It seems almost unbelievable that it is two years to the day since I boarded the plane at Heathrow bound for the other side of the world.
In many ways it seems a long, long time ago. After a year and a half of working hard and not having much holiday, the six months of living in a tent and never looking at the time (well, hardly ever) mostly feels like another lifetime. However, sometimes I look at the photos on my computer at work and moments and sensations suddenly become incredibly vivid. Sights, sounds, smells, the clear crisp air. At those times, I could almost believe that I have only just arrived back in Blighty.
So 730 days ago, big bro' dropped me off at Cambridge bus station to set me on my way for what would turn out to be a wonderful experience. I left the fast enveloping British autumn to arrive to southern spring - and let me tell you, that is a fabulous thing in itself! I was, well, not nervous. Apprehensive? I don't remember even feeling that. Excited? Yes. Eager? Yes. That was what was going on in my head.
I don't think that a single day goes by when I don't think about the places and people, about the differences between NZ and the UK. I regularly yearn to be sitting at the top of the Routeburn Pass or gazing out over Lake Wakatipu. Opening my tent to see the Southern Alps or boating trough the gloworm caves of Waitomo. Most of all, Otago and Canterbury come to my mind. Clean, open space. At those times I also remember the shock of arriving back in London. The unhelpful attitudes of airport and bus staff, the claustophobia of traffic and the people crammed in. The fact that I could actually see how polluted and grimy the air was! Now of course, I don't notice all that until a conciously choose to. But every so often I do choose to. Not as self torture, but to remind myself of what I experienced. There would have been no point in doing it if I hadn't learnt something and there's no point in learning it without remembering it.
The people at work regularly accuse me of being a "New Zealand-ophile". That's no criticism as far as I am concerned. I am still in love with the place after all! I am also still sure that one day I'll go back. When is the only question.
October 17, 2006
November 25, 2005
May 10, 2005
Brizzle
Well, there's no point in pretending - the small adventure is finished. It was . . . emotional. Most of the emotion was related to smiling, astonishment and joy, not bad really. Having said that, it has been great meeting up with family and friends again. I spent the first week and half being pampered by my family, which was just grand. Even though current technology (like this blog) means that you're never out of touch in the way that travellers overseas once were, there's no substitute for seeing everyone and being able to spend time with them. All I have to do now is get a job (interview number one in two days time) and then life will be back into it's home routine.
If you are wondering whether it was all worth while, the answer for me is undoubtedly yes. I hope that one day I will be back in NZ to explore the little bits left as mysteries. When I do, another blog is sure to follow. Thank you one and all for taking the time to follow my odd wonderings and wanderings. Be good, have fun and get out to see the world, it's a great place.
If you are wondering whether it was all worth while, the answer for me is undoubtedly yes. I hope that one day I will be back in NZ to explore the little bits left as mysteries. When I do, another blog is sure to follow. Thank you one and all for taking the time to follow my odd wonderings and wanderings. Be good, have fun and get out to see the world, it's a great place.
April 14, 2005
Homeward bound
Here I am, almost at the end of my small adventure. Just the one day stop off in Auckland to go after the flight up from Queenstown this afternoon and then I'll be on the long haul home. So what has it been like?
Well you've been with me since the start, so you should have a pretty good idea of what I've been up to. However, there are hundreds of small things which have never featured in my blog, which make NZ such a fun and unique place to visit and I will miss those small things as much as the more obvious features.
To give you just a few examples, heaps of small towns here feel the need to make themselves special in some way. My favourite is a tiny town called Tuatapere in the south of the South Island, which welcomes visitors with a big sign proclaiming itself as "New Zealand's sausage capital"! Fantastic. I love the fact that the tandem paragliders in Queenstown land on the playing field of the primary school - even when the kids are outside at playtime. It doesn't seem to phase the kids and the paragliders just head for a relatively quiet area. When I filled up with petrol in the east cape, the cashier didn't even bother to look at the pump to see how much petrol I had put in, he just trusted me to tell him the truth. People in smaller towns leave their cars outside shops with the engine running and the door wide open while they natter for 10 minutes. Little things like this are as important as the crystal clear air and water, the huge wide open spaces, the lush rain forests and the welcoming people.
