Right people, here I am!!
What a funny couple of days I´ve had. I got up at 8am on Monday 25th April. got to Wellington airport for 10am, flight left at 11am (yes, I bubbled a bit) and got to Auckland for 12pm, flight to Santiago leaving at 4.40pm. Only it was delayed .... to 10.15pm!!!
God, how boring to spend 10 hours at the airport with nothing to do.
Then an 11.5 hour flight... and I get here and it´s still Monday! 7.40pm. I got to the hostel (which is very nice) and then popped out for dinner, then crashed by 11pm. That was the longest day ever!! I am 15 hours behind NZ here. So I was up for about 30 hours I think.
Then something weird happened.... I went to sleep and then woke at 3.30am and couldn´t get back to sleep. So I read until about 9am and then dozed off... and slept until 8pm!! When I woke up a bit hungry. I realised the time and was a bit cross with myself, because that´s really not how to get over jet lag! Anyway, I read until 2am (it´s a good book luckily) and then slept again (lucky I´m so good at that too!) until 5.15am. And then read again. And finally got up at 7.30am and had breakfast here at 8.30am.
That was a whole 30 or so hours in bed people. That must be a record - longest day followed by longest night!!
Anyway, my laptop will not connect to the wifi hree so internet updates may be patchy. I am off out to explore the city today.
Lots of love people!!
xxx
P.S - it seems I can read emails from this hostel computer but not reply... sorry about that. No emails for the moment....
Fi's Travels...
Wednesday, 27 April 2011
Monday, 25 April 2011
The final chapter
Well dear readers, it's the end of an era.
I'd better catch you up with my wee 4 day trip first I guess. I really enjoyed it. The Maori cultural performance was amazing; really really good. Lots of history as well as singing and dancing. If you're ever in the area, I highly recommend it!
I did the dolphin and isalnd boat tour the next day as the weather was good. However, we crashed into a sandbank just over an hour in and had to go straight back to port. I did get to see some dolphins though, although they were running away from all the people swimming after them! I think I would too...
I skipped the trip up to the northernmost tip as it was actually 11 hours on a coach there and back and it seemed a bit much. Instead I went over the harbour in a boat to Russell, which is the original capital of NZ, where all the sailors landed initially in the early 1800s. Apparently it was refered to as the 'hell hole' of the Pacific. I guess there were some unsavoury characters there! There is a famous flagpole there where the British flag was raised and then cut down again 4 times by a Maori leader (or someone did it for him anyway), Hone Heke. It has New Zealand's oldest church (built in 1836) and also some of NZ's oldest graves. It had a real sense of history which is lacking in a lot of NZ. It's also a really pretty little seaside village and a I really loved it there, I'd like to go back and take Adam.
On the way back to Auckland we saw some enormous golden sand dunes. I had been told about them, but I never expected they would be as big as they are! Photos of everything will be a while - I forgot my camera unfortunately, but did buy an instant one, which is yet to be developed. Also I saw an ancient Kaori tree (pronounced Cowrie), it was enormous and the Maori believe it to be an important spiritual tree (the species, not one tree in particular - especially the really old, big ones). This was called Tane Mahuta and was about 2 and a half thousand years old.
The next few days were spent chilling out with Adam. We did quite a long bike ride on Saturday, and played board games yesterday, plus I cooked a Sunday Roast (pork with crackling - my favourite!). I packed everything up (leaving about 10 bags with a very patient Adam).
This morning Adam came to the airport with me and we had breakfast together before he walked me to my gate. I was biting my lip by then and trying really hard not to cry. It didn't work, and the tears came as he hugged me goodbye.
It's a very strange feeling. Firstly it's very hard to leave Adam, I shall miss him more than I realise even, I think. One good thing is I don't feel worried about the time apart... I mean, I'm not feeling worried that we will drift apart or meet other people. Perhaps that's wrong of me... but anyway, there it is. I feel very secure about him and it's just that I'll miss him.
But more than that, I shall miss Wellington, I shall miss New Zealand, I shall miss feeling settled and content and rooted somewhere. I feel anxious about South America having read a lot of cautionary literature yesterday from my tour group... they advise bringing things like a medical kit and a swiss army knife, they insist on you handing over two copies of your insurance and passport and new passport photos. They talked a lot about security and muggings and things. It's got me feeling quite nervous. And also, there's snakes and massive spiders in the Amazon Jungle... But then there is the excitment of getting back to the UK. But even that is mixed with the unsettled feeling of knowing I will be there without a home of my own, for the first time in many years. That everything will change very soon after my arrival with the arrival of a new family member. That I need to make the most of the few short weeks there and cannot get too settled or comfortable or attached, as I'll be leaving again.
