Dag tre i Christchurch. jag har spankulerat omkring pa formiddagen, trott efter en somnlos natt, varfor vet jag inte da det faktiskt ar svart att kanna sig stressad pa nagot vis i denna o-nation, till och med for mig. Kanske var gardagens aktiviteter en alltfor skarp paminnelse om att livet faktiskt pagar dar i norra hemisfaren, pa rakt motsatt sida planeten.
Tillsammans med mina numera mycket goda vanner Marlou & Bart (annu nagra flygande hollandare), Eyren och Andrew (som blir valdigt lustig i kontakt med vin) tog jag shuttle-bussen mot flygplatsen och steg av vid Antarctic Centre. Detta ar en ganska utmanande turistfalla, fortackt som ett forskningsinformationscenter och aven som den plats varifran de tunga Helcules-flygplanen avgar med den arliga kullen dodsforaktande forskare som ska tillbringa mer eller mindre tid i Antarktis.
Det som avslojar turistfallan kan vara intradet pa 30 dollar (ca 170kr) eller kanske ar det souvenirshoppen i entren dar du bland annat kan inforskaffa dig ett gosedjurs-far eller varfor inte en pingvin i en konservburk. Varfor inte?
Vi foll i alla fall for tricket, nastan enbart pga de blaogda pingviner som centret har i sin ago. Ett gang mer eller mindre defekta sma pluttiga frack-faglar som har raddats fran sitt ode efter diverse close encounters med katter, hundar, batmotorer och fiskekrokar.
I alla fall. Av nagon anledning, som kanske har sin forklaring djupt i de dunkla hemlangtande vrarna av mitt undermedvetna, sa beslutade jag mig for att frivilligt ga in i ett rum fyllt med sno och is och diverse talt och skotrar, dar man simulerade en Antarktisk snostorm med vindhastigheter som uppgick till 44 mph. Det var 8 harliga minusgrader i rummet nar vi steg in, som snabbt utokades till som minst 20 minus nar vindeffekten satte in.
Som en svensk i host-/vinterexil kandes det nagorlunda bekant, pa det dar otrevliga sattet det kan gora nar man nastan har borjat tro att man aldrig mer kommer uppleva en vinter och sen plotsligt inser att det faktiskt fortfarande finns sadana foreteelser som bitande isvindar och knarrande sno. Kunde dock inte kvasa ett litet, knappt kannbart sting av fosterlandsk nostalgi dar jag stod och huttrade med hander som fortvivlat skrek efter varma lovikka-vantar.
Efter att ha overlevt stormen fick vi aterlamna jackorna och bege oss mot pingvin-lagret. Det var otroligt sota sma icke-flygande faglar som motte vara ogon och skojigt nog var det ocksa dags for dem att ata sin middag. Eftersom vissa var blinda och andra bara kunde simma i cirklar sa matades en del pa land och en del i vatten. Film pa detta finns snart pa youtube.
Efter denna langa dag, som foregatts av en halvlang kvall for min och Eyrens del (vissa andra var ganska sa grona i ansiktet efter var avskedsmiddag/utekvall) sa transporterade vi oss tillbaks till det hostel dar bade jag och Eyren skulle husera, och tillagade en harligt nyttig sallad (med vitt skilda ingredienser sasom jordgubbar och avocado, kyckling och valnotter samt groddar - mums) som intogs under stor trevnad och samtal om allt mellan himmel och jord.
I morgon hoppas jag pa att mota upp de valdigt underhallande walesarna Neil och George (kolla in deras skitroliga blogg pa www.koalaparla.com som Top Gear i reseform). Men forst ska jag, Donna och Nathan ta var hyrbil och aka pa aventyr hela dagen!
Fridens pa er
:)
Igloo. Kallt.
Man har ju en del skotervana innanfor vasten..
Thursday, 29 November 2007
Tuesday, 27 November 2007
Lake Tekapo and some other liquids
Last stop of this NZ-trip is Christchurch, where I arrived today. We had a nice drive to Lake Tekapo yesterday, arriving somewhat delayed after a few mishaps along the way. A pick up of the new bus, since the old one's gearbox decided to hop off this tour, then we lost a man in a small town during a short stop. No one noticed until the driver got a call some 10 minutes drive later, and we had to go back. The dangers of travelling alone I guess..