So what have I missed while I have been away? To tell you the truth, only two things. The first is people - family and friends - who I am really looking forward to seeing. The second is a pillow. The best part of six months spent sleeping with your head on a pile of clothes every night really makes you appreciate the simple pleasure of a pillow on the rare occasions that one is available!
I hope that you have enjoyed travelling through NZ with me. It's been great to get comments and emails from everyone and I thank you all very, very much. If anyone wants information about anything New Zealand, places to visit, contact details for any trips, or just general information please get in touch. I can thoroughly recommend this as a holiday destination if you are into the outdoors, big scenery, the lord of the rings films, rugby and having fun. If I had to sum up my trip in a few words, it would have to be "sweet as".
By the way, new photos below . . . .
Well you've been with me since the start, so you should have a pretty good idea of what I've been up to. However, there are hundreds of small things which have never featured in my blog, which make NZ such a fun and unique place to visit and I will miss those small things as much as the more obvious features.
To give you just a few examples, heaps of small towns here feel the need to make themselves special in some way. My favourite is a tiny town called Tuatapere in the south of the South Island, which welcomes visitors with a big sign proclaiming itself as "New Zealand's sausage capital"! Fantastic. I love the fact that the tandem paragliders in Queenstown land on the playing field of the primary school - even when the kids are outside at playtime. It doesn't seem to phase the kids and the paragliders just head for a relatively quiet area. When I filled up with petrol in the east cape, the cashier didn't even bother to look at the pump to see how much petrol I had put in, he just trusted me to tell him the truth. People in smaller towns leave their cars outside shops with the engine running and the door wide open while they natter for 10 minutes. Little things like this are as important as the crystal clear air and water, the huge wide open spaces, the lush rain forests and the welcoming people.
So what have I missed while I have been away? To tell you the truth, only two things. The first is people - family and friends - who I am really looking forward to seeing. The second is a pillow. The best part of six months spent sleeping with your head on a pile of clothes every night really makes you appreciate the simple pleasure of a pillow on the rare occasions that one is available!
I hope that you have enjoyed travelling through NZ with me. It's been great to get comments and emails from everyone and I thank you all very, very much. If anyone wants information about anything New Zealand, places to visit, contact details for any trips, or just general information please get in touch. I can thoroughly recommend this as a holiday destination if you are into the outdoors, big scenery, the lord of the rings films, rugby and having fun. If I had to sum up my trip in a few words, it would have to be "sweet as".
By the way, new photos below . . . .
April 11, 2005
Queen
So here I am, back in Queenstown for my last week in NZ. My flight out of here is on Saturday, so I've still got a few more days to go. I've been out doing more walking in the hills and by the shores of fabulous blue lakes and, between marvelling at how lovely it is, thinking that I'm going to miss all of this when I come home.
Not sure what I am going to do for the next few days, the weather is supposed to be pretty good - it's warm and sunny at the moment - so keeping out and about seems like a good idea.
Sorry this is a short (but sweet (as)) post, but not too much to tell you at the moment. After all, you know by now what Queenstown is like. I'll try to come up with something more interesting and then post again . . . .
Not sure what I am going to do for the next few days, the weather is supposed to be pretty good - it's warm and sunny at the moment - so keeping out and about seems like a good idea.
Sorry this is a short (but sweet (as)) post, but not too much to tell you at the moment. After all, you know by now what Queenstown is like. I'll try to come up with something more interesting and then post again . . . .
April 06, 2005
Lots of nothing
So what have I been doing for the last few days? Lots of nothing, that's what! I have been out walking in the fabulous Otago countryside, just drinking in the views and the wide open spaces. I am back in Wanaka at the momnet, where the sun is shining and the autumnal colours are bright and fabulous. The days are still warm, with shorts and jandals being most popular, but night time is a different story. As soon as the sun goes down, the temperature plummets, especially with the cloudless skies we have got at the moment. It doesn't quite seem possible that in about three months this quiet town will be packed with snowboarders and skiers and that the surrounding hills, and possibly the town, will be blanketed in snow.
