Archiv für den Monat: Februar 2011

Today we went to the Moeraki Boulders. We walked along the beach to the boulders and were annoyed with all the tourists – they kept getting in the way of my photos! I finally got the shots that I wanted and we went back to the tourist information center. We read some information about the boulders and other local attractions. On the way back to the car we stopped to pat a deer with a weird big head. We read in the guidebook about Lighthouse Road not far from the boulders and so we went exploring. The road was gravel … Continue reading →

Hopefully yesterday was my last night sleeping on a floor! We had a small farewell party in the dormitory and as a highlight in my short student life I got an original Lincoln University t-shirt from the Resident Advisor for helping out over the past two days. Today I offered the students a ride to The Warehouse, they needed stuff for their trip next week. After that I packed my things, said goodbye to new friends and brought N. into the city, she is visiting a friend. On our way I found a gas station and got a full tank … Continue reading →

Of course I was going to join the volunteers again. Helping out in the city made me feel a lot better. When I’m having a holiday I can enjoy doing nothing, otherwise I prefer to work. Sitting in the university without any mood for traveling seemed more than depressing. Apart from making myself useful and keeping me occupied, it really let me appreciate just how much destruction and devastation there has been all around Christchurch after the earthquake. I got up early to make myself scrambled eggs again for breakfast so that I could go and get some gas for … Continue reading →

Preparing my breakfast M. tumbled drowsy into the kitchen. „Was there an aftershock?“ „No, everything is fine. Nobody felt anything, everything is fine!“ We were all in a tense mood today. There was a meeting for the students at 9:00. They announced that while orientation and the start of lectures would be delayed several days, they would be organizing students who wanted to volunteer with clean up after the earthquake. They would be coordinating teams of students to help in the worst affected suburban areas doing fun stuff like shoveling mud. Anyone could help by providing cars to transport volunteers … Continue reading →

Yesterday began like every other normal day. We had breakfast – toast and fried eggs – at the hostel, and we started a hiking trip into the mountains. We followed a dirt road, parked Harry and found the sign to Mt. Isobel track. The track leads up to the summit of Mt. Isobel and follows the path of the mountains. The way is very steep and there is nothing to grip to because there are only a few rocks and plants. We don’t have much experience in hiking, so it was very difficult to get up. Given all the effort … Continue reading →

Today we dropped E. at the airport and with it our English teacher and Kiwi guide left the city. I’m going to miss him. After the goodbye N. and I headed to Hanmer Springs. It’s very hot outside, Harry’s external thermometer said 30 degrees. Nevertheless we had a pleasant journey with lots of girls‘ gossip and fun. In Hanmer Spring we are staying in the Hanmer Backpackers Hostel, one as a Couchsurfer for free the other as a normal guest for 27$. Because we share the costs it is 13,50$ each – quite cheap. The owner is a very friendly … Continue reading →

This morning I overslept and was late meeting E. and N. at Kiwi Basecamp for our roadtrip to Akaroa. Despite being late, E. still made me wait another 5 minutes before we were able to get on the road. The trip was N’s first chance to get out of Christchurch and see some of the New Zealand countryside. We drove through winding hills and past empty fields – there is so much space everywhere! Of course we stopped for pictures several times on the trip. Eventually we came over the top of the last hill and had an amazing view … Continue reading →