Day 122 Trip to Wellington

Mum called this morning so chatted to them for a while and decided to go to a shop in Wellington to decide what to do in new Zealand as there is to many on the internet. I just could tell which one was good and which ones were potentially dud. So I got dressed and caught the train to Wellington. I was a very bad tourist and had my iPod on playing sudoku on my phone. So I didn't see any of the scenery along the way. Now I wasn't very prepared for Wellington. Not in the way I wasn't dressed right because I don't have anything but my trousers that are to big. I mean in the way that I didn't have a clue which way to go to get to the shops! I guessed and went up the hill out of the train station. This, as I am sure you could predict, was the wrong way! I asked in a shop and was pointed in the other direction. Oh well nice stroll. I walked past one flight centre and then went into the next one, I'm not sure why I walked past one but hey. The girl was really nice and she was called Katie too! She gave me more brochures and so more bloody choice! I then wandered round town getting my barrings. I found a shop with cool hats in I do need a hat for south island as it will be chilly. One was fluffy and had bear ears!! I decided if I found the shop again next time I would get it. I got some jeans and jumpers with cool things on, one says crazy short and super fun. The other has a picture of pandas and one has slapped the other and it says 'I didn't slap you I high fived your face!'. I wandered around for a good while then text Christine to see when she was finishing work. She was nearly done so I went back to meet her at the train station. We chatted on the way home and stopped to get indian on the way home. Now when I go to Indians I love poppadoms!! As in I'll eat about 3-4 myself!! So I was looking forward to a poppadom fix, but no they were out of them!! Naan bread instead. It was still a nice meal. Mum called again and chatted to Christine for a while. Then once again late to bed!!

Day 121 Material Hunt

I was once again late up! I think the infection from Vanuatu has taken it's toll and all this sleep is recovery as it is undisturbed sleep! I walked to Margs and we took her dog Amber for a walk around the block. We had lunch at Marg's then went in search of the sewing shop, which is in upper hutt, to look for new Zealand patchwork material! I am being very controlled and only getting a couple of bits from each country. The women at my group in Nottingham say they obviously haven't trained me well enough if I am only buying a couple! We found it and I think I was like a kid in a sweet shop there was so much choice but I managed to cut it down from 7 to 3. I took full advantage of the Internet at Christine's and browsed till she got home I think. We cooked tea tonight and Marg came down. Christine mentioned she was thinking of getting an iPod but didn't know which one she wanted so we went online to look at the different ones. She chose a pink iPod nano. We browsed to find the cheapest price and it is my mission to get it cheap as possible. I'm going to try asking for more money off where ever we go to get it. We keep going to bed later and later!

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Day 120 Tiffin

I got to chat to Dan this morning!! I think we chatted for at least an hour! I got dressed after a shower, I lost some weight in Vanuatu on the Moso detox diet!! As a result I have no fitting trousers and am using the tying belt Jessie gave me, so trousers that are to big and a black hoody I look and feel like a scally wag! I must get jeans or something asap! I walked down the road to Margaret's and we went into town. We had lunch in a cheap cafe but it was lovely the ham sandwich was nice and the caramel slice mmmmmm!!! We wandered round the shops and Margaret sorted her visa for Australia as she is going to her granddaughters engagement party in June. I had told Christine about make stuff for night shifts and had mentioned tiffin. They had never heard of it so I took it as a challenge to make some! I had reminded myself of the recipe this morning and after a stop at the supermarket to get the ingredients, it was back to Margaret's to make it. I do love baking (I know heating butter and bashing biscuits isn't baking but hey you know what I mean!). Once it was chilling in the fridge Margaret and I got a drink and sat in the sun and chatted. Christine got home from work and came down to Margaret's for tea. Dessert was of course Katie's amazing tiffin! And it was just that amazing! Yum yum yum! (I must have a sweet tooth today!). We chilled and watched tv until bed time. Christine is a late to bed person and so am I. It is cozy sitting with the cats curling up on you lap. Jack loves me! Harley isn't so sure.