So, I am at the airport in Auckland mulling all of this over. I have plenty of time for that as I arrived at 12pm for a 16.40 flight (a bit early in case of any delays flying up from Wellington) only to find that it has been delayed to 22.15. That, my dear friends and family is a very long wait indeed. I am almost wishing for the flight now (11.5 hours in itself) so I can have my own seat, and sleep if I want, or watch films.
Santiago is 16 hours behind. I arrive 4.5 hours before I left, which is rather strange!
Anyway. I guess that's all for now. It just all feels a bit strange, you know?
xxx
I'd better catch you up with my wee 4 day trip first I guess. I really enjoyed it. The Maori cultural performance was amazing; really really good. Lots of history as well as singing and dancing. If you're ever in the area, I highly recommend it!
I did the dolphin and isalnd boat tour the next day as the weather was good. However, we crashed into a sandbank just over an hour in and had to go straight back to port. I did get to see some dolphins though, although they were running away from all the people swimming after them! I think I would too...
I skipped the trip up to the northernmost tip as it was actually 11 hours on a coach there and back and it seemed a bit much. Instead I went over the harbour in a boat to Russell, which is the original capital of NZ, where all the sailors landed initially in the early 1800s. Apparently it was refered to as the 'hell hole' of the Pacific. I guess there were some unsavoury characters there! There is a famous flagpole there where the British flag was raised and then cut down again 4 times by a Maori leader (or someone did it for him anyway), Hone Heke. It has New Zealand's oldest church (built in 1836) and also some of NZ's oldest graves. It had a real sense of history which is lacking in a lot of NZ. It's also a really pretty little seaside village and a I really loved it there, I'd like to go back and take Adam.
On the way back to Auckland we saw some enormous golden sand dunes. I had been told about them, but I never expected they would be as big as they are! Photos of everything will be a while - I forgot my camera unfortunately, but did buy an instant one, which is yet to be developed. Also I saw an ancient Kaori tree (pronounced Cowrie), it was enormous and the Maori believe it to be an important spiritual tree (the species, not one tree in particular - especially the really old, big ones). This was called Tane Mahuta and was about 2 and a half thousand years old.
The next few days were spent chilling out with Adam. We did quite a long bike ride on Saturday, and played board games yesterday, plus I cooked a Sunday Roast (pork with crackling - my favourite!). I packed everything up (leaving about 10 bags with a very patient Adam).
This morning Adam came to the airport with me and we had breakfast together before he walked me to my gate. I was biting my lip by then and trying really hard not to cry. It didn't work, and the tears came as he hugged me goodbye.
It's a very strange feeling. Firstly it's very hard to leave Adam, I shall miss him more than I realise even, I think. One good thing is I don't feel worried about the time apart... I mean, I'm not feeling worried that we will drift apart or meet other people. Perhaps that's wrong of me... but anyway, there it is. I feel very secure about him and it's just that I'll miss him.
But more than that, I shall miss Wellington, I shall miss New Zealand, I shall miss feeling settled and content and rooted somewhere. I feel anxious about South America having read a lot of cautionary literature yesterday from my tour group... they advise bringing things like a medical kit and a swiss army knife, they insist on you handing over two copies of your insurance and passport and new passport photos. They talked a lot about security and muggings and things. It's got me feeling quite nervous. And also, there's snakes and massive spiders in the Amazon Jungle... But then there is the excitment of getting back to the UK. But even that is mixed with the unsettled feeling of knowing I will be there without a home of my own, for the first time in many years. That everything will change very soon after my arrival with the arrival of a new family member. That I need to make the most of the few short weeks there and cannot get too settled or comfortable or attached, as I'll be leaving again.
So, I am at the airport in Auckland mulling all of this over. I have plenty of time for that as I arrived at 12pm for a 16.40 flight (a bit early in case of any delays flying up from Wellington) only to find that it has been delayed to 22.15. That, my dear friends and family is a very long wait indeed. I am almost wishing for the flight now (11.5 hours in itself) so I can have my own seat, and sleep if I want, or watch films.
Santiago is 16 hours behind. I arrive 4.5 hours before I left, which is rather strange!
