22 hours on a bus to the desert

15th of Februray

This is what it looked like for about 22 hours of driving

Click on the picture to make it bigger, to see what the sign says!

That was a tough night sleeping on the bus, we're awake now and still have over 12 hours left on the bus. We're pretty exhausted as the only food you get from you get on the bus until you step off 22 hours lates is: 1 cookie, 1 caramel bisquite, 1 packet of mini bread sticks, 2 cartons of suuuper sweet juice and 1 cheese and ham sandwhich (if you can actually call it a sandwhich) so you can imagine you get quiet hungry. Thank god me and David had 2 grape fruits with us to share.
We were driving through the desert, and believe me, it was just nothing but desert, ocasioanlly we'd pass through these tiny towns that did not look very developed. on the sandy hills you can see that people have been there because they've been writing messages in the sand somehow.

A little village in the middle of nowhere

We arrive at last, nearly 23 hours of sitting down and smelling the poo from the toilet that was just behind us! But we were happy, because we're off the bus.
We met a couple on the bus, that is going to the same hostel as us "Nueve Amanecer" (as we recommended it :) It looks like a family run hostel, noone speaks English, but we can communicate anyway.
We go to bed, and we're happy

Angela & David

Santiago City Life!!!

12th - 15th February

Wow, we are in South America. Not as chilly as we thought either as its 30 degrees.......ha ha ha! The day we begin with a breakfast, of cereal and tea. Just like home. Still the tiredness from the flight is showing, so we take it easy and just wonder around the streets trying to take in the sights, the sounds, the smells. The place we are in Bellavista is nice and arty, so good to relax. We popped into the Celtika Bar, which is co-owned by Paul Dicker and co. He is busy with family for his wedding, so we say hello and leave. On route we stop for a beer, then two, then three. "Escudo" is tasty stuff, and cheap too. Playing cards, and then stated chatting to two Chilean people at the table beside us. The hand movements were everywhere trying to explain things as our Spanish is not very good, and their English is not good either. But we had a great time and stayed there until 3 am. In that time we saw a Chilean fight with chairs being thrown around, we had a charicature made by a really bad artist and well that was that.

? & ?

Angela, David, Matias & Mala

Next morning was tough, but we were excited. We were going to meet Ania Bezubka. It has been a long time since we have seen her in Ireland last. We met, we cooked them lunch, and went bus ticket hunting. Then some sightseeing of the main square and then got lost in a metro station. All that and more, we went on top of a hill to see all of Santiago and the Andes mountains. Beautiful, although a bit smoggy. Then dinner was served, and accompanied by a glass or two of Chilean wine....tasty stuff. It was so nice to see the girls again, and we chatted none stop all day.

Anna is cleaning her feet.

Little boy seems fascinated

Anna, Angela & David

Risotto Coocking

Santigo

Next day, is Valentines Day. How romantic are we. This was the test, and we failed. We had a hostel lunch, a hostel dinner, and finally managed to meet up with David and Natasha, who have been trying to meet us for a few days but missing each other. (Thats when we realise the necessaty of mobile phones.)

Went to the bus station via the metro system (which is good here) to get a bus to San Pedro de Atacama. Its a 22 hour journey to the north of Chile (should be fun). There we met Ania and Agnieszka in the bus station for the last time for coffee, as they are off to Mendoza in Argentina. But who knows we may cross paths again soon. Desert tomorrow evening.

Anna, David & Agnieszka

Anna & Angela

Angela & David

11th Of February

We got on the plane at 16.00pm on the 11th in New Zealand, after 11 hours we land in Santiago, on the 11th at 12.30pm! Wicked!!

