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!
Friday, April 18, 2008
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!
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!
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!
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!
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 :)
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 :)
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