Anyway. I guess that's all for now. It just all feels a bit strange, you know?
xxx
Monday, 18 April 2011
Some more travel to read about at last!
OK, I have something interesting to write about!!
I left the comforts of home and boyfriend yesterday and caught a plane up to Auckland. I stayed overnight in a grotty hostel and was up at 6am this morning to catch a Magic tour bus up to Northland, which is the northern-most part of New Zealand. I am in Paihia for the next three days, which is quite pretty. Tonight I'm going on a maori cultural evening where we get taken to where the Treaty of Waitangi was signed (the treaty between the Maori and British signed in 1840 cementing the rights and responsibilities of each) and get some songs, history and a Haka.
Tomorrow is a trip right up to the northernmost tip where there is alighthouse on the point which separates the Pacific from the Tasman Sea. We drive back along 90 mile beach!
Wednesday is a dolphin watching boat trip which also takes us round the bay of islands and gives us some history too.
Thursday is a trip back to Auckland via some huge Kaori trees. More info and photos to follow.
I made a friend today as well, although she leaves tomorrow sadly.
"All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well". That's how I'm feeling (and also a quote from somewhere, I forget where...)
xxx
I left the comforts of home and boyfriend yesterday and caught a plane up to Auckland. I stayed overnight in a grotty hostel and was up at 6am this morning to catch a Magic tour bus up to Northland, which is the northern-most part of New Zealand. I am in Paihia for the next three days, which is quite pretty. Tonight I'm going on a maori cultural evening where we get taken to where the Treaty of Waitangi was signed (the treaty between the Maori and British signed in 1840 cementing the rights and responsibilities of each) and get some songs, history and a Haka.
Tomorrow is a trip right up to the northernmost tip where there is alighthouse on the point which separates the Pacific from the Tasman Sea. We drive back along 90 mile beach!
Wednesday is a dolphin watching boat trip which also takes us round the bay of islands and gives us some history too.
Thursday is a trip back to Auckland via some huge Kaori trees. More info and photos to follow.
I made a friend today as well, although she leaves tomorrow sadly.
"All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well". That's how I'm feeling (and also a quote from somewhere, I forget where...)
xxx
Saturday, 9 April 2011
Better
I am feeling better. The moods come and go but a lot of the time I am perfectly happy here!
Last night Adam took me to a play called Brain Damage which was really good and qiute strange... There are 4 or 5 little plays going on at the same time and you walk around the room to watch them all. Then we had some drinks and then some amazing steak.
Tonight we were invited to another fancy dress party which we may well not go to, but we are having some people over for drinks beforehand. I am making canapes!! Which I love to do. Adam is working this weekend so I am being a little housewife and I am going to tidy his sitting room and kitchen and even hoover and then get cooking :-)
xxx
Last night Adam took me to a play called Brain Damage which was really good and qiute strange... There are 4 or 5 little plays going on at the same time and you walk around the room to watch them all. Then we had some drinks and then some amazing steak.
Tonight we were invited to another fancy dress party which we may well not go to, but we are having some people over for drinks beforehand. I am making canapes!! Which I love to do. Adam is working this weekend so I am being a little housewife and I am going to tidy his sitting room and kitchen and even hoover and then get cooking :-)
xxx
Wednesday, 6 April 2011
And, just to be clear...
I just want to reiterate through all my bloody moaning:
1. Adam is lovely, gorgeous, wonderful, incredible - he makes me so, so very happy. He's by a million miles the very loveliest boyfriend I've ever had and I appreciate him immensely.
2. New Zealand is a very lovely and beautiful place and Wellington especially. I like it very much.
I just thought, maybe that gets lost a bit sometimes :o)
xxxx
1. Adam is lovely, gorgeous, wonderful, incredible - he makes me so, so very happy. He's by a million miles the very loveliest boyfriend I've ever had and I appreciate him immensely.
2. New Zealand is a very lovely and beautiful place and Wellington especially. I like it very much.
I just thought, maybe that gets lost a bit sometimes :o)
xxxx
Cinderella and her prince charming
Er....
I'm fast running out of things to say! Well, constructive things anyway.
Unconstructively I can tell you that I had a 'sober chat' with Adam about the issues raised in the previous post (well, last but one) and... wait for it... he barely even remembered saying what he did!! It was only the memory of me crying that prompted recognition.
