hello folks,
lucky you lot, a blog so soon after my previous efforts. We are now out of the mountain passes and down in Kaikoura - a kooky little town where sandflies are not cool enough to be in attendance. thanks for your comments and news - and sorry for being so demanding (even from this distance) - i was just getting chomped on for the millionth (is that a word) time.
well, after venturing up Arthur's Pass (thanks Marina!), we moved on to this little town for the sole purpose of going whale watching and we were not disappointed!
They don't take your money straightaway, it depends on the level of sea sickness you are prepared to put up with - minor or seriously pukey. Our trip was going to be 'jobbly' - their words and not much help to make a decision - but we went for it. And besides feeling REALLY sick - the main event did not disappoint - 5 spermwhales (which are huge and apparently named because first people to discover them thought the 2.5 tonnes of oil in their heads was sperm - funny sex education classes in those days!). Anyway, awesome, beaut (NZ words) cannot describe how humbling these creatures make you feel and how minor your little human existence is (not yours - the human race). Very emotional - we were both blubbing!
Will send pix when i know how.
One more interesting thing - they have loads of info about the settlers that came here, told that NZ would be the promised land which would bear fruit and bring happiness. Each info board tells how a few families dragged themselves over from Europe and set up in the harshest conditions and then gave up or died in the process. You could argue, well they shouldn't have been trying to colonize the place at all, whcih I agree, but these poor souls seemed to be the working classes told/made to come on a promise. I am sure I need to learn more, but it is a holiday!
Fidelma xxx
Sunday 31 January 2010
Friday 29 January 2010
Campervans, kayaking and keas
Hello folks,
Could more people read this and comment! I get bitten to shreds by the b***ard sandflies when I write these things - ouch!
Yes, it's been a while and at the moment I am in Arthur's Pass - up in the Southern Alps - about to find a spot for our campervan to pitch for the night. Ahhhh - loving the campervan experience - we have camped by rivers, lakes and the sea - and been in them all for a quick dip before dinner and a glass (plastic beaker) or red wine. Loving the camper but it means you don't wash much so occasionally we have to go to a proper campsite - which has too many people in it! Yes, I am going to become a hermit when I get back. Had one fantastic night by Cascade Creek in the road up to Milford Sound - they let you cook on a bbq if you find the wood yourself - yes, I have pictures of Tony with his steel and blade for lighting the fire (don't ask me, but it worked - thanks James!).
We've been kayaking on Milford Sound which was incredible - will attach photos when I find out how to do it and have deleted some of the blurred ones. Have taken 700 already! It was like a millpond until some wind blew up and then we had to paddle extremely fast across a shipping lane (well lots of cruisers going out) and you can imagine that with me navigating and tony steering (we're speaking now!).
We've also been on rainforest walks, seen Franz Joseph and Fox Glaciers (Tony gave an American a fox glacier mint for taking our photo - she didn't know whether to eat it or save it for posterity - I don't think she believed it was a sweet!) These glaciers come right down to the rainforest! Also been walking round Lake Wanaka while looking at Mount Aspiring. Just wanted to also let you know that it has been BOILING and really SUNNY! Feel like we've done loads already and still 3 weeks in NZ. The bites from the sandflies are driving us crazy (to put it in perspective - I have 18 bites on one hand!). They are prolific and tiny and itchy - and the flies are too.
Met a new mate too - he stumbled out the rainforest just behind us, next thing we know we're having fish and chips and drinking a lot of red wine - ouch!
Keas - they are a pest, prolific and eat rubber - loads of warning signs all over NZ - yet to see one!
Thanks folks for your comments and thanks to Dave and Wendy for the washing line - it has been used many times. The plug will come into its own for sure.
Lots of love,
Fidelma xxxx
Could more people read this and comment! I get bitten to shreds by the b***ard sandflies when I write these things - ouch!
