Alleyrabbit

IT'S GHIBLI DAY. Going to see the ghibli museum is the only this I've been organised about, I bought my tickets months ago and they have been stored safely in my bag all the way here and today's the day.  My early start is soon whittled away and at nine I leave with my excitement to find my breakfast and find my wonderland. My breakfast is a mixed bag, my rice balls - onigiri- arn't that inspiring but my custard filled bun is soft and sweet and I eat it on the platform waiting for my train to Mitaka, it's quite a way out of the city but we never leave the high rise grey of the metropolis. When I get there I catch the cat bus, honestly the cat bus from totoro I'm already sold. ... read more

I wake at 3 am, the room is shaking, there's an odd creaking and moaning and some loud banging, where am I? Oh my god it's an earthquake, i'm on the 11th floor I've had it, what do I do, hold on nothings falling around my ears, nobody else is moving. What's going on?  It's the wind, which is back with a vengeance, our windows are open and it's howling in. It's so strong the building is shaking, panic over. It carries on all night, dropping just long enough for you to fall asleep in the calm, quiet lull.  I sleep late and have to rush to meet my check out time. Outside looks like a small hurricane, things are blowing down the street, it's raining in that blown by the wind horizontal way and people ... read more

Well it's anotherer early morning　for me, i want to go sea kayaking and that means an bright eyed bushy tailed start.　The aim is to be out on the water by 9, and to have everything　packed means being very organised. Its raining, almost the first I can remember, except Milford. By the time I get to the quay there is a bit of a breeze blowing, I don't think it's that bad but the company has cancelled the days sessions and are predicting the weather will just get worse, typical! Now what to do? It was my plan to spend the day on the water before crossing it to Wellington this evening, what to do? I decide to go to the I-Site, see what else i could do, nothing takes my fancy, vineyard tours, not really interested, ... read more

Well it was another early start for me today the alarm went off while the little hand was still in the 5am slot. Well just but still that's still pretty early. Today I'm moving from Christchurch to Kiakoura and hopefully see some whales.  The bus journey of yesterday has killed any desire for more torture so I'm going on the train, the tranzcoastal to be exact.  It's still dark as i arrive at the station and again I can hear the big diesel engine throbbing in the gloom, my luggage is stowed and labelled so it doesn't beat me to Wellington, and I take my seat, it's still not 7am, what am I doing to myself? It only takes me about half an hour to realise, I see the sun rise over the canterbury plains, flat ... read more

It's my adventurous day again, but this time I'm taking exploration over physical exhertion.  An early start sees me up and, thanks to Richard and Ester, well fed and by 8am I am standing beside a landing stage overlooking the wide expanse of lake Te Anau in the early morning light. I'm waiting for my bus and guide to take me the 120km into the fiordland national park and part of the world heritage site. I form part of a small group, middle aged ladies and gentlemen from around the world ,filling the stereotype of those who play bridge, a description my mother hates me using. They are a nice bunch of people though and initially a little aloaf, soon accept me into the conversation and plans for the day.  We leave along the shores of lake Te Anau ... read more