My last post was from the blue bridge ferry. This time it's from Tuatara Backpackers in Invercargill. So once again an unlikely place for free wifi.
Let's recap from after the ferry ride. We got off in Picton and got another bus. This one didn't have air con or a proper sound system and the windshields were very cracked along the one edge. We had two bus loads though since there were about 65 of us. So a new driver! I am not sure if I have mentioned my driver. Ms P aka Ms Perfect. The drivers get there names from their trainer when they do the loop of the islands. Ms P did a perfect loop hence her name. She was pretty cool. Easy going and really likes regee. So I had her for the entire north island and then from Picton to Abel Tasman, which was our first stop on the south island. Abel Tasman was a cool place. I didn't do any of the activities here but still had a good time. We glamped here. Which in other terms is glamourous camping. So basically we slept on regular beds but in tents. Which has obviously made this my fave place to stay. It was called The Barn for anyone who plans to visit Abel Tasman or those who just want to google where I stayed. We were there for two nights and I had the best sleeps so far. We had a birthday party for one of the girls from England which saw me making the outdoor fire for the night. Ended watching LOTR 1&2 instead of joining the party. Too many sandflies for my liking.
New bus driver time! His name was Aerial. The story for his name shall not be revealed. I felt bad for him since not even ten minutes after we left driving up the side of the mountain our bus breaks down. Turns out we just didn't have any clutch fluid so he couldn't shift into the proper gears. So after about an hour we got it fixed and were on the road again heading for Blackball. Blackball is an old mining town. We stopped at the pancake rocks which are called that due to the way they have eroded over the years. My camera was dead unfortunately since they didn't really have that many outlets in Abel Tasman. Blackball was a lot of more fun then I was expecting. There was a costume contest and a story competition to go along with it. And then there was a game of sexual positions. Guess which one I won. The rest of the night Phil the bar keep and partial owner let me basically play dj and pick the music that was played. Yay!
Next stop Franz Josef. We drove a lot that day. So I didn't do too much when we got there. But we stayed two nights, so I did the free glacier walk. Basically you walk an hour out of town to the carpark where you do about a twenty minute walk to the glacier. You can't get overly close since there are rock slides and stuff happening all the time. It was a nice walk. On the way back though it started to rain so I needed a hot shower when I got back to warm up. We went to Wanaka next which was awesome. Very relaxing for me. I didn't stay with the rest of my bus group but in a different hostel. Turns out it had like 5-6 other Canadians there so really nice. AJ from London and Steve from Ottawa/Calgary were the two that helped me pick a hostel for Queenstown and with info on places they liked the best so far in New Zealand. We three went swimming in Lake Wanaka. It was so nice. That night we watched 'the life of Brian' so a good night all in all.
Queenstown. What can I say other than it was a place of firsts. Monday night I did karaoke for the first time. Sang Tiny Dancer by Elton John. People seemed to like it. I was actually recognized the next two days in Queenstown and called tiny dancer. Pretty cool feeling. I didn't win since they just drew names from a girls shirt. But I think I will have to definitely do it again. Tuesday I did the ledge swing. Omfg so just mind blowingly beautiful. I have posted the video of Facebook so those of you I have on Facebook should be able to view it. Wednesday night I went to the Altitude bar again (where I sang karaoke) and played in their nightly pool game for getting your bar tab paid for by them. I didn't win but was signed up as tiny dancer by the dj from the previous night when I told him my name. My friend Amanda on the bus who is from Canada, showed up later that night and told me she reemed out the dj for not judging the karaoke on talent which would have made me the winner. I think some of the friends I have made will last. And are the kind of friends everyone should have at least one of.
Yesterday we went to Milford sound and did a cruise type thing around the fiords. Saw some seals. And it was very pretty. We stayed in Gunns Camp last night. In cabins from the 1930's which was pretty cool. We had a fire going the minute we got into the little three room hut. And it kept it toasty. Holly my friend I have made from Surrey, didn't know how to play go fish or crazy eights so Amanda and I taught her. The power shut off around ten ish since the camp is run on generators. So we finished our card games by headlamp light. Today we are Invercargilland tomorrow we head back up to Queenstown. So a very busy little tour. But it's almost time for me to get a job and I kind of can't wait to have money going back in to my bank account and not just out of it.
"Spam I hate spam"-Monty python flying circus
