Monday, April 28, 2008

paradise lost

Well, where to begin on this post. I'm absolutely dumbstruck as to how to start this or even where to begin.

Name: Christofer Olsson
Location: Internet Cafe, Melbourne, Australia
Status: Level 10 heart broke

As some of you may have already read on my Facebook status, I'm not doing to great at the moment (especially RIGHT now, just smelled Ms. D from another girl here).

I got to Sydney with amazing warmth in my body and saturated in love for Ms. D. I landed, and I got to see her after 4 long hard weeks, and it was just amazing.

I'm sorry, I can't write everything else.

Ms. D had been acting weird for quite some time, something that I brought up on several occasions, trying to find out what was the matter, with little results. While in my hotel room with her, I decided to see what was up, and came up with several theories as to what was wrong, none of them being the correct reason. I told her that I was one of her best friends (something she claimed previously) and that I wanted to help her by any means possible, and that we were in it together. That apparently struck a chord of some sort. She then believed that was the problem: she no longer saw me as her partner but as her best friend instead. She had told me that she still loved me, just not the same was as she did in NZ, and that she only loved me as a friend.

At this point I didn't really know what to do. Anyway, I don't want to go into too much detail in this blog.

Here's the final result: We are no longer together, we are still friends (so far), will miss one another, and I'm flying back to New Zealand tomorrow (I've already booked the tickets).

I can't be here right now. I need to be with friends in NZ.

So what will happen in NZ? I'm going to head back down to Dunedin and try to get myself sorted out, staying with friends I made down there, and then try to find a job of some sort, some where.

We'll see what happens. And don't worry, I'll be fine.

Friday, April 25, 2008

Greetings from -

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA!

I've now jumped the Ditch and I'm reunited with Ms. D and tonight we're heading on down towards Melbourne to meet up with my old man. So we're gonna be down there for a couple of days and then we're going to get a mini-van to sleep in and do some driving around. I'm pretty excited about it!

But I don't really have the energy to write a whole lot, so just head on over to the web album for some new photos. Mind you, I've added some more, but they're organized by date, so you might not of have see them straight away.

Oh, here's a quick story though. A story of deception, trickery and slyness - the story of the switcheroo at the Dolls House.

The very night before I left Chch I met up with a guy I met in Wananka while doing a tramp (a very cool dude), and he used to be a bouncer at a strip club, and he had accumulated (via tips and what not) about 1400NZD of funny money from the club (read: Monopoly Money) and he had left the club on pretty bad terms, so he needed me to go in and try to get some of the money changed into real money. So, he broke down the whole way the club was run and how I was to go about getting what I needed. He made sure I didn't pay for anything, not even the entrance fee. I was given a free entrance card for that, along with 200NZD spending money. Sweet! He told me to buy the girls drinks and give tips to establish that I was a regular customer with some extra money to spend. And then when I left, I had to make up a story and try to get some of the money changed on my way out.

So I got into the club for free, and it was pretty damn cold in there mind you! And then I finally saw girls dancing on stage (yes, I have been to strip clubs previously), choice. I then went through with the plan we devised and got 100bucks out the club. My friend was expecting about 30-40, so when I came out with 100bucks, he was pretty stoked! And as it turns out this guy is heading over to Swe-dala in about 2.5 weeks, so who knows where I'll meet him again :D

I would like to elaborate a bit more on this story but Ms. D and I have to try to find some cheap mini-vans here in Oz to boogy around in.

Till next time - have good one! Don't forget the photos!

Greetings from

Friday, April 18, 2008

I almost forgot

I almost forgot guys, I was in Milford Sound, a bit north of Manapouri, and it was just amazing! The waterfalls, and scenery was just surreal! Everything was just massive, and unbelievable.

I tried to get my WOF sorted out again, but I was failed again, and I've decided not to put any more money out on my car, it just isn't worth it. I've fixed it up as much as possible, but now I'm just sick and tired of it all. So, I'm not going to be buying a car for a very very long time. And yeah, my hostess is really awesome and is allowing me to leave some stuff behind while I jump over to Oz, I'm not leaving anything too valuable, but I really trust her, so it's all good :D

Anyway, there are some more photos in the album, nothing too great, hope you guys enjoy!

See ya!

Thursday, April 17, 2008

Gone surfing

G'day guys!

It's been not to long since my last post, but quite a while since my last real post, and so I'm going to try to fix that.

Well, I've left my hostel and now couchsurfing over at some students place which is pretty sweet. I have the lounge/TV room with a fire place built in all to my self. And my hostess has hooked me up with a laptop whenever she isn't working on it :D Lock'n'Loll!!! And she's got heaps of movies for me to watch if I don't have anything better to do. It's not just me and her here, it's 4 of us in total, and everyone here is a cool person. I've only been here for one night so far, and I'm going to be crashing here one more night, however the hostess said there's a good chance I can extend my stay for a couple of more days, I just have to ask the other people who live here. According to my host, they like me, so that's a good sign and should help me stay a bit longer, but we'll see. Don't want to get my hopes up you know. I'm pretty sure I have some one else lined up for if they don't let me stay another night.

