New Zealand Adventure Day 3- Rapahoe to Fox Glacier via Punakaiki

We left Rapahoe bound North for Punakaiki and the Pancake Rocks. The journey took a little under an hour- the rocks themselves were so called because they looked like stacks of pancakes- a lot of them! The blowholes were big gaping spaces where the water crashed in making a blowing sound. We then hit the road to find a lunch spot. That took us back towards Greymouth and essentially resulted in us eating cereal and chip sandwiches surrounded by cows in a pasture. Scenic but not the most glamourous!
It was a four hour drive alongside the Southern Alps to reach Fox Glacier. We stopped to admire the view, take photos and pause for OMG moments along the entire journey. The sun was shining, the snow was glistening on the mountains and the time flew. A brief stop in Whataroa was our only pause before reaching Franz Josef! By this time we were officially in 'Glacier Country' and every turn held a spectacular view.
Our final destination of Fox Glacier was better still. We arrived at 5:30pm and parked up the campervan under the mountains before going on the hunt for glacial activities. Thankfully, the village was so small that made this easy! Our plan of doing a glacier guided walk the next day was soon abandoned in favour of a helicopter flight up Fox Glacier! And to our surprise, they wanted to take us up in half an hour because the weather above the glacier was great!
So we rushed away and got ready, and met our pilot, Nathan, at his helicopter. Little did we know, Nathan had even better plans than to just fly up Fox Glacier, we also flew over Mt Tasman and Mt Cook, the highest mountains in New Zealand!! Next thing we knew, we were gliding over beautiful snowy mountains- though the weather on the ground was dark and cloudy, above the glacier there was not a cloud in the sky! Nathan landed the helicopter somewhere up over the clouds, on the top of a mountain in pure, untouched snow. Of course the two of us made the most of this photo opportunity, before flying back over the huge crevasses of Fox Glacier- spotting tiny people hiking below and passing numerous waterfalls.. to say the view was breathtaking would be an understatement! It was just the two of us and Nathan in a tiny bubble of a helicopter, flying aroung mountains, snow, and eventually treetops and scaring a few sheep. Well it is New Zealand, we couldn't miss the sheep! It was the experience of a lifetime and something we will never forget- in part to the almost continuous video footage and 150 odd photos we took.
After we recovered we had dinner- a clever concoction of tinned spaghetti and fried eggs, cooked simultaneously but not together on one ring!- we tramped (what kiwi's call trekking, NOT to be confused with a past time of ladies of the night!) into a forest walk where we spent half an hour spotting glow worms. They were like little Christmas lights, beautiful sparkling away around us- yet camera shy, no matter how hard we tried! The end of our tramping came after I convinced myself we were 'good for the killing and making into lampshades' (I didn't have my machete with me) so our retreat was hasty!

New Zealand Adventure Day 2- Hanmer Springs to Greymouth

Monday morning in Hanmer was beautiful- sunny and warm. We tried (again, in vain) to get our gas cooker working (camping is a learning process) before Sarah cooked porridge in the kitchen. We walked to the hot springs and spent three hours relaxing in pools of varying degrees and sulfer-y smells. After repeating dinner from the night before with a fish n' chip lunch (apparently it's a kiwi staple) we hit the road again bound for Greymouth on the west coast. The 7 highway took us parallel to the Grey river, which provided many AMAZING photo opportunities (you'll have to get used to me going on about the scenery) and our first view of the Southern Alps. Our arrival in Greymouth was uneventful- it surprised us as a bit of a ghost town. We found out later it was a bank holiday, but still- the place was deserted. Nothing open, no people on the streets- it seemed the only life was found in 'Countdown', which is Woolworths, but with a worse name. We decided to camp up in a place called Rapahoe- it was right on the beach and so beautiful! We were able to again watch the sunset, this time over the Tasman Sea, and count the stars from the moon roof in our campervan, whom we dubbed 'Murray'. We had also figured out the gas cooker thing (it needed matches, they didn't give them to us, not our fault! :D ) so we toasted marshmallows on the cooker with our new friend Jade the dog. Even getting to the showers was an adventure, we got to run through a little forest path complete with fairy lights! It was so much fun!



