. The local’s efforts towards protecting their environment makes you stop and consider if you are really doing enough back home. Overall glad I stopped by though I am ready to get back to ‘real travel’. As a fellow backpacker I met (recently in from S america) said – ‘everything here is so sterile’. It was a totally different vibe than the normal circuit because many people were staying on to work for a year so their backpacks included curling irons and cell phones. It was like a vacation from my vacation. Looking forward to culture shock once again…and on we go

Aronse at 0600 to try a catch a sunrise. Met the two diehard photographers I had been standing in the same spot with 12 hours earlier for sunset! Not a great morning for colour but worth it none ... [Continue reading this entry]

Two hour drive from Te Anau to Milford crossing the Southern Alps. This road often closes due to avalanche risk. In fact, the day we entered Queenstown while it was flurrying there, the road was shut. The ... [Continue reading this entry]

Spent the day in this lakeside town. It is the starting point for some of the most famous tramps in the world (tramps = hiking in NZ) the Kepler, Milford track. So lots of people at the YHA ... [Continue reading this entry]

On the way to Queenstown, stopped at Kawarau Brudge, the birthplace of commercial bungy. I never wanted to do one because frankly I thought it looked stupid. I am not afraid of heights so I could not see ... [Continue reading this entry]

The next day was spectacular, clear blue skies and warm sun. I saw amazing snowy mountains all around I had not even known were there. It was waking from a bad dream of the day before! Our hostel ... [Continue reading this entry]

My nights rest was intermittently interrupted by the massive rainfall I could here outside and the worry of what the day goal. I signed up to do a glacier hike which involved slugging through a rainforest, crossing several rivers, ... [Continue reading this entry]

Pulled out of the trailer park went on down the road to the Bushman center. This is run by a wacky couple trying to recreate the hardships of life living in the wild country. Possums and stokes (ferret ... [Continue reading this entry]

We cruised down along the westcoasrt and stopped at Cape Foulwind. Took a dander along the sea and came to a seal colony. Adorable little creatures, very playful. The seascape was fabulous. Continued on to Punakaiki Pancake Rocks ... [Continue reading this entry]