Anyway! I went to get my car rejected at the testing station just to see what was wrong with it, and now most of it's been repaired. They pulled me on missing some lights, and then rust. So I got all of that fixed now. I went to a backyard panel beater, and he gave me one steel (pun pun) of deal. He rebuilt the corner of my passenger door, fixed a small segment on the lower front supporting pillar, removed some other small patches of rust, changed my oil, welded a cracked exhaust pipe, and gave me free light bulbs. For how much you ask? He wanted 161 NZD (751 SEK) but I gave him 180NZD (840SEK) because what he did was a lot more expensive, and I just felt that he should of taken a bit more. He was pretty surprised, and really happy with it, so that was really cool. I also have a pretty good idea of how to change the oil now. I also had to replace the drivers seat belt. It was gonna cost me about 160 for a new seat belt, but I went to a wreckers instead, and bought one for 50 bucks instead. Sweet. I installed it too :D which felt pretty cool mind you. Working on my car, getting it ready for the market. Choice! I was looking only for how much they want for my car, and most people are asking for about 2500, so I'm gonna be putting mine up for about 1500, and hopefully I'm gonna get some bids on it. I think I'm going to take the money and buy a laptop with it, cause this is just driving me crazy, not getting to do some paintwork on my photos. But yeah, I think I'll wait until I get back from Oz before I buy a laptop.

I haven't really done a whole lot else here in Dunedin, except for trying to fix my car. I went for a quick drive down the peninsula and that was really nice. I found this really random...cave? No, it wasn't a cave, it was almost like a bunker right off a cliff by the side of the road. At first I only walked a couple of meters inside cause it looked super dodgey, and so when I turned around there was someone standing there. At first I was like like "@#$%^!!!!! Get ready to fight Chris!" But after looking closer at him and his clothing, he was just a tourist too, and so we both walked into the bunker and didn't find a whole lot. It was pretty big, but all it had was a bunch of graffiti and trash lying around the place. I don't know what had been going on there, but a part of me just doesn't want to know either. Yeah, craziness.

Today I'm gonna go for a drive with a friend I made along the road while going up to Milford sound (a hitchhiker Frauline Germany knew too) and we're going back out to the peninsula and then on the other side of it to maybe check out some penguins and seals, along with just amazing views. However the weather isn't the greatest a the moment, so I don't know how long we're gonna be out. If I'm feeling lucky, I'm going to go and get WOF done again, and hopefully I'll pass this time, and then I'm gonna go and make some posters and advertise it online too.

And most likely going to play some pool today too. I've been playing pool the past 3 nights in a row. Night before last I was kicking some serious ass, but last night was pretty shameful. My mind was somewhere else, thinking about Ms. D you know and our future. Something I really shouldn't be doing, but we'll see what happens. I'm going to have to talk to her about it when I get to Oz because this relationship is just too good to end because we want to do some traveling. Gah! F--king women man - nej, I take that back, f--king relationships, they can be just so damn hard sometimes!!! Why?!?!

Yup, that's the way it is right now. Besides my car and Ms. D 'problems', I'm doing just great! And so I have to get ready for my little drive today, and I shall leave you guys to it. Sorry, no photos today though. Hope you guys liked the previous ones I took. Oh, and before I forget: Family Man, I'm most likely going to take you up on that offer, it's some photos are too big to send, but we'll sort something out. L8ers gaitors!

Monday, April 14, 2008

Duners delight

I'm in Dunedin now, just going to crash here for a couple of days, no real plans. Just trying to find some couches to surf on and save some $ for my trip over to Oz.

Tomorrow is the big day. I'll see if I'll be keeping TM or not. If it costs too much to repair I think I'm going to sell it. Then I'll be saving heaps of cash and just hitchhike my way through NZ instead. I've done it twice so far with no real hitches (don't worry, I'm always going to be careful).

And hopefully I'll be meeting my dad in Melbourne over in Oz, and hopefully he'll be meeting Ms. D too. Which would be crazy, because then she just has to meet my brother and then he's met my entire immediate family (oh, and my brothers fiance, you count too Bigg-E) :P

Right now, I'm dying for a feed, but in the mean time, jump on over to my web album and check out some MORE photos.

Speaking of which, I have some bad news. I won't be publishing too many landscape photos because right now I'm taking shots in RAW format and most iCafes don't have the right programs to everything I need to do to upload. But i'll probably find a solution. Later guys!

Wednesday, April 9, 2008

Tuesday, April 8, 2008

Gone going...