We also made a short stop to get a kodak fix since this view of Mount Cook wasn't to shabby at all.
Mount Cook is the highest mountain in NZ, some 3700 metres, and apparently 412 people have died while trying to climb it. And no, that's not smoke coming out of the mountain, it's just a cloud with a good sense of photo composition.
WHen we arrived at the hostel, Lakefront Lodge in Lake Tekapo, me, Don and Nathe decided it was time to start living by our new, healthy regim. So we hired some bikes and went for a one hour drive before the pizza and beer-night with the rest of the bus. Haha.
That was a good way of seing this beautiful place (have I mentioned anything about stunning scenery yet?) and Nathe had obviously gotten the bonus package which included a horse-bite and some close encounters with rocks.
WHen back at the hostel we thought a swim would be nice, since we are after all a bunch of smelly backpackers. However the boiling temperature of 13 degress put us off. Instead we threw flat stones (kasta macka pa engelska nagon?) and then had a beer in the sun in the hostel garden.
Lakefront Lodge really lived up to it's name.
Lake Tkapo and oddly enough, flowers from home.
THe beach right below our hostel. Perhaps the best one I've stayed in so far.
Last night the driver, Stu, decided we should all go to his favourite food joint in all NZ, since it was the last night he would accompany us on this trip, and we all pretty much go our separate ways from Christchurch. It was a very fun night, I haven't laughed so much in a long time.
From left to right Nathan, Donna, Erin, me, Andrew, Judy, Marlu and Bart. Our table was the most party-orientated I think, cause we stayed until 11pm whereas the others disappeared at about 10. After two beers I figured I should go back and get some sleep, the bus always leaves early.
We also made a short stop to get a kodak fix since this view of Mount Cook wasn't to shabby at all.
Mount Cook is the highest mountain in NZ, some 3700 metres, and apparently 412 people have died while trying to climb it. And no, that's not smoke coming out of the mountain, it's just a cloud with a good sense of photo composition.
WHen we arrived at the hostel, Lakefront Lodge in Lake Tekapo, me, Don and Nathe decided it was time to start living by our new, healthy regim. So we hired some bikes and went for a one hour drive before the pizza and beer-night with the rest of the bus. Haha.
That was a good way of seing this beautiful place (have I mentioned anything about stunning scenery yet?) and Nathe had obviously gotten the bonus package which included a horse-bite and some close encounters with rocks.
WHen back at the hostel we thought a swim would be nice, since we are after all a bunch of smelly backpackers. However the boiling temperature of 13 degress put us off. Instead we threw flat stones (kasta macka pa engelska nagon?) and then had a beer in the sun in the hostel garden.
Lakefront Lodge really lived up to it's name.
Lake Tkapo and oddly enough, flowers from home.
THe beach right below our hostel. Perhaps the best one I've stayed in so far.
Last night the driver, Stu, decided we should all go to his favourite food joint in all NZ, since it was the last night he would accompany us on this trip, and we all pretty much go our separate ways from Christchurch. It was a very fun night, I haven't laughed so much in a long time.
From left to right Nathan, Donna, Erin, me, Andrew, Judy, Marlu and Bart. Our table was the most party-orientated I think, cause we stayed until 11pm whereas the others disappeared at about 10. After two beers I figured I should go back and get some sleep, the bus always leaves early.
We're also going out for dinner tonight, since sadly we will all be splitting up from here.
Alltohether, it's been such a great trip around this country, I've met some really good friends, had lots of fun and to some extent, challenged my fears. But no skydive though. Or Bungy. But who knows, I still have 7 days to kill here in NZ...
Saturday, 24 November 2007
The last day in Qrazytown
TOday I thought I'd do something crazy. I had started to warm up to the idea of something outrageous, but I settled for a more fun and fearless activity. I thought.
Anyway. I also took a steep walk up to Queenstown Hill, in order to really feel the view (pardon the pun)
And then you just go for it, full gas! Back and forth in a deep valley...
I'm flying without wings!
Action pic...
And a very happy kat after 3 minutes of being insanely cool.