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Day 119 Family Barbecue

I had another lovely lay in today! Not quite as long as yesterday. After showers and breakfast we went to the shops so I could get a jumper as I don't have one with me. I haven't needed one until now! I found 2 and they were really good prices one is marino wall which is supposed to be really warm and one is a black hoody that makes me loom abit like a hoolagen! Once I was warm we set off for another drive this time over to Island Bay where Christine used to live, we tried to arrange to meet Claire and Janet for a coffee but they were out at government house with their mum. However we didn't make it all the way there we stopped to nose at a new cinema that had opened. I think I may have found an idea for a business!! I would tell you but you may steal it before I get home! So I shall keep it close to my chest for now!! Hehe!! Anywho once we had snooped around abit we walked along to a garden centre for lunch. Half way through eating Claire called to sat they were done and wild come meet us. They arrived and there was quite a crowd of us, the cafe staff looked put out we pulled a few tables together as there were now 7 people. Claire and Janet, their mum, there friend Caroline, Janet's friend (who's name currently escapes me), Christine and I. We chatted for a while, I last saw Claire and Janet in 2007 when I was here last. They haven't changed abit! Christine couldn't leave without buying a couple of plants!

On the way home we stopped at the supermarket, which stays open til 10pm even though if is a Sunday! I was amazed because at home they all close at 4pm on a Sunday and everyone panic buys for the whole 14 hours the shops aren't open!! Again anywho, we were buying supplies for the barbecue we are hosting tonight. We got some chicken for Jessica and chips (crisps!) and Christine said she would make a dip. Everyone arrived, it was nice to have a family barbecue. Margaret came and Stuart her son with his daughter Jessica and partner Diane and her daughter Abby. I made baked potatoes but it took a while as I could only put a couple in the microwave to soften first so the first ones were very crispy but the time they came out of the oven! Christine's dip was lovely I had to go and sit away from it to stop from munching them all! I ate with Jessica and Abby to chat to them, again I haven't seen Jessica since 2007. Then she really wanted to go to Paris, now not so much! Once they had gone we sat down and watched some tv, masterchef new Zealand was on and apparently it's the thing to watch on a Sunday! I have to say it was quite good. Oh I love electric blankets when your feet are cold and you get into a warm bed. But I do get to hot and end up sleeping with my legs in the cold side of the bed!


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Day 118 Lay in

I had a pretty decent lay in today as we had a very late night. The bed was so so comfortable! I really didn't want to get out! After a nice shower and crumpets, we went for a drive around the area. Christine has moved since I visited in early 2007. We ended up by the sea and went for a walk along a pier where people were fishing. There were funny fishing rod holders shaped like a fish with it's mouth open so you can put your rod in it's mouth and it will stay upright. Genius! It was a beautiful day. We next stopped at a nice cafe for some lunch, I had a beautiful quiche! After more driving we went to Margaret's for a drink and to call the airline to find out where my bag was. I feel grotty as I don't have and clean clothes in my hand luggage so still have travelling clothes on! Yuck! They said it had arrived and would be delivered to Christine in 2 hours. We chilled in the garden at Margaret's a while longer then headed home to wait. It arrives not long after we did and I quickly got changed. The lotto tonight is a big one so we went to the supermarket and I got a ticket to cos you never know. I would like the money to do everything I want while travelling! We then got fish and chips for tea and pocked Margaret up on the way back to come for tea too. It was really really nice fish, but I was full really fast. We relaxed and watch a couple of films on tv and let our electric blankets heat up!


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Day 117 Bye Bye Australia!

