Why do I have to come home!!

Hello,

I know it has been a long time.........again. But I have been very active in the last few weeks, no rest for the wicked eh!!

Happy reading, I've only got a few weeks left, bollocks!!


Day 127

Well I just chilled and caught up of my website, watched a couple of films. Pretty sweet. Amy and I planned to make our own "Gourmet" pizza's, so I went and got my ingredients. But, as it turned out, I didn't need them, she left her purse in work and so she couldn't pay her bill in the supermarket. Bloody women. Anyway, we decided to do it tomorrow. So, we went to this Jazz club in the city centre (called manchester lane) for a spot of food and a nice little bottle of wine. How pleasant, then an early night.

Day 128

I prepared all my stuff for leaving and watched a few more films. Being a bit of a movie buff, I couldn't believe how many films Amy and her friends had that I had never seen. Anyway, when Amy got home, we made out gourmet pizza's. Her's really was gourmet, camabert and salmon, made mine look like a piece of shit. My pizza consisted of 2 cheeses (red leicester and chedder), red and green peppers, chilli's, tomato, red onion, pepperoni, sweetcorn and some ham. Very nice it was too. Amy's friend came over, who was very nice and we had some wine and a chat. I then went around saying goodbye to all the people in the house, as I probably wouldn't see them in the morning. It's all so sad to leave.

Day 129

I got up fairly early to make my way to the airport to get my budget flight to Sydney. As I got to the train station all the trains weren't going to spenser street station (only the place I needed to go). So I had to go to the next closest station and walk to the depot for the sky bus to the airport. Anyway, it all go sorted and I had to hang around another airport for 1 hour. The flight was very basic, but I didn't expect anything else really. As I arrived in Sydney airport I caught one of the shuttle buses that would take me to my accomodation. My first choice was closed "4-ever" as it said on the door, so I jusr wandered round to corner and stayed on top of an Irish pub in an area call ed kings cross. I found myself at a bit of a loose end, so I gave James (from my trip to Ayres rock) a shout. He came met me in Kings cross, and so we went on the piss. We had some beers, then hit an Indian (not literally of course), then got more pissed up and ended up in a stripclub laughing at all the women. Got in around 4:30 am, so a pretty succesful first night out in Sydney.

Day 130

Got up quite late with a hangover. Me and James went for food, then we decided to chill and go to the cinema. So it was time to watch Star Wars again, everything else there was shit. It was in fact much bett second time around. I then had an early night, got to go and see the sights tomorrow, I mean, I am in Sydney.

Day 131

Went to the opera house and the harbour bridge. Bloody tourists everywhere, wasn't as impressive as I thought it would be. I also went to the Australian Museum, which was very good indeed, then I got lost, confirmed my airline booking and went on the piss with James again. I kept it fairly tame though, as I was leaving for New Zealand early tomorrow.

Day 132

Got my pick up to the Airport in plenty of time. The flight was ok. When I arrived in New Zealand I was shattered and wanted a quiet night, so I got myself a private room. Made myself some food and chilled out. Couldn get to sleep, another time zone change is really starting to screw me over.

Day 133

Suffered from bad Jet lag. But I did manage to force myself up to sort out going on the "Kiwi Experience" bus trip. Not cheap but it's meant to be good fun with lots of people doing the same things and stuff. So, I'll be jumping on to that tomorrow.I then eventually ventured out to get some food, and there was a tramp giving women random abuse as they walked past, it was quite amusing. Anyway, got an early pick up in the morning, to bed!

Day 134

Jumped on the bus at about 6:30 am, feeling shattered. There weren't that many people on the bus. I did manage to start talking to a couple of lads over here from Northern Ireland. Oh yeah, I was on a bus heading for the "Bay of Island" in the north of New Zealand. We stayed in a hostel there, and as the weather was shit, I decided to do my activity tomorrow morning. That activity is "Swimming with Dolphins". So I had a wander around town, had a nap and generally chilled out. Talked to a guy and girl from Newcastle who were staying in my dorm and went for a BBQ and a couple of beers. Well, the couple of beers turned in to loads while myself and dudes from England, America and Norway started playing drinking games. The guy from Norway wasn't getting much luck and had to run off to be sick. Funny as.