Thank god!! We arrived alive in Santiago. It was an aweful flight! As always when i'm on a plane and it's bumpy i start believin in god and i always promise god that if i survive this trip I'll never ever get on a plane again. So i was sitting there breathing heavily, trying to figure out how the hell i'm going to get back home without taking a flight!! I could either travel up South America, up Mexico then the states and finally Canada, take a ferry over to Greenland, travel to the other side of Greenland, then another ferry to Iceland, and then another ferry to Ireland. OR I could travel to the very tip of Brazils east coast and take a ferry to Africa and travel up Africa to Morocco and then a ferry over to spain and then travel up europe to Sweden. This kind of made me realise that it might be a bigger chance of me dying traveling through Africa or surviving a freezing cold ferry ride from Canada to Greenland. I think my best bet is to buy some sleeping tablets for my next trip from Rio to London!

Only a few minutes in the airport and they're already trying to rip us off! $11 each to get in to the city! If we weren't that tired and jet lagged we would have made our own way ourselves, but the easiest way was the way to go for us.

We arrived at our hostel, La Chimba which is a really nice place. Went out for luch, very deep fried chicken and fries. Our bodies just couldn't function anymore so we decided that bedtime was a good idea even though it was 16.00. we slept until 8 o'clock, was up for another few hours and went to bed again at 12am.

ZZzzZZzzzzz
 
Angela & David

End of a New Zealand Era!

8th - 11th of February

We will miss you, precious NZ

Auckland, back to life without a car. The time had was great, but now its public transport time. We arrived at the hostel (Pentlands) around Mt Eden area. Lovely, peaceful, spacious with some nice people. Got our beds and mingled with some people. Canadian guy from Calgary, and then some Irish too. Good laughs and some sarcastic chat about sandwiches (Mark).

Next day, city time, souvenier time and sushi time too. Auckland is just another city so we didn't spend much time looking around. It does have 43 volcanoes however around it, but they are all dormant now, and just became hills really. We also felt like a few drinks tonight, so picked up a 3 litre casket of wine (goon) and away we went. Angela said that jaysus we will never be able to finish that before we leave, but as it happened she was wrong. By the end of the night every single drop was gooooon (ha ha ha). As Mark said once you finish it you can blow it up and use it as a pillow, and thats where the word goon comes from (the Aboriginal for pillow). Also this night we talked to an original kiwi, finally on our last days we met one. Angela got to confess her love for NZ to him, and he was happy. End to a good night.

Next day was less productive, so it involved more sleeping, more eating and more talking to new found friends. You gotta love the hostels for meeting great people and talking about random things, and sharing random experiences. This hostel was particularly good for that, as it was not too big and very comfy.

Last day proved to be a panic filled one. Our souvenier bag went missing. Everything we bought had disappeared. We were pretty unhappy at one point, asking everyone if they seen it. Putting up reward notes etc. We were sure it was stolen. Until we found it that is, in the kitchen, stuffed in a corner. Feeeww! Happy again. Off to the airport for our flight to Santiago, Chile.
The flight was awful for Angela, turbulence was pretty bad into around the 6th hour. But we pulled through and arrived in Chile safe. However, David mixed up the days, and thought it was the 12th, but it wasn't so we get to spend another day here and re-live the 11th for the second time. Weird ha!

Angela & David

Black Water Rafting in good company!

7th Of February

So this morning we wake up in a carpark!! That's the joy of being a poor traveller, ha ha!

But good thing was that we got a little sleep in and only had to walk 50 meters for todays adventures! We're going blackwater rafting in Waitomo Caves!

We had some breakfast and got our swimming gear ready and off we went to the office to sign in. The man behind the counter couldn't stop laughing when David put on a Russian accent and he thought David was the coolest ever! (Ivan Drago voice, always does the trick).

Top row, from left to right: Angela, ?, ?, Adam, Nathalie, ?, John

Sitting down: Gemma, David 

 

The guides were so good and funny, a woman called Bridie and a guy called Lloyd. They were making jokes from the very beginning and looking the way we did, all dressed up in smelly wetsuits, a rubber tube by our side, it was funny. While inside the cave, we had to jump backwards off waterfalls, glide through glow warm lit caves, and float around the cold water. We all had a great time and that followed with a warm cup of soup and some bagels on the surface.