I always wonder why people think its ok to go in and out of a ten bed dorm room and leave the door to slam and do it all night!! Ggrr!! So after a night of continually disturbed sleep I packed everything do my flight this afternoon and checked out. We stowed our bags in huge lockers then nipped to the post office so I could send a couple of things home. The only box it fitted in was a birthday box so that one had to do. We then headed for the war museum. The main road leading down to it is lines with memorial statues for the different wars and forces. We again made it just in time for a free tour! I was unsure if we could fit it in before I had to go to the airport but the guide assured me we had plenty of time. It was really interesting hearing about the wars for another countries point of view. The poppies all along the walls of names was quite emotive really. It was getting very close to the time I had to catch the airport bus and the guide showed no signs the tour was nearly finished so I said thank you and ducked out. Nat was in the phone to here mum and once I had for a badge and poppy from the gift shop we started to walk back to the hostel. I took pictures of he memorials along the way. Back at the hostel I emailed Christine quickly then donned my bags and walked to the bus stop. I was the only one on the bus and the driver was quite chatty. My flight is from Canberra to Sydney then on to Wellington. I checked in and checked my bag all the way through to Wellington. I was in loads of time so got some food and played suduko as I waited. It was a full plane and I was near the back. The flight was fine but I soon realised I only had 50 minutes before my next plane took off and I had to go through security! Oh and the domestic terminal is at one end of the airport and the international at the other. Once I got off the plane I ran down to the bus to take me to the international terminal I just made it by seconds! I was first off and ran through to security. Why is it I always get stuck in the wrong queue?! I mean why did I get stuck behind the women and two kids who won't do as they are told and have six thousand bags?! Each child had a laptop and didn't want to put them in the same tray, then had at least 2 bags each. As it all went through they were so slow walking through the detector and the mother told them to wait to take their stuff off until she could help them. They were like 10! In the meantime my stuff was stuck out of reach behind theirs and I now had like 20 mins to get my plane!! One child took their bag got told off by the mum but at least I could reach my stuff and grabbed it all and ran through the shops to the gate. I made it phew!! I settled in to my seat and had a row of three to my self. As soon as we took off I found a film to watch and relaxed. I watch tangled then they bought food round. After eating I watched gulivers travels. Two films I wanted to see but came out after I had left home. As seemed to be the theme today I was last in the passport control queue. And was desperate for the loo!! After a good quizzing by the control guy I was allowed in and ran to the loo. As I got to the baggage claim area there were alot of bags going round the belt I stood and watched as everyone stepped forward and took their bags. Until there was one left and it wasn't mine!! I asked the woman abs she checked with the people through the curtain (like the wizard of oz!) there were no more bags! It appeared my bag couldn't run as fast as me and was still in Sydney! It does worry me how the woman seemed unphased by my lost bag and just gave me an overnight bag, took a phone number and my lock code so security could search it if need be. I went to customs but had none of the declared things as they were all in my big bag. Christine was being a photographer for someone as I walked out. We drive to her house dropping Margaret off on the way. We had a drink and chatted for quite a while until 3am then decided to go to bed. She had put and electric blanket on my bed which was so nice!


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Day 116 Flowers and Science

I had not realised that I must have a exiting ticket for New Zealand or they won't let me in! Ridiculous! It should come up when you book a one way ticket! Anyway we went to STA to ask for the cheapest ticket but they weren't very helpful and only came up with ones back to sydney which is not where I wanted to go. We left there and set off to walk across the city to the botanical gardens. It took a little while and due to road works and closed foot paths we were about 5 minutes late for the free tour. They all seemed very surprised to see us there as everyone else was at least 50 plus! It was interesting but I had heard a lot about the plants during my tours. There was a lovely gum tree area with people having picnics. It was an hour tour and once it was done we asked the way to questacon the science museum. The tour guide said she was passing that way and would drop us off. People are so nice. She dropped us off right outside the door. It was a bit costly to get in but well well worth it! We grabbed some lunch as went to a show about water, H2O, vasa, eau! I feel like a geek sometimes because I really enjoyed it! We worked our way around the museum and played with all the things I love science museums cos you can touch and play with everything! I couldn't stop thinking about what to do about my flight from new Zealand do I go to south America or south Africa, china or home?!?! It is driving me mad. We walked round the lake after the museum then back to the hostel. I decided to look for a cheap flight to Fiji and managed to find one. Problem solved! Phew! We chatted for a while and I felt like a huge weight had been lifted because I had flight sorted. We got cheap pizza from the bar round the corner then headed to bed.

Day 115 Cairns to Canberra

Up early today 3:30am to fly to Canberra to meet Nat. I got a nasty look from one girl as I, quietly got my stuff and left the hostel room. It was a really rocky flight which was quite nerve racking! I listened to Harry Potter for most of the way and chatted to the guy next to me for some of it. As we descended my ear wouldn't equalise and it really hurt. At Brisbane I got some ear plugs to help with ears and made my way to the gate and chilled waiting to board. Firstly the incoming flight was delayed landing, then there was a fault with the plane so we were delayed while maintenance fixed it. I could see them working on one of the engines! They eventually gave us meal vouchers as the delay just kept getting longer. I went to get some lunch, as I was waiting for my food they called to say they were boarding! I had to take my meal on with me. Again this was a rocky flight, there must of been some good wind! The ear plugs did help and I was glad to finally land in Canberra only 2 and a half hours late.

Once I had checked into the hostel I walked around the lake to meet Nat at the museum. We then did the captain cook walk around the lake and headed back to town and went to the cinema. We saw limitless, it was very bizarre and in one place gruesome! But over all good. We grabbed some tea then ended up chatting to some people in the hostel. They worked for UNICEF and it was more of a lecture about that than actual chatting. I fell into bed as I had been up since 3:30am.