Yes, it's been a while and at the moment I am in Arthur's Pass - up in the Southern Alps - about to find a spot for our campervan to pitch for the night. Ahhhh - loving the campervan experience - we have camped by rivers, lakes and the sea - and been in them all for a quick dip before dinner and a glass (plastic beaker) or red wine. Loving the camper but it means you don't wash much so occasionally we have to go to a proper campsite - which has too many people in it! Yes, I am going to become a hermit when I get back. Had one fantastic night by Cascade Creek in the road up to Milford Sound - they let you cook on a bbq if you find the wood yourself - yes, I have pictures of Tony with his steel and blade for lighting the fire (don't ask me, but it worked - thanks James!).
We've been kayaking on Milford Sound which was incredible - will attach photos when I find out how to do it and have deleted some of the blurred ones. Have taken 700 already! It was like a millpond until some wind blew up and then we had to paddle extremely fast across a shipping lane (well lots of cruisers going out) and you can imagine that with me navigating and tony steering (we're speaking now!).
We've also been on rainforest walks, seen Franz Joseph and Fox Glaciers (Tony gave an American a fox glacier mint for taking our photo - she didn't know whether to eat it or save it for posterity - I don't think she believed it was a sweet!) These glaciers come right down to the rainforest! Also been walking round Lake Wanaka while looking at Mount Aspiring. Just wanted to also let you know that it has been BOILING and really SUNNY! Feel like we've done loads already and still 3 weeks in NZ. The bites from the sandflies are driving us crazy (to put it in perspective - I have 18 bites on one hand!). They are prolific and tiny and itchy - and the flies are too.
Met a new mate too - he stumbled out the rainforest just behind us, next thing we know we're having fish and chips and drinking a lot of red wine - ouch!
Keas - they are a pest, prolific and eat rubber - loads of warning signs all over NZ - yet to see one!
Thanks folks for your comments and thanks to Dave and Wendy for the washing line - it has been used many times. The plug will come into its own for sure.
Lots of love,
Fidelma xxxx
Sunday 24 January 2010
Towels and sandflies
Hello folks,
It's boiling outside and I'm blogging. But it's just before we set off to Milford Sound for a great canoe trip tomorrow - I'm a bit worried as I have only done that once and I nearly fell in. Even more worrying, I may have to buy a pair of crocs for the event!
So since I last blogged we've hit the most horrendous rain and cloud but it just stopped in time for us to see the spectacular Mount Cook - Tony wanted to climb it and I wanted to sit and drink Rose in the very posh hotel looking out over it. So we compromised and went on an 8 mile hike over 2 swing bridges (don't look down!).
Every single view here is spectacular and it's mountains, mountains, mountains all the way - even covered in snow.
What is also weird here is that the towns are small but the places are big - can't describe what I mean, but I also expect everything to be SO busy - and there are hardly any people about. Suits us fine. I am happy not to hear the banging of our neighbours' children at 1am and instead the peace of nothingness. Then waking up to look at a beautiful vista every morning.
We've been camping on the side of the road in our van which is fantastic - we love the life and don't mind showering - although we decided after 3 days we had to hit a shower and found a site that not only had handtowels but also changed them in the course of 24 hours!!!!!!!!!! You don't get that in Devon Heaven.
Sandflies - slow to impact but when they do - ouch! The itch factor. I had my first wakeful night last night trying to scratch my way into oblivion - or something like that.
Who said Queenstown was big and noisy and too much - perfect for me! But not to stay.
Forgot to mention, we also saw the smallest dolphins in the world on a death defying 'cruise' that nearly saw me over the front of the boat as the guy over the tannoy said: 'Now we are on the mighty Pacific, oooh it's a bit choppy (huge swell, tiny boat), you might want to step back from the front there). I crawled my way to the back of the boat and prayed for forgiveness at whatever I had done (which is much and too mulitfarious to mention).
Hope all well in England....
The adventure continues....
Love Fidelma xxx
It's boiling outside and I'm blogging. But it's just before we set off to Milford Sound for a great canoe trip tomorrow - I'm a bit worried as I have only done that once and I nearly fell in. Even more worrying, I may have to buy a pair of crocs for the event!
So since I last blogged we've hit the most horrendous rain and cloud but it just stopped in time for us to see the spectacular Mount Cook - Tony wanted to climb it and I wanted to sit and drink Rose in the very posh hotel looking out over it. So we compromised and went on an 8 mile hike over 2 swing bridges (don't look down!).