Anyway. I also took a steep walk up to Queenstown Hill, in order to really feel the view (pardon the pun)
After a one-hour walk up to the top I realised I haven't taken the compulsory foot-pic in NZ, so that had to be done. There it is, with shoes on and all.. Very arty.
Queenstown down on the right, and lake Wakatipu placed beautifully between the mountains.
Queenstown down on the right, and lake Wakatipu placed beautifully between the mountains.
Then...it was time for adventure....I was psyched!
A thing like this can only ever be created by Kiwis I reckon. It's called "Fly by wire" and you find yourself lying on your stomach, steering a proper plane with a loud engine. It's attached to 3 megastrong wires, set up across the canyon, hanging from them in another wire...
(the photographer was a little arty too it seems)
(the photographer was a little arty too it seems)
You can steer it by making left or right turns when you're at the top of the swing.
And then you just go for it, full gas! Back and forth in a deep valley...
I'm flying without wings!
Action pic...
And a very happy kat after 3 minutes of being insanely cool.
Tonight I'm gonna meet some friends I left behind in Greymouth, as well as Donna and Nathan and also an Argentinian girl I met at the hostel.
Now drinks for me though. Tomorrow morning it's back on the bus for a trip to Dunedin.
See you there!
Friday, 23 November 2007
Just another afternoon...
I know! I am an internetjunkie. But since my last entry, about four hours ago or so, I had a great afternoon with party animals Donna and Nathan, such a fun couple to hang out with! We went for a trip in the Gondola, which takes you up to a mountain top and then you can choose to "luge" your way down on a funny course, 800 metres long. Very funny!
After two very scenic rides in the Luge we went for some golf.
And yes Lisa, I did get grumpy by the time i finished the second course, and finished on a horrible score of 81 after 18...
(oh, and don't forget to click for bigger pics)
View over Queenstown and the lake from the Gondola. Pretty Lord of the ring-ish, don't you think?
The touristy pose-photo.
After two very scenic rides in the Luge we went for some golf.
And yes Lisa, I did get grumpy by the time i finished the second course, and finished on a horrible score of 81 after 18...
(oh, and don't forget to click for bigger pics)
View over Queenstown and the lake from the Gondola. Pretty Lord of the ring-ish, don't you think?
The touristy pose-photo.
From Franz Joseph to Queenstown
I Franz Joseph bestamde jag mig for att ta en lite promenad pa egen hand, vilket var ett bra beslut. Det var en vacker vandring dar jag bland annat hittade nedan vy, en flod som rinner ner fran bergen med att danande (se aven film pa youtube).
Jag forsoker spara pengar genom detta billiga noje, att ge mig ut pa upptackstfarder vart jag an kommer. Man blir ordentligt bortskamd och fragan ar hur lackert det kommer kannas att promenera i Hagaparken efter detta?
Aven bussresorna bjuder ju som sagt pa naturfilm utanfor fonstret i basta Discovery/L.O.T.R.-anda. Har nagra moln som ville komma ne och halsa pa en stund.
Har passerar vi Haast-passet over en bro med var buss, pa vag till Queenstown. Det gar ju inte att fa in det i en bild, men det ar sa vansinnigt fint med branta stup, turkosfargat vatten och forsar som dundrar fram.
Vi stannar alltid pa en rad fikastopp/sevardheter/affarer langs vagen. Har var det Makarora som fick sig ett fint besok, en mycket somnig by pa ca 10 invanare, men dar en gang en man kraschlandade efter att ha flugit fran Tasmanien till Nya Zealand som forste ensamma person. Darav planet, lite langre fram fanns en byggnad dar man kunde se det riktiga planet for en liten slant. Imponerande, 11 timmar tog det pa den tiden.
Ovan ser ni platsen for varldens forsta kommersiella bungyjump. Naturligtvis var det tva Kiwis som blev miljonarer efter att ha uppfunnit denna sport, med inspiration fran vaghalsiga man i en stam pa Vanuatu. Detta hopp ar fran Kawarau Bridge och ar 43 meter hogt. Det hogsta har just nu ar Nevis, som lagger pa ca 90 meter pa det...134 meter hogt!
