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Published: February 23rd 2009
19th February 2009 - Le TAPA MUSEUM & NOT LOSING AT MONOPOLY!!!
We found our way to Wellington pretty well and arrived at around 3pm at the YHA hostel where we had booked 3 nights. Disappointed as there was no car park at the hostel but we parked nearby to unload our stuff, checked in and the moved the car to the waterfront for $5 over the 3 days...not too bad!! Wellington seemed nice but again pretty small for a city and not really built up at all!! It was a city on the waterfront...not quite like Sydney but I liked the feel of it all the same and was looking forward to spending a few days here.
Once the car was sorted and we had walked up the 5 flights to our room (trying to help the ice cream disappear) we went to pick up some leaflets and check out what there was to do in the area. The hostels list of free stuff was quite helpful though they did throw in a couple of surprises such as "play a game of monopoly in the games room" and "have a free mint from reception." Maybe Wellington did not have
that much to offer!! We also picked up some more leaflets and it seemed that the Le Tapa Museum was mentioned a lot and so we decided to go and check it out.
Firstly it was free which was a bonus!! It was also huge and there was no way we could check it all out without getting bored. I mean come on...it's a museum!!! Our first stop was in the 'Mountains to Sea' section which was all about marine life. The whole place was pretty interactive and we were even able to build our own squid that would be kept in the museums data base for ever. I called mine Bert!! There was also a giant colossal squid kept in a glass case. It was truly a beast...there was noting beautiful about it. I think if that was coming towards me in the sea I would try to hitch a ride on a Great White!! Once we had seen enough of sea life and giant squids we checked out the 'Our Space,' 'Awesome Forces,' 'Blood Earth and Fire' and the 'Oceania' sectors. They were pretty cool too and again they were really interactive as we were able to
Giant Colossal Squid!!
I called him Brutas...cos he was a Brute (not the aftershave)!!!go inside an earthquake simulator and play a few games along the way. This museum was actually fun....and yes I am a geek!!
I particularly enjoyed the Golden Days show where we went into a junk shop and took a seat as the shop came alive. Pianos began playing themselves, pushchairs began rocking and soldiers started marching all helping to tell the stories that made up New Zealand's Golden (best) Days. Good to see and again...better than reading a story board or being displayed in glass cases with 'Do Not Touch' on the outside. We also saw the Waitangi Treaty hung up on the wall in both Maori and English as well as being able to pump out some tunes by touching some touch sensitive discs that each played a different beat. Nat took 3 discs and I took three and between us we rocked the museum..or so we though!! Who said this DJ malarkey was difficult?!!! Loved it!!
The best part of the museum was the discovery centres meant only for children. There was one on each level and we made sure we tested them all out. In the first one we were able to climb into
a huge blue whale heart (made from plastic) within 10 seconds for a timer photo. Awesome!! The second one really came up with the goods though....it not only had a band made from rat puppets (sounds freaky but we loved it) but it also had a dressing up box. The ages on the clothes surely didn't matter!! I put on a superman cape as well as a clown wig and clown coat...looked ridiculous!! Nat went for an outfit that won't surprise her friends from home one bit....a bridesmaid dress combined with a 1960s jacket inclusive of shoulder pads!! Awesome!! We looked so stupid and the clothes were so small but we were truly enjoying ourselves until we saw the lady working there bring a guy over in a suit...oh dear!! Instead of asking us what we were doing in the kids section and reprimanding us he just stood and watched whilst laughing!! Cool!! The last discovery centre we visited has a section for drawing and doing rubbings so we had a go at that too.....bit of a step down from the dressing up but good all the same!! Being a kid is the best!!
As it reached 7.30/8pm we
were both hungry and ready to leave despite there being 2 more floors to visit. There is only so much fun you can have in one day I suppose!! We went back to the hostel where we cooked an awesome tea of chicken and veg in a tomatoey sauce over rice. Delicious and one of our better culinary delights I must say!! It was huge too..way too much for 2 people but we polished it off and then sat there for a good half hour unable to move. Even when we did move I had to go and put my Australia shorts on as they had more give in them whilst Nat got changed into her comfys too. The guy who invented elastic should get a medal of honour!!
