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And so on to New Zealand. Most people will know, due in no small part to my incessant chatter on the subject, that i went to NZ some two years ago in 2005. I loved it then, and was in no doubt that i would love it this time around.
We arrived in Christchurch, the main city on the South Island, and chartered a mini-van to take us Base Backpackers in the city proper. It was where i had stayed on my final night in the country last time and seemed a fitting venue for the first night on my return. The fact that it is an excellent hostel in a stunning part of Christchurch; right on the Cathedral Square, did nothing to sway the decision. Immediately after arriving at Cathedral Square i was filled with a warm fuzzy feeling; the kind you get when you meet up with a long lost but much loved friend. I do love this country.
Sarah and i decided to book 4 nights in Base. The reason being that before we left Christchurch we would need some sort of automotive transport and we reckoned that four days was a reasonable time in
Some millenium artwork.
Also in Cathedral Square. Basically ruins the square which to buy a car. That night (which incidently, was instantly upon us thanks to the delays in Sydney) we we're sitting outside pondering what to do for dinner, when a Scottish chap ambled out of the hostel door and embarked on a conversation with me, it ran thus:
Scottish chap: 'You got a spare fag?'
Me : 'Yes'
Scottish chap: 'Cheers. You eaten dinner yet?'
Me : 'Er, no'
Scottish chap: 'D'you want me to cook for you two?'
Me : 'Yeah, sounds good'
Scottish chap: 'Right, I'll meet you in the kitchen in an hour and a half then.'
And off he went into the darkness, leaving us more than slightly puzzled, a tad concerned, but altogether quite joyous at the prospect of a cooked dinner. Bargain.
It turns out that his name was David, and the price of this free dinner was settled at two packs of cigarettes. On the subject of carcinogen based time passing, why do some countries insist on putting pictures of the damage that you are doing to yourself on the cigarette pack? I know its bad for me, without having to see pictures, and when I'm paying through the
nose for the privilege of killing myself, i don't see why they seek to dampen the experience.
We sat up on the balcony outside of the kitchen and ate dinner, then started on a few beers. I don't know how it happened, but by the end of the night we we're sitting around a table with eight other people, playing chess, listening to David and some Danish guy play the guitar, while another Danish chap sang along to assorted songs by Oasis, James Blunt and U2. Very surreal.
The next day we got down to some serious car shopping, doing all of the things a good traveller should; buying the classified ad's paper's, checking notice boards and generally keeping ears to the ground. All of this was to no avail, every classified ad was for a car that was either $30 or $30,000. (1GBP is worth about 2.9$NZ.) Neither of which was of any use to us. We went back to hostel and asked if they had any information that could help. Turns out that there is a backpacker's car market fairly close to the hostel, that we'd somehow missed. So, the following day we headed down to
the market, using the free bus that runs around Christchurch CBD, to see we what we could afford.
I had just assumed that we would be buying a car, with the intention of driving to Wanaka, (where I'm training to be a Ski Instructor), and once in Wanaka we would stay in hostels. And then we saw the van. And it all became clear, why would you buy a car, when for the same money, you could buy a moving house? Well you wouldn't would you? No you'd obviously buy a van. Which we did. Its a 1988 model Mitsubishi, but the guy who we bought it off had had to put a new engine in it only 6 months before. He wanted $3000 for the van and all the camping accoutrement with it. But because he was leaving in 2 days we were able to beat him down. $2400 dollars well spent i'd say.
Happy with our purchase, we went to explore Christchurch. It is a strange city, so English as to be almost parody; there is a River Avon there that you can go punting on, and the buildings in the town centre are all quintessentially
Cathedral Square in Christchurch
Yeah, that is a Starbucks in the right-hand part of that building. English. It is a beautiful city, and the Gardens are especially worth seeing, although there is a gaudy Chinese style fountain right in the middle which looks totally out of place. Still.
We did much of the same the next day, we intended to go shopping, to kit out the van, but neglected to notice that it was Sunday, and everywhere was shut.
Come Monday morning we checked out of Base and went to collect the van from the Car Market, we parked it in the local supermarket car park and then went to buy more bed sheets etc. No disrespect to the Belgian man who we bought the van off, but the smell in the van was definitely, um, unique.
That chore completed, we set off on the road to Wanaka. It's a very strange feeling, knowing that you can go anywhere that takes your fancy, and that, come the end of the day, you don't have to go home. Be that to your hostel or to you house or whatever. You are completely free. You never leave home because your home takes you there. Definitely to be recommended.
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Gay & Bill
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Hello Sarah & Jack!
Sent a note to you before but it doesn't appear on comments so will try again! Lovely to read of your travels, we have been following your progress on the map. Take care of yourselves and hope you enjoy your time in the travelling bed. We have just taken our caravan for it's maiden voyage so our one piece of advice is - don't forget the cork screw! Much love from Grandma and Grandad xxxx