Blogs from New Zealand, Oceania - page 2325

Walked around Christchurch centre, arond the cathedral, along a street of spanish mission style pastel coloured buildings, dodging the tram, then along the River Avon through a park with a large floral clock. Tired by this point so walk back to Oasis for lunch then drove out to Akaroa on the coast, however we were still tired and the journey is long so we head back, visiting a winery on the way, which turned out to be just a restaurant. Walked around a shopping mall, spent the evening on the net looking for hostels in Sydney and true-to-form we couldn't decide on anywhere so didn't book a room. Louisa's uneaten dinner from earlier had been thoughtfully thrown in the bin, despite her leaving a note on the plate! She was devastated.... read more

OK, I started writing this a week ago, but have had very limited internet access/time - I'm being weaned from my electronic addiction and am still having some sweats and autonomic dysfunction (yes, I love technology!) - so its just being published now. We're still a few days behind, but will try and catch up over the weekend - I'm only covering up to March 1st here then Melissa will bring us into Queenstown and to the South Island of New Zealand. -------------------------------------- Well, well, well... One week of the big honeymoon trip has now passed. We're now in Auckland at a comfy B&B named "Amitees of Ponsonby" getting ready to go downtown and catch the ferry across to a little island (Waiheke Island) with over 40 vineyards where we'll spend the rest of the week! ... read more

Melanie is a 26 year old Planning and Funding Analyst in the public health sector. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in geography and a Post Graduate Diploma in Public Health (with distinction). She has an AMI Award for Achievement in Public Health, awarded in 2001. She has just completed a Masters Degree in Public Health. Melanie works for the Canterbury Health board and is based in the West Coast town of Greymouth, Melanie lists her spare time activities as - digital photography, painting, two gorgeous kittens and food. She keeps fit with the help of her triathlon team, plus social volleyball in summer and basketball in winter. She is the co-founder of the West Coast Young Professionals group which brings together a diverse bunch of young folk, primarily for social contact. Melanie and her ... read more

The tourist world of gimmicks and trinkets has ceased to engage my imagination long ago; the wayfaring multitudes that circulate on the globetrotting circuit, however, never cease to amaze. Last night, a boyish throng of lanky Japanese visitors captured my attention. I paused to watch as each of the 15 youngsters went through an orderly procession of being individually photographed in front of a sculpture in the central square. Perhaps forging an artistic identity for himself, the digerati cameraman had positioned himself on the ground for an artistic slant on the photo shoot. A trusty apprentice came to his aid, transforming his forearms and hands into a human tripod to support the frail neck of his exemplar and buoy his head. Pausing to marvel at this masterful display of teamwork, I jumped in beside one unsuspecting ... read more

So the adventures are dwindling (BUT NOT DISSAPEARING), school has started and since this is the reason I came to NZ (at least according to my school and parents) I am trying to get into the hang of it. Things are quite different, I actually got to sit down with a human and work out my full years schedule...I didn't see a person in Santa Cruz untill i wanted to leave the place! Yay for a tiny school. the student population (including grad and post-grad students) is just under 4,000. I am taking a Forestry class, Wildlife Biology class, Tourism Class, and a computer/mapping (GSI to anyone who knows what the hell it is) class. so far the biggest class is the tourism class because its a first year class...50 people! tell me any class at ... read more