Once back downstairs we chilled out for a bit on the sofas and bumped into Bobby and Dave....the Hull guys. They were in the same hostel and had just been watching a movie...surprise surprise!! We had a quick chat before Dave disappeared for a bit. whilst he was gone Nat, Bobby and I thought we would take the hostels advice and have a game of monopoly. Not my strongest game...I
always lose as I don't like buying too much but I played anyway and took up my position as the boot because I was determined to kick some ass!! I stuck to my usual strategy of not buying much but I did get 3 out of 4 of the stations which I love!! Bobby and Nat bought everything they landed on but would it pay off?!!
I ticked over nicely collecting my station money and landing on free parking a couple of times. We also got an audience and each of us were cheered on by either Dave or one of 3 Irish guys who were sat at the next table. I would probably say I was winning until Nat and Bobby began with the houses and hotels. I must say Nat got lucky and we landed on hers a couple of times. Bobby, not so much as both Nat and I managed to avoid every one each time around the board!! My stations were my saviour but Bobby, despite his assurances at the beginning of the game that he always won, was demolished!! Bankrupt at a time of 1.30am!! Game over!! And I didn't lose for the first
time ever!! Woo hoo!!
Following Bobby's defeat we all said goodnight and went to our rooms for some sleep. I really wanted a Sunday lie in (despite it being Friday) and hoped I would sleep later than 7am.
20th February 2009 - BOURNE MARATHON!!!
We had a snorer in our room. Woke me up at around 4.30 from a deep sleep...that doesn't happen often I assure you so she must have been loud!! I got up, wandered to the bathroom and then came back and put the pillow over my head. I could hear Nat tossing and turning below me as the industrial drill sound continued into the night. Nat then got up, went out and slammed the door. The snorer must have woke briefly because she stopped. I didn't give her chance to start again and went straight back to sleep. The following morning Nat said she had to bang on her bed a bit later she was that loud!! Hostels should ask upon check in for snorers and then put them all in the same room!! It's only fair!!
I woke up again at a more reasonable hour at around 8am. I could hear the
rain lashing down outside which was a big surprise after it was so sunny the previous day!! Looked like the cable car and botanic gardens were out!! No fun in the rain. instead we went down for breakfast and sat in the communal area reading until around half 11. We then went and got dressed before having a walk in the rain to the internet shop....a good way to pass time on a rainy day as well as catching up with the blogging!!
At around 3pm we headed back to the hostel and once there we took control of the TV room. It was a good TV room...sofas and a big projector screen. Like being at the cinema only without the popcorn and adverts. Bobby and Dave joined us 5 minutes later, we all prepared ourselves in our own way but getting food, water and plenty of cushions before settling down (we had a whole sofa each.....sweet as!!) to watch Bourne Identity. Quality Film though my eyes kept drooping and I had to work hard to stay awake!!
One the first one had finished it was still raining outside so we decided to turn it into a marathon
session and watch all 3 , back to back!! Not sure about you but I think Jason Bourne would kick James Bond from here to the moon if they were pitted against one another. Good films but despite being sat on my bum for 6-7 hours straight it was hard work!! It took endurance that was for sure!! Quite a few other people came in and out but only us 4 and another guy managed to do all 3. What an achievement especially for me as I didn't fall to sleep at any point during any of the films!! I was so so tired once the third one had finished though and as soon as the credits started rolling I went up the wooden hill, cleaned my teeth and went straight to sleep!! Nat wasn't far behind me!!
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lefty
non-member comment
fun
HA...ive just been having a catch up on the journal, and i absoluty love the 1 of u guys playing dress-up......u look great .lol!my kinda thing ..h a...keep having fun girlies!!! xxxxxxxxxx