That made it a bit of an awkward chat. He wasn't sure what I wanted to say, or hear... and I asked what he was thinking and he just said that we should take it as it comes really... see if I can make it back here after being in the UK again, see if it works once I'm back here again, and then re-evaluate.
Makes sense... and made me feel a bit silly for asking for a chat... but it was him that suddenly came out with that statement! And then said we should have a sober chat about it. And you know, it got me thinking.... and crying pretty much every day since then. In the shower. Watching TV. Eating breakfast. I've managed to avoid crying out of the house and during chats on skype, but have caved on phone calls and am seriously crying all over the place at home.
I don't know what's come over me. It just all seems so close and real now I think is all. It's that there is no good option. I have two:
1. break up with Adam and go/stay in UK = makes me very sad (and also happy)
2. stay in NZ with Adam and miss family, friends, cat and life in general = makes me very sad (and also happy)
Am I allowed to swear? I feel it's warranted, honestly I do.
Fuck it.
Right, I shall be constructive again now! I have less than 3 weeks until I go to south america, so watch this space for it to get briefly intersting again, hopefully. I am nice and busy until then. Adam is taking me to parties and drinks and dinners and plays all over the place. I have my final jewellery and Maori courses next week, and have really enjoyed them. I've also made a friend - well two. My trainer, Evan, but he leaves for home (USA) in a couple of months. But also a girl called Fiona on the Maori course, and I really like her. She's the first friend I've met organically and I really like as well! So that's good news. The jewellery is going very well and photos should follow next week when it's all done.
Here are some more nice photos of Adam and me - I should preface by saying some of them were for a fancy dress party and I was cinderella, with him being prince charming!
(and also, a special thank you to Fernando today as I've been tearful and homesick all day and he managed to make me really smile and feel better! Thank you Mr Loizides! And dearest daddy, please get better at reading the signals that your daughter is on the verge of tears!!)
I'm fast running out of things to say! Well, constructive things anyway.
Unconstructively I can tell you that I had a 'sober chat' with Adam about the issues raised in the previous post (well, last but one) and... wait for it... he barely even remembered saying what he did!! It was only the memory of me crying that prompted recognition.
That made it a bit of an awkward chat. He wasn't sure what I wanted to say, or hear... and I asked what he was thinking and he just said that we should take it as it comes really... see if I can make it back here after being in the UK again, see if it works once I'm back here again, and then re-evaluate.
Makes sense... and made me feel a bit silly for asking for a chat... but it was him that suddenly came out with that statement! And then said we should have a sober chat about it. And you know, it got me thinking.... and crying pretty much every day since then. In the shower. Watching TV. Eating breakfast. I've managed to avoid crying out of the house and during chats on skype, but have caved on phone calls and am seriously crying all over the place at home.
I don't know what's come over me. It just all seems so close and real now I think is all. It's that there is no good option. I have two:
1. break up with Adam and go/stay in UK = makes me very sad (and also happy)
2. stay in NZ with Adam and miss family, friends, cat and life in general = makes me very sad (and also happy)
Am I allowed to swear? I feel it's warranted, honestly I do.
Fuck it.
Right, I shall be constructive again now! I have less than 3 weeks until I go to south america, so watch this space for it to get briefly intersting again, hopefully. I am nice and busy until then. Adam is taking me to parties and drinks and dinners and plays all over the place. I have my final jewellery and Maori courses next week, and have really enjoyed them. I've also made a friend - well two. My trainer, Evan, but he leaves for home (USA) in a couple of months. But also a girl called Fiona on the Maori course, and I really like her. She's the first friend I've met organically and I really like as well! So that's good news. The jewellery is going very well and photos should follow next week when it's all done.
Here are some more nice photos of Adam and me - I should preface by saying some of them were for a fancy dress party and I was cinderella, with him being prince charming!
(and also, a special thank you to Fernando today as I've been tearful and homesick all day and he managed to make me really smile and feel better! Thank you Mr Loizides! And dearest daddy, please get better at reading the signals that your daughter is on the verge of tears!!)
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| Me as Cinderella |
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| Photo booth picture from December 2010 , at a Weta Christmas party |
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| Photo booth picture from December 2010 , at a Weta Christmas party |
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| My prince charming, with my shoe... |
Friday, 1 April 2011
Photos
On a cheerier note, here are some photos:
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| This is where I have my jewellery course |
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| This is just to make you jealous of the weather! 31st March, 2011. I had sandals on :o) |
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| Adam and me (rather tipsy) |
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| Adam in a lovely top |
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