I haven't got much to tell you, because trying to convey the feeling of sitting on a hill top looking out over the hills and mountains is an utterly thankless and pointless task. Unfortunately my vocabulary simply isn't up to the job. All I can tell you is that I could happily spend hours just looking at the scenery here, despite that fact that I can see it would not be to everyone's taste. I'll have photo's when I get back, but they will never provide the feeling of space, the clarity of the air and the warmth of the sun. I just hope they will be enough to trigger my memory in years to come. In the meantime, I'll be making sure that those memories get as much reinforcement as possible before I leave. Right, got to go and find a hill to climb up . . .
I haven't got much to tell you, because trying to convey the feeling of sitting on a hill top looking out over the hills and mountains is an utterly thankless and pointless task. Unfortunately my vocabulary simply isn't up to the job. All I can tell you is that I could happily spend hours just looking at the scenery here, despite that fact that I can see it would not be to everyone's taste. I'll have photo's when I get back, but they will never provide the feeling of space, the clarity of the air and the warmth of the sun. I just hope they will be enough to trigger my memory in years to come. In the meantime, I'll be making sure that those memories get as much reinforcement as possible before I leave. Right, got to go and find a hill to climb up . . .
April 01, 2005
Lake district
Ok, decision made. I have wended my way back over to the southern lakes area, which is not as warm as some other areas, but is just beautiful as. Big mountains and gorgeous lakes. I am going to stay in this area for the next couple of weeks and then I have a flight from Queenstown to Auckland booked for April 16 and then fly home a couple of days later. The flight from Queenstown was cheaper than travelling overland and just a touch quicker.
I was lucky enough to stay with friends in Christchurch. Although Gordon, the guy I met on the interislander ferry wasn't in CHCH that night, his lodger was. It was good to see Ely (the lodger) again, such a nice guy. Bless is heart, he fed me breakfast, drove me to the bus stop in the city centre and even left me with a packed lunch for the journey! Good people these Kiwis you know.
Anyway, I'm in Queenstown yet again at the moment, but am looking at a couple of possible tramps and thinking of popping over to Wanaka for a few days as well. Right now I'm just going to sit back and enjoy the place for a day or two though. As plans develop, I'll let you know. In the meantime, take care all.
If you want more online mumblings (of a more cerebral nature), get yourself to:
http://robsog.typepad.com/robsog/
I was lucky enough to stay with friends in Christchurch. Although Gordon, the guy I met on the interislander ferry wasn't in CHCH that night, his lodger was. It was good to see Ely (the lodger) again, such a nice guy. Bless is heart, he fed me breakfast, drove me to the bus stop in the city centre and even left me with a packed lunch for the journey! Good people these Kiwis you know.
Anyway, I'm in Queenstown yet again at the moment, but am looking at a couple of possible tramps and thinking of popping over to Wanaka for a few days as well. Right now I'm just going to sit back and enjoy the place for a day or two though. As plans develop, I'll let you know. In the meantime, take care all.
If you want more online mumblings (of a more cerebral nature), get yourself to:
http://robsog.typepad.com/robsog/
March 29, 2005
Confusion
Crikey, I'm just not sure where I'm going to be for the last three weeks or so in NZ. Life was much more simple with my own transport! Anyway road up, I spent the easter weekend working my way across the Mackenzie country, the Canterbury high country and then the Canterbury plains. That means I am now back in Christchurch trying to decide what the best course of action is from here. I'm staying with my local friend tonight and will be off again tomorrow, but where to is the question.
There are two basic options. Option 1 is to head north to the top end of the island and then over then next three weeks, work my way back up to Auckland. That gives me the opportunity to see some stuff I didn't see on my way down here.
Option 2 is to stay down here and then fly up to Auckland from either CHCH or Q'town. This would allow me to spend more time in the mountains and probably head of for another tramp.
There's not much in it in terms of cost, so just a day of contemplation and planning ahead then . . .