Sarah cooking on the back of Murray



The sunset view from our campsite- beautiful!



Oh no I burned my marshmallow!



New Zealand Adventure Day 1- Christchurch to Hanmer Springs

We arrived in Christchurch- it was a nicer day than the one we left in Sydney, that's for sure! Picked up our Jucy campervan and headed into town. We quickly decided we were too tired to look around (from our previous night out with Banana and one hour sleep in Sydney) so after a burger and stocking up on groceries, we began our drive to stop number one- Hanmer Springs! Immediately we noticed the incredible scenery- unlike anything we had seen before! And SO many sheep!
Hanmer Springs is a beautiful town known as an alpine village and famous for its natural hot springs. It feels a bit like a ski resort- fresh cool air, snow capped mountains and wood-clad buildings. I guess not wood-clad but made of wood. And then dressed in it ;) We watched the sunset and had fish and chips (or 'fush n'chups' to the locals) and a fried egg (why???) before I spent an hour searching the van for the power plug while Sarah made up the bed. Annoyingly, my search was in vain and unnecessary as we didn't need power- self contained campervan! Typical.



First evening's sunset at Hanmer Springs



The great 41 hour birthday

From midnight October 6th here in Sydney to midnight October 7th in Boise, Idaho- my birthday lasted longer than one day this year. I think turning 22 merits that.

My Mum had a wonderful week down here in Manly, and at the end of it, we got all my favourite foods (smooth pate, smelly cheeses, olives, french bread, leg ham, its making me salivate just thinking about it!) together and had a home dinner and a movie. It was delicious! Tree surprised me with a birthday cheesecake with trick candles that kept lighting themselves!!

Fastforward to my actual birthday day- Tree took me into the city for some Yum Cha in Chinatown, followed by a pavlova at the cafe at Circular Quay- I've never had a pavlova with a better view!! We ferried back and picked up the lovely Banana who is over from London- what an awesome surprise! We showed up to my birthday drinks with all my lovely Aussie friends and I got a few more surprises- Naomi from Positive Puppies was there! That was so exciting because I really wanted to see her again, and I never got to say goodbye after the company basically decided they didn't have hours for me to work. And then Jess brought out the most amazing cake I had ever seen!! It had two layers with a chocolate muffin/cupcake on top, with strawberries and blueberries and Rolo.... it was incredible! I almost cried I was so surprised. I got some lovely cards and wonderful prezzies. I am so touched and grateful to everyone who was involved at that party- I have always, ALWAYS wanted a surprise party! I love having great friends!

Then at the weekend, I went up to my Nan and Pop's house, and they cooked me a birthday BBQ- delicious as always!! I got some great presents from my grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousin, and another surprise birthday cake! It was none other than chocolate cake, my favourite! It was absolutely delicious and a wonderful surprise- the cake was eaten pretty quickly!

My amazing Mum and Dad got me a whole bunch of cards, that of course made soppy Laura tear up a little *sniff sniff* and they are buying my flight to New Zealand in two weeks- how wonderful, now I will be able to do everything I want to do there! I'm very excited for that holiday!!

And FINALLY, Tree's present- on Sunday we went up to Port Stephens and got on a boat to search for dolphins! We saw a whole bunch of them really close up (they are so difficult to get photos of!) and then went in the boom net- we were the only ones who were brave enough, as it was quite cold outside! We climbed in as people were yelling things about hypothermia at us, but it was so great- the water was warmer than the air! We hung out there for 15 minutes or so, and when I went to get out, was greeted by a big wave that smashed me against the other side of the net! The poor little man looking out for us had no idea what to do. I got myself out of there and laughed it off, but I now have 31 (I think I have found another, so it could be 32) bruises all over my body!!
Then we went to the sand dunes in the area, took a bif 4WD to the steepest area and walked up to the top of the dune with a plastic board, before sliding down on our bums! It was a bit nervewracking at first, very steep, but it was SO much fun!! Of course it was SUCH hard work getting back up there every time we wanted to slide down, and my final time Tree and I got our guide to film us as we raced (I won!)- we got to the bottom just to be told he filmed the whole thing with the shutter closed so we'd have to do it again! Some people, I tell you!
Finally, we went to Bob's Farm, where you can get in the water and feed sharks and rays! We got big water waders on, and sticks with prawns on the end of it- got in the water, and the sharks circled around us and we got to put the prawns in their little toothy mouths. The rays were my favourite, because they'd come up to you on the bottom of the pool and swim up your body, so it looked like they were giving you a hug! There was one manta ray who had an entire pool to himself- he was probably as big as our car, and so black- you'd just see this shadow coming towards you then all of a sudden he'd be hugging you! They are very heavy too!! It was probably one of the most interesting things I've ever done!! Such a great birthday present.

