So unfortunately all too soon it was time to leave the sounds and head south to Christchurch. The drive along the coast is very scenic and our excellent driver stopped off to let people take pictures at one of the seal colonies. It’s really quite good – even on the national bus carrier they stop off and give you a running commentary of interesting things along the way. I’m sure they do this in other countries – I just don’t remember it!

Had a nice day around ChCh and booked mum and dad into my two favourite places in Akaroa for the evening. They’re off to C’est la vie for dinner and a really cool hostel called the Onuku farm hostel where they will stay in one of the stargazers for the night. The stargazers are these low roofed chalet/huts where one third of the roof is perspex so you can look up at the stars.

I was really lucky to get back in time to say goodbye to Jana and Julian who left today for Germany. It was a really nice party – as you’d expect because lots of people are going to miss them. One more place to visit when I’m next back in Europe!

As Maaike hasn’t stopped raving about how wonderful the hostel she is WOOFING in is, I thought that I should check it out and see the truth of the matter.

The hostel is called Hopewell, and is set in native bush deep in the Marlborough Sounds. To get there you can drive two odd hours to the end of a road – or (as I did) catch a water taxi to their jetty. It was a 50 minute taxi ride from Havelock – or a 40 minute (but two taxis’) from Picton.

I’m not quite sure whether it is formally the best hostel in New Zealand – but it certainly is up there, no doubt about it. When you arrive either Mike or Lynley (the owners) get you a fresh pot of tea / coffee… It’s just the little extras (of which there are many) that really set it apart.

There are kayaks and bikes to rent (for $10 a day or something super cheap like that) to explore the area. They have a lovely hot-spa which looks right out over the sounds.

One of the highlights for me was definitely the mussel night they had. They owners have their own mussel farm and every few nights they harvest them and put on a feed for everyone. Completely delicious – and made even more so by the fact that it’s all free! So yes, thank you Maaike for the encouragement to come and see the place. It really was wonderful and I would definitely recommend that if you’re in the area you make the effort to spend at least a couple of nights there.

So slightly going back in time here (how cool is that?) But just a couple of pictures from the one walk we got out on while up in Palmerston North. It was with two friends of my Aunts who had visited my parents in Ireland (and had embarrassing pictures of me from when I was about 6, no copies sorry)

It was along a nearby gorge – a 4 hour walk… good for working off the Christmas over-indulgences). The friends were in their 70s I think.. but certainly walked the legs off us. Sigh!

We also spent a day in Fotxon – a nearby town. Can’t quite remember why, but they built a windmill there – pretty interesting to walk around it and see the workings. They also had some displays on the windmills in The Netherlands and how they’re set up to drain the place.

After that it was time to leave the N.Island and catch the ferry down to Picton. It’s a beautiful crossing coming into the sounds.. well worth doing. The drive to Nelson (well, Mapua) was lovely too – it really is a stunning part of New Zealand. We were staying in a Bach (holiday home) of May – one of my Aunts friends. Lovely place.

The wonderful surprise was that we’d just arrived and I got a call on my mobile from Morgan – a great friend from college who is here touring about with his lovely girlfriend Becky. They were just finishing on the Abel Tasman (kayaking and walking) and were driving past Mapua – so we all met up for a drink. It was just SO great to see them. Unfortunately our touring plans won’t allow us to meet up again so it was just wonderful to see them up in Nelson. Hopefully Graham and Myra will convince them to move out… ;)

Spent the next few days exploring the area. I took my parents and my Aunt out to the Riverside Cafe for dinner. Unfortunately I don’t have any pics of the place – nor from the hike Dad and I did on the Abel Tasman because my battery is completely useless. Not sure whether it’s a short curcuit in the camera – or just that the non-canon replacement batteries suck – but either way I get to take about 5 pictures and it gives up. Harumph.

We did walk up to the Centre Of New Zealand.. which conveniently happens to be situated on the top of a hill in Nelson! Hmmmm. Still, it gives nice views.

Ok… so just in case anyone was upset by my Vipassana post there… sorry!. It’s my way to make light of serious things. I remember a scout cycle-orienteer event and this guy came flying down a hill – either with no brakes or with feeble ones – hit a fence and was catapulted over it and into a field. I .. umm… laughed. Didn’t know what else to do!.

Not really making myself look any better here am I? So yes, I’m sure quite a few of you were worried about me last year so no offence was meant by joking about it – I’d just rather laugh about these things than anything else.

Anyway, here’s a limerick I saw today.

There was a young man from Japan,
Whose limericks never would scan,
When they said it was so,
He replied, ‘Yes, I know,
But I always try to get as many words into the
last line as ever I possibly can.’

So it has been a lovely Christmas with mum and dad over. I flew up to Palmerston North on the 22nd and have thoroughly enjoyed the week so far with my family. It has been a pretty lazy affair really, many bottles of wine have been consumed, and games of scrabble played.

I’ve also decided to go and try the Vipassana course again like I did last year… I feel it’s something that I need to try and get on top of. I mean the effects last year were certainly intriguing and powerful – so maybe there is something to the whole thi..

Just kidding ;) heheheheheh… ehem, sorry, couldn’t resist. No, there’ll be no more 10 day silent retreats for me. Silence (of that length) and me, obviously don’t mix. Nope, going to be up here for a few more days and then catching the ferry down from Wellington to Picton on the 3rd I think it is. Having about a week in and around Golden Bay before heading down to ChCh (Christchurch) and picking up the camper van for more touring excitement.

Anyway, I hope everyone has had a very happy Christmas – and will have a wonderful 2008.