Category: Oceania

Here down South it’s definitely colder than in Wellington – more like proper winter, with temperatures here in Christchurch around 5 degrees. That wouldn’t be bad, but in addition it’s very wet – especially yesterday it felt a bit like the end of the world, it was raining so hard. *shivers*

I ended up going to the beach in New Brighton anyway and got thoroughly soaked. To make up for this, I spent the evening watching a kiwi movie, ‘Second-Hand Wedding’ which was cute and funny. Today my tour to the Lord of the Rings location of Edoras was cancelled, but the weather was a bit better (still cold, though) and I took the Gondola up the mountain in the afternoon, after spending the morning at the Canterbury museum. That was quite interesting, with Antarctica and Leonardo da Vinci exhibits.

I also managed to upload the photos I took so far:

The rest can be found in my New Zealand album, as usual. Tomorrow I’m off to Dunedin – will catch up with you again there!

The evening out with Rathy, Michelle and Jessica was lovely. First yummy Thai food, then incredible dessert at Strawberry Fare (seriously, I almost melted at the first bite of the warm raspberry-drenched chocolate cake) and finally a drink at Jet bar. Have I mentioned that I don’t want to leave? But tomorrow I have to be at the airport by 8am – Rathy’s driving me, the darling girl!

Next update will indeed be from Christchurch, I just wanted to share the photos. 🙂

Uploaded the photos from last weekend, including a couple Michelle took. You can see them here. (Photos of Denise’s kids aren’t public, though.)

Other than that I’ve started packing up all my stuff. So far it’s 2 book boxes, 1 big box and my suitcase, but I’m thinking there’ll be another box with the winter clothes I’m taking to the South Island. My room already doesn’t feel like home anymore, with the boxes and no photos and books. Only two more days here…

Another visit with Roger, and I walked away with my last (well, for the time being at least *g*) tattoo after only a bit over half an hour’s work:

I’m so happy with it, it’s the perfect commemoration of New Zealand. It’s a kirituhi (a Maori-style tattoo, but not a proper moko), a koru, symbolizing “life, growth, strength and peace”. It’s also a feminine symbol and can be seen as a mother and child. Pretty perfect for me, I feel.

Before the Narnia movie (which I loved, and not just because I recognized a number of stunning New Zealand locations) I went to see Kathy, my hairdresser here. The result:

Quite short, but that’s the fun with short hair – growing it out doesn’t take very long at all! 🙂

Wrote my very last exam this morning. No idea how it went, really, but there’s no use in stressing out about it – I’ll just have to wait for the results. Some of them might already be released next week, when exam time officially finishes, but I should definitely know before I leave.

Later today I have an appointment at the hairdresser’s (my bangs are getting out of control and I’m looking forward to a bit of pampering) and then I’m meeting Rathy, Michelle and Meredith to go see ‘Prince Caspian’, the second Narnia movie. Looking very much forward to it, as well as to my tattoo appointment tomorrow and then the trip to New Plymouth. Have to make sure I don’t forget the kitchen stuff Denise lent me.

Anyway, time for some photos. This was my view when I got up this morning:

And on Monday it was Emma’s birthday and we met for lunch at Fidels and later for drinks at Southern Cross. She’s flying home to Iceland tonight – I’m going to miss her!

On Saturday I met up with Celia and we enjoyed another lovely walk around the Karori Wildlife Sanctuary. The weather was just perfect, as was the company! 🙂

(As always you can see the bigger picture by clicking on a photo.)

Really relieved I survived the two exams this week. Not sure at all how I did – I’m thinking ‘middling’ and hoping for ‘okay’. Now I have a week until the next one, which will be the last exam ever in my university career! I have some stuff to do until then (like get my student visa changed into a tourist one for July), but I should have plenty of time to study.

Much more fun: I bought my VicU souvenir, and it’s even better than the teddy bear I’d seen before – it’s a kiwi bird, in full regalia, wearing the orange hood for Commerce postgrad students. So this is what I would have looked like if I’d been able to stay for my graduation ceremony in December:

Yay! 🙂