New Zealand Adventures: July 2012

Friday, 27 July 2012

Video - The Journey To New Zealand

Finally got around to making a video! Its all about my journey to New Zealand :D

Today I Broke A New Zealand Supermarket

I was just looking at things when suddenly a whole shelf full of pots of jellies came crashing down around me all over the floor...

At first I was like:

The the shop assistant was like:

Then I wanted too:

So embarrassed...

Sunday, 22 July 2012

Felt My First Earthquake!

Quick post! Was lying on my bed this afternoon and I felt my first earthquake! Being an Earth Science student I got a bit excited! :D It was only a small one, 3.5. The building creeked and I was jolted horizontally, forwards and then backwards! Pretty cool - but its a reminder how dangerous this country can be. A lot of people today said they never used to take much notice of quakes but after the Christchuch quake in 2011 people are a lot more nervous. No damage here.

Saturday, 21 July 2012

Auckland - Wellington

Got on the (a lot smaller plane!) to Wellington. The flight was nice, there was even a screen with triva questions on to keep you amused - got one right about Eastenders! There wasn't a lot to see but the sae for a long time out the window. Then I got a shock! The plane flew over a big snow covered volcano! (I think it was Mount Taranaki!) So cool! Already feeling like I need to plan a few trips there! :D

The weather got a little worse as I headed further south over some more snow mountains - it really is winter here! Finally I descended down through the harbour and landed in Wellington, the capital and my home for the next year!

I waited for my bags to come and when they did - one was completely ripped the whole way down! I got my bags and was met by a student from the university - he was from Samoa, it was pretty interesting talking to him. First think I noticed about Wellington was the hills - so steep and everywhere! I got to my accommodation, it looked pretty nice but it was completely EMPTY! ...it was supposed to be move in day!

The person who collected me had to ring someone to open the front door when they did I signed a form and got taken to my room and briefly met my Resident Assistant who lived on the floor. And that was it... it was so strange! I was really tired but it was only 1pm! So I took a shower and went for a quick walk around the town. When I came back I didn't have any bed linen so had a really rubbish night sleep in an absolutely deserted place. My room is on a corridor of around 22 people and there are shared bathrooms, it's mixed (although noone told me this before I arrived even thought I applied for female accomdation! :( ) It was definitely a major anticlimax to the trip...

Friday, 20 July 2012

Hong Kong - Auckland

Hong Kong - Half way there. Had a short 2 hour stop over in Hong Kong Airport. It was soooo hot and sunny - around 30 degrees. It was such a change from the cold and heavy rain weather at home and in London! I spent most of my time walking about the airport terminal (which was massive!) so I could stretch my legs. I was really looking forward to getting to Hong Kong, even though I'd just be staying in the airport, but being there and enjoying the view from the terminal and while flying in - I really want to go there and spend some time there. It looks so beautiful!

The only bad thing about Hong Kong was having to leave! Going straight from a 12 hour flight to another 12 hour flight on the same plane, in the same seat, beside the same people was really tiring and really boring! But I made the most of it and watched the sun set as I was flying out from Hong Kong. It was another bumpy journey! Saw a cloud that looked like the top half of New Zealand!

My plane from London-Auckland

Ducky on board!

There were lots of thunderstorms and flying over Manila (seen it lit up too!) I could see the severe thunder and lightening below! Scary but surreal at the same time! It was so cool to think that right below me millions of people in really amazing and exotic places were just going about whatever they're doing!

Cloud that looked a bit like New Zealand

I tried to get some sleep as the plane flew over Indonesia and when I woke up it was still dark and I could see the lights on the horizon shimmering on the Australian Gold Coast, and as the sun came up Cairns. It was pretty cool! It was still a long way to New Zealand - then I got my first sight of New Zealand. Wow it was really amazing! There were clear skies and out the window I could see long straight dark sand beaches and the waves crashing into them. Then the hills and tiny houses and as the plane banked I saw one of the most amazing views ever - all of Auckland and the 2 harbours with loads of tiny boats sailing around and the built up city and Sky Tower rising up into the sky!

Finally landed in Auckland. So happy to get off the plane I headed for the long queue at immigration and then biosecurity. After watching all the TV shows about how worked up about a spec of mud on your boots I had to laugh (hoping my sister hadn't put a sandwich in my bag like she said she would so I would end up on the TV show!) Luckily she didn't! I had to get one of the guards to wash my hiking boots - so weird. Then I had to run to check in for my next flight! I went out the international terminal to go to the domestic terminal and the cold hit me! It looked so sunny but it must have been around freezing! It was a bit of a shock having just came from summer in Europe and really hot Hong Kong! Almost in Wellington - just had to sit in a tiny (REALLY tiny) terminal and wait for the next flight to the Capital!

All Blacks Air New Zealand plane at Auckland Airport

London - Hong Kong

My mum and big sis stayed with me in Heathrow for the 6 hour stay before I left for the year. I'm so glad that they did - I was an emotional wreck half the time :( It was really sad leaving them... I burst out crying in front of the security at the departure gates... thinking back I feel so embarrassed! I kept waving at them the whole way through security, I was still sad but I was getting excited to go - for the first time!

China

This was my first long haul flight - so it was really cool getting a big chair with blankets and pillows and a TV screen! Soon got over that novelty though! I was at the window seat and the two people beside me were sleeping for the whole time and I couldn't get out to go for a walk! Flew up over London - time to say a final goodbye to the UK. Then flew over the Netherlands and Eastern Europe which was cool, I could see all the thunder and lightening below. The something really cool - flew over Moscow and seen it all lit up! That was really great. It was a fairly turbulent flight, lots and lots of bumps - a few really scary moments! I tried to catch some sleep after dinner but it was pretty difficult so I watched some films (Salmon Fishing in the Yemen - pretty good!) as I flew into the night and over Central Asia.

Hong Kong

When I woke up everyone was still asleep but the sun was so bright outside as the plane flew over Kazakhstan. Breakfast time- had some really yummy

pancakes! Really surprised how good the food and service was - well done Air New Zealand! Watched out the window for the remainder of the journey, catching glimpses of China below.

Then it was time, 12 hours later to land in Hong Kong - wow, just wow. That place looks amazing! I'd really love to spend some actual time there! So, a quick 2 hour stop before the next leg of the journey, I was half way there.

Journey Begins - Belfast To London!

Sad times leaving Belfast! :( It was all a bit of a rush to get to the airport in time - it wasn't helped by there torrential rain and major traffic jams for most of the way to the airport! What a nightmare!