The orangey goodness of my favourite childhood drink has been consistently popping up in my mind whilst travelling around New Zealand. Unfortunately they don't sell Kia Ora orange squash here, but it is the Maori word for welcome so it's still written everywhere.
I have felt completely welcome in New Zealand, even walking through Auckland airport everyone smiled and said hello. All the way from Auckland in the north to Queenstown in the south I haven't met a rude Kiwi. I've seen so many beautiful places, met some hilarious people and had some crazy times - all on the Kiwi Experience bus. Not to mention the white water rafting, volcano hiking and canyon swinging - the must-do adrenaline actvities of NZ.
Juiciness has come in the form of coach gossip, messy dorms and a bag of squishy kiwi fruit. Staying in loud, messy dorms, having to unpack every evening and repack early every morning to then spend another day on the same sickly bus has become very tiring. Needless to say I am so glad to now have a whole week in beautiful Queenstown. The reflective lakes, snow-topped mountains and autumnal trees are just stunning, as they have been throughout the country, but they are especially gorgeous now I have more than afew hours or a passing glimpse through a bus window to appreciate them.
However, the actual bus journey has been an experience in itself. Our morning song by Six60 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=By-dxSLpyis will always remind me of New Zealand and the line 'ain't it good to be alive' always made me feel good in the mornings. Our bus driver, Lauren has been an absolute character - with sayings like 'mean', 'less than ideal', 'what an egg' - (referring to bad drivers) as well as the usual kiwi phrases like 'sweet as' and 'churr bro'. Other characters we've met along the way have included Pete, the mean old deer hunter who now runs a shop that sells possum pies and the freakiest museum ever and Les, the 87 year old landlord of a remote pub which hosts the Kiwi Experience fancy dress party. Our ABC (anything but clothes) party gave life to some amazing costume creations including Louise's tablecloth wedding dress and my paddling pool duck pond.
I am hoping that the trip back up to Auckland will be slightly more sedate, with more juicy fruit and less sleepless nights in hostel dorms.
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Monday, 23 April 2012
Wednesday, 4 April 2012
Ridin' the EAC
So, for anyone who hasn't seen the best film ever, the EAC stands for the East Australian Current - an ocean current ridden by Marlon, via a group of turtles, in Finding Nemo. For us backpackers though, the EAC has taken the form of the Bruce Highway (that runs down the East Coast of Australia) on Greyhound buses, not as beautiful but probably more comfortable than a turtle's shell.
From Fraser Island down to Melbourne we embarked on a total of 6 bus journeys, each with conveniently hostel-close drop-off points or complimentary mini-buses ready to take us to our next hostel - it was 'too easy' as the Aussies would say. We swung by Noosa - a snazzy surfer town, partied in Brisbane on Paddy's Day and bumped into an old school friend in Bunk. We passed through Surfer's Paradise (yes, that is actually its real name) - the highrise hotels bathed in rain rather than sun for the duration of our stay. We kicked back in Byron Bay, soaking up the hippy vibe, learning to surf and dancing all night. Surfing wasn't as hard as I thought, still not as easy to catch a wave as it was to win $300 simply dacning around a pole. Hehe. It was a shame that, again, there wasn't much sun to accompany the sea and bucket-loads of sangria. Next stop - Sydney, where we arrived spectacularly over the Harbour Bridge into glorious sunshine - the Australian weather we've all heard of. We yomped around Syders like true tourists, snapping away at the Opera House, cliff walking the awesome Blue Mountains, Bondi and beyond. We joined the locals for a rugby match at the olympic park and a vintage fashion show - there's something for everyone in Sydney.
However, the highlight of the EAC has to have been Melbourne - it was 'far out' as our friend we met there, aptly named Mel, might say. The stunning Great Ocean Road was like the Grand Canyon in the sea whilst Melbourne itself felt like a European city plonked down under, with old-fashioned trams, bustling markets and an abundance of artwork to stumble across down alleways or performed in town squares.
All this suggests that there has never been a dull moment - how deceptive I have been! From waiting for a bus to waiting to check-in, with 12hour bus journeys to break up all that waiting around - it has been tedious to say the least. Small annoyances added to the tedium - annoyances such as the dirty, cramped hostel kitchens and the endless meals consisting of rice and carrots. I am very much missing home nowadays; my own bed, a clean bathroom with a lock and a light - o what luxury! For now I can look forward to more smelly dormitories, hopefully, interspersed with lots of stunning views and fresh moutnain air in a land with 8 times as many sheep as people - New Zealand.
http://www.facebook.com/#!/media/set/?set=a.10151462718485301.830495.698710300&type=3
http://www.facebook.com/#!/media/set/?set=a.10151480489385301.832815.698710300&type=3
From Fraser Island down to Melbourne we embarked on a total of 6 bus journeys, each with conveniently hostel-close drop-off points or complimentary mini-buses ready to take us to our next hostel - it was 'too easy' as the Aussies would say. We swung by Noosa - a snazzy surfer town, partied in Brisbane on Paddy's Day and bumped into an old school friend in Bunk. We passed through Surfer's Paradise (yes, that is actually its real name) - the highrise hotels bathed in rain rather than sun for the duration of our stay. We kicked back in Byron Bay, soaking up the hippy vibe, learning to surf and dancing all night. Surfing wasn't as hard as I thought, still not as easy to catch a wave as it was to win $300 simply dacning around a pole. Hehe. It was a shame that, again, there wasn't much sun to accompany the sea and bucket-loads of sangria. Next stop - Sydney, where we arrived spectacularly over the Harbour Bridge into glorious sunshine - the Australian weather we've all heard of. We yomped around Syders like true tourists, snapping away at the Opera House, cliff walking the awesome Blue Mountains, Bondi and beyond. We joined the locals for a rugby match at the olympic park and a vintage fashion show - there's something for everyone in Sydney.
However, the highlight of the EAC has to have been Melbourne - it was 'far out' as our friend we met there, aptly named Mel, might say. The stunning Great Ocean Road was like the Grand Canyon in the sea whilst Melbourne itself felt like a European city plonked down under, with old-fashioned trams, bustling markets and an abundance of artwork to stumble across down alleways or performed in town squares.
All this suggests that there has never been a dull moment - how deceptive I have been! From waiting for a bus to waiting to check-in, with 12hour bus journeys to break up all that waiting around - it has been tedious to say the least. Small annoyances added to the tedium - annoyances such as the dirty, cramped hostel kitchens and the endless meals consisting of rice and carrots. I am very much missing home nowadays; my own bed, a clean bathroom with a lock and a light - o what luxury! For now I can look forward to more smelly dormitories, hopefully, interspersed with lots of stunning views and fresh moutnain air in a land with 8 times as many sheep as people - New Zealand.
http://www.facebook.com/#!/media/set/?set=a.10151462718485301.830495.698710300&type=3
http://www.facebook.com/#!/media/set/?set=a.10151480489385301.832815.698710300&type=3
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