Thursday 29 August 2013

Northern Explorer to Auckland

I have mentioned that I love trains, and when I found that there was a train that went from Wellington to Auckland with the name Northern Explorer, I was adamant that I would get on that train.

Its a good thing the friend and ex colleague wanted to do the same trip, so WL and I set off early from Wellington with our bags and snacks all ready for the 10 hour train ride.
There is a viewing deck on this train as it journeys through the centre of the National Park and offers amateur (very amateur)  photographers like me the opportunity to gape mouth open and forget to take shots of the rugged natural landscape of this wonderful country.  You stand there on the deck mesmerised by the view before you kick yourself and start clicking furiously.......

It was cold on the deck and we sat in the railcar that was right next to it

and our seats were by the door, so we could dash out and back in to warm up before we were off our seats again to capture that little bit of magic we saw.  The landscape changed as we went up, some places it reminded me of the gentle rolling hills of the English Countryside, then it would turn rugged and remind me of Scotland.  There were so many different shades of green and blues (the coast ) that I couldnt believe that I wasnt in some painting or a well shot movie.
 We went through tunnels,
over bridges, through small little country towns and I saw babbling brooks, gently flowing rivers and gushing streams.  For someone like me, a born and bred city girl this was a visual stimulation like no other. I took thousands of pictures so these are just a few of the views of just that journey from Wellington to Auckland.



i somehow lost wednesday

I am one of the lucky few in Singapore that has a collection system every two weeks of our rubbish for recycling.  I keep my plastic bottles, glass and old newspapers in a neat pile in the kitchen and put it outside my front door on Tuesday night for collection on Wednesday morning.

Yesterday however,  I forgot it was Wednesday.

Somehow in my hazy, cloudy brain it was only Tuesday yesterday.  I did leave my flat to go to the supermarket and I did read the papers in the morning but I still managed to retain the thought that it is only Tuesday.  I even looked at my neighbours and noticed that they had put out their recycling but it still didnt register.

My mind is rotting and melting away,  I can feel the brain cells oozing out of my ears!
Methinks I need to start (seriously) looking for a job

Sunday 25 August 2013

willys and Wellington

I wanted to see some of the country while I was in New Zealand and managed to do that after spending time in Rotorua with my uncle (he is my Dads younger brother and it was special spending time with him as we would chat whenever we could and he would reminisce about the old days which gave me insight into my fathers childhood)
Anyway
My friend and ex colleague joined me in New Zealand and we headed south of the North Island first to see Wellington.  Its a lovely city (pity about the earthquakes) quaint and pretty and compact.  Its smaller than Auckland, which was too crowded and city like for me.

My friend managed to persuade me into trying the hostels to save money (I have Never stayed in one) and I was up for the challenge as I figured, yeah why not, have to try something at least once........
curved staircase at the hostel
We stayed at the  Downtown Backpackers which was right by the bus drop off point (Naked bus!! love that name) and in front of the Railway station.  Saves on bus or taxi fares and lugging suitcases miles to get to the stations as we had an early morning train to catch to Auckland as well.

love the green toilet!
I was a bit apprehensive at the thought of sharing a bedroom with strangers so we put in a bit more money and got private rooms.  We also got a room with a bathroom. I did however,  feel a little out of place knowing that I probably would be the oldest person on the property but thankfully  there were other baby boomers wandering around.  Downtown backpackers was once the Hotel Waterloo, an art deco hotel that actually hosted Queen Elizabeth in 1953, pity they didn't see fit to keep the hotel as a hotel instead of converting it to a hostel......

Wellington is a great city to visit, in the off earthquake season if there
actually is an off season for earthquakes.  I was woken up at 1am to feel the bed shaking and no it wasn't me shagging anyone just a 4.something tremor.   I loved the buildings, from art deco to the late 1800's that dot the city centre, loved the little train that took us to the top where the botanical gardens are.  The views up there of the city and harbour are amazing even if my friend and I  got an eyeful of a young lad running straight into us with his willy hanging and bouncing along....and by young lad I mean a young man of about 16 or 18.  Highlight of the trip as I haven't seen a real willy in ages........
Its Gandhi!

views from the top....no willy shots though

Friday 23 August 2013

sunrise and sunset over Lake Rotorua



My uncles motel is within walking distance from the shores of Lake Rotorua.  Right next to the property is a lane (Whittakers I think) that runs down to the lake shore, we cant walk along the shore from there as houses hug the shore of the lake in that area,  we could however walk there to take spectacular pictures of the sun rising and setting.

sun finally emerging over the horizon
sunset
It was freezing that morning and even though I did wrap up, my fingers and toes froze.  I somehow cant take pictures with gloves on, but the serenity of the sunrise was worth the almost frost bitten digits.

