Some final thoughts on Australia. The cities have shown me the intellectuals, who are driven by technology, who love cycling. Melbourne is awash with funky bars, little cafés and nice restaurants (mostly out of my current budget). It's a place I could definitely live for a while. It'd be easy to spend too much time in the bars and cafés though, and forget the city outside.
Arrived in Christchurch yesterday, expensive shuttle to the hostel, where I discovered I'd messed up my booking. Reserved 13-15, not 15-17. Dammit! Luckily they were very understanding and helpful (and not full), and put me in a triple room for the night. Got dinner in a Thai place, top notch spring rolls. Tried doing some planning for the next few weeks - choose a bus company, route, etc. Fast asleep by 11pm.
Skipped breakfast due to lack of supplies, headed to find the new city centre. Since the earthquake, a huge portion of the centre of town has been closed off, called the Red Zone. It's like something out of an apocalyptic zombie film. All fenced off, deserted streets, sounds of construction and demolition drifting over the rubble. It's like the heart has been ripped from Christchurch, and even on the outskirts of town, small lots of shops are closed. A local church. A barber. The after-effects of the quake are clear.
Go to the museum - a surprisingly amazing World of Wearable Art exhibition, rugby photography, Antarctic exploration (including a sometimes unintentionally funny narrated film about the Trans-antarctic expedition of 1958). Enquired about buying one of the photos for home, but it was already sold - only that day! It was of the All Blacks walking onto the field in Belfast, guarded by British sharpshooters. At NZ$340 excluding delivery, maybe it's best it was already gone.
Stopped by the tourist info then, and on to the library to use the 'net. Then back via Re:start, a collection of shipping containers housing shops and cafés, relocated from the actual city centre. Just clothes and high street shops like that. Supermarket for supplies: new journal and an expensive sim card.
Home to find I'm a little late to book a bus trip. Organise a day trip to Akaroa tomorrow instead, will be a jammed morning. Want to go for a run as well - get back to a fit state.
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Arrived in Christchurch yesterday, expensive shuttle to the hostel, where I discovered I'd messed up my booking. Reserved 13-15, not 15-17. Dammit! Luckily they were very understanding and helpful (and not full), and put me in a triple room for the night. Got dinner in a Thai place, top notch spring rolls. Tried doing some planning for the next few weeks - choose a bus company, route, etc. Fast asleep by 11pm.
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| View of the Alps from the plane |
Skipped breakfast due to lack of supplies, headed to find the new city centre. Since the earthquake, a huge portion of the centre of town has been closed off, called the Red Zone. It's like something out of an apocalyptic zombie film. All fenced off, deserted streets, sounds of construction and demolition drifting over the rubble. It's like the heart has been ripped from Christchurch, and even on the outskirts of town, small lots of shops are closed. A local church. A barber. The after-effects of the quake are clear.
Go to the museum - a surprisingly amazing World of Wearable Art exhibition, rugby photography, Antarctic exploration (including a sometimes unintentionally funny narrated film about the Trans-antarctic expedition of 1958). Enquired about buying one of the photos for home, but it was already sold - only that day! It was of the All Blacks walking onto the field in Belfast, guarded by British sharpshooters. At NZ$340 excluding delivery, maybe it's best it was already gone.
Stopped by the tourist info then, and on to the library to use the 'net. Then back via Re:start, a collection of shipping containers housing shops and cafés, relocated from the actual city centre. Just clothes and high street shops like that. Supermarket for supplies: new journal and an expensive sim card.
 |
| Some of the shop containers at Re:start |
Home to find I'm a little late to book a bus trip. Organise a day trip to Akaroa tomorrow instead, will be a jammed morning. Want to go for a run as well - get back to a fit state.
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