Day 135

Got up bright and early for my trip, little hangover, nothing too bad. Got some breakfast and jumped on the boat to go see the dolphins. The Irish lads yesterday weren't able to swim with them, but they did see some killed whales, so I didn't expect to swim with them. But to my suprise, I was soon jumping in some freezing cold water and swimming with about 10 or so dolphins. It was awesome, I could believe it, another first, and what an experience. They fast bastards as well, tried to keep up with them, good stuff, got some awesome pictures.Once back on land, I just chilled until the bus turned up and took me back to Auckland. Early night, ready for tomorrow.

Day 136

Now then, this is where I really started drinking. Got on the bus, there weren't many people on it and nobody really speaking to eachother. Our driver was called stains (who I've been stuck with since) and we were travelling from Auckland to Whitunga. Along the way we stopped off at cathedral cove and did a nioce little 45 minute walk. Once we checked in to our hostel, some of us went to make a bone carving necklace. Four of us, all men, suprisingly. One guy from England (can't remember his name as he was a bit of a twat), Sam from Australia and Jalmar from Holland. We all had a good laugh while making our necklaces, and Sam Jalmar and myself decided to go for a couple of beers. We were joined by a splendid young couple from England called Richard and Lucy. The guy from Holland brought some dice with him so we started a drinking game called "The Mexican", it was good fun and I got wasted. The dutch guy kopped off with some 38 year old mum, fucking hilarious!!

Day 137

Bad Hangover. It was now time to go to Rotorua. We passed through "Hobbiton" and I went Zorbing. Zorbing is a big inflatable ball you jump in to and then just roll down a hill. It was class, but over a bit to quickly. Once in Rotorua (which was a smelly place, stinking of sulphur) we went and did this tabogan run type thing which was hilarious. Sam and I then went and had a look at the park in the centre of town which had (natural) boiling pools of mub and water. It was mightily impressive. We then went for a few beers and a couple of games of pool. We then went for a Mauri experience thing which was very good. They did a traditional welcome (quite intimidating), some songs and dance and then we were treated to a Mauri feast. It was blinding!

Day 138

Said goodbye to Sam and jumped back on to the bus to go from Rotorua to Waitomo. Some people went caving, myself and Jalmar (now known to all as Stuntcock) decided to chill, play some pool and have a few drinks. Basically we ended up getting lashed, and bothering people until the early hours. I got to stick with this guy for the next couple of weeks as well, he's going to kill me. These Dutch are pretty hardcore!!

Day 139

Today we went from Waitomo to Taupo. Along the way we did a few walks through some volcanic parks and went to see a dam open up. Once in our hostel, it was time to watch the first Lions game, well after playing some "Mexican". Ronan O'Gara had a terrible match. After the game, some of us ventured in to town, it being a Saturday night and all. Oh my god, it was nice to hear some familiar welsh accents. Met a girl who married a local who was now a teacher over here, and a couple of guys from Cardiff (scum bastards!). This dutch bastard has now got me drinking wine in pubs, the women here are quite forward to. Jesus. Anyway, got in around 3:15am, totally wasted.

Day 140

Had a bit of a sleep in, then got woken up by stains knocking at the door. Our activity (for some of us anyway) today was to go fishing. So, it was time to get some beers and go catch some fish in the humungous lake in Taupo. I caught a big bastard trout as well, got a sweet picture. After drinking all day on the boat, I went back to the hostel for an early night.

Day 141

Feeling really bad today. We set off for River Valley (still not totally sure where it is) and instead of doing any kind of "Extreme" activity, myself, stains and stuntcock went for a game of pitch and putt golf. Very nice it was too. Then time for a nap, then the drinking started again. I tell you what, I'm dying!! A bloody card drinking game called kings. Who the hell thinks of these things!! Anyway, we were joined at this lodge by a pile of Americans (who we had got to meet along the way). Wasted, again!!

Day 142

Today we went from River Valley to Wellington. We had a bit of a lte start, but we were woken up early by the bloody Americans. Anyway, we eventually got to Wellington, just chilled, had some food and went to the cinema. We went to see "Downfall", a movie about the last few weeks of Hitler. We took our German friend with us, quality. We were taking the piss out of him, but he was good with it. Then had a couple of drinks and then bed.