David

David & Angela

We made it!!

We met some lovely fellow travellers, had a chat for an hour or so, and that was that all adventures done for New Zealand. Back in the van for another short drive closer to Auckland, where we found a parking spot by a lake where we slept with a few minor nightmares.

Angela & David

LAKE TAUPO BUNGY

6th Of February

Yes, David managed to convince me. But on one condition, we do a tandem together!
Waking up this morning wasn't hard as butterflies was flying around in our tummies. I felt a bit sick, couldn't believe i was to do a bungy. It's funny the way we were not more nervous when we did the skydive. But i suppose it's because you're strapped on to someone who really knows what he's doing. While bungy jumping I'll be strapped on to David who really doesn't know what he's doing!
At the same time we were really excited and really wanted it done.
Arriving there was even worse, you know you're so close to jump...aaahh!!
It's nearly time, after the strongest coffee ever and about 20 toilet visits we're ready to jump!
The guys were really good, they tripple checked everything so i felt a bit safer. We decided that David was going to be the one who counted to 3 and pushed us.
I can remeber thinking how stupid i was doing this! But if i died i'd die in a beautiful lake, with David!
So David counted to 3 and we jumped. It was so bloody scary!! We went in to the water half way and then up again, then down, then up, then down. I burst out laughing! I'M ALIVE!!
We get back up and we feel great! As i go on the Internet David says "Fuck i, I'll do it again" As you get a discount the second time, only 55$! So up he went again and jumped, this time with his metal horns to make him feel better. He really loved it and said it was great!

Pictures of us both jumping you'll see when we get home as we already sent them home.

David

David

David

Next stop was smelly smelly Rotorua. This is where all the volcanic activity is still happening, hence the smell of sulphur in the air. The thermal pools are everywhere, and not cool enough to swim in either. We arrived late so didn't get a chance to visit the Maori village, we went to the aquatic centre instead as we sure needed a shower after all the excitement of the bungy jumping. Had a swim, a few races in the pool and back on the road to Waitomo caves. We were hoping to sleep on the way somewhere, but as it happens on this road there were no rest areas to pull into, so we ended up driving the whole way and slept in the car park of The Black Water Rafting company. All is well that ends well.

Angela & David

Hello North Island

5th Of February

On the ferry close to Wellington

Can you see the elves dancing on the water? ;)

Got up early this morning as we have a 3 hour ferry journey ahead. We're done with the south Island and we're now going to check out the north.

The ferry is huge, like the ones we have in Gotland (Not as nice though :)

It didn't take long until we spotted some guys dressed like women tennis players. It was kind of funny, they must have been on a stag night. Just after 1 beer each they started geting louder and everyone sitting close to them left. So we had 3 hours of listening to loud kiwi boys dressed as girls.

Hello North Island, we like you too!

We didn't really do anything special today, just drove many many km's to reach Lake Taupo. David has decided he wants to do a bungy jump there. (crazy) Lake Taupo is the place to bungy though as it's only NZ$ 95 if you bungy before 11am. He's also trying to convince me to do it, but i don't know!

We're staying at another rest area for free tonight. We really tried to find the department of conservation, but there was no signs, too hard to find, so what can we do?

Bad night sleep again with nightmares, David thought the car (with us in it) was doing a bungy jump, but forgot the rope!

Go to sleep again David

Night Night

Vince Luvs Tits

4th Of February

After 4 nights of sleeping in a tent on the ground, all we needed was a good nights sleep in a hostel. We woke up early enough as we had to get a free taxi to KEA motor home rentals. David booked this van from Sydney as we got a good deal for 5 days ( relocation from Christchurch - Aukland) and only NZ$ 5/day. We didn't really know what to expect, so when we arrived there we got a big shock as it turns out KEA is a deluxe motor home rentals. Pampered and watered we set of, in a big van with kitchen/bedroom/living room and all the mod cons (running water/gas), the only thing not there was a toilet or shower.