There are two basic options. Option 1 is to head north to the top end of the island and then over then next three weeks, work my way back up to Auckland. That gives me the opportunity to see some stuff I didn't see on my way down here.
Option 2 is to stay down here and then fly up to Auckland from either CHCH or Q'town. This would allow me to spend more time in the mountains and probably head of for another tramp.
There's not much in it in terms of cost, so just a day of contemplation and planning ahead then . . .
March 24, 2005
Bunnies
Just a very quick note to say happy easter to everyone. Get scoffing chocolate and kick back for a couple of days!
March 22, 2005
Gettin' on
Just an update to let you know that I didn't head off to Wanaka in the end, I decided to stay in Queenstown for an extra couple of days. However I am off today, heading for Tekapo. It's a really quiet spot with not much more than fabulous landscape and a lake which really is blue. Just going to chill out there and have a couple of days ambling around the countryside.
There is one other thing which I feel I should mention. The idea of me taking heli rides may seem extravagant, but they are just another way to get around down here. Having said that, they are far more fun than a bus! The heli ride out of Skippers Canyon cost me the princely sum of just under 20 quid. Not that extravagant really.
Anyway, probably be out of internet range for a few days, so I'll be back when I can.
There is one other thing which I feel I should mention. The idea of me taking heli rides may seem extravagant, but they are just another way to get around down here. Having said that, they are far more fun than a bus! The heli ride out of Skippers Canyon cost me the princely sum of just under 20 quid. Not that extravagant really.
Anyway, probably be out of internet range for a few days, so I'll be back when I can.
March 20, 2005
More biking
No, not another motorbike. Today I went and mountain biked down into Skippers Canyon, which is just outside Queenstown. The road down into the canyon is one of the most notoriously dodgy in NZ, so off road biking is probably the safest option if you want to see it anyway.
Despite heavy rain last night and this morning, by the time I set off, the sun was shining and it was beautifully warm. The biking was good, since if you are reasonably competent the guides just tell you where to stop and wait for everyone else to catch up and give you advice regarding any approaching opportunities for leaping off a precipice. For the bikies, the track we rode down was nice winding single track with a few drop offs thrown in for those who chose to do them - almost all downhill. In fact it was an old pack horse track from the days of the gold rush. The Shotover river which runs through the canyon is the second richest gold river in the world. The only trouble was that I could have carried on with the biking for far longer.
To top it off, I got helicoptered out along the canyon, which was just fantastic. The biking guide told the pilot that it was the first time I had been in a helicopter, because he said that we would get a more fun ride like that. I don't know what it would have been like otherwise, but it was certainly good fun, with the pilot making sure that I was aware of exactly what a good pilot can achieve in a helicopter! All in all, a pretty good day.
I have also blagged a lift to Wanaka from some Kiwi's I met in a pub last night, so I'll be relocating my tent tomorrow and looking for new things to do.
Take care everyone, I'll be back before too long.
Despite heavy rain last night and this morning, by the time I set off, the sun was shining and it was beautifully warm. The biking was good, since if you are reasonably competent the guides just tell you where to stop and wait for everyone else to catch up and give you advice regarding any approaching opportunities for leaping off a precipice. For the bikies, the track we rode down was nice winding single track with a few drop offs thrown in for those who chose to do them - almost all downhill. In fact it was an old pack horse track from the days of the gold rush. The Shotover river which runs through the canyon is the second richest gold river in the world. The only trouble was that I could have carried on with the biking for far longer.
To top it off, I got helicoptered out along the canyon, which was just fantastic. The biking guide told the pilot that it was the first time I had been in a helicopter, because he said that we would get a more fun ride like that. I don't know what it would have been like otherwise, but it was certainly good fun, with the pilot making sure that I was aware of exactly what a good pilot can achieve in a helicopter! All in all, a pretty good day.
I have also blagged a lift to Wanaka from some Kiwi's I met in a pub last night, so I'll be relocating my tent tomorrow and looking for new things to do.
Take care everyone, I'll be back before too long.
March 18, 2005
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