Green Green Grass of Home

So here we go. Another farewell blog. It is my last night in New Zealand, however due to the internet connection that has the speed of a snail crawling over broken glass I will probably not be uploading this untill I reach Oz. I am writing it on my last night and thats what counts!

Very mixed feelings about leaving New Zealand if I am being honest. I experainced probably my lowest time yet on my travels over here but I have also seen some amazing sights that I know I will never see again (well until I look through my photos - but you get the Idea).

I am back in the city that I started my NZ adventure in - Auckland. I am flying out of here in the morning and I arrived from Christchurch this afternoon. I am staying in a hotel for the night as there isn't much point making the 50km round trip into the city center for just one night. Anyway, the city center wasn't anything special at all!

The middle of the North Island is pretty much no-descript. Its okay, bit hilly and a lot like Wales in a certain aspect. Another thing that I have to mention is that the people here are so SO friendly. Not met anyone yet who wasn't - still one more night to go though, so who knows.

Wellington was immense fun, was amazing to hang out with my cousin as 'grow-ups'. She moved over here when I was just 16 and as such I have never been for a drink with her. It was really good to stay with a 'native' in Welly a I am so greatful to her for letting me into her life for the week that I was there.

The south Island is definatly the best part of New Zealand and the west coast part of the Island is nothing less than amazing. I know I keep banging on about the sights, but its true, sorry! I defintaly chose the best tactic to rent the 'Spaceship' for the travels as it ment that I could just pull over at the side of the road at anytime and snap away. I also got some 'sick' footage with my video camera, I became a dab hand at holding the camera and driving at the same time. Oh the joys of automatic gearboxes!

I will make a special mention to Christchurch. On my last day in the 'South' I decided to pop into the city center and have a walk around. I couldn't believe the devestation that the Earthquakes caused (yes I didnt realise there were two either). It was really sad to see, and really just turned the whole day kinda sombre. I couldn't believe that the WHOLE of the city center was still a no-go zone. Just for a second imagine if the center of your town/city where you lived was just fucked up over night. For many of us, we don't appreiciate where we live enough. Now I am not preaching for you to go out and hug your local post office, but just take a moment to think. All credit to the residents of Christchurch however. They have just got on with it, as most Kiwi's tend to do. They have built a new center to the city - out of shipping containers, just remarkable.

So, New Zealand, some bad - most good! It is a shame to say goodbye to this beautiful little nation often overshadowed by its noisey neighbours (Wales again!), but I think that I have spent just enough time here.

I head to Australia with mixed feeling as what to expect. Quite a few people here say that NZ is better - they would. I am looking forward to hotter weather and my track record so far has been 'promising' with Aussie women!

Bring on the MCG, Ramsey Street, Kangaroos and Chlyamidia Infected Koala Bears!

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