Utsikten for den som ar pa vag att kasta sig ut. Nej, jag har inte gjort det...annu...Men jag kommer nog inte vaga.. Dryga 700 kronor kostar de fem sekundrarna av skrack och fortjusning.
Fyndig toaskylt pa anlaggningen..
Huvudgatan i Queenstown Shotover street. I bakgrunden berg som filmats i Sagan om ringen-filmerna, med en sjo emellan. Det ar en liten med otroligt aventyrsspackad stad, som nastan enbart utgors av olika bokningskontor och aventyrsbolag. Det finns dryg 170 olika aventyr att valja pa, vilket gor det otroligt forvirrande for en med beslutsangest. Som jag tex.
Igar motte jag upp nagra fran bussen som kom en dag fore mig hit. Vilket var tur, for dagen innan hade de en valgorenhetsgrej pa puben, dar man kunde fa sig en mohawk for thugo spann och stodja forskning om prostatacancer. Jag har mitt i behall eftersom jag anlande igar...
Jag forsoker spara pengar genom detta billiga noje, att ge mig ut pa upptackstfarder vart jag an kommer. Man blir ordentligt bortskamd och fragan ar hur lackert det kommer kannas att promenera i Hagaparken efter detta?
Aven bussresorna bjuder ju som sagt pa naturfilm utanfor fonstret i basta Discovery/L.O.T.R.-anda. Har nagra moln som ville komma ne och halsa pa en stund.
Har passerar vi Haast-passet over en bro med var buss, pa vag till Queenstown. Det gar ju inte att fa in det i en bild, men det ar sa vansinnigt fint med branta stup, turkosfargat vatten och forsar som dundrar fram.
Vi stannar alltid pa en rad fikastopp/sevardheter/affarer langs vagen. Har var det Makarora som fick sig ett fint besok, en mycket somnig by pa ca 10 invanare, men dar en gang en man kraschlandade efter att ha flugit fran Tasmanien till Nya Zealand som forste ensamma person. Darav planet, lite langre fram fanns en byggnad dar man kunde se det riktiga planet for en liten slant. Imponerande, 11 timmar tog det pa den tiden.
Ovan ser ni platsen for varldens forsta kommersiella bungyjump. Naturligtvis var det tva Kiwis som blev miljonarer efter att ha uppfunnit denna sport, med inspiration fran vaghalsiga man i en stam pa Vanuatu. Detta hopp ar fran Kawarau Bridge och ar 43 meter hogt. Det hogsta har just nu ar Nevis, som lagger pa ca 90 meter pa det...134 meter hogt!
Utsikten for den som ar pa vag att kasta sig ut. Nej, jag har inte gjort det...annu...Men jag kommer nog inte vaga.. Dryga 700 kronor kostar de fem sekundrarna av skrack och fortjusning.
Fyndig toaskylt pa anlaggningen..
Huvudgatan i Queenstown Shotover street. I bakgrunden berg som filmats i Sagan om ringen-filmerna, med en sjo emellan. Det ar en liten med otroligt aventyrsspackad stad, som nastan enbart utgors av olika bokningskontor och aventyrsbolag. Det finns dryg 170 olika aventyr att valja pa, vilket gor det otroligt forvirrande for en med beslutsangest. Som jag tex.
Igar motte jag upp nagra fran bussen som kom en dag fore mig hit. Vilket var tur, for dagen innan hade de en valgorenhetsgrej pa puben, dar man kunde fa sig en mohawk for thugo spann och stodja forskning om prostatacancer. Jag har mitt i behall eftersom jag anlande igar...
Nu ska jag boka lite saker har, vet inte vad det blir annu. Men nanting dyker val upp har...
Pussokram!
Wednesday, 21 November 2007
Live from this internetbus in Frans Joseph...
The coolest internet-cafe so far! Frans Joseph is all about the glacier with the same name, unfortunately I won't have time to do the hike, but I will take a walk now to the glacier mouth.
Yesterday I took off from Nelson towards a small, depressing town called Greymouth. THe only thing happening there really, is the brewing of their famous beer Monteith. As a natural consequence we all went for the combined brewery tour/BBQ in order to keep from climbing the walls. Some people were up for a three night stay, I would rather eat my hat if I had one. But the brewery was a really charming, all (almost) manual beer factory, with just 7 full time employees. Some of them have worked there for 25-40 years...