In conclusion, it was a pretty amazing birthday. Fitting as it is the first birthday I've had in Oz since I was 5! I hope this next year goes slower than this one did, because I am nowhere near ready to turn 23!! xoxo

With SPRING in my step

Its 27 degrees! I've just gotten back from the beach, and though it was too cold to swim in the ocean (for me, the born and bred Aussie kids didn't seem to agree) it was so nice to get some sun!

Mum is coming on Tuesday, so Tree and I spent all yesterday deep-cleaning the flat. Living with a boy who is too lazy to do anything, combined with being too stubborn to do the chores for him, has resulted in quite a messy flat. But now that Luke's shipped off to Europe for a month, we have put all his belongings in his room, closed the door, and set about cleaning/redecorating. Sorry, Luke, you don't live here anymore. This is a girly flat! No more hiding TP in our rooms, no more seeing who will give in and wash all the dishes first. Thanks, Luke, for the run of the flat- for the amazing location, and having it to ourselves a good portion of the time, but NO thanks to you being a tad unpleasant and awkward when you are here.

I can't wait to have a flat just me and Tree when we are back in London! (You know, if we can afford it). Then we can do whatever we damn-well please. You know, within reason.

Anyway, back to Mum coming. It's going to be such a wonderful week with her! I haven't seen my fam since last Christmas, almost a year ago- can you believe it!? How time flies. And then, the next Wednesday, I turn 22! Where did 21 go? I feel like there are so many more things I should have done!! Sure, I moved to Australia, had alcohol in a bar in the states, kayaked with dolphins, spent time with my grandparents and extended family, got a kick ass tan, returned to a pasty see-through white, got another tan (okay, so far its just flip flops and sunglasses tans, but I'll get there, you watch), gambled for real (thanks, Jess!) and did a whole bunch of amazing things I will never forget (except now in this here paragraph). But still, I feel like I just had my 21st birthday! God, sooner than later I'll be 40.

In case I don't get here again before the fateful October 6th, thank you to everyone who has made this year incredible. Thanks to my amazing family and extended family for being there for me and loving me in good and bad times, my friends at home and in England who have reassured me I'm not 'out of sight, out of mind', my darling Tree for EVERYTHING, and all my wonderful Australian friends who have made this year and experience incredible.

Love x

Panic.

Boy, I am terrible at keeping up with this blog thing. But in my defense, in a story I won't bore you with, I've been without internet for 6 weeks. At least. Long story short, stay away from Virgin Mobile Australia.

But there are more than 6 weeks between May and September, you might protest. To which I say, get off my back, I've been trying to have a life!! But even still, I apologize. And it won't happen again. Well, it might, but I'll try.

All of a sudden, I've started to panic- we've been here almost 9 months already! And my wonderful mother is arriving in 14 days! Why is that cause to panic, you may ask. Surely this is a good thing. And it is, most def! I am SO excited to see mum! But I am going home with her. When she goes, I go. In 8 weeks, I will give up the just-getting-hot-again-ness of Manly for the Christmas paradise which is Boise. Happy, but sad. So we are trying to fit in everything we can between now and then. Mum gets here, then its my birthday, then I have a birthday surprise from Tree, then we are apparently going to the Great Barrier Reef, then the South Island of NZ, then up to the Central Coast to spend time with Nan and Pop, then home!

I'M NOT READY TO GO HOME YET!!!

I've been loving the last few months, enjoying my cleaning, the relaxing lifestyle, my friends and family here, and apart from a few panic attacks its been a wonderful trip.

I'm going to have to wear real shoes today.