They're hard to spot, but if you click on the picture you can se lots of baby seals.

We stocked up our fridge with food to last the trip and with the tunes pumping out of the radio, we were off to Picton for the ferry. On route the coastal section we spotted seals lounging around the rock and also spotted a diver immerge from the seaweed. We looked at him, he looked at us. No words were spoken for a few minutes until he shouts out from sea level. "Hey guys, you need a crayfish.......?" Down we went, thinking he was looking to sell, but as it happens he just wanted to get rid of it as he caught too many. And he sure as hell didn't want to get in trouble. He briefed us, by saying "if someone stops you, just tell them you found it on the beach". Luckily for us, we had a cooker handy, and lunch had been served. Delicious, fresh, straight from the sea. Yummy

Our big crayfish is going in the pot!

(I cilled a possom, but David killed a crayfish)

mmmm...

Slaughtered and ready to eat!

We drove to another rest area this time, and settled there for the night. It was a good rest area with toilets and all! We did get a little bit scared in the middle of the night when we saw a car oull up in the same rest area and i thought (could be wrong) one of the med had some sort of military hat on! Nothing happened though.
we slept peacefully.
Tomorrow we're going on the big ferry to the north island.
 

VINCE!! We didn't think you ever were in New Zealand?

good on you!

Angela & David

Lake Tekapo

3th Of February

I had nightmares all night. We couldn't find the proper camper site that evening so we had to stay in just a rest area. There was no signs for "NO CAMPING" so we gave it a shot.

So my nightmares involved me and David waking up and 2 angry men were standing outside the tent giving out to us for staying in a rest area. What upset me most in the dream was that they told me I was never to come back to NZ again! Oh the tears!

After packing up the tent and a few slices of bread with butter and jam we drove down to Lake Tekapo. It's a beautiful lake that has a really turquoise colour. The colour comes from chrushed rock from the mountain. And when that rock mixes with the water it makes a fantastic colour as you can see. Unfortunately we were there really early in the morning so the sun wasn't straight above yet, so it doesn't look as turquoise as usual. That didn't stop us from enjoying the beautiful scenery at Lake Tekapo though.

Crazy as we are, we decided to go all the way. Meaning having a quick dip in the 8-10 degree lake.

We were the only ones having a dip as noone else was man enough to do it (and i don't blame them) It was f***ing freezing!

Angela & David

Morning dip

Lake Tekapo

After a refreshing dip we were on our way to Christchurch. We stoped of in Geraldine for a Subway and picked up some Israelean hitch-hikers (for the same price) and we couldn't resist stoping off in a few other places along the way as the scenery is so nice here! We saw some small rivers, again with that really turquoise colour.

Driving along the hills and mountains gives me a tingle in my feet. I just want to get out there and run and run! The hills looks so smooth and nice, like clouds. And the mountains all have their own beautiful look. WE just LOVE New Zealand!

On our way to Christchurch

Somewhere between Lake Taupo and Christchurch

Love LOVE Love

Arriving in Christchurch was not a problem. Got a hostel for the night and David went to bring back the car. The car rental lady saw the chip in the windowscreen that we got, but thank god all ladys loves Davids charm. She let us go with only a $10 fee for bringign back the car with 50% fuel, not 60% :)

Before bedtime we had a nice relaxing time in the hostels jacuzzi and some pasta with tomatoe sauce and NZ lemon beer

"It tastes like bloody toilet cleaner" -David said after tasting the beer.

Angela & David

Cocktail in -5 bar!

