 |
| Cooking pool - swishes vary |
Tuesday 25 September 2012
Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwll-llantysiliogogogoch
 |
| Bit of a mouthful - wh is actually a fa sound |
Monday 24 September 2012
Interislander
I have now technically Interislanded it to the South Island. I actually did this a week ago. I realise now I am not the fastest blogger in the West or East or wherever this classes as. You all probably realised this weeks ago. I'm basically having such an awesome time that I keep forgetting to blog, so sorry about that.
Right then, Interislander. Ferry that takes you between the North and South Islands of New Zealand. It leaves from Wellington in the North and arrives into pretty Picton in/on the South.
Short version of time in Wellington, I didn't overly love it but hving typed that I don't think I gave it a fair chance. Partly because I hated the hostel I was staying in, soooooo unfriendly compared to every other place. Also the National museum Te Papa made me cross. Pretty amazing in places but let down by unorganised nature of some exhibits that made my inner museum geek get all narked. So after hating my hostel and getting museum rage it got a whole lot worse when I tried to leave Wellington and the boat didn't work.
Long story short, eventually moved to another boat, depart three hours late. Too chilled out to even panic about missing the only coach of the day to Nelson where accommodation is booked and find out from Interislander staff that they've organised a shuttle bus for the stranded passengers. Nice. Day gets better.
Arrive safely and just a couple of hours late in sunny Nelson. That's what it's known as and the name doesn't disappoint. Should mention I've totally fallen in love with it here and currently job hunting. It feels like home.
Right then, Interislander. Ferry that takes you between the North and South Islands of New Zealand. It leaves from Wellington in the North and arrives into pretty Picton in/on the South.
Short version of time in Wellington, I didn't overly love it but hving typed that I don't think I gave it a fair chance. Partly because I hated the hostel I was staying in, soooooo unfriendly compared to every other place. Also the National museum Te Papa made me cross. Pretty amazing in places but let down by unorganised nature of some exhibits that made my inner museum geek get all narked. So after hating my hostel and getting museum rage it got a whole lot worse when I tried to leave Wellington and the boat didn't work.
Long story short, eventually moved to another boat, depart three hours late. Too chilled out to even panic about missing the only coach of the day to Nelson where accommodation is booked and find out from Interislander staff that they've organised a shuttle bus for the stranded passengers. Nice. Day gets better.
Arrive safely and just a couple of hours late in sunny Nelson. That's what it's known as and the name doesn't disappoint. Should mention I've totally fallen in love with it here and currently job hunting. It feels like home.
 |
| Beautiful South Island |
Friday 21 September 2012
An expected journey
It's been a week since I visited Hobbiton so apologies for being a bit tardy with this post. For any fan of the Lord of the Rings films I can absolutely recommend a visit, you really do feel like a (giant) hobbit walking through the Shire. It was worth every penny, sorry cent.
I've since watched some Hobbit related promos on you tube and squealed like a wraith with excitement at having seen actual scenes shot at Hobbiton and Elijah and Sir Ian on set for the new films in the very places I was stood!
I've since watched some Hobbit related promos on you tube and squealed like a wraith with excitement at having seen actual scenes shot at Hobbiton and Elijah and Sir Ian on set for the new films in the very places I was stood!
 |
| Where could we be? |
 |
| Hobbit holes, Bag End up top |
 |
| Sam's house |
 |
| Pickles the Hobbiton cat - look out for her in the film |
 |
| Me outside Bag End - Right where Elijah filmed! |
 |
| Bag End is the only hobbit hole with any detail behind the door |
 |
| The party field |
 |
| I'm a Hobbit! |
 |
| New shire |
 |
| Hobbit vegetables |
 |
| The last one in the Shire |
Monday 17 September 2012
Geothermal happenings
Rotorua, town of rotten egg whiffyness. Actually that's not fair it's only the steaming pools of sulphur around the town that smell not the whole place. I loved it despite the occasional pong, maybe because it reminded me of my uni halls of residence in first year at Durham. Good old Oswald.
On the way to Rotorua I visited the Waitomo caves to see the glow worms, or glow larvae as they should correctly be called. Quite simply magical. The ones that glow brighter are hungrier and do so to attract dinner. Clever glow larvae. They looked like a blanket of stars on the roof of the caves and even if I could upload photos I couldn't show you that because cameras weren't allowed. Google it instead or I'll show you my postcard when I get back.
Rotorua has loads on offer and I packed a lot in to my brief stay. Wai-o-tapu geothermal park was first, geysers, mud pools, crazy formations and stunning colours bubbling up from the earth. The Champagne Pool was my favourite, it literally bubbles like champers and has this weirdly beautiful orange edge, all the while it's smoking with intent. I also went to a Maori village and my favourite trip so far Hobbiton. I'm going to save that for another post and hopefully by then I'll have photos sorted so I can share the Shire with you all.