I'm in Queenstown right now, been here a night, and it's a really nice place. Really. I was in Wanaka the other day, and I prefer that town over this. This is a real touristy ski resort town, only based on partying and spending all your life savings and on the verge of selling your left kidney on the black market to ensure you get to do everything possible that this town has to offer - no matter what the cost (that includes taking the kidney from your travel mate too :-S). But that's another subject all together, so we'll cross that bridge when we get to it.

ANYWAY! I'm going bungy jumping today, which I'm pretty stoked about, and I'm also going to be doing some canyoning in the next couple of days. I also want to do some other wild activities, but I have to make sure I have some money for when I get over to Oz. Something I've been thinking briefly over too, I might not stay here until November if I can't find a job, and just jump the Ditch and get a job over there. We'll see what happens. I've applied to two different jobs so far: one in Hokitika at a dairy factory (good cash) and another one up by Nelson (don't know how much pay it is).

Oh, I met this couple while I was out hiking in Wanaka, the girl was from Sweden and the guy is a Kiwi, both really cool and nice people. I'm going Bungy with them and then might do the canyoning with them too, it all depends on how much $ they got of course. But yeah, as always, meeting great people.

Speaking of which, I'm really looking forward to meeting Ms. D in 16 more days. It's just driving me absolutely crazy not being with her. You see all these couples running around town, holding hands and stuff like that. Or I'm just sitting around digging for gold in my belly button, thinking about her. Man, life is pretty damn tough for me on that part (not expecting sympathy guys). Hopefully it's going to work out once I get to Oz, not really expecting anything, but there is a glimor of hope in there. Damn love...what a P.o.S. (not going to say what it means, Google it). But I'm drowning my sorrows in a book right now call jPod, and it is ridiculously funny! It took me about 2 minutes to read one page because I was laughing like a maniac. It's primo (<-Kiwi) material guys! Also just finished reading Into the Wild which was a pretty intense read man, I really recommend it too.

Aight my fellow followers of the O.D.NZ blog, I must depart to meet my fate with a elastice piece of cord that's supossed to keep me from hitting the ground. Oh yeah, it's a 134m bungy...or 143 I forget. Toodles guys!

Wednesday, April 2, 2008

Past few days...

April Fools guys, if you didn't figure that out.

I'm staying in NZ (with exception to my detour to Oz) for the next couple of months. Just figured I was going to give you guys an update on what's been happening, which is...not a lot.

A couple of days ago I walked to the Center of NZ which is right here in Nelson, I didn't feel complete, as I expected, but now I can say that I've been in the geographical center of NZ - yay.

Also, went out partying with some people I met at the hostel, and I finally met that one really cool bartender who gave cheap drinks. We got to buy 4 shots for 6.50 NZD which is just ridiculous! Beer was cheap, but shots were cheaper :P Also made 2 more contact in Oz for when I get there, so I'm gonna give them a shout when I'm there, and maybe do some partying with them, which I'm partially looking forward to.

What else...hmmm...oh yeah, at first I was working for my accommodation by cleaning the hostel 3 hrs a day, but I was then offered the shuttle bus driver position which reduced my time from 3 hrs to about max...40minutes. All I had to do was go and pick people up from the bus station with the hostel bus, and then come back. That's it, simple as pie.

Trying to figure anything else that is new...uh...nope. Oh yeah, I'm leaving Nelson tomorrow on the 3rd, and then I'll have southbound course, and be doing the West coast again (but skip the towns I've already been to). And then try and be in Dunedin in about a week where I hope to be dropping off my car somewhere while I'm in Oz, and then I'll just hitchhike up to Christchurch to catch my flight. And I might have a passenger to join me on my travels, but we'll see what kind of person it is. Hopefully she'll be a good traveling companion.

Oh, and the ship I mentioned, all the info I gave is legit, and I didn't know Ms. D, you can bet your ass that I would be on top of that mast heading out to Fiji and kicking ass! It's a bit pricey, but well worth it in my opinion. Too bad. I might fly to Fiji to sail with them around the Islands over there, but nothing is for sure, all that money would add up. Only time will tell.

Aight guys, gonna go now. No photos today, sorry :(

Talk to you guys soon!

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Screw it...

Australia is no longer going to happen. I've decided instead to
proceed with a sailing opportunity instead. I have just been
recruited to a sailing boat Alvei (click for more info).
I will be leaving Nelson April 10th and then will be sailing a
long 3 weeks voyage to Fiji and then to Vanuatu.

For reasons unknown to me I find this a lot more appealing.
Of course I am quite sad about Ms D not coming along, but
on the other side, I might be able to convince her to you,
like, tag along. Nothing is for certain, but I know that
she is pretty keen on doing something similar.



I don't know how long I will be gone for. I was thinking about just doing it until i got tired, but we'll see. I met a girl on board who has been sailing for the past two years, and the stories that she told me were quite amazing.

You could be asking, why not just do it after Oz or NZ? Because they are leaving for the proverbial islands and won't return until November next year. Hence I want to do now.

I've hidden a message in the first two paragraphs. Here's a hint, look vertically on the left hand side :)