2nd Of February 2010

Lord Of The Rings Country

This morning we got woken up buy someone knocking on our tent. Early as it was I rubbed my eyes and didn't know what was going on. Brave David opened the tent and found a woman standing there asking for money. She explained she was working for the department of conservation. We had "accidently" forgot to pay for the tent site as it was late when we arrived and didn't think it'd be a problem. But she thought it was a problem and we had to pay NZ$ 7 each! Ah well. Go on, you cal call us cheap bastards :)

After we payed we packed up and left

The day must go on even with NZ$ 7 less in our pockets. First stop was Lord Of The Rings Country. This is where they filmed the movie. We found out that Narnia & Wolverine were also filmed in this region. It was absolutely beautiful and as I said to David while we were driving " NZ is so beautiful it makes me want to get sick"

On the way back we picked up some German hitch-hikers. 2 girls from Berlin. They said they'd been tramping all over the South Island. She didn't have to tell me that...i could SMELL it! Now that REALLY made me want to get sick!

The sweaty stinky disgusting smell was even there about 10 minutes after they got off. WHY did we do a good deed today??

Angela & David

We had to climb some fences and say hello to some sheep before getting down here.

But well worth it.

After enjoying the beautiful scenery we left and drove back to Queenstown for some cocktails in a bar. But this is not just any bar. This is "The Minus 5 Bar"! Cool experience.

We had to put on some sheepskin boots and a long fury jacket before stepping in to the freezer. It was a small enough room (minus 8.4 not -5) So a little bit cooler than normal :) We were in there for 30 min, had a cocktail each. (of course all of them are made with the Swedish "Asolut Vodka"

You get to drink you cocktail from a glass made of ice, and from what the man said this only happens once every so often, but BOTH our glasses leaked so we got a new one. Oh yeah!!

David outside the Minus 5 Bar

David & Angela

Sitting on the ice couch enjoying a cocktail

Angela & David

Making cocktails...aaall night loong, all night...

Now, we're driving to Lake Tekapo where the water is supposed to be a very turquoise colour from the crushed rock. Very excited about that. We'll stay there for the night, have a dip in the lake and then drive to Christchurch.

Somewhere between Queenstown and Lake Tekapo

LOVE IS ALL AROUND!

Angela & David

45 seconds of freefall!!

1st Of February

Skydive Lake Wanaka

This morning was a special morning. It was our time to fly, high in the sky. We are about to do a tandem skydive, which we were planning all this time from the beginning and now its finally here. Arrived at the airport, early. There wasn't a cloud in the sky, a perfect day for a jump. We got briefed on the safety, we signed forms to say that we could die and that they are not responsible. Oh the trust we have. The nerves were on edge, well for David anyway. I was not nervous, pretty calm, even though I have never been wanting to do a skydive because I was scared. We got assigned our partners, I got a Swedish man (what a coincidence). David got close with a Polish dude, that new a few words in Russian. All well, in the plane, trying to smile, squashed together, sitting between the legs of our masters, I was relaxed even though I am nervous about flying normally. It was exciting and the scenery was amazing. We could see Mt Cook, the lakes, the longest river in NZ and everything else too.

Its time 12000 ft (3500m), the door opens and it is really happening. We are about to free fall for 45 seconds, down to earth at around 200km/h. David went first, lucky him. I watched as he just disappeared out the door. (thinking, I wonder is this the last time I will see him in one piece?!).

It all happened so fast, next thing I am falling. What a feeling, its amazing. Landing on the ground, David was already waiting for me. We ran up to each other and hugged, and kissed. We both had the biggest smiles on our faces. AEVERYONE SHOULD TRY IT!

Angela & Ingemar

My tandem man

David and his tandem man, the polish guy we call him.

Aaaaaaaaaangela

Angela

Angela

David

David

David must have lied when he said he wasn't scared!

Look at the size of his nose!

David and his pink parachute

Ingemar & Angela

Happy to be alive!

The day was only beginning, but it could not get any better. We went to the Puzzling World museum, which was fun. Running around the labyrinth and visiting the room of illusions, where things roll uphill and the like. Then lunch on the grass, and a dip in the lake to cool off. What a day. Queenstown next.

Angela & David