Day 143

Went to the Museum here, which was good, but not great. Tried to hard. Got some photo's done and just chilled. Then it was time to go out and watch the Lions match. Well obviously, I ended up getting smashed and woke up on the sofa of the hostel
Day 143
We got feer from Wellington over to the south island. Man, the weather here is freezing. We stayed in a place called Nelson, there wasn't much to do. So, stuntcock and I decided to hit the bar. So we played some pool, had some food, some wine, then I retired to bed.

Day 144

Today we went from Nelson to the Buller Valley. I felt terrible today, nothing to do here. Night off the booze, me thinks. Had a kip in the afternoon and watched a couple of movies in to the night.

Day 145

Today I went quadbiking which was awesome. So now I can quadbike, it's quite dangerous though, I can see how people can get hurt. Anyway, we then went from here to Mahinapua, where we would have to dress in drag for the "fun night". So we watched the game, and I changed in to my lovely outfit (given to me by Lucy) which consisted of a Sarong and a tight top. I finished it off with some boobs made from my pants, some of the guys were jelous of my rack, so they went out and did the same. Man, I make one creepy looking woman (I mean, I make a creepy looking man at the best of times). Good laugh though. Met the first prick so far on my travels, an English guy called Edward (who went to the same boarding school as myself). Turns out this toff bastard had it in for all the Welsh rugby players, saying they are overated. Tosser. Oh yeah, and I fell out my bunk during the night injuring my back.

Day 146

The morning consisted of travelling from Mahinapua to Franz Josef. We did a couple of walks to some falls along the way, they had impressive names, and did not live up to their own hype. We went to one place where some people could do some gold prospecting, but I couldn't be arsed, I wanted to go paintballing, but we couldn't ge the numbers to do it. Gutted. Should have seen the pitiful amounts of gold people got, all while they were getting bitten to shit by sandflies. When we arrived in Franz Josef, lots of people went off to oraganise a glacial walk for the following day. Sod that, myself and my dutch friend decided on a night on the lash followed by an easy day. It was a far cheaper and more sensible option. I mean, if I am going to do a glacial walk, I'd rather do it on the biggest one, which I understand is in Nepal. These activities in New Zealand, amazing as they are, take a lot of money to do. So, as everyone else tottered off to bed at around 8, we got steaming with the bus drivers and had a great laugh.

Day 147

Relaxed all day today, splendid and much needed sleep in. Got up, had a peak on the internet, made a little food and watched some TV. We played some pool and had an early night.

Day 148

Franz Josef to Wanaka was the travel for today. An early morning, went through some mountain ranges, saw some more waterfalls. There wasn't much to do in Wanaka, it was just a little stop off ready for the activities of Queenstown. Today though, I got roped in to doing a bungy jump. I didn't want to do one, but after being one who always bows to peer pressure, I bit at the chants of chicken. So, fuck doing the 40m jump, I'll start with the biggest one at 134m. Had a couple of drinks in the night with some of the people from the bus, actually had a few to many, think I was worried about the bungy.

Day 149

Went from Wanaka to Queenstown by midday, after a quick stop at the world of puzzles (quite funny thing to do with a hangover). I booked my bungy for $250 (100 quid) including DVD and T-shirt, so there was no backing out now. We then stood looking down a valley watching the small bungy with people jumping off bridge (40m). Some people were absolutely shitting themselves, and I don't blame them. It didn't look that high, but you realise how high it is when you get on to the ledge. Anyway, after a few heart racing jumps, we were all done and it was on in to Queenstown via a stop off at the "Best Pie shop in New Zealand". It was very nice to, a quality spicy chicken pie. We checked in to our accomodation, and went for a hair cut. Crap hair cut, the bloke didn't have a clue, and all for a tenner, bastard. Got back to our digs, got changed and went to the boozer to watch the game. Good match, we then switched bars and went to somewhere which does teapots full of booze, very good.