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Day 114 No Fly Day

Today is another no fly day, due to having dived yesterday afternoon. I chilled in bed and tried to catch up with this and some diary writing. Once I was saturated with writing I headed on a classic wander round the shops. I want a digarydo as a souvenir but they a huge and expensive. However in my skilled wandering way I found a 40cm one at a reasonable price that you could still play. I also got a mini boomerang to remind me of the fun at kroombit. After more wandering I went back to the hostel as I have a huge amount of washing to do. I spoke to Natalie from my tour and she is in Canberra so I decided to go meet up with her. While my washing was spinning I booked flights to Canberra and over to New Zealand. The antibiotics have really taken it out of me so I had tea and packed. The girls in my room got chatting, why is it when you are leaving they are chatty but the whole time I have been here they haven't been. I booked a ride to the airport and went for an Indian meal as I had been craving one all day. It wasn't as good as I and expected. I then headed back and went to bed as I have to be up at 3am for the flight!


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Day 113 Bad Diving Day

Up early this morning for a pre breakfast dive. When I had my dive briefing I was told that due to the stern line breaking last night we were moving quite alot on the bow line and the swell was big too. We would have to go in off the back and drop straight down then swim under the boat to the line to go all the way down. They said it would be a hard swim, I said that was fine I was up for a challenge. Once we were kitted up and I saw the state of the sea conditions I began to get nervous. This then wasn't helped by not being able to go in off the back because it wasn't safe! We had to, instead, go in off the side near the front! This was at least a five metre drop, in to very choppy water! I was freaked before I even jumped off the boat. When I got in the boat was rocking and swaying right towards us, I panicked a little because I struggled to drop down to five metres and could just see the boat coming towards me. I got down and was breathing way to fast, I signalled to Gus, the dive master trainee, that I wasn't ok and I was panicking. He signalled to breath and to follow him down. No matter how much I tried to calm down I couldn't and used my air very quickly. There wasn't much to see as the weather made the visibility really rubbish. We went up and did the safety stop, I was down to a very bare minimum for air as we waited. In the last minute we swam under the boat to the stern to get out easier. As I surfaced I was relived to see the boat about 5metres away on my left hand side. I swopped to my snorkel and began to swim towards it, after a bit I thought I must be nearly there so I looked up to see how far. My heart sank as it was no longer on my left hand side, it was to my right and even worse it was about 15 metres away!! I started kicking again but because I was going against the current and the boat was swinging so much I wasn't really getting anywhere near. I stuck my arm up for some help and saw the divemaster was back at the boat and the rest of us were struggling in to water still. He came back and we swam together with another girl arm in arm back to the boat but we still didn't get anywhere near enough. They threw a life ring on rope out to us and we pulled ourselves in. I was so relieved to be back on the boat. I don't think I would have made it back if they hadn't thrown the ring to us. I had a shower then went for breakfast. I didn't feel like eating much as I had swallowed so much sea water.

After everything was cleared away we set of to move to another dive site. The sea was really rough still, and almost everyone felt ill. There was alot of Ginger tablets being taken and everyone looked green. On the way we watched nemo, there was a crashing noise form the kitchen as the lunch salad went crashing onto the floor. That was just the start! By the end of the trip to the next reef everything in the kitchen had been on the floor at least once, the bottles behind the bar were wedged on with cushions. The games on the shelves also had cushions holding them on. Anything not screwed down had moved the rooms were a mess and even the washing machines had moved! I asked how often it was like this and was told that this is the worst they have seen it. The platform with the glass bottomed boat on had started to come away from the boat! Great I feel special having seen the great barrier reef at it's worst. Eme came and asked if I wanted to go in for a dive, she said the conditions would be pretty similar to this morning. I decided I didn't want to as I didn't want to have a bad experience and then not ever want to dive again. We sat and chatted and waited for lunch then to transfer back to the smaller boat. Once again we were waiting for the tide to drop so we could hop in the glass bottom boat. After lunch it was calm enough to go across, once again we had the top of the boat which was nice as it was crowded downstairs. Before hopping over we had taken a couple of Ginger tablets because this ride would be rockier than the last as it is a smaller boat.