I have a cold. A nasty one. Can I just say, its ridiculous how many germs children carry. Since I've been doing my childcare job every Monday and Thursday, I seem to have caught the lurgy. Lergy? You know what I mean.

So this morning, I dragged my ill self and tree out of bed, and took the ferry across the harbour to the city to apply for my tax file number, something I really should have done when I started working here (over 2 months ago) but I figured I'd see how long I can get away with not having it. It was/is pouring with rain, and as I barely have close toed shoes, let alone waterproof clothes, I went with my sweater and jeans, which were of course soaked within 2 minutes of going outside. And I didn't have a bank statement, so I had to run all the way to the bank, and then to the wharf- my appointment was at 10:45 and the ferry was due to arrive in the city at 10:45, so I again had to run my little ass off right, left, right, left left right, to the taxation office. Thy couldn't believe their eyes- Tree and I looked like drowned rats, and we were dripping all over the carpet, it was all sorts of fun. The application itself took less than 5 minutes! So we ran around, spend $26 on the return ferry, and I made my cold a LOT worse, all for this silly little number which Tree could get over the internet. Damn foreigners.

And on top of that, the free Usher concert tickets were being given out online at 12noon, so I then was carrying the laptop around, refreshing the page on the crashed website, hoping for the application form- I'd LOVE to see him live! We got back into Manly just as it turned noon, so I was walking around, trying to get home, refreshing the page with a plastic bag over the laptop so it wouldn't get wet in the still pouring rain, and the thing shut down and the tickets sold out! Not the best morning, overall, but it was a bit funny!

Oh, and AMAZING, there was a... herd? School? of dolphins swimming right by the ferry on the way home- they were beautiful!! There were 20 or so of them. Living here is fantastic!!

The End of the Indian Summer

Today is supposed to be the last day of the so called Indian summer- all this last week has been 25degrees C or higher, so we've been getting up and swimming in the ocean every morning! It has been so amazing. I look really good with 'just gotten out of the ocean' hair- who knew? My very own sex hair haha. We swam with a penguin the other day to, I dont know if he was lost, but he was very cute! Today we are going into the city and seeing the Botanical Gardens- we can't spend much money because we havent paid rent yet, and because I had tonsilittis the other week and took a whole week off work, we is broke. But thats alright, we are enjoying our quiet time, and the beach doesnt cost money! I'd better get outside to soak up the last of my tan.

Syyyyyydneeeeey

I'm here! I've made it! I've been here 3 weeks now, and am having the time of my life! We found a flat in Manly, 3 streets from the wharf (where you get the ferry into the city) and with the beach both ends of the street! We share with a guy named Luke, he is really nice but he works in the city so is hardly ever here- it's like having our own flat! We also have a part time job at a telesales place- I'm rubbish at selling, I don't like it, but its a job, its paying rent and its only 4 hours per day so we can spend more time doing what we want to do! Like this morning, we went for a 10:30 am swim in the ocean, and I went to work with sand still between my toes. Heaven. We are making friends too, and loving hanging out with old friends, so really can't complain!

Well, of course I can. The only thing I have to complain about is the most common subject of my disdain, Tree's mum. For God's sake woman. Your daughter is the other side of the world, so why would you make every time she contacts you awful? Guilt tripping and manipulating doesn't work as well long distance. I just simply don't understand why you want to make everyone so unhappy!

Rant over.

We climbed the Harbour Bridge too the other week, it was amazing! we were at the very top of the bridge as the sun went down over the harbour. I'm so happy we are here. I will post a picture of the climb later.

Being Green = $$GREEN$$

Random, but you can get 10c per can or bottle recycled here down under, so since Tree and I've been here we've been putting our DC (woohoo, Diet Coke!) cans in a plastic bag, and UncleRick has been giving us his beer bottles. Today we cashed them in which was an adventure in itself- the bag split as we took it out front, and we ended up stealing the dog beds, filling them up with cans and bottles, and driving them to the tip! Genius, my Tree. Then the instructions UncleRick gave us to get there werent exactly correct, so we ended up at the rubbish tip, where I had to try to understand the most working class man I had ever seen to get directions to the recycling (seriously, ocker- no real judgement, just genuine confusion!)- and everyone was snickering at us as we definately did not belong at the hardcore builders landfill! The recycling place was more my style- middle class housewives getting a bit of cash :D anyway, we got AUD$15 for drinking DC and Rick's beer!! Yeah, we are awesome. I was impressed.

