A quick update

I can't even go into detail all that has happened since my last update so you will get the quick version which may be more than my own diary gets as I still haven't had time to write down everything - it's all just headings now and I have over 2 pages of them :-/

I left Roxburgh regrettably - the last day of work was Friday and we worked till 7 to finish a block it was really hard work and horrible having to say goodbye to all our friends and other workers. At night our manager at the orchard came round with drinks for us all - a really nice guy I'll miss him!

On Sunday Seira and I left for Dunedin - the manager of the hostel never even said goodbye because he was still being a real pain in the neck - the git!!! Seira is Japanese and the Japanese girls (mostly) all travel the same - massive suitcase and two extra bags - verry few travel with rucksacks though Seira is considering changing as she sees it is a lot easier. The other thing is that they all wear stripy pyjama bottoms - don't know why but it's a common occurence! Dunedin is really nice - very Scottish so my name is signed in the book in the Scottish shop. Guess what - they even sell Irn Bru (the real Barr's stuff) though it's really expensive and $10 for a tin of haggis???? Climbed the steepest street (very steep)! Played the piano in the backpackers - such a nice occurence even if I was rubbish! Spent the next day on the beach and chased the sun at night - good fun!

Then we went to Te Anau! And met up with friends that we left in Roxburgh (Chris and Stephen who are travelling togehter) The 4 of us camped for the next 4 nights together - one night spent on the Kepler track at the side of a beautiful lake with a really warm campfire. One spent in a holiday park as we were very smelly and in dire need of washing bodies and clothes. Also visited Milford Sound but it was ******* with rain so we didn't see more than the Harbour - no cruise! But we did go on the very scary road there and back with the car almost packing up and the brakes almost failing. Terrifying but funny to look back on!

After Te Anau the 4 of us went to Queenstown and met up with Giacomo (our Italian friend from Roxburgh) and had 2 drunken nights on the town. Staying in a horrible backpackers but having fun and watched the rugby. I had a great time watching the Scotland v Italy rugby match in the Irish pub with Giacomo as I already knew Scotland would beat Italy 18-10 after hearing the score by accident in the morn.

We said goodbye to Chris and Stephen and Seira and I went to Fox Glacier where as we were about to phone Chris and Stephen in the evening found them standing beside us as they had followed us up the road and they stayed another night with us. In the morning (after watching the sunset at Lake Matheson - the most famous mirror lake in NZ - and visiting the glowworm forest) we did a skydive over Mount Cook - the highest mountain in NZ - Mount Tasman - the 2nd highest - and Fox Glacier. Definitely the best way to see the glacier at 12,000ft in the air. freefall for 45 secs and then parachute down where I also got to direct the parachute for a bit. In the afternoon we walked up to the bottom of the glacier and saw it from the bottom - not quite as impressive but still brilliant.

Then I said goodbye to Seira in Hokitika and I went onto Greymouth for a few nights. The 2nd night I found out the dark history of the hostel (only changed about 2 or 3 months before - loud music and rent out bedrooms ----hint hint ------) so glad the new owners were there by the time I was! Also got talking to the father of the family that owned it and sat up part of the night talking to him and getting free drink.

Then after Greymouth I went to Nelson and in Nelson I am writing this. I arrived here last night and today went into the Abel Tasman National park and went swimming with seals. It was amazing you really don't realise how big they are until they are swimming not 1 metre from you. and how big their eyes are when they are staring right at you! WOW!

So now thats you all updated - if you have any questions please write in the comments section and I will get around to answering them in my next entry.