Even more Simply New Zealand

Tuesday 20th February

I was at my parents hotel for 5.50am this morning. I don’t think they were too pleased to see me. However we did have an 8am ferry to catch to the South Island. The interislander takes about 3 hours from one island to the other and is a magical journey that I had completed some 10 months ago. The skies were blue, the sea sat there like a Mill Pond and the tea tasted great. What more could 3 pommies ask for? Meandering through the glorious maze of deep coves and sheltered bays of the Malborough Sounds. Arriving in Picton – a Maori settlement now a sweet seaside township the blue skies were still present, the rays of sun were beaming down. Checking into our seperate accomodations – my parents being at a more hotel type setting, me at a brand new backpackers up the hill called the “tomestone” which is actually better than my parents hotel all for under £8 a night, was lovely. My parents I think very surprised at what a hostel can be like. The very friendly owners were keen to show off their lovely hostel and showed us a typical en suite double room for just over £20 a night with free breakfast. Its a gorgeous place, backpacking Luxury style. The bathrooms are spotless, the dorms although quite small are so clean you could eat your tea from them, much more a mature lot staying here, infact I feel almost the youngest here. Its just ‘dead good’. 10 months ago I was in Picton, it hasn’t changed its even more beautiful, even more blue, even more sunny, even more stunning. The hostel is even more amazing than the one I stayed in before. Even more everything than 10 months ago. Even more Simply New Zealand

Life’s a Beach

Saturday 27th January

As an early riser I was lucky today that most of my dorm were leaving (including a really obnoxious Canadian girl who spoke at you rather than to you). So I was able to get up early too. Breakfast was drawn out for a while as a few of us chatted about our travels and forthcoming plans. I then decided to get my act together and plan the next week. I have booked myself on a Livaboard – diving for 3 days and 3 nights on a boat on the Outer Barrier Reef – how cool!! I hope it runs as they can cancel due to bad weather. So today I took myself off to a number of different beaches via a walking track or two or three. Overall I walked over 10km, went swimming (didnt spot any stingers), sunbathed and read my book and hitched a lift up the hill with some guys who I got chatting to at one of the first beaches. (That’s what the walkers do I was told and its true everywhere you go…always take the weather, the weather with you – and your kettle and tea bags). I eventually rolled up back at the hostel around 4pm, exhausted and ready for some good nosh – leftovers from last nights’ chilli. Theres no free tea and coffee at this hostel, although its a nice place the kitchen and the bugs and lack of a lounge room lets it down a little. Our room does however have its own bathroom which is nice and its clean. Bumped into a woman who I had met in Port Douglas YHA, along with two other english girls who I had shared a room with in Cairns a week ago. Small world when you are travelling. I had made a mistake by not going to the YHA in Mission Beach as all these guys had gone there and spoke very highly of it – hey you live and learn, and if I hadn’t gone there I wouldn’t have known where the “oz experience” stops in hostels down the East Coast so I can now avoid these places. Rah!!!

A Hot Party

Thursday 11th January 2007

A kids party at the swimming pool this afternoon meant I was unable to swim as Mr giant inflatable octupus had taken over my lanes. What a shame as it was a scorching 35 degrees just what I could have done with this afternoon after 8 hours of being fixed to a computer screen building websites. Never mind, I got treated to a delicious roast lamb dinner at my friends’ parents place which was very yummy indeed.

Happy New Year from Australia

Monday 1st January 2007

I would like to wish you all a very Happy New Year from Melbourne Australia. Hope you had an enjoyable festive season and saw the New Year in with style. We arrived back in Melbourne today after a 2 1/2 hour flight from Uluru. It does seem a little strange that it’s new year and I am sat here in the sunshine supporting shorts and t-shirt. It’s also that time of my travels that I am slowing down and begining to really miss home, especially after opening a card from my parents which contained 2 typhoo t-bags. However I couldn’t have asked for anything more than what I got at my friends’ mums place – a nice cup of tea and a mince pie. This wasn’t any old mince pie though – oh no, they had gone to the effort of getting mince pies from South Yorkshire, all the way from Barnsley. Absolutely fantastic – good old Mr Kippling saved the day. Though after having told me how much they cost full price (they got them reduced) I am glad I did savor the flavour. It took away some of the homesickness I was feeling at the time. It’s amazing what a mince pie and a good old cup of tea can do to you. Back at my friends place we were both glad to flop and drop that evening and relieved that it was slightly cooler than in the Outback.