Below is a batch of their most famous brew, the Original Monteith.
Different varieties of the beer sold.
At the end of the tour there was, of course, a much longed for and rather generous tasting in the bar. After we got to try a small sip of all the different brews seen below, we got to pour ourselves a beer of choice, as many as we could down in ten minutes.
(was kind of fun standing behind the bar for a change)
After this we were all transported about 150 metres in a van (global warming?) to the Railway Hotel, an empty, boring pub where we enjoyed a simple but nice bbq. Apparently the record in sausage-bingeing is 37 sausages. I only got to two though. I left at 11 pm, since I was getting up to catch the bus this morning, but some were having a full on party, including two young swedish boys, accompanied by two funny welsh blokes, also known as Neil and George. Good fun!
Travelling by bus in NZ isn't nearly as boring and tiring as I'm used to in Stockholm. YOu constantly stumble upon views like this one above, or the one below, mountains covered in clouds. The scenery is beyond adjectives.
On the way from Nelson to Greymouth yesterday, which is the longest drive of this trip, we stopped in many places, all of which were well worth the extra miles. One was the "Pancake holes", an awesome formation of limestones that are constantly carved out by the strong forces of the ocean. When the tide comes in it slowly undermines the rock, creating caves and holes, that waves break against.
A pool-like formation
The layers of the limestone looks like pancake layers, hence the name...And I like pancakes!
Pancakes, not for chewing
Many hours are spend on the bus, contemplating or chatting or reading..I find it hard to sleep though, cause I don't wanna miss out on anything.
This is the bus that got me here and will take me to Queenstown tomorrow.
We also stopped to see a beautiful beach and a seal colony. Was fun to see them play or just being lazy in the sun, like this big male (in the centre of the picture)
They smell really bad though...
The coolest internet-cafe so far! Frans Joseph is all about the glacier with the same name, unfortunately I won't have time to do the hike, but I will take a walk now to the glacier mouth.
Yesterday I took off from Nelson towards a small, depressing town called Greymouth. THe only thing happening there really, is the brewing of their famous beer Monteith. As a natural consequence we all went for the combined brewery tour/BBQ in order to keep from climbing the walls. Some people were up for a three night stay, I would rather eat my hat if I had one. But the brewery was a really charming, all (almost) manual beer factory, with just 7 full time employees. Some of them have worked there for 25-40 years...
Below is a batch of their most famous brew, the Original Monteith.
Different varieties of the beer sold.
At the end of the tour there was, of course, a much longed for and rather generous tasting in the bar. After we got to try a small sip of all the different brews seen below, we got to pour ourselves a beer of choice, as many as we could down in ten minutes.
(was kind of fun standing behind the bar for a change)
After this we were all transported about 150 metres in a van (global warming?) to the Railway Hotel, an empty, boring pub where we enjoyed a simple but nice bbq. Apparently the record in sausage-bingeing is 37 sausages. I only got to two though. I left at 11 pm, since I was getting up to catch the bus this morning, but some were having a full on party, including two young swedish boys, accompanied by two funny welsh blokes, also known as Neil and George. Good fun!
Travelling by bus in NZ isn't nearly as boring and tiring as I'm used to in Stockholm. YOu constantly stumble upon views like this one above, or the one below, mountains covered in clouds. The scenery is beyond adjectives.
On the way from Nelson to Greymouth yesterday, which is the longest drive of this trip, we stopped in many places, all of which were well worth the extra miles. One was the "Pancake holes", an awesome formation of limestones that are constantly carved out by the strong forces of the ocean. When the tide comes in it slowly undermines the rock, creating caves and holes, that waves break against.
A pool-like formation
The layers of the limestone looks like pancake layers, hence the name...And I like pancakes!
Pancakes, not for chewing
Many hours are spend on the bus, contemplating or chatting or reading..I find it hard to sleep though, cause I don't wanna miss out on anything.
This is the bus that got me here and will take me to Queenstown tomorrow.
We also stopped to see a beautiful beach and a seal colony. Was fun to see them play or just being lazy in the sun, like this big male (in the centre of the picture)
They smell really bad though...
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