The sunset was equally spectacular and somehow its always pink and purple when the sun sets.  My camera didnt do the colours justice.
even the lake looks pink
sunrise lake rotorua

Monday 19 August 2013

lazy

Adjusting to a life of doing nothing is getting me down.  I am bored, restless and getting lazy.  I have spent the last 2 days doing the bare minimum (not even doing laundry) and vegging out on the sofa with a book (e-book actually)
I haven't planned my grocery shopping very well and had to run to the supermarket yesterday, a Sunday no less, to brave the manic Sunday hordes just to get a few bits for my Guinness and beef pie.  Cooking in not doing work, its a labour of love for me as I do love cooking and trying out new stuff.....and licking the bowls and pots after everything is cooked. sort of my reward?  not so, light bulb moment this morning while groaning and moaning as my stomach heaved and churned (amazing what insights you get while on the toilet)  was that Guinness stout has fucking gluten!

Anyway

NZ was mostly work and no play and I had a purpose each day which gave me the incentive to get out of bed each morning.  Back in Singapore I have sorted the kitchen and cleaned out all the cabinets and laid the bug paper in every cupboard, and that's it.  I have no incentive to start my re grouting of the bathroom tiles ( what did I buy from NZ.... a box of grouting to do my bathroom tiles...seriously) or even download the hundreds of pictures that I took in NZ (this week,  I promise, a collage of pictures of sunrise and sunset in Rotorua)

I also wanted to stay fit (all those amazing walks in NZ and the active lifestyle made me fit and trim) as in getting up each morning and going for a walk before the heat and traffic set in, but haven't been doing that as the book I am reading (game of thrones series) is too good to put down and I end up going to bed at 1 or 2 am each night.

Utterly lazy and non productive..........

Monday 12 August 2013

order has been restored

It looked like the laundry basket had thrown up all over the kitchen.
Clothes lay on counter tops, in the onion basket and all over the floor as if the laundry basket had had one too  many and couldnt hold it down anymore.....
That was the chaotic scene that greeted me on my return.
and the sight of my fast fading limp  plants looking at me accusingly and gasping for water, and saying 'how the hell could you leave us with that man/boy'

There were things all over the place, the coffee table in the living room became an extension of his bedside table, the kitchen counter looked like plastic and glass bottles were trying to start an invasion and the sink.......was a science experiment gone wrong.

and I had caught the flu in Auckland, which made for a miserable flight and when I got home and witnessed the chaos that was my home, I just gave up and didnt even try to tackle the pile of dishes in the experiment gone wrong sink.
When son no 2 finally came home, he brought with him fried rice (i asked) as I was too sick to cook or go buy my own dinner, and he looked equally exhausted from working, and he announced he was going to Moscow for work in a couple of days.

The lecture I had prepared in my head went out the window my silly stupid heart melted at his exhausted state and I knew I had to tackle his pile of washing before I got to mine.  He left on Friday night and it has taken me the whole weekend and more  to sort things out and to have my home back.
and the plants are getting better too




Tuesday 6 August 2013

Homeward bound

And so it's been 5 weeks in New Zealand. How time flies.
It's been a fabulous adventure with learning all about running a motel, actually being in charge of it and then going to see some parts of this beautiful country.

I missed home, my place, my bed, my bathroom, my plants (which may be dead by the time I  get home as i dont know if son no 2 has watered them or not) my kitchen.  Eating gluten free on the road has been such a challenge only because fish and chips seem to be everywhere! I did indulge, as there is one fish and chip shop in rotorua that is worth the pain. I have had to add dairy to the no no list and I did have ice cream only once.   I  am after all in the land of milk and honey..... Seriously!

This trip was also part of the reflection plan, to reflect on my life to see where and what the next phase of my life will  be.  I do know what I want to do but it's just how to get there..... So I don't have all the answers yet.
What I do know though is that  this time tomorrow I will be home...