Ngong Hong Kong Pong Ping

Sunday 17th December 2006

Normally this time of year I feel all Christmasy, but it’s a biazare feeling sat at the other side of the world, crisp blue skies walking around in t shirt and drinking lots of bottled water, it doesn’t feel like Christmas despite the flashing Santa’s splatted onto the sides of the skyscrapers. I could have done with one less day in Hong Kong thinking about it but I can’t be bothered to ask to change my flight, so today I took the advice of a few others I had met and went up to Ngong Ping in the mountains. I was going to go by subway but I stumbled upon a bus stop which had buses running only on a sunday all the way up to the Monestary beyond Ngong Ping. A beautiful picturesque climb up the mountains and back down again to the other side of Lantau Island, it was well worth doing the not so touristy route. The big buddha at the top was awesome, though not quite as big as the big buddha in China. China just do everything bigger and better than Hong Kong I have decided. Walking around I discovered a few off the tourist route tracks which was refreshing after the 100’s of coaches that had decended upon the area. The village of Ngong Ping was very touristy, brand new by the looks of things including the 700th 7 11 shop where I treated myself to an ice cream for about 50p whilst watching some entertainment in the square. There was one way back down and that was to first go up then go down then go up again then go down again all by cable car. I worked out that most tourists get a return on the cable car but I am glad I didn’t do that as the queue at the other end was horrendous so going by bus saved me waiting an hour or so to get up there. The cable car ride was hairrasing enough as strong winds were blowing it from side to side. It was worth the views though, both over the big buddha mountains and later in the journey towards the airport. It must have been about a 15-20 minute trip. Not something for the faint hearted. Back at the hostel there was a cufuffle with the beds in the room, due to overbooking. Luckily I had my receipts so I wasn’t about to be turfed onto the streets, homeless. This place is definately not up to the hostel standard I had been used to in China. My main priorities however had been met; clean, hot showers, internet and ability to have a cup of tea.

Ngong Hong Kong Pong Ping

Saturday 16th December 2006</strong

My powdered milk is running low, despite having “real” milk for the first couple of days in Hong Kong, but due to the humidity it won’t last very long and isn’t that cheap (about 35p for a small 1/4 pint measurement). Subway adventures today took me a few stations up to the capital of electronic goods, you want mobile phone, camera, computer, anything electrical you got it. It was all a bit too full on for my liking, there’s only so much choice before going mad. As it was a clear day – the first clear day since arriving in Hong Kong I decided to go to the Peak I was evil today, I found a glamorous and glitzy shopping mall much like Meadowhall Sheffield with a Boots Chemist, French Connection, Espirit, Body Shop and Pret Sandwich shop. Not only did I have a “pret” sandwich for lunch – the kind that pretentious Londoners spend about £5 a day on with their posh yoghurt as desert (but costing a little less) I also gave in later to a Starbucks cup of tea. My insides are on the mend but after some 5 weeks on the road I am craving the simple things in life, a sandwich, yoghurt, banana and a cup of tea. I can however say that I am the only westerner I have met that hasn’t set foot in a KFC, Mcdonalds or Burger King, so I believe I am allowed one multinational consumption a month. The views from “the peak” were breathtaking, all around high rise buildings rose as far as the eye could see. Rather than do the Japenese way of soaking in the atmosphere for 30 seconds then depart, I took the anti-japenese way, I first walked up a rather steep road which lead to amazing views of the other side of the Island. It was hard to believe that 20 minutes away was the hussle and bussle of the city. I then took a 3k circular walk around the peak. I was killing time a little waiting for sunset and darkness to set in as I had heard it was well worth the visit in the evening too. It was well worth the visit, as crowds gathered on the platforms to watch darkness set over Hong Kong. An unbelievable experience

Wednesday 13th December 2006
I waved goodbye to Kunming and China today today as I flew to Guangzhou, took the airport bus to the centre of the city, a taxi to the railway station, a train to HOng Kong, then a Hong Kong taxi to the hostel. Phew! Going through Guangzhou is worth mentioning, if only for its street signs “No Honking in Urban Areas”. Unfortantly I was unable to take a photo of one. I was also very bemused by the Ikea plonked right in the middle of the city. Swedish China – Interesting. I was waiting in anticipation for the scaryness of the hostel as I had heard it looked like a derelict buildling but not to “Judge a book by its cover”. So when the taxi driver dropped me off at this big mansion block right in the middle of Tsim Tsa Tsui in Kowloon I looked up to gaze at my luxurious home for the next few nights. I’ve seen better buildings being demolished than this one, but onwards and upwards I went trying to ignore the touts at the entrance “you want room” “room with shower” “you want guesthouse”. Due to todays technological advances I had booked the hostel on line a few days before so I did not “want guesthouse”. It took me near on 13 attempts of going up to the 13th floor and down to the ground floor then up to the 13th floor again to find my home. Unlucky for some but I did find it eventually thanks to the very friendly security around the building. My room though not quite as high as china standards, was much bigger than i expected for I had also heard rumours of the rooms being as tiny as peas. Apparently some of the rooms were as tiny as peas, I had been lucky, however the bathrooms were as tiny as peas. Best to describe it as a very small toilet with a shower over the toilet and an even tinier basin, imagine a sindy house bathroom. Interesting – but hey this is Hong Kong. Exploring Hong Kong for an hour was plenty for me. Flashing neon signs “sony” “panasonic” “exchange currency” everywhere not to mention the 7 11’s on every corner, a bit like starbucks in new york – and there are plenty of starbucks here too. “Rolex, you want Rolex” “Come and see talor suits, very good price for you today” “hello there you want?” – I want to be left alone. A dizzying introduction to Hong Kong. After a well earned cup of tea (out came the Kettle – see there is a purpose for taking a kettle travelling) I met some girls from Austrlia and New Zealand so we all went wandering down the main street “Nathan Road” or the “Golden Mile” as it is also known to find “ladies market” – Kowloon’s most popular day-long street market apparently devoted to anyone with an eye for anything knick-knacky. It was fun to observe the ways of market dwellers well into the evening. It felt like about 10pm but was actually way passed midnight by the time we headed back. The street was still buzzing like a Saturday afternoon down London’s Oxford Street. Security were on the door of the Mansion building asking for ID as we approached. It made it feel really secure, its amazing how looks can be so deceptive. Never judge a book by its cover.