Right now I'm sat in Te Papa museum in Wellington enjoying free wifi, it does exist here hooray! The museum beckons so I'm off.
Just in case any ex Oswalders are wondering I haven't picked up that smell.
On the way to Rotorua I visited the Waitomo caves to see the glow worms, or glow larvae as they should correctly be called. Quite simply magical. The ones that glow brighter are hungrier and do so to attract dinner. Clever glow larvae. They looked like a blanket of stars on the roof of the caves and even if I could upload photos I couldn't show you that because cameras weren't allowed. Google it instead or I'll show you my postcard when I get back.
Rotorua has loads on offer and I packed a lot in to my brief stay. Wai-o-tapu geothermal park was first, geysers, mud pools, crazy formations and stunning colours bubbling up from the earth. The Champagne Pool was my favourite, it literally bubbles like champers and has this weirdly beautiful orange edge, all the while it's smoking with intent. I also went to a Maori village and my favourite trip so far Hobbiton. I'm going to save that for another post and hopefully by then I'll have photos sorted so I can share the Shire with you all.
Right now I'm sat in Te Papa museum in Wellington enjoying free wifi, it does exist here hooray! The museum beckons so I'm off.
Just in case any ex Oswalders are wondering I haven't picked up that smell.
Wednesday 12 September 2012
City of sails
I'm playing catch up here given that I'm now in Rotorua and no longer in Auckland the city of sails. I had five days there to get myself sorted, bank account verified and opened, tax number applied for and travel plans made. Job(s) done. I did some touristy things too like the museum and going up the sky tower, it swayed, I scarpered. I enjoyed generally mooching around but have discounted it from my potential places to live list. It did nothing to offend me and generally speaking I liked it but it didn't give me that shiny this could be my home feeling.
The aforementioned list is at the moment made up of just about every town in New Zealand, I'm not sure I can visit them all but I'll do my best. One thing is for sure where ever I end up I'm pretty sure I'm going to love it, I haven't stopped smiling since I got here!
I do have photos to show you all but due to expensive tinterweb access here I'm not sure when I'll have chance to upload them so expect some montage type posts in the future. For now picture a very tall building with a slightly alarmed jet lagged Kasia at the top and that was Auckland.
The aforementioned list is at the moment made up of just about every town in New Zealand, I'm not sure I can visit them all but I'll do my best. One thing is for sure where ever I end up I'm pretty sure I'm going to love it, I haven't stopped smiling since I got here!
I do have photos to show you all but due to expensive tinterweb access here I'm not sure when I'll have chance to upload them so expect some montage type posts in the future. For now picture a very tall building with a slightly alarmed jet lagged Kasia at the top and that was Auckland.
Monday 10 September 2012
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur what can I say? I didn't hate you but I won't be back. Best thing was the Malaysia Airlines check in at the train station in the city centre. OK I'm sure there was more than that but it just didn't grab me like any of the other places I've visited this year. Photo below might be lying!
Friday 7 September 2012
Girls day out at the paralympics
I spent my last day in England at the Paralympics with my mum, sister and niece. As Bonnie rightly pointed out we were having a girls day (but she did miss Theo). After becoming quite obsessed with the Olympics and Paralympics I was more than a little excited about our trip. The tickets were booked last year when I was in Nigeria which seems an absolute age ago now, I had no idea then just how excited I would be about going.
The park is a triumph, each venue iconic and the atmosphere inside was euphoric. Random strangers striking up conversation left right and centre. It felt a bit like the Toon to be honest!
We were lucky enough to have tickets for the athletics and scored great seats by the finish line with prime viewing of the victory ceremonies. Oscar (beautiful but narked) and Weir (emotional and smiley) were the highlights. We saw Weir compete too and David Devine, so nice to know they went on to get more GB medals. There was also wheelchair basketball, torch holding and the orbit. It finished with a tearful goodbye to Rachel and Bonnie. Bonnie not so tearful because she was off to the disney shop. All in all an amazing day and one I will never forget.
The park is a triumph, each venue iconic and the atmosphere inside was euphoric. Random strangers striking up conversation left right and centre. It felt a bit like the Toon to be honest!
We were lucky enough to have tickets for the athletics and scored great seats by the finish line with prime viewing of the victory ceremonies. Oscar (beautiful but narked) and Weir (emotional and smiley) were the highlights. We saw Weir compete too and David Devine, so nice to know they went on to get more GB medals. There was also wheelchair basketball, torch holding and the orbit. It finished with a tearful goodbye to Rachel and Bonnie. Bonnie not so tearful because she was off to the disney shop. All in all an amazing day and one I will never forget.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)