Onwards and Upwards

Well, it's been an interesting few weeks here in Adelaide, Not-that-Bad-elaide, and I'm ready to move on. I learned that there are some families you just shouldn't marry into, and to always check out the in-laws before getting serious. Because if all the women in your family are a bit odd, you no doubt will be too, and even if you aren't, families don't just go away.

This is no reflection on my family, as I've been incredibly fortunate. But please, dear readers (of you I believe there are two) check the in-laws.

On another note, I learned that my parents didn't raise a blue-collar worker. Manual labour is not for me. Which is why I only lasted 1.5 days grape picking at AUD$2 per bucket. And got a nice sunburn. Zexy.

I loved the beach at Glenelg, it was definately the best part of the area, but I suppose thats because its really what I came here for! It's relaxation, no K2A, no pressure, just clear water, white sands and blue skies. I enjoyed wandering about the Fringe Festival as well.

Tomorrow we pick up a rental car and head to Mount Gambier, where we will be staying overnight in an Old Jail! They have a beautiful lake there we will see, and a series of limestone underwater and underground caves. Then to Melbourne the next day! We are spending three days there, and flying to Sydney on Wednesday. Finally, Sydney!

Life is a highway...

G'Day from South Australia

And there we have it folks, I have changed location and therefore, blog name. Turns out I won't need my grey overcoat for awhile. Oz does that for you.

Yes, Oz. Currently, Adelaide. City of churches. Yet to see an LDS one though, which is different from what I'm used to! It is the most beautiful city, I think I'm partial to it because it reminds me of home. Boise, Idaho home. I've been here since Tuesday, and already managed to do most of the touristy things- I've held a koala, fed an emu and plenty of kangaroos, and taken the O-Bahn into town. Its this odd half bus half train contraption which everyone is quick to tell me is German.

Adelaide prides itself on being a town of German settlers, as opposed to Sydney, Melbourne and Perth's English convict ancestors. Personally I don't think it makes much of a difference- I'm proud half English, and half English convict. A little bit nice, a little bit naughty.

I think I'll completely skip over Singapore, except to say that it is hot, shweaty, and crowded. I felt like I was in an overcrowded fish tank at a pet shop.

We are staying with Tree's aunt and uncle, who are absolutely lovely, and have been having a great time, but they have instilled the fear of God in me about spiders. Big ole' huntsman spiders that apparently hide in my fleeces and sheets until I go to put them on- those huntsmen love the element of surprise. Oh, and those super dangerous Australian ants they have everywhere, who can smell sweets miles away and are impossible to get rid of. I'm going to leave here scared of everything!

And Tuesday, we are going grape picking. Yes, honestly. Starting at 6:30am! It will be really hard work, but if nothing else it is out in the sun and something I couldn't do in ole' blighty. I'm a bit excited, really.

New year, same person...

And so she sat on the doorstep, hair in curls and makeup flawless, and waited for him to change...

...but soon, as always expected, the rain came. Her painted face smudged off, her smile wiped away and her hair was straight once more.

It hurt now as it always had, but somehow was new and piercing.

And tears running black with dashed hopes sting just that much more.

New year, new home

Welcome to 2010! My even years seem to be really good years, and I bet this will follow that trend. 2006 I graduated high school, very good year. 2008 I moved to London, best year yet! So 2010 has a lot to live up to. Goodbye and good riddance to 2009.

Biggest change of 2010, I'm moving! I'm off to Australia- and I'm really looking forward to it. I've quit my job, I'm moving out of my flat next week, and leaving Feb 14th- Valentines day! I'm going with Tree. Stopping in Singapore for a day so we can experience a little bit of Asia, and landing in Adelaide, where we will get a car, work for a week or so (fruit picking! Um awesome) and head north up the coast to Sydney, our new home. It'll be an adventure, a bit less scary as I'll have someone with me, but an adventure nevertheless.

I CAN'T WAIT!