So it's been a while since I’ve last posted.... yup still alive (only just) but I have been really busy (seriously). Having met some of the most amazing people over the last week or so, friendships form fast and strong, and we were inseparable. It's hard to think they are all now travelling off to continue their stories elsewhere.
Firstly there were the two Norwegian girls, Mari & Kat, both 19 and travelling for 4 months, in their “year off” between school and university, we soon got chatting over our love of “Fergburgers” and the patagonia's ice cream. We fast became good friends, and spent the nights, playing cards (things don't change ….) and drinking games. The great fact is that cards is pretty much universal and through hands feet and gestures of all sorts, we soon all understood the rules and got playing (although their English was near perfect.... almost better than mine). Over the next few days we also got more and more annoyed with “John”... the smelly Irish guy in our room.... he STUNK, slept with all his clothes on and his “runners”.... which were the worst smelling things ever, it wasn't long until we had to confront him and ask him to put his shoes outside during the night... for the benefit of everyone in our room.
After a couple of days sees the arrival of Shaun (UK), Julian (Germany) and a girl who's name I forget (Japan). They had met elsewhere in NZ and banded together and were travelling around, with the use of a car rental. This meant many more tales, stories and experiences shared, and many more games of cards, Mexican 4 card poker, Irish kings and Speed to name but a few. We spent the evenings chilling cards, drinking and hitting the town.
Meanwhile I must mention that I had handed my CV's around town, and also dropped one in at the recruitment agency when they called me back for a Job interview. It's nothing glamorous but... a Job is a job, I'm going to be working in a call centre selling life insurance and funeral protection.... it's for the meantime at least, pays well $15.00ph which is one of the best rates around town, offers incentives, (drinking tokens) and the hours are perfect. 11am-5pm which is perfect for the slow mornings when you can't be bothered to move and at 5pm it's still sunny, hot and a good few hours left of the evening.
January 21st, Shaun Julian & I decide it's a great idea, whilst still pissed presumably, to book ourselves in on some adventure/adrenaline experiences, Shaun decides he'll do the Nevis (134m) Bungy, which gave him 20 minutes to prepare, and …. find some shoes. While we book all 3 of us on the River Rapid Surfing for the next day. An excited and sleepless night finally finds us on river-surfing day, so we meet at the designated area, and get the mini bus to the Kawarau river, the only river flowing out of lake Wakatipu (there are 9 rivers flowing in.) River surfing involves, getting kitted out head to toe in a wet suit, life vest, helmet, flippers, and of course the surfboard, (soon to be our best friends (and survival aid). We start off with the some basic training in the shallow waters, barrel rolls, duck dives, and practising getting back on your board, should you fall off...(which does happen). Eventually it's time to surf and we soon find ourselves travelling at some serious speeds, 80kmph and being thrown up and over some serious waves, “Man-Eater” was the first rapid we came upon and it certainly gives you an impression of the name, with huge waves intending to throw you off your board, you struggle to stay on and tackle the waves, going under water and drinking half the river is part of the experience. On the first run we stop off half way to go cliff jumping, where we clamber up the rocky hill (Still in flippers, and all gear) and throw ourselves some 5m into the river below. We reach our end-zone and it's time to choose if your brave enough to do it all again, unfortunately for Julian (who had already been suffering from a knackered ankle) had been dragged under water quite badly, and must have been under for about 6 or so seconds, which had completely freaked him and he decided to give round 2 a miss. However Shaun and myself undeterred go for it.
Even more tired and worn out this time it's time to step it up a notch and as half the group had dropped out it was time to get serious, we would be left more or less unsupervised (well as far as could be allowed, rules & regulations) and we were going to attempt “Squirting” where you find an under water current, and sink your board, and shoot forward about 10 metres or so in a number of seconds submerged for the entire time. Sadly I was unable to successfully “squirt” for more than a second or so, Shaun however was a bit more successful, having managed a reasonable attempt he soon found himself about 10 metres further down the river, heading straight for the rocks at the edge. I managed to get cramp about halfway through the second run in my left calf and more or less made it impossible for me to swim let alone anything else, through a combination of one footed kicking and being dragged by the guide we eventually make it to the side, and head back to the van and head back to town. All in all it was thoroughly exhilarating, and I'd definitely do it again.
Sadly today and yesterday has seen the departure of both Shaun, Julian and Japanese girl, and Mari & Kat. It's been surprisingly difficult to say goodbye to friends that you've made in such a short time, and I never though it possible to become such good friends in only a few days, However knowing we all now have each other on Facebook and other means of communication, I’ve no doubt that we'll keep in touch and possibly even meet up again.
Having been a little reckless with my money and spending over the past few weeks, I'm sort of running low on funds, and also having spent what seemed like my last few dollars on the river surfing..... although it's all with no regrets, and having just enough money to book a further 10 nights in the Hostel, and buy some pasta, instant noodles, milk and cheese should keep me going at least for a little while more. Annoyingly having thought I was starting work Today (Monday 24th) I was phoned earlier and told I'm now not starting for a further week. I love and hate Hostel living, the social side of meeting people is fantastic and cannot be beaten although, not being able to unpack and living out of a locker under the bed and worrying about making too much noise that you might wake someone else up. (As there ALWAYS seems to be someone in bed, at some point throughout the entire day.) but it's perfect for now, as I've booked my nights in and the kitchen is big enough that some 30 individuals can all cook at the same time, (Talk about too many cooks).
Other than that my days have been spent doing some long walks, to various bays around the lake and sunbathing once I arrive there, and short bursts of swimming (but the lake is freezing so any prolonged swimming is not achievable).
That's pretty much it for now folks... x