Every single view here is spectacular and it's mountains, mountains, mountains all the way - even covered in snow.
What is also weird here is that the towns are small but the places are big - can't describe what I mean, but I also expect everything to be SO busy - and there are hardly any people about. Suits us fine. I am happy not to hear the banging of our neighbours' children at 1am and instead the peace of nothingness. Then waking up to look at a beautiful vista every morning.
We've been camping on the side of the road in our van which is fantastic - we love the life and don't mind showering - although we decided after 3 days we had to hit a shower and found a site that not only had handtowels but also changed them in the course of 24 hours!!!!!!!!!! You don't get that in Devon Heaven.
Sandflies - slow to impact but when they do - ouch! The itch factor. I had my first wakeful night last night trying to scratch my way into oblivion - or something like that.
Who said Queenstown was big and noisy and too much - perfect for me! But not to stay.
Forgot to mention, we also saw the smallest dolphins in the world on a death defying 'cruise' that nearly saw me over the front of the boat as the guy over the tannoy said: 'Now we are on the mighty Pacific, oooh it's a bit choppy (huge swell, tiny boat), you might want to step back from the front there). I crawled my way to the back of the boat and prayed for forgiveness at whatever I had done (which is much and too mulitfarious to mention).
Hope all well in England....
The adventure continues....
Love Fidelma xxx
Wednesday 20 January 2010
Ouch
On our first night the lovely people at the hostel warned us that the ozone layer was thin here and you could burn in 10mins... we believed them. We nodded and thought, must buy sun cream. Then we went out - it got sunny and in 10mins, yes we got frazzled. Wish I could show you a pic, but just imagine two burnt brits and you get the picture.
We are off today in our campervan to the mountains so this blog may be silent for a while - lucky you. XXX
We are off today in our campervan to the mountains so this blog may be silent for a while - lucky you. XXX
Done Christchurch
Ate Bluenose (not sure if that is a dolphin) tonight - tasted good. I want to run a hostel when I grow up... loving the hostel life: learning about the best places to visit, people's strange lives and why I do not want to be young again or a hippy ever. But outta here tomorrow and just planning our trip - going straight up 3000 feet I think first! Weird today - visited the beautiful botanical gardens here but can't quite get my head around smelling the roses, marvelling at the dahlias and washing my tired feet in the river in January! By the way, how is the snow? XX
Monday 18 January 2010
Yee ha - we've arrived
Yee ha - we landed in Christchurch 6 hours ago on Tuesday 2.30pm after 22 hours in the air, 2 breakfasts, 3 dinners, 1 lunch and 3 VERY bad rom coms (I tried - but PLEASE do not attempt to view - All about Steve, 500 days of summer, love happens), and a very bad cold. Christchurch is QUIET, I don't mean nothing is happening, but it has a kind of hushed tone as if everyone is walking around in whispers - bizarre - there again, my ears still haven't equalised so it could be I can't hear a thing.
We are staying in a cutesy hostel that looks like a New England Adams family house, with a porch 'n' all. Everyone is friendly and we now have our itinerary worked out for the next 5 weeks, thanks to their suggestions. But it starts with a helluva lot of sleep immediately.
By the way, for my Facebook pals, I can't get on it as it doesn't recognise my birthday - damn I knew I shouldn't have put I was 21yrs when I did my security. Will try again.
Thanks for all your comments - they are great. Can you also put in what you are doing so I get a bit of news from home.
Fidelma xx
We are staying in a cutesy hostel that looks like a New England Adams family house, with a porch 'n' all. Everyone is friendly and we now have our itinerary worked out for the next 5 weeks, thanks to their suggestions. But it starts with a helluva lot of sleep immediately.
By the way, for my Facebook pals, I can't get on it as it doesn't recognise my birthday - damn I knew I shouldn't have put I was 21yrs when I did my security. Will try again.
Thanks for all your comments - they are great. Can you also put in what you are doing so I get a bit of news from home.
Fidelma xx
Saturday 16 January 2010
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