20/3/09 = Big Al...the Fergburger... not the man! Got up several times in morning, but only briefly and each mini trip ended with me returning to bed. Decided to take the advice that the best cure for a hangover is sleep; we'll see. When did finally open eyes and check watch, it was 11:45. Wow...that might be one of the best sleeps I have ever had in my adult life! Got up feeling not too bad and mainly just hungry. Sleep really is cure. Had fruit and yoghurt for breakfast and ate it v.slowly while watching Along Came Polly. Only put [View Full Entry]

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18/3/09 = To jump or not to jump...that is the question! Alarm went off at 7:15 and got up to a cold, dark room. Quickly got washed and changed - like you do in winter - then made porridge breakfast, did last bit of packing and ready to go. V.annoyed that lost the precious travel towel, but v.lucky that nice lady from hostel gave me a towel. Lovely, big, fluffy towel. The kind of towel I would love at home, but not when have got to squash all belongings into a bag I can carry around on my back. Bag bursting [View Full Entry]

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17/3/09 = Kayaking at Doubtful Sound Had to get up at 6am today and after rubbish sleep, really didn't want to! Pitch black and room all cold, while I was wrapped in cocoon toasty and warm. Felt like torture having to get out. Then remembered that if I was at home, would be doing this everyday and here I am moaning about having to do it for one morning where actually getting up to do something really cool = kayaking through the beautiful Doubtful Sound. Swiftly stopped complaining to myself and scrabbled out of bed. Got changed, ate porridge, made lunch [View Full Entry]

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16/3/09 = The Kepler trek to Luxmore Hut Alarm supposed to wake me up at 7:20, but already awake anyway. Been awake ages. Hate it when wake up before alarm. Got changed and ready in dark, then scuttled off in cold, dark morning for breakfast. Porridge warmed me up, made and packed lunch, then got on shuttle bus at 8:30. Bus was to take us to beginning of walk and cost $5. Couldn't believe hpw foggy it was when got outside. Lake right in front of us and couldn't see any of boats that were just a few metres away. Hope [View Full Entry]

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13/3/09 = Nightmare travel: Wanaka - Te Anau (no photos from this day) Woke up at 4am, 5am, then finally 6am. Not impressed! Got up before alarm and annoyed. Threw some clothes on then crawled over to internet shop in still dark, to get on and get time used straight away. Even more annoyed when got there and read sign properly. Didn't open until 7am. What a waste of time. Stomped back to hostel in cold, dark morning and made quick fruit and yogurt for breakfast. Was nearly 7am after that, so stomped back over again....kind of getting light now, but [View Full Entry]

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12/3/09 = Best thing I have ever made myself do...skydive! Up at the usual 7am and trotted off to check weather for skydive. Looked pretty clear, fingers crossed. Had breakfast, then went off to get ready just in case jump went ahead. Rang at 8:20 to get result and nearly dropped phone when she confirmed my pick up time. Skydive = not cancelled. Wow! Dashed around for last 15mins, said goodbye to Deb - might be last time see her - then at 8:45, was climbing into back of mini-van. V.excited and a little nervous. Sat next to another girl and [View Full Entry]

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11/3/09 = Puzzleworld and a Mt Iron Woke up in middle of night, or more correctly, was woken up in middle of night by an incredibly rude girl who came in after midnight, turned big light on and then noisily got ready for bed. Thought this was bad; couldn’t believe it when she then climbed up to her top bunk, leaving bathroom door wide open with light on. Now had a giant, illuminating night light. Not even a child could sleep with a light that bright. Is hard to believe some people can be so rude. When woke up properly at [View Full Entry]

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10/3/09 = Day 5: Hills, wind and Lakes to Wanaka Discovered at 6:30am this morning that cabin walls = wafer thin. Discovered this when heard sounding of an alarm that was so loud, I was convinced it was next to my head. This was followed by a three way conversation that was audible enough for me to be part of. Rolled around for a while, then gave up at 7am and got up. Quickly got ready and dashed across to kitchen to make porridge; cold morning, but no rain am pleased to report! Had lovely porridge to warm me up, packed [View Full Entry]

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8/3/09 = A rubbish day in Haast Woke up early today to check weather and see if could get a better visit to Lake Matheson. Was 7:15 when looked outside and discovered only grey sky; an all too familiar thing here on the Wet Coast. Secretly glad though; still really tired and fancied a good snooze. Scuttled back into bed and snoozed for next 45mins. Lovely. Then up at 8am, had porridge, cup of tea and read another magazine; all good ways to start a day. Got ready then and spent last few hours in Fox on internet. Internet = one [View Full Entry]

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6/3/09 = A rainy day at Fox Glacier Woke up early again today so that could use free internet again. Half expected idiot American man from yesterday to be still there, but thankfully he wasn't. Used internet, had breakfast, posted cards, then ready to catch Atomic Shuttle at 10am. Really grey and rainy day outside, so definitely doesn't bode well for skydiving anytime soon. Also disappointed that couldn't get a good picture of town, as all mountains and glacier peaks were swamped by clouds. Should have taken picture day before. Bus came on time and we got on and out of [View Full Entry]

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