Eme asked if I could go in with one of the other boats divemasters as I had missed out on three dives. They said yes so I made sure to tell him I was nervous because of this morning and I had used my air really really fast. He said we would be fine so I kitted up and jumped in. It was me and another guy with the divemaster, the other guy was very adamant he didn't want to dive with beginners and kept asking if I was one. I was very calm for most of the dive only hen I began to think about the morning did I used my air really fast. Saw loads of things and felt to weight of half an empty clam shell it weighed loads!! It was a really good dive, I felt safe and enjoyed it alot, I was glad as I didn't want to be to scared to ever go again. It was raining when we came up so we rushed to get out and get on our way back to harbour. It was a very bumpy ride it felt at times like the boat was taking off and I did take off from my seat a few times! Over all quite fun really! As we got into calmer water the skipper asked if I wanted to steer re boat! And of course I did! It was different from the sail boat on the whitsundays. But it was really fun and interesting with all the computers telling you loads of stuff. We got back to the mainland and walk up to get the bus to the hostel, the captain carried my bag down the stairs for me and I walked down the wharf with no shoes on as they were at the bottom of my bag. Back at the hostel I jumped in the pool as I felt covered in salt and was shocked as it was freezing cold! After a shower I did washing and then chilled. I was abit worried about the salt water I had swallowed and if it would make me sick. I was soon asleep though as I was exhausted.

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Day 112 First Day on the Great Barrier Reef

Diving great barrier reef baby!!! Woohoo!!! I was picked up from the hostel and dropped off at the port. I staggered down the jetty ladened down with all my stuff! The nice guys on the boat carried my bags up stairs for me and they had the top of the boat reserved for a few of us. This is not the boat I will be diving from, this is the taxi boat shall we say that is taking me to the diving boat out on the reef. However its not small by any standard it can carry about 200 people I think! The ride out to the reef was a rocky one as the weather wasn't being kind to us. There were lots of people looking unattractive shades of green and clutching to sides. I have quite good sea legs so I was ok. When we met the boat I was transfering to it was to choppy to go in the glass bottom boat so we had to sit tight and wait for the tide to go down so it would calm down abit. I watched everyone else jumping in for their dives or snorkels and saw a couple of turtles pop up for breath. It took a while for the sea to calm down enough but after lunch we could head over to the boat. It was an interesting ride over on the glass bottom boat and I was sat to far away from the glass hatch to see anything.

Once on the bigger boat we had a safety briefing and then were taken to our rooms. They were nice and you got towels! Bonus!! It was then back to the galley to hear the plan for the night. I was the only certified diver on board which was good as I would have a divemaster with me, the people on the other boat said I had to because I am still taking malaria tablets. I pretty much had a briefing on the dive site then jumped straight in. Eme the trainee divemaster was really cool and showed me loads of stuff. Really cool corals that hide when you go near and fish. It was a really good dive. When we got out they said I could go in again but had to decide fast. I got a bit distracted by the sharks swimming by the boat and didn't decide in time. Never mind going in for night dive after tea. Dinner was really nice and there was even dessert! I then got ready for a night dive. However in the mean time the chef had decide o throw blood soaked bread in to the water to attract the wild life, by that I mean the sharks!! Scared yes I was! We kitted up and after a briefing jumped in. I was freaked by the sharks and in the dark they looked like great whites! They weren't but hey they were big buggers! It was strange because we did the same route I had done during the day so I sort of knew where I was. One really cool thing we saw was a parrot fish in it's bubble of mucus. Sounds nice I know but it is really cool they chew coral all day and then at night, I guess the puke it up, in mucus and surround them selves with it. The plan being that it muffles their heart beat so predators can't sense it and they can sleep soundly with out fear of being eaten. Genius! As we surfaced I saw a shark not far away. I managed to get one fin off but struggled with the other one and got a bit freaked, but eventually got out. Once we were all dry we sat around chatting it was really rough sea outside. there was a huge bang and the whole crew ran outside, Eme rang the captain to see what to do. The stern mooring line had snapped, and it was a really thick rope!! We spun round so we were just held on by the bow line and a couple of the divemasters jumped in to a, see where it had snapped and b, retrieve the line. Once all the commotion was over we chilled and decided to play categories game. This is were you chose categories ie boys name, girls name, country, food, film, celebrity. I can't remember the rest but you get the idea. You then get someone to go through the alphabet and tell them to stop, which ever letter they are upto is the one you have to use. You would be surprised how hard it can be to think of names. We played for a good few hours. Then some of the crew decided to have bird races with the birds that were flying around the deck. This was funny until they realised the kitchen door had been open all evening and it was full of birds! It was late by this time I mean past midnight so I called it a night as I have to be up at 6 for a morning dive. The bed is really really comfy!


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