Thoughts of a Nomadic One

Kaikoura is a nice little town known for its idylic setting, whale watching and crayfish. While I wasn't interested in whale watching and didn't have luck finding crayfish in my budget range, I did rent a bike and tour around. Went up close to a seal colony and had amazing fish and chips! Watched Edward Scissorhands and The Island.

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The road from Kaikoura is incredible. It's a 3 hour drive from Kaikoura to Picton ferry where passengers were being dropped off and for 2 hours we were winding along the coast. I watched the turquoise blue ocean, the hagged rocks portruding from the water and the occasional seal. 2 hours after we left Kaikoura, I realized that in my rush for internet time, I had forgotten to reutnr my key for check-out, forfitting $10 NZD.

=== Walked about Nelson and checked out the jewelry store that created The Ring from LOTR. They even still held the models used in the movies! Several models were made for different scenes including one 5" diameter for close-ups! On my 2nd day, I did what I went to Nelson for. I went to Abel Tasman National Park, sea-kayaked with Tamsin, a teacher from Yorkshire originally from Wales, an Irish couple and Brent, our guide. We kayaked for half a day and it was awesome. The only downside was that Tamsin was a little bossy and kept trying to steer, counter to my efforts as the navigator. We then hiked fto Anchorage Cove and had a water-taxi tour before geting back to Nelson. The tramp (which refers to the trek, not Tamsin!) was wonderful. I got to see and hear unique birds and the views were really scenic. All in all, it was a great but tiring day.

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Wellington: This city might as well be the Vancouver of NZ. The ferry from Picton was very comfortable and I had a 2nd row seat in front of the observation deck. I slept for most of the crossing and it was real smooth. The interislander is a huge and luxurious ferry. They even had a movie theatre screening The Simpson movie. I watched the School of Rock and The Evil Woman as it was a Jack Black back to back. Damn I hate Jack Black, I don't know who I hate more, him or Hugh Jackman.

Spent day 2 at the Te Papa museum, tour of Parliament, Beehive, Parliament library. Took the cable car up and then walked about Lambton Quay, Manners St., Cuba St. and Courtenay. The Courtenay mall had song and dance performances by kids to teens randing from Grease songs to tap dancing (to Hollerback?!?)

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After eating leftover pizza for lunch, I decided to treat myself to an Indian buffet for $12 CND. 2 plates later of rice, naan, chicken tikka, lamb curry, butter chicken and more chicken tikka, I was full like never before. Well actually, I forgot to mention that in Dunedin, I was feeling hungry to the famished point. I bought 450g of meat, a pack of spaghetti and a jar of pasta sauce and made dinner. Honestly. it was embarassing how much food I had. The pasta and meat sauce was about 1-3/4" high and it was absolutely ridiculous. I ate it until there was half a normal plate left. That original plate could've fed me for a week and I in fact did not eat a meal until 27 hours later.
I am on my way to Taupo tomorrow and then hopefully the Tongariro crossing before Rotorua. Then Auckland, Bay of Islands, Cape Reing. My schedule in South America is ketchy but I'll figure it out.

I am missing my friends and Canada very much but the days are winding down. It's already the 3rd and in less than 3 weeks I will be starting training/work and home in 18 days!