Day 150

Woke up with a terrible hangover, not ideal preperation for my bungy, scheduled for some time in the afternoon. So, dehydrating, I went for the bungy. My palms were sweating like mad, I couldn't believe what I had gotten myself in to. I kept on thinking "You idiot, and you paid for it". Anyway, we got to the top of this huge valley, an took this little cable car across this vast expanse to a platform placed in the centre of the valley. Fuck me, this cable car just shaking was bad enough, let alone having to jump off the platform at some point in the near future. Anyway, my dutch buddy went first as he was the heaviest at 94kg (I was a meagre 74kg) and off he jumped right away. I was getting more worried by the second, he just kept falling and falling. Another 7-8 guys went before me, and then my time came. Oh christ, I sat in this titlted back dentist chair type thing while they attached the bungy, they asked me to say something to the camera, I was to worried to say anything (wait till you see the DVD), so I just did the ROCK hand gesture across my chest. Then it was my turn to go on to the ledge, at which point the dutch bastard was taking the piss. You had to waddle on to the jumping platform, making it impossible to not look down, here we go!! 3-2-1 go, my legs didn't want to go, they seized, a second countdown, and I swandived down in to the valley. The scariest thing about the whole thing was the moment when you realise that you are falling, after that you get a little euphoria, you body just seems to accept this crazy thing you're doing. A couple of bounces, pull the rip chord and abck up to the top, relieved. Give everyone else encouregement as they went to do theirs. It was a great feeling. Back to the bungy centre we went to have a look at our DVDs and pick our t-shirt. It is awesome!! After all this traumer, I booked myself in to do some skiing tomorrow and then proceeded to the bar for some much needed adreniline sedation.

Day 151

Went skiing, it was good, but they only had a few slopes open due to it being so early in the season. There was a tricky slope, a fast slope and the beginner slope. After four hours of doing the slopes that were worth doing, my legs were like jelly and it was time to go back to the digs for a shower and some rest. A quiet one was needed tonight, so I went to the cinema to watch "Batman Begins", which is the best comic book film ever. If you don't agree, then you can shove it!!

Day 152

An early start today, we set off for Christchurch. There wasn't really much to do here, so we stayed for only the one night. We got in to our accomodation, chilled, watched the game, had a few drinks and had a curry. Very nice.

Day 153

Another early start, travel to Kaikoura was the order of the day. We stopped off to see some seals lazing in the sun, and man do these gigantic bastards stink. There was nothing much else to do here apart from Whale watching (which I plan to do in Tonga or Samoa, for much cheaper), so down the pub we went, did some washing, then back down the pub.

Day 154

We went back to Welington today. We showed a couple from our bus (Andy and Sarah) our bungy DVD's and I agreed to do the Auckland bungy with her as her hubby didn't like the bungy experience (On their dvd he asks the bungy safety guys "Am I going to die?"). We then had some scran and went on the town with some girls from the bus. They wanted to go to a strip bar, so off we went. It was a crap strip bar, but aren't they all. One guy who was on the stage having a private dance, was enjoying himself a little too much by the look of his trousers. How we laughed.

Day 155

Another day, another bit of travelling, this time back to Taupo. We just chilled out, watched the lions match. I had a chat with a bouncer who's Dale Mackintosh's (the chief) cousin, and he told me he was in town tomorrow. Gutted, I was leaving tomorrow. By about 11, I had had enough and called it a night.

Day 156

From Taupo, it was now back to Auckland. Myself and my dutch friend together got a little gift for our kindly bus driver, whom with which we had had a bloody good time. We got him the gayest card we could find, a black and white photograph of a guy holding a wooden pole with the caption "everything I touch reminds me of you". It took us ages to find, but it was worth the wait. It got a good laugh in the pub that night when we gave it to him in front of his colleagues.

Day 157

Got up late, had a spot of lunch and went to the cinema to watch "Mr and Mrs Smith". Found out that an old work colleague died recently of DVT, made me think about various things especially about the long haul flights that I have in the next 5 weeks. Anyway, enough about that, just chilled in the night.

Day 158

Got up, did the Auckland bridge bungy. Quite good fun, tried to get in to the water, but didn't quite jump right. Watched the game in our room, wasn't really in the mood to stay out and went home fairlt early.

Day 159 - Day 164

Did nothing much. Just waiting for my flight to Tonga, which I have brought forward. Don't know what to expect from this island in the pacific, got my lonely planet, but no real clue what I want to do. Maybe de-tox for de-tox.

So It's off to Tonga I shall go!!