The world is full of dreams waiting to happen

Tuesday 12th December 2006

A relaxed morning as we were not meeting up until lunch time, so the guys we had met up with yesterday joined us for a long breakfast, sipping tea (and coffee) and eating ample supplies of toast. Emily and Andrew opted for a cormorant fishing boat trip to pass a couple of hours but my insides though on the mend were not up to sitting on a boat. The first time I have ever refused to go on water. The motorway journey back to Kunming was not very picturesque after what we had just experienced, but we were in for a treat when we got to Kunming – a free rollercoaster of a ride around the streets of Kunming. Myself and Andrew were sat right at the front which exasabated the sensation even further. Traffic weaving in and out of unmarked lanes, horns blaring out continously pedestrians and cyclists mixed precarously with the angry traffic, its a wander that we came out alive. I felt refreshed to get back to the hotel, put on some clean clothes, relax and soak in the amazing experience of the last 9 days. Such a fantastic relaxed trip, although organised we were very much left to decide what we wanted to do and when. Bora – the leader was very much part of the group, and it was his first trip to the gorge too so a new experience for us all. What an amazing way to discover rural China.

A Small World

Monday 11th December 2006

Dali is in the valley surrounded by mountains and Erhai Lake home of minorities Bai. Today was left free for us to “get lost” around Dali and discover Erhai Lake and the minorities. A free buffet breakfast to start the day was most satisfying. I don’t think I have ever looked forward to a slice of toast as much as I did today, the breakfast was a mix of Chinese and Western. The fruit wasn’t bad either especially with the free yoghurt and ample supplies of good tea made breakfast complete. As much as I like dumplings sometimes simplicity is best – toast, fruit and yoghurt to make a girl happy washed down with tea tea and more tea. All three of us had opted for a Monday Market trip out to a small village called Shaping. Villagers in Bai dresses filling the pathways with their knick knacks, exchanging products, selling traditional clothes, or simply haggling with the westerners. Although Westerners were very much the minority, the locals were obviously used to a few passing by. “You buy” the common phrase rang in our ears throughout, at one point we even got someone chasing us up and down the market “You buy” “how much” “very nice” until the price had been reduced from 150 Yuan to 18 Yuan. All in the nane of madness. One of the few westerners that we met at the market were a couple that I had crossed paths with first in Chengdu some 2 or 3 weeks ago, and later in a hostel in Kunming. They too had just done the gorge walk. Small world when you are travelling around. They too were missing their laptop and tea. In the evening we then bumped into the Spanish girl who we had spent an evening with in the gorge, its an even smaller world now.

Driving to Dali

Sunday 10th December 2006

Onwards and downwards we departed from walnut garden, on a goat track around the mountain but this time by a small bus rather than donkey or goat. What a hair rasing experience as the driver swearved around the corners honking every few minutes, reminicient of the Almafi Coastal drive in Italy but feeling twice dangerous. All in the name of adventure. We did make it alive out of the gorge for our next leg which was 5 hours on a 3/4 size local bus. Around the lush green mountainous landscape and through local villages, to Dali our next stop for a few nights. The bus stopped for a greece fill – I do not mean oil but it may as well have been by the look of the food there, my insides told me to stay well away from this sort of food, now that I felt like I had been cut in half. We had time to explore Dali on our own in the late afternoon after my priority of going to the Chemist to get some plasters for my inside. Thanks to Bora, his dictionary and sign language he managed to communicate to the non english speaking shop assistants that I needed something for heartburn. They gave me some interesting looking powder drink which tasted even more interesting than it looked, as long as it was to mend my insides I didn’t care as I was now sacrifcing tea for the pain. The hostel – “Guesthouse No 5″ was really quaint, a maze of courtyards on different levels, a computer room and a roof terrance. We had our own private room again which even had tv and tea. Dinner (tea but not the cup variety more the food variety) was dumplings at at traditional chineese eatery. Today we all tried the the steamed and the boiled, with own made up sauce that can consist of chilli, spring onions and soya sauce, have it as strong as you like. Or not.